If you have followed this page at all over the years, you will notice a change here.
In March of 2023, my genetic proclivities led to the inevitable. I suffered a heart attack. After calling 911 and being transported to the hospital, the Drs in the Emergency Room performed an angiogram and then a subsequent angioplasty. That last procedure led to a mild stroke, from which I have fully recovered. During the procedure, they determined that the best course of action would be for me to have a triple bypass. I had always wanted a scan done to see how prevalent cardiovascular disease was within me, but this was not the ideal way to go about it. The results, as you might suspect, were not good.
So a week after the heart attack, they cracked open my chest and performed the bypass. If the memories ever fade, I at least have the scar on my chest to remind me.
As part of my cardiac rehabilitation, I was offered the opportunity to participate in the Ornish program. https://www.ornish.com/
In many ways, I wish I had found the Ornish program many years earlier. I would have learned better lessons than that former corporation that I used to recommend on this particular page. It isn’t just about losing weight, you truly are what you eat and what you eat can really change how your body responds to aging. Those lessons may have prevented what I experienced. Unfortunately, our health care being what it is, it seems like you have to have the cardiac event first, before being eligible for programs such as Ornish.
I’ll leave you to do your own research about Ornish. Some of the criticisms are that the diet portion of the program is too radical of a change to be adopted long term. Out of my group that went through the program, I am 80% certain that I am the only one that continues to follow the diet almost 100% a year after completing the initial course. I considered the alternatives and am reminded by the scar on my chest what the future holds. I would much rather be active, fit and healthy than be concerned about not eating a particular food.
One of the quotes I remember from Dr. Ornish: “Your genes are not your fate, they are your predisposition”.
I will put that to the test. With one year down, I am 4 years away from the expected time frame it would take to reverse the cardiovascular disease. I do not want to be my parents nor do I want to experience their multiple cardiac events/surgeries. I look forward to documenting some of that journey here.
I am using some tools such as Cronometer…an app that helps me track my daily nutrition and Zero…which I use to monitor my intermittent fasting.
To briefly provide further information about the Ornish program…
The Ornish Lifestyle Program is a unique and innovative approach to prevent, stop and even reverse heart disease and significantly improve other chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.
Certified clinical team guides program participants through an experiential journey consisting of:
- Exercise – Participate in low-impact aerobic exercise and strength training, personalized to an individual’s ability.
- Stress Management – Learn techniques to help manage and cope with daily stress.
- Nutrition – Develop a low-fat, whole-foods, plant-based eating plan (less than 10 percent of daily calories from fat).
- Group Support – Connect with other program participants, experience emotional support throughout the program, and practice skills that decrease social isolation, depression and anxiety.
Shout out as well to Blue Zones – https://www.bluezones.com/ – if you have not seen their special on Netflix I highly recommend it – https://www.netflix.com/title/81214929. Join their newsletter for additional insight to how living to 100+ is possible.
Speaking of Netflix, try watching Game Changers – https://gamechangersmovie.com/ – Presented by James Cameron, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jackie Chan, Lewis Hamilton, Novak Djokovic and Chris Paul — a revolutionary new film about meat, protein and strength.
That is all for now, till next time…Aloha.