All About Me
Hey everyone! <3 My name is Rachel. I am a 20 year old Holistic Nutrition student and live in BC Canada. I have a huge passion for healthy living, Veganism, fitness and food. However, I haven't always been the most healthiest girl. Growing up, my stomach was full of pizza pockets, McDonalds, chocolate bars, Slushies, and Kraft Dinner. Luckily for me, the junk food didn't make an appearance on me until I turned 16 years old. I spent a few years being heavy and I hated it. I relied on food to make me feel better and I absolutely HATED exercise! (P.E was not my best subject).
The summer after I came back from Japan (where I indulged in many delicious Japanese delicacies), I decided that it was time to make a change. I had seen so many cute clothes in Japan but they weren't my size. I felt bad but at the same time motivated - I could do this! I wanted it bad enough.
In July of 2009, I got serious about exercise and eating right. I ran, biked, and ate healthy every single day. Before I knew it, I dropped 50 lbs! I felt lighter, and my mind was much clearer. This is what skinny feels like, I remember thinking to myself. However, the more thinner I got, the more I wanted to be. Exercise almost became an obsession of mine and so did counting calories. I had "control" over something for the first time in my life. This is a common issue a lot of young girls are going through at the moment and it is a very scary thing. Going from 160 lbs to 109 lbs at my lowest, was very hard on my body to do in a such a short amount of time. This may be TMI, but my period eventually stopped coming every month and I didn't see it for almost a whole year. I felt cold ALL the time, my body felt exhausted and I didn't miss one day of exercise for a whole year. I thought if I did, I would gain a pound. This may sound totally ridiculous to someone who has never been through something like that, but it is so hard to convince your mind that you need to take a break. I remember falling asleep during class because I was just worn out. I didn't feel healthy anymore. People I knew would talk about me and say that I was anorexic and too skinny. It was awful. To say such hurtful words to someone you don't even know is not right. Luckily, I was/am a very strong person and they never got to me.
My story ends happily! The summer after graduation, I decided to kick my obsessive exercise habit, just like I kicked my hating exercise habit, and I put on a good 20 lbs! I feel better and more comfortable in my own skin. Sure it is nice to say you are a 00, but inside you may not be healthy. Looking back at pictures of my skinny-minny self, I really wish I could tell myself to not worry so much about burning calories, counting calories and constantly thinking about working out! I wish I could have told myself to enjoy being a teenager, to eat a cheat meal and sleep in on weekends. But you can't change the past - you can just move forward! I am glad I have been able to get healthy again and have also converted to a Vegan lifestyle. I've never felt better! I have so much energy, more passion for cooking and am blessed to have such a wonderful lifestyle. I can now say I have more pride and respect for my body then ever! I have put it through a LOT and I love it. I love me :)
Remember to always love yourself and be kind in how you talk to yourself. Even on your bad days, you are still beautiful.
-Healthy Rach
The summer after I came back from Japan (where I indulged in many delicious Japanese delicacies), I decided that it was time to make a change. I had seen so many cute clothes in Japan but they weren't my size. I felt bad but at the same time motivated - I could do this! I wanted it bad enough.
In July of 2009, I got serious about exercise and eating right. I ran, biked, and ate healthy every single day. Before I knew it, I dropped 50 lbs! I felt lighter, and my mind was much clearer. This is what skinny feels like, I remember thinking to myself. However, the more thinner I got, the more I wanted to be. Exercise almost became an obsession of mine and so did counting calories. I had "control" over something for the first time in my life. This is a common issue a lot of young girls are going through at the moment and it is a very scary thing. Going from 160 lbs to 109 lbs at my lowest, was very hard on my body to do in a such a short amount of time. This may be TMI, but my period eventually stopped coming every month and I didn't see it for almost a whole year. I felt cold ALL the time, my body felt exhausted and I didn't miss one day of exercise for a whole year. I thought if I did, I would gain a pound. This may sound totally ridiculous to someone who has never been through something like that, but it is so hard to convince your mind that you need to take a break. I remember falling asleep during class because I was just worn out. I didn't feel healthy anymore. People I knew would talk about me and say that I was anorexic and too skinny. It was awful. To say such hurtful words to someone you don't even know is not right. Luckily, I was/am a very strong person and they never got to me.
My story ends happily! The summer after graduation, I decided to kick my obsessive exercise habit, just like I kicked my hating exercise habit, and I put on a good 20 lbs! I feel better and more comfortable in my own skin. Sure it is nice to say you are a 00, but inside you may not be healthy. Looking back at pictures of my skinny-minny self, I really wish I could tell myself to not worry so much about burning calories, counting calories and constantly thinking about working out! I wish I could have told myself to enjoy being a teenager, to eat a cheat meal and sleep in on weekends. But you can't change the past - you can just move forward! I am glad I have been able to get healthy again and have also converted to a Vegan lifestyle. I've never felt better! I have so much energy, more passion for cooking and am blessed to have such a wonderful lifestyle. I can now say I have more pride and respect for my body then ever! I have put it through a LOT and I love it. I love me :)
Remember to always love yourself and be kind in how you talk to yourself. Even on your bad days, you are still beautiful.
-Healthy Rach