Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Koupal.
Hi Alex, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
Thank you for this opportunity! My name is Alex Koupal and I’m a Life Coach and Small Business Consultant that works primarily with women. My style is a little unconventional and hands on, vs. other coaches. I really enjoy being hands on with my clients whenever I can. I love working with women and helping guide them to success and balance!
I was inspired to become a coach after struggling to find my own way. Women are under so much pressure to do everything and be everything and I’m no exception. My personal journey began when I just turned 30. I was going through a divorce, I got a big promotion at work. I spent all my time focused on my ‘health’. Eating right, working out, running ultras and marathons. I was boxing two times a week and doing Yoga three times a week. I had an amazing social life and was on top of the world. Then slowly my health began to decline.
Frequent injuries, illnesses, constant infections; upper respiratory, UTI’s, wounds that wouldn’t heal. I began to fall behind my friends as they became faster and stronger runners, I kept falling behind and getting weaker. My doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me. I was on anti-biotic after anti-biotic. I began gaining weight for no apparent reason and my kickboxing instructor refused to train me, because my heart rate would skyrocket above 200bpm no matter how light the workouts were.
I remember my PCP being so concerned, she sent me for very test. Cardiologist, podiatrist, chiropractor, physical therapists, gyno, ENT, Endocrinologist and even a full body scan looking for cancer. Everything came back healthy… we did find a few minor things, like ovarian cysts, some arthritis, bone spurs but nothing that would constitute the sudden decline in my health.
It was about a year and a half of constant investigation that my PCP referred me to her husband who was an endo. They shared information about me and we ran blood work after blood work, did MRI to check for brain tumors, and finally, I was diagnosed with Pseudo Cushing’s syndrome. My Endo told me, he could put me on medication to reduce my cortisol levels, but the meds would destroy my kidneys and liver before I turned 40. He recommended I find a naturopathic doctor and look for alternative treatment.
I started working with Dr. Alex at Ethos’ Integrated Medicine, and she not only began treating my symptoms, but she began treating me as a whole person, getting down to the root of my stress. I had never had a doctor give me life advice to edit toxic people from my life. To STOP working out, to eat more, to take Vitamin D. She began asking me questions about the relationships I had at work, stress levels in my job. How my relationship with my family and boyfriend were. This approach blew my mind! She was able to diagnose me with leaky gut syndrome, vitamin D deficiency and hypothyroidism at the cellular level. As we began treating these conditions she also helped me find help to get out of my abusive boyfriend situation, to delete toxic and demanding people from my life, and suddenly my cortisol levels began to level out. Pain subsided, infections went away and I was finally able to be health in the true sense of healthy!
Over the years, Dr. Alex and I have worked hard to keep my stress levels down and health on track. She even helped me get pregnant in my late 30’s… something I had been told by a few doctors that I might never be able to do with PCOS and other reproductive issues.
I’ve realized that there’s a HUGE connection between mental and physical health. We have to be mindful of our resources and make time to care of ourselves. Life editing, changing your environment, careers, choosing positive people vs. toxic people are all things that we can do to improve our physical health. I wish I had learned this lesson when I was in college. I wish that more women/and men, were aware of the deep impact stress has on physical health, and had the arsenal of tools I now have to lead a healthier and happier life.
This is why I began coaching. I wanted to share the knowledge and tools I’ve acquired with others and empower women.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Launching a small business is never really smooth! There’s always hiccups and bumps along the way, but in general, I have had great success in a relatively small time because of the tremendous network of support I have around me.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Alimental Life is my business. I am a Life Coach and Small Business Consultant. I work primarily with women of all ages. I like to do thing’s a little different than other coaches, and really enjoy being hands on with my clients. I find that I make a lot more progress with my clients when we combine coaching with activity. I’ve had clients meet with me at Skyline Park to go for a walk to discuss career changes and relationship issues. I’ve met with clients at storage units and helped them begin the grieving process of going through their late mother’s things. I’ve even met with a mom and her 5 kids at her home, to go over her business plan, get organize and set systems in her house to help her stay on track with her start-up business goals. There’s something really beautiful about connecting with people in their own environment, that provides a deeper sense of trust and faster results.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
There’s a BIG list, I can’t possibly name them all, but there are three people that have been monumental to my success. Dr. Alex with Ethos for inspiring me and saving my life. Sherry Gilbert with Illumilife for believing in me, keeping me on track and being a wonderful mentor, and Josh Main, my life partner, for pushing me to pursue my dreams and supporting our family financially during the transition between my full time job and my business.
Pricing:
- Free Consult
- Pricing varies depending on client but average is $100 an hr
Contact Info:
- Email: alex@alimentallife.com
- Website: www.alimentallife.com
Image Credits
Josh Main
