Success on the Health Journey
Jeff’s Story (in his own words):
|
|
|
| Before | After |
I’ve fought being overweight and unhealthy since I was about 10 years old. Minor, and temporary, victories had me riding the proverbial roller coaster of health for too long.
While living in New Orleans in 2004, pre-Katrina, I managed to drop 70 pounds by running, lilfting weights and eating right. In the process, I killed my thyroid and over the next two years, put all the weight back on.
Well, last year I was a 34 year old fatty who honestly had convinced himself that I was “not that bad.” I had the weekend warrior mentality and was reasonably active with occasional gym visits and such. But, the truth hurt. I went in for a check-up and found that I was 337 pounds with blood that was more gravy than hemoglobin (little cholesterol humor). As a Campus Minister as well as a husband and father of two young boys I had finally had enough.
I immediately “Flipped the Switch” and got mentally strong. I realized that I wasn’t honoring the body God had given me nor was I doing everything I could to be there for my family. I hit the gym hard and drastically changed my cupboard too. I am now down to 244lbs and run and lift everyday!
BUT that isn’t even the crazy part! I’ve always been a carnivore from the word GO! Meat was my passion and I worshipped at that altar often. I scoffed at vegetarianism and even made the claim on several occasions that I would NEVER be able, or interested, in living that lifestyle. Well, God has a sense of humor after all.
As a minister I am often praying for strength to keep up this new lifestyle of fitness and one day, the unthinkable happened… Would I give up meat if God asked me? I know that sounds like a bad televangelist joke: God Himself has to ask me to give up meat! But He did. He asked me to begin a year-long Covenant of Life where nothing has to die to feed me. Bizarre I know, but hey – stranger things have happened. At least He didn’t ask me to build a boat and gather animals two by two. 
As of New Year’s day, my wife and I are now Meatless! And one of the resulting side effects of this decision has been to go as organic as much as possible, and really try to increase our raw food intake. It’s been great.
We visit Earth Fare at least once/month to stock up on our favorites (mine is freshly ground peanut butter and hers is whole wheat bread flour to make the yummiest bread). We have both gotten thinner, stronger and healthier and we continue to work hard and eat right! My goal is to get down to 205 by summer and enter my first triathalon.
congratulations on your healthy journey, jeff! a clean, whole food vegetarian diet is a fantastic way to honor your body.
Katie (Sweet Tater)
March 22nd, 2010 at 1:17 pmpermalink
What a wonderfully inspirational and down-to-earth story! Thank you for sharing your story. It was just want I needed today.
Kat
March 22nd, 2010 at 1:21 pmpermalink
A great success story! I love the going meatless aspect of it! I have searched for ways to increase protein thru other foods outside of meat. My favorite continues to be the OIKOS fatFREE plain yogurt by Stonyfiels. 1 cup is 23 grams protein, 0 fat, 130 calories and 9g carbs. Wow! just finished a cup w/ cinnamon and almonds and 1/2 grapefruit. Now that is wholesome, healthy eating!! Couldn’t find the 16oz size at EarthFare – hoping you all will start carrying it!
Bonnie Harlow
March 22nd, 2010 at 1:29 pmpermalink
way to go, jeff! (and jeff’s wife!) keep up the GREAT work!
g. patrick
March 22nd, 2010 at 1:46 pmpermalink
Jeff,
Good Luck. Your last bit about the peanut butter made me hungry. We have also moved to organics and limited the amount of meat.
It’s all about where you get your food from. You can still eat good and not eat tainted food. I think as we learn more about the food supply in the US it’s pretty much garbage and I was one like you who could eat and eat all day long. I am down 27.5 pounds and working to keep going.
Keep it up and thanks for the post.
David Vasta
March 22nd, 2010 at 1:54 pmpermalink
[...] I can sympathize with Jeff. Read his post about going to Earth Fare and going meatless. [...]
Earth Fare Blog Post | Healthy Living
March 22nd, 2010 at 1:57 pmpermalink
God asked me to become a vegetarian in 1994 and I have been one ever since. It has made me a more spiritual person and more open to God. I feel great physically and mentally. I do not have to worry about putting death and decay into my body.
