In part 3 of my interview with David, he and I explored his dramatic

weight loss and how he gained control of his health. If you’ve already

read that, then skip the introduction below and go directly to the

interview that follows it. In part 4 – the final in this multi-part

article, David and I look at how his life is so much better today after

taking control of his health, and his advice for others who wish to do

the same.

Introduction

My friend David Mendosa writes on the HealthCentral Diabetes site.

Although we have not yet met, David and I have become friends because we

share a common bond – we each were fat and sick with diabetes and other

obesity-related diseases. And each of us has taken similar, yet slightly

different, journeys to wellness.

The common thread is that we each lost a significant amount of our body

weight, and have made lifestyle and dietary changes to maintain that

weight loss for the long term. This has affected the remission of our

diabetes and improved our overall health and quality of life. I cannot

stress that last point enough: Improved our quality of life.

Oh yes, and our journeys have led us to health activism. David is

well-regarded as a diabetes advocate. In this interview, David and I

discuss his transformation from fat and sick to total wellness and his

health activist endeavors. In fact, David and I talked about his journey

in such detail that I had to break the interview into several parts to

make it easily to digest. Believe me; you do not want to miss a word he

says. David has a fascinating patient journey conquering not only

obesity but also several obesity-related conditions. Please read on…

Interview

Q: Please tell us how your life is changed today, as a result of your

having gained control of your health and your life?

A. My life has changed in so many ways that I hardly know where to

start. I sometimes say that I reinvented myself, and that is exactly

what it feels like. I am now 77 years old and feel better and am happier

and healthier than I have ever been in my life. I have more energy and

still climb mountains. I feel that my memory has actually gotten better

than it was even just a few years ago because of my better diet of less

omega-6 and more omega-3 fats.

I experience something else that I don’t remember anyone else ever

telling me about. My personality changed. I am much more outgoing and

more self-confident. I see that in myself especially when I address a

large group of people. That used to be a painful procedure, but has

become a pleasant one.

Q: What advice would you give to obese people who are seeking to gain

control of their health and their lives?

A. If they are lucky enough to have diabetes, too, I would ask them to

learn about the GLP-1 agonist drugs and talk seriously with their

doctors about them. These are Byetta, which was the first of this type