ONE YEAR!!

24 Sep 2012

WOW…One year ago today, my life changed forever!! I feel blessed everyday to have stumbled upon such an awesome documentary, Forks over Knives. It completely changed my perception of food, and what it does to, and for the body. I was one of the millions who were ignorant to the fact that I only felt as good as what I ate. It became clear to me the reasons for my constant headaches, constipation, daily fatigue, and being sick all the time. It also explained why my dad passed away of congestive heart failure, an aunt on both sides of family lost to colon cancer and breast cancer, an uncle on both sides of family gone to heart attacks, my grandmothers stroke, my friends with diabetes, loved ones who are obese, and countless others with Alzheimer’s, dementia, depression, chrohn’s disease, irritable bowel, gallstones, kidney stones, acne, allergies, insomnia, stomach/digestive problems, celiac disease, thyroid disorders, basically all chronic diseases. These are just some of the health issues that people are suffering from that can be prevented, stopped, and in most cases reversed, by following a plant-based lifestyle.

Here are some of the perks I noticed right away once I began my plant-based journey:

~Energy level skyrocketed
~Able to sleep through the night
~Began having daily bowel movements (used to be once or twice a week if I was lucky)
~Complexion cleared
~Began to shed unnecessary pounds

Previously, I had frequent doctor visits regarding health issues. During the last twelve months, I have only made one trip to the doctor, and that was for a 6 month checkup to make sure I was on a healthy path. My doctor was amazed by the results, and even more astonished as to the reason why. He had never seen me that healthy. When I told him that I changed what I was eating, in addition to the foods I was NOT consuming, he was very confused by the fact that I could transform so quickly into such a healthy lifestyle simply by what I ate, without the aid of any medication. My husband Frank, also got off his blood pressure medicine, and his psoriatic arthritis is nonexistent, all thanks to a plant-based lifestyle. We are also both within our ideal BMI weight range. That hasn’t happened in YEARS!!

Around six months into my new plant-based lifestyle, I began to exercise. Since I just had my doctor visit, and got the thumbs up on my health, I figured…why not? I would go for walks around the neighborhood, or a bike ride here and there. I even decided to try to jog, which I hadn’t done since high school. I made it two blocks, WOO HOO!! At that point, I decided I really needed to quit smoking. Yes, you heard me! I was eating perfectly healthy, but still feeding my lungs awful poisons. Right away, I made the decision the beginning of March, to participate in an American Heart Association race that was taking place the following month. I wanted to honor the memory of my father who passed away of congestive heart failure. I had six weeks to train for my first 5K. I decided that I would commit to a training program, and quit a terrible habit of 20 years. I wanted to make my father proud. I went from running two blocks, to finishing that 5k in less than thirty minutes, six weeks later. If you set a goal and dedicate yourself to that goal, you can achieve if you believe. I am proud to say I went from a Fast Food Junkie, to a Plant-Based Junkie. I finally feel healthy and alive!

At 39 years old, I can honestly say I do not worry about dying of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, or any other preventable disease. That doesn’t mean I will not, because there were 38 years of unhealthy choices. However, I know that I am giving my body everything it needs to thrive. I have never had this much energy, and now as a runner, had my body recover as fast as it does, and my performance dramatically improve as compared to when I didn’t eat this way. I cannot stress this lifestyle choice enough to everyone. You have control over your health, and the ability to stop, prevent, and reverse your health issues. What are you waiting for?

Below is a picture of us in the Outer Banks, NC on our honeymoon four years ago, August 2008. The other is a recent picture of us on vacation at the same place exactly four years later, August 2012.