A journey to better myself

I embarked on a journey to better myself - mind, body, and soul - back in November of 2021. It all began with a phone call at work, one that left me stunned. It was my gynecologist on the line, revealing that my blood work indicated I was prediabetic. The immediate recommendation was Metformin, a prospect that sent shockwaves through me. Deep down, I was aware that this possibility loomed, considering my family history - my mother, brother, and an uncle had all battled with diabetes. My mixed heritage - Hawaiian, Chinese, Filipino, German - further stacked the odds against me.

With 16 years in the pharmacy world, I was determined to not live my life reliant on taking a pill every day for the rest of my life. Recalling my pre-diabetes certification course, I knew the key was to shed 5-10% of my body weight, roughly translating to 12-24 pounds. But here's the thing - I had tried and failed multiple times before. This time, I was determined to decide my own destiny.

I did something different. I started talking - openly and candidly - about my diagnosis and goals with the people in my life. With most of them immersed in healthcare, ranging from EMTs to nurses and pharmacists, the advice started flowing in. It was a conversation with my nursing colleagues that first introduced me to the concept of a 10-day green smoothie cleanse. Skeptic about the drastic results of the cleanse, I dove deep into my own research. And that was the day, only days before the year was coming to an end, did I make a commitment to myself to make a change.

Why the middle of the holiday season, you ask? Well, excuses had been my lifelong companion. And I was tired of them. In the start of week one, Day 3 and 4 were touted as the toughest. The detoxing and flushing out the remnants of my guilty indulgences - my personal weakness, Hot Cheetos, and the daily fast food fixes.

Funny enough, my tough days began even before Day 1 ended, culminating in a brutal headache that greeted me on the morning of Day 3. Yet, despite the struggle, something shifted. My skin began to clear, I felt invigorated, and an energy I had forgotten existed coursed through me. And yes, there was a cheat meal - short rib tamales that extended my cleanse by an extra day. But after the initial hiccups, things smoothed out. I shed 17 pounds in that initial period, and the momentum didn't stop.

Fast forward nearly two years, and the scale shows a 50-pound victory. But this journey was about more than just weight. It was the catalyst that set me on a path to become my best self, my mind, body, and soul.

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