Sometimes God Gives You What You Ask For...
Just Not In The Way You Expected.
If you had told the twenty year old version of me that one decision about food would eventually shape the rest of my life, I probably would have laughed.
Back then, I wasn't searching for compassion.
I wasn't trying to save animals.
I wasn't thinking about longevity, inflammation, gut health, or becoming a holistic wellness coach.
I was simply trying to fix what felt broken inside of me.
Like many young women, my relationship with food wasn't healthy.
It wasn't built on nourishment.
It was built on fear.
Fear of gaining weight.
Fear of not being enough.
Fear that if I could somehow perfect the outside, maybe I would finally feel whole on the inside.
Looking back now, I can honestly say that my greatest healing didn't begin when I changed what I ate.
It began when I changed why I ate.
That distinction changed everything.
This year marks thirty years since I first adopted a plant based lifestyle, and if there's one thing I've learned, it's this:
Food has the power to nourish far more than the body.
It can transform your heart.
Your mind.
Your nervous system.
Your purpose.
And sometimes...
Even your soul.
Ironically, I didn't become vegan because I loved animals.
I became vegan because I didn't love myself.
That may surprise some people.
But I believe it's important to tell the truth because someone reading these words may be standing exactly where I once stood.
Searching.
Hurting.
Wondering if life could somehow feel different.
I want you to know it can.
Not because becoming vegan magically fixes every problem.
But because healing often begins with one courageous decision.
Mine happened to begin with food.
From Fitness Model to Searching for Something Deeper
When I was modeling, appearance wasn't just part of my career.
It often felt like my entire identity.
The pressure to stay lean.
To have flawless skin.
To maintain a certain image.
It slowly distorted the way I viewed myself.
No matter how healthy I looked on the outside, there were days I didn't feel worthy on the inside.
My self esteem depended far too much on the reflection staring back at me.
I didn't realize it then, but I wasn't looking for a diet.
I was looking for peace.
I wanted freedom from constantly thinking about food.
Freedom from insecurity.
Freedom from believing my worth could be measured by a number on a scale.
Like so many people searching for how to heal your relationship with food, I thought changing my body would change my life.
God had a much bigger plan.
He wasn't simply changing my body.
He was transforming my heart.
The Woman Who Changed Everything
Curiosity has always been one of my greatest teachers.
One day I met a woman who appeared to be aging in reverse.
She glowed.
Not just physically.
Spiritually.
Emotionally.
There was a vitality about her that couldn't be explained by makeup or good genetics.
I had to know her secret.
That curiosity eventually led me to New York, where I met the late Gil Jacobs, a pioneer in natural healing whose teachings forever changed the course of my life.
Gil introduced me to practices that were considered unconventional by many at the time.
Colon hydrotherapy.
Fresh vegetable juicing.
Food combining.
Living foods.
Natural detoxification.
Herbalism.
Instead of eating six high protein meals every day like I had been taught in the fitness world, I gradually transitioned to one fresh liquid meal and one raw meal each day.
Eventually I embraced a completely raw vegan lifestyle that I maintained for more than eleven years.
My body changed.
My skin changed.
My energy changed.
But the greatest transformation wasn't physical.
It was internal.
For the first time, I began viewing food as information instead of punishment.
As nourishment instead of control.
As gratitude instead of fear.
And without realizing it...
I had already begun healing far more than my relationship with food.
Somewhere Along the Way, It Stopped Being About Me
There is something beautiful that happens when healing becomes less about what you can get and more about what you can give.
When I first became vegan, my motivation was deeply personal.
I wanted healthier skin.
I wanted more energy.
I wanted to heal my relationship with food.
I wanted to feel comfortable in my own body.
Those goals weren't wrong.
They were simply the doorway.
Because somewhere over the years, something remarkable happened.
My focus quietly shifted.
The longer I lived this lifestyle, the more I learned about the intelligence of animals.
The more time I spent around them, the more I recognized pieces of myself in them.
Their innocence.
Their trust.
Their desire to simply live.
The little pig wasn't bacon.
The calf wasn't veal.
The chicken wasn't dinner.
They became someone instead of something.
That realization changed me forever.
Thirty years later, I no longer live a plant based lifestyle because I'm trying to perfect my body.
I live this way because I simply cannot imagine contributing to the suffering of an animal when I have another choice.
Compassion became stronger than convenience.
And strangely enough...
The more compassion I showed to animals...
The more compassion I finally learned to show myself.
Healing Your Relationship With Food Has Very Little to Do With Food
One of the biggest misconceptions I see as a holistic wellness coach is the belief that people struggle with food because they lack discipline.
In my experience, that is rarely the truth.
Food is often the symptom.
The deeper issue is usually fear.
Fear of not being enough.
Fear of losing control.
Fear of rejection.
