K's personal health journey (members read only): Smart Food Choices that Improve Your Health & Life

[Kätzchen]

Just an quick update tonight:

Today I had my cardiology appt, and had my pacemaker data read and downloaded. They also took my weight too, as the last time they saw me was last February, and I was over 300 pounds. I began my plant based diet, the first week of March.... based on my primary care physician's advice and the advice of the Registered Dietician and Nutritionist I had an consult appt with.

I have dropped over 50 pounds, nearly 60 pounds, since March of this year.

I am Vegan, not vegetarian. I purposely quit eating all types of meat and eggs and stopped consuming Dairy products and quit eating anything that is filled with Starch (potatoes, breads, rice or pasta).

But the reason I feel compelled tonight to share about my health status is that my work related accident impaired my mobility. Before my accident, I used to bicycle to work, daily, for an estimated 22 miles per day, and more miles on the weekend (for leisure).


I took issue with the Cardiology doctor's notes on my case today, because it's never been like me to consume too many calories or eat very much. I only eat what I feel led to eat, which is primarily small to medium sized portions at meal time. I have one main meal a day (Salad, usually around 5 pm). For breakfast, I have whole grain cereal (Quinoa or Steel Cut Oats, but only a cup of cereal is all I eat). For extra protein, I consume Think Thin bars (20 mg protein per bar, zero sugar) and I use my new found Burt's Bee's protein powder for an afternoon smoothie made with Berries, Coconut Milk and a packet of Stevia.


I push water intake, the most. I drink up to two gallons of water per day.

The body needs water to help medication work properly and to also help the body to utilize food sources properly. So drinking enough water is critical to my own success, as well as sticking to eating an Plant Based diet.


Next month, if my A1c level is lower than the reading I had this past July, then my primary care physician will discontinue the experimental Glipizide medication I've been taking since March 1st. I'm already NOT diabetic anymore, so I'm looking forward to saying "Good Bye" to Glipizide.


I was just telling a dear Femme friend, that if I drop another 50+ pounds by the time I see the Cardiologist next March (on the 1st), that I'm going to ask specifically for the cardiology doctor to amend his notes from today, because it's not calories that caused my weight gain. It was being immobilized by the work related accident, for nearly an year after it happened, that caused the weight gain.


Also, I think it's imperative to not let nay-sayer's have any room in your head when you choose to give up meat, dairy and starches. My mother and siblings have not been supportive of my choice to become an Vegan. IN their minds, they think I'm not getting enough protein. Well, I've got proof of my health status and blood samples that are collected every other month, that proves differently. I wish they could stop eating meats, dairy products and starches because my three Diabetic brothers refuse to do that, yet the insulin shots they need on an daily basis is not cutting it. My mother is working herself to death to cover their medical expenses. She's not happy either that I won't recant my Plant Based Diet position, even after I show her medical proof that saved my life and kept me from becoming diabetic.


So, to those of you out there that are thinking about eliminating meat, dairy and starches and all forms of sugar from your diet (including foods that convert to sugar in your bloodstream -- example, rice, pasta, bread, etc), then don't let them control your own health success. Saving your own life is vital, even if you get push-back and flack about it from people in your life.


Cheers,

K.



PS/ Remember, I was able to do this on the advice of my primary physician and an Registered Dietician and clinic Nutritionist. I am grateful to them for explaining to me how NOT eating meat, dairy products and starches could save my life and prevent me from becoming Diabetic.

[Kätzchen]

I recently had an doctor visit to follow-up on another blood sugar fasting lab draw and the news was not entirely good, but good in the way that at least my blood sugar has not exponentially sky rocketed. Instead of being at the coveted status of less than 5.7, I came in at 5.8, which led my doctor to reinstitute the interventional use of Glipizide, to help stabilize my body's way of not being able to fend off an diabetic trajectory. So, for another six months, I will take half a tablet twice a day and keep working on mobility impacts I face, because I cannot bicycle 22 miles a day anymore, much less walk for more than half an hour (etc). I keep at it though.

Since last March (of this year), when I radically changed my behavioral choice of food intake and implemented a strict plant based diet, I have lost over 60 pounds. Not bad, right? Especially since I cannot exercise at levels I was previously accustomed to doing. But I will get there, even if it takes time and tremendous, painstaking energy.

My meal for today is exceptionally untraditional. LOL.

