Star McDougaller Sheldon - The Starch Solution Was My Solution

Many years ago, I was a 253 blob of a man with a cholesterol of 420. My best friend was a doctor who told me to just watch what I eat. That was the problem—everything I saw, I ate!

Realizing I had to take accountability for myself, I began the task of getting healthy. How I never had a heart attack was a miracle in itself. I followed many diets to no avail. Eventually, I read Nathan Pritikin’s books and started eating a diet consisting of nothing with a mother or father and lots of vegetables and fresh fruit. I did well on the program but felt too restricted and for one reason or another I was back to a bad diet. Fast forward 30 years and my weight was fluctuating from 220 to 240 while on a number of cholesterol drugs, niacin and whatever else would help. I was confused and frustrated.  A life of deprivation is just no fun.  

At age 60, I won the right to have an ablation for atrial flutter. That was the wakeup call.  I studied and researched and got rid of as much stress as I could. I even divorced my wife of 42 years - lots of stress there! Biking and working out became an obsession, but you can’t outwork a bad diet.  So, I read and researched again. I found the work of T. Colin Campbell, Dr. Ornish, Dr. Esselstyn, Dr. Barnard and all those who believe in a plant based whole food diet.  I even read How Not To Die by Dr. Gregor. I sucked the information in like a sponge.