by: Rachael Adams aka The Freckled Foodie
It’s funny looking back over the past nearly eight years since I graduated college and thinking about how much my life has changed, and how many times. After college I found myself, like many friends and acquaintances, heavier than when I started. Freshman 15? More like senior 20. I was feeling entirely run down from too many late nights partying and drinking, and ready to make some serious life changes. I had never considered myself an “athlete” even though I grew up jumping around from soccer, tennis, gymnastics, dance, diving, etc. In college, physical fitness was not on my radar but after I graduated I joined a gym and started trying different classes out. Kickboxing, “body pump,” yoga, and countless hours on the treadmill and elliptical. After a year or two I realized I was still feeling pretty crappy, obsessing over every single calorie that entered my mouth, I weighed and looked almost the same, and had more health issues than when I started.
In September of 2012, I was in and out of the doctor’s office trying to figure out what was wrong with me (spoiler alert – it was my diet) and I somehow stumbled upon the book, It Starts With Food, which is the first book presenting the Whole30 diet. I read it cover to cover on an airplane and decided, on a whim, to begin October 1st. I won’t go into all the details but at the end of the 30 days my world was different. As corny as it sounds that book changed my life. Soon after, I began my blog, The Freckled Foodie, so I could help others find health and eat delicious food while doing it. I also needed my blog because the rest of my life – my job, my relationship, my workouts – were lacking and I needed an outlet to escape reality. Just changing the way I was treating and fueling my body completely resolved almost all of my health issues! I couldn’t believe it and knew that my fascination with food and more importantly, nutrition was more than a hobby.
In 2014 I decided to enter a holistic nutrition program through the Nutritional Therapy Institute out of Denver, CO and around the same time heard about these new “Power 10” classes that a girl named Molly was leading out of NE Minneapolis Crossfit. Working full time, writing a blog, having a life, and trying to get through school simultaneously was tough. Over the course of my program, because of my newfound passion and energy, I somehow managed to get a new job that I absolutely love (I sell medical robots that teach people to learn how to walk again), meet my forever partner, buy a house in Minneapolis, adopt the best dog, help friends and family reach their health goals, and take on the nutrition program for the Alchemy 365 Challenge!
Back in 2014 when I got a message from Molly about this new class format she was teaching I never considered where it would lead me. In the beginning I was sure I was going to become a coach and even trained to become one but my passion, my legend, led me on a path to provide nutrition and health to hundreds (maybe even thousands?) of athletes.
Remember when I said I never considered myself an “athlete”? Well I absolutely do now thanks to Alchemy and thanks to the nutrient dense, amazing food I fuel my body with! I can’t wait to meet more of you who are choosing to change your life for the better by participating in the Alchemy 365 Challenge. You won’t regret it!
Lastly, I can tell you, with certainty, that once you find your “thing” it will never feel like work. Pursue it endlessly and it will lead you and provide for you more than you could imagine!
Rachael is a Certified Nutrition Therapy Practitioner, the mastermind behind The Freckled Foodie, an original Alchemy Founding member and long-time paleo and nutrition enthusiast. She has completely revamped both our paleo and vegan meal plans for the Winter 2018 365 Challenge! Kick Off is Sunday, January 14 – 12PM at all Alchemy locations. Want in? We’ll hook it up. (Members, sign-in to receive your member rate!)
[The PYL Series highlights individuals that don’t just tolerate discomfort to purse their legend, they anticipate and embrace it. Knowing what you want, and knowing that you’ll do anything and overcome all obstacles to achieve it is not easy, but it is the only way to reach your own legend. Pursue it vigorously, and the universe will conspire to help you achieve yours too.]
