Disease Proof : Disease Proof : Health & Nutrition News & Commentary : Dr. Joel Fuhrman

This past December, Anthony, a recent high school graduate, was 67 lbs heavier than he is today. He was given a copy of Eat to Live and the rest is history! You will be inspired by this young man’s passion and determination to get his health and life back. Welcome to Disease Proof, Anthony.

 What was your life like before discovering Dr. Fuhrman’s nutritarian eating-style?

My life was not how I wanted it to be at all. I was obese and felt horrible, and I couldn’t participate in any physical activities. My emotions were thrown off, I had no self-esteem, I had no confidence, and I was mad that I had let myself get so big. I was eating fast food at least five days a week, and I didn’t have a clue what was good or bad food. It was extremely hard for me to accept the fact that I was fat, because I was thin until age 14. Then I started to get the nickname, “Pudgy,” and I hated it so much. Although I had zero self-confidence, high school wasn't too bad because I had an outgoing personality. However, I discovered that peers view fat people differently.

The last month of my senior year we had a Government project where we had to take pictures, and I was stunned when I saw images of myself. At 6’1” I weighed 263 lbs and had a triple chin. I was so heartbroken and disgusted that I joined a gym and tried to lose weight. During the month of June [2010], I started dieting and worked out five days a week, and only lost 6-7 pounds . . . so I quit. 

How did you find out about Eat to Live?

This past December 17^th, my aunt gave a copy of Eat to Live to me and I committed to follow it. I’ve lost 67 lbs so far, and recently I began sessions with a plant-based wellness coach, and I’m continuing to lose weight. 

How do you feel now?

I’m loving life and have a 360 degree attitude change! I feel amazing; it literally feels like a completely different life!  

Do you have any success tip(s) to share with others?

 

• Do it for yourself. Do it for your family. That’s all the inspiration you need. Don’t do it for the people who judge you. 

• Don't be afraid to go to a gym, because everyone there is doing the same thing.

• I like Dr. Fuhrman’s words, "If a motor is running at full speed compared to a motor running at half-speed, the engine running at half-speed will last longer." Basically, if your metabolism is slow, and you are healthy, you will live longer!

• Have a support system. I am so thankful for the support of my father, mother, brothers, and aunts; all of them have made the journey so much easier and I couldn’t have done it without them.

   

In a nutshell, what has Eat to Live done for you? 

It has completely changed my life!

Congratulations Anthony ~ we are so proud of you for choosing to eat for health at such a young age! Keep up the great job!

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In the Fall of 2008, after I had dropped 40 lbs in three months, my peers started commenting and asking questions about the noticeable changes. By the next Spring, when 100 pounds were off, complete strangers such as clerks in stores would comment and ask questions as well.

Everyone’s question was, “How did you lose weight?” 

Of which my reply would always be, “By following Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s book, Eat to Live;. . . . basically eating lots of high nutrient, plant-based foods.” 

“You mean no meat? No cheese? No pizza? No McDonald’s? . . . . Oh, I could never do that!” 

Now, over 2 ½ years later, the majority still say to me, “Oh I could never do that!” in response to anything remotely related to the idea of eating meals primarily composed of plant based nutrition. 

Well, the following is what I think in response to, “I could never do that”:

• I could never blow the family budget on unnecessary test strips, insulin, medications, doctor and hospital bills, or bypass surgery.

• I could never carry around expensive medical supplies and meds while traveling.

• I could never ask a loved one to mow the lawn for me due to fatigue and ill health.

• I could never turn a child away from playing a game due to a migraine headache.

• I could never miss out on the joy of a wedding celebration due to obesity and depression.

• I could never ask someone to drive me to kidney dialysis three times a week.

   

Dr. Fuhrman added:

• I could never have heartburn and burping half the night.

• I could never sit in the bathroom for 15 minutes trying to painfully squeeze out a hard log.

• I could never watch a volleyball game at the beach instead of playing in it.

• I could never have rubber bands put on painful hemorrhoids by a rectal specialist.

• I could never worry about running to catch a bus, for fear of having a heart attack. 

• I could never have such severe stomach cramps that emergency room personnel would assume it was a heart attack. 

• I could never fall down and fracture a hip because my blood pressure medications dropped my blood pressure too low.

• I could never be intubated in the ER with a tube put down my throat and hooked up to a breathing machine after suffering a heart attack.

• I could never be in a nursing home unable to talk after a stroke or move the left side of my body. 

How about you? 

What could you never do?     

image credit: flickr by Claudio Matsuoka and FotoosVanRobin 

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