Back in July 2018 I was discharged from the hospital after my third heart attack. When I got home, I decided to RE Read, "Preventing and Reversing Heart Disease" by Caldwell Esselstyn Jr. MD. The next few days were the beginning of a new life for me.
I had read Dr. E;'s book several years ago after learning of it from an old friend who had tried the plan and found his health greatly improved. But at that time I was not ready, and felt I could not do it. So for me, now well into chronic heart disease, it was do it or die. Actually it was not dying I was afraid of, it was feeling badly on my journey to that final breath So that day in early July, I went "cold turkey" I completely eliminated animal products from my diet. And now 9 months later I am still eating WFPB.
Since making this change in my diet and lifestyle, I have seen nothing but positive results. Within just a few weeks, my cholesterol had dropped 100 points. MY next A1C was to be drawn several months post WFPB and it was down to 6. I had never been below a 7.5 since being diagnosed with Type II diabetes. As of this writing I have lost 20 lbs and am within 10 lbs of my goal weight.
But the biggest change is in my energy level, and my mental state. I am a new person and friends and family have commented on the positive changes they are seeing in me. 2 of my children are now following this . and I am working on the other 2.
A year ago, when my spouse and I were taking a short weekend get away in our 5th wheel RV I had no energy , could barely walk from the truck to the edge of the lake, and I began to think this RVing is over for me. My spouse and I discussed selling the rig and accepting that our traveling life was over. Then at the end of June my life changed for the better.
I am now enjoying the new adventures in cooking this way. and we are planning an extensive trip in our RV for this fall and winter. As I think about this I think about meal planning. Restaurants are almost impossible to frequent. FAST FOOD.. Never again unless it is to grab a McDouble for our dog Sadie. For us... WE have not eaten fast food for almost 10 months. And do not plan to go back to it. So lunches will be a quick stop in a rest area where we will eat raw veggies and fruit and if I have planned ahead from the previous night a thermos of soup that I cooked all night in the slow cooker will also be on the menu.
I am now able to be more active throughout my days. I am able to clean up my kitchen after our supper, something I was always too tired to do before starting this plan. I sleep better than I used to. I feel much better than I have ever felt. And I am enjoying my life again. NOt just waiting to die.
I only wish I had discovered Dr,. Esselstyn several years ago. But better late than never. And while I am on this subject I want to say a few words about Dr. E. After I reread his book in July 2018, I began to have some questions about how this eating plan would affect my diabetes. I was eating more carbs, ALTHOUGH whole carbs, than I ever had. So I was concerned about my blood sugar reading going off the chart. I sent a message to Dr. E's website with that question. I received an auto response saying that they were out of the office and would get back to me when they returned.
I kind of forgot about this for a few days, until on July 4th my cell phone rang and I noticed it was= call from Cleveland OH. I would normally decline , since I do not know anyone in Cleveland, but I answered and I heard. "Sherri, This is Dr. Esselstyn". WE talked for a few minutes and he asked me to take my phone into the room with my husband and put him on speaker. Dr. E. talked to us for about 30 min. That 30 min reinforced my resolved, A few months later we attended his seminar at the WEllness Center at Cleveland Clinic and I have never looked back.
Oh sure there are a few things I still miss. But not enough to stop eating WFPB. I used to love a good hamburger and mac n cheese was my go to comfort food... But those are things I will never put into my body again. I have now learned to like oatmeal ( something I never liked) and am eating foods I have not eaten before. I like taking a recipe from some of my old repertoire and modifying it to fit WFPB. The biggest thing that I cannot imitate is making a cream or butter sauce. But it is worth that loss to feel the way I do.
I have done a lot of reading and research on this way of eating, and I feel that the research is there. As well as the results. Type II diabetics have reversed their disease. Cardiac patients have never had another cardiac event if they stick to the plan. I am proof that it works.
If anyone out there reads this I would also recommend watching the documentary "What the Health" which is available on NETFLIX. This film will wake you up to how the food industry, particularly the animal industry has lied to us, and how they have infiltrated our government to influence us to think that we must eat animals and drink dairy to be healthy. Both of these are outright deceptions.,
HAPY VEGAN... ACTUALLY WFPB is even more strict than VEGAN. Processed foods, and oils are also eliminated on this plan. But it is doable, If I can do it. ( the woman who ate a grilled cheese sandwich, every morning for breakfast) Then anyone can do it.
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