Masters of The Turnaround: Anthony & Staci Lo Cascio On How They Turned Crisis Into Success

Together, we have found that by living in a “read everything” mindset, it really puts each individual in the driver’s seat to determine which direction their health can go. For example, when you’re at the grocery store, read the label on everything you pick up. Know what is in everything that you eat. When you know what you’re putting in and on your body, you can be in control of your own health and destiny.

As part of my series about prominent entrepreneurs and executives that overcame adversity to achieve great success”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Anthony & Staci Lo Cascio.

For over 20 years, after experiencing an overwhelming amount of gut-related issues and receiving far too many misdiagnoses, Anthony Lo Cascio discovered the ability (and magic!) of using food as a prescription. Staci Lo Cascio was diagnosed with several autoimmune disorders, and, in the process, found a path to using food as a prescription — a journey that proved to be difficult, yet incredibly beneficial. The Lo Cascios are currently working on their second book, All We Do Is Delicious Vol. 1: A Cookbook, and recently created LOCA Foods (www.locafoodsinc.com) as a way to explore the creation of gluten-free, soy-free, corn-free, and/or dairy-free foods.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us the “backstory” about what brought you to this specific career path?

We are both professional tap dancers whose lives and careers were in jeopardy due to severe changes in our health. After many years and struggles, we eventually discovered food was our prescription. When you come to such a profound realization, you want to share it with others so they can reap the same rewards. We have been in the business of “helping people succeed” most of our lives, except it’s been in dance. Now, we are turning to guiding people through their own health journeys.

Can you share your story of when you were on the brink of failure? First, take us back to what it was like during the darkest days.

For Anthony, the darkest days were when he was struggling to make it through a 90-minute show while getting his bowels to behave without hemorrhaging. He found himself strategically eating and making sure the timing would be just right. This struggle was embarrassing and difficult to handle with no answers for 20 years.

For Staci, it was when she had come to the realization that she could no longer do what she loved: perform on stage. Her body was unrecognizable, both in appearance and feel. The list of health challenges was growing and becoming unbearable for someone of her age and usual level of activity.

What was your mindset during such a challenging time? Where did you get the drive to keep going when things were so hard?

Have you ever heard the expression, “The show must go on”? This was the mentality and drive we both learned at a very young age from growing up in and around the entertainment industry. It doesn’t matter what your struggles are, you just “push through”. So, you move forward, no matter what, and keep the faith that you will come out better on the other side.

Tell us how you were able to overcome such adversity and achieve massive success? What did the next chapter look like?

After starting these individual, challenging journeys, we came together. Eventually, we found ourselves giving the same advice time and time again. This led to the discovery that we could help a massive number of people if we organized and compiled the information. During the beginning stages of COVID, we sat down together, outlined our chapters, and then wrote the handbook we wish we had when we had both started changing our own lifestyles.

Based on your experience, can you share 3 actionable pieces of advice about how to develop the mindset needed to persevere through adversity? (Please share a story or example for each.)

Anthony likes to say, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you are correct.” In the case of changing your lifestyle to benefit your overall health, you must look at it from a positive mindset because it will help you become the best version of yourself.

When Staci had her body tested for allergies, it helped her to “flip the script” on her results. She learned to focus on what she COULD have versus what she COULDN’T. This tends to make you realize you CAN do this and you actually do have all the tools you need to succeed.

Together, we have found that by living in a “read everything” mindset, it really puts each individual in the driver’s seat to determine which direction their health can go. For example, when you’re at the grocery store, read the label on everything you pick up. Know what is in everything that you eat. When you know what you’re putting in and on your body, you can be in control of your own health and destiny.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

Staci had help from a friend who suggested she get an EAV screening from a local nutritionist. It was this appointment that put Staci on a path to recovery from her autoimmune disorder and really helped her understand how to live the lifestyle she was seeking. Of course, there are a few others who have been a tremendous help, but this particular suggestion was extremely pivotal.

Anthony was very lucky in the fact that he had Staci to help him take his journey to another level. Staci’s suggestions led him to lose 30 pounds and relieve massive body inflammation in only two months’ time. Because of this, Anthony’s chiropractor and lifelong friend, Dr. Rob, also took interest and became a vital component in Anthony’s success.

Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that will help people?

As a matter of fact, we recently opened an online bakery that is dedicated to Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, and Corn-Free goods. Our company is called LOCA Foods and our motto is “All We Do is Delicious”.

We tour all over North America and one of the things we do is seek out bakeries. We have found very few that could serve us even though many were dedicated gluten-free or vegan establishments. Anthony is Italian and grew up in the kitchen. He has a lot of love for food and a high standard of what he considers “delicious”. This led him to start making muffins, cookies, and other baked favorites that we couldn’t find anywhere we looked.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

Be your own advocate. Know yourself. Spend the time it takes to learn to love yourself more than focusing your love on others first. The truer you are to yourSELF, the greater the good you can ultimately do in the universe.

Any parting words of wisdom that you would like to share?

Yes. You are often much stronger than you may be led to believe. With knowledge comes the power to succeed. A wise human once said, “Your mind is like an umbrella: it works best when it is open.”

How can our readers follow you on social media?

Find us online at locafoodsinc.com, on IG and Twitter @LOCAFoodsinc, and at facebook.com/FoodRxBook or facebook.com/locafoodsinc. If you visit our website, you can get a free food diary and 6 free recipes. Our recipes are all free from Gluten, Dairy, Soy, & Corn.

Social media links:

https://www.facebook.com/locafoodsinc

https://www.facebook.com/FoodRxBook

https://www.linkedin.com/in/staci-lo-cascio-3b436b13/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-lo-cascio-4182451/

https://twitter.com/locafoodsinc

https://www.instagram.com/locafoodsinc/

Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational.

Thank you — It’s nice to be inspiring ❤