It's Only Been 14 Days, 336 Hours

I imagine some people may think my decision to become a Vegan, at the age of fifty-two, is extreme.  For me it seems to be my only dietary choice.  After fourteen days of following a Vegan Diet, my morning glucose results have dropped by twenty-nine points!  I know it's only an average and that my hemoglobin A1c level is the most important test result, but seeing my daily number drop is awesome!  So, why is it that our lives revolve around numbers so much?  Some numbers never seem to be high enough, like our income. Some numbers, like our weight, blood pressure, cholesterol or the cost of our daily purchases never seem to be low enough.  Here's what I do know.  After fourteen days of being Vegan, I have steps I need to follow to stay healthy.  I need to keep my blood glucose under control, stabilize my cholesterol and blood pressure.  Maybe in another fifty-two years numbers won't mean as much to me as they do now and maybe they will, but unless I make some changes now, I won't be her another fifty-two years to find out.

All Good Wishes, Ted

Friday Already!

Whenever I start a new diet or exercise program it seems to take forever to get through the first week or before I see any results.  Well, as you know I started my Vegan diet on Monday and I can't believe it's already Friday!  Five days into the new vegan diet and it hasn't been bad at all.  I've stayed busy reading great cook books and eating great food.  Right now at 7:20AM I have black beans cooking on the stove so I can make hummus for lunch and black bean burgers for dinner. 

To help get my Vegan diet started I went to my local library and got an armful of great books to read.  The three I've read the most so far are, Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes written by Dr. Barnard, Vegan Comfort Food written by Alicia C. Simpson and Veggie Burgers Every Which Way written by Lukas Volger.  For me personally, Dr. Barnard's book is how I got started on my journey of becoming vegan.  Even if you have no interest in becoming vegan, this book has great information about diabetes.  Alicia's Simpson's book grabbed my interest as soon as I read the title, Vegan Comfort Food.  Comfort food has been a staple in my diet since I've been a small boy.  I remember standing in the kitchen at a very young age trying to make sense of all the family chaos going on  around me while stuffing something sweet and gooey into my mouth and knowing if my mother walked into the kitchen at that very moment I would be in big trouble.  Finally, Veggie Burgers Every Which Way is full of flavorful and healthy vegan and vegetarian burger recipes.  I can't wait to make the Chipotle Black Bean Burgers for dinner tonight!  Along with these books I have another stack to look at and to tell you about.

My plan for the rest of the week is to stay focused, continue eating great vegan food and to be kind to myself!

Until next we meet, All Good Wishes!

Monday Morning...

Another week begins and as always I'm thinking about what will I eat today.  For breakfast I've learned to enjoy oatmeal and really enjoy it with some kind of fresh fruit.  I remember seeing 2 bananas on the counter before going to bed but woke to see none.  Needless to say I became very unhappy and had to eat my oatmeal without fruit.  Another reason to hate Monday! 

Love your day, All Good Wishes

My Reason For Becoming Vegan

The main reason is because of my Type 2 Diabetes. I have been diabetic for about ten years now.  I've taken medicine, exercised and watched my diet.  Okay, let me restate that last statement.  I've taken my medicine daily without causing me any pain or discomfort.  I've thought more about exercise and good diet choices than actually doing it.  I thought taking the medicine was to cure for the disease.  Well that's what I told myself anyway.  So, my last hemoglobin A1C test was the highest ever.  I guess it, "woke me up."  Made me think about being fifty-two and how the next fifty-two years of my life would be like and how I could make it better.

After my "wake-up call", I made an appointment with an Endocrinologist.  It was a doctors appointment like no other I'd ever had.  She was very knowledgeable and made me feel very secure about being diabetic.  We set-up some goals and I let feeling a little better about being diabetic.  Shortly after my appointment a friend told me about Dr. Neal Barnard, MD.  He's written the book, Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes. The scientifically proven system for reversing diabetes without drugs. 

Dr. Barnard's book is the main reason I've decided to become Vegan.  I started this blog is to share Dr. Barnard's ideas about being vegan and to meet other diabetics and vegans.  

Until next time, All God Wishes!