Transforming My Life: The Beginning of My Health Journey

The topic of health and maintaining a healthy lifestyle has always been challenging for me. While growing up, my mother did purchase fruit, and we did consume vegetables, but eating fruits and veggies often felt like a chore. My mother tried her best, preparing home-cooked meals for us most days, though she wasn't passionate about cooking. The meals we had were simply the recipes she learned as she grew up. She lacked extensive health knowledge, but did the best she could, and for that, I will always be grateful. I appreciate that we had cooked meals and that she instilled the idea that eating fruits and vegetables was important. Honestly, she planted the seed, and that was the beginning.

As I have developed into the woman I am today, I have built upon what she has instilled in me and advanced further. It is our responsibility to surpass and progress beyond our parents (or any loved one we grew up with). This is how generations evolve. Our loved ones raised us and imparted their knowledge, but becoming adults means we should go further and expand upon what we were taught. Life revolves around truth; if you pursue truth, you will discover it.

For me, vegetables were always a side dish, never the main star. This is a common misconception in many households. If you had asked me as a young woman whether I would ever stop eating meat, I would have firmly said no. Being a Latina, meat is deeply embedded in our cultural traditions. My husband also grew up in a household where fruits and vegetables were considered important, but they were always secondary, with meat and carbohydrates taking center stage. During my upbringing, meat was a staple, complemented by starchy sides like rice, potatoes, and pasta. When I got married, I maintained the same habits and recipes, incorporating very few vegetables. So, what changed? When did the transition start?

My older sister initiated the movement towards making healthier choices. However, I believe that influence and, at times, convenience can interfere, preventing us from achieving optimal health. Honestly, I still have a lot of room to improve, especially regarding carbs, but I have made significant changes. So, when did my journey start? Well, I began making changes as I started learning. My husband began by cutting out pork, then beef, which inspired me to follow suit (my husband has been my greatest influence, supporting and guiding me since I was 17). I started incorporating new vegetables into our meals and onto our plates, removing old biases and dislikes from my mind and adopting a new mindset. I also reduced my carb intake, though I haven't completely eliminated them yet (which is my next major change). I delved into learning and reading about health, and even started trying some home remedies. My husband was also learning, and we would share our knowledge, but we hadn't made significant changes yet. We were still reluctant to give up certain foods. So, while we added some healthy habits into our daily routines, it wasn't as effective because we continued eating foods that weren't good for us. The major change began in 2022. We started making lasting changes. We also began fasting for both health and spiritual reasons. We stopped eating certain foods and switched from white flour to whole wheat and whole grain for our carbs. We also eliminated many processed foods and stopped consuming refined sugars. I started cooking and baking more, creating healthier recipes through trial and error. My youngest son was born with food allergies, and although I didn’t realize it at first, it was a blessing in disguise. My son couldn't eat dairy, so our household completely switched, and we all gradually gave up dairy—this was one of our early changes. This also led me to experiment with recipes that included dairy-free options. Then came 2024 with the biggest and most fruitful change (both figuratively and literally), which was when we decided to give up meat entirely. Honestly, we had already reduced our consumption and knew it wasn't good for us, but after reading The Mucusless Diet Healing System by Arnold Ehret, we completely stopped eating meat. This was the best decision we made, and now my family is entirely plant-based. Our lives have completely blossomed, and it all began with making small changes one step at a time.

We feel incredible, and our health has significantly improved. We never understood how many ailments and health issues are linked to the food we consume. We didn't realize that many of the foods we once enjoyed and ate frequently were poisoning our bodies and minds. Now, we ensure to make mindful choices about what we eat and drink, and we also exercise regularly (which is another major step for me), achieving physical balance.

Why am I telling you this? To inspire you to realize that change begins the moment you start envisioning it. Small steps and minor adjustments can lead to lasting impacts. I used to be the person who would say, "I'm not ready," or "I'll start when the time is right." These are merely excuses, and believe me, I've used many. There will never be a perfect moment to start—just start. The right time is when you decide to change. This lifestyle shift not only enhanced my physical health but also my mental and spiritual well-being. My life transformed when I embraced TRUTH and earnestly sought it. Being connected to God means living in truth, and living in truth means applying it to every part of life. That's how we reached this point with our health; the moment my husband and I awakened and let God guide us, truth revealed itself, and we began discovering knowledge we hadn't known before. Jesus is the way, and we understand this now more than ever. Dive deeper into your learning and understanding, beyond what anyone can teach you. Start by questioning everything you know and seeking truth. Jesus says, "I am the Truth, the Way, and the Life. The only way to the Father is through Me." - John 14:6-7. This is more than just words. The teachings of Jesus hold many answers, and just know there is much to learn. Just seek the truth, and you will start finding the answers.

This marks the beginning of our health journey. In the upcoming posts, I will start sharing some of the insights I've gained. I will also keep providing recipes. I would love to connect with you, so please feel led to leave a comment or even subscribe to our page.  There is power in community, and that is what this page is all about.

I pray you find the answers as you continue on your journey.  Much love and blessings!