“The doctor told him straight out that he was too young to die”

Kaylene and Ted HardyBy: Kaylene Hardy

There is an old saying, “When the student is ready the teacher will appear.” Several years ago I started looking for a way to lose some weight. My husband Ted also needed to lose weight and just didn’t feel good most of the time. We briefly tried eating a low-carb diet, but that just didn’t feel right to me. Even though I did lose a few pounds, physically, I did not feel healthy, and I kept thinking about the Word of Wisdom which tells us that grains are ordained for our use to be the staff of life. I wanted to find something that would help our family, something that would be sustainable for a lifetime, and something that was in line with gospel teachings. I happened to watch the movie Forks Over Knives, then I read the book Prevent & Reverse Heart Disease by Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn. The information made an impression on me, and I wanted to give it a try. Compared to other popular weight loss plans, it was the only one that seemed to be in line with the Word of Wisdom.

It was the beginning of an adventure that has a happy ending, but the road there was a little rocky. This story is not about me and just wanting to lose some weight. This is really my husband’s story and how we have been blessed with hope and a brighter future.

My husband Ted grew up in a family where food was an expression of love. He and his six siblings loved to eat. They ate plenty of salad and vegetables, but it was pretty much standard American fare. Three of his siblings later had bariatric surgery as adults and although they lost a lot of weight at first, they have all experienced various health problems as time passed.

Some years after we were married, when Ted was in his mid-thirties, we had a little scare which sent him to the emergency room with a concern for his heart. It turned out that his heart was fine, but it was enough to convince him that he needed to lose weight and take better care of himself. He was very successful and interestingly, he ate a very low-fat diet and this was years before we even heard of Dr. Esselstyn and whole food, plant-based (WFPB) eating. Ultimately, Ted lost a lot of weight and kept it off for quite a few years, but it was all about will power. He was very strict about the times he ate, what he ate, and how much he ate. Over the next twenty years, he gained a lot of the weight back.

The weight wasn’t the only problem though. In the last couple of years his feet and hands started tingling. He had difficulty breathing, and he was always exhausted. His hands would crack and bleed, and he developed a sore on his ankle that would not heal. I tried not to nag too much, but by this time we did know about the WFPB way of life, so I would bring up the idea on occasion. Well . . . I probably did mention it too often, because what I was seeing made me scared.

This did lead to several small changes. I started making all our bread: whole-wheat, no sugar, and no oil. Ted was very happy with that change. We switched to plant-based milk, which took a little more getting used to. We also had more meatless meals, which was another easy switch.

However, it wasn’t enough. Ted was feeling worse and finally went to the doctor. The doctor scheduled blood work, and gave him something for the sore on his ankle. After some additional blood work, to verify the results, my husband was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. His A1c was 9.9. He had high blood pressure, and his cholesterol was elevated. The doctor told him straight out that he was too young to die. Ted was given a prescription for Metformin and Lisinopril. The only nutrition advice he received was to eat “low-carb.” We were to come back for a checkup in 3 months.

At first there was some disbelief (my husband had been tested for diabetes a number of times previously and told he was fine), and some disappointment (it was Christmas time and all the traditional treats were now taboo). It took about a month of feeling sick to his stomach while getting used to the medications to convince him to give WFPB eating a try. His motivation became getting off all the pills.

So we jumped in with both feet, going almost 100% from the start. I say “almost” because there is a bit of a learning curve, and you have to find recipes and resources that work for your family. That research led me to the Facebook group for Discovering the Word of Wisdom. I read Jane Birch’s article about the Word of Wisdom and Food Addiction. It was a defining moment where everything I had read and studied earlier connected. It just felt so right to me. Now . . . I wonder how I missed so much when studying the Word of Wisdom in the past.

My husband started seeing results very quickly. That became the motivation to continue, and at his 3-month check-up his A1c was 6.2. He agreed to continue the medication another 3 months. During this time, Ted became completely convinced that WFPB is the right way to eat. He was so pleased by the results and how much of a difference it made in how he felt. We both know that there is no return to the SAD way of eating.

