Growing up in the enchanting beauty of Hawaii, the beach and an active lifestyle became my playground. As a professional athlete, I’ve developed a deep passion for health and wellness. I’m thrilled to share my excitement with the younger generation, empowering them to take charge of their well-being.

A Journey towards Improved Physical Health

During my teenage years, I took the initiative to educate myself about supporting my overall health. I realized that the choices I make today will shape my future well-being. Now, as a mom, I continuously listen to my body, problem-solve, and learn, ensuring I support my energy, sleep, and moods.

My pursuit of improved physical health has been a lifelong journey with its share of ups and downs. Nevertheless, it’s an investment I’ll never regret. Over the years, I’ve experienced transformative changes, enabling me to thrive and embrace the life that God has bestowed upon me.

I invited some of my favorite health enthusiasts and speakers Josh and Jeanne Rubin to my ‘Ohana Mother and Daughter Live Call. I’m really stoked about their approach. They have taken “food as medicine” to the next level!

I’ve been following them on their social media platform realfoodgangstas on Instagram and their website eastwesthealing.com.

Josh and Jeanne bring over 20 years of research and experience and are pioneers in restoring thyroid and metabolic health. They have authored three books: The Restoration Thyroid Nutrition Cookbook, The Saturated Fact, and The Female Body Blueprint.

“Our goal and our message, whether it’s on YouTube, Instagram, or Facebook…is to really teach people [that] one of the most important things is BALANCE”.

Balance in movement. Balance in rest. Balance in nutrition.

Balance means steering clear of extremes so that your life and your health decisions will be sustainable long term. It’s not sustainable to think that you can make perfect choices 100% of the time. It’s also not sustainable to force yourself to eat foods that you hate or push yourself into activities that bring you no joy.

Josh and Jeanne frequently talk about the Body Budget. It’s an easy, straightforward way to think about your body in terms of deposits and withdrawals. Check out this clip as Josh explains it in his own words:

I love this thought because, for myself, I like to follow an 80/20 approach to eating. Aim for clean, whole, nutrition-packed foods 80% of the time and give yourself the permission to enjoy the occasional treat 20% of the time. Hawaiian shaved ice is one of my absolute favorites!

I also really appreciate the wisdom that Josh and Jeanne offer when it comes to understanding womens’ health. 

For you teen girls out there, it is especially important to educate yourself and become in-tune with the messages your body is sending you as you develop. Your body uses hormones to let you know when something is up. Your cycle and your symptoms can tell you a lot about what your body may be needing.

In fact, Jeanne wisely said that each symptom we may feel is actually a beautiful gift – an opportunity to better understand ourselves AND make the changes we may need to feel our best.

Here are some quick take-aways that you can start implementing today:

1. Balance your plate. Make sure you are getting enough healthy protein (especially at breakfast!) and not relying solely on carbs to fuel your day.
2. Eat within the first hour of waking.
3. Consider an 80/20 approach to your daily diet.
4. Question cultural norms and trends. There are a lot of fads and conflicting opinions out there – you need to find what best supports YOU and will be sustainable in the long term.

I took my health into my own hands and you can too! It’s a journey – you can only do so much at a time, but small steps will lead to a lifetime of better habits.

I’m cheering you on to prioritize your health!