Singing bowls possess a mystical quality as mysterious as their ancient origins and varied uses through the centuries in both the eastern and western worlds.

In an upstairs yoga studio in downtown Culpeper, the musical objectsa type of bellare used to facilitate wellness, the objects haunting, relaxing reverberations rising and falling until reaching a crescendo so intense one might discern all the mysteries held within.

Or, as research has suggested, there is miraculous healing power in vibration.

Thats why when longtime wellness guru Margaret Leary, of Culpeper, wanted to convey her collection of seven crystal singing bowls to another keeper, yoga instructor and Pranapiloga studio owner Rebecca Elsen seized the opportunity.

I think it benefits the studio and our community, said Elsen, the Culpeper Chamber of Commerces Entrepreneur of the Year in 2016.

Leary began teaching yoga in 2000 as she approached 50, starting out in the same downstairs studio space on East Davis Street where Elsen launched Pranapiloga in 2015 before recently moving a few storefronts away. Leary acquired her set of singing bowls from California soon after, and has used them through the years to conduct workshops with students.

They are not bowls, they are beings, she said. They are absolutely tuned to healing.

Leary, who ran her studio for several years, is now a sometimes substitute instructor at Pranapiloga as she focuses more on a personal study of Jin Shin Jyustu.

I am more into the hands-on type of healing and these singing bowls need to be shared with more people, she said.

Sound is vibration and thats how the unique bells heal, Leary said. Each bowl is a different size corresponding with musical notes in line with a human beings major chakrasplaces on the body, from feet to head, that are considered sources of energy for spiritual power.

As you play it, your body seeks that sound in that particular spot in your body, Leary said. Your vibrations slow down when you are sick, bogged down, something is pulling at them. Energy can be blocked for all kinds of reasons.

The singing bowls enhances awareness of blocked energy, she said.

It makes them more aware. To me, the bowl tells you where to go, Leary said. Its a communication going on there.

For the past two years since opening Pranapiloga, Elsen has used just a single metal singing bowl in class in tune with the heart chakra. Getting the entire set opens new channels of possibilities for her clients.

I play the heart bowl and people come up to me after and say I had this most beautiful green color in my head. People report feeling champagne bubbles in their body, a lot of people cry, its a releasean energy release for them where theyve been stuck or built a barrier around their heart, she said.

On Saturday afternoon, Pranapiloga will host a Healing Sound Immersion Class led by musical alchemist Mark Torgeson who will play crystal and Tibetan singing bowls as well gong, meditative flutes & drums, tuning forks, bells and Didgeridoo. The goal of the class will be to update the vibrational frequencies in your energy system, release dated behavior patterns and clear the way for increased balance and flow, according to Torgesons website.

The most important use of music today, as I see it, is as a tool for healing and transformation, he said.

According to a 2013 article in Science Watch, Music as Medicine, about using music therapy to treat Parkinsons patients, it should not only be viewed as a cultural phenomenon but as a vibratory stimulus that has cognitive and memory dimensions.

Elsen and Leary are believers.

You dont have to believe any of these things and it still works, Leary said.

She hopes that passing on her collection to Elsen will help more people understand the importance of sound.

Not just loud blaring stuff, but the beauty, the richness of sound and how we need to cherish it more, Leary said.

Demonstrating how the singing bowls work, Elsen tapped the inside rim of a bowl three times with a mallet before moving it to the outside rim and sliding it around and around in a circular motion, keeping the striker upright and close to top as the musical tones built until the vibrations filled the room, spilling outside and through the chakras of everyone present.

Sound like that is needed to counterbalance the car alarms, the shouting, the sirens, the constant noise of modern life, she said.

Having beautiful sounds of music takes you back to that rest, Elsen said.

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Sounds of music: singing bowls heal - The Daily Progress

Oaktree, where value investing thought leader Howard Marks (Trades, Portfolio) is co-chairman, increased its stake last Friday in SunOpta Inc. (NASDAQ:STKL), a company where it is pushing for change as the biggest shareholder but where few other prominent value investors have been active.

Oaktree found opportunity to increase its position when a weak earnings report released March 1 precipitated a decline in the companys stock price. Shares of SunOpta dropped 15.3% from the markets close Feb. 28 through March 2, registering their lowest price since August at $6.10 a piece. On March 3, Oaktree bought 3 million additional shares, reflecting a 26.5% holding increase that built his ownership to 14,333,333 shares, or 16.7% of the company.

