Meet Sara and Kat Peterka of Double Up Duo

What could be better than one passionate, smart and driven woman trying to make a difference in others lives? How about two? Meet Sara and Kat Peterka of Double Up Duo, identical twins who live a plant-based, vegan lifestyle and aim to teach women how to eat in a way that makes them feel good. These girls truly glow from the inside out and it was such a pleasure connecting with them. Read on to learn more about the Double Up Duo and their tips for living well during this time. Be sure to check out their informative and beautiful Instagram page too - link below!

1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourselves and the Double Up Duo?

The first thing that you should know about us is we’re identical twins in every sense of the word. Born and raised in Southern California, we grew up together, we went to college together, we live together, we love to have fun together, we share clothes together, we’re pretty much always together. Overall, we’re really chill. We love to hang out, help people, and get sh*t done! On an average day, we spend time at the pool, listen to music, drive with the windows down, and enjoy life to the fullest - all with a green juice in hand! 

We’ve always been active and healthy, but we weren’t necessarily interested in health and wellness. In a family of five kids, it was pretty normal for us to grow up in a world of chicken, pasta, and bread. We never had fast food and soda, but we also never had veggies and salad. And even though we were healthy and took care of our bodies, we didn’t feel like we were in control. Neither of us were heavily overweight, but we weren’t confident, we didn’t want to show our skin, we hid from the camera, and more than that - we had a bunch of basic health problems (fatigue, tiredness, eczema, psoriasis, depression, etc.). We went to so many doctors to figure out what was going wrong, but they all just prescribed pills and topical creams that only masked the problem or made it worse. We dealt with it for a long time, but we knew that we needed to find another answer. 

It actually wasn’t until university that we started becoming more interested with this plant based, vegan lifestyle. After reading a few books and watching some documentaries, we were inspired to dig deeper and we couldn’t believe what we were finding out! These plant based foods were proven not only to help you lose weight and have a healthy body, but also to prevent and reverse so many health problems that we think are normal and incurable - Including our own! There’s such a special connection between what we eat and how we feel; and we became fascinated with learning more about how to optimize health through mind, body, and specifically nutrition. We spent all of our time studying and researching everything we possibly could, and pretty soon, it was all we could think and talk about! 

As the vegan weight loss twins, we founded Double Up Duo to help women lose weight and approach health in a holistic way. We know that health isn’t one size fits all, which is why we take a personalized and intimate approach for every person that we work with. Yes, it’s about weight loss, but it’s about so much more than that too! It’s a totally different process - It’s about getting excited about health and wellness, and re-learning how to trust your intuition and listen to your body. With that, we teach women how to eat in a way that makes them feel good as we incorporate lots of wonderful plant based foods.

2. Who or what inspired you to start the Double Up Duo and why did you decide to start together?

After learning about food as medicine and the power of the plant based diet, we immediately implemented everything into our own lifestyle. We were glowing from the inside out, and we had never looked or felt more amazing in our whole lives. We were so excited to find out that there’s an answer to living our healthiest and best life - And the best part was that it was completely in our control! It was like our eyes had been opened and we were given the magic key to an optimal life. We believe that every woman deserves to feel limitless, so when we realized that this way of life is possible for everyone, our purpose became very clear.

For so many women, struggles and insecurities around weight are 90% of their daily concerns. Knowing that so many women are lost and desperate for an answer, we thought it was so messed up that this information wasn’t widely known or talked about. Struggling with body image and weight loss is a HUGE inhibitor for experiencing the simple joys of life, let alone making the most of it. We start here, because for many women, it’s the first step they need to take in order to blossom in every area of life. 

The thing is, we knew that it wasn’t going to be as easy as “spread information, empower women”. We finally felt free and happy and confident, but it took us a long time to get there because we had to figure it out on our own. These days, lots of women want to be healthy, but they don’t have the time to figure out where to start. That’s when we realized that if we were really going to help as many women as possible, we really needed to focus on coaching and guiding them through the process. 

As the perfect duo with degrees in business, it was a no-brainer that we would eventually start a business together - We just didn’t know what it would be! We lift each other up, we brainstorm great ideas, we balance each other out, and we’re passionate about the same things. When it came to launching this together, there was really no other way! 

