Six Years Totally Raw!
Brenda Bruner from Avon Park, Florida

The following statement was made by Tonya Zavasta, author of “Beautiful on Raw.”

“We always notice in other people what we ourselves lack. Because of my long standing hip problems, I always notice a pair of good legs! So when I met Brenda, who organized a presentation for me in Tampa, I found myself staring at her legs. They were lean, toned and beautifully sculptured-the kind of legs that celebrities insure for millions. Then I realized her whole body was perfectly muscled. To my delight, I learned she achieved these muscles while being 100% raw for 6 years.
 
When I learned she was 48 years old, wearing a short skirt (my kind of girl!) you can be sure I was listening! I asked Brenda if she would share her secrets in my newsletter.  This is what Brenda has to say about her personal transformation through the raw foods lifestyle.”

Brenda and her husband, Roy, regularly attend the Back To Eden Support meetings.  They drive all the way from Avon Park, Florida each month.  She has taken the Hallelujah Diet & Lifestyle one step further and eats a completely RAW diet – the results speak for itself.

Brenda Bruner writes, "It's definitely not enough to walk in order to gain muscle tone and prevent osteoporosis. It's critical to eat right, maintain a healthy weight and be committed to weight training in some form.  A raw food lifestyle will help get you to your ideal weight.  It's up to you to refine that body, getting it fit and tone through weight-bearing exercises. 

In my opinion, a combination of a raw food lifestyle and strength training is the answer to having a healthy body and strong bones. I am by no means "skinny", but I have good muscle tone and I feel great! I have more confidence in myself and feel comfortable about the way I look.    

When it comes to my health, I have a lot of discipline. I work out to videos taped from the "Fit TV" channel, 25 minutes a day, for 5 days a week.   A person must be dedicated and disciplined to maintain an at home regimen. I don't spend hours at a gym and I don't buy special workout clothes. I use my free weights, ankle weights, stability ball, rebounder, and my own body weight.

Proper form makes a world of difference in my workouts.  I try to be very strict with my form, and also believe that variety is the other key to my fitness training in reshaping my body.  When I started this workout regimen, I noticed a difference in my body in less than 2 months.
 
The other thing that made a world of difference in the way I look is when I changed my eating habits.  After attending one of Tonya Zavasta's lectures, I increased my juicing to 2-3 times a day instead of once, and had my main meal before 4:00 in the afternoon. I lost about 8 pounds in less than 2 months and now maintain a healthy 109-110 lbs. very easily!
 
After that, Tonya inspired me to go one step further into my raw lifestyle.  I arranged for her to speak in our home town, read Victoria Boutenko's Green For Life book that Tonya had available at her lecture, and began incorporating green smoothies into my daily regimen.  I thought I felt great before, but it just keeps getting better!  I'm close to what I weighed when I graduated from high school 30 years ago, but I'm in so much better shape than I was then because I have muscle tone now that I never had before.  My clothes fit better and I am much more lean and fit than I've ever been in my life.  Even though I have been raw for 6 years, I now know there is always room for improvement!
 
My hair is shiny and my nails are strong, my skin and eyes are clear and I've been told I have a natural "glow" to my face even without make-up. I like to keep my make-up simple and natural looking, too.  I like Ecco Bella products.  I use foundation, pressed powder, blush, mascara and eyeshadow. Plus, I use Tonya's beautiful facial cream twice a day! 
 
I'm 48 and have always been told that I look younger than my age; of course, that's always flattering to hear!  Every year for my birthday I say that I'm not getting older, I'm getting better, and I've always told everyone that as long as you don't look it, feel it or act it, age doesn't mean a thing!
 
I enjoy sharing my knowledge with others who wish to learn about my healthy, raw lifestyle by holding raw food preparation classes in our home every week.  I prepare organic, raw dishes for all to try, and provide recipes and other health tips.  It is such a pleasure spending time with people who share similar interests; we have a great time!  I also have my own recipe booklet that I have available for sale with over 115 totally raw recipes!