What One Man Did to Avoid a Triple Bypass

Is bypass surgery in your future? What if it doesn't have to be? I had the pleasure of interviewing 61 year-old Don Carrier. Six years ago he was facing triple bypass surgery, but by making necessary diet and lifestyle changes he has changed his future. No bypass surgery and no more medications.

Lisa Nelson RD: Please share details about your health prior to making diet and lifestyle changes, such as your weight, cholesterol, blood pressure, as well as your quality of life.

Don Carrier: The best way for me to start out is when I entered Dr. McDougall's 10-day program back in 2003. At that time I weighed over 230 pounds. The main reason I went to his clinic is because I was facing a triple bypass and hoped to find an alternative option to the surgery. I was very sluggish with no energy and overweight. Please keep in mind that I was a life long vegetarian. My cholesterol was well over 200, high blood pressure (in the 160's) and basic quality of life was very poor. I was having all the typical cluster of health problems.

Lisa Nelson RD: What finally pushed you "over the edge" and gave you the motivation to make changes?

Don Carrier: I had tried many diets and even though I was a vegetarian I still gained a lot of weight. I had stopped eating potatoes, carrots, beets and other veggies because most of the popular diets claimed that carbohydrates were bad. At the McDougall clinic I was eating potatoes, carrots, beets, and lots of veggies and my energy level cam back after just 3 days and I began to lose weight. Dairy and oil were two foods I was not eating during the 10-day plan. I was a big dairy eater and used olive oil regularly. I learned they were the culprit of my weight gain and poor quality of life. Halfway through the 10-day plan my whole attitude changed. I was learning how our bodies work and how to fuel our bodies correctly. This motivated me to lead a vegan life, no diary and no oil. I never thought I would ever give up cheese, but I did and to this day I have not had even a slice of cheese since. Triple bypass surgery scared the "H" out of me and the 10-day program was the alternative solution I needed.

Lisa Nelson RD: What was keeping you from living a heart healthy life "before"?

Don Carrier: What kept me from leading a healthy lifestyle earlier was listening to what I thought was good healthy information from the media. Listening to the positive information about the Atkins diet, the Zone diet, South Beach Diet and all the diets that the media exploited was very confusing to me and it is to others. I honestly thought I was eating healthy yet wearing size 42-inch waist pants.

Lisa Nelson RD: How did you stay motivated, change your habits, and continue to stick with the changes?

Don Carrier: How do I stay motivated? It's really quit easy, the vegan diet works. Triple bypass canceled, all the medications eliminated, arthritis gone, energy level maxed and over all health excellent.