This Diet Saved My Life...My Story after Eight Weeks
Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 4:03 pmGreetings,
A little over eight weeks ago, I was in a desperate situation. In spite of new medications for my high blood pressure, I had begun having chest pains, and would often get spikes in my pressure that scared me. On several occasions, I had to make use of the nitro glycerin prescribed by my family doctor.
At 5'8'' and 245lbs, high BP wasn't the only issue. I had developed asthma, and made sure to keep my inhaler close at hand wherever I went. Many times, I would turn my car around and head back for the house if it was forgotten.
I wanted to exercise more, but even simple walking made my chest hurt with a burning pain. Every night, I would eat myself to sleep--and my appetite was like a bottomless pit. I couldn't see any light at the end of the tunnel.
I had tried one diet or another for the previous 20 years with small successes. Nothing ever worked out in the long run. So a little over eight weeks ago it suddenly occurred to me that I was addicted to food. So late one sleepless night, I did a YouTube search for "food addiction".
The first video I ran across was Dr. Neil Barnard's video on chocolate, cheese, meat, and sugar. It was a real eye-opener...it had never occured to me that dairy or meat could be addictive. Still, I wasn't exactly sure what to do about it.
The next night, I looked the video up again to find similar ideas, and ran across Dr. McDougall's "The Role of Meat in the Human Diet." The first thing that impressed me was Dr. McDougall's respect for religious beliefs. By the time I finished watching the video, it was as if the blinders had come off. That very night, I watched two more McDougall videos--one was on dairy. I'm not sure of the exact titles.
One thing Dr. McDougall said had a huge impact on me. He offered no disclaimer, none of the "results not typical," which I was expecting. He was adament that this diet works, period. Expect results! His confidence was compelling.
After my wife watched the videos with me, we started on this journey together. I really didn't expect what happened next. By the end of the first day, I hadn't used my inhaler. My blood pressure was getting lower than I had ever seen it, so I decided to cut my BP medication in half. (In hindsight, I should have consulted my physician on that, but it all worked out). By the end of the second day, I was experiencing virtually no chest pain. I started noticing a strange sensation, though. I could literally feel the blood coursing through my arms and legs--as if the circulation was coming back.
By the end of the first week, I couldn't believe how much better I felt. Over the last several weeks, things have just kept getting better and better.
After eight weeks, I've lost 24 lbs, and at least 4" in my waist. I'm down to just one small dose of HCTZ for blood pressure with my doctor's blessing. My chest pains are no more than a memory, and my asthma has disappeared also. Allergy season is well under way--and I'm barely noticing. My energy level is incredible, and I've even begun to see a remarkable increase in libido in the last two weeks. I just celebrated my 46th birthday, but honestly I feel at least 10 years younger.
As if this all wasn't already too good to be true, it gets better. I haven't counted one calorie, nor have I once felt deprived. I eat plenty of great food, and feel more satisfied with what I consume. Gone are the crazy cravings that drove me to eat so much that I felt sick.
My wife has lost 12.5 lbs, and has experienced a nearly miraculous improvement in her schitzophrenia. This last benefit was something we had neither expected, nor thought possible. She has actually cut her medication in half, and is happier than she has been in a decade.
I look forward to losing all of my excess weight over the coming months, and dropping the BP medication altogether.
This diet has saved my life, and given me my health back. My wife and I are healthier and happier than we have been in years.
Someday I hope to meet Dr. McDougall and thank him in person.
Tom
A little over eight weeks ago, I was in a desperate situation. In spite of new medications for my high blood pressure, I had begun having chest pains, and would often get spikes in my pressure that scared me. On several occasions, I had to make use of the nitro glycerin prescribed by my family doctor.
At 5'8'' and 245lbs, high BP wasn't the only issue. I had developed asthma, and made sure to keep my inhaler close at hand wherever I went. Many times, I would turn my car around and head back for the house if it was forgotten.
I wanted to exercise more, but even simple walking made my chest hurt with a burning pain. Every night, I would eat myself to sleep--and my appetite was like a bottomless pit. I couldn't see any light at the end of the tunnel.
I had tried one diet or another for the previous 20 years with small successes. Nothing ever worked out in the long run. So a little over eight weeks ago it suddenly occurred to me that I was addicted to food. So late one sleepless night, I did a YouTube search for "food addiction".
The first video I ran across was Dr. Neil Barnard's video on chocolate, cheese, meat, and sugar. It was a real eye-opener...it had never occured to me that dairy or meat could be addictive. Still, I wasn't exactly sure what to do about it.
The next night, I looked the video up again to find similar ideas, and ran across Dr. McDougall's "The Role of Meat in the Human Diet." The first thing that impressed me was Dr. McDougall's respect for religious beliefs. By the time I finished watching the video, it was as if the blinders had come off. That very night, I watched two more McDougall videos--one was on dairy. I'm not sure of the exact titles.
One thing Dr. McDougall said had a huge impact on me. He offered no disclaimer, none of the "results not typical," which I was expecting. He was adament that this diet works, period. Expect results! His confidence was compelling.
After my wife watched the videos with me, we started on this journey together. I really didn't expect what happened next. By the end of the first day, I hadn't used my inhaler. My blood pressure was getting lower than I had ever seen it, so I decided to cut my BP medication in half. (In hindsight, I should have consulted my physician on that, but it all worked out). By the end of the second day, I was experiencing virtually no chest pain. I started noticing a strange sensation, though. I could literally feel the blood coursing through my arms and legs--as if the circulation was coming back.
By the end of the first week, I couldn't believe how much better I felt. Over the last several weeks, things have just kept getting better and better.
After eight weeks, I've lost 24 lbs, and at least 4" in my waist. I'm down to just one small dose of HCTZ for blood pressure with my doctor's blessing. My chest pains are no more than a memory, and my asthma has disappeared also. Allergy season is well under way--and I'm barely noticing. My energy level is incredible, and I've even begun to see a remarkable increase in libido in the last two weeks. I just celebrated my 46th birthday, but honestly I feel at least 10 years younger.
As if this all wasn't already too good to be true, it gets better. I haven't counted one calorie, nor have I once felt deprived. I eat plenty of great food, and feel more satisfied with what I consume. Gone are the crazy cravings that drove me to eat so much that I felt sick.
My wife has lost 12.5 lbs, and has experienced a nearly miraculous improvement in her schitzophrenia. This last benefit was something we had neither expected, nor thought possible. She has actually cut her medication in half, and is happier than she has been in a decade.
I look forward to losing all of my excess weight over the coming months, and dropping the BP medication altogether.
This diet has saved my life, and given me my health back. My wife and I are healthier and happier than we have been in years.
Someday I hope to meet Dr. McDougall and thank him in person.Tom
. All apologies to Jeff N, but I do 