Let's Get Physcial...and Emotional

       A lot of people who have read my blog have medical issues of their own. Some of you may be wondering what sort of improvements, besides the before-mentioned pain relief, this diet can actually provide. For first hand experience other than my own, check out the Forks-Over-Knives documentary, as well as testimonials from people who are on the diet. You'd be amazed. No, I'm serious. AMAZED.
      But since this is a blog about my journey, it is my medical history/ailments you get to hear about. I'll go ahead and give the disclaimer now - I will be mentioning some "Girly" things here. I'll make sure and give some warning before hand if you'd prefer skipping over that part. Otherwise, let's dive in! Here are actual difference I have noticed since being on this diet, separated by physical and emotional:

PHYSCAL

Arthritis - Arthritis, unfortunately, runs in my family. My brother had ankylosing spondylitis. Try saying that five times fast. According to spondylitis.org, "Ankylosing spondylitis (pronounced ank-kih-low-sing spon-dill-eye-tiss), or AS, is a form of arthritis that primarily affects the spine, although other joints can become involved. It causes inflammation of the spinal joints (vertebrae) that can lead to severe, chronic pain and discomfort. In the most advanced cases (but not in all cases), this inflammation can lead to new bone formation on the spine, causing the spine to fuse in a fixed, immobile position, sometimes creating a forward-stooped posture..AS can also cause inflammation, pain and stiffness in other areas of the body such as the shoulders, hips, ribs, heels and small joints of the hands and feet. Sometimes the eyes can become involved (known as Iritis or Uveitis), and rarely, the lungs and heart can be affected." 
Lovely, isn't it? Well, I got tested, and I tested positive for having the (insert medical term) which basically means I have the potential for it in my system and may have it, but hopefully not as bad as my brother had it. What I do experience from it, is chronic pain. Back pain, hip pain - generally pain all over. I've seen specialists, and they all say my X-rays and such look good, my flexibility is good - they don't quite understand why the pain is the way it is. Ibuprofen is prescribed, and additional pain killers. But even those don't help with the pain. Starting to understand my frustration and plea for a cure?
A WHOLE FOODS, PLANT BASED DIET was the answer. I finally have relief from these pains. I'm not 100% cured, but I finally feel normal! I only really hurt now if I push myself too much, or for things that normal people would hurt for. It's such a testimony to me that this diet works!

Endometriosis -- The "GIRLY" Section
Endometriosis is no fun. It's painful. Not only do you get HORRIBLE cramps (we're talking like contractions - and I can say that now that I have given birth and know that is what my cramps would feel like), but my lower back will feel AWFUL. Especially a couple days before starting my period. On top of that, blood loss is significant. I laugh at the Stayfree maxi pads packs that say they are a three month supply. Really? Because I go through almost one pack per cylce. Well, I DID. 
      It's taken a few cycles to really have a significant change, but it has happened. I don't have the horrible lower back pain indicator a few days before I'm going to start that I use to have. I was shocked when that went away. Cramps? Yes - but not contraction cramps. Before, I'd have to take an ibuprofen and get in the fetal position and breath until the medicine kicked in. Granted, my cramps got a LITTLE better after having kids. But now since being on the diet, I can take Ibuprofen and still function until the pain subsides. WOW. Finally, blood loss. My periods usually last for 8 days. The last two days is light, but still there. Now, it's gone down to maybe 6 days, but that's with significantly less loss of blood. I also don't clot as bad. 
      I'd be curious to know what my insides look like right now, but I'm not asking for any surgeries. I had a Endometrial Removal Surgery before, and things didn't look pretty in there. I can only imagine what it must look like now. Bottom line - this diet has helped with my Endometriosis. 
P.S. I've read some testimonials that this diet helped people get pregnant. Lots of woman with Endometriosis have this problem. I count my blessings that I was able to have my beautiful girls.

Interstitial Cystitis
This one I haven't really braved yet to see if there is much of a difference. With my I.C., I was able to find the trigger foods that caused the lining of my bladder to burn (which makes you feel like you have a bladder infection). Lemons, limes, straight folic acid, straight vitamin C, and probably other extreme citrusy fruits (like grapefruit). I can have food that have lemons and limes in it, but if it's lemonade, lime-aid, or something with a good concentration of it - no way. OUCH. So perhaps I will have a glass of lemonade and do an experiment. I've missed Lemonade... I will update with the results!

Family Medical History
So my family history is riddled with Cancers, Lupus, Arthritis - all kinds of nasty things. It is my hope that by eating a whole foods, plant based diet, I will be much less likely to get these nasty things. 