Congratulations to you and your wife! I hope you have an amazing, life-long vegetarian journey.
Amanda
March 22nd, 2010 at 2:12 pmpermalink
Of all the testimonies, suggestions and stories i have heard, YOURS minsitered to my spirit as wella s my body. I cant tell you how long i have struggled with the same things and even thought processes. I joined a local gym cause i NEED to be healthy…I needed the guidance, but up til now, not been too succesful. I know its what i put into it. I have found that with my health problems( due to being overweight) i have trouble doing the workouts i have been participating in. My blood pressure soars and i end up with headaches and not much else. Ive gained and lost the same 4 pounds for 2 months now. The thought has crossed my mind about going meatless and raw for a season, but keep talking myself out of it. Ill definently spend some time with God and see what He has to say…at this point, it certainly cant hurt.
thnx for sharing!
Laura
March 22nd, 2010 at 2:22 pmpermalink
I have been meatless my entire life and could not even THINK of eating an animal, probably not even if my life depended on it. Believe me, there is TONS of delicious, fleshless food out there and you can thrive eating a meatless diet! Congratulations on this big step and good luck to you!!!!! Very admirable!!!!!!
Hanna
March 22nd, 2010 at 4:35 pmpermalink
Thanks for the congrats and tips. I’ve dropped another 15 lbs since this was submitted and I really hope and pray each of you has success in your journeys. Don’t give up and don’t forget that we are not merely flesh and bone. For those of you who still enjoy healthy meat, great! for those who giving this whole meatless thing a shot, great! the thing is to focus and put all the negativity and past failures behind you and press on towards the goal. there’s a sermon in there somewhere:)
Jeff
March 23rd, 2010 at 10:27 ampermalink
Jeff, you are an inspiration. I did what you have done. I was a personal trainer – got all lean and fit — while killing my thyroid and frying my liver. Now 80 lbs heavier, I am going all organic and reducing my meat intake considerably. I’m so used to thinking like a trainer — divide your plate into thirds — 1/3 protein, 1/3 complex starch, 1/3 veggie. Can you give me some ideas on what you eat in place of the meat protein? And I’d LOVE your wife’s bread recipe. I bought myself a food processor and am loving learning new recipes.
Liz
April 1st, 2010 at 2:31 pmpermalink
Liz – as a trainer I’m sure you’ve heard lots of what I have to say so if I am repeating anything bear with me. I have learned lots of new tidbits about protein since going meatless even though I kind of prided myself on being a gym rat for years. What I’ve learned is that there are lots of proteins out there but without meat you have to take in certain combinations to create what are called “complete proteins.” Meat and dairy are already complete by themselves but nuts, dark leafy greens, grains and even some pastas are protein rich and, when combined correctly, created just as good a protein as meat. a simple Google search will get you a list of what to combine. Since it takes up to 12 hours to fully absorb protein into the body these combos can be done throughout the day instead of just at one meal too. The old 1/3 plan is a little unreliable when meat is out of the equation and combining different things but is still a good rule of thumb. You’ll just have to learn which foods are the proper 1/3. I find lots of beans: kidneys, northerns, garbanzos (hummus:) and nuts: cashews, peanuts, walnuts are a good source of meatless protein. Also yogurts and Kefir are a good source too. Let me know how this works for you!
Jeff
April 2nd, 2010 at 10:43 pmpermalink
I appreciate your story and especially your emphasis on the spiritual and not on preaching an anti meat sermon, which would be bad (see 1st Timothy 4:3). While I eat meat sparingly, usually about once, maybe twice a week I doubt I will ever go meatless, barring divine intervention of course. However, I greatly appreciate your example of moral and physical strength.
Kaleb
April 15th, 2010 at 11:24 ampermalink
meat is one of the villain that you will gain weight. it’s like my experience before where i can’t skip a day without eating chunks of meat, finally realized that my health was deteriorating. i hope jeff’s story would be an inspiring one to each and everyone of us who has been slave by eating too much eat. surely, you may eat but be sure that it’ll be in moderation.
bariatric surgery
Nicole
May 16th, 2010 at 3:00 pmpermalink