A Qualified Personal Fitness and Health Expert
My Personal Story
I was blessed to learn my life's passion at a young age. My 5th grade PE/health teacher inspired me to pursue a career in health and fitness and I never looked back. Since then, I have been captivated by how the human body functions, the outer limits of fitness we can all achieve, and the resiliency in all of us to bounce back after injury or illness.
I have competed in a myriad of sports, gymnastics, softball, basketball, swimming, lacrosse, cross-country, and track. I wanted to be the best! So I trained daily and put in countless hours into my training. It all paid off with a full-ride scholarship to a Division I University where I competed in cross country and track. I was very proud of my accomplishments in sport, however, this came at a price.
With my exhaustive training, and pushing my body to its limits to achieve success I also earned numerous injuries. I suffered from Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, labral tears in both shoulder and hip, cervical and lumbar herniations, gall bladder removal, and the list goes on. Like every high-level athlete, I pushed myself through the pain. I kept telling myself this will make you stronger.
With this high level of activity also came internal health struggles. I would wake up in debilitating pain, gut issues, brain fog, insomnia, anemia, feelings of anxiety, and general malaise. I sought advice from gastroenterologists, endocrinologists, neurologists, internists, naturopaths, functional medicine, infectious disease, various orthopedists, and others. In sum, they all wanted to treat my symptoms by prescribing me medications like antibiotics, pain killers, steroids, and IBS drugs. All of these made me much worse.
After dealing with these issues for almost 15 years, I decided to take my life back in my hands. I researched the top leaders in the fields of pain, corrective exercise, gut disorders, and functional medicine. Next, I invested my time and money to attend their conferences, earn their certifications, and learn the “why” behind my certain ailments. Mostly, I suffered in silence. Only those closest to me knew I was living with these daily trials and tribulations both as an athlete and as a health/fitness professional.
While I ate a healthy and balanced diet, exercised daily, and maintained a healthy lifestyle my condition kept deteriorating. Finally, I found the solution to my health struggles at a functional medicine conference in California. It was a huge weight off my shoulders when I finally had answers to “why” this was happening and “how” to holistically correct them without toxic medications. It feels amazing to feel vibrant again and live pain-free. If this story sounds familiar to yours, please contact me to learn the “why” underlying your symptoms and how you can start your journey to a healthier you today.
Biography/Qualifications
Brandi Ohlsen revealed her passion for health, fitness, and nutrition at an early age. She competed in a wide range of sports, including gymnastics, softball, basketball, swimming, lacrosse, cross country, and track. In particular, she competed as a Division I athlete in track and cross country. Competing for many years, fostered her career interest in how the body functions, and how to improve performance, how to reduce inflammation/pain through proper nutrition and exercise programs.
When she was only 18, she earned her first certification as a personal trainer. This was the first of many certifications as well as Bachelor of Science in both Health Education and Sports Medicine and a Master's degree in Exercise and Sport Science. She continues pursuing this passion through continuing education and certifications today - the most recent ACE Orthopedic Specialist and Functional Health Systems.
With over 25 years as a trainer, coach, nutritionist, Brandi has extensive experience helping a wide range of clientele from high-risk individuals, rehab, sports teams, youth, general fitness to professional athletes. Today, her passion for health and fitness shines brightest when her clients achieve their true potential by bringing out their inner athlete, building their confidence, and reaching optimal health and vitality through holistic means.