In September of 2005 I was at work on my computer and started feeling a nagging pain in my chest that sent me home. It got better, then worse and I ended up going to the ER and having to have a quadruple CABG (bypass) surgery. Feeling that I had been fixed, I went back to my old routines that had put me in that predicament (smoking 2-4 packs of cigarettes a day, heavy drinking, couch potato living and eating fried foods galore in massive quantities) within 4 months. Well as anyone could predict, my health went south and my weight went up very rapidly. I would try the occasional diet plans (Atkins, Ornish etc...) only to watch my health deteriorate further and further to the point all the doctors I saw would just shake their heads or end up firing me as a patient. This continued until I had resolved that I would soon be leaving this earth and I began to drop so far into depression that it became very hard to be around me at all. I was using drinking, smoking, medicating or eating to cope with my situation and had just about alienated everyone that loved me from my life. I was getting ready to check out.

On July 4th 2008 after a day of heavy drinking then binge eating I went to bed as usual to sleep it off but a glorious life saving event took place. I woke up with chest pains. I knew this day would come but for some reason I was mad at myself for destroying my life with all my addictions. I went to the hospital and over the next few days the Lord began to let me see how much my life affected those around me and I somehow decided I wanted to live. The doctors put 3 stents into one artery and performed balloon on another and sent me home with a packet full of prescriptions on July 10th. I was very depressed because I wanted to live again but was faced with the realization of what I had done to myself. I had to look at what was in front of me.

For the first time in my life I saw that it wasn't life that was killing my body, my God it was me. Me and all the poor choices I had been making. I wanted to change, but how? I knew it all centered around what went in my mouth. That was what was killing me and had gotten me to the fix I was in. That night (3:00 am) I woke up with chest pains again and after taking the nitroglycerin to make them stop, I decided to get on the internet and maybe find some answers on what I should do next.

Wow! I never would have guessed the journey I had before me! I Googled "reverse heart disease" and came across www.Dr. Fuhrman.com and immediately knew I had found the answer to all my health problems and addictions. I started right then by devouring every page of information on the site and when I ran out of that, I joined the Member Center and started reading the member forums and newsletters. I downloaded and read Cholesterol Protection For Life, I ordered the vitamins and supplements, I ordered and read Eat to Live and watched as my very being came alive again with hope. Finally someone was here with all the science and could translate it to me and others into a life changing way. Finally, it all made perfect sense. If I ate my way to the destruction of my health, why couldn't I eat my way to restoration and reversal?

Armed with a wealth of information and support, I began my journey back to life and health. I stepped on the scales (which would only go to 300) and pegged them out. Instead of being depressed, I was motivated to get my weight under the limit of the scales so I could start tracking my weight loss along with my other Eat to Live goals. These other goals included my desire to reverse my chronic heart disease, reverse high blood pressure, stop the unstable angina, lower my cholesterol, stop drinking and stop smoking.

I started the journey and have been living proof of how armed with the right kind of information and support, life is still available to us all through Nutritional Excellence.

Since starting Eat to Live, my progress is as follows: I've lost 120 lbs., down to 180 lbs. (remember I pegged the scales @ 300 pounds), just 10 lbs away from my goal weight of 170, have stopped taking Lipitor and Avapro for blood pressure, have gotten my exercise tolerance up to where I can exercise without having PVC's, the angina has ceased, quit drinking, and quit smoking by following the 6 week weight loss program. My most recent lipid panel had my cholestrol at 101, ldl-51 hdl-34, trig 91.

I am motivated to reach my goal weight of 170 lbs. The last time I weighed 170 lbs, I was 24 years old and in terrific shape.

I start each day(from day 1 of following the plan) with my morning smoothie. This recipe serves 2 people: 1-apple, 1 cup pomegranate juice, 1 1/2 cups red grapes, 2 tablespoons flax meal, 5 oz. baby spinach, 2 cups frozen blueberries, and 2 cups frozen strawberries blended together in my vitamix.

It has not been a bed of roses (you can track some of my trials and successes in the "Ask the Doctor" forum under 'Saturated fat good for you'. There has been some highs and lows but all I can tell you is that my worse day now as a follower of Eat to Live is better than my best day then.

We really don't know what a treasure we have in Dr Fuhrman. To have a Doctor of his caliber at our fingertips via "Ask the Doctor" is simply incredible and is by far, my most single asset in my battle against heart disease.

I have been an example to others around me including my brother and sister (both of whom have heart disease) and are now on the journey with me. My brother has lost 23 pounds and my sister has lost 47 lbs. Their progress and weight loss has been fantastic, as they too understand the benefits of being an Eat to Live follower. My son has also started the program with his whole family. He has lost 25 lbs and a shirt size (from 3x to 2x) and from a 50 to a 46 waist in 3 weeks.

Everyone who sees me is in awe of what Eat to Live has done for me, my wife and my family. I finally had to get a new drivers license because clerks asking for my ID at the stores did not believe it was really me. People are amazed at the energy I have and how focused I've become on my health and the health of others. I'm going to start an Eat to Live class and support group at my church to strengthen and support others.

I would not want anyone to go through what I and my family have had to endure in my struggle before Eat to Live. However, if anyone can gain strength or motivation from what I had to endure then it makes the struggle well worth it. If you are overweight, have poor health, chronic heart disease, diabetes - DON'T WAIT! Start your new life today!!!!!! Don't accept failures voice anymore. Eat to Live works, the web site works, and the Ask the Doctor forum works. The only thing waiting is your voice of victory over the health problem that brought you to this decision. YOU CAN DO IT !!!!!!!