Meet Dana, Founder of Dana Horning Wellness

Hi, I’m Dana!

I imagine you found this post because you’re interested in improving your health and wellness. I’m so glad you’re here. There’s so much I want to share with you, but I’d like to start with just this: You have the power to change your own life. Or, as one of my favorite online commentators says, “Your life is your fault.”

Hear me out! This is not a negative thing!

This is a message of hope and empowerment. You are not stuck where you are. If there are changes you want to make in your life, you have the power to make those changes. And I am here to help you do it!

I’m a recovering corporate lawyer turned wellness practitioner and health coach. In school, I was always a straight-A student. I overachieved my way through undergrad and into a great law school. I continued into the corporate world, flying high on a diet of strong black coffee and stress. I heard someone ask once, “Are you a lawyer who runs or a lawyer who drinks?” Well, I was both. I worked hard, and I played hard. I figured I could sleep when I was retired.

All that said, I still ate what I thought was “healthy.” I worked out. I ran, rode my bike, and even did yoga. I was most of my friends’ “healthy friend.” But I was actually completely miserable. My periods were a nightmare - cramps, bloating, and a solid two weeks of emotional upheaval every month that made just getting through the day without tears feel like an Olympic sport. My skin was constantly red and inflamed. I’ve battled acne much of my life, but it just got worse as I hit 30. I had random unexplained rashes. Add to all that, my stomach was constantly upset. I was always trying to figure out what to eliminate that might calm my digestive distress. Food started to stress me out because nothing would improve. I went to countless doctor's appointments. The GI docs told me everything was fine; I probably just had IBS. They handed me a pamphlet with foods to avoid and sent me on my way. The OB/GYN told me I had PMDD and needed an antidepressant. When the antidepressant caused side effects (hello, weight gain and worsening skin), they wanted to give me more pills. The dermatologist gave me antibiotics, spironolactone, and retin-A. Meanwhile, despite my active lifestyle, I continued to put on weight and feel ever more depressed.

Does any of this sound familiar to you?

In 2021, my fiance and I moved from Cleveland, Ohio, to Austin, Texas. I’d love to tell you about an overnight, miraculous change that came over me, but, of course, that’s not what happened. What did happen right around this time, in large part, was the COVID-19 pandemic. I know everyone has their own experiences from that time in the world, but for me, it really was a time of awakening. As you can already tell, I grew up in an environment where when you have a problem, you take a pill. My mom (who, for the record, is amazing and with whom I remain incredibly close) was a pharmacist. We knew all the right pills to clear up all the issues! But when COVID happened, it turned many things upside down for me. I, like many people, was suddenly home a lot. I went out less, started drinking less, and eventually started questioning why I was taking these pills. Were they helping in the long run? Was another pill going to help or hurt? Being the type-A, smartass, need to have all the answers type of person I am, I started to research. I read about the effects of these drugs I had been on for years, starting with my birth control pill. I started to realize there were other options out there - ways to heal that maybe don’t come in a pill bottle. I started to learn from many amazing people doing great work online who said things like if I give my body what it needs, it can heal itself.

Please hear me. I did not believe this all right away (nor did I immediately chuck all of my prescription meds). It took a long time. And it was one baby step at a time. I would take one step forward and then two steps back. But I kept going. I kept asking questions and doing research.

Eventually, like you, I came across a health coach and functional nutritionist/wellness practitioner online. This amazing human not only offered so much education and help on her various social media pages, blog, etc., but she also offered comprehensive functional labs. This was a totally new concept to me. I had never considered that I could do testing outside of a doctor's office. I thought that was only something you did when you had a serious problem. But the more I read about it, the more excited I became. What a basic concept - stop trying to do the latest fad or trend online. Stop trying to guess what might be wrong or going on in your body. Take some tests and actually find out! I was all in. But first, I spent about six months just implementing the basic health and wellness principles I am now so passionate about - I focused on my sleep, reduced my overall toxic load, started eating a balanced, nutrient-dense, whole food, animal-based diet, and got adequate exercise (without way overdoing it, as I often had in the past). I also worked on my stress levels.

After all that, I ran the full gamut of tests I now offer (HTMA, GI map, DUTCH, and comprehensive blood analysis). The results were eye-opening. My thyroid function was low, my hormones needed help, and the immune function in my gut was almost totally non-existent. The results blew me away. Thank goodness, I had a wonderful practitioner who helped me understand these results and what they meant, and together, we developed a plan to help get me on track to healing.

As you can undoubtedly tell, this has been a journey. This has not been an overnight cure. But my own experience has been illuminating and energizing for me. I spent hours researching and reading and finally enrolled in a certification program called Integrative Metabolic Wellness Academy. I worked through my certification program while continuing to practice law full-time. I have not always been able to devote as much time or focus to my health as I’d like, but this experience has taught me how to focus on the basics - the foundations of good health that build up your body so that your body becomes strong and resilient, able to handle all the stressors that life throws at you.

I want to help you do these things, too. I’m not a doctor or a health guru who’s going to push a magic pill on you or sell you an overnight fix. I believe strongly in the power of taking your health in your hands and questioning everything, in learning, understanding, and expanding your knowledge. Only by tuning in to our own bodies can we find healing. There is no one-size-fits-all approach that will give you everything you want out of life. But by focusing on the foundations of health and wellness, you can move forward knowing you are capable, strong and knowledgeable.

Dr. Mark Hyman says, “Your social networks may matter more than your genetic networks. But if your friends have healthy habits, you are more likely to as well. So get healthy, friends.” I’m your healthy friend!

If you’re ready to work together or have any questions, please click here to reach out! If working together isn’t in the cards for you right now, please continue to poke around here - I have a freebie you can download to help you get started and I am working all the time on adding more free blog content. Please also come over to my Instagram and say hi! You’ll find a ton of information that can help you take your own baby steps in your healing journey right away! I can’t wait to meet you.

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DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional.  I am only speaking here about my personal experience.  Nothing in this blog post (or anywhere else on this site, on my social media accounts, or in my email newsletter) is medical advice. Please consult your medical provider before making any drastic diet or lifestyle changes, especially changing or discontinuing any prescription medications.