Today, I made a 'cheese' sandwich on two slices of gluten-free bread (I can only have this type of bread, rarely, anymore). The 'cheese' I used was by Field Roast: Regular Creamy and Tomato (which is very zesty). I also used an veggie burger-like patty, too. To drink: I have a bottle of L'Orange Perrier Mineral Water, a cup of decaf coffee with NON-dairy creamer and two packets of Truvia (stevia sweetener). And a quart of clean water, to drink.


In other health related news: I finally was able to hire an SS Disability attorney, after she looked at specific health documentation I have on record. My attorney feels that we have a chance to win on an disability appeal in January, but I won't be discouraged if I am not approved for SS Disability. I won't invest all my time in effort trying to secure this type of economic reprieve, because at least one physician sitting on my health care case feels I can handle part time work placement, which I will vigorously pursue. My goal is to be employed by Spring of 2019. To wit, I am actually vying for an government job (Census Bureau). I hope I am hired for this particular job, but if not, I am sure the perfect job awaits me in the near future.

I am wishing everyone a beautiful day of holiday celebrations.

Happy Thanksgiving

[Kätzchen]

I recently saw my primary doctor and we reviewed my progress, which is still progressing in a positive direction.

My A1c blood sugar fasting labs came back with a good reading (5.7 or less).

Over the past year, by changing my dietary intake to consist of mostly plant based, fresh organic foods, I have maintained my 60+ pound weight loss ( a direct result from excising meat, processed foods, etc. from my daily diet).

It's still a challenge for me to get ordinary exercise that most people can accomplish, but I get better as time goes by. My return to work will increase the way I meet my daily need for exercise by walking, lifting small amounts of weight (outside my own weight) and such, which I feel good about.

I have narrowed in on something that is making a difference for me, concerning portions of food consumed. I've taken steps to eat less, yet eat foods which are dense in plant protein and reduce or eliminate foods from my diet which don't really help me at all: For example, I rarely consume pasta or breads or starchy foods and limit my salt intake (which is helping so much).

Lately, since it's so cold, my main meals consist of clear broth, homemade vegetable soups using a variety of winter vegetables or incorporating certain types of beans (ie, Northern beans, Navy beans) or by adding quinoa or cous-cous to my soups, for extra fiber content and nutrition.


When melons and berries and watermelon are in season, I plan to have more of these types of fruits and berries in my diet. I read an health article the other day about using Mango in oatmeal and combining peanut butter in the hot cereal, as well as coconut flakes (unsweetened, organic variety).

I just take one day at a time and remember to eat simple foods and simply prepared foods, which I think has helped me so much.

[Kätzchen]

This Bar Saves Lives

I recently found nutritional bars, chock full of seeds and veggies : They're gluten free, and in some cases, some bars have limited sugar impacts. They come in a variety of flavors: PB&J, Maple Pecan, S'mores Blast, Blueberry & Pistachio, Dark Chocolate & Cherry, and the best one of all, IMO, is the collagen DEFENSE bites, which are filled with nutrients to help build up your immune system by incorporating Tumeric powder, Strawberry, Ginger and Honey. I couldn't find pictures of them on the web, but the website will provide pictures and product information.

They're pretty yummy and I buy them by the boat load so I can have some sort of silent hand in making sure compromised communities of children have access to nutritious food that obviously will save their lives.

And of course, as a adult, it's saving my life too.









From their website: FAQ's

How does this bar save lives?

It's simple. Every time you make a purchase, you send life-saving food to a child in need. That means that when you buy one of our classic snack bars, for example, then you're also sending a packet of life-saving food to one of our international NGO partners. Those partners then deliver that life-saving food to children who need it most, anywhere from Haiti to Somalia and beyond

Do you help kids in the US?

Yes! We’re committed to helping children thrive all over the world, including in our local communities. We have worked with Feeding America to provide healthy meals through their food pantries all over the US. To date, we have provided over 275,000 meals to Americans in need.

Product Information:

Our snack bars are Non-GMO Project Verified, gluten free, kosher, and ridiculously delicious. Our kids bars are made without nuts, free of the top 8 allergens, and they have fruits and veggies that your kids won't even taste! Our collagen bites have a variety of ingredients with different nutritional benefits, visit our collagen bites page to learn more!

[Kätzchen]

It was back in March of 2018 that I consciously made the decision to stop consuming any food products which elevate a person's natural blood sugar levels. I stopped eating any dairy products; I stopped eating bread products; I stopped eating certain rice and pasta products; because the aforementioned food product choices were elevating my blood sugars, due to mobility issues I have faced since November of 2016.

