Big Change The Film Podcast

This weeks guest is Philip Parker who lives in California. Phillip weighed in at 380lbs at his highest, struggled with Gerd, cholesterol, cramps, and all of the other things you would expect being 380lbs. After many years Philip realized that he had a food addiction and decided to approach it in the same way that others with addiction would, head on. We talk about the mechanisms he uses to create boundaries with the foods which trigger his addiction and his 160lb weight loss journey. We have a great conversation and I hope that you enjoy!

This weeks guest is Karen Hauserman. Karen tells that for most of her life she was overweight and remembers being teased by all of the other kids in school. Once she was an adult she told me that she put her energy into improving her career and raising three kids rather than taking care of her own health. In late 2010 she had a heart attack and realized that she was a ticking time bomb. At the beginning of 2011 she decided that was was going to turn her health around, she has since lost 268lbs, and told me that she feels like she has reversed the aging process. We have a great conversation about her amazing journey and thanks so much for watching. 

This weeks guest is Josh Turner who lives in Thibodaux, Louisiana. At the age of 10 Josh found out that he had type 1 diabetes and says that it began to take over his life. He struggled with his health and weight until recently, and even talks about the time where he almost died twice within one week as a result of his diabetes. In recent years he has taken back his health, been able to manage his diabetes with his diet, and lost 97lbs as well. His message for all diabetics out there is, “don’t give up on yourself.” We have a great conversation and I hope that you enjoy!

This weeks guest is Crystal Zahorski who lives in Washington state. Crystal was diagnosed at the age of 25 with hereditary high cholesterol. She was told that she would need to go on statins as soon as she was done having kids, and would be on them for the rest of her life. She struggled with food addiction, says that previously she would diet all day and eat a half of tub of ice cream at night. Since then she has lost 25lbs, has been able to successfully manage her cholesterol with her diet for years now, and told me that at the age of 39 she feels better than she did in her 20s. We have a great conversation and I hope that you! Reach out to Crystal though her FB page at https://www.facebook.com/CrystalZUnpolished/

Just a quick video to say thanks for watching over the last year and a few things to come for 2018. Feel free to email me and I hope that your year is off to a great start!

This weeks guest is Matt Buckner who lives in Florida. Just 4 years ago Matt was in terrible shape, was on 4 different medications for various ailments, and told me that his goal was just to make it from the bed to the couch each day because he says he was was always exhausted. Since then he has lost 100lbs, is now an avid runner, and says he is an “Instant Pot junkie.” We have a great conversation and I hope that you enjoy! 

  This weeks guest is Paul Chatlin who lives in the Detroit area. At 56 years old Paul found himself with one artery 100% blocked, 2 others 65% blocked and headed for bypass surgery. Right before going into surgery his doctor asked him if he would be interested in trying a different approach, and choosing to change what he ate rather than going under the knife. Paul decided to change what he was eating, and switched to a Whole Foods plant based diet. He was able to forgo surgery, he is now healthier than ever, and made a promise to spread that message to others, which he now does with www.pbnsg.org and through their small groups in the Detroit area. They have over 4000+ strong  might be the largest plant based support and outreach program in the country. We have a fantastic conversation and I hope that you enjoy!

This weeks guest is Jim Balla who lives in the Detroit area. Jim told me that when he was a kid he wore “husky clothes” and graduated high school at 300lbs. As an adult Jim had type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, lots of intestinal issues, and says that he was in terrible shape. He decided to give a plant based diet a try and says that he was able to do in 4 days what his doctor couldn’t do in 5 years. He is now off his diabetic and high blood pressure meds, and has lost 164lbs. He told me that he previously wasn’t in control of his life and one thing he told me which I love is this, “life is a joy, I feel alive, I feel like I have my life back.” We have a great conversation and I hope that you enjoy!

This weeks guest is Jeff Mayer who lives in South Florida. Jeff realized several years ago that a life overhaul was in order after he gained 40lbs following a injury. He told me that he was motivated by wanting to be able to keep up with his 8 year old son who seemed to have endless energy. One thing that Jeff told me that I love is this, “You don’t have to accept your fate as you get older. You can do something about it, you can change.” We have a great conversation and I hope that you enjoy.

This weeks guest is Jennifer Peli who lives in England. Jennifer told me that she went on her first diet at the age of 18 and she thought she would never be thin. She suffered from IBS from age 10 all the way up to the age of 67. Jennifer somewhat accidentally lost 67lbs as she changed her diet to try and save her husbands life after he had a heart attack. She is feeling better than ever now at the age of 69, has taken up running, and her husbands health is better than it has been in years. We have a wonderful conversation and thanks for listening.

