When Ken Lander disembarked from a plane on December 16, 2016, he lost his breath, stumbled, and couldn't make to baggage claim. When the 430-pound Lander was examined in the emergency room, it was determined that it was a very sick heart that had nearly cost him his life that day.
Further tests revealed a 90% blockage in the left descending artery, and severely compromised heart efficiency (“ejection fraction” in cardio lingo).
On December 17, 2016, Ken googled “books on heart disease and diet.” Of the hundreds of options, he chose the one with the most hopeful title: Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, by Caldwell Esselstyn, MD.
Downloaded at 5am, completed at 10am. And at 11am, Ken informed his wife that he was no longer eating meat, fish, dairy, eggs, or anything with added oil or sugar. Oh, and hold the salt too.
From that day to the present, Ken hasn't broken his commitment once. He's down 138 pounds in 8 months, and is now preparing to run his first 5k. His cardiologist is so amazed that he's trying to get Dr Esselstyn to present in Costa Rica, where Ken lives. And Ken's ejection fraction is now up 86%.
Here's how Ken puts it: “I have a new heart.”
Our conversation started with the nuts and bolts of diet and habit change, but quickly deepened into an examination of faith, love, God, community, purpose, and coincidence (which Albert Einstein is said to have called “God's way of remaining anonymous,” a definition that Ken no doubt applauds).
Funny, because I reached out to Ken after having an intense conversation with him at Plantstock in which faith didn't make a single appearance. Instead, we talked about how to market the plant-based message, and I wanted to explore the persuasion lessons from his background as a trial lawyer.
Next time.
In this conversation (which you can watch, below, as well as listen to), we cover:
- the series of coincidences that told Ken he was on the right path
- “I was lying to myself” – that the way he was eating wasn't going to affect his life
- growing up in the American South and worshipping fried meat
- celebratory eating as a child
- all the diets he tried, and why they weren't sustainable
- “we don't live in a moderate society”
- pizza with cheese on the inside, the outside, around, and extra on the side – and health means looking like a runway model
- “we intrinsically know that a beet is healthier than bacon”
- the first few days were easier than the first few months
- the blessing of gout two weeks in – huh?
- what Ken learned in his conversations with God
- getting a call out of the blue from Ann Esselstyn: “Essy wants to talk with you.”
- returning to the same scale in the hospital in San Jose for each monthly weighing
- “If I can do it, anyone can do it.”
- the hardest things to do are the simplest to understand: patience, listening, eating plants for health
- the simple lever of transformation: “my physical outer appearance had a lot to do with the fact that I wasn't willing to love myself in the way that I could be loved”
- how to get to self-love: gratitude
- roadmap your life, and find five things to be grateful for in each decade
- eating plants is just the beginning
- coming full circle and speaking at Plantstock
- me trying to strong-arm Ken into starting a website, podcast, or YouTube channel (please comment below and show him the groundswell)
- and much more…
Enjoy, add your voice to the conversation via the comment box below, and please share – that's how we spread our message and spread our roots.
Links
Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, by Caldwell Esselstyn, MD
Plantstock, by Engine 2
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Music
The Plant Yourself Podcast theme music, “Dance of Peace (Sabali Don),” is generously provided by Will Ridenour, a kora player from North Carolina who has trained with top Senegalese musicians.
It can be found on his first CD, titled Will Ridenour.
You can learn about Will, listen to more tracks, and buy music on his website, WillRidenour.com.
