Welcome to Health and Healing: Real Wellness for Real Life

Learning to Heal in a Body That’s Been Through It All

Let’s get something straight: I’ve spent most of my life thinking I was doing health wrong.

Why? Because I was an hourglass-shaped woman trying to fit into a society that tells us flat stomachs are the definition of fit. I tried every fad diet. Every “quick fix.” If someone swore it worked, I gave it a shot. I researched health and nutrition to find a more effective approach. But no matter what, I would never fit the world's mold of health.

In the military, I rode a bicycle to work over the hills of Roosevelt Roads. I was an avid runner. When someone wanted to go to a Jazzercise class, I was there. I didn't drink, but I loved to dance. I was at the club every night dancing for a minimum of four hours. Bartenders always had my water waiting for me. We had to do PT tests regularly. I could do 200 sit-ups in 2 minutes, run a mile in 7 minutes and 25 seconds, and do 19 push-ups (not my strong suit). At the time, I was 36-26-36, but only 5'3". But the military had me on the fat boy program because of my hourglass shape.

After my second child, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. The pounds crept on even when I was barely eating. I had no appetite, but my body held onto everything like it was preparing for famine. One day, a guy I worked with—who happened to be a personal trainer—offered to help. He told me to track what I ate for a week. When he looked at my chart, his jaw dropped. He thought I was overweight because I was overeating. But that wasn’t it at all. My body wasn’t working the way it should.

That’s when I joined Weight Watchers—not to lose weight, but to re-learn how to eat. I was afraid of gaining more, and I didn’t know what “normal” even looked like anymore.

As I had more children, my weight continued to increase. The thyroid issues made losing weight nearly impossible. And sitting all day for work didn’t help. I went through the same cycle for years—diet, lose, gain, repeat. It felt like my body and I were at war. Funny thing is that everyone looks at you and says you're not trying.

Then cancer hit.

Best way to exercise is to go have fun!

What Cancer Taught Me About Health (That No Diet Ever Did)

When I got diagnosed with cancer, I thought I already knew everything about nutrition, vitamins, and what was “healthy.” But cancer changes everything.

Suddenly, I wasn’t just eating to look good—I was eating to stay alive.

I studied my bloodwork like a medical student. I wanted to know how to feed my body based on it's needs. I stopped worrying about how fat I was and how I needed to lose weight. When chemo stripped me of nutrients, I learned how to eat foods that replenished my body—even if I couldn’t taste them, even if I wanted to throw up, even if I was too tired.

Health wasn't about losing weight anymore. It was about staying on this earth.

Healing Isn't Linear—It's Personal

I don’t always eat like I should. I still battle sugar, cravings, and inconsistency. But I focus on whole foods as much as I can. I try to move, even if it’s just a few steps around the room.

When doing Chemo, they recommended that you move every 2 hours, so I did. Even when I could barely stand. Even when I had to use a walker, a cane, or a rollator. Even when I had a mass so painful that moving a toe sent pain stabbing up my spine. I moved when I could. And when I couldn’t, I promised myself I’d try again tomorrow.

I've had bones fused. I've had cancer return. I've had medications that mess with my joints, my blood sugar, and my cholesterol. I’ve sat in more doctors’ offices than I can count.

But still—I move. I try. I keep going.

Why I Created the Health and Healing Blog

This blog is for people like you and me—the ones trying to figure out how to live better in bodies that feel broken or worn out. Not for perfection. Not for six-packs. Not to impress anybody.

This is for the survivors. The ones with chronic pain, stubborn weight, or a medical history too long for a clipboard. The ones who are tired of being told to “just eat less and move more.”

We are not lazy. We are not hopeless. And we are not alone.

What to Expect Here

Every month, we’ll take on a different real-life health topic—not the fluffy stuff from health magazines, but what real healing looks like when your body has been through a lot. Some posts will dig into science. Some will walk you through personal lessons. We just want to eat a little better and move a little more to be healthy. Some will help you eat better, move smarter, or feel stronger—physically or mentally.

Here’s what we’re not going to do:

• Judge anyone’s body

• Pretend there’s one right way to heal or move

• Ignore how complex medical journeys really are

  
  

Here’s what we are going to do:

• Talk honestly about health after cancer, after injury, after weight gain

• Share clean eating strategies that don’t require perfection

• Talk about mindset shifts that help when life gets hard

• Invite stories from other survivors who are healing too

  
  

I am where you are. I am 58 and I want to do the best I can. Cheat on purpose from time to time. But be the healthiest I can with the body I have. If I plan to live to 93, then I need to keep working toward that goal through eating, drinking and moving.

Need to Talk? You’re Not Alone Here.

This isn’t just a blog. It’s part of a bigger mission:

Life survivors helping life strugglers.

If you’re hurting, confused, or unsure what your next step should be, you don’t have to do it alone. You can:

• Share your story in the comments

• Talk to someone right now through our [Neighbor Talk] service (casual chat, no pressure)

• Get goal-based help with [Next Step Coaching] (SMART goals, support, strategy)

• Join a group

  
  

Whatever you’re carrying, you don’t have to carry it by yourself.

One Last Thing…

You might not feel like moving today. You might not want to cook something healthy. You might be fighting fatigue, fear, or frustration. That’s okay.

Just don’t give up on your healing. Not yet.

Because healing isn’t about doing it perfectly. It’s about showing up for yourself anyway.

Welcome to Health and Healing. Let’s walk this path together.