Here I am in August 2009 - pre diabetic - a typical middle aged man. I thought that this was my destiny - that all men of my age had to be like this.
But after talking with Michael Rose and then 9 months of eating differently and being more active - this is who I am now
Not thin - but 35 pounds less and importantly most of my visceral fat has gone as have my man boobs.
With luck, I should be able to be healthy and fit and like this until I die. With luck I have pulled back from the normal on PEI where the average man aged 65 is disabled by ill health and then lives for another 10 years a drain on his family and the state.
My aim was not just to lose weight - this is so much more than just another diet. It was to return my body to its designed natural state which would allow me to plateau. To keep have a long "Healthspan".
We talk all the time about Lifespan - but for me what counts is how long can I live and be healthy? My "healthspan".
So how did I do this in such a short time?
Most of this has taken place as a result of a change in diet - I gave up most modern foods - grains - dairy - legumes. I do cheat now and then too. I am not perfect. Routinely, I eat no processed food though - drink no pop or beer unless I am travelling and then very very rarely - I am only human!
I do drink a lot of wine. 3-4 glasses a day.
I don't eat any kind of candy and no sugar at all.
I am never hungry. I rarely need to snack and if I do, I tend to have a few nuts.
I did spinning for 2 months in the late winter once a week - but most of my "exercise" is activity based. Why pay for a gym when I can stack 4 cords of wood!
I feel so much better. Lighter - not just in weight but in spirit. My knees don't hurt. You put a back pack on with 35 pounds of bricks in it and walk all day and you might see why my knees hurt.
My blood tests are of a 25 year old. I sleep well.
I work at a standing desk and can do that all day now without getting too tired. It took 2 months to be my new normal and is now. I garden, move wood, use the stairs and walk the dog.
Now it helps also that I have a lot of control in my life. I work for myself and Robin and I have a hunter gatherer life. We do a bit of this and that. I don't have a lot of cash in hand but I din't rely on one key person to pay me. By giving up my expensive life and big mortgage in Toronto, I have no debt.
By living not in a rush, I have time for my friends and family and have time to do a lot of work for free - to spend weeks with my kids - to help others on what they want.
I go to bed early and rise with the sun. I work outside all year. If it is not mowing - it's shovelling. I walk our dog every day rain, snow, wind or shine.
I belong to a few great tribes of people that I love - who do the great work of our time. My life is an adventure again.
Changing my way of eating was in fact the easiest and fastest way back to health.
Leaving my old life in the big city and the big world was harder to do. It took maybe 10 years to complete the change and took me to the limit. I had to kill off the old me and leave my old life behind.
Coming to PEI saved me. And so did Michael Rose
