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What a great story! As Dr. McDougall's dietary recos point out, once again it's the food that saves the day... The evidence never ends. If only more people would hear the message. I posted the story on facebook and twitter to help.

This was a great article, and it was perfect timing. Does our star post here?

She is now a signed-up Member of the Board.
See message from our newest *STAR* Meredith in this thread (LINK follows) that you might overlook because it posted in "The Lounge", not here in "Comments on Latest Newsletter or Star McDougaller."
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=17075

I am on line if anyone wants to ask questions and I am also on Facebook.

Hi Meredith, congratulations on healing your life! I am interested in what type of strength training you do now and frequency. How many miles are you running per week now?

Thanks, and you are my new hero! Good luck for 2016 (but why not 2012?).

Hi Nomikins,

Thank you! I do strength and core training (using a lot of balancing exercises) 4-5 days a week, running 5 times per week and my weekly mileage gets up between 50 - 60 miles per week for now and I am hoping to eventually increase that later this year. Even though my RA symptoms have gone, I still have to be careful not to aggravate all the neuromas and prior joint inflammation in my feet that were caused by the RA as the Orthopedist says we have to treat them as "injuries". As I just started running a matter of a few months ago after a 14 month lay off, I am still getting back into it and it is a frustratingly slow process, but I managed to run Boston and still did a great time which I am so proud of.

One thing I should mention about the running is that instead of running 5 days a week, I run 5 TIMES a week. I do my 2 hardest workouts back to back in one day to give my body an extra day of rest. So I will do strength training in the AM, speed workout on the treadmill at lunch time and then I will run hills in the evening. The next day is a no running day. I have worked very hard with my Orthopedist to get my training program just right.

Why not 2012? Well, I do not think I will be able to make up for the lost time due to RA - of course, I will try, but 2016 is more realistic, I think. I never ever thought I would be running again and I can hardly believe that I am - simply by adopting a vegan diet. Quite amazing really! I know so many people who are sick and they just won't listen to me about the diet stuff.

Thanks for the detailed reply!

I run and do CrossFit. CrossFit is a very intense workout which I started January 2009. I've done a good number of half and two full marathons (I shuffle more than run, lol). I have been getting in some easy runs a few days a week and doing the CF workouts. As I start ramping up for my half and full marathons in late fall, I want to re-start more speed/hill sessions soon.

All that being said, I'm still 50 pounds heavier than I'd like to be. Lately, I've been struggling with how to eat in order to support becoming a better athlete (I'm a 42 year old woman).

Most of the people at my gym are into paleo/zone/primal eating, which are all just different variations of lowcarb/atkins nonsense. Having lost 40 pounds (and have kept it off) following the McDougall program, I have absolutely zero interest in becoming a consumer of dead animals ever again. However, I found myself questioning going lower starch and adding in eggs and fish.

Your story came along at exactly the right time, as did another article stating endurance athletes cannot function optimally on low carb living. After work, I'm off to restock my potatoes (white and sweet), and do what I know is the best for my body and life.

So, thanks again for sharing with us. Know that you made a TREMENDOUS impact on me (and no doubt, countless others), and you are responsible for my renewed zeal to continue to follow this lifestyle.

Never say never for 2012! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Nomikins,

I am so glad to hear I have helped you out. That makes me feel good. One thing I must add is that eggs were a huge part of my RA problem. I also learned at the McDougall Advanced Study in February that if you are going to eat meat, fish is actually the worst of all the bunch. I originally cut out eggs from my diet and my symptoms got better, but I still couldn't run. I cut out ALL dairy and meat and within a month I was running like 14 months of misery had never happened.

Just some food for thought! Pun intended!

Good luck with your running and exercise regime and feel free to reach out to me whenever you want.

Thanks again, Meredith!

Luckily, I have not had health problems (yet). I cured my IBS years ago with the McDougall diet, even with lax adherence.

However, I just notice how much better I feel all around following this program. Hubby and I were just discussing it, and he realizes he feels best eating this way as well, but had not really given it much thought. He's also a runner and said to mention good job on getting to Boston. He has a life goal of getting to wear the Boston Jacket one day.

Thank you for sharing your story - and being an inspiration.

hi meredith, i just re-read your star mcdougaller experience and it is truly so amazing!so did you first start the mcdougall diet just this past january?i want my friend who is marathon running to see that it can be done eating this great mcdougall vegan way of life.

Chewy, I started the new diet by eliminating eggs only on Dec 1st 2009 as my Immunologist found I was allergic to them (something that recently happened within the past few years). That helped my RA symptoms, but wouldn't make them go away enough to run. Then I quickly found Dr McDougall and eliminated ALL animal products by mid December. I was running in early January after 14 months of not being able to and was easily able to run the Boston Marathon on April 19th. I am now off to China tomorrow night on a 15 day hike and bike trip. When I get back, a gruelling marathon training plan resumes for my next race in October.

As a marathon runner, I have never felt better nor stronger than I do now. I wish I had found the vegan diet YEARS AGO! A huge regret of mine.

Have a safe and fun trip, Meredith! I would be interested in your training plan, if you're willing to share. Or PM me or whatever.
Take care!

Nomikins,

My training plan is like this:

Strength & Core Training - 4 - 5 times per week first thing in the morning. I also need to re-introduce plyometrics once a week, but I am too scared to explosively pound my feet in the sand just yet. If I'm not careful, I could blow those old neuromas from RA up in my feet still. My Ortho forbids plyometrics for me just yet.

Mon - Speed training on treadmill (5 - 10 miles) (at lunchtime) & Hill running on the road (5 - 6 miles) (evening)
Tues - No running day
Weds - Easy run on beach (5 - 10 miles)
Thurs - No running day
Fri - Long run on the road (16 - 22 miles)
Sat - No running day
Sun - Easy run on treadmill at 5,500 ft altitude (5 - 9 miles)

I cannot stress enough how my new vegan diet made the Boston Marathon training a COMPLETELY different experience from previous years of eating crap. Less muscle soreness, quicker recovery, don't need to eat myself out of house and home anymore, less fatigue and better overall running and health. I can't wait to see what I can do when I start the new training cycle at the end of May.

WOW! What a story!!! You are an inspiration! I have a very good friend with RA and I sent her your story seconds after I read it. Within 5 minutes she replied: "Ok, I'm ready! This McDougall guy must be for real'.
Thanks, Meredith!