Maria Buontempo: Bio

I was brought up in a traditional Italian household where I was raised on an authentic Italian diet of pasta, bread ,cheese & meat. Food surrounds my life, whether it comes from my upbringing or my way of adapting to new things, I just always feel the need to eat…even when i'm not hungry!

 Being the youngest of four I was always babied into getting my way. My father and I started this “tradition” where he and I would go out to eat once a week (sometimes twice) after school. He would pick me up, drive me to a restaurant and we’d eat whatever I was in the mood for. After two hours of being home, dinner was ready. I remember in the beginning struggling to eat dinner because I’d be so full from eating two hours prior, but after awhile I adapted to it and eating large consumption's easily became a habit- It’s not my dad’s fault, I just love eating :)

With 28 aunts and uncles and about 70 cousins, we have a LOT of family events. Weekends are filled with weddings, baby showers, baptisms, communions…you name it, we have them. Food and cookies are the most important aspect of our family functions. Everyone outside of our family is always astonished when they see pictures of or hear about the amount of food we ingest, but to our family it’s normal.

My environment, mixed with my love of food has established an addiction that is so strong, not much can stop it. In fact I am semi- lactose and sensitive to red meat , but I enjoy them so much, I‘d take stomach pain over eliminating them out of my diet.

 My goal for this cleanse is to become more attentive of what I am feeding my body, change my poor eating habits and become self aware. I want to feel in control of myself, rather than food controlling Me- with that in mind, Carpe Diem!