Inspired by faith and armed with self-discipline and knowledge picked up from his news beat, an Epoch Times reporter set out on a life-changing health odyssey.
What had happened?
The scales at the local gym glared back with an alarming number—278 pounds. The heaviest of my life.
At 6-foot-4, with my height and build, it’s easy to carry more weight and not fully realize the number. That moment in May was eye-opening, spurring me to action.
Since that day, a MAHA-inspired, anti-inflammatory wellness plan has become central to my life, with a focus on whole foods and herbs.
I eliminated processed and fast food. I minimized sugar. I began to regularly walk and hike. Now I’m back to High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workouts.
Almost seven months have passed since “278” stared back at me on the digital scale.
Sitting down with my family to partake of my favorite meal—Thanksgiving turkey, green beans, and mashed potatoes—my body has changed.
My body fat is lower, and my energy levels are higher. I’m healthier and feel fueled with momentum. Today, my weight is 213 pounds.
Inspired by a News Beat
Usually, a reporter avoids becoming the story. But we are only human, and the stories we cover can impact us and inspire us personally. In this case, it was covering Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential campaign from start to finish, writing about the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, and telling the stories of regenerative farmers.
I had always lived in cities and suburbs until two years ago when I decided to simplify life and move to the Appalachian foothills of southern Ohio, where self-sufficiency is as common as Amish horse-and-buggies on winding country roads.
Homesteading and sustainable living became topics of interest after attending the Food Independence Summit in 2023. Yet clean eating and a healthy lifestyle were not consistent priorities.
From April 2023 through August 2024, my Epoch Times beat took me around the country chronicling Kennedy’s presidential campaign at town halls, events, and places such as general stores and organic farms.
There were frequent one-on-one interviews with the candidate. I heard his message of the need to address America’s chronic disease epidemic enough times that I could have delivered his speech for him.
Clean eating and a healthy lifestyle, however, were still not consistent priorities for me, just yet.
Then, stepping on the scale those seven months ago on May 1, visions of a time before COVID surfaced. Back then, I had worked myself into the best shape of my life by cleaner eating and regular exercise. I knew what to do.
Somehow, starting in 2020, momentum had been lost, and the pounds packed on.
Playing basketball and tennis regularly, as I did in my 20s, 30s, and 40s, was a fond memory. Sitting on the couch, watching football, and devouring large pizzas became commonplace. Sure, there were short bursts of momentum over the last five years, but they didn’t last.
Faith and Action
So, what was different this time?
My faith.
Raised in a non-denominational church, I’ve long been a believer in Christ, but there is a difference between being a believer and a follower. Much of my adult life has been defined by being lukewarm and not wholeheartedly honoring God.
Over the last few years, my faith has gradually grown. That commitment soared this spring, and it keeps growing.
Raised in a non-denominational church, I’ve long been a believer in Christ, but there is a difference between being a believer and a follower. Much of my adult life has been defined by being lukewarm and not wholeheartedly honoring God.
Over the last few years, my faith has gradually grown. That commitment soared this spring, and it keeps growing.
