Live Free Nutrition

Isaac Weiner, HHC

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As a result of working with Isaac, I learned how important it is to nurture myself with good food, to fill the house with the warmth of cooking, to pay attention to how and what I eat. With his skillful guidance, it was easy and fun to acquire new, better, eating habits.

From him I learned that healthful nutrition is an essential life skill.

Isaac Weiner is a master teacher, full of compassionate understanding, wit and wisdom. Working with him for six months is an adventure in self-transformation, growth, healing, and great recipes!

—Laura, poet

When I attended a lecture that Isaac presented on the harmful effects of sugar and on the ancient Greek diet, I was feeling pretty worn down, tired, moody, and stressed. After becoming one of Isaac's clients, I immediately started to notice a great improvement in my energy levels and overall well-being. Over the subsequent months I have only continued to feel better about my diet, my health, my attitude, and my life all around. Isaac's program has provided me with a way to approach my life and sort out all the kinks in my habits that had been making things far more difficult for me than they needed to be. The best part is that it was never difficult, or painful, or unrealistic. He is inexhaustibly patient, comforting, and inspiring, and I am incredibly grateful I found him!

—Laurel, student

I am a hotelier, restaurateur, and caterer with hundreds of employees and a very busy lifestyle. I was steadily gaining weight and getting more stressed out. Isaac gave me a few simple recommendations that were easy to accommodate and I began losing weight slowly and permanently. It was also a great help just to be able to talk to Isaac and have him support me through these changes. I am on a healthier, more well-rounded diet and do not even miss the foods I gave up. I have lost 25 pounds, am much more relaxed, and generally happier. I always look forward to seeing him and talking with him about my health.

—Steve, restaurateur

Isaac is wise beyond his years (he finished St. Johns College 35 years after my brief sojourn there). He taught me, inveterate donut–fiend, to love brown rice and kale. He'll zero in on any problem from car repair to karmic disorder, and maybe link it to your awful diet, either way you get a fresh outlook.

This is a very affordable way to get your nutritional (and if he has time, psychiatric) quandaries attended to. I recommend Isaac without reservation.

—Ben, piano tuner

Isaac's program has opened a whole new world of food nutrition for me. Each session was informative, enlightening and pleasant. I learned a lot about the proper foods to eat, what kinds of food best suit me, and even how to prepare them in a timely way. As a result of listening to the "Guru of Nutrition" I lost those 12 pounds that I seemed to never be able to get rid of. The program for me was more then just about food, it was also about emotional awareness and Isaac made me aware that food causes certain feelings which I never considered before. I fully recommend this program to anyone who is interested in improving their eating habits along with becoming more aware of how healthy foods don't have to be bland or bad tasting. Thank you Isaac for your time and knowledge!

—Stephen, tour guide

Dear Isaac,

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you so much for your wonderful program. You are a very insightful and intuitive person -- you guided me step by step to making healthier choices for myself and helped me to hone into listening to my body. What was wonderful also was that your approach was always one of encouragement - I always felt comfortable being honest with my food choices knowing that you would lend a wise ear and help guide me on my path. Your greatest gift, though, comes from your compassion and great heart - food choices are so linked to lifestyle and inner happiness and you were always attentive to shine the light on those aspects of my life knowing that they would spill over to my food choices.

I thank you once again and recommend you highly for those ready to move into a place of higher, harmonious living with your body.

Warmest regards,

Christina, homeschooling mom

As a person with Crohn's disease I have gotten used to doctors telling me that the only way for me to get better was by taking harsh medications that make me feel worse for a time and have nasty side effects. Isaac was the first person to tell me that food really could help me. I was a little skeptical at first. I mean I had been to at least 4 good doctors that basically discounted diet other than as a way to "reduce residue." But I was at the end of my rope so I figured it couldn't hurt. I am so thankful that God put Isaac in my path! After coming to an understanding of how food can be used medicinally and to balance out a body's regular operation through sessions with Isaac, I can honestly say that since my diagnosis 13 years ago; I have never felt better. I have more energy, less pain, and am able to function better on the whole. I don't claim that Isaac's help cured my disease, but I whole heartedly claim that it significantly improved my standard of living and gave me tools to use when my Crohn's disease flares up. I do not hesitate to recommend Isaac's program to anyone with Crohn's disease.

—Jeff, computer geek :O)

Working with Isaac is a life-changing experience. He is more than a teacher. He lives what he teaches, and no lesson could be more convincing than that!

He showed me how learning to give loving attention to choosing, preparing and serving food is also learning to care for myself, my family and friends. I've shared this with my daughter and now we often shop together, for fresh and chemical-free foods, and cook together. Our kitchens are becoming happy places.

