How This Man Beat Type 2 Diabetes, Depression, And Lost 130 Pounds In The Process
Adam overcame a lifetime of depression, drug and food addiction, and low self-esteem by choosing to get proactive about his health.
Every year, the death toll caused by unhealthy dietary and lifestyle choices increases. At least 40% of annual deaths from each of five leading US causes are preventable, reports the CDC. This statistic is concerning for a number of reasons.
Not only are children now expected to live shorter lives than their parents, those born in the ‘Baby Boomer’ generation are beginning to experience the effects of a diet high in refined sugar, trans fats, excess animal proteins, and artificial fillers and sweeteners.
The manifestations of a body out of balance range from Diabetes and Cancer to Heart Disease and insomnia. Unfortunately, most people aren’t aware of the extent a poor diet can affect their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.
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There is positive news, however. The body is a resilient, self-regenerating machine, and when given the proper tools (nourishing food, stress-free environment, daily movement, and a calm mind), can heal itself.
One such individual is Adam Sud, who was able to heal his Type 2 Diabetes, overcome years of drug addiction and depression, and lose 130 pounds in the process. He shared his success with Forks Over Knives, and his personal account follows:
“My weight didn’t become a problem until I was about 24 years old, but I have always had an unhealthy relationship with food and a poor self-image. Unfortunately, those weren’t the only things I struggled with. I was also a drug addict and suffered from severe depression, and by the time I was 30 I had developed a severe fast food addiction and weighed 300 pounds. I basically never left my apartment except to go get fast food or drugs. I was never suicidal, but I also didn’t care about living anymore. I remember waking up one morning and just being sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. I called my father and asked for help with my addiction to Adderall (a prescription drug used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy).
I checked into rehab in August of 2012, and while I was there I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Interestingly enough, the diagnosis affected me more than coming to terms with my drug addiction did. Luckily, I had attended one of Rip Esselstyn’s Engine 2 Immersions a year or so prior to rehab, so I knew that I could reverse my diabetes with a plant-based diet. There and then, I made that my mission.
Once I left rehab, I moved into a sober living home in Santa Monica, California. While there, I put myself on a strict plant-strong diet and never cheated. I also started going to the gym four times a week. Within the first two months I had lost almost 40 pounds, and my blood sugar level had dropped from 300 to 120. What this showed me was that I am the one who changes my life! If I accept responsibility for my situation and do the necessary work to change it, my life becomes better (even if it’s uncomfortable at first). Recognizing that, I applied the same method to my emotional recovery, which for me was the hardest part, and I saw the same results. Becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable is the essence of recovery, whether physical or emotional.
I reversed my type 2 diabetes within six months, and I lost over 100 pounds in a year. I have since become a holistic lifestyle coach, and I teach nutrition as a tool for recovery and relapse prevention to recovering addicts. I have had the honor of being a speaker at Rip Esselstyn’s Engine 2 Immersion (May of 2014) in Arizona and have been a guest on the Rich Roll podcast.
Today I am three years sober, I weigh 170 pounds, and I am in the best shape of my life. Plant-based eating has not only saved my life, but it has allowed me to create an entirely new one. Everything has changed: the way I see the world, how I perceive people, and how they perceive me. It’s an incredible feeling. I can say for sure that the struggle is real, but the rewards are immense. I love my life, and I look forward to every new day!”
If you’re inspired by Adam’s story, invest in your health today. Not only does it cost just over a $1 to eat healthier every day (here’s the evidence to prove that statement), the process can be extremely rewarding.
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Top image credit: Adam Sud
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