Real Name: Barry Orr
Location: Sittingbourne, Kent, UK
Where/How did you find out about the site &/or Dr McDougall: I first came upon John's name and work about 2001 - 3, via the VegSource website and the Nelson's story, with McDougalling saving Sabrina Nelson's life from debilitating lupus. However, I wasn't very familiar with oil free back then, and was vegan diet (junk food included
) for around 15-16 years before transitioning.
I also remember John replying personally to me with e-mail responses in my questions about eating, and then again separately over the years - I made it John, and now see the light
... thank you so much!
How long have you been following the McD program?: 2 and a half years
What was your initial reason/goals for starting the program: It was getting Dr Esselstyn's book in Jan of 2015 that finally sold me wholesale how important oil free was, and that was what I needed to do to try and maintain health fully. I was shocked and excited at the potential - so untapped and unspoken about in mainstream medicine - to slow and reverse disease, or prevent it altogether.
What is your success to date: Chronic low grade catarrh, that I had just accepted as a fact since childhood: vanished! Minor chest tightness/sluggishness when running, swimming and other aerobic exercise- also vanished! Felt circulation improve, bowel motions regularly and happy, and athletic stamina increase. What a way to live, feel and be! I thank my lucky stars that I cottoned on to starch based eating, and then to all the pioneers in this field. Although I had no obvious or visible health problems when I started, I figure might just save myself (and others - I'm a health professional) from premature round of heart disease, diabetes, and other illnesses.
Describe a Typical Day of McDougalling for you:
Breakfast - Often a bowl of oats with almond milk, and no added sugar jam - sometimes a little dried fruit, or a Naked bar if I'm feeling generous (do you have these in the US, or rest of the world? They're very moreish
. Snacking mid morning on fruit, or wholewheat pitta or two if I'm home.
Lunch - if at work - might be Mexican bean salad, or vegetable soup, usually with pittas, or wholegrain rice pouch. If at home, I love toasted sandwiches with olives and mushrooms, with mustard and vinegar-ed peppers inside - delicious!
Dinner, I love meals like bean burritos, with home made oil free hummus, or occasional guacamole; nutritional yeast made mac and "cheese" ; giant cous cous, chickpea, pepper, sweetcorn, cucumber and tomato salad, with balsamic vinegar and garlic dressing; tomato sauce pasta and walnut and rocket/kale pesto; rye bread burgers (recipe is on this forum!). For snacks, maybe corn thins or corn cakes; cherry tomatoes and other salad vegetables; and more pittas. Can you tell I like pittas?
Favorite Mcdougall Recipe/Dish: Depends on the day, but possibly mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy (okay a recipe I stole from the Ornish program, but it's compatible!).
Describe Your Exercise (How much, what kind, etc): Running 20-25 miles each week, cycling to and from work most days (16 mile round trip), gym twice per week on ski machine and stationery bikes 2-4 hours a week
Other Hobbies/Interests: Electric and acoustic guitar, writing, reading, running club, movies. Starchivore awareness and activism! starchivoreandrunning.com is my site
"All people are made alike - of bones and flesh and dinner. Only the dinners are different.”
Gertrude Louise Cheney