Plant-Based Junkies

Who is rockin’ this Plant-Based Lifestyle??

THIS CHICK RIGHT HERE! 

I normally do not do this, but I am totally going to toot my own horn today!
(better than the alternative, which is just…tooting, lol).
Anyway, I had my yearly physical on Tuesday, 1/8/13, and this year I had extra blood work done that I did not realize I should have done last year. (last year I was only 6 months old, plant-based).  Keep in mind, the only pill or medication I have taken in 16 months, has been my thyroid pill, in which I have to take daily for the rest of my life (I explain in detail a little further down).  I have not had to take a pill for a headache (because I haven’t had one), allergy/sinuses (GONE), colds/flu’s (NADA, doesn’t mean it will not happen…but NONE as of yet), stomach aches/constipation (used to have this all of the time), blood pressure, cholesterol, I could go on and on.

Here is the blood work I had done:  Lipids, CBC, Vitamin D, MMA (B12), and Thyroid. This info was read to me over the phone, by the nurse…so hopefully I did not miss anything.

Here are the results:

Lipids

• Triglycerides  50 Normal Range (0 – 149)  WOO HOO
• Cholesterol  153 Normal Range (0 – 199) WOO HOO
• HDL (Good Cholesterol) 61.1 Normal Range (40 – 100) WOO HOO
  FYI..I was below 40 last year, so I did my research, and the only thing I could have possibly changed was smoking…so I quit the next day)
• LDL (Bad Cholesterol) 82 Normal Range (0 – 99) WOO HOO

CBC (Complete Blood Count)
http://news.cancerconnect.com/testing-center/blood-tests/

• Glucose  76   Normal Range (70 – 105)   WOO HOO
• BUN (kidney/liver) 9    Normal Range (6 – 19)    WOO HOO
• Creatinine (kidney) .7   Normal Range (.4 – 1.1)   WOO HOO
• Sodium   142  Normal Range (133 – 145)  WOO HOO
• Potassium  3.9  Normal Range (3.5 – 5.1)  WOO HOO
• Chloride   106 Normal Range (96 – 108)   WOO HOO
• Carbon Dioxide  32 Normal Range (22 – 29)
  Doctor said this is still normal, because taking a deep breath before they draw my blood would most likely be the reason
• Bilirubin (liver) .9 Normal Range (0 – 1)   WOO HOO
• Alkaline Phosphatase (bone growth) see below
  67 Normal Range (39 – 117)   WOO HOO
• Calcium  9.2  Normal Range (8.4 – 10.2) WOO HOO
• Protein  7.7 Normal Range (6.2 – 8.4)  WOO HOO
• GOT (Liver)  19 Normal Range (6 – 30)   WOO HOO
• GPT (Liver)  13 Normal Range (7 – 35)   WOO HOO
• Albumin (liver/kidney) 4.5 Normal Range (3.5 – 5)   WOO HOO

MMA (B12) 

• 2600  Normal Range (200 – 900)  TOO HIGH (this is the only supplement I take is B12, however I have been taking too high of a mcg (5000), I should only be taking 2000 mcg a week.  As per my favorite Plant-Based Dietitian, Julieanna Hever, I am going to lower it, to the 2000 mcg a week…then I should be good to go.  No need to worry.  WOW, who would have thought that would happen?  LOL

Vitamin D

• Vitamin D     55 pg/mL   Normal Range (18 – 72)  WOO HOO
• Vitamin D3   44 pg/mL   WOO HOO
• Vitamin D2,  11 pg/mL    WOO HOO

Thyroid

I have my thyroid checked every 6 months, because I do not have a thyroid.  8 years ago, I was diagnosed with graves disease, which is hyperthyroidism.  To correct the “problem”, they had me ingest a radioactive iodine pill, to basically kill the production of my thyroid, and then put me on thyroid medicine that I would then need to take the rest of my life…hmmm…looking back now, not sure if that was probably the best option for me.  Looking at my “diet” back then, it is no wonder I had a problem.  Anyway, damage is done…and I live with it everyday.

