Over time my blood and other hospital tests have become less and less frequent as I got more and more healthy. On Saturday I had an extensive set of tests, including a CT-scan, echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, and blood tests. And as you all know, I’ve lost about half my weight over time by eating whole food plant based foods. Here is a recent before and after photo of me here while eating out with some friends at Sizzler’s.

Today I visited the hospital to get the results. My long-term doctor said everything is just great. Specifically he said I have no diabetes. My cholesterol levels are fantastic. I have no heart disease. My blood pressure is fine. And my weight is perfect. He said there is no reason to come back to the hospital anymore!

Unfortunately, since I had a stent put in back in 2012 there are certain medications I have to take for the rest of my life. If I had known about whole food plant based eating earlier I would have tried to avoid that. I asked if I can come back every three months just for the medicines and he said they don’t do that. The hospital would be massively overcrowded if people just came in for medicine refills. So he wrote a detailed letter to the doctor at the clinic by my house, who I see regularly anyway, with my results and instructions on what prescriptions to give me. And in the meanwhile they gave me a one month’s dose of everything before I left.

The doctor said if I want I can get the same complete CT-scan and other checkups once a year around my birthday (which is in June). I should just call them in the fall and schedule an appointment. And of course if I have any actual problems I’m welcome to come in any time.

He said I should be pleased. He’s pleased. I’m fine. He is amazed.

While waiting for the letter to my local clinic I noticed a younger, extremely obese patient waiting to be seen. He was with his family. I felt like going over and talking to him and telling him what I did. But it didn’t seem like the appropriate thing to do there in the waiting room. I am happy to talk about it with other people who are interested though. A few people at the hospital, and even a cashier at the local supermarket who has seen my change over time, talk to me about it regularly.

And onward…