Going back 25 years ago if someone said to me the word “Vegan” I wouldn’t of had any idea what that meant.  I did however, know what vegetarian meant and I would of laughed at the thought as I threw the lean steak into the carriage at the grocery store, along with some chicken nuggets from the frozen food section, sliced American cheese, boxed taco mix, a bag of chips, frozen fries, white bread, boxed mac & cheese, instant noodles with cream sauce, instant mashed potatoes, jarred gravy,  frozen fish sticks, and many other “food” items that required a long list of ingredients to get them on the shelf, into my house and on a plate quickly and conviently.  I had no idea how that food actually got to the store, for all I knew, it was made right in the back of the store. Quite frankly I didn’t really care.  I was not about to give up my meat and junk food for anything. It tasted good and it was affordable.  Unfortunately this is how many people still think today. A vegetarian to me was someone who was the hippie type who practiced meditation, the protester, and was just plain weird.   I was in my 20’s back then raising a family on a budget. I was more concerned with how I spent my money on food then what I was actually buying, if it was on sale and cheap then it was for me. I smoked cigarettes and my favorite choice of drink was soda on a regular basis.  Although I was never overweight, I was certainly not headed in the right direction with my health.  I was always tired and always catching the latest cold or flu going around. I was always busy and moving in a hundred directions more worried about getting my kids to their sports games. Any exercise I did was to go for a walk when I could but, that was about it. 

 

Once I hit my 30’s I started to think about my health and I decided that I wanted to start exercising so I went out and bought a cheap elliptical machine. Keep in mind I was still smoking so I only lasted about 10 minutes on it but, I never gave up.  I did that machine everyday for a few years working my way up to a half hour.  I still didn’t give up smoking and I was still eating basically whatever I wanted included fast food.  It wasn’t until after I got divorced in 2005 that I wanted to become more serious about my exercising.  I joined the gym and bought a few small hand weights for at home.  I felt pretty good and I was faithful to my exercise everyday.  I was trying to eat better but, as I look back now, what I thought was eating better was actually not at all.  I would eat lots of eggs for protein, chicken salad sandwiches, pasta and meatballs, cheap isolated whey protein, milk and the occasional banana. 

 

Then, In 2008 on New Year ’s Eve, I decided to give up smoking for my new years resolution.  But, I needed something that would keep me from going back. I turned to a good friend who is a runner.  I asked him if I could run a 5k with him. I trained hard for a month then,  I did my first 5k back in May of 2008 and finished in 25 minutes.  I was hooked and that was when my journey had begun. I wanted to learn more and find out how to improve and increase my endurance and athletism.  I was then laid off from my job so I decided to go back to school for health & wellness.  During this time I was discovered many things about the food industry and being healthy.  I watched the Movie, Food inc which had changed my life, I did the unthinkable and became vegetarian.  I had no idea what went on behind the scenes of livestock farms, poultry farms, and pig farms, and what the consequences are to the animals, the environment and us human beings.  I wanted to learn all that I could about the food industry, I read many books, such as, Fast food nation, fat ugly and sick, eating animals, the china study, the jungle, and more recently whole, and thrive. I read books about vegan athletes such as, Brendan Brazier, rich roll and scott jurek all ultra iron mans. I watched documentaries such as, food fight, king corn, super size me and the future of food. 

 

By the year 2000, I had decided to become a vegan.  Being a new vegan I started out by eating frozen veggie burger, snacks and chips, mock meats and cheeses which are all still processed.  Although I was a vegan I was not eating complete whole foods as much as I should.  As I read more and learned more I slowly started eating 100% whole foods.  Once  I graduated with my bachelors I wanted to also learn more about fitness so I became a personal trainer. Then I obtained my plant based nutrition certification through Cornell University. Here is it now 10 years later after I first bought my small elliptical and I have now been a whole foods vegan for 3 years. As for my running well, I have completed about hundred 5k’s and I placed on best times in many of them, I have done many 10k’s a few dozen of half marathons in the top of my division, and I have completed my first full marathon under 4 hours this past year. I am biking 50 miles at a time and swimming. I would like to complete a triathon and a ultramarathon someday.  I also practice yoga, and other varies group classes and lift weights reguarly. I contribute my success solely to my change in my diet. I don’t think I would be where I am today if I didn’t change my unhealthy eating habits. I have never felt better, I have more energy, never sick, my hair and skin are healthy, My blood pressure is very low as is my RHR,  I have gained more muscle mass, and I have a much quicker recovery time from my workouts. One of my other accomplishments is  I was featured in Vegan Health & Fitness magazine 4 times.  There is a story on my fiancé and myself and how we meet at a half marathon. He is also a vegan and recently proposed to me at the finish line at a marathon. The most recent issue, I wrote an article on how we were married in Las Vegas at the Rock N Roll half marathon. I also write blogs for Happycow.com.  Because I have come such a long way over the past ten years and have learned so much I want to share my knowledge and passion for living a healthy vegan lifestyle with you. It is my goal to help others succeed and experience what I have experienced.  As I continue to grow and learn more I want to share that with you.  So, join me in my journey as I help you succeed and become truly healthy.