4 lb. Chocolate Amazing Grass Giveaway!

After a series of knee injuries I had to retire from college basketball my junior year..it broke my heart that I couldn’t play competitively anymore. I was so sick of people telling me all the things my body could no longer do, I just wanted to prove them wrong and feel accomplished again. So against doctors’ advices and recommendations and despite the constant pain and swelling, I started running. I’ve always been a pretty healthy eater, but this time I knew I had to make some serious changes and stick to them. As I went from being a pescatarian to high-raw vegan, I added about 20 miles to my weekly running log and dropped about 20 pounds along the way. I trained for and ran a marathon in 3:57 and am running a half in a few days. Take that double knee reconstruction!

After 6.5 years following a diet program I vowed on Jan 1, 2009 to get my act straight and make my goal weight. 29 days later (the day before my weight in day) I binged eating so much food my stomach was visibly distended. I burst out crying i front of my husband telling him how I didn’t want to go weigh in because I’ll have gained, how I hated following the diet, I was obsessed with food and sneaking it whenever I knew he couldn’t find me. I quit the next day, and while I have gained some weight, I’m much happier learning about what foods I like to eat and how what I eat affects my body.

Ironically my health did not change when I was diagnosed with Leukemia almost five years ago. Instead, while going through rounds of tests and chemo I put on the lbs due to a combination of stress eating (ice cream!!!), inactivity and steroids. I was unhappy and got comfortable relying on the drugs to help me feel better. This past December I went in for another treatment and my Dr gave me the news that I would finish up my treatments this March. That is it… no more spending days getting infusions. Woohoo! Suddenly we were talking about life after cancer like trying to get pregnant and staying healthy. A light bulb went off and I knew this was my time to shine! The next day I got busy and dusted off a few workout DVDs I had. I also totally changed my diet from foods that were very processed to a mostly vegan diet. It helped that my hubby is allergic to dairy so we had already cut that out of our diets! Now on a daily basis I take a shot of wheatgrass in the morning, shake my booty, take my vitamins, try to cut out unnecessary stress and enjoy daily walks at nights with my two crazy pups and my very supportive husband. I’m not sure what is ahead but at least I now know what I can control. Life is such a journey. :)

The turning point for me was when I was diagnosed with Grave’s Disease. I never realized how different foods could affect my body so much differently than others :)

Thanks for the terrific giveaway!

My turning point was when I had suffered from a gallbladder infection secondary to having undiagnosed gallstones. My gallbladder nearly ruptured (wouldn’t have been a pretty situation!). After the infection subsided and the surgeon felt confident that I wouldn’t have spillover of the gross infection goo, I had my gallbladder removed. I had some serious post-op complications to “put the cherry on top of the sundae”. It was a difficult time for me, and it was a wake-up call!!

I found out in high school that I was insulin resistant. I was a very active person in high school, but my diet was all over the place. During my four years at college, I really started to pay attention to the nutrition I was giving my body. I lost some weight and have kept it off for 3 years through healthy eating and exercising regularly :) Best news– no more insulin resistance.

Turning point was after trying a million diets….losing 5 pounds then gaining it back then losing it and so on. I decided that I really just wanted to feel better and following a healthy lifestyle seemed the best way to do it. Once I started it just became a natural part of my life.

My turning point was when I graduated from college and started a real job. I was so active in college and walked everywhere, and at the office I was sitting for 8 hrs a day! I had always exercised, but thats when I really started to see it as a lifestyle commitment. Now I love the treadmill, elliptical, group classes, etc and how good it makes me feel to work out.

I had a turning point in college, too. I was going through a divorce and I was at an incredibly low point in my life. It’s hard to have a good self-esteem when you aren’t wanted.

I started going to the gym and joined a class called Ripped that was intended for guys, but it ended up being a mixed group of girls and guys all on their own journey, much more personal than physical. I pushed myself in a way that I never thought possible for me.

I learned in the midst of that class that my confidence didn’t come from others wanting me (or my body), it came from liking myself and being proud of who I am. I’m not as fit as I was then anymore, but I learned a valuable health-lesson back then. I eat right and exercise because I respect me, not so that other people will.

