One of the things I know for sure is the power of food.
We need it to sustain life. We need to be filled & nourished by it. And we need the community that comes from eating with others. Our food choices affect everything from our moods, to our quality of sleep, our weight, our energy levels throughout our day as well as so many other things tied to our physical, emotional, & spiritual well being. All this taken into account, food, for good or bad, is powerful stuff.
I don’t often have others share their before & after stories on bring joy, but when Alanna, a loyal & longtime reader (& commenter) in passing mentioned her sister, Wendy, who had transformed her life (quite literally!) after switching to a mostly whole foods, vegan diet, I knew I wanted others to know about it. I asked her to share her story.
Wendy worked in the fast food industry for several years (she actually worked at Wendy’s!) & as a result, some her favorite foods were hamburgers, french fries, & chicken strips. Eating these types of foods took their toll & Wendy came to a point where she knew she wanted to change.
I loathe when vegan is used to only mean weight loss diet. Because in my mind, it’s a lifestyle that encompasses so, so much more than just a way to lose weight.
(My own story about why I went vegan, here & my own before & after pictures, here.)
What I love about Wendy’s story, is how she became reconnected to her body again & “felt muscles & bones” that she had not felt in years. She didn’t do anything drastic. Rather, she took her time to reconnect, treat her body gently through nourishing it with wholesome foods & holistic exercise like yoga (why I love yoga, here), & weight loss naturally followed.
Isn’t she glowing in her “after” picture? Beautiful lady.
Wendy’s story
I love food.
It has always been a delicious indulgence & a source of comfort to me.
But by age 28, I tipped the scale at close to 300 pounds & my love of food had caught up with me, in a way that negatively impacted my health–I felt awful was always tired. I would sleep long hours hoping to get more energy & had little desire to exercise.
Occasionally I would drink energy drinks, but these only made me feel worse (thanks sugar & chemicals!). My diet consisted of what I thought was normal food––although I now realize I was eating high amounts of processed meat, cheese, & refined food with little to no nutrients.
I can’t pinpoint the exact moment things began to change to for me.
I just knew I had been miserable for too long. I felt trapped in a body that I didn’t want. But, at some point, I started to become aware of how bad my food really was & how it was affecting me. Sure, rich food satisfied my cravings (for a time) but it was obvious that my diet was wreaking havoc on my health.
Around this same time my sister shared a few documentaries about whole foods with me–Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead, Food, Inc. (available for free on Amazon Prime), & Forks Over Knives (bring joy affiliate links). The messages in the films resonated with my new awareness, & I decided to take control of my life.
Juicing & yoga
I began with juicing. I started adding juicing to my diet once a day. I didn’t go on a “diet”––I just loved the way fresh fruit and vegetable juice made me feel. After 6 months I had shed 40 pounds & was feeling more energetic. It gave me the motivation to attempt an exercise program.
I started with yoga class at the college I attend. After a couple of sessions I was amazed at feeling muscles & bones that I hadn’t felt in years. I continued learning about diet & started adding more nutrient dense plant foods to my routine. I also added a weight lifting class to my schedule at school.
Losing weight — 120 pounds lighter
This new way of eating and activity level began a transformation of my physical body as well as my emotional landscape. In about a year’s time, I lost 120 pounds.
The physical changes were dramatic for sure––it’s hard to lose 120 pounds without people noticing. While the positive attention from losing weight is nice, nothing compares to feeling empowered in my own skin. Along with the increased energy came clarity and peace that I’d been seeking when I weighed 300 pounds.
Mostly whole foods vegan
Over the past year I’ve become a––mostly––whole foods vegan.
I enjoy juices, smoothies, & am passionate about organic, non-GMO plant foods. My favorites include green juices (with kale & ginger), veggie sandwiches with avocado, & pan-Asian veggie dishes. I practice yoga daily, workout at the gym a few times a week & continue to educate myself about nutrition & health.
I still love food and take great pleasure in eating but it’s different now.
The foods I indulge in promote healing in my body & have no addictive pull. I love this new lifestyle & am passionate about sharing my ongoing story with others. I know from personal experience that peace & healing is within reach & most definitely worth seeking.
I wish love & abundance to you on your personal journey!
Wendy Simkins is an aspiring aroma therapist who lives near Seattle Washington with her beloved cat, Koopa. When she’s not practicing yoga or eating avocados, you can find her outdoors exploring the Pacific Northwest. She can be reached at oilharmonics(at)gmail(dot)com.
Other bring joy posts you might want to check out:
- 5 tips for frugal juicing
- Sweet potato, avocado, & kale salad w/ sweet cashew dressing
- Beyond size & scale
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