EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: NUTRITIONAL THERAPIST

Welcome February 2017!! Hopefully you’re “Wellness” goals are still running hot, and if they’re not; I’ve got some EXTRA inspiration from Los Angeles Nutritional Therapy Practitioner & Paleo Chef, Kelsey Ale.

Kelsey Ale: Nutritional Therapist & Paleo Chef, Los Angeles, USA

 

 

 

Last month, while I was visiting the City of Angels, I had the rare opportunity to catch up link up with this stunning lady, and find out how she got into the field, where she started, what inspires her to keep moving forward and where she’s headed – read on for the EXCLUSIVE interview:

M.E. “You started out as a Pilates teacher based in Florida, what made you want to get into nutritional therapy?”

K.A. “I came to Pilates from a massage therapy and anatomy background, so it was a smooth transition into teaching then.

“I had an interest in nutrition and how to use food to heal the body from the age of 14, and in fact I was on my own nutritional healing journey while I was teaching Pilates.”

I think that at that time I knew I hadn’t found “it” yet – you know, the thing you see/think/feel when you know you’ve gotten to where you’re going on a particular path? I was still searching for my best fit for nutrition philosophy and wanted to find something that clicked before I stepped into it as a field. Ultimately, teaching Pilates the way I did was quite physically demanding and I knew it wouldn’t be my forever career, so it was good to start dreaming about the next step early on. ”

M.E. “If you were explaining it to someone outside of the “wellness field”, what exactly IS Nutritional Therapy and why do we need it in our lives?”  

K.A. “Nutritional Therapy is a holistic approach to nutrition that seeks out the root cause of imbalances and symptoms within the body (excess weight, fatigue, skin rashes and irritations, insomnia, etc.). Once we identify the root cause, we begin to heal the body from the inside out – this is what makes Nutritional Therapy so important! Many other approaches to nutrition are very single-minded – only looking at food and macronutrients ratios – or they subsist on dogma, telling you that this food is “good” and that food is “bad” (I should know, I tried several of those philosophies before realizing that none of them are right!), or they focus only on food and nothing else.

Nutritional Therapy looks at lifestyle, the possible need for supplementation, environmental toxins, and the many other factors that influence our wellbeing so we can come up with a well-rounded plan to help you achieve vibrant health. We seek to heal the wound, not just put a band-aid on it. And most importantly, Nutritional Therapy acknowledges that each person has different “bioindividual” nutrient needs, so we always do our best to take a totally custom and tailored approach to restoring health.

Did someone say Paleo Mexican? One of Kelsey’s deliciously nutritious creations!

M.E. “You’re extremely brave to just up and change your career like that; what gave you the courage to take the plunge?”  

K.A. “I really appreciate you saying that, it felt and still does feel like a big step for me. Honestly, after getting out of a troubled relationship a few years ago I think I opened my eyes and realized that there were so many things I had thought about doing, pictured myself doing, and dreamed about doing that I never gave myself the chance to explore. And I’m the kind of person who (eventually) likes to be efficient with my mental energy, so I finally decided I either needed to do those things I had been dreaming of or stop dreaming about them. I decided I would go out on a limb and put my energy into creating the things that I thought so much about for so long – I figured even if I failed at them, at least I wouldn’t wonder for the rest of my life what it would be like to go for it.”

M.E. “So you’ve obviously some huge personal growth on the path to your professional growth too! If you had to narrow it down, what would you say  is your ongoing motivational force?”

K.A “Personally, my ongoing motivational force is remembering what I want – the vision I hold for myself – coupled with the reminder that the vision is only a vision. To keep moving forward, you have to be flexible and realize that while your goals give you something to aim for and a reason to start moving; how you get there and what it looks like in the end is totally subject to change. I used to think that if things didn’t look exactly the way I wanted them too then they ‘weren’t working.’

“Now I see that success comes in many different forms, so I can appreciate each step I take even if it comes in an unexpected package.”

I also believe very strongly in the phrase “fake it till you make it.” There are so many days when I’m down on myself, I don’t think I can do it, I don’t think what I have to offer has any value, and the thing I’m trying to make turns out totally wonky. But in those moments I know it’s most important to say to myself, “You can do this. You’re already doing it.” and keep moving forward, even if it feels like I’m just going through the motions. Sometimes that’s the only way I will move forward, is by forcing myself to. No one is happy all the time. No one feels great about what they’re doing all the time. It’s important to push through those moments and tell yourself you’re still on track, even if you don’t completely believe it in the moment. I am also eternally inspired by the people who I have an opportunity to help and support on their journey to vibrant health”

M.E. “I’ve been lucky enough to try your cooking and baking on a few occasions now, tell me, what is YOUR favourite recipe and the nutritional benefits?” 

K.A. “I love sharing food with friends! I sometimes joke that food is my love language. Hmm, a favourite recipe is hard, though… I think honestly, I love making pureed soups. They’re one of my go-to comfort foods, and I like to keep them really simple so they’re quick and easy to prepare. The magic ingredient that I use to super-charge them is bone broth. I switch it up between beef and chicken bone broth, but both are packed full of minerals, healthy fats, collagen, and great nutrients to help heal and soothe the gut lining. Bone broth is great for your skin, hair, nails, and digestion, so I know I’m doing something good for my body even when I’m eating “comfort food.”

Second to that would be my Paleo Oreos recipe from my Paleo Sweets Cookbook, but I think the biggest health benefit they offer is that they’re good for the soul

Paleo Dessert: Kelsey’s Graham Cracker Crust Cheesecake from her book – could you resist?

M.E “I can literally SEE your business going from strength to strength, with your new YouTube channel starting soon that boasts your latest and greatist recipes. With all the success flowing your way, what’s next for the future of ‘The Kelsey Ale‘?”

K.A. “I love this question because I still love dreaming about “next.” I definitely plan on creating another cookbook later this year and would love to begin work on a fitness program as well. I’m trying to stay open to opportunities as they present themselves to me from there.

In the long-term I’d like to go back to school to learn more about neuroscience and begin to understand how we can take a more holistic approach to mental health, which is a personal passion and interest of mine.”

M.E.  “Lastly, what is your TOP TIP for anyone out there wanting to start their own business, who might be lacking the confidence to take that plunge themselves?”

K.A. “Plan on failing. No one whom you look up to or admire got it right on the first try. I have to admit, I was terrified of failure before taking this recent leap. I would only try things I knew I could do. But unknowingly, that sense of “safety” limited me in many, many ways. When you plan on failing, when you’re not afraid to make mistakes, you’re giving yourself permission to grow so much as a person. I love Paulo Coelho’s quote from the book The Alchemist,

“The secret to life, though, is to fall seven times and get up eight times.”

I believe in myself more than I ever have before because I know now that when I fall, I can get back up again.”   – Kelsey Ale

Gain a FREE consultation with Kelsey – You just have to say “Please… with a cherry on top”

With a whole lot of personal and professional growth abound, Kelsey is sure to light up the L.A. health scene this year with her intrinsic knowledge about the body and how to heal it – naturally. As more and more people are turning towards a healthier existence, it’s time to heal the body from the inside out, and detoxify our stress and disease so WE TOO can live our BEST lives.

For a FREE consultation with Kelsey, contact her directly through her website and get your health to the place you’ve always dreamed it could be. She can help you switch up the imbalances and accompanying symptoms and will leave you with that golden glow that you’ll be forever in gratitude of.

Love & light,

Monique Elouise xx