I’ve been doing something I don’t usually do: reading.

Well — listening. I’m not exactly the “kick back with a book and a cup of tea” type. But I’ve got a commute. I’ve got road trips. And I like to multitask. So I started throwing on audiobooks. Figured it was better than zoning out to talk radio.

The first one I queued up was Super Gut. Jamie asked me to check it out — she wanted to know what it was all about. I grabbed the audio version, and we started listening together during our drives. I figured I’d humor her, maybe learn a thing or two.

Instead, that book flipped a switch.

Super Gut: The Real Gut Check

This one lays out how gut health connects to just about everything — weight, energy, mood, cravings, inflammation, even brain fog. Turns out most of us are walking around with damaged microbiomes. Antibiotics, stress, processed food — they wipe out the good stuff and leave us running on fumes.

The idea that fixing your gut could improve your whole life sounded like a stretch — until it didn’t. The book explains how to rebuild it. Real food. Fermented foods. Targeted probiotics. And yeah… homemade yogurt. More on that later.

It wasn’t just interesting. It made sense. And it made me want to know more.

Undoctored: Take the Wheel

Next came Undoctored, also by Dr. William Davis. This book wasn’t just about health — it was about the system. About how most of what we call “healthcare” is really disease management. Diagnose, prescribe, repeat.

This one hit home. It wasn’t angry or over-the-top — just honest. I realized I’d been following advice that was never meant to get me back to feeling good. I was managing symptoms, not solving problems. This book gave me tools to change that. It made me pay attention in a different way.

Wheat Belly: The Bread Problem

After that, I picked up Wheat Belly. Same author, different focus — and just as eye-opening. I’ve always liked bread. Pasta. Pizza. The works. But the wheat we eat today? It’s not even close to what our grandparents ate.

Davis breaks it down — modern wheat spikes blood sugar worse than candy bars, inflames your gut, screws with your metabolism, and keeps you coming back for more. It’s a carb hit with a side of hormonal chaos. I cut it out. Just to test it.

The results? No more joint stiffness. Clearer head. Less snacking. Real change — and fast.

The Great Cholesterol Myth: The Curveball

Then came the doctor visit. High LDL. The usual talk: lower your fat, maybe consider statins. Same script, different day. But this time, I wasn’t so quick to nod along. I picked up The Great Cholesterol Myth instead.

This book makes the case that cholesterol is not the villain. The real problem is inflammation — driven by sugar, processed food, stress, and insulin resistance. Fat isn’t the enemy. In fact, the fear of fat has done more harm than good for most people.

It wasn’t just a new opinion. It was a completely different framework — and one that lined up with what I was already feeling in my own body. Finally, the puzzle started coming together.

What Changed?

Since the beginning of the year, I’ve dropped 40 pounds — in 7 months…with 40 more to go. My blood pressure is finally starting to come under control. I feel clearer, lighter, more capable. And it’s all thanks to the knowledge I pulled from these books and actually putting it into practice.

I’ve cleaned up what I eat — organic, grass-fed, free-range, hormone-free, antibiotic-free. Food that doesn’t fight my body. And I’ve gotten into stuff I never thought I’d mess with: making my own yogurt, experimenting with fermented foods, brewing kombucha and kefir, even dabbling in homemade cheese.

I’m not chasing trends. I’m building something better. And for the first time in a long time, it feels like I’m not just reacting — I’m actually in control.

What’s Next?

This didn’t start as a health kick. It started with one book Jamie wanted to check out. But now I’m on a different path. One that makes sense. One that feels sustainable. One where I actually feel better, day to day.

If any of this sounds familiar — if you’re doing all the “right” things but still not feeling right — maybe give one of these a listen or a read (links provided to the books on Amazon). Not because they’ve got all the answers, but because they might help you start asking the right questions.


Coming Soon:

I’ll dig into the supplement side of this — what I’ve tried, what I’ve skipped, and what’s actually made a difference. I’ll also share what I’ve been learning in the kitchen: gut-friendly yogurt, fermented veggies, and a few weird science projects that actually taste pretty damn good.

More soon.
—Dick