We are now a month into the New Year…January is over and statistically speaking more then half of those who made goals for the new year have given up on them. I hope you are not in that half! But either way, part of the reason I love sharing these Beauty Detox Transformation Stories with you is to provide you with a source of inspiration and motivation.
I encourage you to revisit your goals often and know that living the Beauty Detox Lifestyle is something you can take at your own pace. You have the power inside of you to cultivate the life you truly want to live. It’s beautiful…and absolutely true, once you make the decision to rise up to claim that very power.
I am so happy to be able to share Stephanie’s special journey with you today…
How long have you been following the Beauty Detox philosophy? Was it easy to incorporate it into your lifestyle?
I discovered Kimberly and Beauty Detox in August 2013 when she was mentioned on a health blog I was reading. I immediately looked her up online and purchased both The Beauty Detox Solution and The Beauty Detox Foods. I read both books cover to cover as soon as they arrived. I basically jumped right in and have been following the Beauty Detox philosophy ever since! I loved the books and philosophy so much that I wanted to dive in even deeper, so I also purchased the Glowing Lean System – I printed out all of the materials and watched every video!
The Beauty Detox Philosophy was definitely easy to incorporate into my lifestyle because I loved that it was a way of life and not a “diet” and not at all about deprivation – in fact, it was exactly what I needed. Since high school I had been very conscious about what I was eating and tried to eat as healthfully as I could, but there is SO many “diets” out there, that I was overwhelmed and confused. In my early twenties while I was in law school (I am 31 now), I ate a mostly vegetarian diet, but was having lots of fat free cottage cheese, skim milk and soy (thinking these were all very healthy).
Around this time my skin really started to break out and I developed the autoimmune disease Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (the stress from school probably didn’t help that either of course!). I saw a nutritionist who recommended I incorporate fish, poultry and meat, and so I tried a Paleo-type diet, but I always felt sort of heavy and lethargic after meals.
When I discovered Kimberly and Beauty Detox, I was working long hours as a corporate attorney and relying on a diet primarily consisting of hard boiled egg whites, canned salmon, lots of apples, a bit of greens and WAY too much black coffee!! (Oh, and yes, I cringe thinking about it – even some diet sodas). My energy was low, my skin was dull and prone to breakouts and my digestion definitely wasn’t great.
When I read Kimberly’s books, everything just made sense. A vegan diet had always appealed to me for both ethical and health reasons, but I had never made the full transition because I worried that I wouldn’t get enough protein. Once I read the books and understood that I really could get sufficient amounts of everything I needed on a vegan diet, it was really easy for me to jump right in.
Within the first few days of following the Beauty Detox principles I noticed that I felt much lighter and no longer felt sluggish and tired after meals. After about a month or so, my skin cleared up (I even got compliments on my complexion!), my nails were no longer brittle and I had so much energy without having to rely on the caffeine! (This is saying a lot because at one point I was able to go through several Venti Starbuck’s black coffees in a day!).
What is your daily regimen? Give us an example of a typical meal plan and exercise routines.
I start every morning with body brushing (it is right next to my toothbrush and contact lenses, so I never forget!), followed by some warm water with lemon – sometimes I also add a bit of apple cider vinegar, organic aloe vera juice and a few drops of liquid stevia as well. I’m in school now (more on that below), so I usually work out first thing in the morning before breakfast and love to do aerobics and dance routines in my room or at the gym in the aerobics room when there isn’t a class in session.
I listen to my favorite podcasts while I workout and really look forward to this “alone” time – I find it is the perfect way to start my day. I always try to listen to something inspirational or educational (I love Kimberly’s Realize Yourself podcast!).
Then comes the post-workout Glowing Green Smoothie™ of course!! After experimentation, I learned that I prefer mine a little lighter on the fruit and include about a half of a frozen green apple with about a half of a frozen banana.
Lunch is usually another Glowing Green Smoothie™ (I love to experiment) and some veggies or a salad with veggies. I love steamed broccoli with avocado and a salad (either with some hemp seeds, soaked and sprouted sunflower and pumpkin seeds and spirulina or a Dharma’s Kale Salad). My favorite lunch smoothie is a combination of romaine, spinach, kale, spirulina and some cinnamon or Kimberly’s Protein Power Smoothie). For snacks I’ll grab a piece of fruit or recently have been having steamed squash (love kambocha squash!) or steamed carrots that I cook the night before.
Dinner is usually a “veggie bowl” filled with steamed veggies, a bite of probiotic and enzyme salad some avocado. I often sprinkle on nutritional yeast for some extra B vitamins and flavor and sometimes wrap the veggies in an organic nori wrap too.
