Northern Michigan Woman - Jan/Feb 2024 Fitness Issue
My HEALTH Transformation
Teri Yunus 2023-12-22 06:22:27
I retired five years ago. It looks so strange as I typed that sentence. Time passes so quickly. Working in the healthcare field opened me up to all the awesome outcomes that medicine can deliver. It also exposed me to many undesirable realities.
Many say that nurses and doctors are the worst patients and that may be true. When I was faced with a health concern, I did not immediately accept the advice of my physician. When I was told I would need a new knee within the next three years, I thought to myself, “Oh, no way!” This began my search for other options.
The internet made my effort so much easier. I searched keywords like, “alternative to knee replacement,” “dietary interventions” and “anti-inflammatory diet.” I was sure that if I got away from eating fast foods and processed foods, my knee would feel better.
One day I was walking on my treadmill, trying to take a few pounds off thinking that would help my knee when I came across a PBS Special called “Three Steps to Incredible Health” with Dr. Joel Fuhrman. I listened to the program and it made sense to me. What I had been doing as far as my lifestyle was likely contributing to inflammation and knee pain. At that moment, I decided to learn more and I purchased his book and read it over the following weekend.
My husband was traveling for business that same weekend and came across an article by Dr. Andrew Weil who is known for his anti-inflammatory eating style. Together we decided to move forward with a whole food plant-based diet like the one that Dr. Fuhrman was recommending. It intrigued me most because of all the stories I read regarding multiple health concerns becoming improved or completely reversed! I was excited and my husband was all in with me. To this day, I remain extremely grateful that he joined me on what would be “our” journey.
It’s been 11 years since we adopted this way of eating. What has happened for me is no less than a miracle. I did not need a knee replacement. In fact, I ran a 5K with my sister in 2015…my first and last. I am no runner but I wanted to do it to say I did and to prove that my knee was up for the challenge.
Shortly after adopting a plant-based lifestyle, my knee pain improved significantly. My weight dropped quickly — so quickly that people were asking if I was sick. I wasn’t sick at all. In fact, I felt better than I ever had! I had energy to spare and my mood was exceptional. I feel happy. I feel accomplished. I feel empowered that I had taken my health into my own hands and “fixed” my knee pain.
I didn’t even notice that I hadn’t had a migraine in quite some time when my husband asked me about it. I cried when I realized it had been weeks since I had a migraine headache. I had suffered with debilitating migraines since I was 19 years old. For 35 years, I had migraine headaches several times every month. They stopped with this way of eating. If you have ever had a migraine, you know how amazing this is! I still get teary-eyed thinking about the fact that all those years I could have prevented them if I had only known the power of food.
At 64 years of age, I feel better than I ever have. I have the energy of a 30-year-old (well, maybe that’s a stretch, but for sure a 40-year-old!) and have all my own body parts. I plan to live a long, healthy life and am proud to know that I am contributing to that outcome by eating the highest nutrient foods, moving my body and staying very active, and feeding my soul with friends and family I love.
Here are a few tips to get started on your own health journey.
1 .Love yourself. Love your body and treat it like the palace it is. It holds all the secrets to a long, healthy life. Listen to it. Our bodies give us cues all the time, but we tend to ignore them. Notice how your body feels when you overindulge and make changes to improve how you feel.
2 .Incorporate more fresh vegetables and fruits, beans and nuts and whole grains. These are the healthiest foods on the planet. Start where you are. If you are eating very little, increase the amount in small increments and keep building until you are eating much less animal-based and processed foods.
3 .Ask your family and friends to support you in your effort to feel better. We show love with food and we are deeply connected to the way we eat. Ask those around you to bear with you while you experiment with adjusting your eating habits.
4 .No need to make a big announcement about your plan to get healthier, just start where you are and build on what feels right and notice what happens. People will notice, too. Just say, “I’m trying this new thing. We’ll see how it goes.” No need to try to convert others.
5 .Know that you are an imperfect human and you will have setbacks. Get back on track as soon as possible. Don’t wait til after the holidays or after the weekend. Now is the best time.
Teri Yunus is a retired Nurse Practitioner who is currently working as a Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach. She owns and operates Health Up with Teri! Health & Wellness Coaching and loves the work she does to help people transform their lives. Her own health transformation led her to coaching and she believes that we have the power to make significant improvements in our health with the right tools and support. Contact Teri through her website at www.healthupwithteri.com.
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