You guys know that I’m always real with you.  I let it all hang out and I don’t try and hide anything.  Heck, you can find anything out about anyone now days on the internet so why try and cover up things?  Anyway, I decided to hire a professional: A Nutritionist.  This is someone who is an expert on food, the ins and outs of how the body processes food, and, well, basically everything that has to do with food and nutrition.  It might surprise you that I hired a nutritionist because…it actually surprised ME.  I studied nutrition at the University of Memphis (I didn’t major in it, but it was my minor) several years ago.  But see, that’s the key–”several years ago.”  So much has changed since I was in college and quite frankly, I don’t know as much as I would like to think I do.  I’ve always been aware of my diet (by “diet” I mean “what I eat”) but since I became a Vegan, I’ve become extremely sensitive to what goes in my body.  More than anything, I want my health and wellness to be in BALANCE.  Am I in balance?  I contacted Anna Marie Nelson (annamarienelson.com) after I tasted her homemade food bars at a party one night.  They were so good and nutritious that I bought 2 dozen.  This started our relationship which led to me hiring her for a 6-month program.  I can’t quite put into words what this has done for me.  There isn’t enough room in this blog to tell you how seeing a nutritionist has changed my life.  Listen, I’m not writing this to plug Anna or her services (although if you decide to see her, you won’t be sorry).  But rather to tell you that eating is a very emotional process, an intimate process.  Think about it–we are putting something in our body.  We think twice about everything else we put in our bodies: medication, sex, needles, piercings, surgeries, drugs, etc…  Yet we are so disconnected from our food even though eating is one of the most important things we do in life.  I feel strongly about keeping my health and wellness in balance.  Having a healthy balance is not just about food.  It’s about spirituality, relationships, career, goals, stress level, exercise, etc…But so much of how things fall into place in our life is about what we eat.  Why do I eat when I’m anxious?  Why do I want those M & M’s?  Perhaps I’m craving chocolate because I’m craving something sweet–like a hug, or a kiss, or holding a baby, or squeezing a puppy.  It’s not even chocolate that I crave!  Identifying those pitfalls in our everyday life is what my nutritionist is helping me do.  Not turning to food for the wrong reasons is one of the things I’m learning each week in my sessions with her and I can’t tell you how good it feels to regain control over this generational curse that has been passed down through my family for decades.  You might not struggle with this and I am so happy if you don’t.  But finding balance in your life usually starts with your eating habits and goes from there.  We seek professional help and expert advice in almost everything else we do.  So why not this?