Big Change Is A Comin'

Well, I have finally said uncle. I'm waving the white flag.

I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired.

That statement has been true for a while, and I have been making adjustments to my lifestyle, in one way or another, for the past nine years.

The next change will be the biggest one yet.

First, a quick update - I have started regular exercise again, and I am very glad to be able to say that! I began April 18, and did pretty well in April - I did miss a couple of days due to illness or uncooperative blood sugars.

May came around, and so did the 100 Mile May challenge. Yes, it is what it sounds like - log 100 miles in one month. As of today, May 24, I am at 77.56 miles. My total mileage since April 18 is 114.48 miles. So far, it's been mostly walking. I will be restarting my half marathon training in June.

Back to big changes.

I have been on a dietary journey for nine years. Slowly, I have made changes, and incorporated new ways of eating. I don't drink milk anymore. I gave up soda. I don't use table sugar. As to diets, I was on Atkins, modified Atkins, and some modified combination of something that is low carb.

I don't feel good. It is not working for me. I'm always tired. I hurt - all the time. My blood sugars are okay - my hemaglobin A1C is 6.9-7.0, which is not terrible, but I want it 6 or below. I find it is hard to fuel myself for the level of fitness I wish to attain, which is my former half marathon running self.

**Disclaimer - remember, I am a blogger, not your doctor. This is my experience. DO not change your diet or exercise without talking to YOUR doctor first. **

Over the years, I have been integrating more fruits and vegetables. Meatless Mondays. Only having meat and dairy one meal a day. Etc.

Recently, I began researching "Mastering Diabetes", written by 2 type 1 diabetics. I am also listening to "Finding Ultra", by Rich Roll. These two things happened at the same time, but from completely different directions.

Then there was the bunny. I digress...

Bottom line, BOTH these books have one thing in common: a vegan lifestyle. Or as Rich Roll puts it, a plant powered diet.

I have considered vegetarianism, but never being a vegan. When I look at my library over the past few years, though...my first book that I bought when I discovered I had familial high cholesterol was by Dr. Dean Ornish - and I bought that book nearly 30 years ago!

Here is a picture of the books that I have found on just a short glance in my library:

Well. So I have a lot of information at hand.

I also have friends that are vegans, as well as colleagues and mentors.

My thrice a year appointment with my endocrinologist is in August. I am going to start my new vegan lifestyle on Tuesday, May 26.

I am nervous, but I can do it for that period of time. I will weigh and measure myself on day one, and I have the lab work from my last appointment. This experiment is on me - not only will I see if I feel better, but I will have the numbers to prove or disprove it.

All I know is I have tried ADA diet, no diet, Atkin's diet, keto, paleo...all with no change to how I feel or look.

I am serious about this, and I know it will be a challenge.

Back to the bunny.

For the past couple of weeks, every single time I go out for my run/walk, I see a bunny. Every. Single. Time.

I have logged hundreds of miles in this neighborhood, and this has NEVER happened.

I took it as a sign. What did the bunny mean, though?

As I listened to Rich Roll on my Audible app talk about his plant powered life, I saw bunny de jour, and bunny hopped off a little. Just enough movement to trip my mind into realizing he was indeed a sign...a sign I was on the right track. A sign that a vegan trial needed to happen. With a smile, I finished my 5 miles for the day.