SunOpta joined Oaktree in reviewing its operations starting in October and constructed a Value Creation Plan to maximize profit for shareholders. The plan, which aims for $30 million in product-driven annualized EBITDA enhancements and $20 million in working capital efficiencies over the next 12 to 18 months, features four pillars: portfolio optimization, operational excellence, go-to-market- effectiveness and process sustainability.

As we implement the four pillars of our strategic plan, we will refine our product portfolio, improve execution, broaden our sales effort and build a sustainable platform for profitable growth, SunOpta President and CEO David Colo, appointed Feb. 6 in a management shakeup, said in a release. We believe SunOpta is well positioned to benefit from the growing trend for healthier foods and we are building the platform for long-term achievement of our strategic goals and increased returns for shareholders."

Parts of the plan, like divesting of non-core business lines and impairment charges, as well as weak beverage and fruit sales, impinged on the companys fourth-quarter earnings results which fell below its expectations.

SunOptas revenue declined 6% from the prior years fourth quarter to $297.5 million. Its net loss of $33.5 million, or 41 cents per share, deepened from $30.1 million, or 16 cents per share, for the same periods. It ended the quarter with $1.25 million on its balance sheet, down from $2.27 million, and $244.4 million in long-term liabilities and debt, down from $339.03 million.

Over the last five years, SunOpta grew revenue at a 0.7% growth rate, while EBITDA fell at a rate of 8.8% and book value at a rate of 4%. In addition, its gross and operating margins have been in decline.

Only three other investors tracked by GuruFocus hold shares of SunOpta: Chuck Royce (Trades, Portfolio), Mario Gabelli (Trades, Portfolio) and Paul Tudor Jones (Trades, Portfolio). Two, Chuck Royce (Trades, Portfolio) and Mario Gabelli (Trades, Portfolio), reduced their positions in the fourth quarter.

SunOpta shares have gained 39% over the past five years, including a 3.6% rise year to date.

See more buys and sells of investors who own more than 5% of a companys shares at Real Time Picks.

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Oaktree Boosts Stake as Largest Shareholder in Organic Food Company SunOpta - GuruFocus.com

Researchhas found that while environment doesnt necessarily benefit, such foodstuffsare more profitable for poor farmers and can produce food with a higher nutritional value

ORGANIC food may be no better for the environment or consumers than standard fruit and veg, a study suggests.

The pricey produce is often thought of as better for the planet.

Alamy

But a study has found the environment doesnt necessarily benefit because of how many more resources it takes to produce the same amount as non-organic fare.

Researchers analysed organic crop farming across 17 criteria such as yield, impact on climate change, farmer livelihood and consumer health.

They found it typically has a positive influence on local biodiversity, is more profitable for poor farmers and can produce food with a higher nutritional value.

But it often produces yields that 19 to 25 per cent lower and leads to higher consumer prices.

This means some of the environmental benefits may be lost once the yield differences are taken into account.

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A pack of six small bananas in one supermarket cost 90p but their organic equivalent are 1.39. A 400g bloomer loaf costs 70p or 80p for organic.

Researcher Verena Seufert, from University of British Columbia, in Canada, said: Organic is often proposed a Holy Grail solution to current environmental and food scarcity problems.

While an organic farm may be better for things like biodiversity, farmers will need more land to grow the same amount of food.

And land conversion for agriculture is the leading contributor to habitat loss and climate change.

We need to stop thinking of organic and conventional agriculture as two ends of the spectrum.

Instead, consumers should demand better practices for both so that we can achieve the worlds food needs in a sustainable way.

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Her colleague, Professor Navin Ramankutty, said the health benefits are marginal in countries with strict pesticide regulations, such as the UK.

The only entirely unequivocal benefit of organic foods is reduced contamination from pesticide residues although this might not matter for consumers in high-income countries, where pesticide contamination on conventionally grown food is far below acceptable daily intake thresholds.

In a developing country, where pesticide use is not carefully regulated and people are micronutrient deficient, we think that the benefits for consumer and farm worker health may be much higher.

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Organic farming covers approximately 1 per cent of agricultural land and is the fastest growing food sector in North America and Europe.

The findings are published in the journal Science Advances.

