Trauma doesn’t just live in our memories—it lingers in our bodies, shaping how we heal, how we breathe, and how we carry pain. In this episode, Alyssa explores the way trauma shows up in recovery, from survival mode disguised as exhaustion to the fierce resilience of a heart that refuses to quit.

Through raw storytelling, gentle reflection, and her signature sparkle, Alyssa reminds us that setbacks aren’t failure, survival isn’t weakness, and healing is never linear. If you’ve ever felt like your body is carrying more than you can explain, this episode is for you.

✨ Because even in a body of trauma, there lives a heart of fire.

Pre-op diets aren’t just about shakes, protein, and cutting carbs—they’re about grief, doubt, and a complete reshaping of your relationship with food. In this episode, Alyssa gets real about the rituals and comfort foods she’s had to let go of, the late-night doubts that creep in, and the complicated mix of loss and hope that defines life before and after surgery. With raw honesty, a little humor, and her signature sparkle, she explores why food grief is so real, how identity questions sneak in, and why it’s okay to hold both fear and faith in the same hand.

Medical hoops, insurance nightmares, and the weight of grief collide in this deeply honest episode. Alyssa shares the painful truth of not being cleared for surgery after her psychiatric evaluation and the raw conversation with Dr. Squires that forced her to face the walls she’s built around her hope. Through stories of endless red tape, emotional exhaustion, and the ache of loss, she explores what it means to carry too much—and how sometimes a “not yet” isn’t rejection, but protection. With her signature mix of vulnerability and sparkle, Alyssa reminds us that survival isn’t weakness—it’s sacred, and that even when the hoops never end, choosing to keep going is its own kind of victory.