Okay. Let me first start off by explaining that leading a healthy eating lifestyle was one of the last things I EVER had an urge to do. Like most young folk, I enjoyed the goodness and glory of all foods bad for you without a lick of consequence. I'm talking Twinkies, Doritos, ice cream (shout out to Blue Bell!), burgers, fries, fries dipped in ice cream (yes, you heard me), pizza... you get the picture.

 

I LOVED food, and it loved me back because no matter how foolishly I ate and no matter the high quantity, I remained an itty bitty PYT. I mean, I knew deep down inside I was probably clogging my arteries slowly, but there was nothing physically slowing me down so I continued. But then I had my first adult wellness visit (around age 21) and was informed I had high cholestrol. But how Sway? I'm 21 and can practically outrun a cheetah... okay not a cheetah but maybe a very fast puppy. But nonetheless, LDL's dont lie, so I cut back on the cheese and ice cream, but pretty much continued acting a fool with everything else.

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It wasn't until I turned 25 that my little junk food world came tumbling down. One day, as my boyfriend was helping me move into my new apartment, I realized thangs just weren't the same yall. As my shirt raised above my waist line while attempting to reach something high up in the closet, my boyfriend goes, "What's that?" 

I looked down and there appeared to be a light scratch that was scabbing. But as I turned to my other side, there was another "scratch" to match. 

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Well I'll be darned. They were stretch marks forming around a prematue muffin top. I hadn't even noticed the weight-gain until that moment. So yes, sadly, it was vanity that initially led me to switch up my eating habits and hit the gym consistently. BUT, something more pushed me to stick with it.

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I've had my share of health scares. At one point, I was in the doctor's office almost every other month for a period of two years. I suffered from endless UTI's/bladder infections, eczema, other skin rashes, pelvic pains, etc. To make matters worse, between the two doctors I was seeing neither of them could figure out what the cause of my conditions were let alone provide me a solution. I was tested for everything under the sun but no diagnosis could ever be made.One of the doctors even began to question me and why I thought something was wrong in the first place. I was so frustrated sometimes I would lay awake crying at night begging God to please give me another set of issues instead like money problems or struggling in school (I know. Crazy). 

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I was tired of the nagging symptoms and taking the medications that mostly didn't work. Aside from my faith, thankfully, I learned a lot about the human body through my education course as an Exercise Science major. During one of my Nutrition courses my professor explained the resiliency of the human body and the over prescribing of antbiotics and other meds. She taught us to better trust our bodies and it's natural healing process. SHe also discussed homeopathic remedies and resources. I dug further and after months and months of research began to fall in love with wholistic approaches and natural remedies. And one of the main methods of healing naturally is through DIET. 

 

I learned to cut out certain foods, drinks and  habits and the difference in my health was almost instantaneous. I stopped drinking anything aside from water. Over the years, I cut out bread, lots of dairy and other harmful substances. Now, I am by no means saying I don't ever have a slice of pizza or toast or enjoy a cocktail every now and again, but overall, significantly reducing those "bad" guys from my diet changed my life. It sounds cliche but it did. When you're sick AND the doctors don't know what the heck is wrong with you, it is literally life altering. You hear some people's problems and secretly wish you could trade places with them. I decided I didn't want to live like that anymore and I wasn't going to stop until I found the answer. And since no doctor could provide me with one, I knew that God and I had to handle it ourselves. And changing my diet lied in that solution. 

 

Through plenty of trial and error, I now know what my body can and cannot tolerate and at what levels. And exploring this world of clean and healthy eating has inspired me to share the practices that saved my sanity and gave me my life back.     

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I hope my recipes and stories can help others who feel like I once did. I used to be so confused. I thought that because my friends and most people around me could eat and drink and do certain things that all people should and not suffer any consequence. I also dare not say anything because none of them ever complained of having any of the issues I did. But that is a LIE and so far from the truth!

 

Everyonce cannot tolerate what most people can, and guess what? THAT'S OKAY. Find out what works for you and what doesn't. You can still live a totally normal and happy life with a different eating regimen. You may be sensitive to yeast, gluten, sugar, etc. for whatever reason. But whatever you're going through, if you haven't taken a look at your diet and adjusting it drastically you're doing yourself and your health a huge disservice. 

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More than likely, the answer truly does lie in what you're putting in your mouth! I'm no medical professional, but I can say that clean eating and exercising can help alleviate or in some cases, eliminate so many medical issues and physical ailments.  

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But whether it's to battle an illness, prevent long term illness or just enjoy the benefits of being healither, I hope you'll follow along with me on my journey and bask in the freedom of being a better and happier you! 

 

Stay phresh my friends!

XO- Farren

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