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Organic produce may be no greener than standard fruit and veg, says study - The Sun

Dive Brief:

Grocery retailers are pushing organic and natural sales because those products provide more revenue thanks to higher prices. Plus, with consumers looking to eat healthier,demand has never been higher.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, organic products are now available in nearly 20,000 natural food stores and nearly 3 out of 4 conventional grocery stores. Produce makes up almost half of that.

Packaged Facts released a report that the organic and natural industry reached $69 billion in total sales last year, an 11% increase over 2015, and a 32% gain over the past five years.

Shoppers'interest in produce on the whole is skyrocketing. While stores should make organic produce available, they should also continue to stock lower-margin conventionally grown produce. Consumer research has shown some are confused about the benefits of natural and organic products and would rather buy conventional produce. Through signage and staff to provide information to shoppers, stores can work to educate shoppers on why they may want to choose organic products, as well as an explanation about what makes them different.

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How to encourage more organic produce sales | Food Dive - Food Dive

Alexander C.N., et al. Treating and preventing alcohol, nicotine, and drug abuse through Transcendental Meditation: A review and statistical meta-analysis. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 11: 13-87, 1994.

Aron E.N. and Aron A. The patterns of reduction of drug and alcohol use among Transcendental Meditation participants. Bulletin of the Society of Psychologists in Addictive Behaviors 2: 28-33, 1983.

Clements G., et al. The use of the Transcendental Meditation programme in the prevention of drug abuse and in the treatment of drug-addicted persons. Bulletin on Narcotics 40(1): 5156, 1988.

Gelderloos P., et al. Effectiveness of the Transcendental Meditation program in preventing and treating substance misuse: A review. International Journal of the Addictions 26: 293325, 1991.

Gelderloos P., et al. Effectiveness of the Transcendental Meditation program in preventing and treating substance misuse: A review. International Journal of the Addictions 26: 293325, 1991.

Orme-Johnson D. W. Transcendental Meditation as an epidemiological approach to drug and alcohol abuse: Theory, research, and financial impact evaluation. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 11, 119-165, 1994.

Royer A. The role of the Transcendental Meditation technique in promoting smoking cessation: A longitudinal study. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 11: 219-236, 1994.

Shafii M. et al. Meditation and marijuana. American Journal of Psychiatry 131: 60-63, 1974.

Shafii M. et al. Meditation and the prevention of alcohol abuse. American Journal of Psychiatry 132: 942-945, 1975.

Wallace R.K. et al. Decreased drug abuse with Transcendental Meditation: A study of 1,862 subjects. In Drug Abuse: Proceedings of the International Conference, ed. Chris J.D. Zarafonetis (Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger): 369-376, 1972.

Walton K. G., and Levitsky, D.A. A neuroendocrine mechanism for the reduction of drug use and addictions by Transcendental Meditation. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 11: 89-117, 1994.

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Transcendental Meditation (TM) Technique - Tulsa

Email Print Police Chief Sylvia Moir said it helps officers make smarter decisions in the field and allows them to be more thoughtful of other perspectives in tense situations

By PoliceOne Staff

TEMPE, Ariz. Police departments are developing new ways to help officers decompress from the stresses of the job. One agency in Arizona is using meditation as a part of officer development.

Tempe Police Chief Sylvia Moir told ABC News that encouraging her officers to mediate has helped them respond, not react in tense situations.

Without a doubt I think the [meditation] practice shows promise, getting us to be present, not take triggers, not take the bait that makes us react and if the practice can get us to see the perspective of another to enhance our compassion, then I think it does lend itself to broader application in policing, she said.

Moir has instilled the meditation practice in officer training and told ABC that its important for officers to be as tactically sound as they are physically fit. She believes it helps officers slow their mind in the field and make smarter decisions.

Were really good at I call them perishable skills, the shooting, driving, defensible tactics, she said. And what were doing with mindfulness practices is were saying, Look, were going to give you a set of tools, you take it, you use it for the whole you, personal and professional, make it what works for you.

Meditation has helped Moir realize microcues she may send unintentionally when shes at a scene.

I meet with people who are suffering, who dont feel like they have been served by the justice system ... with family members who have lost someone, [with] officers that have done wrong and Im holding them accountable, she said. Its in those moments where I have to really engage but also listen.

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Police chief: Meditation key part of officer development - Police News

Lack of interpersonal skills can be a career crusher. A deleterious emotional state can have serious ramifications on the way you think and process information, and of course, it also affects the way others relate to you. Are you confident and calm when dealing with high-stakes, or high-stress conversations? It's something many people struggle with due to various reasons such as differences of opinion, competing priorities, contrasting frames of references, misunderstandings or tension from past conflicts that shrouds your judgment.

