My food journey

I've been raised on meats, veggies, nuts, and different plant oils for as long as I can remember. I mean, my first food was avocado! As I grew up and started making my own decisions, I decided to try different foods. So, I tried pizza, ice cream, pasta—stuff that was NEVER in our house. You know, like Cheetos and Ritz? Well, every time I ate one of those, I realized exactly why I was raised the way I was.

Gluten—the stuff in bread, baked goods, and even seasonings—made me throw up. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. No joke. Dairy? That made me get a lingering cold and even made my ears bleed... I know, gross. Once I figured out what foods bothered me, I cut them out. But even after eliminating gluten and dairy, I still got eczema! Talk about frustrating.

My mom (who's a health coach, by the way) talked to our family’s health doctor for advice. Turns out, I had to take a break from intense workouts and stick to light exercise—yoga, walking, etc. No weight training, no high-impact workouts. On top of that, I had to cut out high-lectin foods. Do you know what a lectin is? They're in EVERYTHING. And in large amounts, they can be harmful. So that meant no garlic, mayo, beans, asparagus, potatoes, sugar... and the list went on.

I was pretty discouraged for a while, but I stuck with it—and my eczema disappeared. Now, I’m careful about what I eat and make sure not to overdo my workouts. My focus? Veggies, meats, and healthy fats like coconut oil and avocado! Of course, I slip up once in a while, but that’s okay. I’m trying. And don’t forget to treat yourself once in a while—my pick? Cottage cheese ice cream. Mmm, that hits the spot!

At the end of the day, if you truly love your life, you MUST take care of both your physical and eternal self. Are you willing to do what it takes to live your life to the fullest? That’s a question only you can answer.