At any rate, since excising dairy, bread, rice and pasta and any food that converts readily into sugar (glucose) in the blood stream, and sticking to a Whole Foods and Plant Based Diet, I have lost over 75 pounds since March of 2018. At first I lost nearly ten pounds per month. But nearly a year later, after my body acclimated to the Whole Foods Plant Based Diet, I still find I am losing weight slowly -- just not as rapidly as in the beginning, when I first decided to not partake of foods that put my health at greater risk for diabetes.

I still take half a tiny tablet of Glipizide, as well as Losartan (for blood pressure). I also take an prescription strength dose of Vitamin D (10K units, once per day).

My physical transformation has really impressed close friends. So much so, that my sister-in-law now buys the quarterly Forks Over Knives magazine, which teaches people how to cook delicious meals, which some recipes take less than an hour to make - others, like say, making your own nut milk or nut based yogurt or such, take a couple of days to produce. Overall, it's a healthier way to consume plants and plant-based food products with relative ease of time and cost. Investing in ones own health is a rewarding process because you eventually see positive physical results which stays with you as long as you daily commit to put your health first.

I was just sitting here, watching The Marvelous Mrs Maisel episodes on my sister-in-law's TV, and browsing the latest issue of Forks Over Knives Magazine and there are some awesome easy-to-make, do-it-yourself recipes for breakfast or dinner or even for a take-to-work lunch. Which definitely saves you time and money because who can get a fabulous lunch or dinner on quick notice, when you might not have a lot of time to dine out or go get take-out?

Here are some of the recent menu ideas I found for breakfast bowls: Quinoa with chocolate and freshly slices pears; Tamale-in-a-bowl (polenta or grits with avocado, fresh salsa and black beans); I Heart Cherries (hot kasha cereal with hemp hearts and frozen cherries and a splash of almond milk); Oatmeal Lemon pancakes with Raspberry Date syrup; Banana Buckwheat pancakes with blueberries and other sliced fresh fruit toppings; Sweet Potato Pancakes with Strawberry Gazpacho sauce.

Here are some dinner menu ideas: Quinoa Burrito Bowls with Strawberry Salsa; Buffalo Cauliflower Pockets; Sweet Corn Tostadas; Chana Gobi soup (which is Hindi for chickpeas and cauliflower) spiced with Indian spice blends that they teach you how to make; Thai Spring Noodle Soup; Middle Eastern Quinoa Bowls with Vegetables; Spinach Apricot Salad with Spiced Lentils; and... Cauliflower and Black Bean Burritos -- which I want to pair off with a homemade Peach & Pear Chutney.

Anyhoooo…… my sister-in-law and I take turns buying the latest issue of "Forks Over Knives" magazine, but what I want to do - and it's on my wish list- is to buy the cookbook. Both the quarterly magazine edition and the cookbook has awesome recipes and photos of what each meal looks like. I buy the magazine at a local book seller that has the best price (sometimes it's Barns and Noble, sometimes I find a good price at Powell's).



Here's to better health and wellness for all,
Cheers

[Amulette]

I never found myself attracted to Kombucha until a friend brought over a big bottle to share. My first thought was BLEH another good for you moldy thing. Once I got over that it was really quite refreshing and I do like bubbly things. Actually it tasted really good. Making it is all the rage and I do believe I will try it. Especially if I can do it with herbs and things, I find that a bit exciting. *twinkles*

How to Flavor How to Flavor Kombucha & 3 Herbal Recipes

[Kätzchen]

Hi there,

I cannot advocate any Kombucha product (home made or commercially made) because I had an allergic reaction to it, which landed me in the hospital.

I know it's branded as a health product that is saturated with probiotic potential, but there isn't any way I'd ever advocate utilizing this type of food product for any way to improve ones health. It didn't improve mine, at all.

My doctor explained further to me, once I recovered and followed up by seeing her after being hospitalized, that Kombucha is primarily made from fermented yeast, sugar and it basically not a stable product to consume for health purposes. I've even done my own random research about this type of health drink and it's got mixed reviews not only by consumers who have used it, but also by the medical community (western based or naturopath based practitioners) who are highly reluctant to put any official seal of approval on it because side effects can range from severe reactions to basically harmless but with no real way to measure toxic side effects among humans who consume this so-called health product.

I appreciate the post you made, but consuming Kombucha will not be something I ever consume -- for my own health.

Thanks again for your post,

K.