Monday, April 3, 2017

Journey: The Numbers

 My typical breakfast: Oatmeal, chia seeds, cinnamon and fruit.

Good morning, everyone! This post is another long one. Sorry. But, I'm sure I'll get to the point where my posts are pared down, yet still full of information. Hang in there and please be patient with me as I delve into and sort out this new journey.

Have you ever heard the saying..."nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rockers"? Well, that's how I feel this morning. I'm nervous about sharing my medical dilemma with y'all. I guess I'm afraid of being judged. But, here's the deal. How can I help anyone, if I don't tell you where I've been and how I'm doing, right? So, I'm sucking it up and hope it doesn't hurt as much as I think it's going to. I have to say, though, those of you who commented on my last post were so gracious. I thank you so much for your encouraging words. I love y'all!

Here's another cliche for you....."this is where the rubber hits the road". Yep, I'm about to spill my guts.

In my last post, I told you how this journey of mine came about. I started with a new doctor and he ordered blood tests to get a baseline measurement as part of getting started in his practice. Lord y'all, when I got those results, it was shock and awe. I wanted to go into denial, but I knew that wouldn't do any good. So I had to hit this thing head on. I couldn't believe how high the numbers were. There's no telling how long they have been that high and if I have any residual damage. However, I am confident that my new way of eating will heal me. I know it will bring my numbers down into the normal range and I know I will lose weight and feel better. I know this because I've already been experiencing it.

Okay, here we go....let's get to the numbers. Now, I must tell you that I'm not going to share all of my numbers. I will NEVER tell you my how much I weigh, not even when I get to my goal weight. That would be like the ultimate vulnerable thang, y'all! So don't even ask! But, I WILL tell you how much I lose.

Numbers before:
Glucose - 262 mg/dl............normal (according to my doctor) should be between 74 - 106
Triglyceride - 285 mg/dl.......normal should be less than 150
Cholesterol - 322 mg/dl.......normal should be less than 200
HDL - 45.........................................normal should be between 40-60
LDL - 220................................normal should be less than 130

(I don't know how this cholesterol thing works, because if you add my HDL and LDL values together, you sure don't get 322 mg/dl) Hmmm, I'll have to look into this. Also, I don't know what my Hemoglobin A1c is because I had to go back to get that done a week later than my original blood work and the doctor's office didn't give me the results. I have been afraid to call and ask for them. I know they are high, but I am still going about solving it the same, regardless of what the number is. So, I may just wait until we repeat and see the difference then. In the meantime, I check my daily glucose levels and it shows me progress).  

See!! I told you, I was a walking time bomb. Hearing my doctor's advice and seeing these numbers was enough to push me into panic mode. Like I told you in my last post, I went straight to the bookstore and bought Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn's book "Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease". I read it in two days, but on day one, I had enough information to begin my new life. I was about to become a vegan and I was resolved to that fact. Now, my doctor did not tell me that I had heart disease, he didn't even tell me that I had diabetes. But, I knew enough to know that even though he didn't diagnose me, that I was in trouble. We had already had a conversation where I explained to him that I was not the type of person to give up or give in and take medication. I just wasn't going to do it, unless I had exhausted all my options and there was nothing left to do except take medication. He was good with that. We were on the same page. He is allowing me 3 months to work on my numbers with diet and exercise. And, he prescribed a glucose meter for me to check my sugar levels daily. I was grateful for this and a little relieved because it told me that, #1 He believed that diet and exercise could possibly work, and #2 That I wasn't about to die from heart disease or diabetes, at least not in the next 3 months. Ha! I have to laugh because if you only knew how panicked I was.....! My doctor reassured me, though, that somehow, someway I would be alright. He would take care of me. Well, that was good to know. But y'all, if you know me, then you know I take matters into my own hands. I was on a mission and still am. I am determined that I will heal myself through diet and exercise. I know it can be done! So, there you have it.....my awful, nasty numbers. Oh but wait, here's the good news.....after one month (I began on March 1st) and as of this morning (drum roll please)......my blood sugar was down to 103 mg/dl and I have lost 13-14 lbs.

This new way of life is working for me. I believe with all my heart that this is the most healthful way of eating. 

My action plan......eat a low-fat plant based diet with no oil. That means no meat, no dairy, no oils. I eat all things plant based....fruits, veggies and whole grains. The exception is that I don't eat avocado and nuts, right now. They contain too much fat. I am concentrating on getting my numbers into the normal range. Once I do that and return to the doctor for repeat blood work at the end of May, I will decide then whether to add avocado and nuts back into my diet. 

