Gene McGee, Mayor of Ridgeland, Mississippi takes control of his health with regular physical activity, a plant-based diet, meditation, and group support through the Ornish Lifestyle Medicine Program at St. Dominic’s.
When did you adopt a plant-based diet and why did you do it?
I adopted a plant-based diet July 2015 following a second heart stent procedure.
What experiences did you encounter during and after you transitioned to a plant-based diet?
As far as challenges, I had to learn how to prepare food that tasted good and ensure I consumed the right amount of fruits, veggies, etc. each day to provide for a balanced diet. I had to learn to shop for the correct foods and had to really learn how to read labels, so I wouldn’t be tricked into buying things that were not plant-based. I also had to learn where I could eat out and get the proper food. It was very hard in the beginning when I had a lunch meeting with large groups to get even a salad I could eat. I finally had to let the meeting planners know in advance, that if I was going to be a part of the meeting, then they would have to provide me with a meal that I could eat. I also have had to take a lot of joking from people who think that adopting a plant-based diet is stupid, but know a lot of people have begun to see that it has made a positive difference in my life, so the jokes on them.
The benefits have been that I feel much better. I lost about 35 pounds and I’m able to wear clothes that I couldn’t for years. I now find that some of my favorite places to eat out have started to bend over backwards to meet my needs. I have also found that grocery stores have started having more and more of the products that I can eat. I love the fact that my physical condition shows that I am in much better health. My Cardiologist even took me off of blood thinner medication. I also love the fact that I can now out-ride a lot of riders that are much younger than me. I have found that hills are not the challenge that they used to be. I love the fact that my average speed on the bicycle has increased by several miles per hour.
You are a beast on the bicycle! What does your typical week look like in terms of miles logged?
I ride at least 5 days a week. I ride Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning, leaving my house at 4:30 AM and ride 30 to 31 miles. I ride more miles on Saturday, usually 50 to 60 miles and then on Sunday about 40 miles. I do at least one metric Century and one Grand Fondo per month. As you can see I get somewhere between 180 to 200 miles a week on average. I also try to do several Century rides a year. In addition to riding, I now enjoy doing Yoga at least one hour per day as well as doing other exercises other than riding to cross-train. I work on my upper body strength as well as better breathing. I lift weights several days a week as well as sit ups. Finally, I do at least 30 minutes of meditation each day.
What advice do you have for someone wanting to take control of their health, but they don’t know where to start?
Go online and find good recipes that are plant-based. Don’t be afraid to talk to someone who is living a healthy life style. I know it means a life style change to do this, but look at how the benefits outweigh the changes you have to make.
Check out the video featuring Gene and Jane McGee