After my father's post "What It Really Means to Feel Better,"
Daniel sent me an email detailing his journey to a plant-based diet.
The results and changes were remarkable, so I asked him if he would be up
for sharing his story as a Herbie of the Week. Luckily, he agreed!
HH: Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I'm
70 years old, have been on a complete plant-based diet including NO OILS
for....let's see, I'm on my 14th month. I began after having a
complete body "meltdown."
HH: Can you tell us a little more about the "meltdown"?
I woke up in the hospital being told that I had "died."
I
went home with a bag of pills and was told to start kidney dialysis. I
was devastated. I was 68 years old. Had always eaten "well" — lots of fish,
no junk/fast food, sodas, physically "active." I had always done a yearly
or more blood panel. Over the years, my "numbers" didn't change much,
but what was considered "normal" sure did, and I ended up with high
cholesterol and blood pressure. Yeah, I was a "few pounds" overweight, but I
had always been a "big guy," and yeah I drank wine every day, but the
medico's told me everything was "OK" — until it wasn't.
(That has become my "mantra" when people ask me "what have you done?" and then want to argue with me. "Don't tell me I can't have my bacon!" I
tell them, well then have it! You're fine! UNTIL YOU'RE NOT!).
HH: How'd you find your way to a plant-based diet?
The following Sunday evening, I just happened to turn on CNN, and watched intently the interview of Bill Clinton and his describing his path on a plant-based life, the positive effects
he had attained....I was enthralled. Maybe this would help me!
So the following morning, I drove to Whole Foods (had never been in the store before!) and purchased Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease and Eat to Live. I went
home, read the books, cleaned out my kitchen (no easy task, as I had
always cooked, had my own catering company years ago, was known for my
"dinner parties," etc. etc.), returned to Whole Foods and restocked. I never
looked back!
HH: Have you experienced any benefits?
So, I've lost 40 lbs., my total cholesterol is 86, I generally feel better, and I sleep
better. I think I'm pretty happy, but I hate being 70. I realize now that I'm
certainly in better health, but I "started too late." Two back
operations, two hip replacements, arthritis, neuropathy, bad ankles, no
feeling in my feet.....these issues remain. I haven't gotten worse, but I
guess I had higher expectations........So it was nice to read someone
else in my demographic relating the same kind of issues. [Editorial
Note: He's referencing my Dad's blog post, linked above]
I will "pound" the plant-based life for as long as I'm alive. There are
so many other areas that I feel better about, i.e., being "in control of
my life!" Shopping, reading labels, cooking all of my food that I put
in my mouth, the feeling that I'm in total control of my health. I
will also continue to answer people's questions about "the way I look," the comments that "I can't believe you're still alive" (from my own doctor!) by giving them a
book by Fuhrman, Esselstyn, McDougall, et al. and by telling
them to subscribe to the Happy Herbivore.
HH: Anything else you'd like to add?
People
have often asked me how I could so drastically change my entire life as
I have, and I always try to explain that you feel so absolutely better,
wonderful even, that your palate changes so quickly, that there is never
(for me) a thought of "returning" to my previous life.
HH: Thanks Daniel! Keep rockin'!