After training at a local Zen center for months, they invited me upstairs for an afternoon lunch. 

Not one to decline free food, I accepted the offer. 

As the food was being served, I was surprised to see that there were no animal products on the table. 

I asked the resident monk why there wasn't any animal protein or dairy.

He replied, "We try to serve food with minimal to no harm."

I felt amazed. 

It was compassion in action. 

I was trying to practice compassion in my meditation. But these people showed it in every action, every day. 

After meeting my wife Anna, a longtime vegan, I decided to take action.

She had healed many chronic health issues with a raw vegan diet. 

I went fully plant-based. 

Watching Okja with my wife fueled my motivation. I finally connected my food choices to the harm they caused to the animals.

But I was unsure about my fitness.

After 20 years as an athlete, I felt uncertain. I played soccer at a high level for many years and lifted weights for 10.

I didn't want to lose my muscle and strength, yet at the same time, I didn't want to hurt myself or others with my food choices. 

It was a catch-22. 

I also secretly battled a chronic autoimmune disease for decades.

Since I was 10, psoriasis plagued me, covering my scalp, joints, and back.

Cystic acne also flared up many times over the decades for me.

Both of these hurt my confidence and self-esteem. They also made me uncomfortable in my body.

But going vegan changed my view on health.

My first year as a vegan was tough because I gained body fat and weight.

I didn't know what I was doing. I was eating more beans, lentils, and seeds, yet nothing seemed to work.

To make matters worse, I was working as an in-person trainer at the time, yet I didn't feel like I looked the part.

I didn't dare share that I was vegan with my clients or others because of how I felt and looked.

I was working out and eating 'vegan,' but the pounds kept increasing.

I reached my breaking point at 7:00 a.m. I walked by my bedroom mirror and saw that I looked 3 months pregnant.

I didn't feel or look healthy, nor did I want to share with others about my vegan journey.

As a fitness expert, I understood the mechanics behind body transformation.

I was committed to mastering plant-based nutrition and maximizing my health.

Growing up, I loved systems and creating new things.

As a science nerd and geek, one of my strengths is taking complex topics and simplifying them into easy, practical steps. 

So I got to work. 

Tackling my health with a plant-based lens was a new project for me.

My first milestone was to combine my fitness expertise with plant-based nutrition in a clear and concise format.

After spending hundreds of hours researching and practicing, I achieved my first breakthrough. I lost more than 30 pounds and gained 7 pounds of muscle.

I also hit a 5% body fat level while competing as a National Physique Athlete.

My next goal was health.

I told myself I wouldn't compete again until I fully healed from the autoimmune disease that I was told I'd live with forever.

Most days, I was ashamed of how I looked.

After my physique competition, my skin condition worsened.

I was in the best shape of my life, yet I was unhappy.

So I pushed forward and dove into the alternative world of healing.

I spent most of my early years trying all kinds of allopathic medicine, like pills, powders, and lotions.

The second part of my health journey involved exploring allopathic options. I tried naturopaths, acupuncturists, and herbal medicine.

Nothing worked.

I felt stuck as my skin worsened, even on a vegan diet. Then, I switched to raw vegan and began nutritional cleanses.

I began to heal, and my open wounds started to close.

It was a miracle.

Plants, again, helped heal and support my life.

One of the most valuable aspects of my journey is that it taught me the importance of self-education.

After nearly a decade of being vegan, my life has undergone a complete transformation.