This week we are sharing Mary’s story! Thank you Mary for sharing your experiences on your Beauty Detox journey. It is amazing to see your skin transform over the last three years, I loved reading how you have been able to grow in so many areas of your life and now feel more connected to your body and to nature.
Meet Mary…
How long have you been following the Beauty Detox philosophy? Was it easy to incorporate it into your lifestyle?
I’ve been following the Beauty Detox lifestyle for almost three years. It’s a very special part of my life. I had been fighting a losing battle against severe acne since I was 18 (I began the BDS when I was 22). After trying every cream and medication out there (except Accutane), I knew I had to make some internal changes. I fell in love with Kimberly’s Beauty Detox Solution, and I ran to grocery store after reading the first ten pages to stock up on veggies.
The lifestyle was fairly easy to incorporate, partly because I was so ready for a change. It also helped that I grew up in a healthy household, so I was accustomed to eating salads and lots of fruits everyday. I also took my time with the transition—after about five months, I my diet was fully vegan. After a while, I just stopped craving dairy (I had never been that crazy about meat). My fiancé is an omnivore, but he’s been supportive through my transition and has developed a taste for less processed food along the way.
While I was making the transition to a whole foods vegan diet, I also became fascinated with natural beauty and body care products. I detoxed my makeup bag, and I love my new cosmetics. In some cases, the natural stuff works better than your typical drugstore fare. (100% Pure, Alima Pure, and Lily Lolo are some of my favorite brands.) My combined interest in health, veganism, and beauty lead me to Peaceful Dumpling, a vegan blog where I serve as beauty editor, so you could say that the BDS has influenced by career path!
What is your daily regimen? Give us an example of a typical meal plan and exercise routines?
I start the day with a mug of warm lemon water, a probiotic supplement, and raw food multi-vitamins. (I also take saw palmetto, burdock root, milk thistle, and a DIM supplement to help with extra stubborn acne). I usually do 20 minutes of yoga before making a green smoothie. I usually drink about 20 ounces and save the rest in two jars (one for my fiancé; one for my afternoon snack). A little later, I usually have a bowl of steel-cut oats with maca powder and a cup of coffee (I still love coffee—I know, I know…). I make a blend of half-caf using organic, Swiss water processed decaffeinated coffee then add a splash of coconut milk. For lunch, I usually have a big salad topped with leftovers (usually quinoa) and any veggies I have handy.
If I don’t have GGS for an afternoon snack, then I’ll have a grapefruit or carrots with almond butter. I begin each dinner with a salad tossed in olive oil, tamari, apple cider vinegar, and nutritional yeast (never gets old!). I alternate between quinoa, brown rice, and other starches like baked sweet potato and roasted squash. I love adding steamed or lightly sautéed veggies. My fiancé and I always finish dinner with a little piece of dark chocolate. Depending on my free time during the day, I may go for a jog or do a ballet session from Mary Helen Bower’s Ballet Beautiful series (it’s quite fun!).
How do you feel after adopting the Beauty Detox lifestyle? What changes have you experienced?
I feel incredibly healthy on this diet. I am physically stronger and more energetic than I was in high school and college. I’ve experienced increased muscle tone (yoga and ballet are a part of this, too). My hair grows like weed, and I have fewer split ends. I’m less prone to mood swings (yay!). When I began the diet, I was not trying to lose weight, but after a few months I lost five pounds that never returned. I never feel like I have to worry about my weight. Even my brittle nails are just a little bit stronger J
Best of all, my skin is much better! It took me a long time to figure out how to treat it (and I’m still learning and trying things out). Incorporating the Beauty Detox lifestyle into my life turned my severe acne to mild acne. In other words, diet alone has probably knocked out about 80% of my previously untreatable acne (and this took about a year). Natural products and the supplements I mentioned above help with the rest. I still get a few bumps here and there, but it’s nothing like what I was experiencing.
How has this impacted your outlook on life?
I feel more connected to my body and to nature. There’s a distinct feeling of lightness (in all ways of being) that comes with eating whole plant foods. It’s difficult to put into words, but there is something almost divine about eating simply yet colorfully. It makes me giddy.
I no longer feel lost about nutrition, and I’m confident that I’m really feeding my body what it needs. Having direction for this part of my life has eliminated a lot of food-based anxiety (and worry in general). With less anxiety about what’s ok to eat, I can fully embrace my foodie tendencies. I love reading cookbooks, following recipe boards on Pinterest, and, of course, actually cooking!
Favorite Recipe and Why?
