Well, next week never came. My health seemed to change at 40. Bad shoulders. I gained a few lbs. I had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and bad sleep. I generally managed it ok; or so I thought. My thinking was that this was all just a part of the normal aging process. Boy, was I wrong!

I was told by doctors to get on all sorts of meds, low fat, low salt, & less protein. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong!

I sort of wandered through the next decade still thinking I would buckle down 90 Days from my next birthday, or as a New Year’s Resolution, or after I pig out at Thanksgiving one last time, or after I finish all of the cookies in this bag, or after I get home from the next vacation. More excuses. More postponement. Every day was like Fat Tuesday over and over again.

Then it happened with a vengeance. I got the Big C. It was a time of incredible challenge. My grandmother passed away. My wife’s back failed her. She was in serious pain and could not walk. She was also getting bouts of vertigo and eczema. The ever-present eczema was a constant for her the first 60 years of life.

And then on my daughter’s birthday, I got the dreaded Cancer diagnosis. All of this happened in a 2 week period. Spiritually, I was fine. I’ll never forget my honest reaction when my doctor gave me the news, “It’s ok,” I said, I’ll just go see Jesus sooner.” My mom was there and almost fainted. This could not be happening to her (favorite) son. It did and with a vengeance.

I was a good patient. I was actually a much better patient than my wife! 🙂 I really was, but I know why. I love being waited on. She cannot stand it.

Anyway, as any good patient would, I did exactly what the medical professionals told me to do. And they almost killed me. At the end of their “treatment” I lost almost 70 lbs and I did NOT need to. I could not talk, swallow, or speak. I could only eat through a feeding tube. I hated it. I spit up the poison (literally) through the feeding tube. Many is the time I splattered the ceiling with my “food.” Had I known then what I know now would I have gone through their “health” care? Not a chance in the world. At least not on their terms. I would have been in control of my care.

Where am I now? I am 61. I am very fit and my numbers are great. I look forward to the next decade and the next and the next. Will there by blips? Probably, but I will go into them with greater strength, greater mental clarity, greater relationships, and more wealth. My healthspan has increased. My zeal for life is off of the charts!

Now, I coach others to improve their metabolic health, their quality of life, and to increase their healthspan.