Attaining alignment with another --- with emotional composure and resiliency -- is indispensable when developing and maintaining relationships. The good news is that there are several practices and techniques you can learn to help you regulate your emotions. One of these foundational skills is mindfulness.

Mindfulness refers to an awareness of what is happening emotionally -- right here, right now -- within your body and mind. It can be practiced through a powerful meditative process called mindfulness meditation. It is specifically designed to provide you the strength to be more mindful when the occasion dictates, such as when you are in a high stress, high impact conversation. When it is practiced regularly, it is easier to go from being highly reactive to a more stable and productive state of being.

Try this five-minute mindfulness meditation exercise several times a week. With practice you'll begin to exude calm reassurance and confidence in any situation:

Minute 1: Rest your hands on the tops of your thighs with your legs hip-distance apart and your feet flat on the floor. Relax your eyelids, allowing your gaze to soften and rest unfocused. Breathe deeply, inhaling through the nose and then exhaling through pursed lips, like you are gently letting the air out of a balloon. Inhale for a count of six then exhale for a count of seven.

Minute 2: Stop counting and allow your breathing to fall into a natural and easy rhythm. Pay attention to what your breaths feel like -- not overly deep or shallow -- and compare that with your usual cadence. Tune into the rising and falling sensation in your body from your belly to your shoulders.

Minute 3: Continue to be aware of your breathing. If random thoughts (work tasks, errands, deadlines) pop into your head, do not push them out or linger on them. Instead, imagine each one as a harmless cloud floating on by. This helps you to acknowledge the thoughts and pre-occupations of the mind without responding to them emotionally. If a thought still doesn't drift away from your mind, take a few seconds to acknowledge it then gently return your focus to your breath. If this occurs again, just repeat the process without judgment or reaction. They are just clouds floating by our field of awareness.

Minute 4: Release your focus and simply sit. Remind yourself that there is nothing to fix, nothing to do and nothing to change.

Minute 5: Think about something you are grateful for, such as spending time with friends or even having the chance to meditate in that moment. Then gradually transition your thoughts to how you feel physically; the relaxed state of your muscles and the steadiness of your heartbeat. Open your eyes, take one deep breath in -- and then out.

Emotional connections are the building blocks that support commitment and trust. Strong emotional regulation skills are vital in building and nurturing relationships. Mindful meditation can help you achieve a more balanced and grounded presence -- freeing you from stress and impulsive emotions.

Originally published on Entrepreneur.com

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A Simple 5-Minute Meditation to Melt Away Tension - Huffington Post

Not too long ago, veganism was thought to be a practice upheld mostly by food-deprived tree huggers who have an unyielding passion for animal rights.

Nowadays, the rest of the world is catching on, and its not just because more awareness has been created around animal cruelty. The health and wellness benefits of the vegan lifestyle are becoming proven, recognized and indisputable.

Plus, vegan cookbooks proveeating vegan can actually be quite delicious.

If youre thinking about going vegan, you wont regret it. Sure, it involves significant effort, planning and sacrifices but the benefits are well worth it.

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A plant-based diet will dramatically increase your energy levels, promote significant weight loss, improve your overall health, get you glowing skin and much, much more.

Here are six major benefits of following a vegan diet.

Veganism is a great diet for weight loss, and studies have proven this. A recent study involved 1,151 dieters and 12 different diet trials in which participants followed a specific eating regime and their weight loss was monitored.

The diets studied included vegan, vegetarian, animal-based, etc. The vegans lost the most weight but why? Vegan meals tend to be high in fiber,and fiber-rich, plant-based foods will make you feel fuller and more satisfied for longer, so youre less likely to snack on something naughty an hour post-meal.

Also, by cutting out cheese and dairy from your diet, youre cutting out a huge percentage of unhealthy fats. When vegans cook themselves dinner, its typically made up of lots of vegetables and whole grains, all of which have a low glycemic index. Low GI foods contribute to weight loss, as do high-fiber foods.

Adopting a vegan lifestyle can help you prevent a number of different diseases.

For example, studies have shown lower breast cancer rates in countries where women eat less meat and animal products compared to countries where women eat more animal products.

Eliminating dairy products and meat also improves your cardiovascular health, lowers blood pressure and reduces your risk of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Veganism also combats arthritis, inflammation, asthma and osteoporosis.

