After Surviving A Heart Attack, Thomas Juiced For 170 Days to Regain His Health

Name: Thomas Beatty
Age: 59
Location: Bronxville, New York
Reboot: Juice for 170 days, and still juicing, 90%.
What Health Issues apply to you? Arthritis, Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol

How did you learn about Reboot with Joe?
My son Michael turned me on to it after I had a near-fatal heart attack.

What inspired you to do a Reboot?        
The experience of dying at 58 years of age. Thoughts of never seeing my sons again. My real friends. My unfinished plans and promises. A desire to tell my story to my children and future grandchildren.

I should explain what brought me to this point.

On 4-11-13, I went to work as usual. I was testing the Colorado Timing system for an upcoming New York City Parks Department swimming event. It was hot and humid in the pool are and after about an hour I felt really dizzy and my head was sweating. I left the pool area and went to the lobby where we have an ice rink to cool off. I sat on a bench and the sweating spread to my chest. Suddenly I was aware of intense squirming pain in my chest. Afterwards I described it as like a large fish wriggling and trying to escape after you catch one. This pain lasted about 1.5 minutes during which time I kept punching my chest to try and stop the spasms. The pain eased as paramedics arrived. They hooked me up to monitors and told me I indeed had a heart attack but I was ok now. I was telling the EMT’s that when they do CPR on me not to waste time looking for proper head position, as my neck is predominantly titanium, just intubate me. They told me I was ok they were here now. I told them they would be doing CPR on me as I was going now. Suddenly, I felt my chest explode and all around me went brilliant white. I was gone. They brought me back 4 minutes later using electric shocks. In the hospital the doctors all congratulated me on beating the “widow-maker” as I had a 99% blockage in the LAD artery. They cleared the blockage and kept me in hospital for a few days. The next day my son Michael brought me some kale, carrot and pear juices. He was determined to change my eating habits. He did.

How did the experience go for you?
It was an interesting experience as during the first 17 days I transitioned from traditional food to raw food juice. Virtually everybody around me, family friends and medical professionals, all said it was crazy as I needed real food to heal properly. The nutritionist in the hospital went so far as to tell me juicing was too much work. After 3 weeks I asked the cardiologist if raw food was the way to go and he replied “If I am juicing I am on the right track” and that was all the endorsement I needed. I aimed for 30 days, then 60, then 90, and then I hit 120. I had no desire to eat solid food and found it easy to sit and watch people eat; I even prepared their meals for them.

How much weight did you lose (even if that wasn’t your goal!)?
I went from approximately 255 lbs. /115 kg. to 188lbs./85 kg.

That’s 67 lbs./30 kg. or 1/4 of my body weight.

Did you have any notable health or physical improvements?
I used to take lots of pills for the last 15 years. Here is a partial list:
Metformin 2000mgs
Metoprolol 50mgs
Losartan 100mgs
Plavix 75mgs
Pradaxa 150mgs x2
Lyrica 75mgs x3
Lipitor 40mgs

Well as a result of my juicing my A1c reading is now below 6, my last blood work showed that I have no longer any signs of Type II Diabetes, my blood pressure is back to normal, and I no longer take any Diabetes medicine. My doctors are shocked at my comeback.

The heart doctor in May said I would never go back to work again as an operating engineer, in September I went back to work.

I had an eye exam in May and got new glasses. I couldn’t see properly in them so I went back to the optician and he had to redo the prescription due to a 15% improvement in my eyesight. He says this is a direct result of getting my sugars under control.

The swelling in my legs and feet is gone.

My cholesterol is 134, Triglycerides are 116, these numbers used to be off the charts.

I believe I am living proof that juicing works. By the way I am not using organic, I buy whatever the local market has on the shelf. I wash it, I juice it.

What was the toughest part about the Reboot experience?      
Negativity expressed by others, especially based on ignorance.

Some relationships have suffered and some have been strengthened. The first 20 days was rough but then again I was dealing with the after effects of the Heart Attack as well as withdrawal symptoms.

What habits have you maintained and kept a part of your everyday life?
I am still juicing. I have added an occasional baked potato and mixed vegetables to my diet so I can go to dinner with some people. But I am still being vegan in my outlook.

I try to get ample exercise and still go to Rehab at the Cardiac clinic in NJ 2-3 days a week. I only drink juice and water, no soda, tea or coffee.

What is your lasting impression of the Reboot experience?
It has given me a new lease on life after the doctors saved it. The important people in my life are impressed and love the new me.