Meet Nora Borcea Pullen, Health Consultant, Founder of In the Kitchen with Nora, and Fur Mamma to 7 boys: 1 dog, King, 2 cats, Finny & Soren, and 4 goats, Buddy, Oakie, Ricky & Puck. “I joke I sometimes feel like Snow White and the 7 dwarves.” Nora lives in Fayetteville with her husband, Quentin Pullen, who is a physical therapist, strength and conditioning coach, and dual service veteran. In our Q&A, Nora shares her story along with some excellent “health” and “life hack” tips!
What is your background? Tell us about your career.
I am originally from Sibiu, a beautiful city in Transylvania, Romania. I moved to the U.S. as a teenager and studied Archaeology in college. I wanted to be the next Indiana Jones; I love history, mountaineering, and exploring.
After college, I moved to California where I ended up working for an energy efficiency and security fenestration contractor as the Vice President. I loved developing the systems necessary to grow the company, having it and its employees thrive. However, after 17+ years, I was running out of meaningful challenges and opportunities for further growth.
The pandemic allowed me to reassess my career and priorities. I decided it was time to pursue what has always made me happy: helping people move better, feel better, and look better. We relocated to Georgia, where my husband is originally from, bought land, started a garden, built a private gym, a military style obstacle course, and a therapy clinic.
What called you to become an Health Consultant?
I am a lover of nature, learning, fitness, and healthy food. I am a friend others call on in an hour of need. Helping those around me lead healthier, more balanced, and joy filled lives, gives me a deep sense of purpose and fulfillment. Our Health is Our Wealth; I passionately believe that!
I lost my dad this fall. He was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer and was gone in 3 months. I had the privilege of being there for a big part of those last months and they meant the world to me. That time also reinforced how important our general health and well-being can be in critical moments. Watching my father’s light go out, eaten away by the cancer, brought into sharp focus my why. Our physical strength matters, our mental fortitude matters, our emotional resilience matters, our gut health matters. They afford us the strength to endure difficult moments and to thrive when opportunities arise.
What is the best thing about your job?
Knowing I am actively improving people’s lives brings me so much satisfaction; seeing our clients’ health transformed, their strength and resilience increased, their self-image enhanced, their mental health boosted!
What is your best “health” tip?
Exercise snacks! For those struggling to find 30 minutes to work out daily, exercise snacks throughout the day can help make your wellness and fitness goals more attainable. Exercise snacks are bursts of intense activity, moving around vigorously for a minute or two at a time, 3+ times per day.
What is your favorite “life hack”?
Meal prepping! Every time I cook, I make extra servings, so the next meal is easier to assemble. This way I avoid the temptation of grabbing something unhealthy and I maximize my time in the kitchen.
What do you love about Peachtree City and the surrounding areas?
I love all the nature we are surrounded by here, the small farms and farmer’s markets I can shop at for quality products, the clean and well-maintained towns, the friendly people, and sense of community.
What TV show are you loving right now? Book? Movie? Podcast?
Recently, I have really enjoyed The Wheel of Time, Queen Charlotte, and The Diplomat for TV shows.
I am a voracious reader; I am always reading at least 2 books at a time. One for personal development, one for pleasure to help me unwind at the end of the day and fall asleep. Currently I am reading Food for Life by Tim Spector and The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
I love the Huberman Lab podcast; always excellent interviews and rigorous information, primarily focused on neuroscience: how our brain, and its connections with the organs of our body, controls our perceptions, our behaviors, and our health. I also like the Mel Robbins podcast. She has a great sense of humor and is a straight shooter.
Is there anything else you would like to share with our Moms?
Taking care of our health is the highest form of self-love. All too often women neglect themselves and put everyone else first. I hope to help change that and to empower women to take control of their health and wellbeing.
To learn more about Nora’s Health Consulting services, visit www.inthekitchenwithnora.com.