I am a 37-year old woman with a desk job. I am generally active, and enjoy cycling, running, yoga, and other types of exercise. I live in the city, so I walk two miles almost every day of the week. I am not overweight, but I would like to firm up, tone down, and basically feel better. I’m 5’7″ (everyone keeps asking). I have Celiac disease, but I hate telling people because they all think it’s a new weight-loss fad. I have been gluten free since 2003.

I like the kind of food that you would get at a health spa: fresh, crunchy, tasty, and generally free from meat and dairy. I am not a vegetarian or vegan, but I tend to eat like one and generally do not have meat except for when I am at a restaurant (which doesn’t happen very often!) I never cook meat at home, because I don’t like the way it smells. My husband is an old-fashioned meat eater that has come to love vegetarian food. I mean, love it! He raided the fridge last week and ate all of my quinoa black eyed pea salad (I’ll post this recipe shortly). He had never even heard of quinoa until he met me, and now he’s stealing salads! (I steal his ice cream so it’s a give and take – I don’t want to make myself sound like a saint)

My weaknesses are ice cream and red wine and Reece’s peanut butter cups.