Thank you so much for your very nice post, and welcome to macrobiotics!
One of the wonderful things about the diet for me was its emphasis on inner beauty from the inside out. Like, Michio and Aveline, they would not have struck many people as movie stars but they both have/had such grace about being in their bodies and living by their beliefs. Also MB tends to be welcoming about letting people know that change is FINE even over, like, 20 years (or a couple of lifetimes). So I was very attracted by the idea of centering one's roots first.
The philosophy was a major influence in my life, and I am truly grateful for my original teachers.
Sending good wishes for your own self-discovery adventures!