I grew up in a household where food was at the heart of every celebration—birthdays, holidays, first days, and even moments of grief. My mom loved cooking, and I loved helping (and eating!), sparking my lifelong passion for food, cooking, and health.

Coming from a half-Latina family and growing up in the '80s, physical appearance was everything. Weight and looks were openly discussed by friends and family, and I learned early to keep up appearances with a smile. Striving for perfection became the norm, and as the eldest daughter, I was expected to help others and carry responsibility—a pattern that later became a habit of being everything for everyone.

Without healthy emotional outlets, I turned to food for comfort, especially chocolate (still a favorite, though now in moderation!). I yo-yo dieted, swinging between deprivation and excess, wreaking havoc on my metabolism and hormones.

Life only got busier. Between raising a family, working part-time, volunteering, and squeezing in 5 a.m. workouts, I lost focus on myself, running on caffeine and sugar during the day and wine at night. This endless cycle eventually drained me, leaving me exhausted, burnt out, and battling thyroid, adrenal, and spine issues.

Faced with a choice—lifelong medication and surgery or lifestyle changes—I chose the holistic path. Through trial and error, I restored my body, mind, and spirit, realigning with circadian rhythms and embracing feminine energy. Letting go of old beliefs wasn’t easy, but the results were worth it.

In my 50s, life shifted again. As a caretaker for my mother, I knew how to balance caring for others while engaging in self-care—something I’d lacked before. I’ve learned that at every life stage, we need to evolve, eat differently, and manage stress in new ways.

I am grateful to my many mentors, Christy Linson, Cate Stillman, Katie Silcox, Siva Mohan, Tracee Stanley and many more.

Many women don’t realize how much they’ve neglected themselves until life slows down—when the kids leave or new seasons of life begin. They find themselves asking, “Where did I go? What’s next for me?”

Remember, you are worth it at every stage of life. If you’re ready to age radically, overcome pain, inflammation, digestive issues and/or become your own healer, or simply start a conversation, let’s connect.