“Dear Fawn,

I wanted to thank you for introducing me to the tools and the encouragement to get my life back. I was diagnosed with an auto immune disorder called Poly Myalgia Rhematica (PMR). This is an inflammatory condition of the large muscle groups involving shoulders, hips and back, and is treated with prednisone. I have been on a large dose of prednisone for almost 3 years. At this point in my life, I was 130 pounds overweight, my blood pressure continued to climb, my blood sugar was high enough that my doctor was discussing diabetic medication, my cholesterol and triglycerides were also high enough to warrant medication intervention and last but not least, I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue disorder. I was barley able to work my full time job. I would go home from work and sleep till it was time to get up to eat and then go back to bed. Our diet was primarily take out since i was too tired to cook and then clean up.

In September 2017, I drug myself to hear your presentation on Whole30. As I sat in the audience listening to your story, it began to sound somewhat familiar. You were able to follow the Whole30 plan for 3 years and you were living proof it could work. I remember going home from the meeting and thinking about it for several days. I was concerned on several levels:

1) How was I ever going to manage all of the grocery shopping and food preparation when I had no energy.
2) What if I failed?
3) Could food really have such an impact on my life?
4) Could I live without sugar, dairy, and grains for 30 days?

After several hours of shopping for the compliant foods and preparing the food, on September 18, 2017 we began the journey of Whole30. Although it was not an easy journey it was a rewarding one. After 1 week, I felt the pain start to ease in my body. After 2 weeks, I was feeling as though I was losing weight. By week 3 I was finding myself requiring less naps. And the final results after 30 days: I was able to wear clothing 2 sizes smaller, my blood pressure was significantly down, my cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugars were within 10 pounds of being in “normal range,” I no longer needed a nap at the end of my work day and last but not least I had lost 11 inches and 21 pounds.

After doing the Whole30 for 30 days I decided not to reintroduce any of the foods back into my diet. I am now going on 90 days of living the Whole30 lifestyle and have lost 40 pounds, and decreased several of my medications. I also feel as though I have my life back. I am not sure words can ever express how grateful I am that you were willing to share your story and encourage me and others through this journey. Thank you! Thank you!”

-Beth