EMOTIONAL:
We're going to get a little personal here, is that okay? In High School, I started having trouble with Anerexia. I won't go into the details why - let's just say quickly that some medication I was on caused me to gain a significant amount of weight. When we realized the medication was doing this, I had been overweight for two years, and had a horrible body image. After I went off the medicine, I started dropping weight. I just kept losing and losing until I scared myself with a weight of 113lbs. I was 5'8. When I realized I had gone too far with depriving myself of food, I was able to pull myself out of it, and gain back a healthy amount of weight. However, my fear of food never left. I counted grams of fat on EVERYTHING. I even had foods memorized with how much fat they contained. Everything I ate was fat free. I still had my occasional candy bars, but everything else had to be as close to fat free as I could get it. This went on for the rest of my High School experience - 3 years. 
    Then I hit college. To whomever came up with the phrase, "Freshman 15" (meaning Freshman's usually gain 15 pounds), I don't thank you. As a Freshman, I noticed I gained a few pounds. That alarm in my head started going off... "You're going to gain all your weight back! You're going to gain all your weight back!" I knew it was the medicine that had really caused the weight gain before, but that didn't matter. I was deathly afraid of gaining weight. This is when my new eating disorder began: Bulimia. I hate that word; and I hated myself. I hated that food had control over me. I suffered with it for years. It wasn't until I was in my early 20's that I was able to finally gain control back. But even then, I still had to worry about everything I ate to make sure it wouldn't trigger feelings that made me feel like I needed to do something to lose weight. I've gotten better these last couple of years. I've been able to really learn about how my body works, and feel good about myself. But always lurking in the back of my mind is that thought that I need to be careful with what I eat. 
       When I say that I am no longer controlled by food - it is not something to be taken lightly. I AM FREE. That is honestly how I feel. I don't count calories. I don't count fat content. I eat when I'm hungry, and I eat until I'm full. I don't have constant cravings for things or feel like I am lacking something. I am finally at peace... and that is a little miracle in itself. This diet has truly made all the difference. And for those of you who are wondering, I've actually lost weight eating this way, and have balanced out about where I was in High School. I'm not trying to lose weight. Actually, I've been having to make sure I'm eating more! But I seriously eat large servings and all the time. It's amazing.

       So here I am now. My pain is significantly reduced. My energy levels are rising. My relationship with food has totally changed. I am happy. I don't know what else I can say really. This diet worked for me. It continues to work for me. This is my life now. I embrace it, and I thank the Lord that I was able to find this solution that has truly made such a wonderful difference in my life. 

~Lindsay

It works. Period.

       Sorry it's been so long since my last post. Life has been pretty hectic lately! I want to dive right in to how this diet has affected my life...
       First off,shortly after my last entry, Jason and I took a trip with our little family up to visit his parents. I was planned with food on hand for the 12+ hour journey (travelling always take longer with kids), and felt so proud of myself! I had my little ice chest with all my legal foods, and was feeling pretty darn good about myself. Then we got to his parents. I quickly realized that I had not planned enough for the trip, nor did we have the funds to buy my grocery list of required items. Thus, the diet was on hold for a week. ---And this is where I learned that it actually works. Within about two days of being off my diet, I could no longer stand in the kitchen for long periods of time. My back would start hurting, my legs were aching - it was ridiculous! The aches and pains came back. When we got home, I got right back to eating my whole foods, plant based diet. Within about two days, I started getting some relief again.
      Seriously. This diet has become my prescription for pain. I have been doing AMAZINGLY well on this diet with not cheating - I mean, we're talking going without my milk chocolate for weeks. But occasionally, like last week, the craving comes for some chocolate - specifically the rich chocolates that a lady in my church makes (these are not your typical chocolates -- they will have you addicted). So I thought I'd allow myself just a few. Well, three the first night...three the second night...by day three, the aches and pains were starting to come back. So my beloved chocolates - you will have to be an occasional delicacy... a moment of silence while I weep...
      But seriously, I don't weep too hard. I have a life with a significantly reduced amount of pain!!! And what's more, -- more energy! I can't give a fair analysis on my energy levels though, since my little ones still wake me up multiple times throughout the night. I'm hoping that once they start sleeping through the night (which yes - I know could be a loooooooong time away), I will be able to notice an even more significant increase in energy.
      Bottom line - this is my life now. I don't feel like I'm missing out on other foods. I don't have crazy cravings like I use too (only occasionally a small craving for chocolate - which is better than the everyday craving for chocolate I use to have). What's more - food is no longer my enemy. I'm not constantly worried about calories and fat content. That sort of thing use to consume my life. I eat when I'm hungry, and I eat until I'm full. No guilt. This is how eating should be.
      I only wish I could help reach out to people who are struggling like I did. For years I have prayed for a way to get my life back and not be controlled by pain, and also, quite frankly, eating disorders. This diet works. Period.
      If you are looking for a way to find some balance in your life, please try a whole foods, plant based diet. Don't let little things like extra food preparation or having to give up your treasured foods hinder you. At least give it a chance. You will be glad you did.
     I'll end here for now. My next post is going to be medical based. I'm going to open up about the actual medical side-effects I have had since starting this diet. If that's not your cup of herbal tea, by all means - don't read it. Until then -
~Lindsay

Wait... People actually eat that??

