MEGAN's Story

In December 2014, my spouse of eleven years told me he was going to his holiday work party "solo" for my sake because the host and hostess were really into fitness and he didn't want anyone making fun of me.

He lied to me; he really meant he didn't want his coworkers to see he had a fat spouse.  In July, 2015 he left me. This was only weeks after my mustang horse died in my arms, and I was depressed and at an all-time low (I am always happy and positive). I had high blood pressure, angina, sleep apnea, joint pain, anxiety/depression and was prediabetic.

After these events, and getting a poor doctor report, I started the Nutritarian lifestyle. I needed to get healthy once and for all for me. Twelve years prior I had lost weight on the Atkins diet so my brain was wired that way until I read Eat To Live. I had lived on meat, cheese and artificial sweeteners, and it left me very unhealthy. When I finally quit, after a year, I rapidly gained the 50 pounds I lost that year plus put on another 100 over the following eleven years until I reached an all-time high of 299 pounds in January 2015.

My joints hurt, my sleep was interrupted by obstructive sleep apnea because of the fat on my neck. I couldn't get up off the ground if I knelt down without grabbing something sturdy to pull myself up.  I couldn't get up on a chair to change a lightbulb so I pretended I was too busy and would do it later.

I had a hard time getting behind the wheel in my car and even turning the wheel or rolling down the windows. I could barely roll over in bed, and when I awoke in the morning I had to inch my way off the bed only to get up on my feet and walk like Frankenstein because my ankles and feet didn't want to carry my weight anymore. The list is extensive; I could go on and on. Most disappointing though was as a photographer I just couldn't get to the vantage points on hikes because I was so out of shape. So, while others climbed rocky paths, I waited for them to tell me what the view looked like. It made me live life on the sidelines instead of getting the view from the summit.

My biggest challenge getting started on the Nutritarian lifestyle was eliminating diary (especially cheese), beef, pork and chicken. It was a staple in Atkins so I had to retrain my brain's definitions of acceptable foods. The easiest was realizing I could eat things I thought were delicious such as fruits, nuts and almond milk.

After one week on the plan my doctor told me I could quit my high blood pressure medicine! Prediabetic symptoms, angina, sleep apnea and joint pain all subsided. Also, the pain around my liver is not there anymore.

Most importantly, I didn't need the anxiety medicine anymore and was able to refuse antidepressants because I became extremely happy!  I have inspired everyone I talk to and everyone asks me how I made such an awesome transformation and I am happy to tell them! I also had severely disrupted menses over the past year, and with no diagnosis or treatment, they have regulated since I started following the Nutritarian lifestyle.

I stopped taking all medications, only one week after starting the diet! I lost 16 pounds in the first seven days and my doctor couldn't believe the scale, and told me I was clear to stop taking the blood pressure medicine immediately.

Now after losing 48 pounds I can take killer selfies (I wouldn't take any before).  I go to the gym and do Zumba, go for hikes and get to the vantage points, get up on any chair and change any lightbulb. I can simply cross my leg to put my shoes on; this used to be a big production as I could barely reach my feet. I can squat to the ground and get back up without using my arms or grabbing anything (that is what pleases me the most). I can spring out of bed and jump on my feet without my joints hurting.

Most importantly is the intangible. I can talk to people and do things I normally would not have done. I am consistently leaving my comfort zone now because my confidence and self-worth is restored. I have amazed everyone and they tell me all the time what an inspiration I am to them, that I am the strongest person they know and I have succeeded during a time in life that would have driven others in the opposite direction.

I contribute that to excellent nutrition which allows my body to regulate its hormones and chemicals that keep me balanced, functional and happy. I can shop in regular size clothes instead of the plus size section!

I literally feel like I have a chance at starting my life over. I was convinced I was on my way to an early death. The last time I went to the doctor and had bloodwork/tests there were no problems and I feel like a new woman with the constant worry of my poor health lifted from my mind. I am using this opportunity to the fullest and doing all the things I was always embarrassed to do because of my limited mobility. I even joined karate which was a lifelong desire. I am so happy I can't even describe the feeling without tearing up.

To someone beginning a Nutritarian lifestyle I say don't be overwhelmed; start in increments if you are intimidated. I picked one thing each week and removed it from my nutritional vocabulary. For example, the first week I simply cut out artificial sweeteners and high fructose corn syrup, the next week I cut out dairy, the week after that I cut out red meat, etc.

This way it was gradual yet cumulative until I had a whole new way of looking at what to buy in the grocery store. It made it less intimidating and more manageable, mentally as well as physically.