When I was nine years old, I remember eating a flan while hiding inside a coat closet. Hiding while eating meant nobody could question why I was eating or say “Why are you eating that? You’re going to get fat. You’re on a diet.” My father was diabetic and ate whatever he wanted, even when my mom made him healthy food. If my dad could do whatever he wanted, I would too. The flan was delicious, but hiding and eating didn’t feel right.

As I matured, I realized I needed to heal myself from my childhood feelings about food. When I was a teenager and college student, I watched my weight, health, and life swing in every direction. Then, I lost my father to diabetes. I witnessed several of my closest family members struggle with obesity, pre-diabetes, chronic digestive disorders, bulimia, anorexia, drug addictions, cystitis, depression, ADHD, and other forms of “dis-ease”.

At the age of 15, I became a vegetarian as consuming meat was contributing to the heaviness of both my body and emotions. At that time, I also began practicing yoga and meditation. By the time I was 16, I did my first 21-day water and corn barb broth fast. Little did I know my change in lifestyle would guide me into a lifetime of service.