Happy Birthday, Sir Henry

Last night we had a birthday party for my dear husband, Sir Henry. It wasn't a milestone year we were celebrating, but rather the fact that we are thrilled and thankful that he is here to have a birthday. Some of you may remember that last January, at the age of 46 he experienced a heart attack. You can read about it here. It was a shock to us, because he was having no noticeable symptoms before hand. He is young and active, riding his bike to work every day. We really were eating a good diet. He doesn't smoke or have diabetes.
It wasn't a good thing, but as he says, "It has turned out to be a blessing in disguise." Right after he got out of the hospital, he was able to get into the Coronary Health Improvement Program (CHIP). We were already eating a diet similar or better to what they recommended. My husband felt that they were trying to present a sort of middle of the road diet that would help most people who eat the standard American diet (SAD). But he needed something better, because we were already doing many of the recommended things. So he paid careful attention to the research presented looking not for the comfortable middle of the road, but rather the optimum diet for his life and health.

His final conclusion is simple: Eat no processed foods; foods that you buy in a box or a can. They were optimized for profit and not for health. Eat out of the produce and bulk foods section of the store. Food (fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains and legumes), as it is grown, is best for the health of the whole body. It prevents and reverses disease of all kinds.

So for that last nine months that is how we have been trying to eat. It hasn't always been easy, especially when on vacation or eating with other people. Several times I have found my self rebelling and longing for French Fries, Ketchup, and ice cream. And there have been a few times when the kids and I have had something he wouldn't eat. But I don't want to do that all the time and sabotage his success.

I am in whole hearted support of my husband. I am so proud of him for not being like so many other Americans and refusing to change diet and lifestyle. I am so glad he was willing to search out what he needed to do and was willing to give up many of his favorite foods, because they were processed or high in fat. The cardiologist said there was nothing he could do, that he was already doing all the right things. But my husband wasn't going to give up on life and just let himself waste away.

In the last 9 months he has lost quite a bit of excess weight. He says his stamina has increased, because he can ride his bike up a particular steep hill in a higher gear and at a faster speed then ever before.

The kids and I are just so thankful. Life would have been so different now, if things during his heart attack had turned out differently. One out three heart attack victims don't survive. But he did, and because of his determination to do what is needed, I think we are going to have him around for many more years.

Happy Birthday, Sir Henry!
You are loved.