Seven years ago I was exhausted, depressed and disillusioned. I was struggling with chronic aura migraines, hormonal imbalances and extreme fatigue. I also had a very unhealthy relationship with food and was stuck in a vicious diet culture cycle. I really was so sick and tired of feeling sick of tired, and was willing to try just about anything to feel better. I saw a few acquaintances who were talking about plant-based diets and how much better they felt after eating this way. What the heck was a whole food plant-based diet?

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After digging into the research for myself, I decided to give it a try for thirty days back in 2017. I knew that if I wanted to truly test this eating patterns’ effectiveness, I needed to be all in. I learned that a whole food, plant-based diet was actually very simple: it’s eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole, unrefined grains, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds. Growing up, my diet consisted of hot dogs and mac n’ cheese, so I found that I ate more foods than I ever thought imaginable, not less!

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Thirty days turned into seven years, because I felt amazing, I had no desire to eat any other way! I went from six migraines a month to once or twice a year. Lady issues—solved. My fatigue improved leaps and bounds. I felt more confident in my body and for the first time ever, I had a much healthier relationship with food. My wonderful hubby couldn’t deny the changes he saw in my life, and within months, he was all in, too! He will attest the most noticeable difference he’s seen in his own life has been his improved energy and quicker recovery between gym sessions!

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This eating pattern is so simple, sustainable, and satisfying. And while I am not legalistic about it (my friends can attest I still enjoy ice cream and Goldfish crackers on occasion!), I can confidently say that it’s changed my life, so much so that I have made a career out of showing others the benefits of a plant-based life.

 

Cheers to that!