Dr. McDougall's Online Discussion Board

I saw my doctor for a check up last week, after more-or-less avoiding her for almost two years. Here are the changes:
Weight: was 185#, now 163#
Total Cholesterol: Was 199, now 173
Fasting glucose: was 106, now 96
HbA1c: was 5.5, now 5.2
Triglycerides: was 746 (!), now 196. Still too high, but such an improvement!

I weaned myself off blood pressure meds over a year ago, and my blood pressure at this check up was 116/58!! I didn't have pressure that low when I was in high school (44 years ago).

She listened to my heart and lungs and said "See you next year".
The battle goes on, but I feel like I'm winning it, thanks to Dr. McDougall.

How wonderful, Gweithgar! Amazing transformation - an inspiration!

CONGRATS!!! That's a fabulous improvement, esp. since it wasn't a huge weight loss! GOOD FOR YOU!

Wonderful news! Great job!

That's awesome. I'm glad to hear your numbers are so much improved. Good work.

Something to inspire to, knowing it is possible. Well done. Liam

wow to all of that number line-ups. So fantastic all of it!!\

So you really weaned yourself off the HBP meds... wow to that one too., I will have to do that too, since my doctor is very unwilling to do that for me. I may have to switch doctors in fact. You have given me some courage to do that now.

Gweithgar you're doing great. It inspires me to know not only that your overall health has improved, but also that you've had such success getting off blood pressure medication and your bp is low. This is currently my big challenge! Except I haven't started the bp medication - am trying to avoid going that route. Anyway, big hugs and congratulations!!!

congrats!! What a great drop in your numbers!!!

Thanks everyone! No matter how much I read and followed the program, I didn't fully believe that it would work until I saw the proof in my own numbers.

A word about weaning off the BP meds (I was taking Atenolol): Nobody should quit these meds abruptly! I tracked my blood pressure at home and followed Dr. McDougalls recommendations for the pressure range at which he begins to reduce meds. Once I was in that range, I started by cutting the tablets in half for two weeks, then in quarters for another two weeks, then in eighths for a final two weeks. At each reduction in meds, there was a brief upswing in the numbers which leveled off as my body adjusted and my pressure continued to normalize.

Things I noticed that prompted me to reduce and eliminate the Atenolol were:
Brief blackouts and dizziness when getting up from a sitting or lying position,
Increased breathlessness when stair or hill climbing (even while my general fitness level increased),
Bluish fingers brought on by exertion.

All of these are also signs of cardiac insufficiency, but I had had my heart checked "six ways to Sunday" and knew that my ticker was not the problem. Blood pressure meds work by making the heart pump less strongly--a sort of drug-induced cardiac insufficiency. Now that I am successfully off the meds, all of those problems went away and I have increased energy for exercise.

Would I ever, ever go back to eating SAD? Not on my life!

Gweithgar wrote:Would I ever, ever go back to eating SAD? Not on my life!

Gweithgar - What a great testimonial to the effectiveness of the McDougall Plan! Thanks for sharing and congratulations on your success.

Wonderful news! Looking forward to hearing about your next milestone. Happy McDougalling!

And 22 pounds is indeed a lot of weight loss. Line up those 1 pound burger packages...22 of them will make your head spin!
Riva

Riva wrote:And 22 pounds is indeed a lot of weight loss. Line up those 1 pound burger packages...22 of them will make your head spin!
Riva

I tend to think in 1 pound blocks of butter.

applause and celebration to your success and many continued years of health to you, Gweithgar.