My Wellness Story – Part 1

This story highlights how an unhealthy lifestyle can contribute to unwanted weight gain and its impact on overall well-being.

My Road to Food Blogging

Hey friends and fellow healthy food lovers! I meant to share how I started my food blog and nutrition coaching business a long time ago, and now it feels like the perfect moment.

I’m sure many of you can relate to this – the decision to leave a traditional job and step into the unknown to create something of your own. For me, that meant launching my blog and nutrition coaching business.

I know I’m not alone in this journey. For years, I felt that I could do something meaningful on my own, something that would help others live healthier lives. The only problem? I wasn’t sure what that “something” was. You know that inner voice that tells you you’re meant for more, that you could do so much more than what you’re doing now? Keep reading to learn how I got to where I am today.

My Life Before Nena’s Wellness Corner

I am a scientist with extensive experience working in laboratories, holding a bachelor’s and master’s in Biochemical and Chemical Engineering, as well as a PhD in Biochemistry.

I was fortunate to be involved in many exciting projects, with my PhD being the most memorable. I worked with RNA and DNA samples, studying genetic diseases.

I was an international student in the U.S., and in the spring of 2008, I finished my master’s degree and started looking for my first job. For those old enough to remember, this was during the recession, and as an international student, I couldn’t easily find a job. I applied to countless positions, and after months of searching, I finally landed an interview at a company 92 miles (148 km) away from my house. My husband had a stable job, and we weren’t ready to move, so I, being young and determined, decided to take the job and commute daily.

Looking back, it’s probably not a decision I’d make today, but my thinking was simple at the time—everyone has to start somewhere. I liked the job itself, but the commute was another story. In addition to the long commute, life differed significantly from the typical college experience. As a student, you have a mix of classes, study time, and hanging out with friends in college. And if you went out the night before and didn’t feel like attending an 8 a.m. class, you could easily skip it. But that’s not how it works with a 9-to-5 job—you must show up, no matter what. 

How Unhealthy Habits Can Affect Your Health

My days at my new job were long, starting before dawn and ending after dark, with little sleep in between. I had little time to cook, so we relied on quick meals. We didn’t have children yet, so there was no pressure of that sort yet to cook healthier meals. 

I’d wake up around 5:30 a.m., get ready, and quickly make a sandwich—usually peanut butter and jelly—or lunch meat and cheese between two slices of bread. I’d pack a large mug of coffee and leave by 6:15 a.m. The commute was about one hour and 45 minutes in one direction, so I’d get to work by 8 a.m. And yes, I’d eat breakfast and drink coffee in the car during the drive. Not very smart, I know. But what else could I do while driving this long distance? 

I’d either pack something from home or grab a sandwich from the grocery store near my work for lunch. And just so you know, I worked in the middle of nowhere, so healthy restaurants and stores were nonexistent. After countless cups of coffee to keep me awake in the lab, I’d hit the road at 4:30 p.m., aiming to get home by around 6:15 p.m. on a good day.

Was I in the mood to cook dinner after all that? Not! And my husband wasn’t much of a cook either, so we’d eat whatever. I did try to cook on the weekends to have meals ready for the week, but back then, my knowledge of meal planning and healthy choices was pretty limited. Yes, there were plenty of times we relied on store-bought “healthy” frozen meals. Trust me, I won’t get into the details of their healthiness—they’re not, and they can never be compared to a home-cooked meal.

So, What Happened to My Health?

Today, I realize everything I described earlier was a perfect recipe for chaos. I started gaining weight, something I had never experienced before. While I’ve always struggled with weight around my waistline, it never disappeared. Being petite, any extra weight there made it even more noticeable.

I knew something had to change with a lack of sleep, unhealthy eating, and a sedentary lifestyle (in the car and my lab and office). I dove into researching fitness and healthy eating, buying countless wellness and recipe books. 

With my background in Biochemical Engineering, I already knew a lot about the food industry—how food is chemically processed, how shelf life is extended, and how additives are used in almost everything we consume. At the time, I didn’t think much of it. It was just chemistry—interesting, but not something I worried about. After all, these additives were designed to make our food last longer, cook faster, and taste better.

What I know now is quite different. Many of those chemicals are making us sick. My journey began when I realized I needed to change my habits, and it’s still ongoing as I expand my knowledge and improve my lifestyle. Before I got into nutrition, I viewed food like an engineer or chemist—fascinated by all the chemical bonds and changes we could make to improve its appearance, texture, and shelf life rather than appreciating its natural state and using it to our advantage.

Halfway through my two-year work commute, my mindset changed. I learned many tricks to adapt to my long drives, such as meal prepping. For example, I’d cut and prep fruits like apples, pears, grapes, and berries, always keeping them on hand in the car and my office (eating in the lab is not recommended 😀).

I also discovered my love for smoothies. I’d prep all the ingredients the night before, blend them in the morning, and bring them to work to sip on something healthy instead of reaching for a sugary snack from the vending machine. It took time to master all this, but I still follow the same routine today. And it’s not just me—my husband and I are teaching our three children to do the same.

This experience inspired me to pursue a PhD in Biochemistry to understand the subject better. So, I quit my job and went back to school, diving into biochemistry research and exploring nutrition and fitness on my own. Find more in the next post…