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Melysa: Ticking Time Bomb Turned Off

Have you ever learned something so valuable and life-changing that you wanted to share it with everyone you know so they, too, can benefit from it?

My life-changing moment came on Thursday, January 7, 2016.

A wonderful internist in College Station, TX, Dr. Philip Alexander, who was not my doctor, said without hesitation, “the only way for a person who eats our rich Western diet to lose weight and keep it off is to read and follow The Starch Solution. As soon as I heard the word “starch”, I was turned off. I was so trained to avoid starches, that I immediately dismissed any idea that this was a solution for me. Two weeks later, while checking my email, an ad popped up along the side margin for The Starch Solution. Why and how did this ad for this book pop up on my email? I was intrigued, so I googled the book and found drmcdougall.com where I read inspiring testimonials, research articles, newsletters, etc. A fountain of excitement began to build up inside me. I ordered the book that Monday evening, January 4, 2016. The book arrived on Thursday at 11 in the morning and I immediately sat down and began reading it. I could not put it down! I finished the book at 11 that night, after having to stop to prepare lunch and dinner for my husband. But I had so much excitement inside me that I was already making a plan. We had just built a beautiful chicken coop in our backyard and were raising 6 laying hens. Those had to go! After one day on Craigslist, someone came with a trailer and took all of it away. Next, I cleaned out my pantry and fridge, made a grocery list, and never looked back!

Health wise, I have been very fortunate. Although I was 286 pounds, I had not been able to get down to normal weight and keep it off. I tried practically every diet available: Weight Watchers over a dozen times, The South Beach Diet, The Mediterranean Diet, The Sugar Busters Diet, The Blood Type Diet, The Atkins Diet, The Grapefruit Diet – just to name a few! I also tried diet pills, but I didn’t like how they made my heart race. I never had high blood pressure except late in my pregnancy with my twins and my blood glucose stayed right around 100. The most my total cholesterol ever climbed was 212. I did have my gallbladder removed about 10 years ago, but I didn’t connect that to my diet.  My doctors always said “You’re real healthy. Just try to drop some weight.” Sometimes they didn’t even mention my weight. I knew that it was just a matter of time before it all caught up with me.

After 14 months on The Starch Solution, I lost 116 lbs. It literally melted off. I couldn’t believe it! This has been the absolute easiest way I have ever lost weight and the most satisfying. I get to eat potatoes, rice, corn and beans and lots of veggies. What amazing comfort food! My glucose has gone from 103 to 88 mg/dL. My cholesterol has gone from 179 to 121 mg/dL. My LDL cholesterol has gone from 107 to 64 mg/dL. My triglycerides went from 144 to 71 mg/dL. My blood pressure is 106/72 and my pulse stays around 52. I have so much energy and can do more than I could 25 years ago.

My husband is a retired Marine and he, too, has adopted The Starch Solution as his way of eating. My oldest daughter’s health issues are gone as well. She follows The Starch Solution, but also cuts out the gluten. We no longer look at meat, dairy, eggs and fish as food for humans. It is a toxin to our health and we will never go back to eating the rich, Western diet.

I am so thankful for Dr. Alexander recommending Dr. McDougall’s book. I have purchased and given away close to a dozen copies of The Starch Solution. Most people don’t want to make the change and I don’t see why. If you can regain your health, turn back time, have more energy and look and feel so much better, it’s a no brainer! I admire Dr. McDougall and Mary so much for their relentless battle cry (mostly falling on deaf ears), as they try to make real change around the globe.

~Melysa