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Inspirational Stories

_These are stories of people and how their lives have been dramatically changed after taking a Yes to Life Nutrition & Cooking  Class and converting to a plant-based diet.  These stories were originally published in the Alaska Vegetarian Society newsletter.  We have provided links to their stories and hope they will inspire you and to show how converting to a low-fat, whole foods, plant-based diet can have a dramatic effect on a person's health and well-being.

To read their story click on their name(s).

Betty McLaughin

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_Veganism Is a Lifesyle Whose Time Has Come

"I wish I’d known years ago what I know now about healthy eating.  I would have done things a lot differently!"

"I’ve always loved to cook, so for me this has been kind of an adventure.  Taking the class, seeing the cooking demos, tasting the food, and getting the recipes all made it easy."

"Now I know there is an answer to the spread of obesity, diabetes, cancer and heart disease."

Tiffany McGovern

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_This isn't a Diet--It's Our Way of Life


"There are certain days that stick in your mind.  That was the day I went vegan.  I was 28 years old but felt bad most of the time." 
Tiffany had high blood pressure, had headaches everyday, had trouble sleeping and had tried every crazy diet, but her wake-up call came when reach 256 pounds!  When she became vegan she felt better almost immediately.  Within a few weeks her blood pressure went to normal, she started sleeping at night without medication, she wasn't tired all of the time and lost 20 pounds in 7 weeks.

Joy Santos

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_Finally Released from My Food Prison   

Joy tells an inspirational story of how she was released from her prison of years and years of food addiction by making the simple choice to eat a low fat, whole foods, plant-based diet!

"Everything in my life has changed. I can taste and smell my food better, so I enjoy my food more. My blood pressure dropped 20 points right away. I have more energy than ever!"
Donna Pearson

A Family Affair

_My vegan journey began with a scare. As my husband and I were returning from our winter home in Arizona last spring, our adult daughter was being taken in the ambulance to the hospital.  She spent 11 days there with some time in critical care.   We learned she has severe diabetes. Bless her heart; she took this in such a positive way. She decided this was the motivation to give herself a new lease on life by adopting a healthier lifestyle.    Our family decided we would learn what we could about diabetes and also support her with healthful foods at family gatherings, etc.
Diane Rodriguez
Compassion, Confidence and Hope

Diane tried for many years to diet weight off, but kept gaining weight and had given up hope of ever loosing weight.  After taking the Food for Life classes and learning to cook she lost 70 pounds, is off her diabetes and cholesterol medications and her severe psoriasis is almost gone!  Now, she has gained the confidence to follow a diet based on compassion.  She has discovered that she can take charge of her health and has renewed hope that she can achieve a normal weight.
Val Musial
Finally Free of Pain

Val's doctor scared the bejesus out of her when he told her that she was "pre-diabetic".   Diabetes runs in her family and she knew she didn't want any part of it!  After reading the book, Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes and taking the Food for Life Nutrition & Cooking Class Val stopped the diabetes in its tracks and got another wonderful surprise.
Karlie Philpott
_Now I'm a Better Mom   

When Karlie's husband, Garth, found out he was borderline diabetic, they knew they had to do something.  Diabetes runs in his family and  he didn't want to go down that road!  After taking the Diabetes Food for Life class, Karlie cleaned out her pantry and replaced all of the convenience and junk foods with health plant-based items.  She started to feel better within a short time, her children's moods leveled out and her husband is doing great.  Now Karlie is going to start working on converting her siblings and parents!

_Faith White

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_Compassion in the Kitchen

Faith tells us after she read Skinny Bitch and watched the movie Food, Inc. she was done, done, done with meat!  Her's was a journey of compassion, an opening of her heart to the cruelty that was on her plate when she ate animal products.  After taking a Food for Life Cooking Class Faith and her husband Matt also began to see the health benefits of eating a plant-based diet.