Gratitudes
Thanks to Plant Yourself podcast patrons – Kim Harrison – Lynn McLellan – Brittany Porter – Dominic Marro – Barbara Whitney – Tammy Black – Amy Good – Amanda Hatherly – Mary Jane Wheeler – Ellen Kennelly – Melissa Cobb – Rachel Behrens – Tina Scharf – Tina Ahern – Jen Vilkinofsky – David Byczek – Michele X – Elspeth Feldman – Leah Stolar – Allan Kristensen – Colleen Peck – Michele Landry – Jozina – Sara Durkacs – Kelly Cameron – Janet Selby – Claire Adams – Tom Fronczak – Jeannette Benham – Gila Lacerte – David Donohue – Blair Seibert – Doron Avizov – Gio and Carolyn Argentati – Jodi Friesner – Mischa Rosen – Michael Worobiec – AvIvA Lael – Alicia Lemus – Val Linnemann – Nick Harper – Bandana Chawla – Molly Levine – The Inscrutable Harry R – Susan Laverty the Panda Vegan – Craig Covic – Adam Scharf – Karen Bury – Heather Morgan – Nigel Davies – Marian Blum – Teresa Kopel – Julian Watkins – Brid O'Connell – Shannon Herschman – Linda Ayotte – Holm Hedegaard – Isa Tousignant – Connie Haneline – Erin Greer – Alicia Davis – Heather O'Connor – Carollynne Jensen – Sheri Orlekoski of Plant Powered for Health – Karen Smith – Scott Mirani – Karen and Joe Crabtree – Kirby Burton – Theresa Carrell – Kevin Macaulay – Elizabeth Rothschild – Ann Jesse – Sheryl Dwyer – Jenny Hazelton – Peter W Evans – Dennis Bird – Darby Kelly – Lori Fanney – Linnea Lundquist – Emily Iaconelli – Levi Wallach – Rosamonde McAtee – Dan Pokorney – Stephen Leinin – Patty DeMartino – Mike and Donna Kartz – Deanne Bishop – Bilberry Elf – Marjorie Lewis – Tricia Adams – Nancy Sheldon – Lindsey Bashore – Gunn Marit Hagen – Tracey Gulledge – Lara Hedin – Meg from Mamasezz – Stacey Stokes – Ben Savage – Michael K – David Hughes -Coni Rodgers – Claire England – Sally Robertson – Parham Ganchi – Amy Dailey – Brian Tourville – Mark Jeffrey Johnson – Josie Dempsey – Caryn Schmitt – Pamela Hayden – Emily Perryman – Allison Corbett – Richard Stone – Lauren Vaught of Edible Musings – Erin Hastey – Sean Owens – Sagar Naik – Erika Piedra – Danielle Roberts – Michael Leuchten – Sarah Johnson – Katharine Floyd – Meryl Fury – for your generous support of the podcast.
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Loved this podcast!!! Great interview…didn’t want it to end!!
I have a new heart filled with love after hearing your interview with Ken. Would love to see him cast a wider inter”net” presence. He is so inspirational.
A+ for the interviewee AND the interviewer!
I really liked Ken’s story and perspective. I think healing from addiction and other forms of mental imbalance can often require a deep change that can be described as spiritual, where a person senses and then acknowledges that they are living in a way that is not in alignment with their deepest values–they are living their life wrong. I wonder if a benefit that people who believe in a loving overarching presence may have is a sense of security and optimism in that naked transition when you leave your old shell.
Great interview Howard!! I agree Ken needs a platform to reach an audience far and wide.
Right on! Let’s keep telling him until it happens 🙂
Loved this interview! Thanks so much for Ken’s sharing his story and positive thoughts.
Howie — you are such a great interviewer. Great interview with Ken! The question going through my mind the entire time was “What is a typical food day for Ken?” I’m looking for specifics of what he eats in a day — times, amounts, even amounts of water, etc. How does one eat 8 cups of leafy greens a day? Smoothies? Juicing? Some specifics would be helpful, especially for someone who can’t cook 🙂 Thanks so much for helping to change lives.
Hi Barb,
Thanks for your kind words!
I’ll ask Ken if he can provide a typical food day, or even a week’s worth.
Out of curiosity, how would that level of detail help you in your own journey?
If you’re looking for some recipe sites for non-cooks, check out these two: http://fatmanrants.com and http://veggiesfordinner.com.
FANTASTIC Interview! I am in the process of trying to accomplish the same journey and lifestyle. It really is extremely hard. Howard always enjoy listening to your podcast and THANKS!
Thanks for your kind words, David. I wish you well on your journey. A key thing for me was to embrace the Hard parts, rather than wish they were easier. Hope that helps…
THANKS SO MUCH for the INSPIRATION HOWARD