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Turning 42 Today

Jeremy Igo

By Jeremy Igo,
in Carolina Panthers

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Jeremy Igo Newbie

Jeremy Igo

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I turn 42 today, but I feel 10 years younger. 

Late last year I was on the precipice of heart disease. One day, I found myself in the emergency room with blood pressure high enough to cause a heart attack or stroke. I laid on their bed as they got it under control, and all I could think about was how my wife was overseas and my kids have no one to pick them up from school if something happened to me. 

After they fixed the issue, that day I went to my primary care physician who then put me on two blood pressure meds along with a cholesterol med.

I turned 40, they said, these things happen. It is your genetics, no way around it. I realized I was now a guy that had to be on a prescription med tether the rest of my life. That didn't sound good. 

So, for months I did all the reading up on the issue I could. Anything nutrition related I read, listened to, absorbed. I investigated all of the latest trends, some I was very familiar with. I have been doing the low card high protein thing off and on for the better part of this century. Some sounded like they were just made up (blood type diet? huh?). 

Then, one day I stumbled upon one way of eating that had actual scientific proof of not only halting the progression of heart disease, but actually reversing it. One way of eating had randomized double blind peer review studies and even angiograms of arteries being opened up again. 

So, at Christmas last year I started a Whole Foods Plant Based diet. Basically, I cut out all animal products and processed foods. The idea is to fill your body with foods loaded with nutrients at every opportunity, and stop eating foods that are proven to contribute to heart disease. 

For breakfast, instead of eggs and sausage, I would have a fresh smoothie with berries, leafy greens, and oatmeal. 

For lunch, instead of a burger and fries, I would have a big salad with beans and corn. 

For dinner, instead of pizza I would have perhaps a bean and brown rice burrito with whole wheat tortilla. 

Snacks throughout the day were apples, oranges, pears, unsalted mixed nuts. 

I do enjoy a glass of red wine in the eves. 

To be completely honest, I was hoping this new way of living did not work. It seemed a bit extreme, but not as extreme as cracking open my chest for surgery. I would give it a few weeks, see what happened. 

Fast forward 4 months to today, my 42nd birthday. 

I have lost 33 pounds. (218 to 185) Having to buy new clothes is the only downside I have discovered. 

I am off all blood pressure meds. My BP now hovers at 110/70 which is ideal for anyone of any age. 

I am off all cholesterol meds. The only cholesterol in my body now is the cholesterol it makes itself. 

I went from 4 cups of coffee a day to a single cup in the morning. I have so much energy now that I just don't need it. 

A few weird things happened also. My chronic back pain I have had for years went away. This might be due to the anti inflammatory nature of plant foods. Also, my household has been sick a few times with cold, flu, and a nasty stomach bug. I, however, was not touched by any of it. That is definitely new for me.

Anyways, I wanted to tell you all this in case you ever find yourself in the spot I found myself in. If you find yourself on cholesterol, blood pressure or type two diabetes meds, it is extremely likely you don't have to be. It is a lifestyle choice that led you there, and it can be reversed. In fact, you can start to see reversal in just a few weeks. Your body is eager to fix itself, you just have to stop injuring it so that it can catch up. 

Am I saying you should have zero animal products? No. I now have a nice piece of fresh fish every other week or so. Just a choice I have made. You can have up to 10% of your daily calorie intake be from animal products and still see the same benefits that I have seen. Just make sure it is a nice cut of meat and not a hot dog or lunch meat. Processed meats are classified as Group 1 Carcinogens by the world health organization, alongside cigarettes and asbestos. 

If you want to know more, here are some resources I found helpful, all based in science and nutrition. 

The China Study - Book

Forks over knives - Netflix Documentary

The Rich Roll Podcast - Podcast

nutritionfacts.org - Website

If you want to try it out, a free 21 day kickstart plan can found here -> http://www.pcrm.org/kickstartHome

 

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RoaringRiot Collaborator

RoaringRiot

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Happy BDay dawg. I'll put a candle in your wedge salad tomorrow night. 

