Eat to Live!

A few months ago I did something that I never thought I would do. In March of this year I went from making fun of friends and co-workers and their odd obsession to being one of the fanatical. I read a book that has completely changed my life. Yes, I know that I have an addictive personality and that it has never taken much for me to jump on the band wagon, and I know that some of my friends are making fun of me now as much as I made fun of my co-workers. But I can’t help it. I need to share this with you. The book is titled “Eat to Live.”

I work for a small and locally owned/operated service business. There are not many employees and we all spend a considerable amount of time together. So when some of my co-workers and employers started “going on a diet” it was hard to dismiss. The first noticeable difference was the lack of donuts during our ritual coffee time in the mornings. Then they started to skip the occasional group lunch that is sometimes a part of our job. Finally the truth came out, and the details of the Eat to Live lifestyle came into conversation. Some of my co-workers thought it was silly, a waste of time, and un-American. I didn’t say anything. I didn’t say anything because I was seeing positive results and incredible changes in the Eat to Live co-workers. I was impressed to say the least.

I quietly purchased and read the book over a weekend. After reading it I purged my kitchen of food and staples that I had been surviving on for years, and began to live a healthy lifestyle. I tried to not mention what I was doing as to not be criticized as a “diet snob” by my other co-workers. But it is hard to hide. Before long I was having friends ask me questions like, “Are you on a diet or something?” or “Are you trying to lose weight?” My answer was always….no. I’m not on a diet. I have drastically changed the way I eat. For the first time in my life I actually feel healthy.

Did I need to lose weight? Yes. I’ve been over weight for most of my life. I always said I would try to eat healthy and exercise more, but it never happened. I remember when I knew I had to do something about my weight. One of my best friends is, well, drastically small. He and I were talking about how he can gain weight. Over the last two years this friend has grown from the short scrawny boy to the tall and significantly skinny young man. In an effort to gain mass he started a diet (under the supervision of a dietitian) and exercise plan that would no doubt do the job. I decided that if his diet and exercise plan could help him gain body mass, it would also help me lose body mass.

I was too out of shape….no….I was too fat for the exercise plan. P90X. When I couldn’t get through the first program without stopping I knew that I had to do something. So I read the book, lived the lifestyle, and quickly changed from the average American eater into something that some of us at the office call “Citizens of Nutritional Excellence.” In the past month I have had several people ask me how I lost the weight. One lady even gave me a business card for a counselor to help me with my eating disorder.

Honestly, I didn’t notice the change. But why would I? I see me every day. It is the comments from people who don’t see me on a regular basis that have confirmed that I have indeed lost weight. (You see, I don’t own a scale. My only gauge has been the fit of my clothing. By the way…nothing fits anymore.) A few people have even told me that I didn't need to lose any more. Well, I have purchased a scale, and yes I do need to loose more. Besides, these people do not see me naked.

I want you to read the book. Not to lose weight. I want you to become as healthy as you can possibly be. I am eating foods that I have never eaten before. I am eating foods that I used to push to the side of my plate. I have never been happier with my body…and I know that the best is yet to come. Dr. Joel Fuhrman changed my life, and he can change yours too! If you don't want to shell out the few dollars for a used copy from amazon let me know. I'll buy it for you.