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

What would life be like

if we had no courage to attempt anything?

-Vincent van Gogh

Someone recently wrote on my facebook wall, “When you started (referring to nutritarian eating), what was most helpful?”

I began the journey to get my health back on July 10, 2008.  At that time, what helped me the most was taking the prior month of June to thoroughly study and assimilate Dr. Fuhrman’s book, Eat to Live.  (Eat for Health was not available yet.)  

Now, fifteen months and plenty of battle scars later; plus observing many who have successfully overcome food addiction and made it to their weight loss goal and restored good health, my resounding response to everyone is, “Members’ center, members’ center, members’ center!”

I got free from food addiction and have successfully maintained excellent health because of the ongoing support of Dr. Fuhrman on “Ask the Doctor”.  The hurdles of life have been overwhelming at times, and Dr. Fuhrman’s nutritional and health guidance has helped me navigate the many obstacles that I’ve faced:

• advice during the hospitalization of a child
• guidance in overcoming food addiction, including several relapses
• practical instruction during a weight loss plateau
• advice concerning a major surgery
• navigating pain relief, bloating and continual weight loss after that surgery
• pain management after a serious bike wreck
• and a myriad of other bumps in the road

He gave straightforward and helpful answers that I couldn’t have received elsewhere.

Now I encourage everyone who is serious about living in optimal health to get involved in the members’ center of drfuhrman.com:

• read the tutorials
• listen to the teleconferences
• participate in the member forums, phone chats and Ask the Doctor
• share recipes, success tips, struggles and victories with other members

Dr. Fuhrman’s books and the members’ center are so much cheaper than medications, diabetic supplies, surgeries, frequent visits to doctors’ offices, rise in insurance premiums, weight loss meetings, and missed work due to illness. The investment will maximize and extend the quality and productivity of life for years to come!     

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Preface:  Over the next year or two, I'll be following the weight loss journey of Stephanie, age 39, who is 200% committed to getting her health back.  Her husband died recently and she’s currently raising four young children under the ages of nine, plus attending nursing school.  Stephanie has courageously volunteered to share her thoughts and medical stats with DiseaseProof readers as she undertakes the journey to optimal health.  Welcome Stephanie!

Why have you chosen to commit to nutritarian eating?  I currently weigh 398 lbs (5’10”) and I’m tired all the time.  I cry a lot and get easily irritated and aggravated.  My knees hurt, I have constant headaches and acid reflux.  My local doctor feels that I’m unable to lose weight on my own and is urging me to have gastric bypass surgery.  I want to play at the park, ride bikes and be a fit and healthy mother for my children.  Most importantly, I want to BE HERE for them.

What are some of the events in your life that have led you to this point?  I’ve been overweight my entire life, but have steadily added more pounds each year; especially after having babies.  Last year my husband died after a battle with congestive heart failure and a failed heart transplant.  In an instant, I became a 38-year-old widowed mother of four children ages eight to three, and the stress has been overwhelming.  During this past year I have been diagnosed with premature osteoarthritis in both knees, high blood pressure, ADHD, and major depression. 

Describe a typical day for you:  My alarm goes off at 6:45 am, but I hit the snooze button four times before I drag myself out of bed.  I struggle to pull myself together and prepare the kids’ breakfasts and get them off to school.  I plan my day by prioritizing how much energy and/or steps it will take to do an activity.  It’s difficult to do much with my children, because I’m unable to move fast due to my size. 

                                           I feel like I’m a prisoner in my own body. 

• Weight  398 lbs.
• BMI  57.1
• Blood pressure  140/100
• Waist measurement  58”
• Cholesterol  180
• Triglycerides  98
• HDL  48
• LDL  112
• Fasting blood sugar  87
• currently taking anti-depressants, amphetamines for ADHD, and medication for urinary incontinence

Stephanie’s “official” starting date is November 1,  2009, and I’ll be posting her progress updates the first week of every month.  We are cheering for Stephanie and wish her all the best as she takes this courageous step to get her health and life back!    

