I grew up in suburban Chicago, in a home whose pantry looked like the shelves at 7-Eleven. Yes, we had home-cooked dinners every night, but we also had every junk food known to mankind. I was so inactive as a kid my junior high P.E. teacher called me a pansy.

I continued my sedentary ways until I was well into my thirties.  I seriously didn’t move a muscle or consider a healthier lifestyle until I was almost 35 years old.  And this was AFTER I’d been diagnosed with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s Disease at age 22, and had my third baby at age 33.  

My “A-HA!” moment came at a family function, elbow-deep in a chocolate fountain, when I finally realized I. Felt. Awful. 

And so began the beginning stages of NW💛365 without me even realizing it.  Taking action to control my mental, emotional, and physical well-being led me to join a gym and consistently show up for my workouts.  The community and support system at that gym inspired me to motivate myself and others to become better versions of ourselves. 

While strengthening my body, I also learned to better fuel it.  I began to nourish my body at every opportunity, focusing on the importance of whole foods and variation – and why we should always eat what’s in season. 

Self-care became my first love language as I delved into the world of therapy, meditation, massage, acupuncture, and the value of a hot bath after a long day.

Talk about an evolution: Nikki Levine slowly became Nikki Wellness.

My mom died suddenly of a heart attack on December 5, 2012, when she was just 66 years old.  It was a Wednesday.  I still remember our last conversation just that morning while I was on my way to the gym. We ended the call as we always did… I told her that I loved her and she told me she loved me too.  I can still remember the traffic light I was sitting at the last time I heard her voice….

My mom’s death only strengthened my commitment to finding a healthier path for myself and becoming a Health Coach.  She lived an unhealthy life filled with skipped meals, cigarettes, Pinot Grigio, and late night TV.  She never made self-love or self-care a top priority; she was definitely NOT the picture of health.  It saddens me that she’s not here to see her five grandkids grow up or just to give me her opinion on a knick-knack for my office.  My kids tease me for being a little rigid about catching my melatonin window (between 10pm-2am, peeps!) and jumping into bed at 9pm, or getting up at 5am to hit the gym, but my healthy habits have become an essential part of who I am. 

I may have been 39 years old when I first realized my passion and purpose were one and the same, but I am grateful I finally figured it out.  I know firsthand what it feels like to be uncomfortable in your own skin, yet feel so overwhelmed you don’t know where to begin.  I also know what it feels like to have a coach in your corner, a supportive community around you to believe in you, push you out of your comfort zone, and still make you feel safe.  My passion and purpose are to coach, support, and nurture others to live their healthiest lives.   And more than anything, to teach them to love the crap out of themselves ENOUGH to want to stick around for a long, long time.  

This is exactly why I created NW💛365.  I’ve leveraged  my own experiences and key learnings and condensed them into usable, bite-sized pieces to help you find your own healthiest lifestyle.  It’s all available to you in our NW💛365 Wellness Compass Community.

Join now  – just $499! 

Xoxo