Within the past couple of weeks, I have recently started to make some major changes as far as what I allow myself to put into my body. I am not personally a Vegan or solely even a plant-based eater for that matter, but I do focus on putting products that are plant-based into my body now and I can't even begin to tell you how amazing it's been.

It wasn't until last year, coming into my freshman year of college, where I realized how considerably unhealthy I had been and the effects that it had on me — physically and mentally.

Granted, I was never "fat" or out of shape, but my body had been at its personal worst at the end of high school. I was going out with friends multiple times per week and it quickly became a habit for me to be going through late night drive-thrus.

Coming into college, I knew I needed to make some lifestyle changes and not allow the dreaded "freshman 15" become a thing for me...

With that in mind, my freshman year, I definitely focused a large amount of my energy on making healthier choices and watching what I ate.

However, last year definitely felt more along the lines of dieting as I would live in a means of depriving myself of treats and things I enjoyed because I didn't know how easy it was to substitute your idea of treating yourself.

This year, I've become more knowledgeable and aware of what I should be putting into my body and try to eat protein bars or smoothies with protein powder for breakfast; mostly vegetables with some protein for lunch and dinners; yet, also remember to treat myself if there's something in particular that I'm craving. Also, nowadays, it's a lot easier to lean to the better options such as getting a smoothie bowl with a little bit of Nutella on top of the fruit if you have a sweet tooth instead of leaning for the pint of ice cream.

I have also been focusing on obtaining clearer skin that essentially has a bit of a glow to it, and I have learned that no matter how many expensive and quality skin products you might buy, nothing will give your skin a better glow than what putting healthy foods into your body will.

Not only has eating as clean as I do now had physical benefits, but it's also helped immensely with making my mind clearer on the daily. My focus has been so much better and I've been more alert and less anxious since I've put healthy foods into my body consistency for the past couple of weeks.

Overall, I have learned that although it may be quite the cliche, you truly are what you eat in this life and can completely change your life around by altering your eating habits within your lifestyle.