My Story
On January 18, 2008 I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. I was morbidly obese. At age 50, I weighed 371 lbs.
I didn’t know it then, but apparently high cholesterol goes hand in hand with diabetes. So, I was also in pre-stages of heart disease with elevated cholesterol levels.
The year before, I participated in a sleep study because I was waking up with headaches, had intermittent breathing throughout the night, and I was snoring loudly. Some nights I even woke up choking.
I was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea and needed a CPAP machine to breathe as I slept.
It was time to rethink my life.
Until I was diagnosed, I would have told you I had been very healthy my entire life.
I’ve also been considered overweight or actually overweight, most of my life.
My mother has always been weight obsessed and was concerned about my weight from the time I was in elementary school. She put me on my first diet when I was in the 5th grade.
Now, with my recent diagnosis, I knew something had to change.
Me before starting a plant-based lifestyle
January 18, 2008 was the day I changed my life.
Typical nutritionists and dietitians — as they are trained to do — told me to avoid sugar and carbs and to maximize my proteins. I started a Standard American “diet” of cottage cheese, chicken, salmon, salads, veggies, lots of cheese - no candy, ice cream or cookies.
I remember giving away a donut that I’d put in my desk the day before I was diagnosed. It was devastating for me. "I was not sick! I wasn’t going to be sick!" I thought.
I had to wake up and face the truth — I was sick.
But I didn’t have to stay sick.
I started with standard dieting.
Over the next few years I lost 123 pounds while on various fad "diets." I felt deprived. My weight yo-yoed and I gained a lot back.
By Summer 2012, I had made some progress — down to 290 pounds — but I was still sleeping with my CPAP, still taking all my medications (High Cholesterol, Diabetes, Anxiety), and still pricking my finger to test my blood sugar twice a day.
My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
This was another thing to be concerned about while I was working to change my life. She was starting to decline noticeably. My paternal grandfather, my aunt, and my maternal grandmother had all battled Alzheimer’s. Now, my mom had it.
Whoa.
I started researching what I could do to prevent Alzheimer’s — reading scientific studies, books, and articles along with watching documentaries and videos for several months.
This research led me to a surprising conclusion for preventing Alzheimer's: a vegan diet.
Cutting all animal products from my diet was the answer this research was telling me.
December 25, 2012 I started a vegan diet.
I figured it would be a Christmas present to myself. It worked — sort of.
I lost some more weight and lowered my cholesterol. But the biggest win was concerning my diabetes.
Cutting out animal products completely reversed my Type 2 diabetes.
This was great news, but I realized I wasn't really being healthy even as a vegan.
I was a “junk food vegan." I would eat highly processed "vegan" products that were created in a science lab somewhere. If they're "vegan" they must be healthy, right? Not quite.
Because of this, the weight didn't say off for long. I still felt there was more for me to learn about my health.
I discovered the Whole Foods Plant Based lifestyle.
More research pointed me to something called a "Whole Foods Plant Based" lifestyle. This was the answer I had been searching for.
This way of thinking about food encourages consuming foods in their whole state or minimally processed and free of sugar, oils and food additives.
This changed my life.
I believe with all my heart and soul this is the answer for optimal health. I started eating this way on December 2, 2013. Since then —
My cholesterol is normal now.
My Type-2 Diabetes is completely gone.
I don't need my medications anymore.
My anxiety is gone.
I sleep as well as I ever have and no longer need that CPAP machine.
My gum disease is gone.
My skin is clearer.
My nails are stronger.
My hair is thicker.
Since I decided to change my life in January of 2008, I've lost 236 pounds.
The Whole Foods Plant Based lifestyle I've been living deserves the credit for enabling me to achieve this radical transformation.
Although it took me through a lot of ups, downs, twists, and turns to get here, I'm so grateful to have found this lifestyle.
I didn't have anyone to help me get through this or to show me the right path.
I want to be that person for you. I don't want you to have to journey alone like I did.
I'm here to help you get started right away to change your life!
Me after this transformation
About
About Purely Plants
I am doing this for three reasons
1) To help people who want to improve their health and reverse disease with weight loss as a side effect
2) To assist with weight loss as primary reason
3) To introduce younger & healthier people to this lifestyle so they will be eating for optimal health, saving the environment and the animals by living a cruelty free lifestyle.
What am I doing?
I am sharing my experience, tools and resources for those interested in learning more about, and those interested in following a Whole Foods Plant Based Diet.
