Stephen's Story

My weight loss story started about ten years ago. I am an international airline pilot.  On a training mission in Dallas I collapsed on the floor of the hotel lobby with immobilizing back pain while carrying my suitcase and flight kit toward the elevator.  An MRI confirmed I had a ruptured disk in my back at L5.  Three specialists each touted spinal fusion as the solution.  But my research revealed unattractive surgical risks and limitations.  A fourth expert in physical rehabilitation suggested the disk might repair itself with therapy and by relieving the load on it through losing weight.  I selected option four as the least risky with the most potential.  And so began my adventure in weight loss.

I found Eat To Live. I could understand and identify with Dr. Fuhrman’s science based writing style instead of the many other hype-style diet books.  His evidence-based approach is the same approach used to fly an airplane.  I digested every word in the book and launched into its lifestyle changes and recipes.  I easily adapted to Nutritarian fare. I ruthlessly culled all the unhealthy food from my kitchen, purchased bulk quantities of healthy staples and an accurate digital scale.  I equipped my kitchen with a high powered blender, steamer, slow cooker and pressure cooker. The results were immediate in that I stopped gaining weight.  

I joined Dr. Fuhrman’s website and began reading the many helpful and informative documents posted there.  I discovered his Aggressive Weight Loss Plan. I adopted this plan, added one hour of exercise to my daily regimen and, within a week I was meeting my target weight loss goal of one pound per week.   A year later and I was within my goal weight range although I noticed my rate of loss tapered off as I approached my target weight range.  Over a few months my ruptured disk healed itself and I was pain free.  Success was at hand.

Fast forward to five hectic years of dealing with a barrage of personal and professional problems, most of which entailed traveling.  Attempting to eat healthy while traveling was a nightmare. Five years of restaurant meals and sedentary traveling put back on all the weight I had lost plus eight pounds.  The fact is I found it impossible to consistently control the contents of my meals and get sufficient exercise while traveling in the intimidating and toxic restaurant menu environment like I did when cooking for myself. I now realize just one restaurant meal splurge can destroy an entire week of dieting effort.  With Americans eating out on average five times per week, is it any wonder their diet efforts are doomed to failure. The reality check of a wardrobe that would not fit brought me to my present weight loss program. 

Results may vary.