With the recent release of movies like Forks Over Knives and books like The China Study, the spotlight has been on the health benefits of eating a plant-based diet, but Santa Maria resident Bill Kleinbauer believed early on that the food he ate could make a difference in his health.
About 10 years ago Kleinbauer said he noticed his “waist was getting bigger and his belt was getting tighter.” The retired aerospace launch vehicle systems engineer decided to do something about it and that decision set him on a path to becoming a self-appointed volunteer in educating people on the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.
At the time, he enrolled in Dr. John McDougall’s Total Health Solution 10-Day Clinic in Santa Rosa along with his family. The program focuses on the benefits of eating a plant-based diet in order to prevent or even reverse a variety of common health problems. The experience changed Kleinbauer’s perspective and prompted him to share his newfound knowledge with the Santa Maria community.
“You could see people there who were sick get better in a short matter of time,” he said.
But Kleinbauer also noticed benefits in his own health. He desired to learn more so he also took five nutrition classes offered at Allan Hancock College. He then began to invest in a library of DVDs and books on the benefits of a plant-based, non-processed diet.
“That was 9 1/2 years ago and now I’m trying to pass the word on to people,” he said.
At 76 years old, Kleinbauer said he has no illness and doesn’t take any medications. He credits his diet and two-hour sessions of strength and aerobics exercises two to three times a week for his optimal health.
“Better health comes 80 percent from nutrition and 20 percent from exercise, so focus on good food,” he said.
Kleinbauer shares his experience and the knowledge he’s gained about the benefits of eating a plant-based diet in his eight-session Healthy Lifestyle program. He’s given presentations on health, featured videos by top experts at many meetings, and has conducted four other 10-session Healthy Lifestyle Education classes.
Topics for the upcoming Healthy Lifestyle Education series are fluid and can change depending on the needs of the classes, but will include information on safe weight loss, dietary myths, reading food labels, eliminating food addictions, fasting, fat facts, how to shop, cook, and eat out while following a health diet, and more.
“We really tailor it to the people in the class—the things they want to know the most,” he said.
Arts Editor Shelly Cone can be contacted at scone@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Aug 23-30, 2012.