Candice Witek is a wellness expert, holistic nutritionist, plant based chef, corporate wellness architect and certified health & Wellness coach based in Manhattan Beach, California.

Flourish With Candice grew out of Candice’s passion to first heal herself then help others live happier healthier lives.

“It all started a couple weeks after my birthday in September of 2012. I recently moved to sunny Southern California with my husband, Brandon, my 5 year old daughter, 3 year old daughter and 6 month old son. As you can imagine life was extremely busy and full of excitement, or should I say chaos!

We just got settled into our new house, were working on getting the girls acclimated to a new school and getting my interior design business rolling again and life back to normal. I always nursed my babies as long as I could, and this time was no different, except Gabriel kept acting very strange when I nursed him on my right breast. Eventually he would not nurse on that side and kicked and bite and screamed at me when I tried to feed him. It took 2 weeks of this before I realized he was trying to tell me something.  I immediately called the doctor. I thought I had a breast infection. After seeing my Ob/Gyn, she suggested I see a specialist and referred me to the Pink Lotus Breast Center in Beverly Hills. I went the following week for an ultrasound and biopsy. The doctor said the lumps were likely related to breast feeding and they would call me in a week. The next day I received a call from Dr. Kristi Funk, the director of the center.  She explained I had some abnormal cells and I needed to return for a bigger biopsy.

On September 24, 2012 at 3pm, I sat waiting in an examination room with my husband when Dr. Funk entered the room.  Her demeanor was serious, she had a serious look of concern.  She cut straight to the chase and told me I had Breast Cancer!

I screamed and cried and asked if I was going to die! All I saw were my babies faces in my head and I could not bear to think they would have to go on living without me. It was the worst thing I could have ever imagined.  Then I got mad! I was only 33 years old, I thought I was healthy.  I exercised and didn’t overindulge in bad behaviors.  How could this be?

On my way home before I could look my children in the eye, I stopped at the beach for a chance at some peace.  I walked down to the water, sat there on the sand and thought and thought and prayed and prayed.  It was then I realized that we have choices in life.  We can choose to be grateful and live life in happiness, or not, and lose all the precious gifts we have been given. I decided then and there that I was going to research and educate myself in every possible way to help myself heal, Physically, Mentally, and Emotionally!  I was in charge, and I promised I would make the changes necessary to Flourish and Survive! The rest was up to God but I wasn’t ready to die.” -Candice Witek

Through her education in the science of nutrition, emotional & psychology health Candice connects with clients and corporations to facilitate real change. When Candice a mother of 3 small children was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer at age 33, her world was crashing down around her. Feeling out of control and desperately wanting to regain her health and wellness she dove head first into the science of Human Nutrition, psychology of the mind + body connection and created 5 FUNdamentals of a Flourishing life.  Guided by a practical optimistic approach, Candice helps clients improve their health, achieve goals and develop sustainable habits to live a healthy and balanced life.

Candice is extremely passionate about human nutrition and emotional health & wellness. Propelled by the desire to help her clients, and her own personal health journey, she studies the latest research, evaluates theories and reads just about everything she can get her hand on. Most importantly, she uses that knowledge to make individualized recommendations for her clients.

Candice has a true passion for cooking that started in her grandmother's kitchen as a child. She believes in the power of real food, real ingredients and a clean diet. Her kitchen is constantly messy and busy!  Candice loves creating tasty, clean, planet focused nutrient-dense recipes and dishes. She loves teaching others how to have success in the kitchen. Her recipes are kid-tested and approved and will get the whole family eating healthier.

Before starting her Health & Wellness business, she worked in finance & advertising for Fortune 500 companies like Goldman Sachs, Barclays Global Investors , J. Walter Thompson and eventually moved into interior architecture working with many high profile and celebrity clients. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California and completed her international health coach certification through Institute for Integrative Nutrition.  She rounded out her education with a number of other Certifications such as Plant Based Professional Chef through Roubxe Culinary School, Food, Mood and Pscyhlogy through UCLA. Candice is a contributor for numerous health, wellness and lifestyle publications such as ABC News LA wellness expert contributer, Lionsgate entertainment wellness coach, St. John’s Hospital, USC Norris Cancer Hospital among others. To learn more about where Candice has been seen (CLICK HERE)

Fast forward 6 years, Candice is flourishing in body, mind and spirit. My Family without your support I would have crumbled. I love you!

In May of 2015 I unfortunately experienced a recurrence of my cancer, while that was at first a devastating revelation it also further advanced my determination to survive and flourish. I dove head first into more self reflection and what I found out was I now needed to conquer my mind. Stress, fear, anxiety, loss and sadness needed to be coped with and strategies needed to be found. I went through the necessary treatments both of western and eastern medicines and I rebuilt myself again. I am currently enjoying sharing my path to mental awareness and coping strategies for all of life's challenging times.

Its been over 3 years and I'm feeling better than ever. Not only am I cancer free, but I am FLOURISHING! My new head of hair is beautiful, and my skin hasn’t looked this good since I was 20.  After all those years, struggling to lose weight, I am now 35 pounds lighter. Am I starving? NO! Do I deprive myself of anything I really want? NO!  What I realized is pretty simple. A positive attitude is essential for the ultimate function of your body as a whole.

Seriously.  Cancer made me HAPPY! So please, join me on this journey for yourself and your family.  My goal is to spread the knowledge I've learned as a woman, mother, daughter, certified health & wellness coach and motivational speaker.  Lets do it together!  Lets teach our children and ourselves to lead healthier, happier lives.
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