My Story
Personal experience of anything brings much better decisions than just pure awareness, knowledge and nagging by others. Nothing substitutes personal discovery and understanding of a problem that affects someone’s life and wellbeing, and potential solutions to address the matter.
After convincing and compelling reading and video materials one is stuck with a dilemma how to get started and progress with the decisions one made. This post is my personal story of reaching a point of no returns with my health.
In November 2018, when nothing was expected, I was admitted into the hospital with gallbladder problems, specifically gallbladder stones. That was indeed a surprise and shock after the diagnosis and followed surgery to remove my gallbladder all together due to chronic inflammation and many gallstones. One of my internal organs, gallbladder, was not any longer functioning as intended but rather affecting my health, life, and wellbeing. Losing the gallbladder brought new challenges and adjustment to my diet and choices.
Here I was on a crossroad what to do next, how to maintain my vitality and a way to adapt to new conditions, still being influenced by all those beliefs that drove my choices of lifestyle, food and dealing with health issues at the age of almost 50 years old. So, I deep dive into the research of the topic relevant to gallbladder removal, the functioning of the liver, pancreas and digestive system, and proper diets.
Not a surprise that I discovered that my knowledge of eating a balanced diet of vegetables, meat, and carbs as a way to maintain my health were insufficient to keep the decease-free physical body. Even my choice of organic produce eating, taking supplements and vitamins were not even close to keeping my gallbladder safe and sound, and still in my body.
Here is my admission that I was overweight – 298 pounds/135 kg (more of obese to be honest – at one point 308 pounds/140 kg) consuming too much of meat, poultry, fish, dairy and oils but at least not a lot of sugar, salt and carbs. I was already on pills for high blood pressure, gout, and headaches, and experienced heart problems – angina, and had both knees surgically operated with an expectation that I need replacement of both at the age of 55+.
I was doing okay as most of the men at my age yet all events of November 2018 got me on the path to sort out my future health and wellbeing, potentially eliminating threats and risks of further deterioration of my life through exposure to diseases. What I found changed my perception and systems of belief that I need to do. I discovered a whole-food, plant-based approach to dietary requirements of humans.
Listening and reading prominent influencers of choosing this path such as Dr. John McDougall (with starch eating benefits and a pioneer of the movement), Dr. Neal D. Barnard (with his mission to deal with diabetes, cancer and other illnesses through this diet), Dr. Joel Fuhrman (with nutritional focus of the food), and many other doctors and researches, I came to a conclusion to eat not only healthy but rather really healthy and adopt whole-food, plants based diet with an inclination to starch diet by recommendations of Dr McDougall.
Here I am moving to better myself and hopefully dragging others towards the aim of healthy body and mind, and strong spirit.