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I am Araceli Valdes. I was born in the U.S. but for most of my childhood I was raised in Mexico. My wonderful Mexican mother is a brilliant cook and nutritionist and she raised me with the unique combination of traditional and healthy Mexican cuisine. I moved to Los Angeles after high school where I began a career in television both behind and in front of the camera. I'll never forget seeing the result of one particular photo session; I was shocked at the unhealthy, pudgy girl in the photographs and realized right then and there that I had become victim to an unhealthy lifestyle of bad eating and a lack of exercise and the only person I was harming was myself. I had strayed from the healthy choices my mother had taught me but I vowed to make a change. I began to eat the healthy way my mother taught me and added fun daily exercises. Soon I had lost 20 lbs. and most importantly I felt amazing and my self-esteem went through the roof! Little things that were unimaginable to do before like putting on a swimsuit in public or shop for new clothes I could not only do but I enjoyed doing them. It was unbelievable how many different areas of my life improved when I finally took control of my life and became the best I could be.

When people would ask me my secret to looking so good I would explain that I wasn't on a diet, I had adopted a new healthy, fun and energetic lifestyle that included wonderful traditional Mexican meals that are healthy and delicious! The more I talked to people about my new healthy lifestyle, including my good friend Adriana Yañez, we realized that Latin women everywhere could benefit from this vigorous way of life. Our research showed that Latin women have a high probability of Obesity and often turn to dangerous surgery to lose weight instead of healthy choices. So together, Adriana and I created Bellas Ellas so Latin women everywhere can get organized, get healthy and make the change in themselves that they've always dreamed about.


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