I can answer questions to the best of my ability and point you in the direction of experts, blogs, documentation. I am not a medical professional.
I am sharing my support.
How can I help you?
I can help you change your life as I’ve changed mine.
There are a multitude of doctors, books, scientific studies, videos, You Tube channels, documentaries, testimonials, substantiating the health benefits of eating a plant based diet.
I would simply be THRILLED to have you on this Whole Foods Plant Based journey with me!
Where to find me
Face of the Race: Karla Freeze
Big Change the Film Karla Freeze Interview (223lbs lost)
Karla Freeze - A life of Purely Plants
Vegworld Magazine
How to Health Podcast
The Lifestyle Changer MD Podcast
Sunday Drive: How Can a Plant Based Diet Cute Type 2 Diabetes with Karla Freeze
TheVitalBlend
Questions and Answers!!
Food as Medicine: Preventing and Treating the Most Common Diseases with Diet
Food as Medicine: Preventing and Treating the Most Common Diseases with Diet
How to start a plant based diet – The basics – No Meat Athlete
https://www.nomeatathlete.com/go-plant-based/
The Pleasure Trap: Dr. Doug Lisle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX2btaDOBK8&list=PLcrpP3Y2bpRbX6uHOi-FBEfKSxZWJ2Ury&index=3
Excuse Smashers
Changing Our Tastebuds
A Plant Based Diet is for EVERYONE!!
Dr. John McDougall: Pregnancy and Children
Fantastic YouTube video on Calorie Density:
(Full Length) Calorie Density: How To Eat More, Weigh Less and Live Longer
Services
Services
In person services and events are available in Champaign-Urbana, IL and via Zoom or FaceTime everywhere.
I will travel within a 60 mile radius of Champaign-Urbana, IL for an additional charge.
Consultations and 30 day support package available everywhere.
$50
45 min
Consultation and Resources - Initial
Sharing information and resources introducing you to the health benefits of a whole food plant based lifestyle.
Bring your questions and a notebook!
$30
45 min
Consultation - 2 week follow up - 45 minutes - $30
After your practice of 2 weeks on a whole food plant based diet, no matter how well you did or didn't do, let's discuss the practice and challenges you faced.
Tricks for moving forward for your best health!
$80
2 hours
Grocery Shopping
Learn the ins and outs of reading labels and identifying food additives in your grocery products.
You'll never shop the same way again!
$80
2 hours
Pantry Reset
Out with the old and in with the new! Cleaning out the remnants from your old food lifestyle and re-stocking your pantry to make it easy to make healthy choices.
$175 for
2 weeks
$300 for
30 days
Personal Coaching
I'll be there for you with unlimited support through email, phone, text, or whichever method you prefer for 30 days. 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. CST
Varies
Varies
Personal Speaking
I will be happy to share my story with you, your friends, relatives, office, co-workers, weight loss group, church, school, or any other group!
We accept all major credit cards.
RESOURCES
Resources
These links will help you to learn more about a whole foods, plant based diet!
Long time advocate of plant based/starch based eating - Dr. John McDougall
Dr. McDougall's Health & Medical Center
Dr. Neal Barnard
Dr. T Colin Campbell
Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn
Dr. Esselstyn's Prevent & Reverse Heart Disease Program | Make yourself heart attack proof
Dr. Michael Greger
This is the plan I follow and have since December 2, 2014.
You may join as a free member to check out the site and get 123
free recipes. Please don't hesitate to message me with questions.
Documentary List
Many of these documentaries are free on Netflix, YouTube or Amazon or viewable at a minimal charge on YouTube, Amazon, iTunes, Vimeo, Hulu
Forks Over Knives
Eating You Alive
The Game Changers
Forks Over Knives the Extended Interviews
Plant Pure Nation
What the Health
The Future of Food
Fed Up
Food, Inc
Food Matters
Food Choices
Farmageddon
Food Chains
GMO OMG
Hungry for Change
Supersize Me
Vegucated
Earth, Voice, Food, Choice
Earthlings**(Graphic footage from hidden cameras)
Live and Let Live
Cowspiracy
The Future of Food (2004)
Peaceable Kingdom and Peaceable
Unity
Kingdom: The Journey Home
Big Change the Film – by Jason Cohen
In production
Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QQCBBoVwp8&t=2s
Trailer2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU8Y8zvI4k0&sns=fb
Go to the ‘Big Change the Film’ YouTube channel for many amazing and inspirational interviews!!
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
No Current Events