The Engine 2 Diet

I'm currently reading Rip Esselstyn's book, "The Engine 2 Diet." (watch the video at:  http://engine2diet.com ) Rip was a world-class triathlete for many years and when he retired from that (still competing though), he became a firefighter. In the course of a friendly argument one day at the station in Austin, TX, he and two other buddies took a bet to see who had the lowest cholesterol. Rip was sure he had the lowest, but didn't. And that surprised him, but he left it to the single indulgences of his once/year cheeseburger that he had just eaten. His cholesterol that day was 199.

Mine, as you read recently, was 196. My HDL was 56 and should be ≥ 46. My LDL was 126 and should be ≤ 80. According to Esselstyn, the H in the HDL stands for "healthy," whereas the L in the LDL stands for "lethal." LOL.

35% of all heart attacks happen with a total cholesterol between 150-200 - considered by all major agencies to be rock solid great numbers. (this according to the famous Framingham study) But there are no instances of a heart attack when your overall number is below 150 mg/dL. 

But according to Rip (he is the son of the Famous Surgeon Caldwell Esselstyn of the Cleveland Clinic) if you get on his diet, what the book is about, you can see amazing results in as little as two weeks. 

I'm only on page 69 of 270 pages. But of the actual reading material (not including recipes, etc.) I'm pretty close to half-way through. Good stories, good information, on target. As I read the numbers of where my Total Cholesterol and my LDLs should be, I sought forgiveness from God for the way I had been mistreating my body. I thought I was unstoppable. I thought I could eat those "occasional" cookies at the church. I thought I was healthy.... 

No more! I'm now a man on a mission and I am headed in the right direction. I plan on integrating many of these recipes and adding to my current exercise plan. I'm excited about the future, but no longer cocky about how healthy I am. I'm going to do a second blood draw in 4-6 weeks and see if there has been any significant changes. Stay tuned....