Wish me luck or a fast ambulance.

[brin]

Brin and Don...I will take a look at eliminating dairy...including non-fat dairy...once we reach the 30 day mark. Seems like Ornish and others state to consume non-fat dairy only "in moderation"...which is what we are doing now.

Don...I have moderate speed internet...will wait until we are at our Mpls town home to download the movie...where we have high(er) speed connection.

Thanks Again...BTW...had "home made" vegetable soup for lunch w/zero fat "canned" broth...very good...maybe a little too much salt but OK for now.

TMR

Tmr,

For chicken soup or broth we buy chickens from a local grocery that gets them from a local chicken processor...they do not inject them with any salt solution or anything at all...If you read the labels on chickens at the store..chickens from Tyson and other big processors are injected with what they call " an all natural chicken broth " but it you read the label..and check the sodium...there is 290 mg. of sodium just in a 4 oz . serving , which is a lot of sodium for a small serving...So we buy injection free chickens and boil them and then save the stock for soups...no salt at all in there and then use the chicken for other meals...We never buy anything canned except salt free tomato products...like tomato paste, crushed tomato...etc. other than that nothing canned...fresh or frozen veggies or dried beans an lentils only..

 

[dixstir]

diet-diet we schould have done this in our early years it would make a big difference now.I have had 4 open heart op and close to another one they are not much fun so that care when your younger.

 

[beppington]

One other motivation I had to lose the weight...I knew I was getting older and I did not want to be embarrassed and be a Fat man if something happened to me...I figured the nurses and docs would discriminate...and I realized I had a choice ...I could grow older and be fat...and deal with that lifestyle or grow older and be in shape and full of energy and have a better chance of sticking around longer....I chose the latter and I sure hope it works out for me...and you too and anyone else who grabs the bull by the horns....LOL

:thumbsup:

 

[beppington]

Don - I forgot about Dairy...we, the wife and I eat or drink none of that...no milk , butter, cheese etc. except we buy -0- fat -0- cholesterol imitation cheese and eat that ..it has 45 calories a slice and it helps to once in awhile have it as a treat..LOL - other than that we have not had any dairy products in over 12 yrs...and don't miss it.

Tmr,

For chicken soup or broth we buy chickens from a local grocery that gets them from a local chicken processor...they do not inject them with any salt solution or anything at all...If you read the labels on chickens at the store..chickens from Tyson and other big processors are injected with what they call " an all natural chicken broth " but it you read the label..and check the sodium...there is 290 mg. of sodium just in a 4 oz . serving , which is a lot of sodium for a small serving...So we buy injection free chickens and boil them and then save the stock for soups...no salt at all in there and then use the chicken for other meals...We never buy anything canned except salt free tomato products...like tomato paste, crushed tomato...etc. other than that nothing canned...fresh or frozen veggies or dried beans an lentils only..

Hmmm ... I didn't think there was much difference in "dairy" & "chicken" ... is there???

I believe the bottom line is, no animals are really good for us to eat. We can do it, & get away with it for a long time, some longer than others, but ... (kinda like smoking)

 

[txdon]

Hmmm ... I didn't think there was much difference in "dairy" & "chicken" ... is there???

I believe the bottom line is, no animals are really good for us to eat. We can do it, & get away with it for a long time, some longer than others, but ... (kinda like smoking)

That broth was vegetable broth right?

A 1/2 chicken breast has 13.4 grams of fat and 92 mg of cholesterol.
2 oz of processed american cheese has 17 grams of fat and 54 mg of cholesterol.

I can't reverse heart disease with those numbers.

Some people (like me) have to do better because of their body's tolerance to fat and cholesterol. I'm getting a second chance, can't blow it this time.

The doctors realize that everyone will not go 100% by the perfect diet. Some don't have to. For others statins are prescribed. I'll find out soon if I can get off statins. The magic number that everyone agrees on to be heart attack proof is LDL less than 70. The best I could do without statins with no meat and no dairy was LDL 90. I never got a chance to eliminate fats/oils before the heart attack and the cardiologist prescribed statins to protect my stent and other arteries during recovery.

 

[txdon]

Dixstir, was the necessity of a plant based diet ever mention to you to eliminate future surgeries?

 

[TMR]

That broth was vegetable broth right?

I can't reverse heart disease with those numbers.

Some people (like me) have to do better because of their body's tolerance to fat and cholesterol. I'm getting a second chance, can't blow it this time.

