Wish me luck or a fast ambulance.

[txdon]

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

A little heads up on the BP medicine when your Dr. lowers it: You might rebound when you get off and your BP might rise for a while before it settles down. My wife warned me of this so I was monitoring it closely. mine went up about 20 points to 115 before settling into the 90's again. Before I asked the Dr. to lower it, some days I would be in the 80's and feeing tired. Now I feel right.

You are at a critical point at 5-10 days when you body is craving, hang in there after 2-3 weeks it gets a lot better. It's good that you have your wife as support and don't have the bad foods in the kitchen tempting you to use the moderation excuse. Dr. Esselstyn devotes an entire chapter on moderation called "Moderation Kills". That chapter has kept me focused.

Coffee Club, I like that, it sounds a whole lot better than support group.

 

[TBDonnelly]

I get flaxseed from Sam's Club. It's in the pharmacy section.

Flax USA Golden Flax - 40 oz. - Sam's Club=

Flaxseed is good to keep you regular. At least it works for me. :ashamed:

I add the flaxseed to a frozen fruit smoothie every evening.

Good thread. I'm reading with interest.

Don

 

[txdon]

I would not have thought to look at Sam's, and I'm a member. Less than $10 for 40oz, great!

 

[TBDonnelly]

Sam's Club also has a good selection of frozen fruit in larger 4 to 6 pound bags.

Compare (Sam's frozen fruit)

Don

 

[TMR]

Week #1 update...weight down 11#...215 to 194. Wife also lost 10#.

Blood Glucose went from 131 to a weekly average of 112...last three day average of 102.

Caffeine cut in 1/2 during the week.

Dropped Fish Oil tablets and added ground flax seed...minimum of two tablespoons during day...mixes invisibly in oatmeal, salads, etc.

Our diet has been very faithful to the "plant based"...with very moderate non-fat dairy (primarily skim milk with oatmeal and one small scoop of non-fat cottage cheese...may shift to milk alternative in the next couple of weeks).

Week actually went pretty well. A bit of extra shopping, etc to get meals but we seemed to have good solid meals and they tasted quite good. Better food experience than I had anticipated. Need to adjust to the need for a refrig full of plant based nutrients.

I have felt fine...no real difficult cravings but I anticipate they will come as the initial "excitement" of results wears off...could not have imagined 194# a week ago!

I believe a significant part of most weight loss programs is "moderation". I seem to have a problem with moderation and the plant based diet does not require moderation or measuring...just understand what you can and cannot heat to achieve your health goals. Also, we are not looking at this as primarily a diet...but a life change to improve our health outlooks...both feel better and live longer as we move into late 60's, 70's and hopefully 80's.

I well realize the dangers of "falling off the wagon" in a major lifestyle change such as this but at 64 I think my choices are to make this change...or start spending my retirement funds as I likely will not have a lone and pleasant retirement

BTW...I do not mean for this to be "preaching"...just sharing FWIW. Again, Thanks Don for your sharing...too bad this isn't like a pyramid game where you could make a few bucks on each of your "followers" TMR

 

[beppington]

TMR: :thumbsup: Keep it up.

When I decided to give a no-meat diet a try, I was pretty entertained with trying to find no-meat/ no-dairy substitutes. That's worn off now, & I don't stick to a strict no-meat/ no-dairy diet, but it's much better than it was. I drink only soy milk, haven't had beef in over 2 years, etc. I did have a turkey sandwich the other day; stuck in an airport with the choice of that or a 99% lettuce "salad".

I'm not overweight or unhealthy; just decided to try to eat healthier before problems occur.

I do eat some fish, although I haven't too much doubt I'd be better off without it. Part of the reason is social: My friends & family eat out constantly, & in restaurants it's very difficult to avoid meat/ dairy unless you're willing to eat a lot of lettuce. I think this "excuse" would be gone if (when?) I ever do have a health issue.

