I can’t help but talk a lot about health and wellness. Growing up I never really thought about what I put into my body because I was an athlete, that meant that I was healthy right? Fast forward a few years and bad eating habits was taking a toll, so I did a 180 with my diet. I started eating clean, eventually competing in triathlons and later body building competitions. Fast forward again and I’m now 46 trying to find a happy balance.
Growing Up: A Sweet Tooth and Fast Food
As a kid, it wasn’t uncommon for me to eat a large portion of Oreos without a second thought. My mom always had homemade cookies and sweets on hand, and after sporting events, grabbing fast food was a regular occurrence.
I wasn’t as thin as I wanted to be, but I didn’t stress too much about it because I was active. I played three sports and spent plenty of time in the gym lifting weights.
College was when my body really started to change. While my mom’s home-cooked meals had balanced out the sweets, eating in the college cafeteria was a whole new experience—one that wasn’t exactly healthy.
My Adult Diet: From Unconcerned to Clean Eating
Once I got married, I didn’t worry as much about my appearance. I remember joking with my husband, Matt, that if I wanted to eat something, I was going to eat it! Through all of life’s stages—including pregnancy—I never stopped working out, but my diet wasn’t always a priority.
After my daughter was born, something in me shifted. I read an article by Tosca Reno about clean eating, and for some reason, it just clicked. I was all in. I went home and completely overhauled my kitchen—donating (to my mom) or throwing away anything that didn’t fit into a clean eating lifestyle. I followed that book to the letter, changing the way I thought about food, prepared food, and ate food. Clean eating is a lifestyle, not a diet.
Not long after, I took on an even bigger challenge—training for triathlons. After a few races, I decided to give bodybuilding a try. Throughout this time, I stuck to my clean eating lifestyle.
Now, at 46, I still lift weights and eat healthier than the average person. Once you cut out junk food, you forget how good it tastes. And when you haven’t eaten it in years, after trying it again, you often realize it doesn’t even taste good! It’s hard to imagine, but it’s true—I don’t think I had an Oreo for 15 years!
Supplementation: Adjusting for Every Stage of Life
Throughout my diet transitions, my supplement routine has changed as well. Sometimes, I took fewer supplements because my diet provided everything I needed. Other times, I knew I needed extra BCAAs and protein for optimal performance. Now, as a premenopausal woman, my supplement needs are changing again.
Health and wellness have been a major part of my life, so it’s only natural that I love talking about it. My friend Hilary and I do a weekly #CoffeeTalk on Instagram, and we often end up discussing diet and exercise. People frequently ask me what I eat, how I train, and what supplements I take.
One supplement I recently started taking is THIS, a colostrum supplement. My neighbor, a scientist who helped develop its main ingredient, introduced me to it. I am hopeful that this supplement makes a big difference in my gut health and overall well-being. Immunolin is not only supposed to help with gut health, but also boosts your immunity to help prevent sickness and also decreases inflammation. Taking care of my body isn’t just about what I can see—it’s about maintaining health on every level, mind and body.
Final Thoughts
Health and fitness have been a lifelong journey for me. From mindlessly snacking on Oreos as a kid to meticulously following a clean eating lifestyle, and now to finding a balanced approach that works for me, I’ve learned that wellness is always evolving. The key is to listen to your body, adapt to its needs, and keep learning along the way.
Whether you’re just starting your health journey or looking for new ways to optimize your routine, I hope my story inspires you to find what works best for you!
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