This weekend I attended Integrative Nutrition’s “IIN Live” 2-day Conference in NYC. I’m a 2009 graduate of their life-changing health coach training program, and I always jump at the chance to attend a live event. IIN Live featured inspiring speakers like Bernie Siegel, Mark Bittman, John Douillard, Daniel Amen, Andrea Beaman, Joshua Rosenthal, and more. With both current students and alumni in attendance, I think it’s safe to say all of us were thrilled to be there. Here’s a few of my favorite conference take-aways.
Inspiring
- Dr. Daniel Amen, best-selling author/director of the Amen Clinics, focused on brain health. In addition to cutting out toxic foods and keeping your weight down, Dr. Amen said to write a daily gratitude list with 5 things/people you’re grateful for. This technique is something I started doing this year, and it actually makes you feel happier on a daily basis. In just 2-3 weeks, you’ll feel a shift, and other people will notice it too. Now that’s a brain boost!
- Well-known food writer Mark Bittman told us to simply move towards a plant-based, whole foods diet. This doesn’t mean you have to be a vegan, or put a label on yourself. Just change your proportions. Bittman says that eating healthier for the last 6 years helped him lose weight, gain energy, start exercising again, and recover from knee pain and sleep apnea. I love his realistic approach!
Energizing
- Bernie Siegel, pediatric surgeon/healing expert, entertained us with countless personal stories and his stream-of-consciousness approach to speaking. Several times he had me shaking my head, having what Oprah calls those “A-Ha” moments. Bernie reminded us that EVERYONE is struggling in some way. He says that “when you are going through hell, ask yourself what am I supposed to learn from this situation?” and “What nourishment do I need to bring into my life?” Bernie’s sense of humor and honesty really pumped me up.
- Ayurvedic medicine and natural health expert John Douillard told us to help people get off the sugar addiction. It’s killing us and our energy! If you really want to heal your body and improve digestion, try eating more vegetables and removing all the excess sugar from your diet. Drinking a big glass of water 15-20 minutes before meals also helps your body prepare to digest food. Poor digestion = poor energy.
- Celebrity trainer Joel Harper and Core Strength Vinyasa Yoga expert Sadie Nardini both gave us energizing stretching and yoga breathing mini-classes right from our conference seats. Getting my blood pumping helped me stay focused and energized between speakers.
Thought-Provoking
- Andrea Beaman, natural foods expert/chef/health coach, urged that our “health is wealth.” As a person who fully recovered from an auto-immune thyroid disease, Andrea said that “what we eat becomes us, so we need to buy organic, clean, and naturally raised foods.” When you buy healthy foods you are investing in yourself! To save extra dollars, Andrea recommends choosing Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) where you can get a HUGE batch of fresh, local produce for about $21 a week. Check out LocalHarvest.org for details.
- IIN Founder and Director Joshua Rosenthal spoke several times throughout the weekend, always delivering those challenging questions and providing us with a get-real approach to getting what we want out of life. My favorite question he asked was, “what do you feel is your greatest challenge to success?” It’s a question any of us can ask ourselves…and it’s one that is bound to bring up truths around what is truly holding you back.
I feel so grateful for all of these experiences, and in 2 short days, I learned more about nutrition, but also more about myself. Integrative Nutrition is about so much more than food and diets!
I hope you enjoyed getting a closer peek into the IIN Live Conference. If you’re curious about IIN, ever considered a career change, or just want to gain some valuable knowledge about how to take better care of yourself and others, feel free to contact me. I’m always open to chat about my health coach training and how it changed my life, opened up my eyes and my heart, and gave me the courage to move to the glorious city we call New York.
Laurel, five years ago, graduating with a health coach certification back in the summer of 2009.
Cheers! Here’s a picture of me on IIN graduation day back in 2009. Such a sweet memory!
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5 years! OMG!
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