The Raw Testimony

PAIN-PURPOSE-POWER

For years, my life was lived behind a chef’s coat — and behind bottles. I was the guy who could run a kitchen, plate a banquet, and still drink 30 beers and a bottle of whiskey at my rock bottom. Food was my craft, but addiction was my refuge.

I thought I could carry it all. But addiction carried me instead — into obesity, into depression, into the brink of self-destruction. My weight climbed to nearly 500 pounds. My health, my relationships, my spirit — all breaking under the pressure.

Then came the turning point. Sobriety wasn’t a clean decision made once. It was a battle I had to fight every day. Through rehab, therapy, recovery, and relentless honesty, I began to rebuild piece by piece. I learned that vulnerability wasn’t weakness — it was the start of strength.

Today, I’m sober. I’ve lost over 140 pounds since gastric sleeve surgery. I’ve written books that tell the truth behind the kitchen heat — not recipes, but the raw journey of resilience, grief, and growth. I’ve reconnected with muses like painting and hip-hop music to channel my message. I’ve dedicated myself to speaking, teaching, and mentoring so that others can see what I finally saw:

Survival isn’t the end. It’s the beginning of helping those still struggling.

My testimony isn’t about perfection — it’s about persistence. If my story resonates, I want to share it with your classroom, your kitchen, your program, or your community. Use me as a mirror. Use me as a beacon. Because the rawest truth of this chef’s life has been:

“No matter how deep you fall into the rabbit hole of pain, the roadblocks you create for yourself can be evaded with honesty, creativity and healing.”

Chef Moses Hernandez