Stanley Bronstein

Stanley shares his transformative health journey beginning at age 50 when he weighed 320 pounds and faced serious health risks. Motivated by a moment of clarity, he committed to immediate lifestyle changes: quitting alcohol and soda, eliminating red meat, and starting daily walking despite physical pain. Over 17 years, he lost significant weight, transitioned to vegetarianism and then veganism, and maintained consistent exercise, resulting in improved physical health and longevity. He also discusses emotional healing from his mother’s death and forgiving his parents for their limitations. Stanley emphasizes the importance of starting change at any age, learning from setbacks, and being kind to oneself. He critiques the concept of “midlife” as limiting and advocates for focusing on health span alongside lifespan. Reflecting on his father’s life, he expresses a wish to have applied his nutritional knowledge earlier to improve his father’s quality of life. Overall, the narrative encourages proactive health management, emotional resilience, and lifelong learning.

Stanley advocates for a whole food, plant-based diet free of processed foods, highlighting the benefits of beans, grains, fruits, and seeds for fiber, protein, and minerals. He emphasizes reading labels to avoid added sodium and sugar, preparing homemade meals, and the positive impact on conditions like diabetes. Stanley practices intermittent fasting, eating two large meals within a six-hour window, and avoids eating before sleep to aid digestion and energy. He shares personal success in weight loss and increased energy, attributing it to diet and regular walking. Stanley encourages simple lifestyle changes: reduce refined foods, stop eating five hours before bedtime, and walk 20 minutes daily to improve health and feel younger. He provides free resources and support through his websites, promoting a mindset of continuous improvement with the motto “Beat yesterday.” The overall message is that sustainable, healthy habits tailored to the individual can lead to significant health benefits and increased vitality.

Topics covered:

What motivated Stanley to start making changes to his health and lifestyle?
Stanley had a moment of clarity four months before his 50th birthday when he realized he was wasting his potential and did not want to be dead in five years. This realization motivated him to start making changes immediately.

What were the first changes Stanley made to improve his health?
He started eating better, exercising every day by walking, quit drinking alcohol, stopped drinking soda pop, and quit eating red meat like beef and pork.

How did Stanley’s exercise routine begin and evolve?
He started walking just two or three blocks, then went to the gym to walk in the pool lanes for increasing durations, eventually building up strength and endurance.

What dietary changes did Stanley make over time?
Initially, he stopped eating red meat, then later stopped eating chicken and turkey to become vegetarian, and eventually stopped eating dairy products to become essentially vegan.

How did Stanley’s weight change throughout his journey?
He lost about 40 pounds before turning 50 and 180 pounds after turning 50. After going vegan and cutting out dairy, he lost an additional 50 pounds quickly, reaching a very low weight before gaining muscle mass later.

What role did forgiveness and emotional healing play in Stanley’s journey?
Stanley forgave his parents for their shortcomings and let go of anger and emotional pain, which was an important part of his healing and personal growth.

What advice does Stanley give to people who want to change their lives after 50?
Stanley advises to start making changes immediately and not to quit, acknowledging that mistakes will happen but learning from them and continuing is crucial.

How does Stanley define ‘midlife’ and his perspective on aging?
He dislikes the term ‘midlife’ and does not consider himself at midlife at 66. He plans to live a long life and focuses on maintaining healthspan, not just lifespan.

What does Stanley say about protein and fiber in nutrition?
He says most people get enough protein but not enough fiber, which is important for preventing diseases and managing blood sugar levels.

How has Stanley’s health been since making these lifestyle changes?
He has been very healthy, walking two or more hours daily for 12 years, rarely getting sick, and maintaining excellent physical health indicators like an A1c of 5.2.