Plant-Based Superpower Mom Podcast

About Dr. Yami:

In this episode I share with you 2 stories about how everything you do is having an impact in your child's life. Even if you think they aren't paying attention.

Laura's Story:

I have loved animals since I was a little girl and I committed to becoming a vegetarian about 20 years ago.  It took me a little while longer to learn the facts about the dairy and egg industry and become a vegan, but once I did I only wished I had made the transition sooner!  
My transition to veganism was 8 years ago.  Now my husband and I are raising our 3 children to be compassionate and mindful little humans.

 Jen Hansard is on a fresh path to health and happiness- deprivation not included. Her "healthy obsession" with green smoothies has taken her into classrooms to do green smoothie demos, lead entrepreneur workshops, speak on stage, and has been featured on The Doctors to spread the green smoothie love far and wide. Through the power of green smoothies, she’s seen the amazing health benefits firsthand – including more energy, which has been the catalyst to healthy living for Jen and her family. 

Her wildly popular website has changed the lives of over 1 million people and made them the #1 green smoothie online resource. The Simple Green Smoothies' lifestyle doesn't involve counting calories or eliminating an entire food group. Instead, it encourages you to make one simple change: drink one green smoothie a day. Jen lives in a small country town in central Florida with her husband, their two lil' rawkstars Jackson and Clare... and their chickens, duck and dog. 

  Sarah's Story:

I am a mother of two boys. I am from Rochester, NY. I have a BS in Nursing, and have worked in a Medical Intensive Care Unit as well as Community Health. About 5 years ago, I was extremely overweight and sick with borderline high blood pressure, the beginning stages of fatty liver disease, among other things. I struggled for years trying to lose weight and exhausted just about every weight loss option that I could find. I managed to lose some weight but continued to feel sick. I read a book called The China Study, and changed my life forever. I began eating plant based and within weeks dropped weight and cured my fatty liver disease and everything else that ailed me. In 2015, I also completed The Campbell Plan. I have lost a total of 156 lbs since then. I have since began working on my certification in plant-based nutrition through the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies at Cornell University. I have become a runner, and enjoy participating in races. This lifestyle has changed my life in so many incredible ways, and I feel it's necessary to help others improve their health and  quality of life. My goal is to educate others on the benefits of a whole food plant-based diet, and to provide the convenience and ease of having your meals prepared and delivered right to your door. 

About Katherine:

For over 20 years I have been committed to natural health and personal development. My focus, whether teaching individuals or working with groups, is helping people regain health and discover and fulfill their innate purpose in life. I integrate the rich tools of lifestyle medicine, including breath training, mindfulness, yoga therapy, and a nutrient-dense diet into health care and research-based programs. Here are some of the ways I apply health and wellness coaching to varied populations and needs:

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Stress Management for Heart Disease

As a trained Stress Management Specialist with the Dr. Dean Ornish Lifestyle Heart Reversal Program, I teach groups of medical patients about the impact of stress on heart health and how to use proven methods to break the damaging cycle of stress.

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Yoga & Mental Health Research

I am honored to contribute to evidence-based research testing the efficacy of yoga as therapy for mental health. I serve as an expert consultant for two NCCHI funded research studies: lead yoga investigator for Treatments for Improving Mood Disorders in Teens and a consultant for Yoga for Chronic Pain in MAT Patients. Both studies are with Brown University and Butler Hospital, RI.  The outcomes of these trials could have valuable and far-reaching promise for the future of mental health.

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Health Coaching & Yoga Therapy

Working with adults and adolescents I provide Stress Management, Yoga Therapy, and Lifestyle Training using evidence-based models that honor the integrity and strength of individuals and their readiness for change.  While mentoring private clients my focus is to guide with clarity and care that inspires self awareness and meaningful change along the health spectrum.

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Lifestyle Program Development

From 2006-2015 I founded & directed Focus Yoga (East Greenwich, RI) where

I developed and led a wealth of lifestyle trainings including: The Science & Practice of Breath; Stress Management: a Natural Approach; and, Eat Life! Plant-Based Nutrition Made Easy. I provide professional training programs for corporate groups, healthcare workers and yoga teachers. 