You may be wondering what the difference for me was when I was eating vegetarian. Back then, I was eating eggs or egg sandwiches for breakfast every day and I was using mayonnaise, butter, cheese, olive oil and eating avocados. Some of these foods have good attributes, but they also have lots of fat. The eggs, cheese and butter also have lots of cholesterol. Cutting these foods out this time made a huge difference in my weight loss. I'm sure of it. I still have a cup of coffee every morning and when it's cold outside, I may even have a cup in the afternoon. I use organic stevia as a sweetener for my coffee. If you are going to use stevia, use this brand...SweetLeaf Natural Stevia Sweetener. It only has 2 ingredients....fiber and stevia. It doesn't contain erythritol, a sugar alcohol, like the brand Truvia does. Other than that, I drink water. I don't drink anything with artificial sweeteners at all. No diet drinks, no Crystal Lite, and no fruit juice. Artificial sweeteners are from the devil and fruit juice is full of sugar. Unless, you squeeze your own. That's okay. 

My sample menu:

Breakfast: Old fashioned oat meal, chia seeds, cinnamon (sometimes) and fruit

Lunch:  A huge honking salad full of green leafy vegetables and other veggies, most days....corn and beans, and the salad dressing is balsamic vinegar mixed with either brown spicy mustard or mixed with homemade oil-free hummus. 

Dinner: This is the meal that I cook and experiment with different foods. I usually have a carbohydrate like brown rice, quinoa, or potatoes.  I eat beans a lot. And, I usually have some cooked vegetables (there are so many choices).

Snacks: Fruit or raw veggies like celery sticks and carrots dipped in hummus

Beverage: Water (You can have infused water. Cut up some cucumbers, maybe an orange, lemon or strawberries and put them in a pitcher of water. This is very refreshing and gives you a little taste.)

Exercise: Well, yes I have to put this in and yes, you really need to exercise. But, it can be as simple as walking around the block a few times. I walk/run, ride my bike, do planks, lift light weights, and garden. I spread these out over the course of the week. I love walking and riding the bike the most as far as cardio. And you know I love to garden....it can be almost yoga'ish because of all the stretching and bending and moving in weird ways and it's a great upper body workout, especially when you haul 10 bags of wood chips to the garden weighing in at 25 lbs each and you chop a snake to death with a hatchet. Yeah, I did both of those things last Thursday. Gah! Snakes! And there's another one riding around in my flower beds. He's a King Snake, so Cliff won't let me kill him.

Now, if you are interested in doing your own research or reading some of the websites or books that I've delved into, I'll share those. I have my favorites and each one touches on a different aspect of health. For example, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn and Dr. Colin Campbell talk about heart disease and vegan diets. Dr. Neal Barnard talks about diabetes. James Colquhoun deals with all things healthy and has a website called Food Matters. A few others.....Dr. Josh Axe deals with gut issues. Dr. Eric Zielinski deals with essential oils and how they can play a vital part in our health. And there are others that I'll tell you about, along the way.

This is just the beginning.....I will share so much more with you. I'm excited about my new life and I hope I can be an encouragement for you.  

More later,  
Laurie 

Today's book recommendations: 
Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease by Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn
The China Study by Dr. Colin Campbell and Thomas Campbell


26 comments:

  1. Hi Laurie, I wanted to stop by to tell you how much I appreciate your prayers for my surgery last Monday. Diana posted a prayer request on her blog and I am full of gratitude! I am slowly recovering but wanted you to know how very much I appreciate you thinking of me. :-) I will add you to my prayers as well that your health continues to improve. I did the Whole30 with my family and noticed a big difference, healthy eating and exercise can make such a difference but seem to be so hard to do sometimes, lol. ;-) I don't like taking medications either so I can understand that too! Have a wonderful week!

    Blessings,
    Jill

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    1. Thank you so much, Jill! I love prayers, so yours is appreciated as well. I'm glad to hear you're feeling better. I pray your recovery will be quick and easy. Thank you for stopping by this morning. Hope to hear from you again soon.

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  2. Laurie,

    I cheering for you! Wow those numbers you posted would get my attention too. Your total cholesterol is made of of hdl,LDL, and part of the triglyceride. I think.
    Sorry for typos. I am in bed after foot surgery and have trouble typing on this old ipad.

