Ok, random title, but what can I say? It’s Friday! I’m going to Napa this weekend- can’t wait.

First of all, just wanted to say a huge thank you for everyone’s sweet comments after my guest post at Carrots n Cake yesterday! They all meant so much to me!

Will def have a bunch more Ironman-related stuff in the next couple weeks, but today I wanted to talk more about food.

NO NOT THIS KIND OF FOOD. Healthy Food! Though this would taste amazing right about now

I finally watched Forks Over Knives last night. Have you seen it?

I’m guessing a lot of you have. And if you haven’t, it’s basically really similar to Food, Inc and other documentaries discussing the food industry, all chemicals put into our foods, the horrible treatment of animals at slaughterhouses, and just how our current foods are affecting our bodies.

The studies are really interesting tracking cancer and heart disease among those who eat a standard American meat-eating diet and those who focus on plant-based whole foods. Among other interesting parts of the film is the stories about people with advanced heart disease and diabetes who changed their diet and reversed all the affects.

While a lot of what was discussed in the film wasn’t brand new information to me (and I’m guessing that as part of the Healthy Living Blogging Community, it’s not so new to you either), but I do know people who saw the film and significantly changed their lifestyle from it.

Which got me thinking…..

What health-related media had the most significant affect on you? Was it a slew of things, was it one thing, or was it really non-media related and more about your family’s influence?

Family of course has a huge influence. My Mom did most of the cooking and her focus on fresh produce and “healthy” foods helped shape my own choices for sure.

With my dad....I think I was 7?

but after I read Skinny Bitch in 2007, it changed me completely. That same day, I gave up dairy, sweetners, and white flour. I started eating ONLY a piece of fruit for breakfast. I cut back on my protein and meat intake significantly. I was doing it all in the quest for health and treating my body right, but something about the timing that I read that book and their message just struck me exactly in the right spot.

;

I went overboad though, unfortunately. I lost a significant amount of weight (too much) and eating became more of a chore than a joy to me. I def was not much fun to go out to eat with.

I’ve certainly relaxed over the last few years and watching Food Inc or Forks Over Knives or even reading the China Study, doesn’t have the same influence on me as Skinny Bitch did (which is a good thing!).

Occasionally, when I read something in a magazine, it will strike me to change a bad habit and I def focus more on veggies after watching those movies, but not obsessively and now I take it all much more with a grain of salt.

happily got caught up on all my magazines last weekend

Blogging is of course, a form of media too, which has had an everyday influence for me (so, thanks guys!) and helped me become way more balanced than I was before.

I know that media, body-image, and its effects are a MUCH larger issue, but still curious about your thoughts–

– Did one movie/book/article affect your healthy you WAY more than the rest?
– Or was it more of a combo of people and things you learned that shaped you?
– And lastly, if you could eat ANYTHING right now, what would it be? (I want that sundae!)

Happy Friday!