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My education and professional trainings include:

• MA, Art Therapy, Cal State LA

• MA, Religious Studies, Providence College

• Dean Ornish Lifestyle Medicine Facilitator

• International Association of Yoga Therapist,  Certified Yoga Therapist

• Trauma Informed Yoga Therapist (APA Approved)

• Unified Mindfulness Facilitator

• Natural Healers Counseling Program, with Tom Monte

• Certified Macrobiotics Counselor

• Overcome Anxiety Clinic Facilitator

• Hanna Somatic Yoga Instructor

Jennifer has worked as a fitness model, fitness competitor and stylist. She has obtained numerous health, wellness and fitness certificates including CrossFit Coaching, Olympic Weightlifting, Movement & Mobility, Muscle Activation Techniques and a certification in Plant Based Nutrition and Nutrition and Healthy Living from Cornell University. In addition to these courses, Jennifer has completed the Women’s Health certification through Dr. Pam Popper’s Wellness Forum Health.

After years of suffering from intense ‘stomach’ pain, Jennifer was diagnosed with endometriosis and was able to take complete control of her health, get strong, and achieve a state of well-being that she didn’t think was attainable.

Jennifer specializes in helping individuals with inflammatory conditions thrive through three powerful elements: Food + Fitness + Wellness. She knows first-hand how being dedicated to plant powered food, fitness and self-care can improve everything from inflammation, unbalanced moods, poor performance in the gym, low energy levels, and various skin conditions.  

When it comes to diets, they are only focused on one thing-the physical result. Yes we all want to look good, but when focusing just on the physical we are missing some very key components that help us obtain these desirable changes and make them permanent. 

In this Episode I talk about how mindset and finding your "Why" are the 2 key components that create LASTING DESIRABLE change. We often don't dig deep enough to discover the emotional attachments behind making a change, which is crucial to keeping you motivated on the path to long term success. 

Melissa's story: 

I have always struggled with my weight.  I can remember being slightly chubby from around the age of 5, but everything got worse when at the age of 8 we moved from the city to another local suburb.  I struggled to make new friends, and began to be picked on.  Like so many others, I found comfort in food.  This lead to my highest weight of about 225 pounds by the time I was 20.  On my small 5’1″ frame it looked worse.

Shortly after getting married to my ex-husband I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes!  I went to the doctor for a checkup after having a miscarriage, and I walked out of the office with 6 prescriptions for pills, meter, strips, and not really knowing what Diabetes even was.

While I realize now my low/no carb approach was unsustainable for me, I did lower my A1c, lose 50 pounds and get pregnant with my son! But after my first pregnancy I struggled.  I would yo-yo with both my weight, losing the same 20 pounds over and over again, but also with my diabetes.  My A1c was all over the place, anywhere from 11 to 5.1! I tried so many different diets, shakes, extreme workouts, pink drinks, pills, etc, and nothing worked longer that a few weeks or months.  

I went from Metformin, to insulin, to Victoza-until I got a lump in my neck from it. Around the same time I also experienced knee inflammation.  I have an old knee injury and some arthritis from it, but now my knee was the size of a grapefruit, for no reason! 

I couldn’t walk for a month.  I was stuck on the couch, peeing in a garbage can!  My husband was transitioning from his day job to a higher paying evening job, so he would get the kids on the bus, leave all day, come home for an hour, feed and bath our daughter, and then leave all night.  My butt went numb from sitting and laying.  I had tennis elbow from lifting myself, and then carpal tunnel in both wrists from switching to them.  I was at ROCK BOTTOM! 

This was when I knew I had to make a complete change.  This just wasn’t working.  Everyday I felt like I was slowly dying instead of living and thriving.  We had watched Forks Over Knives, Hungry For Change, Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead 1 & 2, Food Matters, and so many other documentaries before but just never did anything.  Now we were ready!  We tried one day, a Saturday, eating a 100% WFPB diet.  This was rebirth! 

 Immediately I noticed changes.  I had to start lowering my insulin because I was having lows and waking up in the 50’s.  I was sleeping better.  I had energy.  I was losing weight.  And my knee was straight and normal after just 2 weeks.  After 4 weeks I was completely OFF insulin! For the first time in my life I felt like I was living instead of dying.  This is why I don’t cheat or why I haven’t “fallen off the wagon” Because no junk food is better than how I feel everyday! I have since lost a total of 82 pounds since switching to a WFPB lifestyle (or 107 pounds if you go off my highest weight of 225)! 

