This is an awesome topic. I love it- sharing stories on what got us to where we are today.

My change was pretty gradual, and I still feel like I'm in the process of making changes today.

In the spring of this year, I was listening to a wide variety of podcasts- landed on Jillian Michaels and heard her bit on why it's so important, not just for weight loss but for long-term health, to avoid artificial chemicals in all their forms. I toyed with the idea for a while, did lots of reading/research on PubMed, and finally gave it a go a few weeks later.

The impetus for my switch was definitely twofold- for one, it's easier for me to lose weight when I'm not eating foods full of hormone disruptors, and secondly, I want to be as healthy as I can when it comes time for me to procreate!

I've also transitioned over to a more paleo/primal version of eating, and I'm liking it. I was at a bit of a plateau with the weight loss, which was the impetus for that change, and now I'm steadily losing again, yay. It was very hard mentally to go that first day without having any grains, but I haven't regretted it!

A couple of things prompted my change (which may I add is still very much ongoing and had its superb days, along with it's terrible days). In 2011 my dad died from cancer and despite 10 years or so of reasonable living, it was the years before when he smoked and rank too much, that ultimately led to the cancer. That alongside having a daughter (now 5 years old). Already she has commented her legs are fat, she does not want a fat tummy etc etc, as well as competing in a fairly touch gymnastics environment. It is my responsibility to show her a healthy balanced lifestyle.

In researching, I came across James Duigan Clean and Lean (removing the CRAP - Caffeine, Refined Sugar, Alcohol and Processed Foods). I still drink tea and have the occassional coffee, I have one 'free' meal a week and then the odd day - like today where I ate a bag of truffles because I was work overloaded and worked for 18 hours).

So far, exactly one year on, I am 44lbs down, 80lbs to go in the next year!

Food Inc. The next day I threw all of our food out. Then I had my kids watch it (at 5 and 7) so they could understand why I was being so mean.

We still get too much refined sugar in our diet, but we do pretty well. I haven't figured out how to say no to the kids when they are begging me at swim meets for a ring pop. I have this "ideal" that I would love for us to follow, but all of our food in the house is organic or non gmo.

LOVE this new group!

My Impetus for change? Two fold really. I used to work in feature films (movies) as a location manager. 18-20 hour days for weeks on end. Outrageous stress. My last movie I got to the point one day where I had the owner of our main location screaming obscenities at me, and threatening not only me--but to interfere with production ( a big NO NO!). I hadn't eaten, my blood sugar dropped to the point that I was passing out. I felt like my heart was going to explode and couldn't breathe. I left the movie early--and never looked back. Unfortunately, the amount of stress took its toll. I was exhausted all of the time.

I went to my Dr--as feeling like I was going to cry if I didn't get a nap did not seem normal to me. I felt like I was on the edge of a health abyss....I KNEW that if I didn't so something that I would get into a diseased state. Dr did all kinds of blood work. Nothing. He put me on thyroid meds....didn't help. I finally found a naturopath. She tested me ( muscle test) for deficiencies, bacteria, viruses, fungus, parasites, heavy metals. I had a lot going on! She put me on a building cleanse ( NOTHING like the fad cleanses you see out there) with homeopathics, tinctures and supplements that my body needed. Plus a good tea and awesome fiber that makes you poop, and sweeps a clean path in the gut. I still remember the day my body purged some kind of fecal grossness--i felt like a shroud had been removed from my brain, and I could breath deeper than I had in a long time. I was so relieved and so thankful that I cried! lol.

Then I I was doing research for a project about alternative therapies ( food, medicine primarily). For my research I watched lots of documentaries to see what was out there in the way of real evidence and what was just "out there". It's a mixed bag....but for certain I was compelled to look further into Genetically modified foods--just what all the hype was. What I found was that companies that started out making chemicals--namely Monsanto--though there others, were buying up the patents on seeds with a claim of Essential Equivalence. Meaning the GM version of a particular breed was essentially equivalent to it's natural counterpart. This struck a deep chord in me---how can something be a unique invention/technology to warrant a patent --yet at the same time be "essentially" the same as it's natural non-modified counterpart? And who would approve such things? The FDA of course.

So I researched the process of approval for the FDA. Did you know that the head of the FDA~Michael Taylor~ is a former lobbyist and attorney for Monsanto. I was floored, appalled and sickened that politics was taking precedent in our food chain. and that someone like Michael Taylor was able to come into the government entity designed solely to protect the heath and welfare of the american people....and help write the approval process for GMO's was not only a conflict of interest, but absolutely unconscionable.