Kimberly’s Raw Key Lime Pie never disappoints! I’ve made this for company a few times, and even the non-key lime lovers adore this dessert. I personally love the combination of its rich texture and tart flavor. It’s simply delightful, and the ingredients are so clean. Sharing this pie with others has been a great way to show how delicious and gourmet vegan recipes can be. Making this recipe for the first time introduced me to raw coconut nectar, which is now a staple in my kitchen. (I always have fond memories about discovering new ingredients!) The recipe that I make most often (besides the GGS, of course!), is Kimberly’s Veggie-Turmeric Quinoa Recipe. I follow her suggestion and make a huge batch, so there’s always something healthy in the fridge when I don’t feel like doing extensive cooking.
What words of encouragement do you have for others in the Beauty Detox Community?
This lifestyle has become one of the most exciting, fulfilling parts of my life. Even though I’ve been following the lifestyle for three years, I still feel that I’m only at the beginning of something wonderful. Kimberly dedicates her first book to her readers, writing: “I hope that applying this knowledge will free you, in the way it has freed me.” This always makes me tear up—eating whole, vegan foods has helped me enjoy food, love my body, and empower myself. And I feel wickedly free.
Social Handles?
Twitter and Instagram: @marydianehood
Thank You Mary!
I hope everyone is feeling inspired after reading this! Mary, you are an inspirational beauty and it has been amazing to read about your transformation applying The Beauty Detox principles. We all support you, and are honored to have your beautiful spirit in our community. Keep going, Beauty!!
I encourage you to enjoy your weekend by doing something for yourself, taking a moment to pause and be grateful for the abundance you have in your life.
If you too want to share your story, please contact Katelyn our community manager at Katelyn@kimberlysnyder.com — we’d love to feature you!
See you back here soon.
Love,
Kimberly
You look absolutely glowing…so inspired by your journey!
so inspiring! I have been incorporating beauty detox in my life since the first book came out. I had the same reason of following it, for my horrible skin.. and over all better energy and connection with my body! Even though i incorporate rules of the beauty detox I am still hung on my old habits. After reading this i’m fulling inspired to really go full swing and give it a real chance. no more waiting for the next monday to start or new years resolutions.
thanks for the inspo :)
xo
WOW!! Mary, this is amazing! You glow from the inside and the outside! I love reading what fellow Beauty Detoxers eat in a day, I love my GGS but it never quite sustains me until lunch, so I will absolutely try the steel cut oats afterwards! Mary, you are gorgeous and you should be so proud of your dedication, because the results are phenomenal. You were beauty both before and after, but now you seem so happy! You can feel the joy in your words! X
What an amazing transformation Mary ! This inspires me so so much, thank you for sharing.
Incredible!
Glory!!! Mary you look breathtakingly beautiful! You are stunning and gorgeous! An absolutely fabulous looking, young woman! Thank you for being so genuine and real, about something that is very painful. You are an inspiration! Let your light shine, sweetheart! P.S My mum is named Mary too! What a great name!
You’re promoting a vegan diet? What about essential B vitamins, some of which are only found in animal products? You can’t get that from a vegan diet. More than 1/2 of vegans are found to be deficient in B12 which is essential for many processes in the body. And what about all of the healthy fats and the fat-soluble vitamins that require healthy fats like pasture butter, bone broths, etc. for absorption? Did you consider organic, grass-fed/finished meats or wild-caught omega-3 healthy salmon and raw, grass-fed dairy products or fermented dairy before transitioning to a full vegan diet? I would really hesitate to recommend this diet to anyone without addressing the risk of nutritional deficiencies.
Wow! Thanks for sharing. Very inspiring and you look great and healthy! P.S. I love Alima too :)
Amazing. Im on the journey to acne healing through diet too. What DIM supplement do you use? Im wondering if I need to detox excess (phyto) estrogens. Still get acne around my mouth/on my lipline
Mary:
Remove all nuts / seeds, and all grains from diet. This should clear up your skin COMPLETELY. Just stick to fruit & veg and you’ll be golden. Keep the fat low, if you have raw oils and stick to raw fruit oils like avocado, coconut & olive are best. The human body is most compatible with live food. Raw is best, if you can. Read 80/10/10 by Dr. Graham. Great book on food combining. Best to all on our paths to optimal digestions, health & vitality!
Great story. I just wondered, if youake a batch of quinoa, how long will it last in the fridge? Thanks
Just wanted to say you look very beautiful wish you much success
Wow, Mary, you look fantastic. Its inspirational that you stuck to the program with such great success. It was nice to read your share. Thanks.
So happy for this girl. Well done. Very inspiring. Xx
I love this post!
And you look so pretty Mary. Congratulations on your journey. Its nice to see that diet and the way you live DOES have an affect on your skin. I to have struggled with skin issues(first acne then Rosacea) but I think it has become a thing of the past because I don’t get the flair ups or burning sensations anymore: ). So with the help of Kimberly and other resources out there like hers I’ve been able to be healthy and happy. And free from dr prescriptions.
So thanks to both of you for sharing your experiences!
Wow! Thanks for sharing our story :)