Rising Stars: Meet Vi Hodges of Whole.Belly

Today we’d like to introduce you to Vi Hodges.

Hi Vi, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
First, thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my story.

For much of my life, I felt like I was living on autopilot. I was focused on accomplishing the next thing and checking off the next goal, but I lacked a real sense of purpose and fulfillment. At the same time, I was struggling with hormonal issues, anxiety, difficulty focusing, metabolic health concerns, and other symptoms that I never fully understood. Rather than slowing down, I kept pushing forward and assumed that feeling unwell was simply part of life.

A few years ago, my husband and I began struggling with infertility. As I searched for answers, I was diagnosed with PCOS/PMOS. However, despite years of symptoms, I was often told that my lab work looked “normal” and that everything was fine. I continued moving forward with fertility treatments, but deep down I felt frustrated, exhausted, and increasingly disconnected from my own body.

After finally getting a positive pregnancy test, we experienced the heartbreak of an ectopic pregnancy. That became a turning point for me. For the first time, I realized I could no longer ignore my health and simply keep pushing forward. I needed to understand what was happening in my body and take control of my own healing journey.

That search for answers eventually led me to integrative and functional medicine. More importantly, it taught me how to advocate for myself and ask deeper questions about my health. Through additional testing and working with practitioners who looked at the whole picture, I uncovered underlying issues that had gone unrecognized for years, including endometriosis, multiple autoimmune conditions, food sensitivities, and metabolic dysfunction. While it wasn’t easy to receive those diagnoses, finally having answers gave me a path forward.

I continued working with an integrative health practitioner, learned more about nutrition, identified foods that supported my body, and completely changed how I approached health. I focused on whole foods, gluten and dairy free recipes, metabolic health, and cooking meals that nourished me. Within months, many of my symptoms began to improve, and for the first time in a long time, I felt hopeful about my future.

That journey inspired me to create Whole.Belly. Initially, it was simply a place to document recipes and keep track of meals that worked for me while navigating food restrictions. But over time, people started reaching out to share their own stories of infertility, autoimmune disease, chronic illness, and health struggles. I realized that my journey was resonating with others.

As important as nutrition was, I eventually realized that healing wasn’t just physical. I still felt like something was missing. Through my renewed relationship with God, I began focusing on my mental, emotional, and spiritual health as well. That was when I truly started to feel whole.

The last year and a half have been incredibly transformative. Whole.Belly has grown into much more than recipes, it’s become a community centered around health, faith, encouragement, and support. Looking back, I wish I had something like this during some of the lowest moments of my own journey, a place that offered peace, connection, and the reminder that I wasn’t alone. My story isn’t unique, but if sharing it helps someone feel less isolated, find encouragement, or take the first step toward healing, then it’s worth telling.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it definitely has not been a smooth road.

One of the biggest challenges has been navigating the healthcare system as a patient. There were times when I felt like my symptoms were dismissed or explained away because my lab values fell within a “normal” range. I often left appointments feeling unheard and frustrated. That experience taught me the importance of advocating for yourself and finding healthcare providers who are willing to listen, collaborate, and look at the whole picture.

Another major challenge has been developing food allergies and learning how to completely change my relationship with food. Before my health journey, I loved trying new restaurants and experiencing different foods. Food was a hobby and part of my identity. Suddenly, I had to become extremely intentional about what I ate, learn how to cook differently, and carefully plan meals and social outings. There was definitely a grieving process involved.

Infertility has also been one of the hardest parts of my journey. Watching friends and loved ones grow their families while walking through uncertainty yourself can be incredibly painful. There have been moments of sadness, frustration, and questioning why things weren’t happening according to my timeline.

Through all of it, my faith has been an anchor. I’ve learned that even when life doesn’t unfold the way we expect, God is still working. Some of the most difficult seasons have ultimately led to the greatest growth, purpose, and transformation in my life. Looking back, I wouldn’t have chosen these challenges, but they shaped me into the person I am today and ultimately led to the creation of Whole.Belly.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m an occupational therapist by training and helping people improve their quality of life has always been at the center of what I do.

About a year ago, I made the difficult decision to step away from work and focus fully on my health. Looking back, one of the greatest gifts during that season was the support of my husband. When I was struggling to find answers and feeling disconnected from myself, he encouraged me to take the time I needed to heal and rediscover my purpose. His love, kindness, empathy, sacrifice, and belief in me helped carry me through some of the most challenging moments of my life. It was during that season that I started Whole.Belly as a creative outlet to document recipes, share what I was learning, and make sense of my own healing journey.

What surprised me was the response from others. People began reaching out to tell me that my recipes inspired them, that they felt understood, or that they were facing similar challenges with infertility, autoimmune conditions, food sensitivities, or chronic illness.

That connection is what motivates me today. While I love creating recipes and sharing practical nutrition tips, the most rewarding part has been building a community where people feel safe sharing their stories, encouraging one another, and even praying together.

My own health challenges sparked a passion for helping others navigate similar journeys. I’m currently studying integrative and functional nutrition and plan to pursue a personal training certification. My goal is to combine my experience as an occupational therapist with specialized training in nutrition and lifestyle medicine to help individuals with chronic disease create personalized plans that support long-term health and improve their quality of life.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is offering hope.

When I was diagnosed with hormonal, metabolic, and autoimmune conditions, I remember wondering if I would ever feel healthy, happy, or like myself again. It felt overwhelming, and for a long time I believed those diagnoses would determine the course of my life.

What I’ve learned is that healing is rarely a straight line, but meaningful change is possible. Through Whole.Belly, I want people to know that a diagnosis, infertility, chronic illness, or a difficult season does not have to define their future. You can still experience joy, healing, and live a life filled with purpose.

If my journey has taught me anything, it’s that some of life’s greatest challenges can also become opportunities for growth, deeper faith, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @whole.belly