To work with Dr. Laurie Marbas, visit: https://www.drmarbas.com/ Before transitioning to a plant-based lifestyle, Melissa Allen didn't care about being healthy. She had lost a court case that she had fought for almost 10 years and this made her feel pain which she tried to numb with smoking, drinking, and unhealthy eating habits. Every night, Melissa would mindlessly snack while watching TV. She told herself that she couldn't sleep well at night because of her anxiety. She knew deep down that this was not the true reason she was tired all the time. Melissa made excuses for why she was unhealthy. At the end of 2017, Melissa decided to change her diet and exercise habits. She wanted to start living the life she deserved. I knew that these changes could help improve things for her. She started by getting rid of dairy and meat from her diet. At first, she substituted a lot of soy-based fake meat and cheese products to simulate what she was used to eating. But in addition to those processed vegan foods, Melissa began to eat lots of veggies, fruits, and beans. After she lost some weight, she started running. The healthier she ate, the further and faster she could run. If she ate unhealthy food, she noticed how it made her feel bad and tired, so it was easy for her to stick to a healthy diet. Melissa set a goal to run a half marathon in 2019. She quit smoking, limited her drinking to one or two nights a week, and completely changed her diet to be 100 percent whole-food, plant-based. And at 40 years old, she ran two half marathons. Since Melissa went whole-food plant-based, she has lost over 80 pounds. She continues to encourage people around her to make positive lifestyle changes. For example, she designed a wellness and fitness program that includes plant-based eating education for 15 of her co-workers. Exercise and veganism are her passions, and she is living proof. Melissa's Website: MindfullyFit.org