Hey, how ya doin? I’m Cherie – wife, mom of four, and the creator of GHCL!
Back in 1999, my husband started losing weight at an alarming rate. He also began experiencing anxiety (which he never had before) and other symptoms. It was so bad, some of his family members thought he was on crack.
Later, he was diagnosed with Grave’s disease (hyperthyroidism) and that’s when our journey to wellness began… well, his.
Me? I wanted NO parts of it because I was very comfortable eating the way we had been.
But after hearing more about the connection between dietary choices, poor bowel health, and sickness; I decided to stop being stubborn and start (gradually) making changes.
Another motivation for change was seeing my mother, grandmother and aunts suffering many of the same diseases as one another and I realized there was a pattern I did NOT want to be part of.
More on that in a bit, but first…
What’s Get Healthy Clean And Lean (GHCL) About?
“Improve your health one day… one step… one bite at a time”
I came up with that concept because, although I USED to subscribe to a very ‘restrictive’ way of eating; I’ve since come to grips with the fact that there is just TOO much conflicting information out there.
But despite all the varying opinions & theories by all the “experts”, one thing can’t be argued…
Your body needs proper nutrition & balance in order to function at peak performance
Therefore, this site is all about helping you get on the path to better health & wellness, starting at some very bare bones basics and WITHOUT preaching any one particular way of eating as being “the only way”.
On A Personal Note
Our journey to getting healthier began with vegetarian, vegan, and raw vegan – eating either exclusively or primarily uncooked, plant-based foods – the latter of which we practiced for about 5 years.
I became a certified Raw Food Chef under the tutelage of Raw Food Chef, Author & Teacher, Alissa Cohen and I taught classes in my home and in various facilities.
While I no longer practice that (exclusively raw) way of life, I’m still a strong advocate for healthy living… to the best of one’s ability.
Unfortunately, despite my training and advice, I wasn’t able to help my own family members.
I lost my mother, grandmother (her mother) and one of my aunts.
Prior to my aunt’s death, she had BOTH of her legs amputated due to complications with her weight and her diabetic condition. She also suffered from colon-related issues which led to her wearing a colostomy bag.
See how SERIOUS things can get if you don’t take care of yourself?
Sickness & disease does NOT have to be a ‘death sentence’, nor does it “have to” accompany getting older. But at the same token… please don’t take it for granted.
The key is that you must NOT wait until things get bad or worse!