Leandra Medine pushes herself out of her comfort zone.

The writer and media personality is known as much for her daring style as for her famous fashion blog and essay book, both titled, “Man Repeller.” And yet, these days, she doesn’t take the same liberties with her health: the self-proclaimed sugar addict began by cutting fake and hyper-processed foods from her diet and now her whole diet has shifted.

Here, Medine describes her new addiction to feeling energetic and strong

Live The Process: Were you raised in a household that prioritized wellness and organic food?

Leandra Medine: Wellness, yes: the only junk food in our house was pretzels. But the stress on being organic was not as prevalent when I was growing up. My mom thought that by feeding us fruits and vegetables of any kind, she was doing us a service. In some ways, I guess she was.

LTP: When and how did you decide to shift your lifestyle for the sake of your wellbeing?

LM: I think, as a woman, you just reach a certain age and realize that you're not a kid anymore. If you don't take care of yourself, who will? I also recently read a quote that said something to the effect of, "Be good to your body; it's the only place you have to live." And that really resonated with me.

Originally, I just started eating healthier. I cut out food that was fake—like frozen yogurt and all that sugar-free shit I used to indulge in. Because our bodies are typically starved for nutrients, it doesn't take that long for it to acclimate to better eating habits. And when you become this ball of natural energy and strength, that is so, so cool. You never want to feel another way again.

LTP: What is the biggest obstacle in your wellness path?

LM: I have a terrible, terrible sweet tooth. As a result, I think, of never having had access to real junk food as a kid, whenever I am around it now, I feel like I need to eat it in excess. It's a struggle to stay off, but sometimes I slip and I think that's okay too.

LTP: What tips would you offer people who aspire to eat more raw and organic diets, but struggle to find the time?

LM: There are quick alternatives, like a Lara Bar or Chia Bar, to unhealthy desperation food. If you think about it, eating fast food is as time-consuming as sitting down at a salad bar with a protein-rich salad. So, if you're having the former, I don't buy that you can't make time for the latter.

LTP: What does happiness look like to you?

LM: It's an enigma. It doesn't look like anything, and I don't want it to.

LTP: What does it mean to you to "Live The Process" and how do you do that every day?

LM: I think mostly to “Live The Process,” you have to be able to push yourself out of your comfort zone, which is something I certainly try to do. Sometimes it’s in the form of an exercise class I have historically hated (see: yoga) or something as minute as taking a meeting I may not have previously taken.