Fear that our worth depends on how we look.
I know that fear because I lived it.
Healing my relationship with food didn't begin when I removed animal products.
It began when I stopped treating my body like an enemy that constantly needed to be fixed.
Instead of asking...
"How can I eat less?"
I started asking...
"How can I nourish myself more deeply?"
That one question changed everything.
Food stopped becoming punishment.
It became partnership.
The body responds very differently when it's cared for instead of criticized.
That is why I tell my clients that sustainable wellness begins with self respect, not self punishment.
What Science Continues to Confirm About Plant Based Living
There is a reason so many researchers continue studying the health benefits of a plant based diet. Plants contain thousands of naturally occurring compounds that help support the body in ways scientists are still discovering.
Whole plant foods provide fiber that nourishes the gut microbiome.
Colorful fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants that help protect our cells from oxidative stress.
Leafy greens provide minerals that support healthy circulation, nerve function, and energy production.
Herbs have been used for centuries to support digestion, immunity, and overall wellness.
When combined with healthy lifestyle habits like restorative sleep, movement, stress reduction, and meaningful relationships, a diet centered around whole plant foods can support long term health and vitality.
For me, living foods became more than nutrition.
They became information for every cell in my body.
Each fresh juice.
Each colorful salad.
Each handful of sprouts.
Each piece of fresh fruit.
They reminded me that healing is something we participate in every single day.
Healing the Body Opened the Door to Healing My Spirit
The more I nourished my body, the quieter my mind became.
The quieter my mind became, the easier it was to hear God's direction.
That's something I never expected.
People often separate physical healing from spiritual healing.
I don't.
I've watched them dance together for decades.
When inflammation decreases...
People often think more clearly.
When sleep improves...
Hope often returns.
When the nervous system feels safer...
Faith often grows deeper.
Healing isn't just biochemical.
It's deeply spiritual.
That realization eventually led me beyond nutrition.
It led me into herbalism.
Intuitive healing.
Energy work.
Prayer.
And eventually, the creation of programs designed to help others experience the same freedom I had been given.
Sometimes the Weight We Need to Lose Isn't Physical
One lesson has become impossible for me to ignore after working with clients from around the world.
Many people aren't carrying extra weight because they're eating too much.
They're carrying emotional weight.
Grief.
Resentment.
Fear.
Shame.
Unresolved trauma.
Relationships that quietly drain the life out of them.
I've watched clients improve their health after ending toxic relationships.
I've watched inflammation decrease when forgiveness finally happened.
I've seen digestive symptoms improve after people began creating healthy boundaries.
The body remembers everything.
Which is why healing requires more than food alone.
This understanding is exactly why I created my Karmic Clearing Program.
Sometimes the greatest detox isn't physical.
Sometimes it's emotional.
Sometimes it's spiritual.
Sometimes healing begins by releasing the people, beliefs, and stories your nervous system has been carrying for years.
When those burdens begin to lift, many people discover that physical healing becomes easier too.
My Wellness Philosophy Today
Today, my approach is much different than it was thirty years ago.
I no longer believe there is one perfect diet for every person.
I don't believe wellness should create fear.
I don't believe food should become another religion.
I believe healing is deeply personal.
I believe your body deserves curiosity instead of criticism.
I believe food should bring joy.
I believe nature still provides remarkable medicine.
I believe prayer changes us.
I believe movement is a celebration, not a punishment.
I believe compassion belongs on every plate.
Most of all...
I believe the healthiest people I know aren't obsessed with health.
They're obsessed with living.
And that makes all the difference.
The Greatest Gift Veganism Ever Gave Me Wasn't Better Health
For many people, becoming vegan is about improving cholesterol, lowering inflammation, or having more energy.
Those are wonderful benefits, and over the last thirty years I've experienced many of them.
But if I'm being completely honest...
The greatest gift this lifestyle ever gave me wasn't physical. It was compassion.
It softened me.
Not into someone weak.
Into someone more awake.
I began seeing life differently.
Not only the lives of animals, but the lives of people carrying invisible pain.
I became less interested in judging others and more interested in understanding them.
I realized everyone is carrying something.
Some carry grief.
Some carry trauma.
Some carry loneliness.
Some carry shame.
Some carry illness.
Some carry masks so convincing that no one realizes they're quietly falling apart.
Compassion doesn't ask whether someone deserves kindness.
It simply offers it.
That lesson has shaped every coaching session, every retreat, every intuitive reading, and every conversation I've had for decades.
Healing Isn't About Becoming Perfect
If there's one thing I hope you take away from my story, it's this:
Please don't wait until you're perfect to begin loving yourself.
I spent far too many years believing my happiness lived on the other side of another goal.
Five more pounds.
Better skin.
A different body.
More success.
More recognition.
A bigger business.
Then life humbled me.