Heather's Story:

Emily Kyle is an award-winning, nationally recognized media dietitian, nutrition spokesperson, and published author. She is the owner of the nutrition communications and consulting company Emily Kyle Nutrition located in Rochester, NY. On her blog and social media channels, Emily shares useful resources, nutrition articles, delicious and nutritious anti-inflammatory recipes, as well as her love for backyard gardening and modern homesteading inside The Millennial Garden. Emily Kyle Nutrition is also a private practice serving individuals in-person in Rochester, NY and virtually around the country specializing in MRT Food Sensitivity Testing and Medical Nutrition Therapy for autoimmune conditions. Her first book, The 30-Minute Thyroid Cookbook: 125 Healing Recipes for Hypothyroidism & Hashimoto’s was released December, 2018. As a writer, speaker, author and media personality, Emily loves to share her nutrition knowledge with the public. You can catch her live every Monday morning on Good Day Rochester sharing her love for cooking delicious, healthy food. Outside of work, you can find her caring for her garden, flock of chickens, and young son Ransom. 

Dr. Reed Mangels is a Nutrition Advisor for the non-profit, educational Vegetarian Resource Group as well as the nutrition editor and a regular columnist for the quarterly publication, Vegetarian Journal. She is a co-author of The Dietitian's Guide to Vegetarian Diets (2nd and 3rd editions) and of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' 2009 and 2003 position papers on vegetarian diets.  Reed has authored several books for the public including The Everything Vegan Pregnancy Book (updated version coming out soon) and Simply Vegan. 

Tatiana Amico is a mother who understands firsthand what life as a busy mom, who also has desires for more, looks like, is passionate about showing other mothers what is possible for them, and that they can create the lives they desire. She decided to leave corporate America and become a stay at home mom with her first son. Soon after, she realized she was meant to do more, and wanted to help her family financially. So, she decided to start a business from home, so she could contribute financially, while still being home with her son. 

She is a certified Health Coach, successful entrepreneur, influencer, speaker, podcaster, and business mentor. She specializes in helping women gain clarity on what it is they want in their lives, realize their potential, take action, and see massive results. 

Tatiana has been trained and mentored by some of the most incredible coaches in the world. She believes that creating a better world begins with individuals taking care of the health – body & mind, so she began business in 2014 by joining a health & fitness network marketing company. She built up a highly successful business quickly by helping hundreds of women with their health, and building a team of wellness entrepreneurs.  

Tatiana believes every woman is deserving and capable of going after more, and living a life they desire and deserve. She is excited to now take all her skills to not only continue to help women step up in their lives, go after their dreams, and make money building businesses they love!

Dr. Pamela Fergusson is a Registered Dietitian with a PhD in nutrition, and over 15 years of experience with changing lives through better nutrition. She has worked as a lecturer in nutrition at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK and Ryerson University, Canada.

She has her own private practice in British Columbia, Canada.  Dr. Fergusson has been featured on the Food Heals Podcast, the Our Hen House Podcast and on the No Meat Athlete Podcast and Blog. She has also spoken at the Plant-Based Prevention of Disease conference, and the International Congress of Dietetics in Granada, Spain, and Dietitians of Canada 2018 conference in Vancouver. She is also a member of the Dietitians of Canada Leadership Team on Sustainable Food Systems Leadership Team, and the advisory boards of Balanced and Concious Eating Canada. She loves to spread the message of plant-based positivity.

Dr. Fergusson has worked as a Dietitian in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia for organizations such as Unicef and the World Food program. She has broad and diverse experience as she has worked in research and teaching as well as public health and clinical practice. She is fascinated by nutrition and loves bringing wellness and fitness into her own life. She eats a whole foods, plant-based diet and loves to cook and bake with her four children. Fitness brings joy to her life; she is a runner and speed walker and she has completed five half marathons, one marathon, two ultramarathons and one self-styled Ironman. She believes in the power of activity to help improve our mental and physical health. Dr. Fergusson brings all of this joy and experience to her practice.