Got a question? Contact me at [email protected]

A ‘bit about me:

I have a BS degree in Recreation/Hospitality Management from California State University, Chico. Yes, that is a real degree. I currently live near San Francisco, California, soaking up the sun and enjoying the mass amounts of exotic foods. I love food and exercise and exploring life to the fullest.

Story of health:

As long as I can remember, I had been overweight. My heaviest was 174 lbs. This was when I was about 14 years old and only 5′4. When I entered high school, after an awkward freshman year, I decided to “reinvent” myself. Already being a part of the high school tennis team, I increased my practices and started running. At this time I began eating less and less until I was literally eating only 1 or 2 bowls of cereal a day. Needless to say, I had an eating disorder. I dropped weight fast and about 4 months later, I had lost 50 pounds and was dipping into the zone of being way too thin.

I struggled with an eating disorder for years, hating food and hating my body. I was never thin enough, never pretty enough, and food was the enemy. What a way to live… and SO many others live with this awful feeling of pain – whether or not they are conscious of it. I wasn’t until I decided to start researching foods and the optimal way of eating. And that’s when I took control of my eating disorder and found happiness in food.

I have found peace with food and have learned to enjoy and embrace it. I believe writing and blogging (about food and my trials with different diets) has been the driving force  in developing a healthy relationship with food.

Today, I am the healthiest I have ever been. I exercise regularly and enjoy clean, healthy foods. I prefer to go without gluten and (most of the time) dairy. A Paleo diet has been the most freeing way of eating AND healing for my body. Not to mention I can now gain muscle!

My passion is helping and motivating others. I know what it is like to be on both sides of the fork- overweight and underweight. I know what it feels like to dislike yourself, to have a distorted body image, and to obsess about every calorie. I also know what it is like to NOT worry about any of those things and to thrive. I want every woman (and man) out there to feel powerful, beautiful, and thrive in life.

That’s me in a nutshell… or hemp shell… or goji berry(?).

16 People reacted on this

  1. Lori- do you have a career besides your blog using your degree? I studied resort recreation/ tourism and management at Slippery Rock University! Definitely not too many people know of these kinds of majors, but it’s great!

  2. Hi Lori! I went to Chico too and now live in SF. I just started paleo in 2012 to get ready for my wedding. I am not a fan of cooking so I am always looking for great easy and quick Paleo recipies. Thanks for listing some on here.
    Samantha

  3. Lori! I am so glad I found your site (through Pinterest btw) Your recipes look delicious! I was looking for a good pasta-free veggie lasagna for dinner. I will be making a few modifications to yours. I just moved to France and I don’t speak the language, so its REALLY hard to shop here. Unless of course I do a ton of research before going to the store. My shopping list becomes bilingual.

    Oh almost forgot to mention, I graduated from CSU Chico as well! I miss Chico, but Versailles is nice too. 😀

  4. Hi Lori! It was great meeting you today at the Vegan Challenge meeting. Love your site! It’s always great to meet another person who loves fitness and is empowered by exercise. I enjoyed reading your story, and hopefully we will get to connect again soon!

  5. I am very inspired by your story. You have overcome a lot and are now looking great and doing such great healthy things for yourself and your body! I am so glad I stumbled on your blog. I can’t wait to read more!

  6. Love your Blog Lori, this is beautiful! I saw your motivation from a far the first I met you…and your passion for food and health is spilled all over these pages. I appreciate you sharing your story regarding body image-I peronally know how this feels because after highschool i too reinvented myself. I dropped 35 lbs. I went from a six 14 to a size 6. I am a happy and healthy size 8 for more than 10 years now..and it feels great to balance my love of sweets and my obsession with looking fit. But after reading this, I see I need to change my view and stop being obsessed with looking fit, but rather embrace a heart happy and healthy lifestyle. I love this! you have a new Fan..have a great weekend!

  7. That’s interesting that you’re into MMA fitness training. It’s not often I see women talking about it. Do you go somewhere for it? And have you checked out GSP’s new fitness video?

  8. Hi Lori,

    I was hoping I could run something by you … quite a while back my son and I made one of your recipes for the blog I write and then we ranked it according to a silly made-up rating system that kept changing. I don’t remember exactly how it was rated, but I know it was really good it could have received either a 200 or a 100 or a two-thumbs up, all of which we used to mean really, really, really good. And I’ve seen through reading more of your blog that like us, you love cooking nutritious foods that taste great and indulging your sweet tooth in a healthy way.

    You were also such a good sport that I wanted to ask you … I’m going to start a healthy muffin series in the next few weeks — and I am looking for bloggers interested in taking part. Would you consider talking healthy muffins with me one week and sharing a recipe? I would love to hear from you!!

    Thanks so much, Kara

  9. Hey I’m new to your blog but it’s good to read your story 🙂 I’m in college in the bay area and TRY to eat healthy while eating dorm food… it’s a struggle sometimes 😉

    And I’m also hopelessly addicted to baking cookies. Sigh! 🙂

    Looking forward to reading more of your blog!

  10. sounds like a successfull journey to health! And martial arts bootcamp? Now thats gotta be an awesome class.
    CHeers,
    LC

  11. ooo going to san francisco tomorrow for the week! Any great restaurants you recommend that aren’t too pricey? We are staying right by Fishcer man’s wharf!

  12. This is a fantastic story! I love seeing people that have finally found balance and happiness in their lives! I have a funky past with food as well…and I have also found that healthy balance! You are very inspiring, keep it going! Thanks for finding me, so that I could find your wonderful blog!

  13. hey lori–my name is katie and my friend jessica yahn stayed with you. she told me about you becuause i share the same passions about eating healthy and working out. I was going to say instead of sugar in your recipes try organic apple sauce (which you can make too) and also baby food. Its a great substitute!!! i love your blog by the way! its great!

  14. What a great story you have! Seriously I’m not just saying that.

    Thank you for stopping by my little old blog. Off to check out those salmon wraps.

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