here we go.

As summer turns to fall, I am usually looking forward to apple picking, the buying & wearing of fall-ish clothes (sweaters, jeans, boots, skirts and tights) and most of all...my birthday at the end of September. This year being especially significant because I am turning the big 2-5. It's been quite the year and I am celebrating it in a big way. I am taking my first and long awaited solo vacation. The year has definitely had it's ups and downs as I have completely turned my life upside down and inside out in order to be the best me. I know it's corny and sometimes I try to make sure I'm not on a soapbox about these kinds of things because of all the things I've learned I've realized that YOU are the only person who can make the decisions that will ultimately change anything in your life regardless if for better or worse. Regrets that anyone, including myself, may have....are ultimately due to choices and decisions we, ourselves have made and it's maturity that leads all of us to owning up to that.

As I have changed myself inside and out, learning about myself, my body and how to take better care of it, I have had to contemplate just how important food is in my life. It's a weird topic to discuss in general because a lot of people have their issues with food whether it is has to do with being overweight, having food allergies or intolerances, eating disorders, just being picky or super un-healthy etc.. I know for me, that I had this love/hate thing with food for a really long time and ultimately, in becoming healthy and in the search for optimal lifelong health, I know that struggle will be one of the hardest things to overcome.

Discussing this with one of my nutritional counselors this week, I started to feel like I was about to turn a page and say goodbye to any uneasiness I had felt in the past or about adopting a new way of thinking about what I eat each day. Some of the new things I am working on adding into my daily meals seem absurd and are pretty new to me but I am trusting these people as the results they have found for other clients are overwhelmingly encouraging.

So yes I will be foregoing wheat which means giving up pretty much any bread or cereal i've ever known along with dairy so no more milk, yogurt and most cheese but there are other options and I think that I have to keep telling myself that this will all get easier in time. There are bread, cereal, pasta, cheese and milk options for people who can't or won't eat the regular versions. I'll be OK. (p.s more to come about this topic soon)

Overall, I'm embracing the transition (as I am calling the period of my life over the next few weeks) with open arms because in the recent days I already feel more energetic and happier even if it has little to do with the food I'm eating, I know that my mood is optimistic with the anticipation of what's to come. Turning 25 will be a turning point in that I am closing a door on a life I wasn't always happy living. Because, and I say this in the hope that other people may embrace this too......I am living life to the potential I know that I have and trying day after day to reach and exceed that. I'm living my best life, being the best me---not for those around me, although i'm sure they do appreciate it--but I do it FOR ME. It only took 25 years to get here but it's been a fun ride. I 100% believe that things happen for a reason and that we're all on a path towards something.

So, my path has led me here. To the gluten free aisle in the grocery store, to the super crunchy-granola organic food store where there is a really cute guy with dreads and to my new "favorite" foods: beets, raw cheese, liver pate, sauerkraut, coconut butter and salt on everything. more on why all of that makes sense tomorrow, i promise.