Kroma Conversations: Sarah L.
At Kroma, our mission is to help people change their habits and lives with delicious, highly functional wellness products that are easy to enjoy. Kroma Conversations puts our customers and their stories of transformation in the spotlight.
After giving birth to her second baby, elementary school librarian Sarah L. struggled to feel like herself. Having done ultra-restrictive juice cleanses in the past, she was wary of traditional detox programs, but when she heard about Kroma’s 5-Day Reset, she decided to give it a try. To find out how it went, as well as how a series of medical issues helped crystalize her wellness goals, read on.
What’s your relationship with wellness? Is it a big part of your lifestyle? Was it always?
I do feel like this has been a newer journey for me in the last few years. I grew up in an Italian-Japanese family. My mom is the Italian one, and she was a stay-at-home mom and would cook everything. Homemade meals aren’t new to me. But the meals my mom makes are carb-heavy with lots of cheese and [when I have them] now I’m like, oh my gosh, is this always how she’s cooked?
My parents never worked out when I was younger. Even though my dad’s a doctor and my mom’s a nurse. I wasn’t super active as a kid…I did dance my whole life, I was a cheerleader in high school, but you could not get me to run. I wasn’t on any sports teams. I started going to the gym when I was in college.
At this point in your life, what is your biggest health concern?
I’m now in my mid-30s and I feel like all my friends and siblings who are in their 40s are like, you have to start these routines now because in your 40s it's so much harder to get on that train if you haven't already been on it. Part of that’s also looking ahead. I want to be healthy and strong for both my kids. So I feel like I have made fitness a priority after having my babies. I’ll do pilates and yoga during the week, and I try to watch sugar and be mindful of how much protein I’m getting. I feel like listening to those health and wellness podcasts is really good because it keeps me mindful about certain choices.
How did you find out about Kroma?
I had heard about Kroma on a bunch of the health and wellness podcasts I listen to and a couple of people on Instagram had done [The 5-Day Reset] and weren’t sponsored by it.
Was there anything in particular going on in your life that led you to make a change in your wellness routine?
After I had my second child — which I had to do infertility for as well, so my hormones were already out of whack — trying to lose the weight was such a struggle. I never had a problem with my first pregnancy. I was going to the gym, eating pretty healthy, and these last 10 pounds just wanted to stay. I didn’t feel like myself.
Before the Kroma Reset what was your impression of these kinds of programs? Had you ever done a cleanse or detox before? If so, what was your experience like?
A few years ago my husband and I did one of those juice cleanses — only liquid for three days. We didn’t make it past 24 hours. We were starving. That’s what I loved about Kroma is there was actual food involved and I don’t feel like I’m starving or really depriving myself.
After your Reset, how did you feel? How did it influence your life going forward? What habits have you kept?
When I started I was like 141 pounds, and at the end I was 137 and 45 days later I’m at 133. And I felt better too. Weight loss was a goal, but I also wanted to feel back to being like myself.
I haven’t gone back to drinking coffee, actually, which I think is actually good because I’m one of those people who puts a lot of sugar in my coffee! I have green tea in the morning now. One of the things Kroma helped me with is the milks. I used to use oat milk, but I now do unsweetened cashew or macadamia milk.
I’ll have Supergreens in the afternoon to get all those nutrients I might not have gotten at lunchtime. If I didn’t have a lot of veggies at lunch I always feel better if I have the Supergreens. My favorite is definitely the Super Porridge. I eat breakfast when I get to work and I love that I can bring it with me and just put hot water in it.
What’s something you do every day that's non-negotiable for your personal wellbeing?
In the mornings I start with green tea before anything else as I'm getting ready. It takes away that nighttime hunger, and I love having that warm drink in the morning.
These days I’m feeling really good. That’s why I really won’t budge on some of these things. My husband’s super supportive. He knows these things are really important to me, so he’ll make me my green tea in the morning or he’ll watch the kids so I can go to my pilates class.
Imagine you’re living at the peak of wellbeing: at your most fully alive, embodied, vibrant. What does that look and feel like for you?
Waking up and having a day without pain. I have had a series of medical issues in my life. When I was younger my lung actually kept collapsing over and over again. I had to have two lung surgeries when I was 17 and 18. They don’t know why. My lung collapsed six times. I had to have two chest tubes and two lung surgeries before it got better. So that was crazy. And then in my early 20s I got diagnosed with severe endometriosis and had to have surgeries for that. Later on down the road I had to have my gallbladder removed and my appendix removed and it was like thing after thing after thing. I just felt like every day at some level I had a certain amount of pain.
After having my last baby, it’s been a real goal of mine: I just want to be at my best. So doing these things like the 5-Day Reset and trying to keep those routines in place and making fitness a priority have made a difference. I really have seen a reduction in my daily pain levels.
I want to be around for my kids! I don’t want to be like, mommy has all this pain, I can’t come play with you.
"I just want to be at my best. So doing these things like the 5-Day Reset and trying to keep those routines in place and making fitness a priority have made a difference."
If I’m looking at my most vibrant day, it’s a day without pain where I can get up and go to work and be with my kids and we can go for a walk and go outside and play. Those are my wellness goals.
This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before changing your diet or healthcare regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
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The 5-Day Reset: Deluxe
The simplest and most delicious way to detox, rejuvenate and energize. Recommended for first-timers.
Super Porridge
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Supergreens Elixir
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OMG Cookie Butter
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Blueberry Acai Plant Protein Smoothie
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