How I Changed My Behavior and Transformed My Body

This is a guest post by Bill Freeman, a retired 63-year-old school principal and Natural Healthcare Center patient. I’d like to personally thank Bill for sharing his story. Dr. James Proodian

I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer three years ago when tumors were discovered on both sides of my thyroid. After having surgery to remove the thyroid, I was treated with radioactive iodine to kill any remaining cancer cells in my body.

Over the course of about two weeks, I gained 32 pounds. You have to drink a lot of fluids to get the radioactive iodine out of your body, so much of what I gained was water weight.

I had been getting regular chiropractic adjustments from Dr. Proodian and finally told him that I was disappointed because I couldn’t lose the weight. I had been on Weight Watchers. I used apps on my phone. I would lose a few pounds, hit a wall, and just gain it all back.

Dr. Proodian suggested that I see Dr. (Oscar) Coetzee. I told Dr. Coetzee that if he could help me lose weight, I would do whatever he wanted me to do. I’m a Type A personality. If you tell me to eat four ounces of turkey, I’m going to eat four ounces of turkey. You tell me to eat 17 carrots, and I’m going to eat 17 carrots.

Dr. Coetzee put me on a low glycemic index eating plan for two weeks. I read the whole thing cover to cover. I went to the food store and bought everything on the list. I did every single thing that he said.

In 14 days, I lost 16 pounds. I stayed on this plan for another 14 days and lost an additional three pounds. Dr. Coetzee decided to shake things up a little and put me on the Paleo eating plan. After 28 days, I lost another 13 pounds.

It’s important to clarify that this isn’t a diet. This is a new way of life for me. If I go out to dinner, I’m looking for chicken and vegetables. I’m not touching the bread or potatoes, and I’m not ordering pasta. They’re not part of how I eat anymore. Honestly, I like a lot of those things. I love pasta. But I want to be healthy.

The great part about my eating plan is that I eat all day long. Because I’m eating the food I’m supposed to eat, it doesn’t matter. And I’m not missing a thing.

Dr. Coetzee says I can occasionally treat myself to something that’s not on my eating plan as long as I stick to the plan on the day before and the day after. If I do that, Dr. Coetzee said it should have no effect on my metabolism.

One of the reasons why I made this decision in the first place was because my daughter was getting married. I had been a competitive runner in high school and college – always athletic – and now I felt like a beached whale.

I wanted to feel better about myself at my daughter’s wedding.

Not only did I lose the weight and keep it off, but I was able to enjoy her wedding day. I had a couple of drinks. I ate everything they served. I had cake. I gained a few pounds, but I lost it just as fast because I got right back to my eating plan.

The only problem was that my tuxedo had to be altered at the last minute because it was way too big.

Since I’ve been on this eating plan, I sleep better and have more energy. Clothes fit better. I play golf and go to the beach. I went back to the gym and started lifting again. I put on more muscle mass.

I’ve had two knee replacements and used to feel pain in my knees. Not anymore. When I went to see my regular physician, he was shocked at how much my blood pressure went down. He even reduced by thyroid medication.

This has been an absolutely amazing transformation for me. I feel like a million bucks. When I was frustrated with my inability to lose weight after thyroid surgery, other people told me, “It is what it is. That’s the downside of losing your thyroid.”

Dr. Proodian, Dr. Coetzee and Brittany Palmisano made me realize that I didn’t need to accept being unhappy or overweight. I can’t thank them enough for helping me change my life.