Welcome!

Hi all,

Yay! A new blog! Even though I already have another blog, (www.lakeplacidskater.blogspot.com) I decided it would be a good idea to have a forum for discussing another passion of mine; nutrition!

Let me start by saying, I am not a doctor or health professional. But I have been immersed in natural nutrition from the time I was 12, when I lost 30 pounds after discovering multiple food intolerances. I evolved from being a fairly healthy person, to a vegetarian, then to eating meat occasionally. Being a vegetarian really resonated with me, but it didn't work with my body....so I had to start eating more protein.

This past summer, I was diagnosed with Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome, ( a sister syndrome of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), and my diet changed dramatically once again. I was so exhausted, sick, irritable, and achy all the time because of what I had done to myself over the winter. Working all weekend, sometimes skating 8 hours a day (4 hours of training in speed skating, 4 hours skating and supervising public skating sessions), I majorly ran myself down. I was surviving on sometimes up to three 24 oz cups of coffee a day, nut packets from starbucks, chocolate, sushi, and the occasional pastry. My body was subconciously calling out for nourishment and energy, and I provided the quick, unhealthy fix. Having eaten healthy since I was
12, my body wasn't ready for this onslaught; as a result I got sick.

Since eating anything improper made my symptoms unbearable, (I would literally get explosive, Fibromyalgia pain when I ate anything too sweet, even fruit; plus my mood would change, my head would hurt....generally I felt terrible), I had to change my eating habits big-time. No sugar, no dairy, no gluten, very little fruit, very little carbs....I had to be very careful of what I ate, or suffer the consequences. Even though it was insanely difficult to give up chocolate and coffee, I managed to wean myself off of the food that wasn't helping me. I am proud to say that I haven't eaten sugar in 3 months!

Since my illness, I have become much more aware of the mind-body connection. It is incredible to me that the food that I had eaten had wrecked me. I am now very conscious of what I eat, and in what amounts- because of my healthy eating habits, I am feeling better. Sure, I have rough days, but I feel much better than I did.

Now that I am done with my life story.....I would like to write what this blog will be about. While in NYC this past weekend ( I was visiting my grandparents in NJ), I dined at this FABULOUS vegetarian restaurant in the Lower East Side called Angelica's Kitchen, (more on that later). While eating, I thought, "Wouldn't it be cool to write about nutrition, about my favorite healthy eateries, about health news?". So as soon as I came home, I decided to start this blog. I plan to feature restaurant reviews, health news, nutrition, and anything related to those genres. YAY!

That's all for now; I will post my second post soon. For info about Lake Placid and figure skating, please visit my original blog, www.lakeplacidskater.blogspot.com!

Sincerely,

LP Skater