Name: Gina Topley
Origin: San Francisco Bay
Occupation: Currently studying a degree in marketing and aminor in nutrition.
Ambitions: To work in the health and fitness industry after graduating, and obtain her personal training degree in the next few years.
When I first began my Instagram profile over 2 years ago, Gina was one of my first inspirations due to her abundance of positivity and ambition to achieve her goals and happily live the life she set out for herself. Although she is only in her twenties, this inspiring young lady is well educated in nourishing her own well being as well as inspiring others, especiallu with her mouth watering recipes! I am fortunate to share her inner thoughts as well as a bonus recipe that I am addicted too! I am sure you will love her as much as I do! Namaste <3
Since transitioning to a healthy lifestyle, what changes have you noticed?
When I first began to take holdof my health and cut out most of the processed, fake foods I was consuming, the first change I noticed was the way I interacted with others. I became an overall more relaxed, happier and energetic person.
Do you think your lifestyle change has had an effect on those around you?
I have seen firsthand many of the people I love making conscious efforts to improve their health, and I can only humbly believe I may have played a role in those changes.
What is your daily routine?
Since my schedule changes so often, my daily routine does as well. A typical day for me currently consists of waking up, working out, showering?getting ready for the day and eating breakfast, going to class or a coffee shop to work from my laptop depending on the day, eating a lunch I packed the night before, seeing a friend or stopping by my parents' house for a visit, returning home to cook dinner and unwind with a movie or blog reading, having dessert and tea, the finally heading to bed.
I love the spontaneity of your life, it keeps each day fresh? However, is there anything strict about your diet and lifestyle?
I try to make sure my diet never has any firm restrictions because I know for me personally, that can lead to an unhealthy relationship with food. I strive to focus on real, whole foods that nourish my body.
Now that is the way to think! Life is precious and should be lived freely. What are your must have foods?
Squash, fruit, raw chocolate, green vegetables and oats.
Delicious! And what about your favourite form of exercise?
Weightlifting and yoga are tied, don't make me choose!
Oh I won't don't worry, I haven't tried weightlifting but yoga is a great way to unwind and there is so much on youtube now! For others eager to begin their journey, what are your top tips for health and happiness?
My best tips would be to simply be true to yourself and your body's needs. Every single person is different, and by acknowledging what makes you feel the best (from the foods you choose to eat to the attitude you choose to have) is the way to go.
Identical to my outlook! Everyone is an individual star in sky each with their own beauty and wonder. Speaking of stars, you are so radiant and shining, do you fancy sharing your top 5 beauty routines?
Honestly, I am extremely low maintenance when it comes to beauty. I gave up most artificial products and heat tools a few years back, and focus on using minimal natural products. That said I swear by dry brushing, coconut oil as a hair/skin moisturizer, rosebud salve for my lips, apple cider vinegar as a toner, and getting a sufficient amount of vitamin D.
I will bare those in mind! On a different subject, I think many people fear verging from the path prescribed to us, what are your opinions on this vs creating your own?
I say step outside your comfort zone and go for whatever it is you dream of achieving, whether those dreams be on the path you are on already or a completely different path. It may be scary, but fear is often what brings on the best changes.
Change can be daunting, especially because it is so spontaneous and out of control. Name 3 changes in your life that have shifted you to new levels?
The main change that truly shifted my perspective on life was getting in touch with my spirituality and discovering authors such as Eckhart Tolle, Gabrielle Bernstein, and Marianna Williamson. Two other significant factors that have brought me to new levels are my yoga practice and my introduction to the lcoal food movement.
Spirituality most certainly has an important role in overall mental and physical health, especialy in learning to appreciate and cherish oneself. What is self love for you?
To me, self love is accepting yourself, flaws and all, exactly where you are at this moment in time. We will never benefit from thinking we will be better tomorrow, or the next day, or twenty years from now. So, to love yourself today is to achieve self love.
Such inspiring words! You mentioned being inspired by many authors, do you have a favourite quote?
"Realise deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life." Eckhart Tolle
I will be making a note of that one! Anyway, now to the food! What inspires your recipe creations?
I have social media and all the wonderful people I have connected with through my blog, Instagram, and Facebook to thank for inspiring much of what happens in my kitchen. I think we all have so much to give and share, and to be inspired is on the greatest things to come from the increased prevalence of social media.
'Cheesy' Kale chips
Ingredients
- 1 bunch kale (washed and dried)
- 1/2 cup cashews (soaked overnight)
- 1/2 red bell pepper
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 1/4 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt (sea salt would work as well)
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
- juice of 1 lemon
Directions
| Step 1 | |
| Set oven to lowest possible setting. Ideally, this will be the "warm" setting. This should be about 150 degrees Fahrenheit. | |
| Step 2 | |
| Combine all ingredients except for the kale in a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Add water as needed to obtain a paste consistency. | |
| Step 3 | |
| Tear the kale into large pieces and massage the mixture into them with your hands. This will get messy! | |
| Step 4 | |
| Spread the kale onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil, taking care to separate the pieces so they are lying flat and only slightly touching. | |
| Step 5 | |
| Place try in the warm oven and let cook for 30 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on the heat of your oven. You may prop the door of the oven open while the chips bake for better results (although this is not the most efficient way to go in terms of energy efficiency). | |
No comments:
Post a Comment