            Millet. Ever heard of it? Apparently I have for years now, and just never knew the name. It’s the stuff that was mixed in with bird seeds that my sister would feed to her love birds back in the day. Yup. But before you become too skeptical (I had my reservations), I actually tried it – and it wasn’t bad at all. It pretty much tasted like Quinoa (which is also another grain... kind of like rice cut into little circular balls.)

Starting a Whole Foods, Plant Based Diet opens up a world of strange, unfamiliar foods you never knew existed. Things like, “Tahini,” and “Nutritional Yeast,” or “Tamari” become regular words in your cooking vocabulary. Maybe I just haven’t been adventurous enough in my cooking up until now, but wow – there’s so much out there I never new about! Some seems questionable at first, like millet, but I’m finding that most of it is quite enjoyable.

It’s officially been a week now on my “Diet,” and I wanted to update everyone on my progress. First off....

POSITIVES:

After about day three on the diet, I realized something: I had been driving for 20 minutes in the car with my daughter to head to Trader Joes to see if they had any of the not-so-usual ingredients needed in my recipes. Suddenly, it hit me, “I haven’t shifted once in my seat!” That may sound silly, but with my arthritis in my tailbone, I usually have to change positions at least every 5-10 minutes. Criss-crossing the legs, sitting on one leg, changing to sit on the other, feet on the dash – whatever I can do to relieve pressure and pain. But this drive was different. I wasn’t in pain! “It has to just be in my head, “ I think to myself. But hey, if it’s in my head, I’ll take it!

            It wasn’t just in my head though. It's happened consistently every drive I have taken. I’d suddenly realize – wait a sec... something’s missing. I’m not in pain! All of those drives were in Yoga pants. Sigh... I love Yoga pants. The one time I wore jeans, I did experience a little bit of discomfort. (Perhaps I'll have to have designated "Driving Pants?" No...) But it’s only been a week. If this has happened in a week, I can’t wait to find out what it’ll be like in a months time!

---Just to give some perspective – The last time I was absolutely pain free, was when I was administered an epidural with my first child. So, yeah. I’ll take the small successes!

            Next positive- I was able to stand in the kitchen for FOUR HOURS!! Four hours people!!! My lower back and hips were doing great! My legs weren’t even aching! Truly incredible. 

            So I’m a believer that this diet helps with arthritis. I might not be totally pain free, but the improvements I have had thus far (after only a week!) have blown my mind.

NEGATIVES:

            Since this is just the beginning, it’s taking me time to get use to how things are cooked. Like the four hours in the kitchen mentioned above.  It took me 3 hours to make a “Shepard’s Pie,” and an hour to make “Berry Cobbler.” The Shepard’s Pie was actually pretty good! I learned, however, I don’t care for lots of Thyme. Also, make the font bigger on your phone when reading recipes, otherwise you end up with 2 Tablespoons of Pure Maple Syrup, instead of 2 teaspoons. I was upset, to say the least. But it actually still turned out pretty good. I’ll show some pics below.

            The cobbler on the other hand – YUCK. I need to learn how to make a good topping without it tasting like rubber. Not cooking with oil is tough! I’ll admit though, I’ve always flubbed things up when it comes to cooking desserts. If it doesn’t come in a box ready to go, something usually goes wrong.

So without making this entry to exhaustively long, I’ll end with some pictures of my creations this week.  I’m actually having a great time learning all of this, and am loving the results!

Shepard's Pie out of the oven.

Shepard's Pie served on the plate!

Eggplant Rollatini - Getting it ready in the dish to bake! Stuffed inside is the notorious "Millet" along with tons of veggies.

This is what happens when you are a newbie - didn't quite cook the Eggplants thick enough, so ran out of stable ones to wrap stuff in. The leftovers went on the bottom of the dish with the filling on top!

Here's the Eggplant Rollatini all done and on the plate!

Delicious Nachos! One of my favorites! Home-made baked tortilla chips, homemade vegan Nacho Cheese sauce, black beans, my home-made pico de gallo, and avacado. Oh so good.

