The journey here has taken a few turns – “lotta ins, a lotta outs, a lotta what-have-yous”.
We started after watching Cowspiracy. Then we watched Forks Over Knives. First it was about the planet. Then it was about our health.
We bought Rich Roll’s book. It was a start. Now, I wouldn’t recommend his book. The recipes have oil, and sugar (maple, honey, date sugar – those are all sugars). He’s big on shakes, which cause spikes in blood sugar – eat your nutrients, not drink them. Lotsa nuts (his wife Julie is all about nuts – pun intended). Looking back, I say his book is borderline junk vegan food. The one prop I’ll always give Rich is that maybe we don’t get here at all, without his book. Because the book does have tasty recipes. They’re just not good for you or heart healthy.
So for the past 5+ years, we were technically vegan. But for me, I will still eating some junk food.
3 weeks ago my friend had triple bypass. He sent me a pic from his hospital room – tubes in him, his chest had been sawed open. It frightened me. That was it. From that day on I went 110% heart strong, Whole Food Plant Based Living. No oils, no sugar, no salt. No more stops to Burger King for the Impossible Burger. No more candy and popcorn at the movies. No more slices of cheese pizza. No more donuts. Nada.
One thing about going Whole Food Plant Based is you have to understand that getting off the old way of eating isn’t going to be easy. Years, or a lifetime of bad habits, don’t die easy. There’s a reason why most food is loaded with sugar, salt, and oil. It hooks you. So for me, it’s been hard.
Since I got the picture from my friend, all I’ve eaten is what you see in these videos. I think, I’ve finally broken free and my taste buds have changed. Halloween is coming up. Before, I’d be sucking down lotsa candy. Because candy is vegan, right? ;-). Not this year. And I’m not jonezin’ about it, either.
One more. Just because I’m 61 doesn’t mean younger people shouldn’t be doing this, either. This way of life is for young people. Knowing what we do now we never would have given our son pizza. Heart disease starts young, right after we’re born – because of the food. If you’re not doing this you’re adding plaque to your arteries. No doubt about it. So the earlier in life you change what you eat, the better off you’ll be.
My last LDL test was 93. The medical community says < 100 is good. But I’m not going by their standards. If I do, I’ll end up in the hospital. I’m going by Dr. G’s standards, 70 or less.
I’m going to get my blood checked (lipids test) again at the end of November. That’ll be 2 full months of Whole Food Plant Based Living. I’ll post the results.
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