I had never before seen Ted excited for a doctor visit, but he really looked forward to that next check-up. Six months after being diagnosed, and five months of being WFPB his A1c was 5.5, his blood pressure was great, and he had lost 50 lbs. The doctor was amazed and took him OFF all medication!!!!

We are both loving this wonderful way of living. It is so easy to follow! We are free to eat all sorts of delicious things without guilt. There is no going back or desire for fake food. It’s true that “Nothing tastes better than feeling good feels.”

Oh, and as for me, a menopausal female who felt she had all strikes against her losing weight. I lost 22 pounds in those same five months. But the true joy is in seeing my husband look forward to the future.

We had to get to a pretty desperate situation to be ready for the lesson, but the teacher did indeed appear and our lives have been blessed. It is amazing to me what a huge difference one decision and a few months can make. One decision, to be fully obedient to the counsel given in D&C 89, has brought hope and peace to our lives. We truly feel the destroying angel has passed us by. How grateful we are to have the Word of Wisdom as our guide to good health!

Ted and Kaylene Hardy live in the beautiful White Mountains of Arizona. They have three grown sons, two are married to their sweet daughter-in-laws. They have four grandsons, one granddaughter, and another on the way! Both are former schoolteachers. Ted is retired and Kaylene has started a creative sewing business where purchases help benefit other teachers. They love to take walks, enjoy gardening and being of service to those around them.

Comments

  1. It is exciting to see the change when this couple decided to get serious about their health. It doesn’t take long to see the results when you jump in with both feet! Thanks Kaylene and Ted for sharing your story with us. We are all happy for your success and feel inspired by your joy!

    • Thank you Jane for all your support! Your articles are so informative and have really helped us learn more about the WFPB way of life and how we can better live the Word of Wisdom!

    • I have personally seen these changes in Ted and Kaylene- and am so very happy for them! Let the adventure begin!

  2. I am happy to hear that you listened to your feelings about how to eat. That is how I arrived on the WFPB lifestyle too. I’m so grateful for that guidance in my life. Great job Ted and Kaylene

  3. I would love to get the bread recipe you make with whole wheat flour and no oil!! I’m sure I could find something online but it’s nice to try something that is tried and true. Love your story and I’m so happy you and your family is finding health in the WFPB diet.

    • Me too! I want the bread recipe. I have been buying a high quality wheat bread but I’d love to go back to making my own.

    • Thank you Cassidy! Here is my bread recipe: Makes 4 loaves

      7 cups whole wheat flour
      2/3 cup Vital Wheat Gluten (found in most grocery stores either in a package, or the bulk bins)
      2 1/2 Tablespoons yeast
      5 cups hot water
      Mix first three ingredients in large bowl. Add hot water and stir well. Cover and let sit (sponge) for 10 to 20 minutes. Mixture will rise and be foamy. Stir down and add:
      1 1/2 Tablespoons salt (can use less)
      2/3 cup applesauce, unsweetened
      2 1/2 Tablespoons real lemon juice
      2 Tablespoons freshly ground flax seed
      Beat for 1 minute.
      Add:
      5-6 cups flour, 1 at a time.
      Stir well after each addition. The dough will be soft. Divide into 4 equal pieces. Form loaves and put into loaf pans lined with parchment paper. Let rise in a warm place until double (about 20-30 minutes). Preheat oven; 350 degrees F. Bake for 22-26 minutes or until brown.
      I knead the bread a bit as I am forming the loaves, but this is one of the easiest bread recipes I have ever made! Enjoy!

    • What do you use instead of butter on your bread? What substitute for butter do you put on your vegetables? I am addicted to butter, and not losing any weight even though I am eating the whole plant diet. I need butter–aggggggghhhhhhhh!

