Scott’s Wellness Journey

1. Can you tell us about your past wellness journey?

Since I was a kid, I’ve always been active—playing various sports and lifting weights through college and beyond. However, diet wasn’t something that was emphasized growing up, and I enjoyed comfort foods like mac and cheese. This pattern continued until I turned 48 and was diagnosed as pre-diabetic.

2. What did you do when you found out you were pre-diabetic?

I was prescribed metformin and started the medication, but honestly, not much changed in my lifestyle. Diabetes felt like a “creeper disease,” and with minimal coaching, it was easy to believe that medication alone would solve the problem. That approach lasted about ten years, during which time I was classified as diabetic.

3. What made you decide to make a real change?

Everything shifted in September 2020, during the pandemic. My father had just passed away, largely due to diabetes. That loss, along with meeting Christi Pramudji Dawe—the love of my life—motivated me to take my health seriously. I realized I couldn’t keep relying on fitness alone or a half-hearted diet and expect different results.

4. How did you change your approach to wellness?

My first step was joining Christi on a plant-based diet. Before that, I had no knowledge of vegetarian eating and thought salads were the only option. Christi made the transition easy, and together, we committed to staying active with Orange Theory Fitness, walking, biking, and just keeping moving. Since then, my wellness journey has truly taken off.

5. What improvements have you experienced since making these changes?

As I’ve aged, I noticed common issues like brain fog, tiredness, loss of muscle, and decreased libido. One of the first things I tried was bioidentical hormone therapy, which turned out to be a game changer. I now have more energy, sharper focus, I’m building muscle, losing weight, and my libido has increased significantly. I believe anyone 40 or older should get tested and consider hormone optimization if needed.

6. How do you and Christi approach ongoing wellness?

We continue to prioritize exercise and a healthy diet as the foundation of our wellness. We’ve both had food sensitivity and micronutrient testing to understand which foods to avoid and which nutrients we need to supplement. This has helped minimize inflammation, keep the weight off, and target our specific health needs instead of guessing with generic supplements.

7. What advice would you give to others about living a long and healthy life?

Christi often sees patients who only start focusing on their health later in life, when problems are more severe and costly to address. My advice is to be proactive—start caring for your wellness in your 30s and 40s to prevent bigger issues down the road. It amazes me how people will invest heavily in things like cars but not in their health, when the true point of living is to enjoy life.

I recommend that everyone over 40 get tested for metabolic health, hormones, micronutrients, and cardiovascular health. You can’t really start a successful wellness journey without knowing where you are today. Ultimately, the key to longevity is a solid diet and exercise plan that aligns with your wellness goals.