Day One, I Begin My Journey

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Day One

I am packing my bags and fueling up the car. Today I leave my home in Larkspur, California, for Santa Rosa and 10 days of what I’m hoping is a life-changing adventure. I’m heading off for Dr. John McDougall’s 10-day Live-in Program. This is 10 days where I am going to learn the benefits of a healthy lifestyle that includes a vegan diet. I am both excited and nervous. I’m doing it as a commitment to my health and longevity.

A couple of years ago I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I started eating vegan and kept my program of weight lifting. I weighed about 185 and, other than the fear of cancer, felt physically pretty good. I decided to have a prostatectomy, surgical removal of the prostate, as a treatment. My decision was based on a lot of fear and research (in that order).

What followed was a long slog back to health. Surgery of this degree is not something one “bounces” back from. I had a long and unpleasant recovery that included all the obligatory problems associated with urinary tract surgery. In addition, I developed a relentless cough which lasted for over four months culminating in a diagnosis of pleurisy (which hurt like hell). Also, two months post-op, I had secondary infections in my groin. This involved draining and treating two abscesses, not once, but twice over a period of two months.

I continued eating a vegan diet but, after the abscesses, thought I needed “more” protein and starting eating chicken. Like they say in Alcoholics Anonymous, it’s the first drink that gets you drunk so it was with my eating chicken. From my thoughtful and considered decision to add a “little” chicken, so I quickly returned to a dietary free-for-all.

Since the surgery, I have had bouts with depression and have struggled to figure what a 60-year-old single man should do with the rest of his life. I have gained weight in my prostate cancer recovery. I now weigh about 235. I have read that obese men have a much greater incidence of the cancer recurring. I do not want to be counted as part of those statistics.

I have great friends and work colleagues, a wonderful and loving family and am grateful beyond measure for being able to have a longer life. But how do I improve the quality of that life? What am I doing now?

Today, as I pack and prepare to drive north to Santa Rosa, I am breakfasting on left-over turkey, mash potatoes and Newton’s chocolate chip cookies washed down with a caffe latte. Not quite the kind of diet that will improve my life.

So let the adventure begin. I am going to chronicle my stay as best I can and hope you might find it interesting. Thanks for coming along.

51 thoughts on “Day One, I Begin My Journey”

  4. You will do great. After cleaning out your system, you will lose the cravings for processed food. Be strong, you are being good to yourself, taking care of yourself. That is super! I expect you will be very happy with the results . I pray you learn and grow during this journey. You are lucky to go to a place like that. Peace, cat

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  6. Welcome to Sonoma County Jamie!

    I’ve recommended so many people to Dr. McDougall’s website and to his books. I don’t know anyone personally that’s been through John and Mary’s 10-day program so your blog is like getting a real sense of what the program takes you through day by day. My guess is you’re transformation will not only transform your health but every part of your life ; )

    Come on out to Bodega Bay and take a walk on the beach when you can . . . all the best!

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  14. Good luck and let us know what it cost to go through a 10 day
    adventure. My daughter once checked into the Mc Dougal info
    line and found out the special Mc Dougal adventure cost is
    10 K. That is too much for my pocket book. Dr. Day MD has endorsed
    the wheat grass juice and barley grass powder DIY method at home for
    people with urge to be well again.

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    • Hi, just wanted to mention that Dr. McDougall’s Adventure Program in Costa Rica is NOT 10K, It is $3150. Here is his website: http://drmcdougall.com His Ten Day Medical Program is $4300 (which I’m going to in September!), the cost is nothing compared to poor health with our current medical system!!!

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  18. Jamie – My wife and I became vegans on June 17, 2012, after having seen the documentary, “Forks Over Knives.” We really believe in this whole plant-based diet and pray that it helps you with your recovery. May God bless you in your quest. – Tom and Patti Bruno

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  19. I pray all goes well with you there!! I also had cancer and am following Dr. McDougall’s plan. I absolutely love it!! I wish I could go for 10 days also, but I can’t right now. God bless!!

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  25. Thank you for being brave enough to take this journey on and even more thanks for sharing it with us. I look forward to reading out your progress. Maybe you can be the inspiration I need to finally go vegan.

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  27. Jamie,
    Thanks so much for your decision to blog this effort. It should be quite informative for all readers. Best of luck too with your desired outcomes. I believe you are on the right track!

