This was me a few years ago:
 

Before pic

Before pic

 

A bit different, huh?

When I look at these photos now, I could cry for my younger self. I felt trapped in a never-ending cycle of dieting, guilt and hating my body. I suffered from anxiety, insomnia, chronic eczema, painful digestion, mood swings and low energy.

I had a dysfunctional relationship with food that not only ruined my body but controlled my life.

Food wasn’t ‘fun’ for me then. It wasn’t simple or easy. Every bite came with an avalanche of guilt and feelings of weakness (you can read more of my story here and here).

I refused to listen to my body. It sent me oh-so many signs that it wasn’t happy with the processed ‘diet’ food I was feeding it, but my head wouldn’t listen. My head was in charge and it was going to show my body who was boss, dammit!

Every Monday morning when I stood on the bathroom scales, I’d fight back tears and declare: ‘I hate you, fat belly, and this week I’m going to starve you off!’

Sound familiar?
 
It feels a world away from where I am now. Peaceful, playful, present, happy, healthy, and best of all – free.
 

Rebecca Bex Weller Health Coach avatar

Rebecca Bex Weller Health Coach avatar

 

But you know what? I’m not sorry that my journey took me there. My experience drives my passion to help women liberate themselves from the same sorts of issues. Knowing – first hand – just how devastating it can be to feel stuck in an unhealthy pattern helps me to be a more compassionate coach and truly understand what my clients are going through.

If you feel trapped in a destructive relationship with food (like I did), I’d love you to join me in The Sparkle Project, beautiful. It’s back, bigger and better than ever! More resources, more recipes, and more loving support to launch you into your happier, healthier life.

Grab your bathroom scales and get ready to throw them out the window.

The new and improved Sparkle Project is here! Click here to register now.

Or Click Play to learn more (in less than 2 minutes!):
 
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See you on the inside, gorgeous.

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10 Comments on Did I ever show you my ‘before’ pics?

  1. An Unrefined Vegan
    May 23, 2014 at 7:28 pm (10 years ago)

    You, my dear, are a wonder and an inspiration.

    • Vegan Sparkles
      May 24, 2014 at 4:14 pm (10 years ago)

      Thank you so much, gorgeous Annie. x

  2. Libby
    May 26, 2014 at 6:22 pm (10 years ago)

    So inspiring! So heart warming! I definately can relate.

    • Vegan Sparkles
      May 27, 2014 at 11:35 am (10 years ago)

      Thank you so much, beautiful Libby. x

  3. Ami
    June 10, 2014 at 5:19 am (10 years ago)

    I actually came here to find recipes to try out for my diabetic husband, who has been put on a vegetarian diet for his kidneys. I look over at my husband and I see the pain he’s in. Skinny as a rail with a sugar level of over 400, having to use a needle twice a day to shoot himself with insulin. The thought of losing him terrifies me. There just has to be a better way.

    The doctor specifically said, “No more table salt, no more sodium.” Well, I’m well aware of eliminating carbs and sugar, but eliminating both animal products AND salt? So that means no cheese, no cream, no milk, as well. This is a territory in which I have zero idea how to function.

    I was wondering if you have recipes which are sweet, satisfying, AND low in sugar–and do you know of pasta replacements I could use for him? He’s growing tired of salad and vinaigrette every day.

    Finally… can you help me figure out a substitute for hot chocolate mix and cream for my coffee? I’m reaching out because I truly do need your help. I would do anything for this man, and if it means we change our entire way of life in order to keep him from being ill, then by god that’s what we will do. Thanks for reading.

    • Vegan Sparkles
      June 11, 2014 at 5:55 pm (10 years ago)

      Hi Ami,

      I’m so sorry to hear about your husband’s illness and am so glad you reached out. I help clients with health issues like these every day and can suggest a lot of resources that might help.

      I’d love to invite you to join me for one-on-one health coaching so that I can fully support and guide you through these changes. You can learn more here.

      If that’s not a viable option for you at this stage, my ‘Eating for Energy’ eBook is filled with advice and simple, tasty recipes for making the shift to a low salt/sugar/meat/gluten/dairy lifestyle. I know it can all seem so daunting at first but it CAN be a very enjoyable and delicious way of life once you get the hang of it. This little book will help equip you with the tools to make the transition so much easier.

      A few tips off the top of my head, for example, might be to try zucchini/courgette noodles as pasta (like this) and using sweet potato to curb sugar cravings (like this).

      You can also check out a bunch of valuable resources – including articles and documentaries – here. You might also find this documentary very helpful.

      Warmly, Bex x

  4. Cheryl Loffeld
    July 15, 2014 at 12:20 pm (10 years ago)

    Through ‘The Vedge’ I found out about your website – what a great name ‘Vegan Sparkles’, I had to come over straight away and have a look. I love what I see. I have been reading your story and it is wonderful to know you are ‘out the other side now’ so to speak, and still so young too. Just over a year ago I went Raw Vegan together with my husband (although he still eats fish on occasion) – we love the lifestyle and all the benefits that come with it. (when we travel if we can’t find a raw vegan restaurant we will eat cooked vegan). I love the simplicity of it all and the occasional cheesecake or raw dessert is amazing. Don’t get me wrong there are still tweaks I need to make as food is still an issue with me sometimes – eating too quick, too much. After a year I am still learning. Thank you for putting up a great website. Regards to you from Newcastle, NSW.

    • Vegan Sparkles
      July 16, 2014 at 1:45 pm (10 years ago)

      Oh I’m super happy you found me, Cheryl, and thank you so much for your beautiful comment! It’s so exciting when you discover a way of eating that makes you feel amazing, isn’t it. Great to hear you and your hubby are enjoying all the healthy and happy benefits of a plant-boosted diet! xx

  5. Ange
    August 10, 2014 at 6:38 pm (10 years ago)

    Hi Bex, i was directed to your website from Vanessa Millar as i have just completed her Body-Love E-course and LOVED it!! I am really interested in all of your beautiful recipes that you have on this site. IS there any way we can get a copy of all of them like an e-book or PDFs or something. I want to make sooooo many of them. happy to buy a book or something. Thanks for your great inspiration!!! Ange x

    • Vegan Sparkles
      August 11, 2014 at 2:49 pm (10 years ago)

      Hi Ange! Oh, Vanessa is such a beautiful creature, isn’t she! I’m so happy to hear you loved her course and it’s so lovely to have you here.
      Eating for Energy contains 21 of my healthiest, most sparkly recipes along with a ton of other tips to help you get your glow on! Most of the other recipes on my site have been installed with a little print button (underneath the small pic, inside the recipe box) so you can quickly print them in hard copy or to PDF. 🙂 x