"A Stroke of Health" for the weight loss benefits of healthy eating

Friday the 13^th in June 2008 started out as a normal day for Bob and Judi Swartz, but the day would end as anything but ordinary. Bob would suffer a serious stroke and Judi would take the first steps in a year-long journey of recovery and discovery.

Doctors said Bob's Type 2 Diabetes and high blood pressure coupled with weight problems were contributing factors to his stroke. Judi knew that she would have to learn healthy eating and make lifestyle changes to facilitate his recovery. What she didn’t know was that her lifelong struggle with weight would all but disappear, a surprising result that some might call the silver lining.

"We were always fairly healthy, although overweight," Judi says. "I was told that we could control Bob’s issues with diet, and I discovered my roadmap in the Diabetes Food Pyramid - it works! What a delightful surprise to see my weight problems vanish too."

A businesswoman, mother to nine and grandmother to more than 30, Judi has been writing for years. "I had to stop and publish this one,” she says.

A Stroke of Health is not a diet book or quick weight loss program. It’s a 65-page easy-to-read narrative with guidelines for the weight loss benefits of healthy eating. "I hope my story will encourage others who have experienced the frustrations and failures of dieting. After years of personal struggles with weight, I'm amazed at the simplicity of healthy eating. And Bob says I look younger each day."

In A Stroke of Health - The Weight is Over; How I Learned Healthy Eating, Judi says:

• Don't omit any food group - eat everything, every day
• Think healthy
• Portion control is easy
• Meal planning and recipes are not difficult

With a demanding career, the solutions had to be easy to understand and implement. "I love to cook, but time just does not allow for tedious planning and preparation. The Diabetes Pyramid gave me the easy details and I'm anxious to share that information."