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  28. Jamie, Thanks for sharing. Good-luck and have fun.
    Denise
    (Vegan, six years, since Dr. McDougall’s talk. Vegan for the animals, environment, and human health)

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  29. Im so glad you are doing this blog. I would love to do the McDougall program but can only afford to do it on my own! This will be soo interesting!

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  30. I am a vegan since 2007 and I also read Dr, John McDougall’s books and have followed religiously. My blood work has improved ten fold and I feel better knowing that I am not hurting animals to eat. Veggies is the Way To GO
    Good Luck to you sir in your new endeavor. It won’t be easy, but once you begin you feel much better than you ever did before. Just think you will be so healthy Again!

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  33. Jaime,

    I am very interested in your comments as you go through this process. You have made a positive step forward in improving your overall health. Keep an open mind and a positive attitude.

    I became a vegan last October. Having experienced a heart attack over 3 years prior, I decided to make more of a commitment to my health other than just taking my heart medicines. I am now off 2 of the perscriptions and another prescription is now at 50% dosage strength. My energy level is sky high and I am in better shape than when I was 25.

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  34. I found your blog via a vegsource note on facebook. You are doing exactly what I have dreamed about doing…going to a Dr. Mcdougall health retreat. It is very interesting reading your entries…it is almost like being there. I wish you all the best during these 10 days. Thank you for sharing with all of us!! :)

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  35. Awesome. I am inspired by your journey. I have no experience or data to rely on, but have a very strong sense that you are on a very positive path. Much enthusiastic congratulations on making such a great decision.

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  36. I have been to Dr. McDougalls program several times. I strongly believe that you are doing the right thing. It will be very interesting to read your blog. One member of our group set up a Facebook group and we have continued sharing, supporting etc. I hope you or someone does that. It continues the value.

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    • My husband and I attended the same 10 Day as Linda in March 2012! It was life changing! Very excited for you! As you will find at the clinic, you are surrounded by caring, intelligent people running the program and and your fellow McDougalers will be amazing people! All of like mind and spirit, embracing the goal to be healthy in all levels of life! You will do great! ENJOY!

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  38. Hi Jamie, I’m single too and I know how tough it can be to stay on track with plant based foods when everyone else is eating the other stuff. That’s why events like Healthy Lifestyle Expo help so much. Are you going?

    Helen

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  40. Jaime, I know that following a plant based diet will reverse anything. Stick with it, and I’m here . I went vegan 2 1/2 years ago lost 81 lbs. and feel great. I KNOW YOUR HEALTH WILL BE RESTORED.

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  41. Great decision Jamie, If you stick to it you’ll prosper. I have been strictly following Dr. Mcdougall, Jeff Novick, T. Colin Campbell, Dr. Esselstine, Niel Bernard and others on this plant based whole food lifestyle now for 13 years after being diagnosed with PC in 1999……Still have my prostate thankfully. I started on this path after being enrolled in Dr. Dean Ornish’s diet and lifestyle program with 100 other men for over 5 years. The education has been tremendous and I continue to follow the program because it has turned my entire life around. I have said many times, “prostate cancer was the best thing that ever happened to me” I lost over 100 lbs. got off all medications, started doing the things I wasn’t able to do even when I was 40…..Jogging, mountain hikeing, swimming, hawaian outrigger canoe racing, stand up paddeling and small wave surfing, all because of this diet and lifestyle that John, Mary and his wonderful team teach. And all this time my PC has been in check. Good health to you, you’re doing thr right thing. John….. ;o)

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    • Thanks for your comment and encouragement, John! Glad to hear you’re healthy as well as much lighter. It’s an honor to hear from someone in the original Ornish study. You have helped a lot of people with your example. Regards, Jamie

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  42. I’m a patient of Dr. McDougall’s, too. Please tell him Jackie says hi and she quit smoking. I was there March of this year.

    Have you read “Invasion of the Prostate Snatchers”? It’s an excellent book I read lately for a class I am taking, Diet and Lifestyle Intervention, with The Wellness Forum.

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  43. Hi Jaime, I’m so glad you’re having a great time and getting healthy too. I’ve been following :D r. McDougal, Jeff Novick, Dr. Esselstyne , his son Rip, Joel Furhman and T Colin Campbell for the past two years. I’ve lost 81 lbs , workout everyday and feel brand new.Too bad I didn’t wake up sooner but then everything happens in its time. Better late than never. So, I’ll be away for a few days and will not be able to follow your blog until Monday. I’ll be praying for you each day , and I know your prostrate problem will reverse. Talk to you Monday and I wish I was there too.

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