Your overall health stands to benefit a remarkable amount if you go vegan sooner rather than later.

Several vegans attribute their healthy, clear and glowing skin to their plant-based diet. Come to think of it, almost all the vegans I know have beautiful skin and look fantastic without makeup.

It makes sense since eating a plant-based diet means theyre taking in more vitamins, antioxidants, water and minerals than most people. And its not just skin that stands to benefit, either. Thanks to all that omega-3 and vitamin A and B, veganism results in healthier nails and fuller, more healthy-looking hair.

Vegans look and feel younger, too, and theres a reason. The vegan diet tends to promote collagen production. This is important since we naturally lose collagen as we age, which makes the skin appear thinner and saggier and causes wrinkles.

The vegan diet results in more collagen production because vegans tend to have a higher vitamin C intake (due to all the fruits and vegetables they eat) and vitamin C boosts collagen.

Eating foods that are easy on your digestive system will make all the difference when it comes to your energy levels, and animal foods are difficult for your body to digest.

When your digestive system is overworked, you feel lethargic and low on energy. Thats why going vegan and eating more plant-based foods will dramatically increase your energy levels. This means you can be more productive during the day, have more energy for the gym and achieve more in your day-to-day.

When you become a vegan, you may notice more energy by day but youll also notice better sleep quality by night.

Your sleep will improve when youre a vegan, and it has everything to do with what youre consuming by day. Vegans cant eat meat, eggs or dairy so they end up eating a lot of nuts, fruits and vegetables instead.

Walnuts, pistachios, pineapple, oranges and cherries are known to help the body produce natural melatonin. Plus, plant-based foods are often high in vitamin B6, magnesium and potassium, which aid in the production of serotonin and help relax the body and mind.

Why not be part of the solution, instead of being part of the problem? Vegans save animals, they contribute toward reducing their countrys water-intake and their practices help avoid deforestation.

We need significantly less water and less land to produce plant-based foods compared to the amount needed to produce animal-based foods. So, those tree-hugging vegans really are helping save the planet.

Subscribe to Elite Daily's official newsletter, The Edge, for more stories you don't want to miss.

Erica Majored in Psychology at UBC has worked in the dating industry for over 6 years. She is the author of the popular dating advice book, "Aren't You Glad You Read This?" available on Amazon. See more of her articles on her advice column www. ...

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Here are six major benefits of following a vegan diet. - Elite Daily

With vegan cheesesteaks showing up at more places than ever in Philly (and everywhere), we want to identify - and eat - the best vegan cheesesteaks around. And at noon today, with the help of Frank Olivieri, Jr. and Christina Pirello, the fourth annual 2017 Best Vegan Cheesesteak in Philly contest launched with the opening of online voting.

Everyone can vote once per day per platform. The online ballot is HERE. Additionally, twitter users with a valid account can vote each day with a tweet containing the venue name and the hashtag #vegancheesesteak. See complete 2017 rules here.

As vegan cheesesteak lovers know, this is an exciting time, with 2016 champion (and first-year winner) Blackbird Pizzeria defending the crown against dozens of fine vegan cheesesteaks including several newcomers this year. Philly voters are encouraged to try the sandwiches at as many venues as possible to assure the highest-quality decision-making in the 'Philly' category. Everyone can vote in the 'Everywhere' category, which will serve to break a tie in the final judging.

Voting results and ranking will be updated on this page every day from March 11 to March 20, when the voting period ends. The top three vote-getters with qualifying sandwiches will advance on to the final round. One voter chosen at random will win a deluxe dinner for 2 at Miss Rachel's Pantry. One twitter voter will be named '2017 Vegan Cheesesteak Superfan' (see rules) and will win a prize package including a custom-cooked cheesesteak and more.

The Final Judging event will occur on March 23rd at 6:00 p.m. at The Ethical Society (1906 Rittenhouse Square) and will be emceed by Frank Olivieri, Jr, owner of Pat's Steaks, the originator of the cheesesteak sandwich. The March 23rd event will feature vegan cheesesteak sampling by at least five venues. (Yes, we know the 2016 event had just two, and the logistical issues behind that have been dealt with to assure a diversity of sampling options this year.)

This event will also feature appetizers by Lenka Zivcovic of The Plough and The Stars, plus special surprises. Advance tickets are $5, or $7 at the door.

