It is 5 years since I began whole food plant based eating in October 2010. I was a little confused the first month and so made some choices which were higher in fat than recommended, but apart from that first month I have been a strict McDougaller for the whole 5 years.
My cholesterol in 2005 was 5.2 (200), so it may have been higher in 2010 but I never had it tested before I began. My BMI was 22.4
My latest cholesterol was 4.1 (158), this is not a fasting number, I had just had a big breakfast of porridge and fruit and the blood test was sprung on me by the health care professional, my bmi is 18.5 and last blood pressure reading 106/67. My previous cholesterol reading which was a fasting one was 4 (154), my cholesterol has never been lower than this. The only medication I take is 50 micrograms of Levothyroxine Sodium for an underactive thyroid. I must admit I did not expect to lose weight because I thought my weight was OK, but slowly during the first year I lost 14 lbs and I ate a lot and still do, I love my food.
When I found this way of eating I was tired, constipated and had stomach problems and acid reflux when I laid down in bed. One day I was googling something and Dr McDougall’s website popped up, I signed up for the newsletter and thought nothing else about it. When the newsletter arrived I read it, I think it had an article about IBS and a light bulb went on. I thought, this sounds like me.
Yes, I was tired, constipated and had stomach problems, but I was also an ovo-lacto vegetarian who also did not eat anything containing extrinsic sugar, so no cakes, biscuits, chocolate or sweets.
At the time I could never have imagined that giving up dairy, eggs and oil would have made such a difference. But it did!
In the beginning my brain kept telling me that there was something missing, but after a couple of weeks I began to feel so much better, my energy levels went up, I stopped feeling tired, I stopped having indigestion, my bloating/stomach pains began to get less and less and of course I stopped being constipated. My skin also improved.
Health wise I have never felt better in my life and I am 61. My mother died at 61. On her death certificate it says 1. M. I. (miocardal infarction). 2. Terminal Anal Cancer. She died when I was 41 and I wondered for a long time how to stop that happening to me. Two years after her death I became a vegetarian, at 52 I stopped eating anything containing extrinsic sugar, then at 56 I discovered Dr McDougall, Dr Esselstyn and Dr Campbell.
I have not looked back, I love the food and I have peace of mind. I never get out of breath and curiously I am a very warm person, very warm in bed, I give out a lot of heat and only need a light cover. I take lots of exercise with my dog and try to pass the message on. My son and husband have given up dairy my daughter and her partner are vegan (though have oil) and my sister is McDougalling too.
Although I came to this way of eating initially for my own health, I am now in it to contribute to saving the planet, feeding the world and animal welfare. So if someone tomorrow could convince me that food from animals was healthy, I would not change a thing (and as if they could!).
I attended the ASW in February 2014 with my husband and loved it. Thank you to all my McDougalling friends for all your kindness and support! Thank you Dr and Mrs McDougall!
Love Sue X
You done good.
