Julie Whitt's Success Story in her own words

1969-2005

    "I've been living the Body-for-LIFE / Eating-for-LIFE way of life for a year. At age 19, I had lymphoma and the treatments nearly destroyed my lungs. I developed interstitial lung disease, a permanent condition. Through the years I've been plagued with seriously lung infections, the last one culminating in pneumonia. I was on life-support and in a coma for weeks and it took months to rehabilitate. I have 25% of the lung capacity that I need, or in other words, half of a lung! Body for Life was my pathway out of the destruction. Last year I was alive, but this year I'm living!  When I began my first challenge, I was in such bad shape, I had to wear oxygen to do the least little thing. The first challenge changed my life forever and in 12 weeks I only needed supplemental oxygen with intense exercise.

    By my second challenge, I was doing well and my feeding tube was removed. Unfortunately, I stayed sick with bronchitis throughout the challenge. I even got thrown in the ICU for a day, but I made that free day, and never missed a workout until...the dreaded lung contusion in March. I was bench pressing at home and my bench malfunctioned and I instantly went from flat to decline and was thrown backwards onto a set of dumbbells. At the time, I thought, "I'm ok" and I even finished the workout. Three days later I was in the hospital in screaming pain, coughing up blood. This was the lowest point of my entire life. Here I was, trying to improve my situation, and I got hurt in the process. I had to start wearing oxygen again 24 hours a day.

    Still recovering from the contusion, I started my third challenge doing what I call "turtle" cardio and "weightless" strength training. I soon graduated to rolls of coins and then back to dumbbells. After six weeks or so, I had gotten myself back to where I was before the contusion and just used oxygen for exercise. During this time, I found out that I had won the inspirational category of the EAS Jump-Start! Only God understands just how much that meant to me. During Challenge Three I endured a week of tests at Duke University Medical Center to be evaluated for lung transplant. I was hoping I would improve so much that I wouldn't need it. During the heart catheterization, they found that my right coronary artery had collapsed from radiation damage. They did emergency surgery that day to correct it.

     On to Challenge Four! A few weeks later I get "the call". Not only was I listed for double-lung transplant, but heart transplant as well. It appears that I'm developing radiation-induced coronary artery disease. This just devastated me until...I changed my thinking. A year ago, I couldn't even be considered for transplant. Now I'm able to pass the exercise and other requirements to be considered.

During Challenge Five, I spent two days in the hospital with chest pain and had another heart catheterization. Everything turned out to be fine and I continued with the program.

    During Challenge Six, Porter Freeman came to town and crowned me the EAS Inspirational Grand Champion for 2004! To God be the glory! I don't know what the future holds for me, but the Body-for-Life lifestyle will be the one constant I can count on. I want to spend the rest of my life helping and inspiring others."