Jacki's Story

I always struggled with my weight. As I got older, doctors told me I had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar and low thyroid. I tried to get them to help me lose weight, but all they wanted to do was give me pills for my "conditions." I argued that if they helped me lose weight, the symptoms of being obese would go away. They argued that I had diseases, not symptoms and I needed meds.

Being obese, I hated how I looked, avoided mirrors and cameras and was embarrassed for my husband and children out in public. I had attributed my weight and cholesterol to genetics and felt there was nothing I could do about it. My father had a heart attack at 32. His dad died of a heart attack when my dad was three. My dad's half-brother died of a heart attack at 52. Liver cancer and pancreatitis ran in my family as well. I had always suspected these were the results of long term heart meds, so I wanted to avoid them as long as I could.

Then my older sister, died of a heart attack at age 52. My 54 year old sister had a "pre" heart attack and a stent put in. My youngest sister has had five heart attacks and two stents. I decided I needed to do more than just lose weight. I needed to change my lifestyle to something healthy and permanent. I began to eat healthier and rev up the exercise, but I still needed more. I wasn't sure how to go about eating healthy or living healthy.

In 2010, I went to the bookstore and found Eat To Live.  It was exactly what I was looking for. Dr. Fuhrman validated everything I had tried to tell my doctors. It was confirmation that I was on the right track and gave me what I needed to put a lifestyle plan in place. By April of 2011, I lost 70 pounds, but more than that. I had a health screening, and for the first time ever in my life, all my scores were in the normal/healthy range. My blood sugar, my cholesterol, my blood pressure, my thyroid are all healthy. I now take no medications at all.

People tell me I look younger and better than I did ten years ago. Now I love to be out in public and don't avoid cameras. I feel great. I have more energy, more confidence and feel younger and healthier than I have in all the years my kids were in school. I don't care if I never lose another pound as long as my health scores are good.

As a side note, when my son graduated college and came back home to live in 2010, he began to eat as I did. He lost 110 pounds in one year and has kept it off as well. We excite and inspire each other to discover new foods and flavors. I am so thankful Dr. Fuhrman for validating my beliefs and for breaking the "take this pill" method of health care; for standing up for nutrition and prevention of cancer and obesity causing diseases. My son and I will never be the same. Thank goodness.