Many of you have already submitted photos, sharing the various ways you’re living your best – from eating clean to going green to simply smiling more. Whatever it is that moves you toward a healthier, happier life, we want to know about it. We want you to become a health raiser, like Raw Kyle.
Our Health Raiser of the Week is – you guessed it – Kyle. You may know him as Raw Kyle. If you don’t know him, he’s a raw, vegan food advocate, who believes whole-heartedly in the lifestyle he has chosen. We were so inspired by Kyle’s passion and dedication, we had to know more about him.
Q: What does health mean to you?
A: Health is everything to me. We only have one body, and what we put into our bodies makes a huge difference in the way we look, feel, think and act. Being the healthiest I can be is also a way for me to build a strong immune system in hopes of warding off illness. I don’t ever want to be dependent on medications or rely on anything other than good food to make me feel better. Food is my medicine!
Q: What inspired you to start living a healthy life?
A: What inspired me to start living a healthy life was finally realizing that diets don’t work. When someone goes on a diet, it usually means they’re going to eat a certain way or even restrict calories for a certain amount of time until they reach their goals. At that point, they’ll just go back to their “normal” habits and undo whatever progress they made. This never works! We want a plan that we can be satisfied with for a lifetime, so that we get lifetime results.
After deciding I wanted to revamp my lifestyle, I discovered Vitamix blenders. When I get interested in something, I usually go all out…so I had to purchase a Vitamix. Once I started using it for smoothies, soups, sauces and more, I knew I was committed. It made it so easy and fun for me put healthy food into my body.
Q: What are three things you do to stay healthy?
A: I eat a lot, I exercise and I stay positive. When I first started a healthier lifestyle, I counted calories. I quickly put a stop to that when I realized this wasn’t sustainable; I didn’t want to keep track of calories for the rest of my life. When you’re first setting out, it’s beneficial to make sure you’re eating enough. You need to get a feel for how much you’re actually eating, as long as it doesn’t become an obsession. I eat a lot, because my food choices are nutrient-dense and give my body what it needs to thrive. Needless to say, I’m never depriving myself.
As for exercise, I commit to three or four days a week. Some days it’s nice to take a break, but the days I exercise are when I feel my best – that’s why I love it and keep doing it!
Lastly, I try to stay positive about everything I do. If I have an off-day and don’t eat as well, I don’t stress or obsess over it. I get up the next day and start fresh. If I do poorly on a business exam, I put it behind me and figure out how I can make the next one better. As long as I keep taking a step forward, I’m happy. Staying positive is essential to our mental, emotional and physical health.
Q: Is there a role model you look up to?
A: I look up to people like Kristina Carrillo-Bucaram of FullyRaw, Dan McDonald of Regenerate Your Life, and Dara Dubinet. These are amazing people who have a ton of knowledge and have been excelling and thriving on raw foods for several years. They all lead as good examples by inspiring thousands of people.