Shawn's Story

At my heaviest I weighed 285 and had many health issues. I was constantly battling myself and depression. I was self- medicating with food and alcohol which were the only things that made me feel okay for moments.  I was experiencing digestive issues constantly and convinced myself I was either allergic to some foods or getting food poisoning every so often.  For years I self- treated daily heartburn with OTC meds (Zantac, Prilosec, tums, etc.). I was seeking chiropractic help and went to physical therapy for back issues that likely resulted from carrying so much weight. My children were suffering the most as I had no energy for them and no ability to physically play with them.   I didn’t want to be this kind of role model for my kids. 

 A coworker of mine went to a Dr. Fuhrman Immersion the year before and I watched his ability to vastly change his life so I finally decided to take the leap.  I had dabbled in 28-day challenges and other month-long cleanses but after would eventually just get back to what was normal for me.  I applied to the Dr. Fuhrman Immersion and was accepted to the spring session in 2019.  I would like to say I was all in from that moment forward but I did not start anything until the day I got there, joking all the while prior to that I was off to fat camp.  Even the first two days I wasn’t 100 percent sold, but while there I was fully on the program. I even started walking on the treadmill at the hotel the first day. I was walking the walk without really believing in the beginning and just as I thought I may turn the corner day three kicked in and every toxin in my body was trying to escape and I felt like garbage.  I made it through with the help of others and continuing step by step.  Day four I started feeling better and by the time we left I hit my stride and was a complete convert. 

 I owe so much to the time spent during that week going through the stages of grief about the loss of best friends, salt, sugar and oil.  It was so much like quitting smoking seven years earlier, trying to wrap my mind around everything without those things in my life.  It seemed like my mind had me fooled into believing it was part of my identity.  But I kept digging in and doing the work, I was really addicted to these things in my life and used them like drugs.  They had a hold on every part of my brain and I especially used them to numb pain and accentuate what little positives I had. 

 I went home strong and my wife was onboard, so we cleaned out our cabinets and went shopping.  We started using the Dr. Fuhrman website and his books, trying all his recipes that sounded good.  My wife was pregnant at the time with our third child who will be born soon after my 40th birthday so it really reinforced the need for longevity and added to my focus on being a positive role model for my children.  My wife battled through first trimester nausea to keep me fueled and made things so easy for me, having lunches ready daily and was generally the meal planner.  I was seeing results immediately and was feeling rewarded so often. 

 Clothes were fitting better and I had more energy.  I started walking the dogs five days a week and doing more activities like kayaking and playing with the kids.  Soon I was needing new clothes and new notches on my belt.  In the first four months I lost over 50 pounds and was feeling great not only physically but mentally too.  Now I have lost 81 pounds, and have not had this much clarity and mental strength in a decade.  I was becoming a more positive person by the day.  It helped that I work with a large group of people that were noticing my progress and fueling me with compliments and well wishes along the way.  I did hit a few ruts along the way, but I didn’t waiver from the lifestyle. I was so focused on losing weight as the only markers for progress that it got in my head when I wasn’t.  I did realize though that at some periods it seems my body was being reshaped instead of losing pounds. I was adding more exercise to the routine as well so it may be that I was adding muscle at the same time I was losing fat. 

 The same friend that inspired me to go to immersion kept inspiring me but this time he inspired me to start running.  I never thought I would ever run and thought it was dumb.  I would always tease him for sharing his runs but alas I started and loved it.  It was another thing I could see progress and measure goals in aside from losing weight.  It has fueled the last 3 months of progress.  I signed up for the half marathon in May in Pittsburgh and am in the midst of training.  Today as I write this, I just finished a seven- mile run and feel so amazing as a result.  I continue with the food but it is now habit and just a backdrop for my life.  I have gotten beyond thinking about food constantly and as long as I keep myself satiated it rarely enters my mind.  My doctor had been close to putting me on medication for a rapid resting heart rate, and now since the lifestyle change my resting heart rate has dropped 20 points. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have participated in the Immersion, where I was able to do so much mental work that would lay the foundation for a complete lifestyle change.  I am brimming with positivity and I can’t help but tell everyone that will listen about my journey.  It has been great so far and I’m sure will continue providing greatness in the future.