From left to right: the first photo shows us in 2012, and the second in 2016, after 2 and 3 years of adopting a whole food plant-based diet. In 2012, Kim was nearly 100 lbs overweight, and Kelly had 60 lbs to lose. Recognizing the need for change, we came from a background where weight issues were a constant issue for our family due to the Standard American Diet (SAD). Our parents and their siblings battled chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diverticulitis, and dementia, all of which could have been preventable had we known better.
Kelly's Story
In 2014, Kelly confronted her own health challenges, mirroring those that had affected her family for years. They say it often takes a health crisis or personal tragedy to spark change, and Kelly was facing her own wake-up call. Diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), high cholesterol, and borderline hypertension, she was prescribed medication and advised to avoid foods that form the basis of traditional nutrition. It just didn't make sense to her.
With determination, Kelly made a decisive shift to a whole food plant-based lifestyle and finally found success. Shedding over 55 pounds and brimming with energy, life has become immensely more fulfilling. Kelly's cholesterol levels are now stable, and her blood pressure typically registers a healthy 95/65. No reliance on pills and no more cycles of yo-yo dieting! Kelly delights in sharing her journey with others and now relishes hours spent chasing and playing with her grandchildren. Life, she believes, is a journey meant to be lived to its fullest.
Kelly is a Licensed Food for Life Instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Certified in Plant-Based Nutrition through the T Colin Campbell program at E-Cornell and a Certified Personal Trainer.
Kim's Journey to Health
Kim embarked on her health transformation journey in 2012, at the age of 44, weighing nearly 100 pounds more than she should. Witnessing her parents' and in-laws' rapid decline in health, all plagued by various ailments, and seeing her grandparents struggle with heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, arthritis, and other diseases, Kim feared a similar fate awaited her and her sisters.
One Saturday, while watching PBS, Kim stumbled upon Dr. Joel Fuhrman discussing the concept of "eating to live." His words resonated deeply with her. Having tried countless diets, losing weight only to regain it and more, Kim decided to give it a try.
Embracing the "Eat to Live" philosophy, Kim experienced a remarkable transformation. From struggling to walk two miles a day, she progressed to running 5Ks and eventually half-marathons. Kim often reflects that you don't realize how bad you feel until you experience good health. This lifestyle shift has not only changed her physical well-being but also her perspective on life. She wishes she had discovered it sooner.
Kim is a Licensed Food for Life Instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and a Certified Holistic Nutritionist.
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