My struggle however, has to do with my “levels”, and what the doctors consider normal, and what I consider normal.  But, I am still working on that issue.  About 9 months ago, I didn’t quite feel right, and I asked the doctor to change my dosage of my thyroid medicine.  After we argued for a while, he finally agreed to my request.  Well, I am going to be the FIRST to admit…I WAS WRONG.  My thyroid level went from nearly zero (which Normal is usually between 0 and 5, or 0 and 3 depending on doctor) to over 7.  I used to be around 3 when I was on a certain dosage, so I asked him to change it back to that dosage.  Well, he did…and NOW, my TSH Level is too high.  This will continue to be an issue for me, but I am still learning about it, and hopefully I will feel normal again.  So here is the results:

• TSH   7.460 (a little on the high side, waiting on thyroid doctor tell me that he will change my dosage back to what it was)
• T4   Normal

I am soooo excited, I just cannot hide it.  My lipid and CBC results are ALL thanks to my PLANT-BASED LIFESTYLE.  I am proof that you DO NOT need to worry about getting enough calcium, protein, vitamins, minerals, etc…when eating a whole foods, plant-based diet.

FOOD IS OUR MEDICINE!!

I am going to keep this positive, and just tell you that I feel absolutely amazing, and blessed to have stumbled upon this lifestyle.  I do not judge others on what they eat or do not eat.  I am just sharing MY STORY with you, of how eating a whole food, plant-based diet has saved, and changed MY LIFE!  I was sick and tired of being sick and tired.  NO MORE!!

After watching Forks over Knives, I knew at that moment that something needed to change.  That change was ME.  I made up MY MIND, that I was going to give it a shot.  Do not doubt if you can do this, because I DID IT (and so can YOU), and I had every excuse in the book.

Excuse #1 ~I did not have a lot of money.
(We still do not have a lot of money, and I make some pretty darn delicious meals…this way of life does NOT have to be expensive)

Excuse #2 ~I did not like most vegetables.
(I snuck them into my soups, and other dishes…now I LOVE almost all of the vegetables I used to despise.  My taste buds changed and no longer crave the unhealthy foods, they crave the healthy ones).

Excuse #3 ~I did not have a clue what I was about to get myself into.
(Trust me, I am still learning…give it a shot…you will NOT REGRET IT).

Excuse #4 ~I loved my animal products, processed foods, and most of all I loved my fast food joints (3 times a day to be exact).
(OMG…I cannot believe I even uttered those words.  I will never eat those foods again.  LET ME REPEAT…I WILL NEVER EAT THOSE FOODS AGAIN.  I have absolutely NO DESIRE or CRAVINGS for them now).

I conquered all of these “excuses” and many more, because I believed in myself and never gave up.  I was NOT going to back down anymore, regarding my health.  I REFUSE to die of heart disease, like my father, two uncles, and many friends.  I REFUSE to die of cancer, like two of my aunts and many friends.  I REFUSE to die of diabetes, like many of my friends.  I could go on and on.  I would like to think, that if given the choice, and the information of how a plant-based lifestyle could have “saved their lives”, I would most certainly hope they would have chosen LIFE.

I miss my dad more than anything, and would give anything to have him back just for a quick hug and to tell him I loved him.  My dad may not have chosen this lifestyle if given the opportunity (we will never know now), but he was NEVER given the choice or information.  My mission is to let others know their “choices”, and to share this information with them.

If you are reading this, I BEG of you to watch Forks over Knives, and to also read The China Study!  Hopefully, you will “thank me” later.  I am beyond passionate about sharing this info, and my story to everyone that will listen to it, or read it.  My heart becomes so heavy when I hear of another daughter or son losing a parent to a preventable illness (especially heart disease).  I promise you I will continue to share this life changing info for as long as I am upright and breathing.  Thank you for taking the time to read this.  I wish you ALL a long, healthy life!

Feel free to leave a comment on this post, if you would like to share with us your journey with living  a plant-based lifestyle.  We would LOVE to hear about YOUR story, and share in your journey.