The top three finalists will have their sandwiches tasted and judged by a panel of 4 esteemed judges who will be named on Monday, March 13. The winner will become the 2017 champion holding the title of Best Vegan Cheesesteak in Philly!

Published: March 10, 2017 10:34 AM EST | Updated: March 10, 2017 2:17 PM EST Philadelphia Daily News

Over the past year, the Inquirer, the Daily News and Philly.com have uncovered corruption in local and state public offices, shed light on hidden and dangerous environmental risks, and deeply examined the regions growing heroin epidemic. This is indispensable journalism, brought to you by the largest, most experienced newsroom in the region. Fact-based journalism of this caliber isnt cheap. We need your support to keep our talented reporters, editors and photographers holding government accountable, looking out for the public interest, and separating fact from fiction. If you already subscribe, thank you. If not, please consider doing so by clicking on the button below. Subscriptions can be home delivered in print, or digitally read on nearly any mobile device or computer, and start as low as 25 per day. We're thankful for your support in every way.

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The 2017 Best Vegan Cheesesteak in Philly contest - Philly.com (blog)

The prospect of going vegan was a daunting thought. Being a vegan meant giving up all animal by-products. Meat, dairy and many of my usual go-to snacks had to be purged from my diet.

As someone who basically survives off chicken, steak and protein bars, I knew this was going to be tough.

However, the first step to succeeding in any sort of diet is to be prepared. Iresearched foods I could eat, planned out my meals and wrote out a shopping list. I was determined to be ready to tackle any food craving that might hit me throughout my week as a vegan.

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I fixed all of my lunches for the week prior to starting my diet so I wouldnt feel tempted to break my diet due to a time crunch.

The night before I started, I weighed in at 108 pounds. I felt bloated and lethargic and was desperately trying to get rid of my acne. I was ready for a change.

For breakfast, I ate two slices of fresh pumpernickel bread that I purchased from my local bakery, which were preservative free. I topped it with all-natural peanut butter.

Of course, I had to have my coffee as well, and I drank it black. This was difficult, as I normally load my coffee up with cream and sugar, but as the week went on, I began to enjoy having my coffee in its truest form.

For lunch, I had fresh spinach leaves topped with a baked sweet potato. I alternated between eating Vega Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein and Snack Bars and Luna Protein Chocolate Walnut Fudge Barsto satisfy my sweet tooth, as well as an apple for extra nutrients.

The sweet potato was actually really filling, so most days I ate the sweet potato and had trouble finishing the rest of my lunch!

I would rather have too much food packed and save it for later, rather than packing too little and being tempted to dip into that not-so-healthy stash of snacks hidden away at work.

Dinner was the fun part. I was forced to be creative! On the first night, I decided to try out vegan fajitas. Theyconsisted of onions and peppers sauted and seasonedin a flour tortilla.

Im not going to lie, by the end of day one, I had a migraine that I just couldnt shake. I didnt think I could keep it up. My body wasnt handling this new change well, and I was very tempted to give up.

On day two, I had a salad for dinner. I loaded it up with shredded carrots and other vegetables and vegan-friendly Italian dressing. Once again, I ended the day with a migraine that I just couldnt kick.

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By the third day, I no longer had a migraine, as my body was beginningto adjust to my new diet. I ate pineapple barbecue rice for dinner and had whole-wheat pasta the next two nights.

To supplement my protein intake, I drank Vega Protein Power and blended it together with fruit and water to make Vegan-friendly smoothies.

When I got home from work each day, I felt motivated and ready to conquer the rest of the afternoon. Normally after I get home from a full day of teaching third graders, I feel sleepy and take a two-hour nap.

However, this week I felt energized. After those first two days, I spent my afternoons mountain biking, running and hitting up the gym. My running times were faster than usual, and my body didnt feel achy after working out.

By the of the end week, I was no longer bloated, my acne had cleared and when I went to weigh myself, I was 104 pounds.

I had lost four pounds of weight in just one week!

If youre thinking of going vegan, I definitely recommend it. Its difficult at first, and requires a ton of planning, but the end result is totally worth it.

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Courtney is a Raleigh based writer and teacher seeking to do whatever it takes to make the world a little brighter. To collaborate or check out her latest adventure, visit her at courtneylivin.wordpress.com or follow her on insta @courtneylivin

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I Followed A Vegan Diet For 7 Days And What Happened To My Body Was Shocking - Elite Daily