I was depressed, couldn't get anything done, always planning and wanting to accomplish things. I couldn't get to cleaning my home even though I wanted to. No one could believe I wanted to. I'd lay awake at night and have anxiety attacks about all the messes I'd let build up. Procrastination was a disease for me. I had stopped the activities I'd loved and lost friends. The story could go on and on.
I started McDougalling. I ate only unrefined, low glycemic low fat vegan foods.
It took about a month before I noticed the change. I was suddenly a new person. I was doing what needed to be done when it needed to be done and with joy. Being able to accomplish simple task simply over-joyed me. Things like coming home from the lake Sunday evening, stopping to grocery shop, and being able to wipe down a messy fridge shelf instead of just stuffing the groceries in the fridge, saying I'd tidy it up tomorrow and never being able to do it. I was in heaven being able to accomplish this simple task. Many could not understand this; however, if you're depressed you may. I started living again, going out and having fun.
Healthy starches were needed to heal my brain.

Vib

After years of coping with digestive problems, from acid reflux to stomach cramps, I realized that changing my diet would probably help. I had determined early on that I was allergic to several kinds of food, such as wheat, wine, sugar and caffeine. When I stopped taking these things I felt much better. But over time I went back to my old habits due to social pressures and statements like "You're no fun anymore."
Following the raw vegetable and rice diet that Jeff suggested, I lost 15 pounds without even trying.  I felt lighter and more energetic. At the same time I felt a shift in my moods swings, probably due to hormonal changes.
At first I wasn't ready to give up, nuts, seeds, avocados and cheese, but when I took the time to notice the effect of these high fat/ high protein foods, I could see that I was subject to emotion swings almost immediately after consuming them.
Jeff also suggested I cut out oatmeal to see what happens and within two weeks my morning melancholy disappeared. These days I stick to lots of raw vegetables mixed in with some brown rice, a steamed veggie at dinner and a minimal amount of fruit for desert.
To some my diet might look limited, I don't feel this way. I enjoy what I can eat and I take advantage of the wide range of fresh vegetables available in our area. My rice salad never tastes the same. My meals are delicious and simple to prepare. Without the downers of high fat and protein foods, my moods are in balance. I notice that many people around me are chronically ill and I am not. When there is "something going around the office," I no longer succumb to it. I also carefully researched the variety of supplements I was taking because someone told me "It would prevent this or that." I don't seem to need to take that Vitamin C, or Lysine anymore. I am very active, I work out regularly, walk, garden and hike. I have good energy and I am in the ideal weight range for my height.
There are so many things we are led to believe we need to eat, but these things actually lead us to ill health.  I feel good to be eating in a way that is good for my well being and the well being of the planet. Thank you Reverend Jeff for helping me to see through the diet myths and taboos.

- Andrea

After suffering a minor heart attack, I was informed about a book called Eat To Live and Dr. Fuhrman. I was 225 lbs and was taking avandia for diabetes.
I've now lost over 30 lbs, no longer take medication for the diabetes and my blood pressure came down from 190/95 to 140/75 in just three months. I can't tell you how thrilled I am. I even quit smoking and it's now its been 5 months without a cigarette.
Candidly, I should be down at least another 10 or 15 lbs. but I must admit that I've cheated just a little, but as of this writing, and my next scheduled appointment, I will definitely be in the 180's. I go the the gym every other day now too. Dr. Fuhrman has really changed my life.
Thank you Dr. Fuhrman.

Jeffrey

Since I have began implementing the 811 diet the results have been fantastic. I have no more allergies. I no longer have kidney stones. I have much lower cholesterol levels. I have high energy levels. I am very happily active. I have not had even one cold in over a year and a half. I am much more positive and content. And morally I am no longer contributing to animal or planetary suffering. I am actively volunteering for causes I believe in..

 Marisa

I was living with RA and fibromyalgia and the fatigue and drugs and mind fog and all that other nasty crap that goes with it. It was the RA specialist visit that brought me to McDougall and kicked me in the ass to try it out.
I weighed almost 200 pounds and everything always hurt. I took etodolac, tylenol, celebrex, codeine, diovan and diuretics for BP, and a nightly dose of zopiclone to knock me out. Vitamins, supplements, decongestants, laxatives, fibre. Martinis. Ick. Chemical soup, no wonder I couldn't get my fat butt off the couch, I didnt WANT to! The last doctor wanted to add a "mild antidepressant" to the mix (is there such thing, really?).
Finally, finally, I said enough already. I googled and found Dr McDougall's site, ordered his book, ordered the other book, and read everything recommended. In March I took a bash at the lifestyle, and after figuring out how easy it was to eat this way, I committed in June to really really make this work.
My RA symptoms are virtually gone, as well as the fibromyalgia. I have been exercising each day and my lawn and garden are loving me for it. My dogs are losing weight too lol. My BP is below "normal" and in the past two weeks I have gone to bed each night and fallen asleep without tranquilizers... just like normal people do. I had not fallen asleep on my own in three years.
It's a new life for me, I mean that.
So this was my long way of saying that my energy levels are unbelievable, I am smiling where I used to have permanent frown lines, my elbows and ankles don't hurt, and I can't imagine ever going back to the puffy lazy fatigued and crashed SAD lifestyle. I have lost eight pounds since June (and eight before that), and I know that the weight will keep dropping away. Yesterday I took all my size 18s and some of my 16s and put them in the Salvation Army. Did my fat clothes happy dance.

