Ronna's Story

I have sugar-coated memories that go back to elementary school.  I remember loud jingling bells from the Good Humor truck, blueberry toaster pastries, Cocoa Puffs, Cracker Jacks and McDonald shakes, and visits with my grandfather which included my favorite chocolates candies. In college I remember writing papers alongside bags of chocolate coated candy.  I always had an immense sugar hangover when I dropped my paper off at my professor's office, and would stop off at Dunkin Donuts to try to dull my mental angst.

I discovered early on eating foods with a high sugar and fat content, along with caffeine, was my way of avoiding feelings. As graduation from high school and college approached, my weight soared. I would lose and gain which inevitably led me to give into cravings that seemed a part of my constitution. I didn’t know back then that cravings could be conquered.

Participating in a Whole Foods Market Immersion with Dr. Fuhrman was a transforming opportunity that altered how I eat, sleep, cook, think, dress, and move about in the world. I’m a Certified Health Coach and Healthy Eating Specialist, passionate about promoting healthy eating education and eating food to thrive.  And while I thought I was eating "clean" on a certain level, with my  history of earlier sugar addiction, chronic dieting and emotional overeating, all of which I thought I mastered in my adult years, I knew that residual cravings were holding me back from shifting into high gear health-wise.

I was diagnosed with Hashimotos Thyroiditis (underactive thyroid) at age 11.  Because I had a thyroid condition, and a familial diabetic history, along with self-diagnosed hypoglycemia, I thought I needed to eat every two to three hours for energy. A piece of cheese, a glass of wine, a cup of coffee and an ounce of chocolate here and there, seemed to be keeping me somewhere on the path to the promised land of ideal weight and sustained energy. I was too busy counting calories and anointing foods as good or bad to realize how far off course I was.

Dr. Fuhrman taught me how to let go of my misguided beliefs, to dive into health and a leaner body with abandon, to cook deliciously all the time, to eat for nutritional excellence. I lost 25 pounds. Body fat went from 44 percent to under 20 percent. No more cravings. I feel true hunger these days. My complexion is better. I sleep better. I feel younger and more vital than ever. With Dr. Fuhrman’s direction, I have accomplished what I had previously thought was not possible for me at this stage of life.

Thank you, Dr. Fuhrman for an unforgettable experience.