Interviews

Freely being Interviewed by Mark Berriman from Vegetarian Health Mag Australia – July/Aug 2008 Issue

1. What motivated you to become a vegetarian?

Initially I became a vegetarian for health reasons which then lead to my current raw vegan lifestyle.  I suffered from chronic acne on my face & body, irritable bowel syndrome, depression & always had trouble maintaining a healthy weight.  You could say that I was sick of feeling sick! Also my love for all living creatures now plays a huge part in my decision, I no longer feel it fair or necessary to kill another animal for my meal.

2. Does your diet help you with your lifestyle?

Oh Yes! In many ways but especially with my energy levels, I have loads more endurance & fitness in general, also my motivation is always high. So much so that I am currently cycling solo from Adelaide to the Gold Coast which is over 3000kms!

3. What else do you do to keep healthy?/ With your obviously busy lifestyle. How do you keep fit and healthy?

I love to keep active & believe it is a vital ingredient for ultimate health.  I enjoy exercise that is fun & not too structured or else it gets boring.  Cycling with a purpose like I am now & performing a fun resistance circuit routine incorporating park benches, pushups and lunges.  I’m also an ashtanga yoga devotee & at the opposite pole like to get out any aggression with a sweaty kick boxing session!

4. What is your favourite food?

Oh that is a hard one as I have many favourite fruits…I would have to say it’s a toss up between mango,persimmon, watermelon & durian….ok mango it is!

6. Are there any people who you particularly admire? Why?

One person I admire is my boyfriend Harley because he is very passionate about living life to the fullest & helping people, he walks his talk if you know what I mean. I also admire anyone who puts others needs before their own and lives a life outside their comfort zone, challenging the limits of their everyday conditioning & in general holding themselves & others to a higher standard.

8. What do you think are the most important issues at the moment?

I really believe the state of the environment is the main ongoing issue of importance. Nature does not have an endless supply of resources & the current growing trend of consuming more then we put back is unsustainable. Eating meat & burning oil for transport/industry is one of the major contributors, that’s why I am riding my bike over 3000kms to raise awareness that pedal power is a sustainable form of transport & to inspire people to get a bike to ride short distances rather than fire the car up to pop down to the corner store!

9.What would you most like to achieve in your lifetime?

I would like to tread the lightest possible footprint on the Earth and  live in harmony with nature as much as possible.  To achieve total consciousness is also a constant goal for me, to be totally present in every moment I am alive.  To inspire as many people as possible to change for the better & to ultimately contribute to a major positive shift in the state of the planet.

10. What are your hopes for the future?

I don’t hope anymore….I expect.  I find hoping doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence.  I expect a major change to occur in the world, I can see a lot of positive changes already like more people buying organic produce, admitting their is a clear & present environmental issue and more and more people going vegetarian & vegan.  I would love to see a world full of vegetarians & vegans, living in harmony & love for eachother, the animals & this beautiful planet.

11. Is there anything more you would like to add?

Please consider going vegetarian, even if you try a month meat-free, test it out yourself and expect amazing results.

Try to be conscious of every action you take because every action makes a difference. Minimize the use of plastic, take the bike to work, support local farmers and most importantly of all- foster love for all & strive for a positive mental attitude.