from there to here...

I don't think that I could fit the entire journey into one post...and it hasn't happened all at once...so I will share a little at a time, and if you're lucky...a recipe too. ;0)
For those who may be new here...
Each year around my birthday, since turning 35, I have done something to benefit my health/well being.
35 was attempting to run *fail*...raising my awareness of what I was putting into my body *didn't change much, just felt more guilt about it*
36 was an 11 day cleanse. My yearly blood work came back with low functioning thyroid...I was exhausted ALL of the time...I was having heart palpitations and still struggled with the acne I have had since hitting puberty. I was over weight and no matter what I tried, my body would not respond. So, I purchased a cleanse! :0) Detox was tough, I felt like I had the flu and could barely function for the first 3-4 days. After that, things improved...basically for 11 days, I consumed only fruits and vegetables...no coffee, sugar, grains...nada. Obviously, I lost weight...10lbs in less than 2 weeks. I felt amazing! That experience has changed everything. I felt lighter...had more energy...could feel my body responding to food and exercise in ways I had never felt before. Unfortunately, I still had babies going in and out of the hospital...so my own health and care was not a priority.
37 came and I again attempted running...success!!! I worked with a female runner and got some great tips...I had continued to lose weight, so I felt like a feather compared to when I had attempted it last. Along with the running came...a genuine effort of positive self talk. You know...just being as kind and encouraging to myself...as I am to anyone else. I found this to be HUGE in my ability to go further when running. So, things were going well...in fact, after making small changes to my diet, shedding a few more pounds, and taking some supplements...my thyroid function was within normal limits! Shortly after my birthday...I found a lump in my left breast. Having a strong family history of breast cancer, we were aggressive in finding out what might be going on.
Long story short...I spent ALL summer testing, feeling, biopsying, imaging, etc...to learn that the lump in my left breast was nothing, however...a mass in my right breast...that could not be palpated, was large and suspicious. I returned to a blog I had followed for 3yrs. It is a young woman in her 20's diagnosed with breast cancer...and after a short remission...it returned. Part of her strategy was to attack it with food.
This was intriguing to me! Obviously, I had learned a year ago, what a BIG difference food can make. I had never really taken time to look at food and disease though.
Needless to say, I was interested.
I didn't know what was going on in my body...and like most, the thought of significant change, terrified me.