Cyd Notter

Nutrition & Health Educator, Founder of The Plan A Diet™

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Cindi – Momence, IL – Reversing blocked carotid artery

January 12, 2015 by Cyd Notter Leave a Comment

Testimonial by Cindi, Momence, IL

In February of 2010, a chance screening at a local church changed my life forever when an ultrasound revealed a 90% blockage of my right carotid artery.  My physicians referred to me as a mystery.  Having never smoked even a single cigarette in the 55 years of my life, I maintained perfect “numbers”.  –My cholesterol fell into a small percentage of patients my primary care physician had labeled as “perfect” The same was true of my weight and fitness level.  A seasoned half-marathoner, I consumed what I believed to be an incredibly healthy diet, and was preparing to run another event.  Despite all of this, I found myself being wheeled into surgery the following month.  The carotid endarterechtomy (surgical removal of plaque) left me with an arterial graft and 100% blood flow through that artery.  Mission accomplished!  –Or so I thought.  I left the nationally- recognized hospital on a low dose statin & aspirin, anxious to move forward with my recovery and resume my active lifestyle.

At my postoperative evaluation six months later I learned that my recently-cleared artery was beginning to show signs of blockage, once again leaving my physicians perplexed.     And leaving me frustrated.  One year post-operatively an ultrasound indicated that the blockage had worsened to approximately 60%.  What more could I do?!

As I began to consider my options it appeared to me that I had only one card left to play– for I was already the model patient, exhibiting no risk factors for premature atherosclerosis.   I began to reflect on a class on an Anti-Inflammation diet which I had taken months earlier.  The class, taught by Cyd Notter, introduced me to a host of authors, rationales, and recipes for a plant-based diet free of oils.  The media at the time was also abuzz with news of former President Clinton’s success in reversing his cardiovascular disease with the assistance of Dr. Dean Ornish and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn (both are leaders in plant-based research and practice).  By following what they coin as a “reversal diet”–eating nothing with a mother, no oils, seeds, or nuts–our former president touted significant weight loss and gains in his health.  After months of consideration I took the plunge into the world of a plant-based, whole grain diet.  And I haven’t looked back.

After six months on the reversal diet my carotid ultrasound showed a slight regression (reversal) of the previous blockage.  One year later, slightly more regression was noted. My physicians, pleased with my progress, endorsed my decision to pursue management of my disease with diet only—no more statins!

Cyd has become a valuable resource and friend.  As a plant-based nutrition coach she has guided me through some of the challenges of meal planning, evaluation of nutritional balance in my diet, etc.  As a friend she has provided me with the oft-needed encouragement to stay the course when confronted by doubters.  During all of this time I have felt fabulous and have had the energy needed to fuel my distance running, proudly (!) completing my first marathon in November 2013.

Our household is a “kitchen divided”, as my husband finds it unpalatable to sacrifice his All-American diet.  But he would agree that “the proof has been in the pudding”.  –In this case, the soy pudding.                                                         ~ Cindi, Momence IL

Thank you Cindi!  Your testimony is so powerful, because as you mention, you were the picture of health…. trim, active, and with ‘perfect’ cholesterol numbers.  I guess what Dr. McDougall says is true:  Diet trumps all.  Your commitment to reversing your blockage through a plant-based diet has inspired me beyond words.  You are actually the one encouraging ME, my friend!       ~Cyd

Filed Under: Testimonials Tagged With: blocked carotoid artery, Cindi, IL, Memence, Plant Based Diet, Success Story

Doug M. – Braidwood, IL – Doc Says Cured

January 12, 2015 by Cyd Notter Leave a Comment

My Health Journey – Doug Milstead – (Braidwood, IL)

September 5, 2014 at 8:25pm

First, I must say that this journey towards better health has been a wish of mine for years.  In fact, from toddlerhood on up I have been overweight and can remember in Junior High wishing I could lose weight.  By my45th birthday, I found myself tipping the scales at 355 lbs. and even though I could tell I was still gaining, I refused to weigh myself after that.  It was discouraging as I had tried diet after diet, and had asked doctors for years to help and all I ever got from them was, “eat less, get more exercise”. Nothing seemed to work, but I remember thinking there has to be a solution.

In my early 40’s I was given the diagnosis of high blood pressure and put on medication for it. Along with that I received a diagnosis of sleep apnea and began using a CPAP machine at night.  Somewhere in that time frame I started having really bad pain in my foot and the foot doctor informed me that I had a case of Plantar Fasciitis.  Then at 46 years old my Doctor told me that I had Type 2 Diabetes; with an A1C level of 9.8. With the Diabetes diagnosis I ask about using diet and exercise to help or eliminate any of my problems and the Doctor said without any hesitation that I could not use diet and exercise to fix any of my problems and that I just needed to accept them as a part of my life and take my medication.

I started doing some research and began experimenting with a low carb diet; not as restrictive as Adkins but still involved high animal protein and high fat.  I did lose about 70 lbs. over the course of a year, but then stopped losing.  I am only guessing at how much I lost, as I don’t really know how heavy I got; I assume I was at least 365 lbs. or more at my heaviest.  After noticing some weight loss, I did get on the scale at 356 lbs. Even with the weight loss, all of my illnesses listed above were still problems and I really felt like I had done about all I could.  After about two years, I had slowly gained some weight back.  I was planning surgery to have the tendon in my foot surgically cut to relieve the pain, and was beginning to think the Doctor was right when he told me that I could not cure my ailments with diet & exercise.

Then, around my 49th birthday, some friends told us that they had begun a plant based lifestyle. They had us watch the “FORKS OVER KNIVES” documentary so we could understand their reason for making the switch. We were convinced, but were not sure how to get started.  These friends introduced us to others who were involved and took us to a workshop in April 2014 where we were able to learn even more.  At that workshop, I decided that I needed to make the switch and to go all in.

Two weeks after starting a whole food plant based diet; my foot pain just stopped.   By week 4 in this new lifestyle I had stopped taking my blood pressure medication and my diabetic medication because my blood pressure and blood sugar would go too low when taking the medication.  Please note; I monitored my blood pressure and blood sugar several times a day to make sure it was stable.  After 18 weeks of a 100% plant based lifestyle, I visited my Doctor.  I had lab work done in advance and had not told him that I discontinued my medication.  When the Doctor walked into the examination room, he looked at me and asked, “So what have you been doing?” I was worried based his past comments, but I told him about being 100% plant based, losing a total of about 115 lbs., and finding the need to discontinue my medications.  He reviewed the lab results with me, stating that my A1C (indicator used to diagnose diabetes) is now 5.4 which is in the realm of normal and that my cholesterol was well below any concern.  He noted that my blood pressure looked normal and commented that my medical chart confirmed the major weight loss.  He congratulated me on the hard work and said that I was in the 0.1% of people who will actually do something proactive for their health; he seemed genuinely pleased.  When I told him that my sleep apnea and my plantar fasciitis were gone, he said, “Of course they are, that makes perfect sense”.  He told me that there’s no doubt in his mind that I had cured myself of all my ailments, and there was no reason to continue any medication!  I guess he’s a believer now…

I really want to credit God for leading me to this PB lifestyle.  He put friends in my life who led the way into a plant based lifestyle, and they have encouraged, supported, and coached us as we began.  I have also been very blessed to have family who have supported and participated in this transition into a new way of life.

Filed Under: Testimonials Tagged With: Braidwood, CPAP machine, Doug Milstead, High Cholesterol, IL, Plant Based Diet Success Story, Plantar Fasciitis, sleep apnea

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