Sandi's Story

When I learned about Dr. Fuhrman's Six Week Holiday Challenge I jumped on it with vigor. I knew about the Eat To Live program and thought it made so much sense. I had put on a whopping, horrifying 88 pounds because of a tremendous amount of stress. I was near giving up. I had started so many weight loss exercise programs only to falter and careen completely out of control. I was wickedly addicted to sugar and fast acting carbs. I would turn to them whenever I felt overwhelmed, frightened, alone, sad, stressed, which seemed to be all the time. I knew the challenge was my window to finally escape the hold food had on me. The support group, the access to Dr. Fuhrman, the grand prize, the program, it was exactly what I needed to get up and take yet another "first step" to starting over and ending my madness with food.

I began the program in November 2010, and felt fantastic from the very first moment.  I was filled physically and emotionally and never felt deprived. I ate huge salads and literally felt like I was eating a feast. I had so much energy and began gentle exercise. And, most surprisingly, it was not a struggle giving up the addicting foods that had a hold on me for so long. In one month I took off 20 pounds and was ecstatic. I told everyone the Nutritarian lifestyle was the answer. This was the first time I felt I could speak with authority because everything Dr. Fuhrman said was plain common sense. Whenever I was able, I looked at the Member Center on DrFuhrman.com and began reading people's stories. I was encouraged and knew this was the road home. I was losing weight, my depression was lifting, I could breathe without laboring, I stopped snoring, and my feet were no longer constantly aching. I felt happier and lighter, much lighter than the twenty pounds I had lost.

And then it happened. I crashed. During a weeklong family reunion over the Christmas holiday I started eating cakes, cookies, rolls, pastas, pizza, drinking wine with no holds barred. I thought I could go off the program a little because this was an exception and get right back on. It started with a little bite here and a little bite there and yet another drink, until I was fully hooked again not wanting a salad or greens. My energy level plummeted, my mood was quickly sinking, and I didn't want to exercise because I was so tired. All I wanted was another sugar fix to keep me going. Returning home I had put back twelve of the pounds I had lost. I spent the next few days in a dizzy cloud, confused and eating out of depression. Again I had blown it. I knew I was out of the running for the contest, but got back on the website. And, like a lighthouse in the night, the people's voices began to speak to me, reminding me that no matter how far away from home I was, this was the way back. I just needed to get up again one more time. But, I honestly didn't think I had the emotional energy to pull myself up again.

It was Emily's story that riveted me. I could relate to her. She had five children, I had seven. She had 100 pounds to lose, I had 88. She had gone through a lot of stress, so had I. She was a voice I trusted. I kept looking at her journey and telling myself, I could do it too. I read as many of her posts as I could find and agreed with everything she was sharing. I wanted to meet her and be a part of what she was a part of. I loved how she was helping other people find their way to good health. I was battle weary with my war with my body, food and myself. I knew I could make it if I just kept putting one foot in front of the other. And so I did. I began following the incredible wisdom of eating to live and nourishing my body with healthy life giving foods.  Again, I wobbled and up and down.

I finally committed to giving up sugar, salt, and white products. I made a deal with myself to give them up for a year. I told myself if I wanted, after that time, I could go back on them again. That seemed to do it, and allowed me to calm down and get back on the program. I took off all the weight I had gained plus another eleven pounds. I didn't make it all the way to my goal, but now I am calm and focused, knowing my weight is coming all the way down and will stay there for life. I lost 48 pounds and am buckled in for the long haul with taking off these last fifty pounds and regaining my health and vitality.

I am doing really well and am so encouraged. I know that this is my way home and will always be my way of eating for life. There is simply no comparison to how I feel and what it does to my body and emotions.