Peggy's Story

During 2020 and the Spring of 2021, I gained 20 pounds on top of my already obese status, which brought me to a weight of 215 pounds. This was from caring for my 90-year-old, normal weight mother during Covid, and cooking three meals a day (plus a snack) to her tastes. I am a food-addicted person, and my mother is not a food-addicted person. There’s a huge difference!   In May 2021 when my mother went back to her own home in her retirement community, I decided that I needed to get serious and take care of myself.

I had previous had success with Dr. Fuhrman's program, feeling better and losing weight when following his meal plans strictly. For years, I was a G-BOMBS proponent and would eat my G-BOMBS every day to try to crowd out the bad foods and give my body nutrients. I would also walk 10,000 steps a day. But because I was still eating a SAD, naturally I did not lose weight.

My weight issues started around age 40 after a broken engagement. I just started eating to cope with those emotional issues in an addictive way, and ballooned to a maximum density of 285 lbs.  From that point on, I tried many ways to lose weight. Regretfully, some were not healthy, and all of them were not lasting. Then I discovered G-BOMBS when I read Eat To Live and The End of Dieting. I began a slow transition toward the Nutritarian lifestyle.

I can say that my doctors were quite perplexed, because at 285 pounds and 5 ft. 6 inches, I did not have the usual high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugar a1c issues.  My family members, who were all of normal weight, were dealing with these very issues, and they would say I was a “freak of nature.” I secretly think it was the G-BOMBS that afforded me some protection!

In 2016, my brother sadly died from lung cancer. That’s when I realized that life is short, and I needed to lose weight and try to protect myself from cancer.  I used the cancer menus on DrFuhrman.com and started juicing. I lost over 45 pounds in five months, and then continued to lose about 45 more pounds throughout the year.  I stabilized at this weight for several years until my 2020 weight gain. But even with this improvement, I was still obese. But now ,with my 30 pound weight loss during the Emergency Weight Loss Detox in May 2021, and the Challenge that followed, I am now just overweight!  And I am committed to continuing my Nutritarian lifestyle to get to normal weight.

Looking back on my journey so far, I wish I had gone hardcore from the very first time I read Dr. Fuhrman's books. Being a dabbler has been much more difficult, and even when I am eating 90 percent Nutritarian, I still don't lose much weight – usually only about 2 pounds a month. Dr. Fuhrman is not wrong when he says the last 10 percent is where the most benefit lies. I have purchased all of the 10 in 20 series books, because it is easier for me with my busy life to have a grocery list and pre-planned menus. When I follow them strictly I do lose weight at a much faster pace. Also, I have purchased foods from the online shop, and really appreciate the dressings and Kale chips and G-BOMBS bars. The condiments, too, are helpful.

I am very grateful to Dr. Fuhrman and his family and staff. Everyone has been so nice and helpful and supportive. I love Jenna's Eat to Live podcast! And I am hoping to get Talia's dessert book for a gift for Valentine's Day. Also, if there is ever a contest for a stay at the retreat, sign me up – that would be a dream come true.