    I will return and hope you have wonderful results to post soon...Janey

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    1. Thank you, Janey! Yeah, those numbers were bad. OK, I didn't know that the triglycerides were a part of your total cholesterol. That must be the difference. I sure hope you recover soon from your foot surgery. I know how much you like to walk. I have no doubt that I'll have good numbers to post at the end of May. I'm 100% committed. Take care and rest easy!

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  3. Laurie, your weight loss in the first month is amazing! And the fact that you feel so much better is the real telling factor. You should be so proud of yourself on so many levels. Not wanting to take medications as bandaids "fer what ails ya" is the only way to go as far as I'm concerned. Getting to the root of any problems we may have creates the real cure. The body is a marvelous thing and will heal itself given a chance. And you're giving your body that chance. What a ride you are on!! Please don't think any of us are judging you. I'm sure if we all were to lay out our weaknesses and less than stellar attributes, anything you share would pale in comparison. You go, girl! :o)

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    1. Thank you, Judy! Yeah, I don't get why even the doctors just say take this pill and you'll feel better. Well maybe, but why not get to the root cause and just fix it and be done with it. The commercials for medicine on television that lists all the side effects should be enough to scare the crazy out of us....that's enough right there to say, no way Jose. I'll do it a different way. Thank you so much for your encouragement!

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  4. Fried egg sandwiches are my downfall. That and chocolate... I really admire your spunk and determination to live a healthier life. We are all with you on that. Thanks for the information as well as keeping us updated as to your progress.

    Jim Fowler, Greenville, SC

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    1. Oh yeah, we share the same tastes for our southern fare. I love chocolate, too. But Lord, it's a slippery slope when it comes to chocolate, though. It's so easy to get into a bad habit eating too much of it. Thank you, Jim, for your words of encouragement! They mean a lot!!

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  5. Laura, You go girl !! Proud you took the bull by the horns. Changing diet is the hardest thing. Getting into exercise is done slowly and it helps. I am on your side and wish you the absolute best. Blessings, xoxo, Susie

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    1. Thank you so much, Susie! Your encouragement helps!

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  6. Wow...glad you're on top of things now and already feeling better. It does seem that diabetes was calling your name! Still it seems to be an almost all carb diet. Make sure you get enough protein. And what about calcium? Don't want your bones to get brittle! :) And I'm guessing your blood pressure was ok? Can't wait to read the next post...you go, girlie!

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    1. Thanks, Betsy! Blood pressure was great! I'll fill y'all in on the carbs, calcium and protein a little later on....as well as omega 3's.

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    2. Oh, that's good! My blood pressure was great last week...text book perfect, they said. But my cholesterol was a little high. They said aerobic exercise is the best way to flush out plaque in your blood. I have yet to begin any aerobics. ha.

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  7. Wishing you much luck on your journey to a new lifestyle, Laurie! I've been on weight watchers since sept 30 and lost 26.6 lbs in that time, which is 6.6 more than I aimed for. I love the program so much and find it so easy I'm staying on plan and will see if I can lower my goal another 10 lbs! Good luck, I look forward to following along as you change your life and health.

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    1. Thank you, Debbie and congratulations on your weight loss! I'm glad you found the program that worked for you. I think it's wonderful that you surpassed your goals and are still going. Good luck to you, too!

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  8. Laurie, I commend you on your commitment to improving your health!! You are doing an amazing job. Thank you so much for being willing to share your story with us. You go, girl!! blessings ~ tanna

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    1. Thank you, Tanna! Your words of encouragement mean the world to me!

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  9. Good job..! Just the believing with all your heart is such a feat:)
    Bravo!!

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    1. I never thought about that before, but it's so true. Thanks, Monique!

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  10. You are very determined and brave for doing and sharing all this! Do not be scared, no one is here to judge you. You are trying and doing the best you can to reach your goals, and NO ONE can say anything negative about that. Keep going!

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    1. Thank you so much, Sara! I truly appreciate your kind words!

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  11. I'm cheering you on. It's amazing how getting a wake up call can quickly change your way of thinking/living.
    Keep going!
    diane @ thoughts&shots

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    1. Hi Diane! Yes, those wake up calls can turn you on a dime. Thanks for your encouraging words!

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  12. Your food plan looks great and healthy. My husband eats about the exact same thing. He has lost a lot of weight and is keeping it off. He has added beets to his diet too. He puts them on his salad. They have lots of health benifits. Eggs are also a great source of food.
    My fitness pal is a great app to log your foods and keep up with all the nutrients and claories you eat.
    Good luck!
    Lisa

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  13. Well....you certainly have everything under control.
    Best of luck on your journey Laurie...
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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