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It’s time for your weekly shot of inspiration! Inspiring stories are all around us. It could be a stand up comic with Cerebral Palsy or a nerdy guy dancing his way around the world. Maybe it’s the unifying power of music or intergalactic robots doing battle. It can even be a rousing speech like this.

Listen, I know Braveheart is just a movie, but a scene like that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It’s great! I can’t sit still after something watching it, but what about you? What gets your blood pumping?

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Alright nerds, listen up. Are you sluggish? Can’t drag yourself to the gym lately? Ate something you shouldn’t have. Or just feeling lazy? Well, fire up your geek radar, time to get inspired! If an evil horde threatened your home world, what would you do? Cower in fear? No. King Aragorn wants you to fight!

I know, I know. This is totally dorky, but millions of people get charged up over the Rocky movies, so why not the Lord of the Rings too. Whatever it takes! Like me, I’m a huge music fan. Blasting heavy metal or great classic rock gets me going and helps me knock out the extra mile. What works for you?

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Philadelphia Phillies short stop Jimmy Rollins is a stud—he once helped me win a fantasy baseball championship—but he’s also a good dude. In this installment of ESPN’s My Wish, he shows 17 year old cancer survivor Shaquille Jacobs how to be a big league baseball player:

Listen, this blog is all about diet and health and spreading Dr. Fuhrman’s message. And sure, we can inspire you by posting lots and lots of success stories, but videos like this are heart warming, and maybe encourage you to run an extra mile, pass on that cheat food or just try a little harder.

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Sports are a great source of inspiration. Athletes are our heroes. And the U.S. soccer team deserves some kudos. Despite not being known for our soccer prowess, somehow team USA ousted top-ranked Spain in this year’s Confederations Cup:

Sadly, it was bittersweet because the U.S. lost a heartbreaker to Brazil on Sunday, but for a few days it was fun to defy the odds. Now speaking of defying the odds, check out Nick Vujicic. Born without limbs the guy is a mountain of positive thinking.

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Yes, I know it’s a cartoon and I know it’s childish, but I’m still pumped up from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. So, fresh from the 1980s, here’s the ultimate role model Optimus Prime doing battle with the sinister Decepticon leader Megatron:

Listen, inspiration comes in many forms. Some people see a beautiful sunset and that inspires them to get up and get moving, but others—i.e. cool people—watch giant robot aliens fighting each other and get energized. Hey, whatever works!

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Kobe Bryant is a stud. Just the other day, Kobe lead the Los Angeles Lakers to the franchise’s 15th NBA championship and earned his first NBA Finals MVP award. Winning a title is a great accomplishment and very uplifting. Here’s Kobe accepting his trophy:

Now, if you’re not a sports fan. No worries. Inspiration can come from all sorts of places. Josh Blue has Cerebral Palsy and he’s still an amazing comedian. And don’t forget the Italian Stallion Rocky Balboa. He might not be real, but the movies get me pumped up!

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Wow, this is a cliché, an Italian dude like me worshipping Rocky. I own the box set. Go figure! Anyway, the Rocky movies always excite me. So, even though Rocky isn’t real, this classic scene from the second movie will stand the hair up on the back of your neck:

Oh man. I’m all pumped now. Like Eddie Murphy said, after Italians see Rocky they come out of the movie theater charged. Same thing happens to me. But I’m not too embarrassed about it. People idolize Superman, Batman and Spiderman, same thing.

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We’ve all seen the movie Lean on Me, starring Morgan Freeman, about former principal of Eastside High School in Paterson, New Jersey, Joe Clark. I love the movie! It’s like the Godfather. Anytime it’s on I have to watch it. Now, here’s an interview with the real Crazy Joe:

Inspiration is a kick in the pants and Mr. Clark will gladly whip your butt into shape. So, whether it’s losing weight, getting to the gym, improving your diet or asking that coworker out. Pick yourself up and do it. If you can’t, think about Joe Clark and what he fought through. Feed on that!

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