The doctors realize that everyone will not go 100% by the perfect diet. Some don't have to. For others statins are prescribed. I'll find out soon if I can get off statins. The magic number that everyone agrees on to be heart attack proof is LDL less than 70. The best I could do without statins with no meat and no dairy was LDL 90. I never got a chance to eliminate fats/oils before the heart attack and the cardiologist prescribed statins to protect my stent and other arteries during recovery.

Don...our vegetable sour was made with vegetable broth. Actually was very good...w/o meat or chicken.

My numbers w/80 Lipitor are Total Chol 145...LDL 77...HDL...33 and Tryclicerides (sp) 173. These were just a couple of weeks ago...pre-plant based diet. A1C was 7.2...and has been rising slowly the last couple of years since it dropped when I added 2000 metformin per day. HDL nas stayed in low 30s for a number of years...wife's stays in low 50s...w/o any exercise to speak of.

I usually have blood tests quarterly and will "hope" to be able to reduce both Lipitor (maybe to 40) and Metformin (perhaps to 1000 per day) in 90 days. I will monitor blood glucose and consider discussing with doc if blood glucose declines and stays lower. Also my blood pressure had dropped significantly (92/62 this AM) and I will likely reduce BP meds soon (after doc clearance).

I am by nature an (****)lytical individual...helps when monitoring changes like this

Now I need to begin adding exercise to my routine...TMR

 

[brin]

Hmmm ... I didn't think there was much difference in "dairy" & "chicken" ... is there???

I believe the bottom line is, no animals are really good for us to eat. We can do it, & get away with it for a long time, some longer than others, but ... (kinda like smoking)

Well, the reason for my change of eating habits 12 yrs. ago or so was to nip what was a gradual weight gain over years in the bud. My wife and I never ate fast food and still don't ...in the 47 yrs. we have been married we could count the times we have eaten fast food on our 10 fingers....We always ate healthy non processed foods....We never have eaten canned or processed foods...but we found we had started to eat too much and even eating too much of the right foods causes weight gain...so we can both still eat the same lean meats we always have...My latest numbers were...Tot. Cholesterol..=141 ..HDL = 55....LDL 76 and triglycerides = 41

 

[TMR]

Well, the reason for my change of eating habits 12 yrs. ago or so was to nip what was a gradual weight gain over years in the bud. My wife and I never ate fast food and still don't ...in the 47 yrs. we have been married we could count the times we have eaten fast food on our 10 fingers....We always ate healthy non processed foods....We never have eaten canned or processed foods...but we found we had started to eat too much and even eating too much of the right foods causes weight gain...so we can both still eat the same lean meats we always have...My latest numbers were...Tot. Cholesterol..=141 ..HDL = 55....LDL 76 and triglycerides = 41

Brin...I admire your discipline...I have a hard time doing anything in moderation. Be it candy, alcohol, smoking...essentially anything that is not good for you when done in excess. Alcohol and smoking were pretty easy to just QUIT...food is a bit tougher since you can't just quit. I see comments in the writing on a plant based diet that for many it is easier to move completely rather than leaving some of the meat/dairy based product in your diet...think that applies to me.

BTW...congrats on the pretty nice number! Are these with NO medications? I am quite positive that my numbers will respond and I will be able to lower meds over time. I think the tryglicerides (sp) are quite related to sugar...and since I seem to have replaced alcohol with candy (sugar) nearly 25 years ago I hope the "try" numbers will shrink as my "new" diet is lite on sugar and carbs.

I DO realize that I am just 5 days into what will be a long transition. I appreciate the discussions Don has started in this thread...kind of like meeting for coffee at the local cafe

Thanks All...TMR

 

[brin]

TMR ,

" BTW...congrats on the pretty nice number! Are these with NO medications? "

Yes and No....My cholesterol has always been pretty much OK but my Doc has me taking a 10mg. Lipitor tab each night...She said it has other benefits...did not go into detail but she said if I did not want to take it that would be fine but she would prefer I take it for the added benefits...You know how these Dr. appts. go...in and out and my wife..asked me...What benefits...I said.." Duh " made me feel foolish...so next time I see her, the Doc. I will ask what the added benefit is....if I remember to ask or am not hurried out...that is...LOL

You hang in there...in time your new lifestyle will be just as normal as can be...grit your teeth if you have to but hang in there...!