My mother recently passed away in September. I have been vegan before, but struggled with keeping the lifestyle. Around six months after my mother passed away, I was still struggling with depression and anger. I realized I needed an outlet for my energy and something to keep my mind occupied. This was my turning point. I decided to become vegan once again, and try new recipes almost everyday. This keeps me busy and I am always bursting with excitement when I am trying a new recipe. Your website has really helped me in this journey.

Thank you!

My turning point was to finally eat balanced – no depriving myself during the week to over-eat on the weekends. And letting myself have a cookie (not 10) when I wanted!

My turning point was when I started law school. I have always been pretty concerned with my food choices, but honestly, I didn’t know that much! I thought that as long as I was staying away from fried foods and tons of sweets, I’d be okay. Plus, I don’t LOVE salads and I thought that a salad would be the only real healthy food, so I kind of gave up. Boy, was I wrong! After I started to notice that I really needed lots of healthy foods to keep my energy at a high level to properly study, I started to research and reading blogs like yours. I have since learned that there is a LOT of variety in healthy choice options and I don’t have a problem at all selecting those foods as opposed to other, unhealthier options.

My turning point has actually been a turning year…in the past year I’ve been exploring all kinds of fitness, food and health blogs as well as things about body image and society.

I have gradually come to accept and even love me just the way I am, and feeling that way seems to make it much easier to take care of me the way I should be taken care of.

I’ve been working out 5 days a week since late December, and I’m feeling great. Now it’s time to start revamping the eating habits!

Sassy

My turning point was when there was a “Biggest Loser” competition at work. I lost 15 pounds and almost won. I decided that I never again wanted to have enough weight to lose that I could be eligable to enter a “Biggest Loser” contest!

What an amazing giveaway! Love how you enter too. So, I had a sort of awakening when I was starting my weight loss journey (the last 5-10 pounds) and I started a food journal. I realized I was eating 1000 calories over what I should. I started to be more conscious and to think about my food. I still enjoy my chocolate every now and then, now I’m just more aware and I’m not stuffing myself silly. It really has helped me and the bod:)

My turning point was when I put on my skinny jeans and they were litterally falling off. This was NOT a good thing. I had gotten so thin that I couldn’t fit into my already tiny jeans. I started eating again, slowly at first, then adding more and more calories as I became more confident. Now, I maintain a healthy lifestyle through regular exercise and cooking delicious, healthy meals for myself and sometimes my boyfriend too! I am a size “healthy” now and I plan to stay this way.

My turning point was prom of senior year actaully because the dress my mom bought me was a size too small but they didn’t have any other ones. So I had to lose weight

My turning point was 6 months after my daughter was born, I was still carrying 30 lbs of pregnancy weight! I have never worked out my whole life and I just dove right into it. And I am so glad I did. Because the healthy eating just came naturally after a few weeks of regular workouts. Now, I’ve lost most of the baby weight and I’m on a mission to get healthy and get fit for life!

My turning point was seeing a picture of me on my 21st birthday. I knew that change started within myself, so I started my journey towards a healthier lifestyle. I’ve try to take out processed foods and in place added more whole foods to my diet.

My turning point happened in June 2009. My doctor told me, “Jessi, if you don’t do something about your weight, you’re going to die before you’re 30.” She wad dead serious too. I had hypertension, cholesterol problems, my triglycerides were through the roof, and I had back/knee/ankle problems. I could barely walk a half mile and walking a mile killed my back. Here I was at 25 supposedly living the prime years of my life yet they weren’t so “prime”.

About two weeks after that, I received an email from an on campus campus-wide email about a weight loss program being offered through our gym on campus. It was for faculty/staff only (perfect for me!) and it was relatively affordable. I signed up and prayed I’d get accepted. About a month later, I got a call saying my application was accepted and that I would be joining the program!

Starting in August 2008, I began to change my life. To date, I’ve lost 105 lbs, eat very healthfully (or at least attempt to), and crave workouts! I’m off my blood pressure and cholesterol medications. My knees/back/ankles no longer ache. I’m running 5-6 miles at a time, consisting beating my personal times for my 5K’s. I completed a sprint triathlon Feb. 2009 and plan on training and completing an olympic level triathlon by the end of this year! Next year will be a half iron man and the following year will be a full iron man.

The only thing I regret is not realizing that living THIS life is so much more fulfilling, even though it is challenging!

My road to health was a long one. I have always struggled with body image and my weight has been up and down since puberty.

