At age 55, Paul Chatlin was a few minutes away from surgery on a 100% blockage in his right coronary artery when his cardiologist asked him out of the blue, “Would you consider a nutritional change instead of bypass surgery?”
Turns out the cardiologist's mentor was a dude named Caldwell Esselstyn, which is the only way this story makes any sense.
Paul, tired of his severe angina, terrified of the life that followed bypass surgery that he witnessed in his father and three uncles, and in agony from the “elephant sitting on his chest,” agreed.
“I'll do anything.”
He left the hospital at 3 in the morning; by 8am his phone is ringing. “This is Caldwell Esselstyn. I want you to read my book, Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, and I'll call you again in two days.”
And Paul has been whole food, plant-based ever since.
Two months of bed rest, during which time he devoured every plant-based book, documentary, YouTube video that he could get his hands on. A terrible cook, he took a course with Ann Esselstyn, Caldwell's wife, on preparing healthy food.
And he got better. Much better. So much better that he made a promise to himself and the world: “I will take the rest of my life and make a difference.” He wasn't sure how, but he would.
His mission clarified after his $700 receipt for the cooking class was rejected for reimbursal by Blue Cross Blue Shield. The same insurance company that was ready to fork over 130 grand for bypass surgery wouldn't consider paying 1/186th of that amount on a life skill that could prevent heart disease before it even started.
Their hands were tied, they explained to him. You'll have to take that up with the state legislature.
This, he decided, was his calling: to change the culture, to shift the conversation from medical management of disease to true prevention and healing.
Before tackling the political machine, Paul needed allies. He needed to know that he wasn't all alone, that he wasn't the only plant-based person in the entire Detroit region. He took out a $25 ad in a local paper, saying that he had lost 50 pounds, got off all his meds, dropped his cholesterol, and never felt better. Who wants to know what I've learned in the past four months?
Twenty people responded, and Paul was up and running. Fast forward a few years, Paul founded and runs the world's largest plant-based community, 3200 members strong and counting. He and his staff and volunteers have utterly transformed the culinary landscape around Detroit, and are now taking on the entrenched behemoth that is medical education.
I met Paul when I was invited to speak for his Plant-Based Nutrition Support Group (PBNSG) in July, 2016. They got me onto a live morning TV show (luckily, I had brought a clean shirt), put me up in a very classy hotel, shuttled me here and there, served me dinner at Dr. Joel Kahn's Greenspace Café, and got several hundred people in an audience to hear me talk about how to change bad habits.
Very impressive!
Paul and I talked about his journey, his mission, the obstacles, and the goals. I hope it uplifts you as much as it has me. We covered:
- what Paul thought was a healthy diet pre-Essy
- “I'd rather be healthy than full”
- the broken medical system, and the responsibility of doctors to take care of us in a better way
- the 150 doctors who had no interest in being involved in PBNSG: “we didn't learn this in school”
- how come the veterinarian asks about diet, but the primary care physician doesn't?
- that part of the Hippocratic oath where prevention is preferable to treatment
- how to get doctors to prescribe nutrition rather than pills
- getting PBNSG kicked out of Beaumont hospital for challenging their business model
- meeting Dr Joel Kahn
- the plan that can be replicated anywhere
- if it can happen in Detroit, it can happen anywhere
- inspired by Rosa Parks: “You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.”
- 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
The Plant Based Nutrition Support Group
Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, by Caldwell Esselstyn, MD
Dr. Joel Kahn on the Plant Yourself Podcast
My talk at PBNSG (video)
My first appearance on the PBNSG podcast (audio)
My second time on the PBNSG podcast (audio)
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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.
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Looking for Transformational Change?
You know how when you discovered plant-based eating, you basically went, “Holy shit, how come the entire healthcare system isn't totally embracing this as one of the most powerful keys to disease prevention and reversal!”?
That's how I feel now about a psychological approach to transformational change called “Memory Reconsolidation.” Few psychologists have heard about it, and when they do hear the radical transformations it can bring about in a very short time, they're often skeptical to the point of disbelief.
But I've added Memory Reconsolidation work to my own coaching, and can attest to its amazing efficacy. So much so, that I'm devoting the next year to mastering it, studying with the best clinicians and teachers in the world, and then introducing it into health coaching through my trainings.
Right now, I want to triple my coaching practice to get more and more opportunities to do this work. And I'm lowering my fees – a lot – to make it easier for people to work with me.
If you're interested in working with me (and willing to commit to a minimum of 2 months), click the link below to open the form in a new browser tab and I'll get back to you within 3 business days.
Yes, I'm interested in Memory Reconsolidation Coaching.
You CAN Change Other People!
Well, that's what Peter Bregman and I claim in our provocative book of that title.
What we really mean is, you can help the people around you make behavioral changes in their own best interests. If you think you're powerless to help people change, it's because you've been going about it the wrong way.
Discover our straightforward, replicable process here: You Can Change Other People.
Audiobook: Use the Weight to Lose the Weight
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It's $10, and Josh and I split it evenly 🙂
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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.
Disclosure
This post may contain amazon affiliate links. I may receive compensation from your actions on such links. It don't cost you a dime, tho.
I have come to know Paul Chatlin during the past few years, as a result of my association with his Plant-based Nutrition Support Group. Not only is his personal health turnaround remarkable but it’s amazing all that one determined person (Paul) has accomplished! He’s had such an incredible impact with the health of so many, spreading the message of healthy eating and a Whole Food, Plant-Based Diet! On top of that, Paul is a very caring person, sincerely interested in getting to know others and their personal issues. A great humanitarian!