Some nights I’ll also have a salad with some steamed squash/sweet potato or tempeh or quinoa. (And the dining hall where I’m at school is great – all organic produce!! So I will often load up a tray (like the one pictured) and get a to-go box so I have some for lunch and some for dinner without having to cook when I get home after class.)
I also find that I feel better taking some plant-based digestive enzymes with dinner. If I have a sweet craving after dinner I’ll have Chia Seed Delight or herbal tea with a bit of stevia.
How do you feel after adopting the Beauty Detox lifestyle? What changes have you experienced?
In addition to having more energy (without the caffeine), no longer feeling sluggish and bloated after meals, and my skin clearing up, the Beauty Detox lifestyle also opened my eyes to a much healthier lifestyle overall.
I started making sure I got to bed earlier (previously went on 4-5 hours per night), worked on stress management and became more focused on the quality of my food (I try to buy organic and local whenever possible – I love Farmer’s Markets when I can) as well as the ingredients I am putting on my body and using around my home.
Kimberly’s emphasis on detoxification was part of the inspiration for me to research more about toxins in our personal care products, home environments and daily lives. I discovered all of the chemicals hiding all around us – especially those we rub on our bodies everyday — and I ditched all of my synthetic personal care products for more natural versions. (I literally had a shopping bag full of those paraben and phthalate-filled products!) I wanted to share what I was learning with others, so I started a blog focused on spreading awareness about environmental toxins and simple strategies we can take to reduce our exposure.
I also started reading and learning as much as I could about health, nutrition and environmental medicine, and after personally experiencing the dramatic impact of changing my diet and lifestyle, I wanted to help others do the same.
This became a true passion and I realized that this was what I wanted to do with my life — I wanted to help people feel their best in order to live their lives to the fullest. To make a long story short(er), after a year of building up the courage, I made the decision to leave my 6-year career as an attorney and go back to school – naturopathic medical school. Last spring I applied to a program to fulfill my science prerequisites and within a month, gave notice at my job and moved from Los Angeles, California to Kenmore, Washington to attend Bastyr University.
How has this impacted your outlook on life?
The transformation I experienced with the Beauty Detox philosophy was the beginning of the journey that led me to discover my passion for natural health and ultimately my change in career. I honestly couldn’t be more grateful to Kimberly and her Beauty Detox program. Thanks to my experience with the Beauty Detox program, I am a true believer in the power of nutrition to change our health and the importance of making health a way of life.
What is your favorite recipe and why?
Definitely the Glowing Green Smoothie™. Honestly, I look forward to it every morning and try to get every last drop out of the blender!! With the Glowing Green Smoothie, breakfast is my favorite meal.
What words of encouragement do you have for others in the Beauty Detox Community?
I have been so inspired by seeing the other Beauty Detox transformation stories on the blog. I love to see how each person incorporates the Beauty Detox philosophy into her/his life – each person seems to have her/his own style, all while staying within the principles. And all of the stories have showed how there is so much power in the transformation on so many levels. No matter our age or situation, it is not too late to make changes for the better (whether that’s with food, sleep, health, career etc.).
People who haven’t tried Beauty Detox often ask if I miss bread, dairy, processed foods, coffee etc., and I can honestly say that I don’t because not only are there so many wonderful nutritious things to eat, I love the way that I feel. I don’t ever want to go back to the way I felt before. Eating and living this way truly isn’t a “sacrifice” at all – it’s a joy!
Thanks to Kimberly for providing a lifestyle that provides us with so much energy and vitality so that we can really rock our missions!
Thank you Stephanie for sharing your amazing Beauty Detox Transformation!
Stephanie, it was so beautiful to read your story and how much your life has been impacted from following the Beauty Detox principles. You truly took control over your choices and what you put on and in your body, and I’m thrilled to hear about your improvements. I know your story will inspire so many people who crave more in their lives. Thank you for sharing your amazing story. I and the whole community are cheering you on!
If you or anyone you know want to share your story, please contact Katelyn our community manager at Katelyn@kimberlysnyder.com — we’d love to feature you!
With great love and gratitude,
Kimberly
This was such a great article! Would love to be able to live my life like this. I know you’re probably thinking go for it! It’s not so easy for me. I have a thyroid issue which causes me to have little if no energy even with meds! at 47, I haven’t a clue at how to cook. Where I live in VA, nice, whole, clean foods are hard to come by! I would need somebody to hold my hand and tell me how and what to do at every turn! Very excited for author of this that she has had so much success!!
LOVE this story!