A Little History:

I have been overweight most of my life, though it didn't always bother me. Of course there were lots of very uncomfortable moments that I will never forget. Moments that I still think about from time to time, especially when I self-reflect. From fifth grade through college my weight was a roller coaster. My heaviest, during this time, was 220lbs (give or take a few). That was a blur. I am an emotional eater...danger! That means I eat when I am happy, sad, mad, bored...you name it. Food is my fix. My cigarette, my drink....my drug. How the hell does one overcome an addiction when the drug of their choice is everywhere!? Well, I am still figuring it out and my goal is capture this addiction and bury it.

My dieting started when I was in my late teens. My first "diet" was genius! Ready for it...eat every few days. Yeah, that lasted...only a few days! Then came a long list of silly eating regimens, quick fixes.. nothing that really taught me how to fuel my body or how to compliment my metabolism. In my early 20's I hired a trainer, I was just over 200lbs, and he kicked my ass. I believe this was the first time I felt the rush of love for weight training (to bad it didn't last). While working with him I lost 36lbs in 6wks and was SO high on life. I gained it all back within months. I didn't get it, I use to think, "Maybe I am suppose to be this size or maybe my body can't be thin." I was 26 years old, had two young daughters and I was hating the thought of being a fat mom. I really had to do something at that point. SO, I ordered Phentermine and quickly became addicted to it. Within three months I lost 60lbs. Even if I tried to eat, I would throw it up... my body couldn't eat.  After taking Phentermine for two years, I was losing my hair, my skin was dry and unhealthy and I had rage...bad rage. Mmm, this totally defeated my purpose of motherhood! Yes, I was not a "fat mom", I believe, I was something worse....not me. I surrendered the pills and just tried my best not to get back up to 200lbs!
By the time I was 32 I was 212lbs. This is when I found a women's magazine called Oxygen. I was very interested in the fitness models, they were real women who displayed heath, strength, and beauty. The stories in the magazine spoke to me and I felt surprisingly comfortable. For once, I was not intimidated by the pages of a magazine. The more I read, the more I wanted to adopt this lifestyle and achieve new found goals. I learned a new way to fuel my body and felt promise for a healthy lifestyle. Within the pages of Oxygen I was immediately introduced to Tosca Reno. Tosca Reno is a bestselling author, motivational speaker and someone who can relate to me and thousands of other women! Through her own trials she discovered eating clean and the benefits of the lifestyle. I am not saying she was the first to discover what it is to eat clean, I am saying that she is one person who put it down on paper- bound it and started a movement! It changed her life and she wanted other women to know about it, live it and believe it like she did and does!  "The Eat Clean Diet".