My Journey to Plant-Based Living

Nutritarian Living Founder Marc Eiseman

For football enthusiasts, February 2008 was the year the Giants won the Super Bowl. For me, it marked the end of my SAD (Standard American Diet) and the beginning of my journey to a Whole Food Plant-Based (WFPB) lifestyle as a Nutritarian. My story begins a little while before the Super Bowl of that year. 

My Life Before Adopting a Plant-based Lifestyle

I grew up in the NY metro area and it is safe to say that one of my mottos was “I never met a bagel that I didn’t like!” Bread and bagels were my comfort foods. Having had food intolerances my whole life, certain foods gave me comfort - anything bread related. 

My diet consisted of the foods that lead so many people down the road to poor health today. Bagels and cream cheese for breakfast. Tuna salad, French fries, pizza, deli meats. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and salami were my favorites! M&Ms were my friend and I could barely resist passing them by when I shopped. Diet soda came with my lunch and dinner, as did artificial sweeteners in my coffee in the morning and during the day.

By the time I reached my mid-forties, I was a physical wreck. My clothes closet looked like a department store with multiple sizes of pants and shirts. My doctor kept increasing my blood pressure and cholesterol medications. It was as if the goalposts kept moving on me. Increasing my blood pressure medications led to an increase in my blood sugar. The medications never addressed the underlying cause of the worsening numbers and instead just masked the problem. My eating habits were mortgaging my health and taking me down a road of ever-increasing health problems.  

I attempted to control my weight with many different diets. I tried the liquid diet, Atkins, low carb, and just plain old portion control. The pinnacle of my frustration was when I decided to go “vegetarian.” I thought it would help lower my cholesterol and blood sugar. To my surprise, when my blood tests came back, those numbers increased significantly. Apparently, pasta and bread with cheese do not do wonders for your blood work or your health! It was obvious that I was doing something wrong.

At my worst, I was taking over 200 mg per day of blood pressure and cholesterol medication. My doctor at the time prescribed a high dose of another medication to lower my triglycerides.  My father had warned me from the time I could understand to watch my blood sugar. My grandfather, great-grandfather, and uncle all died as a result of complications from diabetes. 

A Fateful Evening Changed My Life

A fraternity brother of mine invited my wife and me to a gathering with a few other fraternity brothers at his house. Little did I know that my life was about to change significantly. We were flabbergasted at the big changes in his appearance when we greeted each other. We asked how he did it and he told us about the Eat To Live program from Dr. Joel Fuhrman. He followed the program and lost about 100 pounds. It was great timing for me. I had successfully lost weight on several other “diets”, only to find myself gaining back much of the weight once I returned to my old eating habits.  

I vowed to my wife that I would not spend the rest of my life on medications or become diabetic. Intrigued by my friend’s success, I suggested to my wife that we buy the book Eat To Live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. I read it twice from cover to cover. I then Googled Dr. Fuhrman and the comments helped cement my resolve. Although he was hardcore, he was the real deal!

There are four fundamental principles behind the Nutritarian Lifestyle from Dr. Fuhrman.

1. Nutrient Density – Prioritizing foods high in nutrients and low in calories.

2. Comprehensive Nutrient Adequacy – Making sure the diet provides all of the nutrients needed.

3. Hormonal Favorability -  Following a diet that promotes healthy hormones.

4. Avoiding Toxins -  Steering clear of carcinogenic and toxic substances.
   

What Happened When I Started Eating a Whole Food Plant-Based Diet

I decided to try it for a few weeks before committing to this new lifestyle. I began reading whatever I could get my hands on about plant-based living. After a few weeks, the results were quite apparent. I began to lose weight steadily, my blood pressure dropped as did my cholesterol. Any doubts I had about following a plant-based lifestyle slowly dissipated. I introduced new foods into my diet. My taste buds began to change and any cravings I had for sugar and simple carbs slowly went away. In short order, I was eating nutritionally dense food and my body responded in kind. My energy level skyrocketed. My weight dropped steadily, as did my blood sugar and cholesterol. My goal was to get healthy and eliminate any medications that I did not need.

One of the ongoing obstacles, oddly enough, was with my primary care doctor. While he acknowledged the improvement in my blood work and complimented me on the nutritional knowledge I had acquired, he was dead set against eliminating my medications. We locked horns for a while and then I decided to “fire” my doctor and find one that embraced my newly adopted lifestyle. 

How Going Plant-Based Changed My Life

My life has changed in many ways since I adopted a WFPB Nutritarian lifestyle. 

• I began to gain control of my health. I am 60 pounds less than I weighed when I adopted the WFPB (Whole Food Plant-Based) lifestyle.

• I reduced my blood pressure and cholesterol medications from 200 mg per day to NONE. I have not taken any medications for my triglycerides in years. (I kept my promise to my wife!)

• I immersed myself in the science of nutrition and the microbiome (gut health). 

• I became a resource for many of my friends and acquaintances. Some of them look to me to help explain the relationship between their food and their health. Some have even adopted a Whole Food Plant-Based lifestyle as well.

I believe strongly that to succeed in recapturing your health you need to “Get into the WEADS.” 

• Willingness - Being open-minded about adopting a new lifestyle change.

• Education – Learning what you can about the benefits of adopting a plant-based lifestyle

• Assistance – Acknowledging that getting help with this transition will help you reach your goals.

• Determination – Nobody claims that it is easy to change your lifestyle. You need to be determined to address the inevitable family, social, and personal challenges ahead.

• Support – You will need to find someone to support you with your journey.

Finally, my plant-based journey sparked an intense interest in learning about the relationship between the food we eat and our health. I read whatever I can about nutrition and health and how it can help prevent, and, in many instances, REVERSE many chronic conditions. 

To prepare for working with clients I’ve obtained several plant-based nutrition certifications.

1. Certified Plant-Based Nutrition from e-Cornell

2. Certified Nutritarian Coach – Nutritarian Education Institute

3. Forks Over Knives Plant-Based Certification – Rouxbe Online Cooking School

It has been many years since I gave up the Standard American Diet and adopted a Nutritarian Lifestyle. When people ask me if I feel better, my immediate response is “I am better!” I’ve learned that nothing tastes as good as being healthy feels! I am now ready to combine my passion for nutrition with my lifetime desire to help people.

Adopting a Plant-Based Whole-food lifestyle has many side effects you should be aware of. They include:

• Lowering or reversing your risk of cardiovascular disease.

• Lowering your risk or reversing type 2 diabetes.

• Lowering your risk of cancer.

• Lowering your risk of dementia.

• Improving your energy level.

• Improving your digestion.

• Strengthening your immune system.

• Losing weight.

• Eliminating sugar and salt cravings.

When you are ready to take charge of your health, I will work tirelessly to help you reach your goals!