Kathleen's Story

I started my Eat To Live journey after watching Dr. Fuhrman on the Dr. Oz show. What caught my attention was the no measuring and weighing food. I immediately downloaded Eat To Live onto my Kindle in June 2012 and started reading. Everything that Dr. Fuhrman said made so much sense to me that I couldn’t wait to get started.

Back in September 2005, at the age of 58, I was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease called Wegeners Granulomatosis and became engaged in a battle for my life. After working for thirty five years as an RN, I knew the serious effects of the numerous toxic drugs I was given which would lead me on a downward spiral.  I was scared to death. I was used to being the caregiver, and overnight went from being an active healthy person to an invalid. Granted I did improve with treatment, but never to a level where I had begun.

Toxic immune suppressants were part of my treatment and caused serious lung infections resulting in prescriptions of heavy duty antibiotics and more side effects.  One drug seemed to lead to another and I was depressed at the thought of the hopelessness of my situation. Prednisone resulted in a steady weight gain as well as severe reflux, GERD, sleep apnea and diabetes. My doctors all told me that I was not likely to lose weight. My response was, “am I supposed to sit on the couch and eat Bon Bons?” None gave me any satisfactory solutions other than more pills.  One actually offered to give me a prescription for Amphetamines. I knew that I was the only one who cared enough to find a way to overcome my weight gain.

I tried Weight Watchers, South Beach and other diets in order to try to minimize the effects of the prednisone. I struggled but was not always successful in keeping my weight under 200 pounds which was way too much for my 5ft. 6 in. frame and the most I had ever weighed in my life. I exercised as much as I could, but it was minimal. Any exertion exhausted me. 

At the time I started Eat To Live my husband and I were going on a three week road trip visiting family and friends. During the trip I continued to read and reread Eat To Live and became more determined to change my eating habits and reclaim my health.  My husband was very supportive, and, as we traveled, we would stop at grocery stores and get a tray of veggies for dinner. The amazing thing was even on this road trip with only minor changes, I was able to lose seven pounds.  When we arrived home I went through my pantry and refrigerator and donated any unacceptable items to my local church pantry. Then I went shopping to stock my kitchen with nutritious greens, fruits and legumes so that I could get started improving my health.

The first week of 100 percent Eat To Live I was ecstatic that the chronic edema of my feet and legs was gone. In the coming weeks and months I eliminated my diabetes and gout medications along with Nexium.  I eliminated two of the four blood pressure medications and reduced the other two as follows: Toprol XL from 200 to 0 mg; Tekturna from 150 to 0 mg;
Cozaar from 100 to 50 mg; Norvasc from 10 to 5 mg. I am working on completely getting off all medications.

I went from 198 to 150 pounds, lost 6.5 inches from my waist; my inflammatory markers have steadily dropped: cholesterol went from 217 to 153 in one month, my fasting blood sugar went from 132 to 85 and my triglycerides dropped from 307 to 224 in one month.  I am waiting to test again after one year of this lifestyle.

I noticed in the first weeks that my mouth and teeth felt as if I had just come from a professional cleaning. When I went for my regular cleaning I mentioned this to my hygienist.  She was blown away by the improvement in my gums and the minor amount of plaque on my teeth. I had been having my teeth cleaned quarterly because of the effects of prednisone and other drugs. She also commented on how clean my tongue looked and asked me for the name of the book.  She also said that I could change back to every six month cleanings.

I am now exercising three days a week in a pool and three days a week in a gym and my stamina is increasing every week.  I love being able to bend over without becoming short of breath, taking my “fat clothes” to Goodwill every few weeks and hearing all the compliments from family and friends. The most exciting thing was getting off my CPAP machine. I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to finally be free of the tubes and mask at night. My life is so much better now. I have gone from acceptance of a chronic disease and a life of illness to confidence that I have the key for health and hope for a long, healthy and active life. Thank you Dr. Fuhrman for helping me regain my health and my life!