About Me


 

Hi I’m Jemma and I was a sugar addict three years ago.

I ate sugar in all its forms every day. It wasn’t unusual for me to pop a few pieces of chocolate in my mouth while I was waiting for my toast in the morning.

I was tired, grouchy and had absolutely no motivation.

By 3pm I felt terrible. I put up with a variety of physical and mental ailments – headaches, irregular menstrual cycles, fatigue, mood swings – which I figured was just a product of a busy job and lack of sleep. I didn’t even consider that my diet was a factor.

And then I realised it had everything to do with what I ate.

A friend put me onto Sarah Wilson’s blog where she writes about the negative impact that fructose has on our health. As I continued to read more, I came to the realisation that the way I was feeling came down to what I ate. Not long after I had this revelation, Sarah’s eBook I Quit Sugar  I came out and I bought it and followed the eight week program.

It wasn’t easy and I wanted to give up.

It took every bit of my willpower to not give in and devour a block of chocolate. The first week was so hard with headaches, shivers and grouchiness. It made me question if it was all worth it. But I made a commitment. I was done with feeling sick and tired and I was going to stick with it. For the next few weeks I followed the program – turning down homemade biscuits and brownies from my colleagues and avoiding eye contact with the chocolates in the grocery store.

Then one day it hit me – I felt great.

About five weeks into the program, I had a light bulb moment. It was 3pm in the afternoon – my usual time for general unpleasantness – and I felt terrific. I didn’t feel the need for a nap, my head felt clear and I was full of energy. Then I realised I’ve been feeling like this for the entire week. Hallelujah, this was actually working!

So began my healthy journal.

I was reading anything I could get my hands on. I went to workshops and conferences and talked to homeopaths. I learned to listen to my body and how it was feeling after I ate certain foods. The more I learned about the effects that foods and additives have on your body and well-being, the more committed I became to taking care of myself both in body mind. Once I was eating better, working out and fitness became easier.

So here I am now – fitter, healthier, and happier.

I live by a predominantly plant based diet that is free of grains, refined sugar and meat but do include a little seafood from time to time. I have more energy, I am sleeping better, I don’t hit a wall at 3pm and issues with stomachaches and bloating have all but disappeared. I look healthy and feel amazing.

I’m not perfect – I love food – but I learned it’s about balance.

I’m not about labelling foods or diets as “good” or “bad.” My philosophy, and what works for me, is about eating healthy and naturally the majority of the time but allowing myself to indulge. Balance is key. I found that not allowing myself foods that I craved meant that I was more prone to binge.

This is my journey to a healthy mind and body.

I am always learning and experimenting with food – creating meals that are delicious and healthy. My recipes do not contain refined sugar and most are free of gluten, dairy and grain. I’ve started this blog to share my journey with you – recipes, fitness tips, and motivation for those days where it all seems a bit hard. I’m not a doctor or dietician. My recommendations and findings are based on what I’ve read and what works for me. This is my Healthy Journey and I hope to inspire you to start your own.

Jem