Losing Weight for Life

Six months ago I started a diet that has changed my life forever. I've lost over thirty pounds, went from a size 12 to a size 4, and I feel better at thirty than I ever did in my twenties. I used to dread shopping because I would try on countless articles of clothing, only to leave empty handed because nothing fit quite right. Now, I have a hard time deciding what to buy because I love how everything fits! I am here to tell you that change is possible. While it is important to love and accept yourself the way you are, if you are not content with that person, you must know it is within your power and ability to change. The difference between the person you are now and the one you want to become rests solely in one thing -- your choices.

At the beginning of this year, after almost ten years of battling my weight, I was finally at the end of my rope and willing to do absolutely anything. A friend had given me a book called Eat to Live (2005) six months prior, and after reading the requirements of the diet, I put the book back on the shelf and said, "no way." But in January, I was ready. I pulled Dr. Joel Fuhrman's book back off the shelf and decided to read it in its entirety. I have always had an interest in natural health and the potential for the body to heal itself, so I found it fascinating to learn about the benefits of the phytonutrients in plants. Without becoming too scientific, their main function is to reduce the negative effects of free radicals in our blood, thus making our bodies more immune to disease. Essentially, by drastically increasing nutrient-dense foods into your diet, you will feel more satisfied with less calories, and you will have less desire for fatty foods. And then some amazing things will happen. The fat simply melts away and your body begins to heal itself.

I was diagnosed with ITP (ideopathic thrombocytopenic purpura) at the age of eleven. ITP is a bleeding condition in which your blood does not clot as it should due to a low platelet count, causing anything from bruising to hemorrhaging. My platelet count has always been below the normal range, until, you guessed it, I started following the Eat to Live diet. It is now in the normal range. In addition, I lost 8 pounds during the first week and almost 20 pounds after just six weeks of following the strict version of the diet. Typically, losing a large amount of weight in such a short amount of time is not healthy, but when you are consuming nutrient rich foods that have almost all the vitamins and minerals your body needs, you will be more healthy than ever. If you are tired of being obese or overweight (for my height of 5'1" I was obese at 159 pounds), you want to reverse disease, and you are at the end of your rope and willing to do whatever it takes, then I encourage you to pick up a copy of this book. If you think you are content being obese or overweight, then I urge you to consider some facts.

According to the Center for Disease Control, being overweight or obese dramatically increases your risks for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, hypertension, high cholesterol, stroke, liver disease, respiratory problems, osteoarthritis, and gynecological problems. This is not just a list of diseases that you might get when you are older but diseases that you can get right now. Statistical data from the American Heart Association reveals that heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, and 23.7% of individuals with heart disease are between the ages of 20 and 39. Even childhood obesity is on the rise. The CDC reports that data from NHANES surveys shows12.4% of children 2-5 years old are obese, 17% of those 6-11 years old, and 17.6% of those 12-19 years old. When our most vulnerable are falling susceptible to the poor choices we make, it is time for us to wake up and make different choices.

The strict version of Eat to Live involves foods you can eat unlimited, foods you can eat limited, and foods that are off limits. In the unlimited category are raw fruits and vegetables, cooked green vegetables, beans, legumes, sprouts, tofu, eggplant, mushrooms, peppers, and onions. In the limited category are cooked starchy vegetables or whole grains, raw nuts and seeds, avocado, ground flaxseed, and soymilk. And those foods that are off limits include dairy products, animal products, fruit juice, salt and sugar. The diet sounds daunting, I know. In fact, I purposefully saved the details for the end of the article because I didn't want to lose you from the beginning. But if you have read this far, I think you are serious or at least very interested in making changes. And I am certain this diet can pave the way for those changes. Yes, you will technically be that often dreaded extremist v-word vegan, but I guarantee you will not regret it.

The first week was the most difficult for me. Although it was hard resisting meat and especially my beloved carbs, I had the most difficulty resisting my dear 'ole salt grinder. It took a few weeks for my palate to adjust, but it eventually did adjust. It was also difficult consuming so many greens in one day. By the end of the week, I thought I was going to vomit if I ate another salad. But I soon found the problem was my dislike for romaine. I much prefer mixed baby greens and baby spinach. The options for salads are unlimited. In addition to your basic greens, you can add any combination of mushrooms, broccoli, bean sprouts, tomatoes, avocado, raw green beans, carrots, cucumbers, peas, nuts, tofu and even beans. Add some very low calorie dressing, and you really will be surprised at its tastiness. You can do fruit salads with baby spinach and any combination of fruits including all types of berries, mangos, peaches, oranges, and the like. Drizzle it with some fresh squeezed orange juice, and it really is delicious! Your palate will adjust to the new food, you will have more energy than ever, and you will wonder how you ever ate differently.

Oh, don't be mistaken, it is difficult and you certainly will crave the foods you used to eat. But just remember, a lifetime of poor food choices can not simply be changed overnight. Take it one day at a time, one meal at a time, perhaps even one bite at a time. You will be encouraged to continually make the right choices by your rapid weight loss and increase in energy. While the diet does not initially require any exercise, you will get to the point where you are at a healthy weight, you have excess energy, and you have to exercise. It may sound too good to be true--I initially thought so--perhaps like the life you've always wanted but never thought you could attain. But let me assure you, your body is amazing. You can reverse a lifetime of mistakes with a daily choice to eat to live. Don't waste another moment. Start right now.

Fuhrman, Joel, M.D. Eat to Live. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2005.
"The Health Consequences of Obesity." Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
"Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics." The American Heart Association.
"NHANES Surveys: 1976-1980 and 2003-2006." Center for Disease Control and Prevention.