From Fitness & Chronic Illness to Functional Nutrition Counselor: Gabe Smith’s Journey to Root Cause Resolutions

When Gabe Smith set his sights on a men’s physique competition, he thought the path forward was predictable: build muscle, follow a training plan, and fuel his body. What he didn’t expect was to face a mysterious health crisis that would upend his goals—and ultimately redirect his life toward something far more meaningful.

Today, Gabe is not only a survivor of Alpha-Gal Syndrome—a little-known allergy triggered by a tick bite—but also a Functional Nutrition Counselor helping others out of the same dark tunnel he once found himself in. His turning point? The Full Body Systems (FBS) program by Functional Nutrition Alliance (FxNA).

A tick bite, a health spiral, and a wake-up call

In 2019, Gabe was juggling a few part-time roles—land surveying and personal training clients from a home gym in Maryland. It was during a routine day land surveying in the woods that he was bitten by a tick. What followed was not immediate, but changed his life forever.

“I just started getting really sick,” Gabe says. “Digestive issues, skin problems, joint pain, fatigue—it didn’t make sense, and doctor after doctor couldn’t give me an answer.”

Diagnosed with Alpha-Gal Syndrome years later, Gabe discovered that his body had developed an allergic reaction to a carbohydrate found in red meat and mammalian byproducts. His immune system had essentially turned against everyday foods, and unknowingly, he had been triggering massive inflammation for years.

To make matters worse, Gabe also developed mold sensitivity—a reaction likely worsened by hidden water damage in his work environment at a local coffee roastery.

“I was at a 10 on the health scale of 100—near non-functional,” he says. “It was exhausting. But before I hit my lowest point, I discovered FxNA.”

The discovery that changed everything

After dabbling in online nutrition programs and starting his journey with the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) for personal training and nutrition certifications, Gabe began searching for something deeper—a Functional Nutrition training that would help him connect the dots in his own body.

That search led him to the Functional Nutrition Alliance.

“I found FxNA and Andrea Nakayama’s videos just clicked for me,” he says. “The way she talked about the root cause—not getting stuck in diagnosis—was exactly what I needed.”

Gabe enrolled in the Full Body Systems program in late 2023. With no formal medical background and relying solely on his high school education, he wasn’t sure how he’d measure up. But what he lacked in credentials, he made up for in motivation and lived experience.

Learning to heal himself — and then others

By the time he completed the course in the summer of 2024, Gabe had undergone a transformation—physically, mentally, and professionally.

“I went from being foggy, inflamed, fatigued, and in pain to feeling clear, energized, and functional,” he says. “I still live with Alpha-Gal and have to avoid certain foods and mold exposures, but the progress is massive.”

Thanks to FxNA’s Functional Nutrition training, Full Body Systems, Gabe didn’t just get better—he built a new career around his recovery. Today, he splits his time between training clients at a chiropractic office and running a virtual clinic focused on Functional Nutrition. His content, primarily on social media, targets the Alpha-Gal community—a group that, like him, has often been misdiagnosed, dismissed, or left to figure things out alone.

“Being able to be that light for someone else—someone who’s where I was—that’s a huge blessing,” he says.

A new framework for health

Gabe credits much of his transformation to the Full Body Systems curriculum and founder Andrea Nakayama’s unique approach.

“Her systems-based method changed the way I think about health. She constantly pushed us to go deeper. I’d think I had the right answer, and she’d say, ‘But what’s the root cause?’ That stuck with me.”

It’s a mindset shift that informs how Gabe now serves his clients. “People think Alpha-Gal is the villain, but it’s often just the tip of the iceberg,” he explains. “There are usually deeper imbalances driving the symptoms. Full Body Systems taught me how to find them and achieve root cause resolution.”

Building tools for the Alpha-Gal community

Looking ahead, Gabe sees himself becoming a full-time advocate and Functional Nutrition Counselor for the Alpha-Gal community. He’s developing digital products, including an eBook, and wants to use the Full Body Systems framework to help others find the clarity and relief they deserve.

“So many people go undiagnosed for years. By the time they figure it out, they’ve been through so much trauma—physical, emotional, financial. I want to be a trusted voice who says, ‘I’ve been there, and I can help you navigate out.’”

From surviving to thriving

Gabe’s experience with the Full Body Systems program is evidence that you don’t need a traditional degree, a perfect health record, or years of experience to make a difference. You just need the right tools, a curious mind, and a willingness to start.

“I healed myself with this program. Now, I get to help others do the same. That’s the most rewarding work I could ask for.”

If you're facing chronic health challenges or wondering how to turn your own healing into a career of service as a Functional Nutrition Counselor, the Functional Nutrition Alliance and its Full Body Systems Functional Nutrition training program could be the spark you're searching for.

Start where you are. Just like Gabe did.