A year ago today, I jumped into the whole food, plant-based (wfpb) lifestyle. I’m excited about this anniversary because it was literally a life-changing event for me. I’ve written before about how I completely reversed my debilitating angina and lost weight, but I thought I’d show my progress over the last year by the numbers.

Before

• Age: 49
• Daily dose of nitro for angina: 0.8 mg/hour transdermal patch plus spray as needed
• Weight: 188
• BMI: 29
• Blood Pressure: 140/85
• Resting Heart Rate: 85
• Total Cholesterol: 5.89 mmol/l (228 mg/dl)
• Hubby’s weight: 210

After

• 50
• Number of prescription or otc drugs: 0
• Weight: 149
• BMI: 22.7
• Blood Pressure: 109/61
• Resting Heart Rate: 48
• Total Cholesterol: 3.26 mmol/l (126 mg/dl)
• Hubby’s weight: 188

Better than any number though, is how I feel. I used to be completely wiped out from a grocery shopping trip and quite unable to exercise at all. Now I row 50 to 60 km per week in addition to walking at least 25 km. I’ve built muscle, dropped fat and improved my aerobic fitness from very poor to excellent.

I included my husband’s weight in my numbers to demonstrate that even if you are feeling fine, you can still find benefit from eating a wfpb diet. My husband has always been trim and fit, but he lost 20 pounds and finds exercising easier than ever. We love being that fit couple.

If anyone is reading this and wondering if a wfpb lifestyle is worth it – it is. Just do it. There are so many resources available to help you on your way, and the benefits are noticeable almost immediately and only get better over time. Give it a serious try for a month and you’ll start to see that chronic illness and aches and pains aren’t the price of admission to middle age. It’s possible to completely rejuvenate yourself at any age.