The Truth, Until You Know Otherwise

Well, Hello, Salad Bar No Time to Cook Plant-Strong Meals?

The Truth, Until You Know Otherwise

HERE IS MY PLANT STRONG STORY: “You only believe in what you think is the truth, until you know otherwise…”

I grew up as most Wisconsin kids did. I ate the foods that we all thought were good for us to eat. Some of my first words were “ham-ferfer & fri-fri” at the McDonalds drive thru window. We had cookouts and roasted hot dogs over campfires. We ate home-cooked meals, and yes lots of cheese (it is Wisconsin). I thought that “Milk Does a Body Good!” And, I really enjoyed eating steaks, burgers, brats, chicken, eggs, and of course bacon! Organic wasn’t the trend back then. Grass-fed and free range were not terms being thrown around. And yes, back then, we knew what we were doing. At least, that’s what we believed in…

I wouldn’t trade those experiences for anything in the world. Because it’s those experiences that now motivate me to eat the way I do.

I have never pushed the “anti-animal diet.” In fact, I used to advocate for the high protein, animal-based nutrition plan like every other person who reads a Muscle & Fitness Magazine. Yeah, I also ate fruits and vegetables, but like most MEAT HEADS, all I cared about was how I looked in the mirror and whether or not my muscles were beach worthy. If cellphones had cameras back then, I would have taken nothing but selfies in t-shirts with no sleeves. Just ask my high school and college wrecking crew.

I started playing football in 2nd grade and continued until I was a senior in high school. I wrestled in middle school and made varsity as a freshman @ 125lbs until I hurt my back and developed degenerative disc disease. I ran track for 4 years all through high school and continued through college. After high school I picked up bodybuilding and competed in 2 shows. And, after college I played on 2 semi pro football teams. I wasn’t the best athlete, but I worked my tail off to be the best I could. Needless to say, playing sports and working out became my identity, and still is.

Working out, playing sports, being a Personal Trainer, eating healthy are all things that I have always promoted. I did go through a phase to find myself, as most men do (and most boys never come out of). I came out of it with a sense of clarity, a new perspective on life, health, and my own body. I found out that what I once believed in, was something that was actually killing me.

At 21 I was 190lbs, 6% body fat, and at my height, technically obese. After doing my last bodybuilding show my health took a turn for the worse. I was eating all the foods that I thought I should have been eating, and still was on high blood pressure medication. I drank whey protein shakes like water because that’s what I thought I should be drinking, and yet I developed Ulcerative Colitis.

I didn’t understand, because I didn’t know otherwise.

After finding out that I would have to take an $800 per/month horse pill for the rest of my life, I started to question everything. Do I take the risk of losing my colon or having a 30% higher chance of developing colon cancer by the age of 30?

Well, I found out that the foods I was eating (specifically whey protein, eggs, & dairy) were actually causing the symptoms. That was a huge blow to my set of beliefs. I had a decision to make: Continue doing what I originally thought was right? Or, try this new path?

It’s been 4.5 years. I AM SIGN & SYMPTOM FREE! I don’t take medicine for high blood pressure or Ulcerative Colitis. I don’t get sick. I am not deficient in any nutrients. And, I don’t have any pain in my low back from degenerative disc disease.

I am now 31. I am the strongest, fastest, and the healthiest I have ever been. I don’t do whey protein shakes. I don’t eat eggs. And, I don’t eat meat (because I choose not to). This is now what I believe. Not because it’s a fad. Not because I have canine teeth. NOT because it’s what cavemen did. But, because I KNOW it’s the healthiest way to eat!

This is my truth, at least until I know otherwise…