Overcoming Weakness and Lethargy

What really helped me succeed was my huge thirst for knowledge and love of learning. I attended a lecture by a well-know raw food nutritionist who delivered a message that spoke to my heart. It was almost overnight that I began eating only raw foods. Such a dramatic dietary shift would not be a sustainable approach for most people, but seemed appropriate for my needs. Although I kept experiencing digestive difficulties, I was convinced to stay vegetarian. I started reading everything I could about raw diets. Early in my transition, I came across fruitarian and natural hygiene information and attempted to live primarily off blended fruit smoothies with greens. This was when my health, energy, strength, and weight plummeted, and I realized that just because something is not heated does not make it good to eat. I was a six-foot tall, 138-pound man living on fruit sugar. I needed help.

I first met Brian Clement at a YES to Life Festival about an hour from my hometown. He taught me about the problems of eating too much sugar, including fruit sugar, and of the oxidation and destruction that occurs when blending food. His words had a huge impact on my life and health. Thank God! I felt like I had finally found the information I was seeking and I bought all the books, CDs and videos I could get my hands on. It was the best investment I ever made. I began implementing the Hippocrates program as best I could, eventually attending the Life Change Program at the Hippocrates Wellness . I worked intensely with Brian on deep cleansing methods, fasting on green juice and garlic for a week and flushing my gallbladder. The final piece of the puzzle was getting the exercise I needed, so I joined a gym. During the next 16 months I gained 50 pounds of muscle eating 100 percent raw living foods. I felt incredible!

Once I had my health back, I graduated from the Canadian College of Natural Nutrition and spent much time at Hippocrates investing thousands of hours studying natural health. I became a certified yoga instructor and personal trainer, and was voted one of the top 40 most influential people under 40 in my community of 150,000 people. I currently give lectures and travel throughout North America helping people transition from a meat-based and cooked food diet to a living foods lifestyle. Though I have undergone many highs, lows, fears and doubts, I knew in my heart that embracing a living lifestyle was the answer I was in search of, regardless of how others viewed my "extreme" diet. My mission now is to help others see that they too are capable of living the life of their dreams while attaining optimal health. It is possible to change any situation as long as you allow your passion to guide you through the journey.

Contact Mark at [email protected] or +1 519 940 3869.

Vol 30 Issue 1 page 16