Subscribe on Apple 

Subscribe on Spotify 

Dana Lynn Kaye is a fitness enthusiast, entrepreneur, and the founder of Devotion Nutrition—but her journey started with a very different relationship with food. From childhood, she struggled with binge eating, feeling trapped in cycles of restriction and frustration. It wasn’t until she embraced structure, routines, and mindset shifts that she was able to break free. Small, consistent changes—like keeping a simple daily log—helped her rebuild her habits and regain control, turning healthy choices into second nature.

But Dana didn’t just transform her own life—she saw a massive gap in the market for high-quality, delicious, and versatile protein powders that could support a sustainable, balanced approach to nutrition. That mission led to the creation of Devotion Nutrition, a brand designed to help people fuel their bodies without sacrificing taste, flexibility, or joy.

In this post, we’ll dive into Dana’s journey, the key habits and mindset shifts that helped her overcome binge eating, and how she’s helping others stay devoted to a healthy lifestyle.

Dana’s Early Struggles with Food

For Dana Lynn Kaye, a love for food started early—but it quickly became more complicated than just enjoying a good meal. As a child, she looked forward to lunchtime more than anything else in the school day, eagerly unpacking her lunch to see what her mom had packed. Her mom prioritized balanced eating, ensuring nothing was off-limits. Yet, Dana often felt different from her peers. She was more excited about food, ate quickly, and rarely felt satisfied, always wanting more.

At home, this hunger persisted. She would ask for extra sandwiches or another serving at dinner, only to be met with gentle reminders from her mom that she’d already had enough. Over time, she started sneaking food—making instant mashed potatoes when no one was home, preparing late-night peanut butter sandwiches, and hiding snacks. Food became something secretive, a source of both comfort and conflict.

As she grew older, her relationship with food became even more tangled. In high school, she discovered fitness and became fascinated by the sculpted bodies on magazine covers. She followed her mom to the gym, mimicking exercises and absorbing every piece of diet advice she could find. But the messages were extreme—boiled chicken, steamed broccoli, and no carbs. She tried to follow these restrictive plans, believing they were the key to achieving the physique she admired.

But the cycle of restriction only fed her struggles. Days of eating "perfectly" would inevitably lead to binges. Starving after intense workouts, she’d come home and overeat, then feel guilt and frustration, vowing to be more disciplined the next day. It became a punishing cycle of deprivation and excess, fueled by misinformation and an all-or-nothing mindset.

Dana’s battle with food continued for years. But it wasn’t willpower she needed—it was knowledge, balance, and a sustainable approach.

Breaking the Cycle: The Small Changes That Made a Big Difference

Breaking free from the cycle of restriction and binging wasn’t an overnight transformation—it was a process of creating a sustainable lifestyle. Here are the key habits and mindset shifts that helped:

1. Structure and Routine

• Creating a structured daily routine helped eliminate decision fatigue and provided consistency.
• Dana developed daily habits that became second nature over time. It’s about making a lifestyle—not just following a plan for a few weeks and then falling off.

2. Writing Everything Down

• Every week, Dana wrote down her goals and priorities to stay intentional.
• She kept a journal tracking daily habits, meals, exercise, and water intake.
• Even basic tasks—like taking a multivitamin or drinking enough water—were written down and checked off. That little dopamine hit from checking things off makes a huge difference.

3. Start Small & Build Over Time

• She didn’t overhaul everything at once. Instead, she set small, achievable goals and built on them gradually. For example, if your step count is 3,000, aim for 5,000 first. If protein is a struggle, start by identifying three protein-rich foods you love.
• Over time, these small changes became effortless, allowing her to focus on bigger goals.

4. Accountability & Flexibility

• Dana planned workouts and meal choices ahead of time but remained flexible. If she missed a workout on Monday, she moved it to another day instead of beating herself up.
• Keeping a realistic perspective prevented the all-or-nothing mindset that leads to binges.

5. Taking It One Day at a Time

• Rather than focusing on a huge transformation, she concentrated on winning each individual day. She didn’t stress over how much weight she needed to lose. She just focused on today’s plan. Then she woke up and did it again the next day.
• Over 21 weeks, those small, intentional steps led to her first 30-pound weight loss.

6. Shifting Her Mindset Around Food and Fitness

• She reframed fitness as something to enjoy rather than a punishment.
• Instead of seeing food as "good" or "bad," she focused on nourishment and what made her feel good.
• She started thinking about what she gets to do instead of what she has to do.

7. Long-Term Perspective

• She acknowledges that habits take time to solidify—she’s been refining this process for 25 years.
• At first, she had to write down everything. Now, many of those habits are automatic. But she still sets new goals to keep growing.
• This journey is about sustainability, not perfection. You’re never starting over—you’re always building on past experiences.

Dana’s Solutions for a Healthy, Busy Life

Dana is a busy mom of three and a business owner, juggling multiple responsibilities daily. She knows firsthand how challenging it can be to prioritize health while managing a packed schedule. Here are some of her top strategies for staying on track:

• Embrace Flexibility: Don’t let a missed workout derail your progress. Fit in movement where you can—walk during your child's sports practice, do short sessions throughout the day, or take the stairs instead of the elevator.
• Plan and Prepare: Set yourself up for success by meal prepping in advance. Cook proteins, chop veggies, and have healthy snacks ready so you’re not relying on fast food or processed options.
• Make the Most of Small Moments: Short bursts of exercise add up. A 10-minute walk in the morning, another during lunch, and a final session in the evening can be just as effective as one long workout.
• Find Creative Solutions: If you can't get outside, consider a walking pad, a second-hand treadmill, or simply walking laps in your house. Many fitness tools are available for free or cheap through online marketplaces.
• Commit to Consistency, Not Perfection: Life happens. If you miss a day, don’t miss two in a row. Focus on making healthy choices most of the time, and those wins will add up.
• Shift Your Mindset: Instead of focusing on obstacles, focus on solutions. What small change can you make today to move closer to your goal? The effort you put in daily matters more than grand, unsustainable gestures.
• Remember Your ‘Why’: Keep reminding yourself why you started. Whether it's feeling stronger, having more energy, or setting an example for your family, connecting to your purpose will keep you going.

Success isn’t about being perfect—it’s about showing up, adapting, and keeping your long-term vision in mind. Stay committed, and the results will come!

The Story Behind Devotion Nutrition

Dana’s journey with Devotion started from a mix of personal struggles with weight loss, a love for great-tasting food, and her family’s background in the flavor business. She saw a huge gap in the market for a high-quality, versatile protein powder that wasn’t gritty, chalky, or packed with junk. So, she set out to change the game.

Dana’s all about making healthy eating easy and enjoyable. That’s why Devotion’s protein powders go way beyond shakes. You can use them to whip up creamy puddings, fluffy pancakes, soft-serve ice cream, or even a rich, delicious coffee creamer. No weird aftertaste, no compromise on texture—just smooth, satisfying flavor in every bite.

In a world where getting enough protein can feel like a struggle, Devotion Nutrition makes it simple (and delicious). Their new cookbook, Have Your Shake and Eat It Too!, is packed with easy, high-protein recipes that help you stay on track without ever feeling deprived.

If you haven’t tried Devotion yet, I can’t recommend it enough. Check them out and see for yourself why so many of us are hooked!

Learn More about Devotion Nutrition:

Visit their website

Instagram (@devotionnutrition)

TikTok (@devotionnutrition)

Facebook (Devotion Nutrition)

Devotion Nutrition Creations Facebook Page