Let's flashback to five years ago. The decades were catching up to me. I gradually gained ten pounds of weight each decade since my 20s while on a steady American diet. I was at least 30 pounds overweight. My annual blood tests showed that my triglycerides were 450, when they should have been below 150. “We have to put you on a cholesterol-lowering drug right away," said my doctor. “You can have heart attack anytime."

 

I often had heartburn right below the ribs. My doctor blamed it on my heritage saying, “Steve, people from your background produce too much acid. We have to put your on the "purple pill" or Zantac. I asked, “What are the side effects doctor?"

He replied saying, “It can damage your liver. You have fatty liver so we have to monitor it every three months. Also, cholesterol lowering drugs can cause muscle loss and kidney failure.”

 

 

My heart sank. I just looked at him in disbelief.  I always thought I ate well. I ate good, lean meat and fish at the best restaurants. Plus, I ate pizza twice a week at work with buffalo wings, an occasional pastrami sandwich from the Manhattan Deli in addition to eggs with spinach, toast and fruit for breakfast everyday. My only vice was caffeine. I drank five to seven cups of tea to keep me going all day.

 

 

"What are my options if I don’t want to take any medication?" My doctor looked at my chart and said, “You need to lose at least 30 pounds and then there is no guarantee that your triglycerides will get back to normal levels. Also, you will have to live with Zantac for the rest of your life. But we will keep an eye on your liver.”

 

 

I did my research on the subject and asked my doctor if I could see a nutritionist to help me lose weight. “You can, but in the meantime until you lose weight, you will have to take these drugs," replied my doctor. Reluctantly, I agreed.

 

 

For the next four months, I took eight classes ranging from topics such as cholesterol control, diabetes and blood pressure, to weight loss. I studied until I could count the calories in all the food items. I knew that 14 grapes were 80 calories, a slice of bread 100, half a cup of rice which contained 150 calories, and a baked potato: 150 calories with no topping and 400 calories when eaten as French fries. I used to love the bottomless basket of fries at Red Robin with my favorite 900 calories barbequed burger which resulted in a whopping 2400 calorie meal.

 

I was shocked when my nutritionist Sharon pointed out that the three slices of pizza which I consumed twice a week contained 1200 calories. Add to that some buffalo wings and garlic breadsticks, and I was consuming 2800 calories lunches.

 

 

I immediately implemented a 1800 calories-a-day plan by walking one hour a day in addition to my usual yoga routine. Sharon brought a basket of food and arranged it nicely on a plate and said that the two main meals should be 400 calories each. Half the plate should be vegetables, one fourth starch such as brown rice, baked potato or whole grains. One fourth of the plate should contain protein foods such as fish, chicken or lentils. The funny thing was that I felt more satisfied when I ate this combination of 400 calories rather than the 2800 calories burger and fries which often caused me to turn to caffeine. 

 

 

I started following the plan and did some research on acid reflux to get rid of my purple pill. Also, my wife and I were always plagued by sinus infections at least four or five times a year and each time we had to take antibiotics, it turned into bronchitis. The doctor always told us that it was a result of the Santa Ana winds or allergy season. 

 

 

I bought twenty plus books on food, diet, health and recipes and also went to see an Ayurvedic doctor practicing modern and traditional Indian medicine in Newport Beach. The doctor looked at the chart which outlined the various ailments I was having. She asked me to cut out caffeine, milk and dairy products and to see what happens. 

 

 

That was February five years ago. As soon as my wife and I cut out dairy, we got rid of our sinus infections. It’s been five years and we never had to take any antibiotics. Another benefit from cutting out dairy and caffeine was that I got rid of the purple pill in four weeks. 

 

We both started losing weight. Soon enough, my triglycerides were down to 225 from 450. My doctor cut my pills in half. I felt better and had more energy. I started going to the gym and lost more weight. I am happy to say that my triglycerides are now under 150 without any medications.

 

A few months ago, I started a website www.lifechangingtip.org to help others who are in the same boat as I was. We already have 2500 plus followers on Twitter @lifechangingtip

 

 

Here is a funny and happy story.  I hired a new office manager last year. He is 28 years old, single, and living with a roommate. In the first few weeks, I noticed that he was itching a lot around his neck and hands. He told me he had chronic eczema for the last ten years and that he was on heavy medications like Prednisone which is a steroid that made him nervous and edgy.

 

One day, he called me in the morning from the hospital. He had an eczema attack and said that he would stop by the office at noon. He walked in at 12:30 p.m. with a lunch bag and a drink in his hand. I was almost finished making my marinated grilled vegetables with some red roasted potatoes in the small convection toaster oven that we have in our office. I asked him what he was having for lunch. He said, “Carl's Junior double cheeseburger with curly fries and a coke." I grabbed the bag from his hand,  peeked in and quickly tossed it in the garbage. You should have seen the look on his face.

 

I said, “Today you are going to eat with me." For the next five days, he had lunch with me. He could not believe how good the grilled vegetables tasted.

 

I showed him how to make grilled asparagus with zucchini and carrots, roasted broccoli with sweet potatoes and a few other recipes. I told him to also bring three different types of fruit to the office every day. I also made him promise me that he would make the recipes at night. 

 

Within ten days, his eczema was gone and he did not need any medicine. Within a few months, he felt really good and enrolled in an MBA program. His mom sent me a basket of fruit in appreciation and said that Amit looked healthier than ever.

 

Like a chain reaction, Amit’s friends saw him cooking and starting doing the same. Last month, I hired two of his friends who also changed their eating habits. They bring their fruits and vegetables to the office or bring healthy food from Mother’s Market or Whole Foods. I started a revolution.