This week marks my one-year anniversary since adopting a plant-based vegan diet. My body has gone through some serious physical changes on the outside (and inside!) since then. More importantly, I feel amazing and know how much this has improved my health, in just a relatively short period of time. Last spring, after watching several eye-opening documentaries, including Forks Over Knives, and reading The China Study, I immediately changed my diet (Thanks Chad!). By this point, I was eating a vegetarian diet, but still supplementing with whey protein powder. Although my meals consisted of some vegetables, I was eating some processed mock meats, bean burgers, oil and other unhealthy snack foods. Extensive research has proven that many, if not all, degenerative diseases can be controlled and in some cases, even reversed by adopting a whole-foods, plant-based diet. I could only wonder: if diet could reverse disease, what could it do for a seemingly healthy person? So what has changed? In addition to a reduction of body fat and lean muscle gains, I no longer experience acid reflux or menstrual cramps. My skin is the best it has ever been. My hair grows quickly and is strong. I feel AMAZING. This is what it did! I am doing the best thing for my body - not to mention environmental and ethical issues. I am full of energy and quickly recover from my training. Although I have found what works best for me, I am frustrated by the choices others make - especially those who I love. As a nation, we are overfed and undernourished. We are overweight and sick. We are killing ourselves. People are addicted to foods that cause disease. This blows my mind! Medication and surgery are not the best ways to solve a problem; they are drastic measures taken to cover up what could have been prevented. When given the correct fuel the human body has amazing healing potential. Put down the burger, pick up a banana and heal yourself! You just might run into Justin Timberlake on your way to Veganville! ResourcesMy body is not perfect. For as long as I can remember, my legs have been covered in bruises. I played outside every day as a child and was not afraid to get my hands dirty. I was one of the boys; playing sports aggressively and falling off my bicycle. I have the scars to prove it. On the eve of my sixth birthday, I was in a car accident and had to have reconstructive surgery on my mouth. The marks on my body are a part of who I am and what I have been through.
As I grew older, my body changed drastically. With the onslaught of adolescence came the development of my breasts and hips. The stretch marks that appeared on my body were celebrated. I knew this was a sign of becoming a woman and I was proud. When I gained a lot of weight in my early twenties, more stretch marks appeared on my arms and stomach. How did I allow this to happen? For a long time, I have been ashamed of these marks. I know how and why they got there. I have changed those patterns and will never go back there again. When did we stop celebrating ourselves and the changes in our body? Why did I spend so much time being ashamed of what I looked like? Now I am committed to loving every inch of my body; stretch marks, bruises, loose skin and all. The marks on my body are reflective of my journey. They represent me and help tell my story. I am a strong woman who has been through hardships. I desired more out of my life and committed myself to change. In order to love myself completely, it is imperative that I love every part of me. The marks on my body are no indication of what I can do now. I have cellulite on my legs, yet they are powerful. They carry my body everywhere I go. My wonder thighs squat and deadlift more than my body weight; run fast and do box jumps. My arms are not rock solid, yet they get stronger every week. They pull-up and dip my body weight with less assistance every time. I can do decline push-ups - in a 10 lb. vest. My shoulders and collar bone are defined and look beautiful. I have loose skin and stretch marks covering my stomach, yet it is flat and my core is strong. I can hold a plank forever and touch my knees to my elbows in cross-body mountain climbers. I put in the work every day and strive to reach my physical goals but I have learned that like in anything else, there are ups and downs. I take care of my body and aim to give it proper rest and recovery. I nourish myself with plant-based whole foods. I am consistent with my nutrition and training. I am learning to love the process. That is all I can do. I am not going to wait until I have a specific "look" to celebrate my strength and beauty. I realize that I may never attain the physique I once thought I was after; massive strong legs, abs and buff arms. It is not because I don't want it badly enough or am not putting in the work to get there and maintain it. I am not going to look like Katie Hogan or Camille Leblanc-Bazinet. Why would I want to? I may never look like a Cross Fit athlete or a fitness model, but I am going to look like Tricia Kelly. THAT is pretty awesome. My body is a wonderland. It is my trophy. It tells my story. My body is the essence of dedication, strength, power and courage. My body is beautiful, every inch of it and I am proud of it. |