So let's back up for a second and talk about what the heck happened in the span of a year that took me from miserable to pretty darn happy, and how anyone can have the same breakthrough.

It's a nightly habit for some of us. You're lying in bed, totally exhausted, and for some reason can't catch a wink. Or perhaps you fall asleep, then wake up a couple of hours later to an endless cycle of tossing and turning that culminates in a 4:00 a.m. Instagram-stalking session. Could you have prevented the restlessness with a simple fix? Yes, and here's a hint: It has to do with what you ate for dinner.

No special DNA required.

Free food is considered a "perk" in many offices, but this benefit may have an unexpected price: pounds gained. Even though the snacks provided by my client's employer were seemingly healthier choices, a daily trip or two to the cupboard added up to hundreds of extra calories.