Throughout my childhood and into my teenage years, I spent most of the year playing sports. In the fall, I competed in volleyball. In the winter, I could be found on the basketball court. In the spring, I was wearing my knee pads again for junior Olympic volleyball. And in the summer, I was jetting around from camp to camp and working out with my teammates in preparation for the upcoming seasons.

This obviously changed when I went to college. I no longer played sports year-round. I continued to eat the way I did, and I didn’t notice any difference in the way I looked or felt. I played an occasional flag football game with my sorority sisters, and I still sometimes turned heads on the volleyball court. (To this day, people still cannot believe I can serve so hard.)

Then I went to Italy.

I lived on top of a hill in Cortona, the Etruscan town made famous by Under the Tuscan Sun. Every morning, I woke up and walked down the hill to my painting class. After class, my roommates and I met at the Bar Sport Caffe for a cappuccino, then I trotted from the fruit stand to the grocery store to pick up fruit for the day and lunch. I would hike up the hill with my lunch, snacking on a fresh nectarine, then I would go to another class. By the end of every day, I had walked up and down the hill at least five times for various errands and classes.

While the hill was a royal pain to deal with, I loved the feeling of walking up and down, being able to walk to the market and converse with my Italian hosts as I made my way throughout the town. Andunbeknownst to me, I lost about 20 lbs. during this time.

When I came home, my dad’s girlfriend (who is now his wife) and a few friends made comments about how I MUST have become anorexic during my time in Italy. This, of course, wasn’t the case. I had seconds, thirds and sometimes fourths of pasta while living inCortona — the weight loss was that damn hill’s doing.

Since that time, I have gained most of that weight back. While I’m OK with the way I look (though I would like to be a little more toned), I want to FEEL the same way I did when I was trekking up and down that small mountain in my Italian town. And the amount of activity I do now isn’t cutting it.

So I am proposing a lifestyle overhaul for myself.

What does this mean?

I want to live a healthier life, like I did in Italy. I want to put fresh, healthy, non-processed foods into my body. I want to eat more fruits and vegetables. I want to be active. And I want to feel younger and more energetic.

I realize this isn’t something that will happen immediately, but I have high hopes. Today, I started a workout video regime that I hope to continue every day. Tomorrow, I plan on walking Lucy 3+ miles through my neighborhood every day (as long as the weather permits.) In the near future, I want to start running. (This means I get to buy a new pair of running shoes, right?) I might join a swimming pool or join a gym or start going to a yoga class if I can afford it.

Whatever I can do, I want to try. I want to feel better. I want to lead a healthier life. And I want this to be a permanent change because I know if I don’t keep it up, I will fall into this place again. And I don’t want to be here again.

So, friends, what do you recommend? What can I try? Do you know some fantastic, healthy recipes? Do you know a snack that I can eat throughout the day that will curb my vending machine/sweet cravings? Do you love doing a certain kind of exercise that I might enjoy?

And, if you’re feeling the same way as I do, want to join me in this quest? I promise, if nothing else, we can spur each other on.