I owe it to myself, my family and the children who don't have parents that know that food can either feed and nourish you or add to the progression of disease. I am absolutely all about trying to make sure food companies know that the additives, preservatives, artificial colors and flavors that they put into OUR food--items banned in other countries for decades--is unacceptable, and must be changed! There are so many people out there in the regular forums who absolutely take for granted the health and safety of our food--thinking that is the job of the FDA to make sure what we put in our mouths is "good" for us. The sad truth is that so many toxins have been labeled "safe" for human consumption...the list is truly endless!

I am in development on a project right now that deals with many food issues and chronic illness that may be improved with a change in diet. More on that later!

I've started buying more and more organic foods and cutting out more processed foods. It's still a work in progress. I'm not perfect and I don't expect I ever will be but that's okay with me.

^^YES!! I feel exactly the same- like every day it's a process for me, and every day I make a little progress, and hopefully learn something new.

I've come to realise it's a fitness site, not a health site.

As soon as I read this, it totally clicked. I agree. Glad to have you in our little 'health' corner!!!

My Impetus for change? Two fold really. I used to work in feature films (movies) as a location manager. 18-20 hour days for weeks on end. Outrageous stress. My last movie I got to the point one day where I had the owner of our main location screaming obscenities at me, and threatening not only me--but to interfere with production ( a big NO NO!). I hadn't eaten, my blood sugar dropped to the point that I was passing out. I felt like my heart was going to explode and couldn't breathe. I left the movie early--and never looked back. Unfortunately, the amount of stress took its toll. I was exhausted all of the time.

I went to my Dr--as feeling like I was going to cry if I didn't get a nap did not seem normal to me. I felt like I was on the edge of a health abyss....I KNEW that if I didn't so something that I would get into a diseased state. Dr did all kinds of blood work. Nothing. He put me on thyroid meds....didn't help. I finally found a naturopath. She tested me ( muscle test) for deficiencies, bacteria, viruses, fungus, parasites, heavy metals. I had a lot going on! She put me on a building cleanse ( NOTHING like the fad cleanses you see out there) with homeopathics, tinctures and supplements that my body needed. Plus a good tea and awesome fiber that makes you poop, and sweeps a clean path in the gut. I still remember the day my body purged some kind of fecal grossness--i felt like a shroud had been removed from my brain, and I could breath deeper than I had in a long time. I was so relieved and so thankful that I cried! lol.

Then I I was doing research for a project about alternative therapies ( food, medicine primarily). For my research I watched lots of documentaries to see what was out there in the way of real evidence and what was just "out there". It's a mixed bag....but for certain I was compelled to look further into Genetically modified foods--just what all the hype was. What I found was that companies that started out making chemicals--namely Monsanto--though there others, were buying up the patents on seeds with a claim of Essential Equivalence. Meaning the GM version of a particular breed was essentially equivalent to it's natural counterpart. This struck a deep chord in me---how can something be a unique invention/technology to warrant a patent --yet at the same time be "essentially" the same as it's natural non-modified counterpart? And who would approve such things? The FDA of course.

So I researched the process of approval for the FDA. Did you know that the head of the FDA~Michael Taylor~ is a former lobbyist and attorney for Monsanto. I was floored, appalled and sickened that politics was taking precedent in our food chain. and that someone like Michael Taylor was able to come into the government entity designed solely to protect the heath and welfare of the american people....and help write the approval process for GMO's was not only a conflict of interest, but absolutely unconscionable.

I owe it to myself, my family and the children who don't have parents that know that food can either feed and nourish you or add to the progression of disease. I am absolutely all about trying to make sure food companies know that the additives, preservatives, artificial colors and flavors that they put into OUR food--items banned in other countries for decades--is unacceptable, and must be changed! There are so many people out there in the regular forums who absolutely take for granted the health and safety of our food--thinking that is the job of the FDA to make sure what we put in our mouths is "good" for us. The sad truth is that so many toxins have been labeled "safe" for human consumption...the list is truly endless!

I am in development on a project right now that deals with many food issues and chronic illness that may be improved with a change in diet. More on that later!

Really love everything you are saying here!

My perspective on food has evolved over time...

I initially changed the way I was eating and monitored my calories because I got engaged and thought it would be a good way to look better for my wedding (goal--get skinny). I cleaned up my eating but not much and I eventually completely fell off the wagon, it didn't work because I wasn't looking at food in the right way.

In January 2013 I started following the "primal" thought process around food (loosely followed i should say). It completely changed the way I felt about food and how my body seemed to work. I was sleeping better, feeling better, didn't crave garbage food, etc. My weight seemed to drop slow and steady. this lasted for awhile however i seemed to lose a lot of my healthy eating habits when I was dealing with a foot injury and wasn't able to work out.

Now, I have started looking at food as fuel; it is a way to make sure I look and perform as best as possible; if I eat junk food, I will feel like junk. So I have been keeping that in mind and trying to eat appropriately...

