Recap: IIN Conference in Long Beach

/

The weekend after my last day of work, I attended a two-day conference in Long Beach, CA hosted by my health coaching program, the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN).

There were thousands (I've heard anywhere between 3,000 and 5,000!) of IIN students, graduates, staff, teachers and guests in attendance.

I felt inspired to be in the presence of so many incredible health coaches and healers who have not only transformed their own lives but are transforming the lives of others as well.

Want to hear a totally random fact (and evidence that the IIN Community is so "small")?! I met a girl at the conference who attended the same sleep-away camp I did (and overlapped with me a couple of years) more than 15 years ago! Talk about random!

The Speakers

We had the privilege of hearing from top nutrition and health experts including:

  • David Wolfe: Author and raw food nutrition expert

  • Geneen Roth: Author and my personal favorite expert on emotional eating

  • Mark Sisson: Author and expert on the Primal Lifestyle (Paleo Diet)

  • Paul Pitchford: Author and expert in Traditional Chinese Medicine

  • John Robbins: Author, social activist and humanitarian (and son of the founder of the Baskin-Robbins ice cream empire)

  • Julia Ross: Author, pioneer in the field of nutritional psychotherapy and specialist in addiction and eating disorders

  • Gary Taubes: Author and American science writer

  • Seane Corn: Internationally celebrated yoga teacher

Having read articles and books by most of these renowned speakers over the last 3 years, I felt so fortunate to finally see and hear them live!

Juicy Health Tidbits

During the conference, I was actively posting on my social media pages so I could share what I was learning with you in real time.

Here were some of my posts from that weekend and who they were inspired by:

  • Sugar & sugar substitutes are 4x more addictive than cocaine! (Julia Ross)

  • "Beyond the brokenness is a place that's never been broken." (Geneen Roth)

  • Olive oil, wine, chocolate & raw honey are linked to increased longevity

  • Every thought, feeling & experience we have effects the health of our cells. (Seane Corn)

  • Stress is the #1 cause of disease & illness. Incorporate deep breathing, yoga and/or a meditation practice into your daily routine to reduce your stress levels so you can live a long & healthy life. (Seane Corn)

  • You can turn genes on & off thru nutrition. Just because [heart disease, cancer, etc] runs in your family, doesn't mean you will get it too. (Paul Pitchford)

  • "Less Pain, More Love" (John Robbins)

Also, since I'd say at least 95% of the conference attendees were women, we watched a powerful trailer for the film, "Miss Representation". Have you seen it?

It "explores women's under-representation in positions of power and influence and challenges the limited and often disparaging portrayals of women in media."

I am scheduled to see a screening of the entire 90 minute film in two weeks and I am really excited!

What Made this Conference Different from Any Other

  • We had frequent breaks reserved for guided breathing exercises, stretching, dancing and shoulder massages

  • SO much positive energy in one room. There is a distinct vibration when you get members of the IIN community together in one place. I haven't been able to find it anywhere else...it really feels like a family.

  • We heard from an advocate of the raw vegan food lifestyle (eat foods that haven't been heated above 118 degrees) and an advocate of the paleo lifestyle (eat foods that our ancestors ate-- meat, veggies, fat...no sugar, no grains). One of the things that is fascinating about the field of nutrition is that two experts with completely different viewpoints can provide evidence that their theory is the best. The bottom line? We are all unique. Experiment and find what way of eating works best for YOU!

What I Ate

  • Breakfast on both days consisted of green smoothies from Whole Foods. That's right- Before I even left San Diego, I located where the closest Whole Foods was in Long Beach so I could be sure I had a healthy breakfast waiting for me. It helps to plan ahead.

  • Oh and I have GOT to tell you about the lunch I had on Day 1. I had the most incredible meal from this cute little vegan restaurant called Steamed which was located just a few blocks from the conference. I ordered the Vegan Happy "Tuna" which was a vegan version of tuna salad consisting of chickpeas instead of tuna. Brilliant! I've made "mock tuna" dishes in the past using nuts and seeds, but never chickpeas. I am definitely inspired to make my own version when I get back to San Diego. It was DELICIOUS!

All in all, it was a wonderfully nourishing weekend!