My journey towards Wellness began 19 years ago. You see, I have always  loved working out and eating, especially sweets. As I aged, I understood that  exercise alone will not keep me fit and healthy in the long run. 

I came to America 22 years ago, and noticed that food tasted differently than  in my native country, Romania. I gained 30 pounds in my first year in America,  despite my regular workouts. At that time, I did not know anything about  genetically modified food or excitotoxins (food additives such as aspartame, MSG,  food coloring, and preservatives). 

I soon realized that the food I was eating contributed to my weight gain. I  started learning about food and made changes to my diet. My body changed, lost  the weight, and soon enough, nutrition and health become a hobby.

My life journey made me pay close attention to the way I deal with stress,  eat, and exercise. After losing my both parents to cancer and a few miscarriages, I  gave birth to my son. After a few months, I noticed that my baby’s development  was different than other kids his age. My son was diagnosed with autism at the age  of 3. Due to his condition, I learnt about how certain foods affect the brain, mood  and behavior.  

As a parent of a child with special needs, I experienced a lot of stress and  lack of sleep. I developed stomach issues and had a few health scares along the  way. As a result, I had to make changes to my diet and implement new habits to  stay healthy. The most valuable learning experience for me was not just what to do,  but also WHAT NOT TO DO in order to keep healthy, energized, and recover  properly, especially after workouts and stressful seasons. It brings me great joy to  help others by sharing what I learnt to get well. I believe that nutrition and exercise  play an important role in our health, but there is so much more involved in  experiencing true wellness. 

For the last 20 years, I have been learning about Nutrition, Health, Wellness,  Exercise and Psychology. However, the most transformative study was reading the  Bible. It changed the way I think and live (according to what God says in his  word). There are many things we can not control in life (such as the death of a  parent, accident, autism). But we can control the way we live, eat and react to  events. Most of the time, it is not what happens to us. But the way we chose to  respond to what happens to us. With God’s help and through my faith in Him, I  overcame every obstacle in my life. 

I believe that our health is a gift and it is our responsibility to take care of  our bodies. “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go  well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” (3 John 1:2)