Thomas Leinaar 23 Posted April 22, 2015 I started my "diet" 2 years ago at a extremely unhealthy weight of 397 lbs. It was a constant fight and only managed to lose 25 pounds up to the time I started the Whole30. I suffered from hypertension, SAD (seasonal depression) high cholesterol, And average of 3 migraines a week since I was 10 years old, obesity, coronary heart disease, Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, Hernias, and am in need of knee surgery. Within 1 week no more Allergy medications. I have not had a single migraine since I started the whole30. My doctor has cut my 4 blood pressure meds to 1, off my Lexapro, lost 20 pounds, NO Fibromyalgia flare ups, big improvement with my arthritis and I am swimming 55 laps three times a week. I have to lose another 115 pounds before I can have knee surgery but the swimming has improved my mobility. No longer using my power chair!! Just a cane. I could go on and on, but the whole30 has saved my life. I was thinking of suicide just a few days before I stumbled across the incredible program. Now I have clear thinking, no more "fog" and I get up at 7:30 every day with eager anticipation for the coming day. I was a chef at my own restaurant for years and attended cooking school when I was young, so I KNOW how to cook, just never cooked the right foods. Every day is a joy now, do I still ache and have problems, yes, but NOTHING like I have experience to the last 15 years. I am now on my second Whole30 with food "tests" once a week, but I have changed for good and so much more happy with my life. I know for sure that I am keeping out dairy, had a bad reintroduction to it just this week. Will try organic honey and maple syrup next week. I will never use any refined sugars or synthetic sweeteners for the rest of my life (I am 64). Just cant get the grin of my face!! Oh, I am 352 now and will continue to only weight myself only at my doctors appointment from here on out. All my measurement have gone down except my arms and calves which have increased due to the swimming 3 times a week. I have many friends following my evolution and two are starting their own Whole30's next week. I have not engaged in proselytizing anyone on the whole30 (and trust me, food is a religion!)lol. Just my life style change has been their inspiration. Thank you Whole 30, you have saved my life! Update! There have been some significant learning Eureka's just in the last week. I have discovered, partly due to my obesity and 60+ years of eating the wrong things, that I am experiencing the effects of the Whole30 at a later date then most self subjected Guinea Pigs on the Whole30. Most seem to experience (from what my doctor says and what I have read from testimonials) short term things like, sleepiness, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, etc. at around week 2. Me on the other hand did not experience these effects until I was done with the first 30 days. On retrospect I don't think it was the reintroduction of parmesan cheese for two days after I stopped the fist 30 that moved me into the bowels of distress for a week. Now that I have started another 30 (last Monday) I am back to a renewed energy and feel fantastic once again. So those of you that are severely overweight or 40 yrs. + (the new 60 I am told) may want to rethink reintroducing foods until you finish a second 30 or at least till you are sure you have triumphed the few malevolent side effects. As for my Doctor visits and lab tests. Wow, even better then my Family Practitioner and Cardiologist expected. Me on the other hand was well aware of the excellent improvements since the Whole30 gives you the power to see the future. lol Cholesterol, both good and bad made the appropriate improvements in there respective directions that I ordered balloons and a marching band to celebrate. :-) NEVER have to check my blood sugar again (maybe in a year so I can get more balloons!) EKG - excellent! Blood pressure at a sustained 125/68. My Cardiologist was blown away and said she has never seen such improvement in a patient so fast and so dramatic after having three stents put in my heart! I used to get regular cortisone shots in my left knee from years of damaging pain and am scheduled to have surgery sometime after August this year. I am not sure what is going to happen now as the pain is at 10% of what it has been for years. I think it is a combination of the power swim walking, the whole30 and premium organic full cannabis infused emu oil that I rub on my knee twice a day. I have tossed my metal knee brace and as I mentioned in my first posting I no longer use my electric wheel chair! Damn I'm happy! Power on Wholies. Update 5-27-15. Great news! Ended my second Whole30 today and I am down 16 pounds from last month! Lost another 3.5" on my waist also. Feeling so good! Still swimming 2 miles three times a week and have been working in the garden every day. So since I started the new life style on April 20th I have lost 36 pounds and a total of 61 pounds from my starting weight of 397 pounds in 2014. Today I am thinking of starting some food tests, nervous because I don't want to mess things up! Was thinking of reintroducing organic honey and maple syrup or brown rice. Oh the decisions I must make to keep this beautiful body! Power on Wholies! 