After watching my mother battle against cancer for the better part of a decade and pass away far too young I decided it was time to finally take control of my life.

Over the next 9 months I lost 70lbs and started running.

While I still struggle from time to time I have built the foundation for a healthy, happy and active lifestyle.

It was definitely my weight. I used to be a skinny child and then all of a sudden when I hit 15 I started balooning.
My heighest weight was 140 pounds at 16 years old.
That doesn’t seem like much but at 5’4″ and a very small frame I was quite chubby and didn’t like what I had become.
The clothes didn’t fit right and I wouldn’t let anyone take pictures of me. I was very self-conscious and embarrassed.
I am at a healthy 120 lbs now and loving it! I think I look great and healthy! :)

The turning point in my life was definitely when I was waving to someone while I was in my car and saw the “bye-bye flab” wigglin’ and jigglin’. It was then that I decided that I needed to eat healthier and definitely get into better shape. It’s still a long journey ahead but at least I’ve started it!

My turning point was when I realized that I didn’t have to be the perfect image of healthy and fit. I was always naturally tiny and a long distance runner who could eat whatever I wanted growing up but I forgot about all of that freshman year of college and let myself becoming too thin and weak to even run like I could before. I transferred colleges and started to learn more about wholesome/local food that I started to see as fuel. I started to run again and fed myself properly. I have learned that food is a something to enjoy and be excited about again and feel stronger than ever. Now I just need to start racing again…

My turning point was when I was I just fed up with my bad skin, low energy, and constipation. I had no idea what good health was or how to achieve it. I thought I was being good by bringing along my 100 cal snacks throughout the day, and just pretty much counting calories, no matter what I ate. I picked up the book Skinny B**** and that was it! My calling! I am SO much happier now..incorporating so many wonderful vegan and raw foods. I’m blissful :) Thank you for the chance to win!

well i had always drank and smoked weed and stuff my freshman year. One summer, I decided to start working out more. I started by running and i absolutely fell in love with it. At this point, i’d given up drugs and alcohol but i still smoked cigarettes. I realized that i couldn’t run and still smoke, so i dropped the habit. Looking back on it, i don’t even remember when i quit, i just wanted to run so it was easy. Running literally changed my life. :)

2006 was a big year for me…I graduated college, married my high school sweetheart, started teaching high school, and built a house. Needless to say, I was stressed! Due to busy schedules and a tiny food budget, we lived off of macaroni and cheese and spaghetti that year. I knew I was gaining weight (I needed to buy new pants fairly frequently…) but I didn’t own a scale, so I didn’t know how bad things had gotten. When we were at my parent’s house for Christmas Eve, I decided to weigh myself on my parent’s scale. I had gained 30 pounds in one year! I vowed right then and there to lose weight. I cut out all white flour and sugar and over 6 months, I lost 30 pounds. then I started exercising and lost 10 more! My husband and I went on a belated honeymoon two years after our wedding. I was determined to wear a bikini…and I did!

My turning point was when I couldn’t fit into a dress I wanted to wear for an awards ceremony. I knew then and there that I needed to do something. Almost 2 years and 30 pounds later, I’m a much healthier and happier person.

My turning point was seeing pictures of me after I gained the freshman fifteen… er… twenty. I’d just been on an amazing trip and all I could think about was how unfortunate looking I looked and I was like “Ew, let’s deal with that!”
So I started replacing crap with plants :D

My turning point was when I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes my freshman year at college. Before then I never knew anything about nutrition. Over the years I’ve learned about nutrition and fueling my body the right way. Reading your blog & other healthy living blogs gives me new ideas & keeps up the inspiration factor. :)

My turning point was after agreeing to join the gym. I was amazed how much I loved it. I had always been a bit skinnier but put on a few lbs after getting married. The gym helps me keep my focus and gives me alot of energy. I’ve been looking for a great protein powder. Ps. My wife loves your blog!

I saw my weight get to the highest it had ever been and I kept having to buy bigger pants, I realized I needed to get ahold of my weight and be more active. I couldnt keep gaining 10 lbs a year so I lost 25 lbs and got my butt in shape and have kept it off for 4 years now

My turning point was seeing old pictures of myself and knew I had to get healthy. Health first, weight loss will follow. My sister got me into Raw foods. Now I strive to raise my 2 little girls with the healthiest foods possible. I want to set the standard for them!