Soft Taco Tostada - My own creation. That's a tofu sour cream on top. Who knew you could make that? It's pretty good too!

Mexican Casserole. Was good, but I'm going to add some more spices for flavor next time I make it. And some more salt. this diet uses minimal salt, so I'm slowly adjusting to the change. 

 Can you tell I love Mexican Food? 

P.S. I'm sure by now you have found out that I'm not a food photographer...

~Lindsay

THE STORY

For a 29 year old, my list of health problems seems pretty ridiculous: Arthritis, Endometriosis, Interstitial Cystitis,  and re-occurring bouts of mononucleosis (3x's) are just some of the major players. The sad fact is, most of these things I have lived with since my teens. Dealing with pain every day, and not to mention constant exhaustion, was something that I thought I would just have to live with. As I’ve gotten older though, the pain seems to only be getting worse.

The most important thing in my life is family. My husband and two daughters are my world. They bring me more joy than I thought one person could ever be blessed to have. As such, you can imagine how heartbreaking it is to feel like you are missing out on special family time, because you just have to take a nap due to pure exhaustion.  And this doesn’t just happen every once in awhile. This is every day. Constant fatigue. To add to that, most of my physical involvement with my kids is limited too. Not being able to hold your small child for long periods of time because of the pain you start to feel in your lower back, hips, and pretty much all over – is not only depressing, but it also makes you feel like a horrible parent. I yearn so deeply to have the energy, endurance, and physical stamina to hold my children, run after them in the yard, crawl around looking for bugs, play on the slides at the park – all the things I SHOULD be able to do.  Medicine doesn’t help. There’s no cure for Endometriosis, Arthritis, re-occurring mononucleosis – no cure for anything that I have. Medication won’t stop these diseases. It may help treat symptoms (which, for me, unfortunately, nothing has helped), but I’m looking for more than just pain management. I want a life-changing cure. I long to be able to be an ACTIVE part in my children’s lives – not just the parent who has to sit on the sidelines and cheer their support.

It is this longing that has given me the courage to make a major life change. It may seem crazy to many reading this that just changing what you eat is a life-style change, but believe me – it is. I figure since I’m pretty much out of options of what else to do, this is my last hope for the life I want, and the life my children deserve to have.  I journey into this new endeavor, not only for myself, but for my husband and children.  

THE FOOD

Here it is folks. This is not just a diet. This is a life-style change. Why? Because it affects every aspect of your life, and it does take a lot of effort on your part – at first.  So what is this new way of eating? It’s a WHOLE FOODS, PLANT BASED DIET. What does that mean? Basically, it’s no animal products whatsoever (meat, dairy, cheese, yogurt, etc.) This isn't just Vegan either.  It also eliminates ANY added oils. Bye-bye olive oil, canola or vegetable oil, coconut oil, etc. Oils occurring naturally are just fine. Also, no processed foods. So white bread, white rice, white sugar, etc. are out the window. It’s whole wheat, whole grains (like brown rice, quinoa, millet – you get the picture), agave nectar – everything natural.

Yeah. It’s going to be tough. But guess what? The life I hope to have with my family is worth it.

THE INSPIRATION

Simply put, “Forks over Knives”. Watch the documentary. But a word of Caution: Watching this documentary will change the way you view food – for the better. You can’t unlearn truths. You just may be making a life-style change as well.  I won’t go into the details, because this blog is about my journey. I’ll provide the books, research, and information you can look up on your own if you are interested.

JUST KEEPIN’ IT REAL

I’m creating this blog to record my journey into this new way of eating. I want to be open, honest, and tell it how it is. I’m sure there will be lots of laughs with stories of my ups and downs, and possibly some tears along the way. Maybe the tears will be from me longing for a Hershey bar... just being real. If you so choose to follow my journey, please feel free to comment, ask questions, or hey- maybe even try the “Diet” out for yourself.  I’m sure this is going to be quite the adventure! Until next time –

~Lindsay

 Information:

Books: The Forks Over Knives Plan: How to Transition to the Life-Saving, Whole-Food, Plant-Based Diet  Alona Pulde, M.D.,  and Matthew Lederman, M.D.

Forks Over Knives - The Cookbook: Over 300 Recipes for Plant-Based Eating All Through the Year 

The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted And the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss, And Long-term Health  

T. Colin Cambell, PhD., and Thomas M. Cambell II

In The China Study, Dr. Campbell details the connection between nutrition and heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, and also its ability to reduce or reverse the risk or effects of these deadly illnesses. The China Study also examines the source of nutritional confusion produced by powerful lobbies, government entities, and irresponsible scientists. 

DVD: 

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