Food, Sex, & Alcohol: A Piece of Danielle’s Story

At 11 years old Danielle was 5’3” and 200 pounds and by the time she got to high school she was hitting 245 and finally landing over 300 pounds in her 20s. Danielle’s journey to wellness hasn’t been easy, but it is encouraging to witness.

Her earliest memories are of her being the big girl. Growing up she had to wear the Pretty Plus clothes from Sears and from an early age she knew she was being held back or limited by her size— the clothes cost more and she was limited to what she could wear from a specific section of the store.

Food, Sex, and Alcohol became coping mechanisms for Danielle’s avoidance of some really hard things in her life. It took some very specific life circumstances to change her whole perspective on her wellness and finally demand better for herself.

Your Outsides Match Your Insides: A Journey of Faith, Food, and Transformation

When it comes to health and wellness, many of us find ourselves battling both the physical and emotional ties that hold us back. In this heartfelt reflection, I’m sharing my personal journey through weight struggles, food battles, and the spiritual awakening that changed my life. This is not just a story of transformation but a call to action for anyone who feels stuck and longs for holistic healing.

The Early Years: Growing Up “Pretty Plus”

From a young age, I was labeled. The girl who wore clothes from the “Pretty Plus” section of catalogs, who outgrew her peers in height and size, and whose life was shaped by these differences. Despite being an athlete and excelling in school, I carried a burden that felt like it was stitched into the fabric of who I was. My body was a constant source of frustration, yet I couldn’t grasp how deeply my relationship with food and self-image was affecting my life.

Food, Sex, Alcohol: The Silent Struggles

Like many, I sought comfort in the fleeting highs of food and other vices. It wasn’t until my mid-20s that I understood how closely food, sex, alcohol, and even our mental health are tied to the same pleasure receptors. I struggled silently, trying to fill voids that only deepened over time.

I hit rock bottom when my weight peaked, my body failed to cooperate, and my emotional well-being was shattered. Yet, it was in these moments of despair that I began to hear God’s whispers calling me toward change.

A Wake-Up Call: My Father’s Health Crisis

Watching my father—a man who taught me to love the outdoors and cherish the simple beauty of life—undergo quintuple bypass surgery was the turning point I didn’t expect. Seeing the aftermath of his health issues sparked a realization: I was heading down the same path, but I didn’t have to. God gives us agency over our choices, and I knew I had to take responsibility for my own health.

Finding Healing Through Faith and Nutrition

True change began when I admitted I couldn’t do it alone. I sought professional nutritional support and gave up control—something I had clung to out of fear and pride. Through learning to balance my macros (carbs, proteins, and fats), I began to see food not as a punishment or reward but as a tool to honor my body.

The breakthrough came when I saw the parallels between my newfound boundaries with food and God’s boundaries in Scripture. Just as He sets limits for our good, I found freedom within the structure of balanced nutrition. This wasn’t just about losing weight—it was about transforming my mindset and glorifying God through the care of my body.

The Mountaintop Moment

In 2018, I climbed a mountain in Lake Tahoe weighing over 300 pounds. It wasn’t easy—physically or emotionally—but reaching the summit was symbolic of the journey I was on. I left the shame and pain of my past at the top of that mountain, determined to live a life of purpose and strength.

Creating Crying in My Cheesecake: A Mission to Serve

Out of my own struggles and victories, I created Crying in My Cheesecake, a space to support others who feel stuck in their health journeys. Whether it’s through the Embrace Program, Wilderness of Wellness, or 1:1 Concierge Care, my goal is to help others take back control of their health in a faith-based, no-nonsense way.

Through these programs, I guide women to:

Break free from generational health patterns.
Reconnect with their bodies.
Build sustainable habits rooted in faith and science.
Experience the healing power of community and personalized care.

The Invitation to Transform

If you resonate with my story, know this: you don’t have to do it alone. Whether you’re seeking to heal physically, emotionally, or spiritually, there’s a path forward. It starts with taking the first step.

Embrace Program: A transformational program for women ready to prioritize their health starting this January.
Wilderness of Wellness: A supportive, faith-based community for growth and accountability.
Concierge Clinical Care: Personalized, high-touch health solutions tailored to your unique needs.