it's my anniversary...

Five years ago, this month I made a dramatic change in my life. Many changes have subsequently come, i.e. transitioning to a lacto-ovo vegetarian, 50% raw vegan, and of course reduced gluten.

I say reduced gluten because I still use wheat grains in baking. As a result of increasing my fruits and vegetables through raw smoothies, the desire for bread has dropped considerably.

Five years ago exercise became 'my employment'. This career change has made the greatest impact on my lifestyle change. Helping others reach their fitness goals has been very rewarding.

My personal exercise goals have evolved. I no longer run in competitive races, but I enjoy running so much more. I realized that the preparation for races were hampering my progress, effecting my nutrition, and more specifically altering my sleep patterns. I do not discourage others, especially new fitness folks or new runners hoping to capture a medal. For me, it's not a priority. I have plenty of medals. I may someday run that 1/2 marathon, but for now, I am in a great place.

To update, for the summer I run two days a week on incline with intervals on the treadmill. Two days a week a full body workout, one with higher intensity with both machines and free weights. And four days a week I do yoga.

Two meals (breakfast and dinner) are raw vegan smoothies. Lunch is a cooked vegetarian meal that does offer raw food items. And finally my snack varies: powerful protein and fiber cookies, raw salad, popcorn, or mozzarella cheese sticks. I fuel up every four hours. This begins at 8 a.m. and concludes with a snack at 8 p.m. I am usually asleep by midnight. This is to force at least 8 hours of sleep. Most nights I get between 5-7 hours. I drink about 100 oz. of water daily with a spritz of lemon.

This spring I joined Pinterest as another way to reach others who are seeking to change their lifestyle. I continue to share my recipes on Facebook. And course, thanks to those who follow and remain encouraged. It takes planning and preparation. However, the more you invest, the more you are rewarded. Everyone who knows me know that I did not step into this change without research and practice. I am still a work in progress.

Without a doubt this journey has been rewarding. I have learned a lot about my body and I continue to reach for a greater health. My nutrition is stellar compared to previous years. I believe in staying the course I have inspired others to adopt a whole food-plant based lifestyle. I hope to continue to grow and inspire others. It is the best choice that I have ever made in my life. The results speak for themselves.