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Here at GMB, we love seeing how we have helped inspire people on their wellness journey - from learning how to read nutrition labels, making healthy food swaps and adopting lifelong habits from our regular challenges.
This month, we chat to GMB customer and Wholefoodie, Minela Addison. Keep reading as she takes us through her health story!
GMB: How did you eat growing up?
Terribly! I lived in Europe until I was 8 and my mum cooked a lot of traditional food that was high in saturated fats. My parents had bread with EVERYTHING! I ate a lot of take-away throughout high school and university – please don’t judge me – I was so clueless about nutrition!
GMB: How do you feel now that you eat wholefoods?
I truly feel like a different person now! My autoimmune condition has been and continues to be practically inactive. I have more energy and I definitely get way more out myself and every day.
GMB: How would you describe your food philosophy?
I’m a firm believer of ‘everything in moderation’. I NEVER deprive myself of anything I like and don’t ever hide the fact that I love wholefoods and being healthy just as much as I love to treat myself on the weekends to some bubbles (or a martini) and nice lunch/dinner, but I always make sure I listen to my body as to when I start to feel full, instead of the usually giant portions on the plate!
GMB: What made you switch to wholefoods?
I constantly felt tired, bloated and just overall sluggish. I didn’t really know what I was doing wrong and when I tried to train, it felt like I was making little to no progress which was super frustrating. I also have an autoimmune condition (lupus or SLE). I was diagnosed at 17 and it took years before I realised the food I was putting in my body (mainly take-away) was making my condition worse.
GMB: Was the change difficult and if so how did you overcome this?
The biggest problem I had was that I didn’t know what I was doing wrong. There’s so much information out there and I think I was trying to absorb it ALL. And of course, different things work for different people so that was never going to work! Change was scary at first but once you break things down and find trustworthy information, it becomes second nature.
GMB: Any tips or advice for those out there trying to make the switch to a wholefood lifestyle?
Start with baby steps! Aim for progress instead of perfection and try to change habits one at a time – I found the GMB Healthy Habits Challenge so simple yet incredibly useful! It’s important to make any changes as easy as possible to start off with, otherwise you’ll overwhelm yourself and feel like you’re failing.
GMB: After making the switch, how did you feel after and did you notice things you could do that you couldn't do before?
My mood definitely improved – I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that I was eating foods that actually nourished me and agreed with my body so I didn’t feel exhausted all the time! The extra energy made me more focused and productive at work and stronger during training. I’ve taken up hiking now too and love lots hills or stairs – things I used to dread the thought of!
GMB: Is there anything you can do now or you have done, which you once thought would have been possible?
I was always a terrible runner – I tried and tried and could never run 100m without collapsing at the end, completely out of breath. Now I run 3km every weekday and feel incredible and energised for the whole day!
GMB: What are 4 staple products that are always in your shopping trolley?
Bananas, eggs, tea (green and peppermint) and dark chocolate!
GMB: How has GMB helped you on your health journey?
The GMB health boxes and blog have taught me so much about food and nutrition in a way that makes sense! It’s really taken the effort and confusion out of the crazy amount of terrible information out there. Plus getting new products to try delivered to my door each month without me having to use my brain or time has seriously changed my life! It’s become so easy now to know what’s good for me and what isn’t. The awesome recipes on GMB’s Instagram and in the box each month have given me great ideas about ingredients that go well together!
GMB: What has been your all-time favourite product in our box and why?
It’s impossible to pick just one! So I’ll pick one savoury and one sweet – the Table of Plenty Rice Cakes and the Bennetto Dark Chocolate With Roasted Hazelnuts (my mouth is actually watering, BRB).