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Sometimes in 1999, I knew the importance of some physical activity and I was doing stationary bike 3 times a week. The training sessions were 1 hour long where I would keep constant speed with the resistance adjusted so that my heart beats at 140. I then started to notice chest pain, which I know is a sign of coronary blockage. Comments from my MD at that time was that I was 40 and I should take it easy.
In the next year while surfing around I discovered Dr McDougall. I thought that his ideas made sense and we adopted his diet on April 24, 2000.
Of course we are not 100% faithful but we've been keeping the spirit of the diet ever since.
In 2004 we adopted our first child. He was a 19mo toddler and had psycological damage. He required permanent parental presence (22 hours per day at the beginning). As a result, I stopped my physical activities and other things in 2004, because I could find no more time for it.
Now we are in 2010. Our son grew up, and I can find some time for sport again. I started stationary bike again last October. I'm now no longer doing steady training, but rather interval training: 5 min warm up at slow pace, then 8 3-min intervals with 1 min fast pace and 2 min slow pace, and finally 1 min slow pace to recover. The training session only takes 30 minutes. The resistance is set so that my heart beats at 140 at the end of the training session.
Well, it took me 3-4 times before I could do the session as planned, but this has been surprisingly easy, and, guess what ? No more chest pain. And of course now I'm no longer 40 but 51.
I just had that flash of that old chest pain. I really don't miss it but I suddenly realised that it was no longer there. I thought I would share...

Thank you, Dr McDougall

David

Great post, David. Thanks for posting it. Happy to hear all is doing well with you, especially no more chest pains! Happy McDougalling!

That is wonderful news Dave. And Congrats on parenthood.

Very encouraging. I'm off for an echocardiogram on the 30th for possible valve replacement. But I'm sure I can postpone the surgery with the results you were able to achieve. Thanks for the post. Liam

Had the echocardiogram, no surgery this year it looks like. What really hit home was the MD telling me that I had 2 months to get some of the weight off, (My BP went up to 240 on the stress test) or he would need to up my lisinopril. I was struck that he wanted to try lifestyle changes first rather than throwing more meds at me. Have to get serious, this is the real thing.

I'm sure you can do it. Maybe that 2 months deadline it the little push you need to find the motivation to stick to the diet. It's really worth it.

Following a message from Mercola, I have changed my training program. I was doing 5 min warm up at slow pace, then 8 intervals of 1 min fast pace, 2 min slow pace, followed by 1 min cool down for a total of 30 min. The slow pace was 12 mph, the fast more than 18 mph, if that means anything on a stationary bike.

The new program is 3 min warm up at slow pace, then 8 intervals of 30 seconds full speed (25 mph) and 1 min 30 slow pace, to finish with 2 min cool down, for a total of 20 min.

I think it is better; I found that 1 min was too long to really go full speed. 30 seconds is definitely long enough. I have some difficulties to comply 100% but I trust after a few weeks it will be better. The only problem is, at that speed, the stationary bike starts to move, so I have to be careful. I can now feel the warmth in my legs hours after the training session.

Liam you are lucky that your doctor is giving you a chance to get it off with lifestyle. You can show him/her that changes in food and exercise do work.

Imagine what would happen if you totally followed the plan (to the "t")? Good job though.

I KNOW that the results would be life saving. . .