As I continued my health journey, I became convinced that detoxification was an important piece of improving my overall wellness. I completed a six-week sauna detox program that included daily exercise, supplements, oils, and up to 4.5 hours in the sauna each day, while also following what I believed was a healthy diet. Despite my efforts, I saw limited results and later discovered through functional medicine testing that some of the supplements I was taking were poor quality or not being properly utilized by my body. Comprehensive lab testing revealed several underlying issues, including food sensitivities, high oxalate levels, mold toxicity, Candida overgrowth, heavy metal toxicity, hormonal imbalances, vitamin D deficiency, and an unhealthy Omega-3 to Omega-6 ratio. These findings allowed me to make targeted dietary and lifestyle changes and complete specific protocols for Candida, mold, heavy metals, and parasite cleansing. While I initially lost 10–15 pounds during a detox program, I eventually hit frustrating plateaus and responded by exercising harder, which often left me exhausted and sick. Through additional detoxification protocols, I ultimately lost nearly 40 pounds, but my drive to achieve even greater physical results led me to overtrain and ignore signs of stress. This contributed to increasing anxiety, fatigue, and eventually a significant physical and emotional crash that resulted in medication use, depression, and loss of motivation. After working through those challenges and coming off the medications, I gained a much deeper understanding of the importance of balancing recovery, hormones, stress, and lifestyle factors. Today, I better understand the root causes behind my symptoms, including the role of elevated estrogen, adrenal dysfunction, and caffeine's impact on anxiety and chronic fatigue, giving me valuable insight into how to support long-term health in a more sustainable way.