My Journey

I Thought I Was Doing Okay… Until I Wasn’t

For most of my life, I thought about health the way many of us do. You go about your life, try to make reasonably good choices, and deal with health problems when they arise.

But as I got older, I began looking at things differently.

I had experienced my share of health challenges over the years, including a diagnosis of kidney cancer in 2015. Thankfully, surgery was successful, and in 2025 I celebrated an incredible milestone—10 years cancer-free.

That experience alone gave me a reason to appreciate my health. But it wasn’t until later that I really began to understand just how valuable feeling well had become to me.

Something Needed to Change

Over time, I found myself dealing with things I didn’t want to simply accept as an inevitable part of getting older.

My weight had crept up. My blood pressure became a concern. My energy, sleep, digestion and overall sense of well-being weren’t where I wanted them to be.

I could have looked at my age and said, Well, this is just what happens.

I didn’t want to do that.

I wanted to know what I could change.

That question sent me down a road of learning—about nutrition, ingredients, lifestyle, movement, supplements, metabolic health and the everyday choices we make without giving them much thought.

And the more I learned, the more questions I had.

I Started Experimenting With My Own Health

I didn’t change everything overnight.

I started paying attention.

I began looking more closely at what I was eating and how different foods made me feel. I experimented with different approaches to nutrition. I became more intentional about walking and strength training. I paid attention to my sleep, my energy, my appetite and how my body responded.

Eventually, I made a significant change to the way I eat, moving toward a very low-carbohydrate, animal-based way of eating.

What surprised me wasn’t simply the number on the scale.

I noticed changes in my appetite. I felt less bloated. My energy felt steadier. I was sleeping better. And I began feeling more in control of my relationship with food.

That experience reinforced something that has become very important to me:

Pay attention to your own body.

We’re all different. What works beautifully for one person may not work for another, and I’m not here to tell anyone that my way has to become their way.

I’m simply sharing what I’ve tried, what I’ve learned, what has helped me—and sometimes, what hasn’t.

I Became a Much More Careful Consumer

My journey also changed the way I shop.

I started reading labels more carefully. I began questioning ingredients I had never thought twice about before. I researched supplements before buying them. I became more interested in where my food came from and what I was putting on and around my body.

And I discovered something frustrating:

Finding good information isn’t always easy.

There are extraordinary claims everywhere. One person tells you something is wonderful for you while another says it’s terrible. A product can sound miraculous until you start digging into what’s actually in it or the evidence behind the claims.

I’ve bought things that I loved.

I’ve bought things that didn’t impress me at all.

And I’ve learned that “natural,” “healthy,” and “wellness” on a label don’t automatically make something a good choice.

That lesson became part of the inspiration for this website.

Why I Created Great Wealth is Health

At this stage of my life, my definition of wealth has changed.

Of course financial security matters. Having a comfortable home matters. Being able to enjoy the things you’ve worked for matters.

But none of it means quite as much if you don’t have the health to enjoy it.

That is why I believe great wealth really is health.

I created this website as a place to share what I’m learning along the way—the foods, products, ideas and lifestyle changes I find interesting or useful, along with my own experiences.

I’m not a doctor, and this isn’t a prescription for how anyone else should live. It’s one woman’s journey toward becoming more informed, more intentional and more involved in her own health.

And at 65, I don’t consider this the end of my health story.

I feel like I’m just getting started.

Come Along With Me

There will always be something new to learn, something worth questioning, and probably a few things I’ll try that make me wonder what on earth I was thinking. 😂

I’ll share those too.

Because this site isn’t about pretending I’ve figured everything out.

It’s about learning, experimenting, asking better questions and making thoughtful choices that help us take better care of the bodies—and the lives—we’ve been given.

Welcome to my journey. And maybe something I discover along the way will help you with yours.