This weeks guest is Marilyn Plaskiewicz who lives in Connecticut. Marilyn told me that she was always chubby and that growing up her family always wanted her to eat. She struggled with her weight for most of her life and told me that she had aches and pains that prevented her from living a good life. She decided one day that she was worth it and to put herself first. She has since lost 140lbs and says that she is physically, mentally, and spiritually where she is supposed to be. One thing that Marilyn told me which stuck with me was this, “Being healthy is hard, being overweight is hard. Choose your hard.”

This weeks guest is Alexis Fox who lives in Boston, Massachusetts. Alexis grew up eating a Standard American Diet. She told me that as she began to care more for the environment and animals, it changed the foods she put in her body. Over several years she lost 45lbs and said that at the age of 36 she is thinner than she was in her 20s. We have a great conversation and I hope that you enjoy!

This weeks guest Marc Blancette who lives in Ellsworth, Maine. At the age of 56, Marc was 339lbs. He has since lost 184lbs, feels like he is in his 20s, has biked across the state of Maine 3 times, and discovered a whole new life along with this weight loss. One thing Marc told me which I love is this, “don’t look at it as a way to lose pounds, you are gaining your health. Your family needs you, your grandchildren need you.” I hope that you enjoy our conversation and thanks so much for listening.

This weeks guest Paul Blackwell who lives in SE Pennsylvania. Paul said that he was always skinny and was even called “sting bean” when he was younger. He discovered however at the age of 33 that despite looking fit, he had 90% blockage in his heart, and had to have 5 stents put in. Within the last year he was told that he was going to need to have bypass surgery and while he was being prepped for surgery he thought to himself, “there has got to be a different way.” Since then he has adopted a Whole Foods Plant Based diet, is feeling better than ever, and has also lost 40lbs in the whole process. We have a great conversation and I hope that you enjoy it!

This weeks guest is Jeff who lives near Ann Arbor. At his largest Jeff was almost 350lbs, had difficulty walking, could not longer go up stairs, and says that he would often have to take the motorized shopping cart at the grocery store. After a bit of a medical scare Jeff decided to take his health seriously, has lost 130lbs, able to get off of all of his medications, and he feels like he has gotten his life back.

This weeks guest is Rich Hubbard who lives in NW Connecticut. Rich says that he used to eat fast food every day, would binge on ice cream, and says that he thought he was destined for a life of obesity, meds, and diabetes. He has since then lost 150lbs, developed a passion for a healthy lifestyle, and looks forward to staying active well into his later years. We have a great conversation about his journey, extra skin, and much more. I hope that you enjoy it and thanks for listening

This weeks guest is Mike Gregorio who lives in New Jersey. Mike weighed 440lbs at his highest and says that he struggled with obesity for 25 years. He said that at some point he said to him self, this is not the way to live… I am missing out on life. He has since lost 155lbs and has a new lease on life. Thanks so much for watching and I hope that you enjoy our conversation!

This weeks guest is Rick Gloo. Rick says that he was a competitive eater starting in high school and started really packing on the pounds in high school. In college and beyond Rick developed a bit of a drinking habit, was overweight, and realized he simply was not living to his full potential. Through his dietary changes, meditation, and running he has been able to reach his potential and loose 90lbs in the process. I actually had the chance to connect with Rick in person this past weekend at Plantstock. When we saw each other he was on his 364th day of consecutive running and he has since completed a full year of running every day. We have a great conversation and I hope that you enjoy it!

This weeks guest is Mary Chavarria who lives in Tucson, Arizona. Mary says that in her childhood she was constantly surrounded by snacks and sweets, and that her mother even had a tub of ice cream for each child so that they wouldn’t fight over it. She was the biggest kid in her high school and says that she was constantly bullied. At her largest, she was over 400lbs, and has since lost 230lbs. She said, “I thought I would never feel normal, I’ve been overweight and obese my entire life.” She now walks 4 miles ever day and attributes it all to gratitude. We have a great conversation and I hope that you enjoy it.

This weeks guest is Josh Byrd who lives in Lincoln, Nebraska. Josh was overweight for most of his life and at the age of 4 weighted 90lbs. At his heaviest he was 420lbs, says that he struggled at movie theaters, restaurants, and even putting on his socks. In his 20s he was hypertensive, had high blood pressure, fatty liver disease, and had to wear waist high compression nylon stockings. He says that he didn’t want his own daughter to be the 90lb kindergartner, has since lost 210lbs, and is now an aspiring ultra endurance athlete. We have a great conversation and I hope that you enjoy it.