Nicole's Story

I began reading Eat To Live in April 2011. Once I got into the book, I couldn’t put it down and was very eager to commit to the Nutritarian way of eating. I was slow to adopt this lifestyle and I slowly and gradually phased out foods, such as red meat, then all meat, and then I began a complete plant based diet in June 2011.

I was enjoying being a Nutritarian, but, I began slowly slipping and eating less vegetables and baking more breads and sweets. I realized I had reached a lull, but then my sister sent me the information about the holiday Six Week Challenge.  It gave me the motivation I needed and I committed to the holiday challenge, but even more importantly, I committed to the Eat To Live lifestyle for good.

I started out at 270 pounds in June 2011; I was at my heaviest weight ever.  Before the Six Week Challenge I was 231 pounds, after the challenge I weighed 214 pounds, which is a weight loss of 17 pounds during the Six Week Challenge and a total loss of 56 pounds!

The Nutritarian diet has taught me that my health is directly affected by what I chose to put in my body.  I used to feel consumed by food and weight loss; I just had to lose weight any way I could.  And multiple times I did, by cutting calories and portion size, but continuing to eat toxic foods.  I would lose weight, only to regain it plus more each time I stopped counting calories. Eat To Live has allowed me to finally find freedom in food.  I enjoy eating now, I can actually be full after each meal, my life doesn’t revolve around food, and I can eat for health now that I understand what my body needs.

I no longer need to have extreme willpower in order to lose weight and keep it off. Becoming educated on nutrition has transformed the way I view food.  I no longer want toxic foods in my body once I understood what little, if any, nutrition they offer and how harmful they are.  I desire to eat nutrient dense foods because my view on food and the reason I eat has been transformed through the knowledge I have gained. I am excited about being able to be disease free simply by what I chose to eat. I am in control of my eating; food no longer controls me.

I have so much more energy. I can enjoy exercising. Minor health issues such as heartburn, indigestion, and stomach aches are gone.  I love that I am not left feeling lethargic after eating a large meal like I used to when I ate the Standard American Diet. Now I feel refreshed and energized from the foods I eat! I know I can resist disease.  I can build my immunity and be in charge of my own health, and not be susceptible even to the flu or the common cold.