      • Joanne: If you are having a hard time losing weight, consider not eating bread (which is much more calorie dense than are whole grains like rice). You could use nut butters (but they are also high in fat). How about 100% fruit jam (sparingly). For sandwiches, use hummus and/or mustard.

        Sauces for vegetables are much easier. There are many! See WFPB Sauces.

      • Joanne, Jane’s response has some great suggestions! When we have bread, we’ll often use fruit spreads on toast, mustard for sandwiches, and nut butter as an occasional treat. Recently, I found a butter-like spread in a Mcdougall newsletter. I do not have the link, but here us the recipe:

        1/4 cup cornmeal
        1 cup water
        Cook over medium heat until thick.
        In blender jar add:
        1/4 cup water
        1-2 teaspoons lemon juice
        1/2 teaspoon salt
        the warm cooked cornmeal
        Blend until very smooth. Add more lemon juice and water if needed. Refrigerate.
        This is great on toast, pancakes, potatoes etc.

        • Thanks, Kaylene!

          For others reading this: it is important to not expect these plant-based recipes to somehow taste similar to a traditional food. They always taste quite different, but these are new tastes that we can grow to love as much as the old ones.

  4. Kaylene, I appreciated all that you submitted to Jane, but I particularly appreciated the following which I quote from what you sent Jane:

    “One decision, to be fully obedient to the counsel given in D&C 89, has brought hope and peace to our lives. We truly feel the destroying angel has passed us by. How grateful we are to have the Word of Wisdom as our guide to good health!”

    I share your wonderful enthusiasm for the great blessing Section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants is to you and your husband. I feel the same way about that scripture, but particularly both of you and and a regularly increasing number of others have been blessed by living in accordance with verses 10 through 17 and then in the last four verses the Lord He makes those marvelous promises to those of us who have chosen to live in accordance with all of His counsel he gave to us in all of Section 89!

    Some day I hope to thank and even hug the Prophet Joseph Smith personally for having published all of that great scripture. Actually I especially look forward to the great and the glorious day when we can each be personally embraced by our Most Dear Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. His atonement was such a great and marvelous blessing to each of us, but also His great scriptures which, of course include all of Section 89, are also such great personal blessings!

    • “Some day I hope to thank and even hug the Prophet Joseph Smith personally for having published all of that great scripture.” Your statement made me smile and then decide that I’ll do the same.

      Your next statement brought tears to my eyes. “Actually I especially look forward to the great and the glorious day when we can each be personally embraced by our Most Dear Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. His atonement was such a great and marvelous blessing to each of us, but also His great scriptures which, of course include all of Section 89, are also such great personal blessings!”

      I look forward to your comments on the articles that Jane publishes almost as much as the testimonies themselves. Thanks.

    • It is amazing what difference one decision can make in our lives! There are so many blessings that our cup runneth over! We talk a lot about the health and physical benefits, but what about the clarity of thinking, the increase in awareness of personal revelation, being more aware of the needs of others around you. The list goes on and on.

  5. You are absolutely right. “Nothing tastes better than feeling good feels.” I’m glad you were ready to be taught.

    • We mentioned that quote, “Nothing tastes better than feeling good feels” to our doctor. He liked it too and said he would use it to help his other patients. I wish he had been willing to listen to more of what we are doing. He was impressed with what we had done, but didn’t seem to care how we had done it.

  6. Ginger and Manda, thank you for what you each said about my comments. I really seek the Lord’s help when I write my comments.

    This is such a very special opportunity for each of us to make comments about the marvelous things people submit to Jane telling of how the Lord has blessed them through eating as He advises us to eat in Section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants! With much love to each of you and to Kaylene Hardy and her family too and to each of you others who submit and read these great real life stories my very dear daughter, Jane passes on to us.

  7. Hi Kaylene. It was great to read your story and learn a bit of your guys’ lives since we last saw each other. I was looking through some old paper clippings from The Miner (San Manuel) and began to wonder how Coach and his family were doing. I don’t have any social media but I did stumble across your article. I was so happy to read you guys are doing well.
    🙂

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