Success Stories

Read 100's of first person accounts of their success with weight loss and disease reversal.

James

I have gained a lot of inspiration and guidance from reading the success stories and postings in the Member Forums on Dr. Fuhrman's website. To return the favor, I am submitting my own experience to inspire and help others too.

The past few years, I developed some health issues concerning my blood pressure, allergies and a weight gain of 15 pounds. I wasn't too concerned about these problems because I began to deal with a much bigger health issue - migraine headaches.

My job required me to do more business travel. I was eating much more meat and indulging in desserts. I gained 25 lbs. over and above the 15 lbs. I needed to lose.

At my annual physical, my doctor and I had a discussion about my blood pressure. It had been borderline above-average the past few visits. We agreed that I would start taking a beta-blocker to bring my blood pressure back to normal. He explained that years ago, a blood pressure reading at my level would have been monitored without drug treatment. Since today’s drugs are virtually side–effect free (according to him) and the long term benefits to the body are positive, it was important to get my blood pressure in the normal range as soon as possible. So, I started taking the drug and within a week, my blood pressure was normal. Cured?... or at least fixed? Not quite.

Within 3 months of taking the beta blocker, I began to experience headaches. The headaches were mild at first, but they got much worse within a few months. Although my symptoms were not classic migraines (no noise or light sensitivity, etc.), the severity and location of the headaches convinced my doctor that I was suffering from migraines.

To treat the headaches, I started taking an assortment of triptan medications. Eventually, the triptan medications did not alleviate the headaches.

I was referred to a neurologist who specializes in headaches. He too was convinced that I was suffering with migraines and told me that the beta–blocker I was taking for blood pressure can also be used to treat migraines. He increased the dosage. This worked for a while, but the headaches came back in a month or so. I returned to see him again. He increased the dosage one more time, but the headaches did not alleviate. I was feeling so poorly that I began to miss work. I also became anxious worrying about how I was going to cope with these daily headaches with no relief offered from my doctors.

I felt desperate and decided to do some fact finding on my own. While searching online, I happened upon Dr. Fuhrman’s website. I read everything on his site about headaches. I bought and read both of his books, and I followed the Headache Diet diligently with no cheating. At the same time I stopped all of my medications.

Just as Dr. Fuhrman describes in his books, "it will get worse before it will get better." I had four days of mind numbing headaches. It was hard. I took hot showers, used ice packs, and read entries in the Member Center for inspiration. No matter what, I was determined to forge ahead and and not give in to taking medication that I (now knew) would only delay my eventual relief.

After the headaches broke, I was so relieved. I felt just as Dr. Fuhrman promised. I knew I was on my way to better health and a better life that was free of headaches.

Eight months since I’ve started the Eat To Live program, I no longer take the beta–blocker for my blood pressure. My blood pressure is now normal. I do not need the triptan medication for headache relief because I have not had a headache since my conversion experience above. Also, I have stopped taking two allergy medications I was prescribed.

Now, I am living a life free of any drugs. I lost 30 lbs. and have the energy to exercise every day. I Eat To Live now instead of living to eat. My relationship with food is much different, and my hunger is different than it used to be too. I no longer crave the 'bad foods'. In fact, I’m not really interested in them. Most importantly, I learned a lot about medical treatment in this country. An Internist and a Neurologist did not discover the linkage between the beta–blocker I was taking and the pain I was in. I have a whole new respect for the power of the drugs that were prescribed for us.

When they say you are what you eat, they couldn’t be more right. I learned that lesson the hard way, but I am happy to share my story.
EAT YOUR VEGGIES!