I was a classic junk food junkie; I was famous in my family for calling them while I was in a fast-food drive thru. This was ok while I was in my 20’s, but when i hit 30’s, it wasn’t working out so well. By the time I met Francesca, I was 36 and not feeling very good. I had a lot of stomach acid when I ate (often big greasy burritos), difficulty sleeping, and a general sense of “getting old.” My body was sore a lot more than it used to be; and I didn’t have the energy that I had when I was younger. Francesca suggested (rather gently, I think) that maybe the fact that I ate a bunch of fast-food crap every week might be contributing to my not feeling well. While I had always figured that eating McDonald’s or Jack-in-the-Box once a day might not be exactly healthy, the truth is that I didn’t know how to provide good, real food for myself. I have known how to cook for years, but I didn’t understand how to find truly healthy ingredients. What’s more, as a typical guy, I had no idea how to figure out if I was buying good stuff or not. This I where Francesca helped me change my life. It would do no good to help me wean myself from soda and burgers if I still didn’t know how to feed myself properly. However, she noticed that I like to grill. Again, as a typical man, I love grilling because it cuts the dishes in half, and I get to sit outside in beautiful San Diego while I do it. So now, instead of eating 3-7 combo #2s in a week, i am much more likely to eat 3-7 awesome steaks in a week (be they beef, lamb, fish, etc). As a kid, these were my favorite meals anyway. I learned to grill different vegetables so that I ate something other than potatoes (though I still love them). And while it costs a little more to buy good meat instead of cheap tacos, you can’t put a price on how much better I feel. I’ve lost 10 lbs. I am eager to get up in the morning. I feel like I am in control of how my body functions, not being jerked around by cravings. Coca-Cola, which I used to drink everyday, now seems terribly sweet to me. I get one every couple of weeks, but mostly for the ice. What Francesca helped me understand was the opposite of what every diet and self-help plan wanted me to think. Francesca told me that everyone has their own individual issues that affect them. For me the discovery of grilling as a way to prepare real nourishing food was a solution that fit into my life. I know that my life has benefitted from it.

Date of Posting: 14 April 2010
Posted By: Steve Baldwin
I am 38 yr old man, San Diego

Francesca is wonderful, she knows more about nutrition than anyone I've ever met! 4 years ago I decided to be a vegetarian, and I ate a lot of soy products. At the same time I started experiencing excessive anxiety, stomach issues, and I was sick all the time. After doing a consultation with Francesca I learned I should stop eating soy because I likely had a sensitivity to it, and she gave me a whole new way of eating. Since then I have felt great, and my anxiety disappeared! What I love most about Francesca's program is that it makes sense and you never feel like you are on a diet - no counting calories or overly restrictive rules, just healthier choices. I am so grateful for everything I have learned! Thanks Francesca!

Date of Posting: 13 April 2010
Posted By: Jessica Wheatcraft
San Diego

Thank you Francesca! When I first began working with Francesca I was tentative about a diet that encouraged eating fats (of course, the right kind of fats) but when I began to loose weight and had more energy, I thought there might be something to this. The 3 week diet change that was recommened at the beginning of this process was doable and I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything, and after a short time I discovered that I had aquired a taste for “real foods,” such as organic veggies and fruits that tasted much better than canned or frozen, which seemed convienent at the time…but how hard is it to wash and eat an apple or a frest carrot! One of the biggest changes for me as a vegitarian was to stop eating soy products. I thought that was what vegitarians ate, but when I told Francesca that hot flashes and night sweats were still such an issue 5 years post menopose, she said I needed to cut out the soy. What a difference that made! Getting a good night’s sleep has made such a diffence. So far, I have lost nearly 30 pounds on this Wholelistic diet and have learned to read lables, shop for organic foods and non GMO (Genertically Modified foods) and recently found a real love of the Farmer’s Markets here in San Diego. The nice thing about the Farmer’s Markets is that there are different things at different locations, and buying there also supports local and sustainable products here at home: http://www.sdfarmbureau.org/BuyLocal/Farmers-Markets.php Eating more “real foods” has made me enthusistac to try new reciepes as well. I am excited about the reciepe exchange on Francesca’s website and look forward to sharing with other like-minded San Diegans. I am so happy with my nutrition experience after working with Francesca because it didn’t seem like “dieting;” it was simply a lifestyle change that took very little effort. Thank you again Francesca! Nan Arthur, CDBC, CPDT, KPACTP www.wholedogtraining.com

Date of Posting: 08 April 2010
Posted By: Nan Arthur
San Diego
www.wholedogtraining.com