I thought Kimber didn't have enough to do (ya know....just owning a business, being our full time GM and taking care of her baby girl) so I asked her to share her daily healthy habits for our blog. She's inspiring and if you have seen her post baby bod you will drop the chips and get in downward dog immediately. Here is a word from our fearless leader and Co Owner of Nourish, Kimber Dean. -xo, Kalle
When I think about my health today versus where I was a decade ago, I cannot believe my own transformation. I have tried it all, from different diets to different workout plans, all in attempt to look/feel a certain way. With all the trials and errors (and successes), I have come to know that it takes a healthy lifestyle to be who I am, not a specific diet plan.
My healthy lifestyle is formed from all aspects of my life. I try to get 6-8 hours of sleep each night (which didn’t happen for 9 months with my baby Dillon, who just turned 10 months). I make sure not to have more than 2 caffeinated drinks per day, which equals coffee for me. I am a coffee person. I look forward to my two cups of joe every morning. I haven’t had a soda in 12 years, which helps keep my caffeine and sugar intake lower.
My diet consists of exactly what nourish is; gluten, soy, corn, processed sugar, hydrogenated oils, pork, peanut, preservative free, and organic (as much as possible). My body reacts negatively to gluten when I consume or even touch it. The other items that I do not eat are because they all affect my body. I usually feel fatigued, and like my body is backed up or slows down until it can process that kind of food for a few days, even a week sometimes. That is why I am personally so grateful for Nourish! I finally have a restaurant with high quality ingredients and integrity where I can eat, where I know I am getting a bang for my buck! Yes, I do buy Nourish almost everyday, and get it delivered on my days off!
Broadway Bowl family style for my day off.
Working out is my therapy. I do yoga 4-5 times per week, and run 1-2 times per week. Physical activities like yoga and running always make me feel better mentally, which is why I crave it so much. I started working out in 2007 at a gym doing weight lifting, machines, swimming and aerobic classes, until I found yoga in 2011. It started as a New Year’s resolution to take 1 yoga class per week at Fort Bragg NC. Once I took my first class, I was hooked. My body became stronger than I ever have been, I became more flexible and my mind became more at ease. Running hurts my knees, ankles and lower back if I go to often. The moving meditation running gives me is a gift that I cannot find in any other physical activity, which is why I go running at least once a week. I always feel happier and less anxious after yoga and running, they are my stress releases.
I take vitamins everyday based off of what has improved my health after taking it. For example, bee pollen helps with my energy, mood and allergies. I take bee pollen, chlorella, spirulina, multi-vitamin (prenatal still), papaya enzymes, b-12, d3, maca, ginko biloba, and green tea extract everyday. I make sure to drink a ton of water during the day. The WHO recommends half our weight in ounces for our daily intake.
I use Doterra Essential Oils for all of my health symptoms from a cold to anxiety to poor sleep to a rash. Once I got clean in 2007, I wanted to have a holistic way to heal my body. Instead of any prescription drugs, I use Doterra Essential Oils. Our shampoos, conditioners, soaps, lotions and so on all can have very harmful toxins and even wheat in them. I use all Doterra products for my hair and skin, except for lotion. I use unrefined organic coconut oil as my body lotion and night facial cream all year round.
The last part to my successful lifestyle is my daily meditations and journaling. I have a dream/gratitude journal that I write in to take my thoughts and make them physical in my journal. I think that is such a powerful thing to do when you have an idea or thought. Writing it with paper and pen to make it a physical object. I meditate everyday, even if it is just for 5 minutes in my car (sometimes it’s the only alone time I get in a day). I meditate stationary every time I practice yoga, and I do a moving meditation every time I run. They are two completely different ways to meditate but they both have very positive effects on my life.
When you put all these pieces of the my healthy lifestyle puzzle, you can see why it works for me. Yoga and meditation has taught me the benefits to mindful eating, and mindful living. Which is the best advice I can give on how I mother. I want Dillon, my 10 month old, to live a happy life, which to me starts with good health. If you don’t feel good physically all the time, how can you feel well mentally or emotionally? Here are just some of the things I do for my daughter to live a healthy baby lifestyle
-Cloth diapers
-Essential oils to treat symptoms
-Nutrition: Breast milk, organic rice cereal, organic avocado, sweet potatoes & bananas I mash and freeze myself.
-Turmeric for teething pain and inflammation
-Amber necklace for teething
-Probiotic
-Daily Vitamin D drops since she was born
-Organic soap, lotion, diaper cream, bum spray, bug spray, sunscreen
-Bpa free bottles and pacifiers
-Organic diapers & clothes as much as possible
I hope that sharing my present day lifestyle with you all inspires someone to try something new to benefit yourself. It’s all about spreading love and health knowledge so we can all feel a little better.