I think I’m finally hitting my turning point now. I’ve been reading a lot more about ‘eating clean’ lately, and have even been considering entering the world of vegitarianism. I’m eating far too many processed foods and have been feeling exhausted almost every day. As I clear out my pantry of processed foods, I’m not replacing them. I’m buying more whole, natural products. Thank you so much for your daily inspiration. Your food all looks wonderful… definitely not ‘rabbit food’ I associate with vegan diets!

My turning point was when I was seriously underweight at a doctor’s visit when I was 18. She asked me if I wanted to have kids someday, and then and there I realized I had to take better care of myself in order to have the life I ultimately wanted. I’ve always been a healthy eater, but I’ve learned not to be so restrictive and to “live a little”! Life is way better when you don’t limit yourself to “black and white” thinking. I’ve learned that listening to my body and giving it what it needs is the best thing, whether that’s getting sleep, eating fruits and veggies, going for a run, or enjoying dessert! :)

Hi Angela! I don’t really have a turning point. When I started high school, I was in a sport programe and I my sport was swimming. I compete for five years. Unfortunately, I had some injuries in my shoulders so I had to stop. I always enjoyed my workouts so I suscribe to a gym (and I am still going, 6 years later!). Being active always helped to be in a healthy lifestyles. I am still learning everyday, but it’s just a subject that I enjoy. I think that I am gaining wisedom and everyday I am getting better on my healthy path :)
I just want to apologizes for my mistakes, english is not my first language (even tought I am Canadian).
I really enjoy your blog, I learn a lot and I pratice my english :)

My turning point was prob. a running class I took. I realized how important is was to fuel my body with better things and how much it helped improve my runs and the way I felt.

I don’t know that I ever had a “turning point” necessarily so much as a slow realization that I felt so much happier and loved myself more when I took proper care of myself. I did the awesome gain freshman year of college along with 2 months of losing all of it and more in a rather restrictive self loathing way while dating an anorexic boyfriend, picked up a lot of his habits, never actually admitted that a loud before (it feels rather liberating). It has been a journey finding balance. I felt best as a raw vegan ( I did for 6 months at the end of school) and try to incorporate that into my new lifestyle. I could really identify with your story and have loved reading about the development of you following your dreams and finding happiness even when you were falling into the “typical life” of a desk job doing something you don’t like etc. A fear I have. I respect you and all you have done greatly.

It’s been a long struggle but my true turning point, the one that turned everything around and jump started my health obsession, occurred in March 2009. I was fed up with the weight/diet “cycle” that I was in since 7th grade. Enough was enough. I had decided to go on the Master Cleanse after researching it for 2 months (I even bought a book about it!) to get on the right track to better health . I know there is a TON of controversy surrounding it, but it was the right decision for ME at the time. I successfully completed it, which was a triumph in itself because that took the most dedication and will power I’ve ever exerted in. my. entire.life. Even though I fully understood I couldn’t keep off the weight once I started eating again, I’ll admit, it was still encouraging to see it melt away so quickly.

Long story short, the turning point came on the 4th or 5th day of the cleanse. I was feeling frustrated by something in my life and wanted to eat something to comfort me. Since food was out of the question, I had decided to take my dog for a walk to clear my head. We ended up walking a much further distance than I planned, so naturally we were both starving upon returning. As I was pouring my dog’s food, and I actually remember doing this, I gave her a little extra because I thought she deserved it after our longer walk.
And that was it. It was like a switch flipped inside my head. I stood there and finally realized that I needed to do the same for myself. My body deserves to be properly nourished, especially for the all the hard work it does. Before this moment of enlightenment, I was guilty of rarely replenishing my body with food after working out in an effort to reduce my calorie intake further. Not very smart!!!

This revelation absolutely blindsided me and I haven’t looked back since. The way I view food and my body have changed drastically, as a direct result. I immediately took to my journal and vowed to treat my body with the respect (i.e. nutrients) it needs. I will always be grateful for this moment in my life because it was the completely necessary wake-up call I needed most if I wanted a chance at a happy, healthy life. It was just long overdue, but like that old saying, better late than never!!

