Wish me luck or a fast ambulance.

[txdon]

Looking forward to reading about that!

Ate out last night at a BBQ restaurant: Veggie burger with lettuce, tomato & BBQ sauce for more flavor. Quite tasty, although I should probably omit the sauce.

Eating out at a BBQ restaurant seems so delightful a year ago now I'm terrified of it. You have to really search in this area for a veggie burger especially at a steak/BBQ house.

I found that of the places that do serve veggie burgers, the black bean burgers are the safest. One thing to be on the lookout for (for the reversal diet) are the veggie burgers that have eggs in them and the ones with added oils.
Hopefully they don't cook it on the grease filled grill as other meats.
You can never let your watch down. I admire you for you choice of the veggie burger with all the tempting BBQ smells! You saved yourself from a large cholesterol spike.

 

[txdon]

If you are taking a statin and are wondering what your cholesterol level would be if you did not take it there is a chart on this Wikipedia site.

Statin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As you do the reversal diet check with your doctor to see if you can decrease your statins. The chart is also accurate (for me) in seeing the increase of LDL level if you reduce your statins.

I have the side effect of muscle pains when I'm on statins and they have greatly diminished now that I have reduced my dosage in half (cardiologist approved).

I did the Walgreens Cholesterol test and I'm at my cardiologist goal of no more than 70 LDL. (up only 15 points after cutting the statin dosage in half) I'll do the official Lab test in another 2-3 weeks, to check the accuracy of the Walgreens pharmacist given test.

For most people the goal for LDL should be less than 100 but if you have a cardiologist it will be less than 70. This is almost impossible to obtain without statins. With diet you can at least do it with a low dosage which will minimize the side effects. Some people can do it without drugs - every body is different. Good diet and good genes are the key - only one I can control.

 

[pacerron]

Eating out at a BBQ restaurant seems so delightful a year ago now I'm terrified of it. QUOTE]

What is your source of proteins?

 

[txdon]

What is your source of proteins?

I don't know.

They say there's protein in all vegetables, grains, and legumes and it's working great for me.

It may not work for you.

 

[Chef Pa]

Hello Don,

Congratulations on your recovery. Hope you are doing well and enjoying life.

Thanks so much for posting your story and testimony on the reversal diet. This could very well be a life saver for me.

A couple of years ago I had a memorable ride to the hospital and got one of those 'stent thingys' too Luckily I didn't have a heart attack, but discovered a 99% blockage after a stress test induced some pretty serious vfib. I've been following this thread for about a month, and just last week purchased both Esselstyn and Ornish books on reversal of coronary heart disease. Still in limbo on the differences between the two, but will sort that out over time. I'm thinking elimination of all dairy is probably a good thing, but can see nonfat yogurt and/or egg whites making cooking a little easier. Will experiment with both, but either way the cholesterol numbers are what I see as the primary target, and if it takes elimination of dairy altogether so be it. Don't want to be too hopeful yet, but it would be great to reduce or eliminate the pills (blood pressure, statin) one day. Yesterday (Saturday) was my first full day on the diet and it went great, other than dreaming about a chicken sandwich last night... One day at a time I suppose.

Anyway, just wanted to say thank you.

Greg

 

[txdon]

Chef PA, you are now one of the very few that take control of your disease, congratulations! Like you said one day at a time, and if you fall off jump back on till you no longer feel the need for the fat and cholesterol in the animal products. Keep us posted of any medication or physical changes. Any time you find a new favorite dish please share. Don

 

[TMR]

Hi Chef Pa...like you I read txDon's thread and it motivated me to pull out my Ornish book from early 90s...seems like I wasn't ready then I have had a couple of stents and am on a number of medications for blood pressure and diabetes type II. Both my wife and I are more serious now.

After 11 days all going pretty well...and "departures" from plan have been fairly minor and only a couple of them. We are not giving up non-fat dairy at least for 30 days...then will consider after a visit to doc.

Amazing how quickly the results surface...down 12 pounds...wife 10 pounds. Blood sugar AM reading down from low 130s b4 to current average of right around 100. Blood pressure down nicely.

I am having regularly scheduled annual stress EKG next week and 10 year colonoscopy week after. I plan on visiting my internist after both of those tests are complete as he wants to see me b4 lowering my current meds. My goal is to cut meds significantly over a period of time...without being in a hurry and with doc's OK.

Good luck...welcome to txDon's "wellness thread"... TMR

 

[txdon]

If you are just getting started or after a while you need an enthusiasm booster or you just want the most up to date information or you just way to talk and ask questions to the best sources available may I suggest a weekend E2 Emersion. I went to one in Austin about a month ago and it was so informative - and they serve the best plant based food menu.

Here is their site to see if they are coming to your area, or someplace you want to visit.
Engine 2 Immersions

 

[brin]

Don, here is a favorite dish of my wife and me....

Soak one pound package of great northern beans overnight...then next day follow package directions and simmer with chopped onions , celery, carrots, garlic, pepper and any other seasonings or veggies you want to add...we sometimes add diced potatoes toward the end or you can add some brown rice or pearl barley...

This is really comfort food....it takes no oil or fats of any kind to make a wonderful meal...also we add some tomato paste to taste for the acidity...

You share some of your recipes too....:licking:

 

[BKBrown]

If it has not been mentioned before, watch out for the Statin drugs. They deplete the CoQ10 in your system and for me, they caused weakness, muscle fatigue, muscle cramps, and lack of stamina. I feel much better now that I am off them. (I'm not a Doctor) just my personal experience.
Also, try grazed (grass fed) beef if you are not going vegitarian or vegan. It is much better for you than feed lot beef.