I began gaining extra weight in high school and was obese by the time I graduated from college. I joined several gyms and tried numerous diets, but I never found a permanent solution for my weight.

Over thirty years later, in 2019, my health began to decline rapidly. My blood pressure spiked, and my doctor prescribed two medications to manage it, but it was barely under control.

Then, I started experiencing tremors and balance problems, prompting me to buy a cane to help me walk. I consulted four different doctors to determine what was wrong. I was convinced it was an autoimmune disease, as they run in my family. I underwent blood tests, urine tests, and even a brain MRI, but everything came back normal. At that point, I weighed 230 pounds.

One day, I felt pain in my upper back. I dismissed it as bronchitis and decided to wait for a cough to develop before seeing a doctor. Ten days later, I finally went to urgent care. They sent me to the ER, suspecting I had suffered a heart attack.

I spent four days in the hospital, where it was determined that I hadn’t had a heart attack but was diagnosed with coronary artery disease. At my follow-up appointment, my cardiologist advised me to follow a Mediterranean diet and get regular exercise.

I gradually began changing my diet by eliminating unhealthy foods and portions and replacing them with healthier options. I also joined a gym and hired a personal trainer.

It took 17 months, but I lost just over 90 pounds. My balance issues and tremors have disappeared, and I feel fantastic. Now, I road cycle with a group, riding over 30 miles each time.