Viya was born at my kitchen table—hovering somewhere between frustration and hope.

After being diagnosed with my second autoimmune disease, I was sick all the time. My energy was depleted.  I went from being a certified fitness coach to suddenly cancelling my gym membership because I could barely get out of bed in the morning. I couldn’t eat the foods that I used to, and I definitely couldn’t exercise the way I had before. For the first time in years, I found myself uncomfortable in my own body, unsure where to even begin.  So I did what millions of women have done: I downloaded a weight loss app, hoping to “get back on track.” 

At the same time, I was on a strict healing protocol for Celiac and Hashimoto’s, cutting out most of the foods I’d normally eat. So I started logging everything—my weight, my meals, my macros—waiting for it to help. And then… I started my period. So naturally, my weight ticked up, like it always does during that time, and I remember thinking, “I wish I could just tell this app I’m on my period—I haven’t given up, my weight will go back down!”

So I opened a completely different app to log the start of my period. It offered me a helpful tip: “Try some whole grain toast to support your body on day one of your cycle!” Cool.. I can’t even eat that. Another app, another total disconnect from what was actually happening in my body.

That’s when it hit me: none of these tools were built for women like me—women whose bodies don’t follow a generic script. Women who are impacted by hormones, health conditions and restrictive diets.

So, hungry and frustrated, I opened yet another app –- ChatGPT, gave it my list of dietary restrictions, and it generated a quick, nourishing recipe. As I ate, I thought: What if all of this was in one place? What if women had a real health companion that actually understood their bodies?

And just like that, Viya was born.