Experience-based guidance to support your health journey, through the metabolic benefits of low-carb living.
Steve Schapel
Nutrition Mentor
wellness@sidestep.nz
021-640733
Why Sidestep Wellness exists
Sidestep Wellness grew out of my own personal health journey. Over a number of years, changes in my lifestyle – especially in how I eat – led to significant improvements in my well-being. These improvements have included sustained weight loss, along with dramatic relief or reversal of a range of long-standing health challenges. I’ve also seen similar transformations in many people I am associated with.
Along the way, I learned how easily lifestyle change can be derailed, and what helps people stay on track. These experiences showed me what’s possible, and they have inspired me to share what I’ve learned with others who want to explore whether they might benefit in similar ways.
The bigger picture
Many of the health challenges people face today were relatively rare less than 100 years ago, but in modern times are reaching epidemic proportions. There is a very long list, which includes obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, ADHD, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disease, neuropathy, depression, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, shingles, macular degeneration – to name a few. These health problems have a metabolic component or a metabolic root.
While everyone’s situation is unique, many people find that adjusting their nutrition to be more ancestrally aligned can make a meaningful difference. My role is to help you explore that possibility in a practical, supportive way.
What I offer
I offer practical, experience‑based guidance for people who want to improve their metabolic health through low‑carb living. I don’t diagnose, prescribe, or provide medical treatment. Instead, I help you:
- understand the principles behind low‑carb nutrition
- find a direction that fits your lifestyle
- navigate common challenges and pitfalls
- build confidence through simple, sustainable steps
Who this is for
Most people who come to me are trying to tackle a specific health-related challenge. Some may have already attempted other approaches, with limited success. Others may simply feel ready for a basic change. All are seeking some form of health improvement.
The methods I teach work best for those who are able to take an active role in their own health, to learn independently, and to explore options that may sit outside the mainstream (hence the term ‘sidestep’).
What you can expect
We begin with an initial meeting – free of charge – to understand your situation, your immediate health goals, and whether I can assist. This can be online or, preferably, in person.
If it seems appropriate, we then create a plan, tailored to your circumstances, for any ongoing engagement. A modest fee applies for continued support.
Our conversations are relaxed, supportive, and practical. We focus on real‑world strategies, lived experience, and steady progress. You set the pace, and I help you find clarity and direction as you explore what works for you. The overall purpose is to support you in defining and carrying out lifestyle changes that are intended to achieve better health.
Background
Several aspects of my life, beyond my direct personal involvement with low-carb nutrition, impact on my practice.
- I have trained and worked for many years in the helping professions, from hospital social worker, to counsellor and private practice psychotherapist, to psychologist in the field of dementia – providing me with a strong foundation in client-centred support.
- I have specialised in assisting people with addictions, which can often be especially relevant to the process of changing eating patterns.
- I have been teaching Tai Chi for almost 20 years, with a central focus on helping people improve their health through mindful movement. See https://tcqci.club.
- I am the coordinator of a local food co-op, and an associated support group for people pursuing a low-carb lifestyle. See https://sidestep.nz/co-op.
Contact
If you have any questions, or if you would like to see whether this service may be of benefit to you, please get in touch. Thank you.
Steve Schapel
wellness@sidestep.nz
021-640733