When You Hit Roadblocks in Your Health

Naturopathic Medicine with Dr. Allison Brumley

I recently interview Dr. Allison Brumley, a dear friend, about her journey to becoming a naturopathic doctor.  We discussed everything from what inspired her to study naturopathic medicine to how she feels about intuitive eating.   I was very inspired and uplifted by her insights and knowledge about the human body and I think that you will be too.  I'm sharing some of the highlights here, but if you want the full experience be sure to listen to the podcast!  Here are the insights about naturopathic medicine from Dr. Allison Brumley.  No matter what your beliefs are about naturopathic medicine, you can learn from this amazing woman.

Dr. Brumley has weathered the storms of life graciously and has an amazing outlook on how the body works as a whole and how we can better serve our bodies, minds, and spirits.   We can all benefit from her knowledge and experience.  I asked her the following questions and these were her answers:

 Can you tell us how you juggled your work ethic and family life when you were starting out? 

My whole life, I feel like I have taken the rocky path. The hard path.  There was a time that I had three little kids and had gotten divorced. I remember thinking what am I going to do?  How am I going to take care of them?   I need to work. I need to take care of these kids.  I have a friend that I have known for a long time.  After seeing him recently he said, “you have grit.”  I have never thought about that before.  I would never use that word for myself.  That word to him, and now to me, means that your willing to do what you need to do to be where you need to be.  Your willing to set goals to overcome these hurdles.  I look back on those years with great fondness spending time with my family and accomplishing what I did. 

I always was a good eater.  My mom always made dinners.  We never went out.  We always ate at home.  So that’s what I did for my kids. 

And I slept well.

If you’re eating well and sleeping well then you can get a lot done.

 I also have always been an exerciser.   When I was in school I would wake up at 5:30 and do some yoga. 

 I just knew I wanted to do some things and I did it. 

There’s the whole entrepreneurial side of being a physician, did that come naturally to you or did you get help setting up your practice?  

Yes, it came very natural.  Utah is the only state that has a required residency.  So I did my residency with a doctor in Salt Lake City .  She was my mentor for a year.  It gave me an income.  And when I saw patients and could ask her questions.  Utah has a very wide scope of practice for us, which has been very beneficial to me and my practice.

I worked in that clinic for a few years then I wanted to be closer to home, so I opened my own office.  I have a great success story. 

What would you say to someone who feels like their best years are behind them?

It is never too late.  You can never waste your time or money learning things. 

 #1-take care of yourself.  Don’t put every ounce of your energy and strength into your family, your work, etc…  Nutrition, exercise, and sleep are essential.

#2  Do what you’re passionate about.  What do you like to do?  What do you think about a lot?  What do you watch?  Find something that you can do that surrounds that. 

Going to school is so expensive.  I will pay on my student loans until I am 72.  Every once in a while it will get wrapped up in my head about how much I am paying on my student loans.  But I love what I do!  And I really think that I'm good at it.  I love it.  And So the time and the cost for me was worth it. 

It all goes back to what are you passionate about?  Follow that passion.  Follow where it leads you.  If the time isn’t right, maybe it is next year.  Find the people in your life who will support you.  Everyone in my life was supporting me while I was going to school.  Fill your life with people who support you. 

It’s all easier said than done. But you have to put one foot in front of the other and start!

There’s an alarming rise in numbers, especially with teens and young adults who are managing disordered eating and full blown eating disorders. From a nutrition perspective, how would you speak to that?

I talk to my patients about nutrition at every visit.  I do not like calorie counting. I do not like restrictive eating. I do not like macros.  

I do not want those sort of restrictive diets to be lifelong.  You eat what feels good to you.  I have people that if they eat a morsel of gluten they have brain fog and joint pain.  So they have to restrict gluten from their diet.  And that's OK.

If you are going to do a "diet" my favorite diet plan is the Mediterranean Diet.  Historically it has been the most useful for any type of health condition.  What I love about it is that it doesn’t eliminate a food group.  It is very much plant based, but you can have dairy, bread, legumes and dark chocolates, and dessert every once in a while. 

I tell my clients to follow the 80/20 or 90/10 rule.  80% of the time you are eating well and then you have the 10-20% you can eat birthday cake! 

I don’t eat ice cream because it doesn’t serve me well.  After a while of intuitive eating your body will know what foods do/do not serve it well.

Most things you have to have in moderation for your physical, spiritual, and moral health.   The same goes for the foods that you eat.  Everything in moderation.

It's OK if you have a square or two of dark chocolate everyday…find that balance and find out what works for you.

If you feel stuck, you don't have to stay stuck!

As you can see, we had a wonderful conversation about Naturopathic Medicine and how it can benefit our mind, body, and soul.  Dr. Brumley and myself want you to know that you have options when you need support in your health journey.

You don't have to do this alone, friend.  You are not alone and you don't have to navigate your health alone.  If you have questions,  reach out!  I became a life coach so that I could help women (YOU) weather the storms of life.  I am on your side, cheering you on.  You can set up your FREE thirty minute consultation here.  Let's chat, so I can figure out how to best support you and get you on the right road to becoming your best self.

You are amazing.  I want you to feel that way.

Love you friend,

Danielle