SUCCESS STORIES

MEET CHRISTA VIETS

I always thought that I had healthy dietary and lifestyle habits, until I met Dr. Pam Popper of The Wellness Forum. Her knowledge and passion of the science of food made it clear to me that I actually knew very little.

I attended her Wellness 101 classes because I really wanted to know what foods I should eat, the foods I should avoid, and most important why I should be eating a plant strong diet. Dr. Popper provided the science behind what happens to your body when you consume certain foods and why your body responds as it does to the foods that you eat. With every point she made about diet and lifestyle, I found myself wanting to learn and understand more. I was very disturbed when I learned about the amount of misinformation given to the public by various well-meaning health organizations and the fact that proven scientific research has been quieted. Dr Popper helped me understand about the conflicts of interest and how important it is to identify information supported by scientific research - which has helped me make the choices that are right for me.

One topic that Dr. Popper talked about that really surprised me was how to minimize and reduce the amount of oil in my diet. I couldn't believe that one tablespoon of oil had 120 calories and 14 grams of fat - even consuming olive oil is bad. So much for the popular Mediterranean Diet!

With this lifestyle, I feel good and healthy and I've lost about 5 lbs., (not intentionally) and by observing a plant strong diet, I feel less full and less "thick".

My family has been very receptive to the changes in their meals and since I love to cook, making changes in what we eat is like continuing art classes! My creative juices have been stimulated and now vegetable entrees are the main course in the meals I serve. I have to admit, however, that it has taken my husband awhile to get use to this new lifestyle, but I'd also like to add, that without even trying, he has lost about 10 pounds. Now that's just not fair! :. As a family we have all realized the health benefits of eating more whole vegetables, reducing our meat as well as reducing our "treat consumption", and I have not heard one complaint about switching to Soymilk.

I would like to encourage all of you to join and take advantage of Dr. Popper's knowledge and research. She delivers information candidly and with endorsement if appropriate. Because The Wellness Forum is not funded by any organization or institution, Dr Popper has no problem pointing out the fallacies in information that is disseminated to the public. I enjoy her lectures - they are full of scientific data and she does a wonderful job of explaining the science behind food and health. I only wish I had taken the Wellness 101 class years ago but I wasn't ready to learn and listen to the science behind why this way of eating is better for you. I encourage people to ask questions, challenge the supposed "authorities", get the facts and become better informed about their health.

For fun, I practice hot yoga 3 times a week, play golf and walk and carry my bag, and I have been jazzercising for years because I love the dancing and I generally like to "move"!

I recommend everyone attend the Wellness 101 classes, to watch the film "Forks Over Knives" in which Dr. Popper makes and appearance (she also did the fact checking and helped with the research for the movie) and to read The China Study by Dr. T. Colin Campbell. Learn as much as you can about the diet and lifestyle that The Wellness Forum promotes and learn how to take control of your health - It will change your life!