3. What have you been doing to stay at peace during this uneasy time?

Staying at peace in this uneasy time for us means to make sure our mindset and bodies are the healthiest they can be. Number one thing: Meditate! Does meditation heal everything? We think so. Practicing daily meditation saves our mindset and brings us back to the present to be grateful and appreciate everything we have. Other than that, we get out and walk in the mornings for fresh air and movement. Lots of stretching and drinking water and as always, filling our diet with lots of plants and whole foods. 

4. What are your morning routines?

Our morning routines are very simple! We wake up early in the morning and hydrate right away with a glass of lemon water. We brush our teeth, wash our faces, moisturize and then get ready for the morning (usually while listening to affirmations, music, etc). We head outside for meditation (at least 15 minutes) and that really helps us to stay present, grateful and grounded throughout the day. We sit down to journal and plan out our day while drinking a 32oz hydro flask. Then we head to our gym for a workout! We start with stretching, then do P.Volve or yoga, and we make sure to get at least 10 minutes in for walking around town. Showering and the beauty routine is next. We skip breakfast with intermittent fasting so once we’re ready, we’ll start work!

5. What are your go-to healthy snacks and/or meals?

We’re not huge snackers, but our favorite go to healthy snacks are 1) raw or blanched vegetables (broccoli, beets, carrots, celery, etc) with any sort of dip like tahini, hummus or pesto 2) roasted sweet potato wedges 3) 10 minute cassava chips with homemade guac 4) green juice 5) plant based yogurt and cacao nibs.

When in doubt, we always make a veggie bowl for lunch or dinner! They’re our favorite way to get a variety of vegetables and nutrients, all while fitting in lots of leafy greens.

6. Favorite way to connect with friends and loved ones?

If we’re connecting with friends and loved ones, it’s usually always over some food and drinks. Cooking together, going to happy hours, sunsets on the beach - there’s always a good reason for great company and amazing food! 

7. What do you do if you are feeling stressed/overwhelmed during this time?

Go for a walk, meditate, take a breath. Eat healthy foods. Keep it in perspective. Schedule time for self care daily, whether it’s all at once or sprinkled in throughout the day. 

8. What is your favorite way to sweat while at home?

We have one word: P.volve. We cannot say enough about it - we love how it has changed our bodies and the way we move. Even though it’s designed to target muscles using small movements, it’s a lot harder than it looks and leaves us burning with a good sweat. We always finish a workout feeling lighter, tighter, and more energized. 

9. What is your quarantine go-to drink? 

WATER and celery juice. 

10. What is one wellness product you can't live without?

Oils. We use oils for everything! Once we found out they’re the magic solution to our sensitive skin, they’ve been a staple ever since. We’ll mix them into our moisturizers and lotions, take our makeup off with them, strengthen our nails, remove rashes or scarring, and more. Different oils are great for different things, so we’ll use anything from argan, almond, pumpkin, jojoba, rose hip, etc - It just depends on what we need!  

11. What are a few things you are looking forward to once this is all over?

Once this is all over, we can’t wait to head out to the beach and finally regroup with friends; going out to farmers markets for fresh veggies, restaurants for dinner, being out and about with lots of other people! Being in LA, we miss the movement of the city and all the people around. 

12. What tips would you share to stay healthy during this time? Any tips we should be mindful of?

Stay healthy by doing these daily: Eat plant-based, whole foods and lots of leafy greens. Exercise and find movement in fresh air. Drink lots of water. Meditate and remember things you’re grateful for. Lastly, try not to overeat! 

13. What book, show or podcast would you recommend?

  • Books: How Not to Die

  • Show: Game Changers and Chef’s Table

  • Podcasts: The Ultimate Health Podcast, School of Greatness, The Knowledge Project

14. Favorite music to listen to?

Depends what we’re in the mood for! We’re always listening to music. Most of the time we turn on some sort of electronic house and lounge music, but depending on what we’re feeling in the mood for it could be anything from rap and hip hop, to smooth jazz, to Mediterranean or tropical vibes for fun. 

15. What is one piece of advice for people who are having a hard time right now?

Find ways to reconnect with yourself, let go of what you can’t control, and be kind to yourself. 

16. Go-to lounge wear/WFH outfits?

We love a good workout outfit at all times! Working from home looks like lululemon leggings, sports bras and comfy tops.  

17. Is there anything else you want my followers to know about you both or the Double Up Duo?

For your health, the animals, and the environment - don’t wait - GO VEGAN! <3 

If you need help or support - we feel you, we get you, you’re not alone, and we’re here for you always!

Courtney Devanna