I saw a documentary on netflix changed my world upside down
Challenged everything I knew about food

I forget what it was called

I didn't care about clean eating at first. I began with exercise. After losing 4 pounds in 8 weeks with only exercise during the holiday season I began what could I accomplish if I watched what I ate. My trainer began making suggestions that gradually steered me toward clean eating. 83 pounds later I'd say the combo works.

83 pounds later I'd say the combo works.

THAT IS SERIOUSLY AWESOME!! Love it.

My Impetus for change? Two fold really. I used to work in feature films (movies) as a location manager. 18-20 hour days for weeks on end. Outrageous stress. My last movie I got to the point one day where I had the owner of our main location screaming obscenities at me, and threatening not only me--but to interfere with production ( a big NO NO!). I hadn't eaten, my blood sugar dropped to the point that I was passing out. I felt like my heart was going to explode and couldn't breathe. I left the movie early--and never looked back. Unfortunately, the amount of stress took its toll. I was exhausted all of the time.

I went to my Dr--as feeling like I was going to cry if I didn't get a nap did not seem normal to me. I felt like I was on the edge of a health abyss....I KNEW that if I didn't so something that I would get into a diseased state. Dr did all kinds of blood work. Nothing. He put me on thyroid meds....didn't help. I finally found a naturopath. She tested me ( muscle test) for deficiencies, bacteria, viruses, fungus, parasites, heavy metals. I had a lot going on! She put me on a building cleanse ( NOTHING like the fad cleanses you see out there) with homeopathics, tinctures and supplements that my body needed. Plus a good tea and awesome fiber that makes you poop, and sweeps a clean path in the gut. I still remember the day my body purged some kind of fecal grossness--i felt like a shroud had been removed from my brain, and I could breath deeper than I had in a long time. I was so relieved and so thankful that I cried! lol.

Then I I was doing research for a project about alternative therapies ( food, medicine primarily). For my research I watched lots of documentaries to see what was out there in the way of real evidence and what was just "out there". It's a mixed bag....but for certain I was compelled to look further into Genetically modified foods--just what all the hype was. What I found was that companies that started out making chemicals--namely Monsanto--though there others, were buying up the patents on seeds with a claim of Essential Equivalence. Meaning the GM version of a particular breed was essentially equivalent to it's natural counterpart. This struck a deep chord in me---how can something be a unique invention/technology to warrant a patent --yet at the same time be "essentially" the same as it's natural non-modified counterpart? And who would approve such things? The FDA of course.

So I researched the process of approval for the FDA. Did you know that the head of the FDA~Michael Taylor~ is a former lobbyist and attorney for Monsanto. I was floored, appalled and sickened that politics was taking precedent in our food chain. and that someone like Michael Taylor was able to come into the government entity designed solely to protect the heath and welfare of the american people....and help write the approval process for GMO's was not only a conflict of interest, but absolutely unconscionable.

I owe it to myself, my family and the children who don't have parents that know that food can either feed and nourish you or add to the progression of disease. I am absolutely all about trying to make sure food companies know that the additives, preservatives, artificial colors and flavors that they put into OUR food--items banned in other countries for decades--is unacceptable, and must be changed! There are so many people out there in the regular forums who absolutely take for granted the health and safety of our food--thinking that is the job of the FDA to make sure what we put in our mouths is "good" for us. The sad truth is that so many toxins have been labeled "safe" for human consumption...the list is truly endless!

I am in development on a project right now that deals with many food issues and chronic illness that may be improved with a change in diet. More on that later!

This!! Everything you said!
My change started about 2008 when a co-worker had the book "Skinny *****". I picked it up and thought, how funny! Someone ranting about food and diets with vulgar language, I must read! HaHa! Little did I know that that book would put my on the journey it has. I had no idea about all of the research and chemistry and lying that comes from the food industry. I was ignorant and naive.
Later came Jillian Michaels "master your metabolism". I love everything Jillian Michaels, so I read this book in one day. Again, I was in shock over "frankenfoods" and the "chemical **** storm" I was eating every day. My mind was blown when she told her own story about how the "diet" foods she was eating and what it was doing to her body internally, even though she still looked amazing on the outside.
I think I was most angry when I started looking at labels on foods marketed for children. Most of the foods had NO real food at all, they were all chemicals. I actually cried about it in the store. I felt so betrayed and lied to. I didn't understand how an entire industry devoted to feeding people could consciously do this. I still dont get it.
Since then I have read and watched many books and movies including Forks over Knives, Food Inc. I follow websites by Dr Greger.
I'm doing the best I can to teach my son and any one who will listen about food, where it comes from and what its purpose is. In this society where everything is about quick, fast, and satiety regardless of the cost, I feel it is a daily battle.
I see some boards on here and see what people are eating, where their only goal is the # on the scale. I get that part, but I find it scary that people dont think about the actual purpose of food--NUTRITION!
I'm happy to have found this group of like minded individuals!!