Ken, I know we all have to find our own journey to health, and I have learned that I cannot simply rely on doctors to guide mine. Almost four years ago, I had a minor heart attack, bloodwork, and an angiogram. I saw four cardiologists and a nephrologist, and things looked bad. My experiences with the cardiologists were so discouraging that by the time the last one told me point blank that he would crack my chest open for heart surgery, I walked out and never looked back. I did learn that my body had created its own bypass, and I was very grateful for that. More than three years later, severe angina finally pushed me to find another cardiologist. I was fortunate to find one who is extremely skilled at treating full blockages with stents. He was shocked that I was still alive based on my test results from three and a half years earlier. He wants me on cholesterol lowering medication, specifically the two injections a year, and even got Medicare approval for it. That is not going to happen. I trust his skill when it comes to placing stents, but I personally do not want to take additional drugs. For now, I am taking prasugrel and aspirin, but beyond that, even over the counter pain medication is not worth it to me because of the documented effects these drugs can have on the brain. I trusted my body to take care of me, and it has. Now I am taking care of my body. I pay attention to how I feel and use that as my guide. I am also done stressing over every test result. For me, constantly worrying about what the next test might show is not healthy either. When my time comes, it comes. Until then, I am going to live my life and take care of my body the way I believe is right for me. I wish everyone here the very best in finding their own path to better health. We may not all make the same choices, but I hope we can keep learning, listening to our bodies, and supporting one another along the way.
I don't think I ever posted one of these in the first place so here goes
I am 51 and have been trying to be healthy most of my adult life. I have been overweight or obese that entire time 5'8" 200-215#.
I have tried atkins in the early 2000's, food tracking, juice fasting, HIIT, whole thirty, and whole food plant based, and finally omad. The fasting helped me to break through to a new weight loss plateau. All of the previous methods lost and regained the same 15#. I was finally down to 185 ish. I watched a lot of carnivore content before trying it full time February of 24.
I don't have any local support for fasting, but the attitude has softened a bit about the carnivore. My family wants to loose weight, but they won't give up carbs %100. I have gotten them to be low carb most days, but they still want pancakes on Sundays.
This past fall, probably around Thanksgiving, I don't remember the particulars, I just threw in the towel. I know I weighed 178 the morning of my colonoscopy in late October.
I guess I was feeling afraid of being orthorexic. I was also overwhelmed with being a short order cook trying to accommodate everyone's tastes
So found my self stepping on the scale to the tune of 205# sometime around Easter.
Two days later I decided to "Stop the insanity" as Susan powder used to scream from the boob tube in the 80s.
Today I weigh 194#
My why is that I want to grow old without being trapped in the malady maintenance system. I watched my grandma and my MIL linger in a confused state for over a decade. I don't want any part of that. I want to be useful and connected right to the end. Not sitting or laying in my own mess waiting to die.
I also want to be optimized.
I feel like the only way to get people to get on board is to fully succeed. I can't win anyone over if I am constantly jumping ship.
So every moment I can get, I listen to testimonials. I learned about this forum, by watching @Geezy tell his story on YouTube.
I don't have any major illnesses, I've never had boils, T2D or high blood pressure. I have never been diagnosed with IBS but Im sure I had it whenever I ate seed oils.
I am feeling a bit frustrated in my body as I approach menopause, but I don't think there is anything my doctor can do about that. I don't accept this as the new normal, when I know there is work that I could be doing to correct course.
I plan to hit an ideal weight not for vanity, but that I can be a poster child worthy of the title carnivore!
Happy Mother's Day everyone!