Healthy Living in Connecticut Blog

Twelve years ago, I was hypertensive and pre-diabetic. I was threatened to be put on blood pressure medication. I was obese and knew I needed to change my life. I did not want to go on meds.

So, what’s the alternative? Make a lifestyle change. By adapting a plant based diet, not only did my blood pressure normalize, so did my blood sugar. I also lost 150+ pounds. I know many of you know my story already, but the reason I bring it up is because I recently had lab work for an upcoming physical.

.As most of you know, I plan to do some nutrition coaching, as I love helping people transition to a whole food plant based diet. I have seen family and friends reverse diseases with a dietary change. It would be awesome to watch others transition to a healthier lifestyle as well.I only plan to do this on a part time basis, as I’m definitely busy at my full time job and my workout routine. But Helping others overcome health issues is my way of giving back as I reversed my own issues (hypertension and pre-diabetes).

I signed up for Dr. Fuhrman’s Nutrition Coach Certificate program. When if ends in December, I plan to begin coaching. I live this lifestyle and I follow Dr. Fuhrman and other plant based doctors advice. Dr. Fuhrman's teaching have especially resonated with me. When I started my journey 11 years ago. I was morbidly obese, tipping the scales at 350+ pounds.

The other day, when I was in a store, someone approached me that I hadn’t seen in a while. We used to go to the same gym. He said “you need to gain some weight, you’re getting too skinny.” This stunned me as I am the same weight I’ve been for the past 5 years, having leveled off at around 195 pounds. At 6'3" tall, this seems like my ideal weight. It made me think of what Dr. Fuhrman said many times. The average American has no idea what a normal weight looks like.

I just looked up what my BMI (Body Mass Index) is and it’s at 24.5. This is actually a little high, not that I want to get a BMI any lower. This seems to be where my body wants to be, as I eat Nutritarian foods. When you eat fruit, vegetables, legumes, grains, nuts and seeds, you get a variety of nutrients and your body gets what it needs to keep going at a steady weight. I do not worry about losing weight or gaining weight. When I was obese, I feared I would never stop gaining. It actually feels like freedom knowing I don’t have to worry about weight gain (or loss).

As many of you probably remember, I had a knee injury about three and a half years ago. I remember it like it was yesterday. I had just finished the Manchester Road Race in the fall of 2019. I had a strange feeling in my left knee after the run, like it was numb. I thought it was odd, but the numbness would go away when I rested, or so I thought.

After I got home, like an idiot, I didn't do much resting. I remember going to the store and noticing my knee was starting to feel like it was on fire, and I could not stand on it. It was beginning to swell. I bolted out of the store as best I could and made it home.

As most of you can attest that are reading this, it’s not easy to get workouts in when you are full time, or family issues, or life’s stresses. My job has been crazy busy, and I am unable to make the gym as much as I want to.

But here’s the thing, I always get my workouts in, even if I only do strength training a few days a week, I still make it a priority. I also make sure I get my steps in each day. If there‘s one invention that has kept me in check all these years, it’s the Apple Watch, with it’s reminder to have me stand every hour.