My family can't believe the change in me so far, I tell them they aint seen nothing yet.

Cheers_____________

Dear Dr. Fuhrman,

The changes that I started to see on the third day of the new diet keep going on everyday. Thank you! Thank You! Thank you!
My bowels emptied and dumped, and to my disbelief the gas is gone. The heartburn has not occurred again. I feel cleaner and cleaner and my anxiety level is in control. You have made more improvements in my health than six years worth of doctors and specialists have even began to touch. I am getting better instead of deteriorating for the first time in six years. I have discontinued the insulin and as per your instructions and I have seen sugar readings below 120. A first for me! In the past they usually were over 300 - and that was with insulin! My skin stopped itching and coincidentally or not I've not had a seizure in the last two months.

-Jamie
 

My first year on a raw diet was the high fat version, with lots of nuts and avocados! I did loose lots of weight, but I felt like something was missing and wasn't sure what it was. After hearing an online friend scream in agony for having to wait for the 80-10-10 book by Dr. Graham to arrive to his shores, I kept my eye open for it and grabbed a copy for myself.
After about six months of following the books recommendations I discovered what had been missing in my previous high fat raw diet; ENERGY! With lots of energy comes lots of movement, and with lots of movement comes lots of improvement in body composition! Since practicing 811, I'm the fittest and healthiest I have ever been!
I feel blessed for having brought Dr.D's book into my home and into my life!Thank you Dr. Graham!

Gretta

Dr. McDougall and Dr. Esselstyn promise that heart disease can be reversed, and I am happy to say that I can confirm what they say.
My last such test was in Jan of 2008. That showed a marked and large defect in one wall of a circumflex artery and another moderate defect. I experienced chest pain early on in the treadmill portion of that test, and had difficulty getting to the 85% of predicted max for my age of 62. A heart catheter procedure with a stent was recommended by my docs. Instead, I immediately went on 100% Esselstyn protocol and hired Jeff Novick as a personal coach.
Almost to the day I started the program, I have had no chest pain, even with exercise. I am off my cholesterol meds (e.g. ldl drop from 212 to 60), off my bp meds (today I was 110/75), and off my diabetes meds (my last A1C was somewhere around 6.0 I believe). I feel WAY BETTER in every way I can think of. But I was nervous about what today's test would show.
Today I had no pain on the treadmill, and took my heart rate to 160, which is over my predicted max - and I knew I had more. The large defect that showed last time is completely gone, and the other defect would now be classified as minor. The doctor would not go so far as to say that the results were normal, but said that they were only mildly abnormal. I could see that he was working hard to say that it was not normal - he does not want me to be feeling too confident (don't worry, I won't be celebrating with a milk shake). The reversal is large and obvious, and I am so pleased with that.
My thanks to Dr. Esselstyn, Jeff Novick, especially my wife, and all the friends here who have helped me change my lifestyle, which was definitely one of the hardest, although one of the most rewarding, things I have ever done. And special thanks to Dr. McDougall for pioneering this healing lifestyle and making this information available.
The only other thing I can think to say is YES! YES! YES!
_________________
-Bob

Hi, everyone. Much to my surprise, I still had a little weight to lose. I finally hit 130 pounds, a weight loss of 152 pounds. That was a few weeks ago, and I seem to have leveled out now.
I'm so grateful for the McDougall Program and the new life it's given me. I can eat when I'm hungry (which is often), and I love the fact that I don't have to weigh or measure anything.
I love the fact that no one from a few years ago recognizes me.
I love buying size 8 pants.
I love being able to "pass" for a normal, non-compulsive eater.
I love the fact that I no longer suffer embarrassment or shame because of my size. I have my dignity.
I love being able to move freely and effortlessly and wake up refreshed and feeling alive.
I love the mental clarity and serenity that come with this way of eating.
I love the wide variety of foods I'm eating. In the past I lived strictly on fatty fast food and meat, meat, and more meat and sugar and more sugar.
I guess I could go on and on, but mostly I'm just grateful to the God Who granted His little wayward daughter one more reprieve from compulsive eating. I hope to spend whatever time I have left in this world as a well and sane person who is capable of turning outward to others, rather than inward, always focusing on myself and my fears and obsession with food.
Ultimately, I suppose that's all any of us could ask of the gift of our lives.

Nettie