I'm also concerned about getting enough protein & B vitamins.

 

[brin]

Just to ad a note about vegetarian or plant based diets...from my personal experience with a man that owned a popular local Health food restaurant... It was a vegetarian restaurant...and he was obese..When I met him regarding a business transaction, we met at his restaurant , I never mentioned his weight but as we talked he said..." You probably wonder why I am so heavy since I am a vegetarian and own this vegetarian restaurant...well, I eat too much fruit, high starch veggies and deserts.." I just smiled and we went on with our discussion...I only mention this as a heads up...about the high carbs in many veggies , sugars and carbs in Fruit and you know about deserts..Here is where moderation has to make some sense...I would think.

 

[TMR]

Just to ad a note about vegetarian or plant based diets...from my personal experience with a man that owned a popular local Health food restaurant... It was a vegetarian restaurant...and he was obese..When I met him regarding a business transaction, we met at his restaurant , I never mentioned his weight but as we talked he said..." You probably wonder why I am so heavy since I am a vegetarian and own this vegetarian restaurant...well, I eat too much fruit, high starch veggies and deserts.." I just smiled and we went on with our discussion...I only mention this as a heads up...about the high carbs in many veggies , sugars and carbs in Fruit and you know about deserts..Here is where moderation has to make some sense...I would think.

Hi Brin...something tells me there is more to this story I seem to eat all the fruit and vegetables I "desire" and lost 11# my first week...my guess is if you followed him for a week and logged his "input" you would find many deserts and likely many other "departures" from a plant based diet. LIkely not looking at fat content on some for the "grains" he eats...or more likely he is just too embarrassed to admit he doesn't eat his own restaurant offering much of the time?

My wife and I are curious how week two will roll out as we may be losing pounds just a bit too fast...my guess is our loss will be less in week two.

Thanks Brin...TMR

 

[brin]

Hi Brin...something tells me there is more to this story I seem to eat all the fruit and vegetables I "desire" and lost 11# my first week...my guess is if you followed him for a week and logged his "input" you would find many deserts and likely many other "departures" from a plant based diet. LIkely not looking at fat content on some for the "grains" he eats...or more likely he is just too embarrassed to admit he doesn't eat his own restaurant offering much of the time?

My wife and I are curious how week two will roll out as we may be losing pounds just a bit too fast...my guess is our loss will be less in week two.

Thanks Brin...TMR

TMR - As always there may well be much more to the story he told me...LOL

When I changed my eating habits and began to lose weight ..after the first week of two the weight loss did seem to taper off and I remember even gaining a pound or two back....but that should not deter you...I just kept at it and sure enough the weight kept coming off..just a bit slower..I think the first large amount of weight we all lose is water....You do want to be sure to get some exercise in and just keep moving..so you don't lose muscle since muscle burns more calories than fat....Remember it took me a year...the weight did not come on overnight and will not go away over night...Here is what helps me even to this day...When you see a fat person...just think of all the Ice cream, Big Macs, Pizza and other junk they paid good money for and are now hauling around with them under power of their heart everyday..I also found a picture on the internet of an 800 lb. man and printed it and taped it to our refrigerator....until my daughter in law saw it and made me take it down...:laughing: Stick with your plan....

 

[txdon]

Hi Brin...something tells me there is more to this story I seem to eat all the fruit and vegetables I "desire" and lost 11# my first week...my guess is if you followed him for a week and logged his "input" you would find many deserts and likely many other "departures" from a plant based diet.
...TMR

All chips, french fries, ice-cream, cakes, pies, candy bars - all all "vegetarian" and there are many overweight un-healthy vegetarians. Their triglycerides are high and their liver is converting that into cholesterol.

Now add plant-based only & no added fat or oils and everything in the approved vegetarian list above is eliminated.

A "vegetarian diet" (and dairy and cheese is allow on a vegetarian diet) is mostly people who care about the health of animals first.