For me it was a yo-yo, first I was overweight and then I went straight to underweight. My not-so-good first turning point was when I got out of my first ‘real’ relationship feeling completely terrible about the way I looked. I swore that I would be better then that, so I went from 145 pounds to 110 pounds in less then 6 months. Not the healthiest. When my hair started to thin, I had stopped going out and was completely depressed. My family talked to me about what was happening, I was hurting so much at that point and needed to do something. They took me out of town for a ‘free weekend’ where I ate lots of good food and saw what it was doing for me. Since then I have gained between 5-10 pounds. I am eating right, running a half-marathon in days (which I would not have been able to do when I was ‘skinny’) and feel the best I have ever felt :D

My turning point was when my jeans started to fit really really snug and I had no idea why! Then I started noticing that the foods I was eating were unhealthy and really high in calorie. I just wasn’t paying attention and ate whatever I felt like. I decided to eat less desserts and less pizza I’m still working on a healthy balanced diet but my jeans fit a little better than they used to!

My turning point was when I was looking at some pictures and realized I was only getting bigger and bigger, and decided I really needed to start getting smaller and smaller! I’ve lost about 20 pounds in a little less than a year (I need to lose about 80 more to be at a healthy weight), and am just glad that that’s 20 pounds DOWN, not up!

My turning point came at my best friend’s wedding. I was in a size 16 dress and felt like I was squeezed in it like a sausage. The picture of me in that dress is on the About Me section of my blog. After seeing that picture of myself, I knew I had to do something and ended up losing about 25 pounds and ran two half-marathons!

You know, i don’t really think there was an exact “moment” or an “Epiphany” of sorts..it was more like..”hmmm, I wonder how exercise would benefit ME?” and we had Tony Horton 10 minute trainer DVD’s in my house….and almost a year later, I’m still doing them everyday and LOVING my body. I can walk up steep hills finishing with my heart only slightly pounding, whereas a year ago i’d be huffing and puffing and blue in the face!
Moments like those are the ones that make me want to continue–to continue pushing my body, discovering my own strengths and most of all, fueling it with the things it needs. I started out the wrong way, counting EVERY calorie and refusing “bad” foods. Now I eat basically everything (;)) , but I go by how good it is FOR me. I know my weight might creep slightly, but it’ll do so naturally…and because i’m doing what’s right. :) I’m so proud I dug myself out of the “I want to be skinnny” rut and jump into the “healthy & fit” bandwagon.

My turning point was seeing my weight get into the overweight BMI category. I was also almost at the point where nothing in the normal stores would fit me. I hated going shopping, when it’s something that I knew I would love if I could fit into clothes.

Things that keep me on track is having nutritious food around the house, doing my own grocery shopping, and my love for cooking. I love coming up with healthy meals for myself, and I feel awesome when i’m eating properly.

It was probably passing the bar (the exam one needs to pass to practice law) . . . I suddenly had an idea of what I would be doing the rest of my life and I knew it was an unhealthy, inactive profession so I decided to train for a triathlon and make a conscious effort to eat better. Two years later and still going strong!

My turning point came when I met my husband. I was envious of his healthy exercise and eating habits. I respected the way he simply ‘did the right thing’ without struggling. He became my role model. I slowly learned what the ‘right things’ were for me and started doing them to the best of my ability. Today I am a vegan, I love raw foods, I run and do bikram yoga.

My real turning point came when I realized that my daughter will turn thirty this year and there I was still carrying around an extra thirty pounds of ‘baby weight’. After all these years I’d never been successful at losing it – that plus a now through-the-roof cholesterol level. I knew I needed a serious lifestyle change and that’s when I decided to go vegan. I have been reading some great, informative books and am so excited to have found wonderful blogs like this one. After only one month I’m now well on my way to such a healthy new lifestyle and I am already feeling so much better and have finally begun to lose the extra weight. Now, I can’t wait to get my cholesterol checked again. And, one day I hope to be the ‘hot & healthy’ Grandma!

My turning point came after I took my first nutrition class in college. We had to track our intakes and learned a lot about the problems with eating so much packaged/preserved foods. I couldn’t believe how much room I had for improvement! Also starting to read blogs (like yours!) have been very eye-opening to me. I now focus on eating REAL food and finding things that make me feel good! Exercising more regularly has also been a positive thing in my life. Helps me keep my “glow” :)

Dying to try Amazing Grass!

I definitely view my own energy levels as reflective of what I eat and what I do, so that keeps me in check!