Deep down, I am a fat kid. My thighs want chocolate cake, my abs need greens. Being healthy and happy in my own skin has never come easy to me. I've never been accused of being too thin, my body likes to attack itself and deep, deep down if I could bathe in Pop Tarts, I would. Bowls and bowls and bowls of Organic cereal used to be my way of "eating healthy". But, after being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and choking down a bottle of pills a day just to be able to function, let alone compete as a D1 athlete at UCLA, I called bullshit on modern medicine and began researching my disease on my own. I quickly discovered that my diet was far from healthy and actually contributing to, if not causing my disease. I changed my diet and within days, every RA symptom I had was gone. I went on to dedicate my twenties to experimenting with my body when it came to eating, working out and finding a goddam way to be happy in my skin. When I was told I probably wouldn't get pregnant on my own, I opened up my witchcraft-ery research lab, tweaked my diet again, and boom, preggers! So this really is a story about bitch slapping fat, disease and infertility through food and love. Our food is medicine, and our love for ourselves is the most potent tonic of all. I consider this to be my book of spells to share with any beezy who will listen what I have learned over the past ten years. This is what I eat, why I eat it, and how three months after my first child my abs are better than ever. I have included a three week Gut Check so you can start to nourish yourself from the inside out. As well as a twelve week "gym anywhere" workout plan based on bodyweight movements that require no fancy equipment. I believe being healthy and happy should be simpler than the system makes it out to be. For me, it is as easy as eating good foods from the Earth, healthy animals, and finding a way to laugh everyday. Life's too short to take it too seriously. x to the ohhhh Whitters Whitney Benjamin, NASM CPT