20 ladyshanny, tangerine, Kage and 17 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ladyshanny 7877 Posted April 22, 2015 EXCELLENT! I'm moving this to Success Stories! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AmyS 3486 Posted April 22, 2015 Wow. I'm so glad you lived to tell the tale. Thanks for sharing your success, and your hope for the future. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Angela C 0 Posted April 22, 2015 Congratulations!!! I started my program today. YOu are such an inspiration!! God Bless Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Munkers 925 Posted April 22, 2015 This made me so happy to read. I just want to give you a hug. Thank you for sharing! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pharmgirl 31 Posted April 23, 2015 I loved reading this! What great motivation! Thank you so much for posting! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Joslyne 3 Posted April 28, 2015 I just started today and searched the forum for fibromyalgia. So glad I found this! Thanks for the inspiration! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carrots&Blueberries 153 Posted April 29, 2015 This is fantastic! I really hope you keep posting so that we can continue to follow your progress. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FlyingCrow 22 Posted April 29, 2015 Fantastic! thank you for posting this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tina Marie 295 Posted April 29, 2015 Congratulations ! all the NSV (non scale victories) are a better reason than the scale sometimes ! that is just a bonus. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tierramar 21 Posted April 30, 2015 Thanks for sharing your story - you're inspiring! Keep it up, and keep smiling! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thomas Leinaar 23 Posted May 2, 2015 Update! There have been some significant learning Eureka's just in the last week. I have discovered, partly due to my obesity and 60+ years of eating the wrong things, that I am experiencing the effects of the Whole30 at a later date then most self subjected Guinea Pigs on the Whole30. Most seem to experience (from what my doctor says and what I have read from testimonials) short term things like, sleepiness, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, etc. at around week 2. Me on the other hand did not experience these effects until I was done with the first 30 days. On retrospect I don't think it was the reintroduction of parmesan cheese for two days after I stopped the fist 30 that moved me into the bowels of distress for a week. Now that I have started another 30 (last Monday) I am back to a renewed energy and feel fantastic once again. So those of you that are severely overweight or 40 yrs. + (the new 60 I am told) may want to rethink reintroducing foods until you finish a second 30 or at least till you are sure you have triumphed the few malevolent side effects. As for my Doctor visits and lab tests. Wow, even better then my Family Practitioner and Cardiologist expected. Me on the other hand was well aware of the excellent improvements since the Whole30 gives you the power to see the future. lol Cholesterol, both good and bad made the appropriate improvements in there respective directions that I ordered balloons and a marching band to celebrate. :-) NEVER have to check my blood sugar again (maybe in a year so I can get more balloons!) EKG - excellent! Blood pressure at a sustained 125/68. My Cardiologist was blown away and said she has never seen such improvement in a patient so fast and so dramatic after having three stents put in my heart! I used to get regular cortisone shots in my left knee from years of damaging pain and am scheduled to have surgery sometime after August this year. I am not sure what is going to happen now as the pain is at 10% of what it has been for years. I think it is a combination of the power swim walking, the whole30 and premium organic full cannabis infused emu oil that I rub on my knee twice a day. I have tossed my metal knee brace and as I mentioned in my first posting I no longer use my electric wheel chair! Damn I'm happy! Power on Wholies. 3 ladyshanny, jmcbn and MeadowLily reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jmcbn 9764 Posted May 2, 2015 Power on indeed - fantastic news! Keep up the good work!! 1 MeadowLily reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dnnasttn 320 Posted May 3, 2015 Powering on with you! Thanks for sharing... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bmob 2 Posted May 11, 2015 Thanks for sharing! Very inspiring. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
musclesglasses5 50 Posted May 25, 2015 So phenomenal! Congrats and keep up the great work. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tangerine 76 Posted May 26, 2015 Fantastic story! Just started on my 2nd Whole 30 this week, thanks for the inspiration. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