Major surgeries.
Unexpected loss.
Heartbreak.
Betrayal.
Stress.
Moments that reminded me none of us are promised tomorrow.
Ironically, those seasons taught me something my healthiest years never could.
Health isn't perfection.
Health is gratitude.
Health is resilience.
Health is waking up each morning and asking,
"How can I care for the body God entrusted me with today?"
Some days that answer is a green juice.
Some days it's strength training.
Some days it's a long walk.
Some days it's saying no.
Some days it's taking a nap.
Some days it's crying.
Some days it's forgiving.
Healing is rarely dramatic.
It's usually incredibly ordinary.
And that's what makes it sustainable.
If You're Thinking About Becoming Vegan
People often ask me,
"Andrea...where should I start?"
My answer surprises them.
Don't start by trying to become perfect.
Start by becoming curious.
Visit your local farmers market.
Learn one new plant based recipe each week.
Drink fresh vegetable juice with a juicy cleanse program.
Eat more foods that come from the earth than from a package.
Pay attention to how your body feels instead of obsessing over the scale.
Read ingredient labels.
Ask questions.
Listen to your body.
Move because you love yourself.
Not because you're trying to earn food.
Most importantly...
Allow your journey to evolve.
Mine certainly did.
Your reasons today may not be your reasons ten years from now.
That's okay.
Growth is supposed to change us.
Healing the Body Often Begins With Healing the Heart
One of the greatest lessons I've learned after coaching people from around the world is this:
You cannot heal a body while constantly abandoning your soul.
Many people arrive wanting meal plans.
Supplement protocols.
Detoxes.
Biohacks.
Those things absolutely matter.
But eventually the conversation almost always shifts.
We begin talking about childhood.
Relationships.
Forgiveness.
Stress.
Boundaries.
Purpose.
Because our bodies are always listening to the stories we believe.
This understanding is why I created my Holistic Wellness Coaching Program.
I wanted a place where people could receive more than nutrition advice.
I wanted them to experience transformation.
Together we explore nutrition, nervous system health, herbal support, movement, lifestyle habits, emotional resilience, and practical strategies that help people create lasting wellness instead of temporary motivation.
At the same time, I recognized that many people weren't just carrying physical burdens.
They were carrying energetic ones.
Old relationships.
Patterns that kept repeating.
Emotional wounds they couldn't seem to release.
That realization inspired my Karmic Clearing Program.
Because sometimes the healthiest thing we can detox isn't food.
Sometimes it's fear.
Sometimes it's guilt.
Sometimes it's the version of ourselves we've outgrown.
When we begin releasing those burdens, something remarkable often happens.
The body finally exhales.
Thirty Years Later, I Finally Understand Why God Led Me Here
If someone had told me thirty years ago that one decision about food would become a doorway into my life's purpose, I never would have believed them.
I thought I was searching for better skin.
God was preparing me for a life of service.
I thought I was healing my relationship with food.
He was healing my relationship with myself.
I thought I was changing my diet.
He was changing my heart.
Today, I don't wake up grateful simply because I've been vegan for thirty years.
I wake up grateful because that one decision introduced me to a life I never could have imagined.
A life filled with purpose.
Compassion.
Faith.
Healing.
Animals who have taught me unconditional love.
Clients who have trusted me with their stories.
A mother who never asked me to become someone different and always supported the path I chose.
Thank you, Mom.
Your quiet support meant more than you'll ever know.
And thank you to every single person who has supported my work over the years.
Whether you've followed me for twenty years or twenty minutes...
Thank you for allowing me to be part of your healing journey.
I never take that privilege lightly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a plant based lifestyle healthy?
A well planned plant based lifestyle that emphasizes whole foods, vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, seeds, herbs, and appropriate supplementation can support overall health and longevity. Individual nutritional needs vary, so it's important to create an approach that works for your body.
Can changing your diet improve your relationship with food?
For many people, yes. Healing your relationship with food often begins by shifting your focus from restriction and guilt to nourishment, gratitude, and self respect. Food becomes a source of healing instead of fear.
Why did you stay vegan for thirty years?
I began for myself. I stayed for the animals. Over time, compassion became stronger than convenience, and that compassion transformed every area of my life.
Is holistic wellness about food alone?
Not at all. Holistic wellness includes nutrition, movement, sleep, stress management, nervous system health, meaningful relationships, purpose, faith, and emotional well being. True healing addresses the whole person.
Final Thoughts
If there's one lesson I hope this blog leaves you with, it's this:
Never underestimate the power of one small decision.
One conversation.
One book.
One mentor.
One prayer.
One meal.
One act of compassion.
One choice has the power to redirect an entire life.
Mine did.
Thirty years ago, I thought I was changing what was on my plate.
Instead, God was changing what was in my heart.
And for that...
I will always be grateful.