Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Lately, I am all about trouble! Trouble tracking my blood sugar, trouble tracking my food, trouble getting myself off the couch and exercising, trouble writing my blog, trouble, trouble, trouble.

The big question is how do I get out of the trouble I’m in? I’m not sure, I was doing well and feeling even better so why the change in attitude? Is it just the standard ups and downs of life or something deeper? I have been examining my feelings and I think it is just standard ups and downs, or maybe something deeper. OK, so I can’t figure it out, but I am struggling and I can’t seem to get it going.

One problem I face is being overwhelmed. I lose weight, feel great and then look at the how far I still have to go and I get discouraged. I know, I know…I should look at how far I have come instead, but easier said than done! I have read that 95% of people who reach their ideal weight gain it back. 95%!! That alone makes me want to just throw in the towel. I don’t want to work that hard only to end up right back where I started from. Well, I may have found an answer.

I went to a 50th birthday party for an old friend and he looks fabulous! He’s lost weight and has an air of good health about him. Well, I had to know where this wellspring lies! It lies in raw food! Who would a thought? He has gone to a raw food diet and it has improved his health in a major way. Then I talked to another friend whose father went from controlling his type 2 diabetes with insulin injections to managing with diet only. How? He went vegan. I have talked to others who have an aunt, brother, cousin or friend who have done the same. I must get to the bottom of this.

After some internet research, this is what I learned. Vegetarian diets have been beneficial to people with rheumatoid arthritis, depression, hypertension, type 2 diabetes and many other health issues. It is also lowers cholesterol and improves weight loss efforts. Vegitarians tend to have a lower body mass index and lower rate of heart disease and it can even improve body odor and make your nails stronger! The American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada have stated "that at all stages of life, a properly planned vegetarian diet is healthful, nutritionally adequate, and provides health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases".

My initial concern was nutritional. Then I had to laugh at myself because I didn’t think much about nutrition when I went on any one of the multitude of fad diets I went on in the past! Nutrition didn’t cross my mind when I was drinking my meals and going to bed at night with terrible headaches nor did it cross my mind when I was taking Phentermine and hardly eating at all! So why the concern now? It seems that my concerns are unfounded. A variety of fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds and grains pretty much take care of it all and a daily multivitamin is probably a good idea no matter how you eat.

I have decided to throw my hat in the ring! I don’t know if I can go totally raw or vegan but am going to go as far as I can. I don’t want to be one of those militant vegetarians who scoff at carnivores so I am going to be one who eats mostly a “plant based diet”.

These last few days have been about 80% raw and it was do-able, easy in fact. I have included whole grains along with lots of veggies and fruits and nothing with a face. I have to say, I feel really good! but…I am hungry ALL THE TIME! I am told this is normal and my body will adjust. In the meantime, I try to keep lots of snacks on hand. If anyone is looking to invest some money, try celery and Fuji apples. There will be a noticeable increase in consumption.

Here are a few sites I liked:

http://www.nursingdegree.net/blog/19/57-health-benefits-of-going-vegan

http://www.vrg.org/


Some interesting stuff, no?