Hey, I'm Dev.
I found my passion for nutrition and wellness by accident.
I had always been a pretty heavy kid and I was unhappy about it for most of my childhood.
I tried everything you could imagine to lose weight, from doctor-supervised diets and B12 injections to meal replacement shakes and hypnosis (spoiler alert: nothing worked).
My parents were always supportive of me losing weight, and with my mom’s degree in Kinesiology, you’d think it would have been an easy process. Back then (10 years ago now), people were focused on weight loss, especially with low-carb and low-fat diets, because we knew that having a lot of excess weight could be detrimental to your health.
But the thing is, no one really knew that those diets and regimes could be so so bad for your body... And even worse for your mind. From grade 11 to 12, I managed to lose 100 pounds through intense exercising and an extremely restrictive diet.
I had always been a pretty heavy kid and I was unhappy about it for most of my childhood.
I tried everything you could imagine to lose weight, from doctor-supervised diets and B12 injections to meal replacement shakes and hypnosis (spoiler alert: nothing worked).
My parents were always supportive of me losing weight, and with my mom’s degree in Kinesiology, you’d think it would have been an easy process. Back then (10 years ago now), people were focused on weight loss, especially with low-carb and low-fat diets, because we knew that having a lot of excess weight could be detrimental to your health.
But the thing is, no one really knew that those diets and regimes could be so so bad for your body... And even worse for your mind. From grade 11 to 12, I managed to lose 100 pounds through intense exercising and an extremely restrictive diet.
I continued eating what I considered a healthy amount — 800-1000 calories a day — and working out as often as I could until I got to university. I even applied to live on the healthy lifestyles floor at Western because I figured if I was in the nutrition program, I would really need to be around people who understood my lifestyle.
After first year, I made some awesome friends and I was slowly pulled out of my restrictions and schedule and began to actually have fun… But then I started gaining weight, as most people do in university, so I became unhappy and focused on that again.
Eventually somewhere along the way from my third to my fifth year at school, I finally became satisfied — if not actually happy — about my body and my life. I was still taking nutrition, but had switched to a program but with more of a holistic approach to healthy living. This program focused on nutrition, human ecology and families, rather than the dietetic ideology.
I started to learn about living life in moderation and understanding that you’re allowed to eat things that aren’t ‘clean’ and that you don’t have to work out every single day. I realized that I wouldn’t lose progress physically if I didn’t make it to the gym as often as I planned.
I started to focus on what I was putting into my body and whether or not I even understood the ingredients on the package. A lot of this had to do with what I was learning in school, but after living with so many roommates for so long, I also realized that a healthy lifestyle looks different for everyone.
I realized that a healthy lifestyle is more than what you’re eating and how much you’re moving. It’s about what you’re thinking and saying — to yourself and to others.
How Yoga Came into Play
In 2015 I finished my 200hr yoga certificate and since then I have been teaching as much as I can and continuing to learn about nutrition and wellness. I’ve also been sharing my love and passion for yoga and wellness, and teaching how the two can be combined to create an amazing lifestyle. I’ve been able to reach a variety of clients, helping some with mobility through yoga, and others with living a better life through food and lifestyle changes.
I’m now taking the leap and focusing on my work in this world. We all have a purpose, and we all have a reason to share what we love. Mine is to help you feel your best, in whatever way I can. If I can do it, so can you.
I can’t wait to meet you!
Devan
P.S. Want to learn what a Professional Home Economist does? Click here to find out more.