But for realz....we know the real panic was you laying there not knowing who would carry on the Huddle. Glad you care so much for us that you were determined to change. Also, I hear Chknwing is avaible. 

But for realz - realz...good work. Glad it's worked for you. 

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Cyberjag Newbie

Cyberjag

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Happy Birthday!  

It's amazing what diet can do.  Right now Keto is working for me, and I can relate to the clothes thing.  My Jeans I purchased this past fall fell off my hips while I was walking around the house the other day, I have to wear a belt now.

Where are you with exercise?  

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Jeremy Igo Newbie

Jeremy Igo

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Happy Birthday!  
It's amazing what diet can do.  Right now Keto is working for me, and I can relate to the clothes thing.  My Jeans I purchased this past fall fell off my hips while I was walking around the house the other day, I have to wear a belt now.
Where are you with exercise?  


I looked into keto. Seemed like yet another new spin on the Atkins thing. Been about a dozen variations of it since. It gets the weight off due to fewer calories, but our anatomy just isn't meant for that much animal protein. Still, it is better than the standard American diet due to cutting processed or fried foods, so that's good.

Wasn't an option for me in terms of heart health. Arteries are still tightened. Damage is still done. The route I took has side effects, but only positive ones. Well, except for the buying new clothes thing.

I make sure to get active every day. Walking, running, light weights.
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Cyberjag Newbie

Cyberjag

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3 minutes ago, RoaringRiot said:

Knew the Ironman pic had to ask this question, right?

At this point it shames me, I'm nowhere near where I was back them.  I kind of burned out on training and this diet now is part of trying to get back to it.  

I've used diet to control my body for most of my life, BTW.  I'm hyperactive and when I eat crap and lots of sugar my body goes into overdrive and I can't focus--and I'm 53 and this still happens.  I'm blessed to have parents who did a lot of research on this back in the '70s and had me on a clean diet back then--we made yogurt and had bees and did the Farmer's Market all the time.  What Jeremy is saying is no joke--if you eat a lot of processed stuff you're going to get inflammation at the least, and bad, bad things at the worst.

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RoaringRiot Collaborator

RoaringRiot

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Just now, Cyberjag said:

At this point it shames me, I'm nowhere near where I was back them.  I kind of burned out on training and this diet now is part of trying to get back to it.  

I've used diet to control my body for most of my life, BTW.  I'm hyperactive and when I eat crap and lots of sugar my body goes into overdrive and I can't focus--and I'm 53 and this still happens.  I'm blessed to have parents who did a lot of research on this back in the '70s and had me on a clean diet back then--we made yogurt and had bees and did the Farmer's Market all the time.  What Jeremy is saying is no joke--if you eat a lot of processed stuff you're going to get inflammation at the least, and bad, bad things at the worst.

Don't be shamed. I've done several half irons in my day and currently I'm registered for a sprint next month. Hoping the short race will jump start me getting back into it more. The whole "time thing" has gotten the best of me the last two years.

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ladypanther Grand Master

ladypanther

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Happy Birthday Jeremy!!  

I was sorry to hear about the health scare a few month ago but I am impressed how you have responded.  By the way...you have ruined my day with that personal responsibility stuff.  (Just kidding).  It seems to be the American way to just ask a doctor for a pill to manage symptoms rather than attacking the problem and/or the solution. That goes for physical and emotional issues.

Thanks for sharing this with us.  I am happy to hear how much better you feel.   

Have a wonderful day!

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Cyberjag Newbie

Cyberjag

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1 minute ago, RoaringRiot said:

Don't be shamed. I've done several half irons in my day and currently I'm registered for a sprint next month. Hoping the short race will jump start me getting back into it more. The whole "time thing" has gotten the best of me the last two years.

This thread can quickly turn into one about motivation, depression, and lifestyle, huh? :)'

I have serious lifestyle issues now that I did not back then--mainly centered on being a single parent in a job that requires a lot of travel.  So I know exactly where you are where the time thing is concerned.

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