After years of neglecting my well-being, I’m on a mission to improve my health. Discover my story and learn how we can get healthier together.

Yesterday marked 10 years since my mom passed away. It was rough, but I got through it and gained some perspective that should help me finally make the changes I’ve been putting off for the last decade.

I’m 41 (42 this month), and it’s time for a change. Despite a lifestyle that avoids the typically pitfalls of going out, drinking, or drugs, I feel the weight of my years, only worsened by a decade of unaddressed grief and stress.

Starting a Health Transformation

As a certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach (INHC), I’ve spent years learning about holistic health practices, but I’ve struggled to apply this knowledge to my own life consistently. Now, I’m committed to finally implementing what I’ve learned and sharing the journey with you.

Grief and Motivation

My journey is also deeply personal. My mom, who suffered from obesity and metabolic diseases like diabetes, passed away 10 years ago. More than once, she expressed her hope that I would not follow the same path.

Considering my age, weight, blood sugar, and cholesterol numbers, it’s now or never. Either I fix these issues while I’m still pretty young, or I deal with worsening health challenges and likely meet an early end like she did (she was only 67).

Honoring my mother’s memory, I’m motivated to make the necessary changes to my lifestyle that she always hoped for me. This commitment adds a layer of purpose to my health transformation.

My Current Reality

I currently juggle a day job that I honestly never liked, with a draining 6 hour per week commute that greatly adds to my stress. This dissatisfaction, coupled with my lifestyle of poor sleep and chronic stress, has kept me feeling stuck and unable to make the changes I long for in my life.

Part of my journey is finding the courage to quit my day job and pursue a career that offers a better work-life balance and aligns with my passions.

A Wakeup Call

Recently, I joined a 6-week health coaching group. The first task was to fill out a food journal and send it to her for review and feedback. Procrastination took over initially—partly due to a hectic week and partly due to the dread of revealing my diet. That is until she sent me a DM on Slack, and I knew I had to get it done.

When I finally documented my intake, it was a huge wakeup call. My eating patterns reflected a cycle of stress and neglect: insufficient nourishment during the workday, followed by evening binges driven by desperation.

A Day in the Life

Let’s talk about hydration and sleep—both foreign concepts in my current routine. With my commute (6 hours a week!) and job draining me, I barely manage 4-6 hours of sleep on workdays, pushing me closer to burnout with each passing week.

Starting Fresh

Despite a late start last night and only four hours of sleep, today marks the first day of healthier eating. I’ve set a personal goal to gradually increase my nightly sleep and regularly update this blog (and TikTok) with my progress and insights.

This blog will be our shared space—a place to explore the challenges and victories of improving our health together. I encourage you to share your stories, as well. What challenges are you facing, and what steps are you taking to overcome them? Let’s motivate each other and grow healthier, one day at a time.

Snapshot of Day 1:

• Health Concerns: Obesity, Prediabetes, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
• Height: 5’6″
• Starting Weight: 261 lbs.
• Fasting Blood Sugar: 99 mg/dL
• A1C: 6% (High), Estimated Average Glucose: 126 mg/dL
• Cholesterol: 278 (High), HDL: 55, LDL: 223 (High)

What does your Day 1 look like? What is one change you’d like to implement right away? Share in the comments below or on my TikTok, and let’s support each other on this journey to a healthier life.