We had the pleasure of virtually hanging out with Brittany Helvy, a wellness coach on Instagram Live this past week. She filled us in on her own wellness journey and ways to get started on yours. Brittany highlights the importance of overall wellness, it's more than just health and nutrition, it's skin care, self care, putting yourself first and making time just for you. You can find Brittany on Instagram using @brittanyhelvywellness and the full length live video here - now let's have a brief recap!

Meet Brittany Helvy: Tell us about yourself!

"My name is Brittany, I am a mom of 3. So my life definitely consists of motherhood, I stay home with my kids, everyday is different. 5 years ago I was experiencing postpartum depression, just king of hard mom things that so many experience. I found fitness and nutrition to really help me and that just inspired me to pay it forward and help other women through wellness and not just the fitness and nutritions side because being a stay at home mom can be overwhelming and lonely at times. It was finding things that I could turn to kind of refill my cup. Whether it was skincare, sitting down and watching a netflix show, or getting a workout in, planning meals, that was something I was super excited about."

What do you love most about being a Health & Wellness Coach?

"Over the last 5 years of being a coach, I have evolved so much as a person. Which is so crazy, 2020 has probably the most pivotal growth for myself. Which has in turn has allowed me to see and evolve myself as a coach. I think the biggest thing that I am so passionate or the most rewarding is; helping other women find the confidence within themselves to be their healthiest self. It doesn't have to be a number on the scale.

It's literally loving yourself right now, where you're at and taking the time for you. Find that self care routine of taking a bath, and drinking your wine, working out, whatever that looks like for you. Too see how much impact it can have on others, I don't have to have a dime in the world, I would continue to do it. I just love helping women in that aspect."

What is some advice you would give someone looking to start their wellness journey?

"Well, you can slide into my DM's! (@brittanyhelvywellness) I'm always here to help you. Honestly, I think it's really finding what works for you. The biggest thing that I hear from other women and clients that I work with is nutrition. I think nutrition is such a big thing because there's so many different things about it... and so many things on social media with the do's & the don'ts and the cant's & the shouldn'ts.

Honestly, when it comes down to it, I am a very realist approach of - don't eat what you hate. If you don't like salads, don't eat the flippin' salad. It's only going to make you revert back to you falling off or "failing" if you must. Failure is such a word that I don't like to use but - we all fail it's just a learning thing. That diet didn't work for you so it's just finding what is going to work for you. It's finding the simplicity in what is truly realistic for your lifestyle."

What is something you hope your kids will take away from your wellness journey?

"I love this question so much. My journey started - I will cry - my journey started after I had my daughter. The personal feeling I was having towards myself and the negative talk I had... I just kept coming back to what if my daughter said this to herself? What if she looked in the mirror and didn't like this. I don't want that for her.

I want her to know that she is beautiful and worthy of all aspects no matter what. And if she wants to change something then she has to do the work. For me, it's allowing them - workouts, are not a chore or a task, they are just a way of life. We might not get to it everyday, but it's important to our bodies. Whether it's running up and down the stairs a few times or going for a walk.

-- I think the approach that I hope my kids take is it's just what we do. It's apart of life, it's not a chore, it's not a hardship... it's just a part of being a healthy citizen so that we can give back in the best way to our jobs, our friends, and our relationships."

What are some of your go-to's & favorites you've found during your skin care journey?

"So, my skin care journey I have been on for years now. It just kind of basic, wash your face, apply moisturizer every once in awhile... Having toner to take care of your acne. There's really great products that are just way too out of the budget too keep up on, great products but just too expensive for me. So, when I came by Beauty By Earth the biggest thing I think just because I'm aging, i'm 30 now, I think the biggest thing was it's not just the face wash and toner that I need, my skin needs more.

Something that I fell in love with is the Balance + Restore Oil, it just makes my skin feel good. It makes me feel like i'm doing my skin good. I 'm obsessed with this so much as well as the anti-aging serum. I will roll that on and let it sit. And then I do my roller, it's so soothing. It's the best thing ever, it is just my jam. I was always that person who's like oh I'll just go to bed cause i'm so tired with makeup on my face... but as i've gotten older I just don't want to do that anymore. Taking the extra 5-10 minutes to just take care of my skin is so refreshing and rewarding."

We want to thank Brittany for taking her time to meet with us and share her inspiring wellness journey and tips. If you are looking for a wellness coach, you know where to go! You can find Brittany on her Instagram @BrittanyHelvyWellness. Don't forget to check out the full video here! For now, we're off to practice some self care.