Today we’d like to introduce you to Winnie Kison.
Hi Winnie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started my Instagram in college when I decided to pursue studying Nutrition. I created my account as a personal food and fitness diary, documenting my time experimenting in the kitchen and at the gym! I was doing a workout program called BBG by Kayla Itsines so I met many other ladies in the community who were also doing the workouts! We kept each other accountable and it was a little tight-knit Instagram community. Eventually, I ventured off on my own workout routine & focused more on creating simple recipes on my Instagram. My desire for studying Nutrition sprouted from my desire to help those with Eating Disorders. Personally, I have struggled with disordered eating in the past and my hope was for others who are struggling to break free & find food freedom. I worked in an Eating Disorder clinic for about two years after graduating college, which only strengthened my desires to help others face their food fears, accept their natural body weight, find purpose and focus on balanced eating (what my Instagram handle stands for). I found this field to be a rewarding calling in my life and I don’t see myself going any other route! Now to this day, the content I share are not ways to be “healthy” or to “lose weight”, but rather ways to develop sustainable long-term life habits in food, fitness and life.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Not always, but there will always be bumps on the road with every job. I believe that it’s not the circumstance that changes me, but how I handle and deal with it. Instagram posts can seem like life is all fun and games for the content creator, but there is a lot of both creative and business work that goes behind creating all the content. One of the biggest struggles I had to face was finding the line between personal life and work life. Since I share a glimpse of my life on my Instagram, there are the pressures I put on myself to always be on top of things, be very productive and constantly come out with new recipes or else I’d feel like I “failed”. I used to struggle with overworking myself from wake to sleep, then repeat. I struggled with finding rest. If I stopped working, I’d get anxious and feel “off”. There is no 9-5 work day for me but it’s up to me to create boundaries for myself. I find that taking a break from the kitchen is one of the best things, so I love going on vacation! After the vacation, I always get inspired to cook up some new recipes to share too!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Content Creator on Instagram & Blogger
I curate a wide range of recipes to share on my Instagram and blog! I share easy weeknight meals, Asian recipes, simple breakfast ideas, about my life, relationships, my dog, and more! I also partner with a variety of brands I love! For example, I’ve worked with Whole Foods, Lululemon, and Perfect Bar which were all brands I already loved before starting to work with them. Although it is my job to promote and share certain products and foods, I always make sure I genuinely love it and would recommend it to others! My social media platform is used for more than just sharing a photo or video, but it provides me the opportunity to bring about change and create impact. I’ve had so many meaningful conversations in my DMs with those struggling with eating disorders or even other questions about life, and I find so much joy in being able to connect and help others in this way! I don’t believe in restrictions from one’s favorite desserts and foods or going on weight loss diets. I am beyond blessed to be doing what I do and I love every minute of it!
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Yes, many people have cheered me on to do what I do! Many of my close friends from high school cheered me on and told me to constantly pursue my desires in the field of Nutrition. My husband has been the biggest cheerleader, pushing me to find ways to grow in my social platforms and being the biggest encourager.
Some other social media influencers that I have met and look up to are:
@foodfitnessandfaith – we have been following each other on Instagram since I first started my Instagram account. She has always been encouraging to me & always provided me support!
@healthymoodsf – We met at an influencer event back in 2017 where she approached me saying I was a big help to her when she had some questions about her eating disorder. Fast forward to this day, we are really good friends who not only interact on Instagram but text very often! I recently saw her in Miami and had the sweetest time together!
@nutritionhappens – We both have the same approach towards food and dietary habits. She’s a Registered Dietitian in Chicago and is the sweetest soul! She shares many easy meals that I get inspired from!
@dietitiandeanna – she is an RD who focuses on transforming one’s relationship with food into a healthy one. She is an entrepreneur who focuses on helping others break through and find food freedom! The amount of people she has helped and the impact she’s made on other people’s lives is inspiring!
Contact Info:
- Website: winniesbalance.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/winniesbalance/