Thank you, Isaac

—Debbie, just a teacher

I met Isaac at a Sugar Blues Workshop. I was impressed with what he had to say. He offered a free one hour consultation so I signed up and filled out a data sheet about myself and my concerns. After meeting over the phone and talking for an hour on what I could do I signed up for a six month commitment. He gave me many ideas and I tried them all and more with the books he recommended. I started with whole grains and vegetables. Every thing was cooked by me from that moment on. No more processed foods. I bought only organic food and filtered water. I cut out sugar, coffee, caffeine, white flour and processed foods. We talked about primary and secondary causes of health issues and worked on correcting them. I added an exercise program and increased drinking water. I began losing one to two pounds per week. My cholesterol was in the range of 250 to 300. By the time we finished it decreased to 85. My doctor had to lower the medication to a very small amount. If it stays low by February I will be completely off the drug. My blood pressure dropped so low that my doctor was forced to cut my medication to a very small dose. I then began adding fat into the diet by eating grass fed meat and drinking raw milk. I have seen many changes with working with Isaac. I recommend getting his help and attending his free cooking workshops. The program only works if you commit to six months and follow what Isaac recommends. Isaac is not only my counselor but my personal friend.

—David, Swim Teacher

I began working with Isaac after five years of obsessive exercise, three years battling anorexia nervosa, and two years caught in a seemingly inescapable cycle of restriction and bingeing. I had hit rock bottom and wanted to move beyond my fear of food and hatred of my body. Isaac was the ideal choice for my health counselor at this time in my life. His six-month program offered me a way out of my self-destructive habits, by means of a gradual but challenging ascent to a new level of life-long nutrition. His program promised to provide the foundation for a new approach to eating and exercise, and each week we focused on different but complementary aspects of holistic health – more than just which foods are beneficial and which cooking methods are recommended, Isaac provided me with inspiration to address the stress in my lifestyle, to experiment with gentle forms of exercise such as walking and yoga, and even to look for styles of clothing that are comfortable and better suited to my body as it is. His handouts and monthly newsletters continue to provide resources that I can turn to when I have questions or when I am in need of support. Perhaps the most remarkable change that resulted from our six months together was the moment when I abandoned all of the unnaturally fat-free or reduced-fat foods I had put in my diet as a substitute for real food. I saw that it is OK – and indeed healthy – to indulge once in awhile.

I have also taken to heart that developing a healthy lifestyle is a life-long process, since I am always changing and facing new circumstances. There are times when I must pick myself up and start again. Nevertheless, with Isaac’s counseling, I have gained the tools and the confidence to resume my newly-developed healthy habits and to look for new ways of caring for myself and my family.

—Erica, graduate student

I began a desk job for the first time, and, with the lifestyle change that came with it, I could feel myself becoming less and less healthy. Even though I was going to the gym, my decreasing level of health was shown to me by my increasing in weight. For the first time in my life, I was overweight according to the Body Mass Index (BMI). Isaac helped me to make the lifestyle changes I needed in order to feel healthy again. The focus of my change was on eating balanced nutritious meals, and by doing this alone, I was able to lose the 10 pounds necessary to put me back into the healthy range of the BMI. Isaac helped me to do this naturally—without eating less! My six month program ended a while ago, and the weight has stayed off; as a matter of fact, I'm still losing.

Thanks, Isaac. I owe you my health.

—Jenny, economic analyst

When I first started working with Isaac, I was having a lot of trouble controlling my hypoglycemia. Even though I've always tried to take reasonably good care of myself, I was having low blood sugar attacks two or three times a week. It was completely unmanageable. But once I started working with Isaac, things changed. I started eating better, exercising more, and getting a lot more sleep. I now haven't had a single attack for the past month and a half. I feel great!

Isaac teaches you how to listen to your body in order to figure out what it really needs. I still enjoy eating all the same foods I ever did—at the time of writing this, I am honestly finishing a chocolate cupcake—but I've learned how to interpret my cravings better and understand why I feel the way I do at a given time. This program is completely eye–opening. I would recommend it to anyone.

—Cathy, consultant

After moving to Japan, I was faced with a number of dietary challenges that started to snowball into a very stressful situation. My energy was low, I felt very tense, and I was becoming concerned about my weight. Through working with Isaac, I was really able to overcome these challenges. The wonderful part about Isaac's program is that he does not simply focus on the content of his clients' diets. This is not a "quick fix, eat this, don't eat this" sort of philosophy. Isaac's holistic approach is very real, and during our time together we touched on the various emotional, physical, and psychological elements in my life, and how they related to my eating habits. We addressed the presence of work and play, and how those, along with food, could be used so that I would feel and perform my best. This method truly sets Isaac apart from other nutritionists, because his agenda isn't simply "weight loss" or "better health"; he wants his clients to recast themselves as more balanced, stronger, and happier people. His personal and detailed approach is enhanced by his wisdom and thoughtfulness, and my ten month program was truly rewarding and inspiring. Six months after Isaac's program, I still continue to use his suggestions and materials, and have felt amazing!

