Mary’s Story – Healing My Body Through Food

For over a year, Mary was plagued by gout and in constant pain. She was put on prednisone but when she finally tapered off, she experienced symptoms of withdrawal. Her doctor prescribed a different medication causing her to gain more weight. Her doctors mentioned diet pills, but the side effects scared her. At a loss, she found the Nutrition 4 Weight Loss series.

Determined to Lose Weight

Mary had heard about Nutritional Weight & Wellness from a friend and had been purchasing supplements for a few years. She even attended 5 Steps to Boost Metabolism and Nutritional Solutions for Better Digestion in the fall. She was determined to lose weight, but had never really thought much about food, since the previous weight loss classes she attended focused on points, not actual food. Once enrolled in Nutrition 4 Weight Loss Mary said that learning about the Weight & Wellness Way of eating took her back to her childhood when she was eating real food made from scratch – instead of relying on processed food and fast food like she did in recent years because it is easy. “I never realized that everything I ate was turning into sugar in my body, but that is all I see now.”

After attending the classes with her husband, John, Mary learned how to read labels and began thinking about what she was putting into her body. Many of the things she loved to eat before, she no longer wants to eat because she would question, “Do I want this inflammation in my body? We threw away all of our cereal, chips and junk food to get it out of the house so it wasn’t a temptation. I’m thinking more about how food affects me and drinking a lot more water.”

Less Joint Pain

Pain wise, Mary is experiencing less joint pain and all of her blood tests are in the normal range. “When I started the class, it was about weight loss, but then it became about healing my body. I’m still on medication to lower my uric acids and keep the gout at bay. When my primary doctor did blood tests a month ago, my uric acid levels were in the normal range. I hope to be off this medicine soon.”

Taking the Class Together

Mary said that taking the class with John has been great. “We discuss what we learned together and encourage each other by being a good example for each other,” she said. “John [who is diabetic] used to drink over six cans of Diet Coke a day. He doesn’t drink it at all now. His blood sugar tests have been much lower and he’s lost 5 pounds.”

One of the things Mary enjoyed most about the class was the community-feel. “I learned from the questions that everyone else asked,” she said. “We kept encouraging each other. I also liked the Facebook community because people asked questions that I wouldn’t always think about.” Listening to the Dishing Up Nutrition podcasts was another helpful tool that encouraged her to continue on her path toward health.

“I used to joke that I belonged to the ‘meal of the month club’, meaning I cooked one meal a month at home,” Mary said. “We haven’t been to a fast food restaurant since we started Nutrition 4 Weight Loss. We eat home a lot and when we do eat out, we are making better choices. Most places have something we can eat, like steak or grilled chicken with vegetables. I plan ahead for meals, like having soup in the fridge so I have food to eat for meals and snacks.”

Now that Mary is getting older, taking care of her health is a top priority. “I learned that what you eat can affect Alzheimer’s,” she said. “My mom had Alzheimer’s and that is one of my biggest fears. I’m getting older and I want to take care of myself. It’s better late than never.”

Create Your Own Success Story with Nutrition Education

Mary was able to lose weight and gain control of her eating with the power of nutrition education and personal support. Sign up for the Nutrition 4 Weight Loss program today and be on your way to improved health. The 12-week program is available in-person or online and includes a two-hour consultation with a licensed nutritionist or dietitian.

Find more tips and advice on healthy food habits in these additional articles and podcasts and be on your way to better health for good!

Weight Loss Habits
Weight Loss is Just the Beginning
Joint Pain & Inflammation – Are Your Food Choices to Blame?
Nutritional Solutions to Gout