In Today's episode Dave Woodcock, shares how their relationship began and how Dave's health journey recently became inspiring for many.

Dave explains their connection through family and describes their first discussions about nutrition and health, sparked by reading "Your Plate is Your Fate" in 2021, even though initial changes were gradual.

• Dave grew up in Iowa and was always active, playing sports in high school and college.

• Nutrition was not a priority throughout his youth and early adulthood, especially living in Chicago, where an unhealthy lifestyle caught up with him by his late 30s.

• After a significant personal turning point and entering ministry, Dave moved to Texas and started gaining weight, reaching his highest at 266 pounds after discovering his love for Bluebell ice cream.​

• Attempting to Lose Weight

  • Dave initially tried typical approaches: cutting calories and exercising more, mostly through basketball, but struggled to lose all the weight.

  • Even after moving back to Iowa to plant a church and joining CrossFit in his 50s, he remained frustrated by stubborn weight despite consistent workouts.

  • It wasn't until he focused on true nutrition that things began to shift.​

  • The Turning Point & Pain

    • In 2023, Dave had two hip replacement surgeries back-to-back, which further exacerbated weight gain and left him at 255 pounds in late 2024.

    • Diagnosed with high cholesterol, he was put on statins, but soon suffered severe pain and was misdiagnosed with PMR before ultimately being diagnosed with gout after blood tests.​

    • The pain and frustration reached a peak at Christmas 2024, motivating Dave to reach out to Steve for guidance.

    • Embracing Clean Eating & Low-Carb

      • With direction from the host, Dave committed to a strict eating plan on January 1: no carbs, no sugar, and no processed foods—just clean, whole foods.

      • The pain persisted in the beginning, but the weight started falling off; frequent check-ins and encouragement helped him stay committed.

      • Dave learned firsthand how sugar directly influenced his pain; whenever he cheated, pain returned almost immediately. Eating clean brought rapid relief and weight loss, reinforcing his commitment

      • Results and Life Change

        • Over time, Dave lost 45 pounds, dropping from 255 to around 210 pounds, feeling energized, pain-free, and motivated to maintain this lifestyle.

        • He found that eating red meat did not worsen his gout markers, contrary to common advice—uric acid levels actually dropped as he continued eating whole foods and avoiding processed items.

        • Dave's story emphasizes the simplicity of choosing foods without labels, focusing on what's natural and "God-made," and the pitfalls of modern processed foods and conflicting health advice.​

        • Impact and Spreading the Message

          • Inspired by results, Dave shares this lifestyle with people around him, including colleagues interested in replicating his success.

          • The podcast closes with Dave expressing gratitude for the support, noting how this change not only improved his health but also his outlook, family life, and future wellbeing.​

            Featured Call-to-Action

            • • Stay tuned for the podcast's new name and branding!

              • Consider joining the "Thrive Naturally Transformation" course for extra support with energy, diabetes reversal, and medication reduction. See drstevehughlett.com for details.​

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