—Julie, teacher

Isaac,

Before working through your nutrition mentoring, my wife and I ate very poorly. We paid little attention to what kind of food would be best for us and simply tended to do what was easiest for our busy schedule. However, after our son came down with diabetes we began your nutrition mentoring. Almost immediately we noticed how poor our diet was and the need for change. My wife heard the message loud and clear and worked hard to transform our diet. As she had not been raised with a good diet herself, she had no previous background in cooking balanced meals. Isaac, you and your wife jumped in to help her to take steps that were not overly exasperating. You helped to set a pace that was achievable. You also were persistent in your claim that eating healthy did NOT have to be a chore. Again and again, you brought us tasty recipes, often taking the time to cook them with us. As a result, our move to eating healthier has also been a move to eating more tasty food.

Additionally, you took personally care to help us work through the specific nutritional needs of a diabetic. None of the doctors we went to spent any time helping us to understand the relationship between good nutrition and diabetes. It is almost shameful how the entire medical approach to diabetes seems to be symptom oriented instead of root cause oriented. Without your help we would probably have not even changed our diet at all. Now, our diet is not only primed for our diabetic son, but also for the rest of us.

The balance of your approach is everything. You have opened our eyes to realize that we can follow our body’s cravings and still eat healthy. You helped us to feel freedom to eat as much as we desire at meals without guilt. You patiently observed our “munchie” cravings and helped us discover healthy and satisfying ways to respond to our body’s unique cravings. Knowing our body’s cravings also meant that we did not have to feel guilty about wanting tasty food.

You helped us to embrace flexibility in the process. Instead of a rigid legalistic approach, you persistently advocated that we be free to eat whatever is set before us (i.e. when we eat out or at friend’s houses). You said healthy eating habits and lifestyle are never corrupted by exceptional and special situations (holidays, celebrations). As a result, my wife, sons and I eat healthier, with less guilt and greater satisfaction in terms of taste and energy. In fact, I probably eat more desserts since meeting with you. But because I do so without guilt, I don’t find myself falling into binge/purge dessert eating. My body craves a measure of sweet and at your counsel I satisfy that with no guilt. The same is true with fats and carbs. I eat without guilt due to greater awareness of what is healthy and how that relates to my body’s natural cravings.

My weight is better, my family’s health is better, our food is tasty and we enjoy dessert with great anticipation.

Thank you for your insightful, patient, gentle and optimistic approach to nutrition mentoring. Everyone should feel the freedom and satisfaction with their eating that me and my family do now. Without change no one will get healthier and change can be difficult. However, gentle mentoring with insightful nutritional knowledge applied to unique, personal health needs makes all the difference. You have done that.

My whole family says thank you!

—Jon, pastor

I grew up with bad, erratic eating habits that only worsened in college. Post-college, I experienced digestive sensitivities to certain foods. While I've always maintained a healthy weight, the digestive problems worried my doctor, who noted that the likelihood of my inheriting Crohn's disease from my father was about fifty percent. He recommended that I re–evaluate my relationship with food and come up with a sensible nutrition plan to lessen the likelihood of developing symptoms of the disease.

Normally a confident person, I had little clue about how to turn my vague notion of eating a balanced diet (it might have something to do with the food pyramid?) into this "sensible nutrition plan." Grocery shopping was my most–hated chore, and I prepared very little of my own food (I rationalized that cooking for one didn't fit my extroverted nature). On a friend's recommendation, I confronted my excuses and called Isaac.

Within a few weeks, the contents of the grocery store were de-mystified, the kitchen was more approachable, and I was much more intentional about planning my meals. It was a painless but distinct shift in lifestyle. Over the next several months, I worked with Isaac to refine my approach to selecting the right foods and the right attitude and commit to sustaining positive changes. Eating well became intuitive, and taking care of myself in general became a priority. The best part? It still is.

—Crystal, student

I was a college freshman new to the vegetarian and vegan lifestyle when I first started with Isaac. I was having trouble avoiding an all carb diet. My energy was really low and I ate a very limited number of foods. Through the program with Isaac I learned so many new recipes. I wasn't eating tofu or pasta every night anymore. I felt more confident in the kitchen and now two years later cook for all my friends and family regularly. I am still vegetarian and feel much healthier. I have moved more successfully towards a vegan diet while keeping enough protein and variety in my diet to stay active. The greatest thing that I learned from Isaac was how to enjoy cooking as a relaxing fulfilling activity rather than a chore. Through his program I cooked more and designed a diet that fit my lifestyle. Even with the tight budget of a college student Isaac's program was well worth the cost.

—Logan, student

Thanks to Isaac’s program, my diet is the healthiest it’s ever been. When faced with a flare-up of Crohn’s Disease recently, I felt confident and well-equipped to deal with the crisis. I feel so much more knowledgeable about nutrition, and Isaac did a wonderful job of incorporating the whole person (and not just nutrition) into his program. I learned about foods I never would have known about otherwise, and I feel healthier from the inside out after incorporating his suggestions.

—Alyssa, student