It Gets More Challenging

I start back working in a hospital setting tomorrow. The last time I worked in the hosptial, I was newly diagnosed with diabetes. I was not eating healthy - well, I was eating healthy-ish. I was still drinking coffee and diet soda, and would occasionally eat something less than optimal Now I am almost 2 months into whole food, plant based diet, with no oil (or a tiny amount rarely). I am eating completly different now - gone are the sparse days of atkins low carb. Now I eat healthy all day, and often. I don't drink coffee, or tea. Easy enough to do at home. Much more interesting at work. I've packed the snacks in my lunch bag, and written down the carb count so I can dose appropriately. I've counted out my portions. I have a note left out so I don't forget the cold items. Long gone are the days of tossing random stuff in a bag. It is all planned. If I fail to plan, I plan to fail. I've come too far, with too much success, to fall into bad habits. I won't have a lot of time to eat, so I have several quick snacks, along with a healthy lunch. Of course, I have my hospital dedicated water cup to drink water. All day. My new lifestyle continues in a new setting. It is a little more challenging, but I'm up to it!!

Mastering Diabetes: Month 1

Wow.

That pretty much sums up my response to one month on the whole food, plant based diet advocated in “Mastering Diabetes”.

In 30 days, I lost 10 pounds. On my previous low carb diet, my weight did not budge - despite the fact I was walking/running a 5k a day, plus regularly doing yoga, Tai Chi, and toning exercises. I’m wearing the same size pants and shorts as I did in high school.

I’m also taking Amla Green, which they recommend. It is proven to help with cholesterol. I gave blood during this first month - my last total cholesterol (I am on a statin) was 195. It is now 135 - the lowest I have ever seen it. Ever.

My insulin use is already down 30%. Gone are the days of roller coaster blood sugar. My blood sugar is much more stable. Three months ago my blood sugar was in range only 56% of the time - now it’s in range 71% of the time. And climbing!

Prior to this lifestyle change, my blood sugar has always climbed at night, often to over 200. Now, my blood sugar is just above normal when I go to bed. My fasting blood sugar is normal when I wake up - I mean normal as in normal for any human being!

Running is easier. Stiffness has lessened. Aches and joint pain have improved vastly. While I’m still tired, the crushing exhausting has left.

On my low carb diet, my food choices were few and limited. I felt I was eating the same thing over and over.

Now, I’m eating as much as I want of fruits, vegetables, and legumes. I am sticking to mostly fresh produce right now, as it is abundantly available. I find myself having to eat more throughout the day - unprecedented! I love fruit and I’m eating a ton of it. I was previously eating 40-60 carbs a day. Now, I’m eating 300 or more carbs a day.

I have an appointment with my endocrinologist in August, and I can’t wait to see what my lab work looks like.

It is difficult to eat out - but not impossible. I just have to choose restaurants wisely, and be prepared.

I’m thrilled, and I’m just one month in. I can’t wait to watch my own progress!

Day 15

Today is day 15 of my whole food, plant based diet lifestyle.

I’m very early into this. I am following the “Mastering Diabetes” book. I have been eating mostly “green light” foods - foods that I’m allowed to eat as much as I want of. Fruits, veggies, legumes, greens. I eat them in as close to their natural state as possible. I also avoid all dairy and oils.

It has not been a struggle so much - my biggest problem is the oil part. Cooking without any oil, and not putting butter on bread. I’m thrilled to have bread back in my life once a week - sprouted grain bread, and especially the English muffins!

The first week, I had a terrible headache. It started around lunchtime and persisted until bedtime. I am off all caffeine, and of course all sugar.

Oh, but I am loving all the fruit! I’m eating a lot of it! I’ve always loved fruit, and most veggies.

My family is not on this plan, so I cook for me, and eat a lot of leftovers. I’m fine with that. They are eating healthier sides, as my veggies are incorporated into their meals.

So what has changed so far? As of today, I’ve lost 6 pounds. Pretty amazing since insulin put 20 pounds back on me after I had lost over 30 pounds. I could not lose an ounce doing keto.

My last total cholesterol was 195 - on Crestor. Friday, my cholesterol was 135. The lowest it has been my entire adult life!

My insulin use has gone down 25%...and falling.

All of this, at day 15!

I am glad for all the foundational education and habits I had. I already was tracking all my food on the My Plate app. I have been drinking 80-100oz of water a day.

It’s been a journey, but I’m very hopeful that this new plant powered lifestyle will be the one that keeps me the healthiest. I am happy to report that I’m not having the roller coaster blood sugars I have been plagued by in the last three years.

I truly believe this plan could reverse prediabetes and type 2. It’s amazing with my LADA - late onset type 1 diabetes.

I can’t wait to see what my next update will be!

Below is a picture of how many carbs I ate, as well as my other macros. It’s mind blowing! I used to eat 40 carbs a day or less! I was hungry and miserable.

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.