Forums: January 2011 Kickstart Forum: Why are we here?
Created on: 02/19/11 10:19 AM Views: 5917 Replies: 24
Checochinican Joined: 01/04/11 Posts: 148	Why are we here? Posted Saturday, February 19, 2011 at 10:19 AM I joined this forum to learn how to control my blood glucose with diet alone, no medications. My glucose scores are mostly in the "pre-diabetes" range. I think I am in the minority with that motivation. Most seem to be wanting to lose weight. Your reasons?
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Mariberry Joined: 01/02/10 Posts: 297	RE: Why are we here? Posted Saturday, February 19, 2011 at 11:15 AM I joined this forum as a challenge to myself to see if I could banish animal products completely from my diet. (I was never much of an animal "flesh" eater, but cheese and yogurt were still consumed with gusto, along with the occasional egg). The side benefits of the challenge are: the positive impact on glucose scores, the weight loss, the better energy and the inner peace that comes from knowing I am no longer contributing to the theft of mother's milk from baby cows. My glucose scores are much like yours - pre-diabetic range - although my doc has me on 250 mg of metformin 2x a day. I'm hopeless at remembering to take them though so it isn't consistent. I am still a carboholic to a degree so exercise is where my most prudent improvement needs to manifest. Food will not keep us safe from diabetes on its own. I think there are many like us on this forum who are staring down the barrel of the Type 2 gun. That said, I'm off to the gym. Right after I eat my banana and peanut butter. All we are saying is "Give Peas a Chance"
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Oceandog Joined: 01/10/10 Location: California, USA Posts: 642	RE: Why are we here? Posted Saturday, February 19, 2011 at 12:09 PM I started Kickstart to eliminate the last of the dairy from my diet as well. I did not drink milk nor consume egges, but cheese...and not in huge quantities, not even every day. I had already traded for soy yogurt. Primarily it was the "hidden" ingredients, cottage cheese and Havarti. When my little Tinkerbelle died last year, that was more of a turning point for me. It seems to give me a better resolve than anything else had. Would I like to lose weight? You bet. My weight issues are a bit more complex with a multitude of injuries in the past and knee replacement surgery staring me in the face. I also had a 17-1/2-year battle with Bulimia. So my metabolic rate is at odds with me. My blood sugars are fine, though I tend to be hypoglycemic. So it is more or less the same diet the Type-2s face. I have stayed here because I have made some friends and enjoy seeing what they are going to say/do next. I also feel that perhaps I can help people who come here who aren't sure of themselves yet. There are definitely more knowledgeable than me here. Consider me a benevolent presence? I try to offer assistance if I have it and on a few occasions I have tried to sooth ruffled feathers. Along with all of this, I continue to learn new things! Always offer kindness and a soft word to the beings around you; You do not know their journey. Your words can be the hug they need or the shove that breaks them.
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fiji51904 Joined: 01/12/10 Location: Ontario, CA Posts: 98	RE: Why are we here? Posted Saturday, February 19, 2011 at 1:26 PM When I joined it was to see how I would like a Vegan diet. Weight loss was not in the picture at all, I just wanted to see if I could do it. I have the misfortune (as so many of us) of losing in genetic roulette so any benefit that came along with it is greatly appreciated. I have been a nutritional vegan for a little over a year now and I have lost about 30 pounds but that was by far w/o any attempt to do so. The long term benefits I will have to just wait and see I guess. For now I feel great and I love the food. My family I guess fall into that new category of ‘vegan-ish’ but something is better than nothing right!?! Heidi
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kiwi Joined: 01/03/11 Location: New Zealand Posts: 405	RE: Why are we here? Posted Sunday, February 20, 2011 at 3:18 AM The short answer is that I knew I needed to improve my health. I had a few minor health problems like a low iron count and will soon be on the wrong side of 50, so I knew I need to do something now rather than later. I had tried many programs without success because I never stuck with them for any length of time. The latest was Dr Furhman's 2010 6-week countdown to the Christmas holiday challenge but I didn't last 2 weeks. I was disappointed in myself. I came across the 21-day kickstart and joined as I needed to prove to myself that I could succeed at changing my eating habits. Three weeks was less daunting than six weeks and I was tired of allowing myself to fail. What happened is that I have found a life style that works for me, not a 'program' or 'diet'. I haven't eaten meat since the early 1990's when I learned about factory farming and steriods and antibiotics, so it hasnt been hard moving from a vegetarian to vegan diet (once I got past the first week of wanting cheese). I believe in animal rights so I was probably a closet vegan most of my life without realising it. I even refused to attend a college class that dissected an animal, but didnt quite put that together with my food choices at that time. Yes - I need to loose weight as I am carrying an extra 40-42 pounds - (much of it pre-vegan chocolate, cheese, more cheese, pizza with cheese and large portions). However at present I am happy to just be eating healthy vegan. I am having fun cooking vegan dishes and plan to go seriously low fat in April at the next kick start in order to start loosing the extra pounds then. One challenge at a time so as not to set myself up to fail again. Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food - Hippocrates.
	Edited 02/20/11 3:22 AM Quote | Send PM | Link | Top | Bottom
Checochinican Joined: 01/04/11 Posts: 148	RE: Why are we here? Posted Sunday, February 20, 2011 at 1:06 PM You folks are amazing! What great replies!!!
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Bugsmom Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 2069	RE: Why are we here? Posted Monday, February 21, 2011 at 8:56 AM Checochinican wrote: I joined this forum to learn how to control my blood glucose with diet alone, no medications. My glucose scores are mostly in the "pre-diabetes" range. I think I am in the minority with that motivation. Most seem to be wanting to lose weight. Your reasons? I'm already diagnosed type 2, just taking metformin along with diet/exercise. It was getting harder and harder to manage my glucose levels and I did not want more meds if I could avoid it. Also, most drs want to put diabetics on a statin drug as soon as they are diagnosed. I said No. I made a 'deal' with my dr(s) that as long as I keep my lipids (HDL, LDL, trig, etc) within range, no medication. They said okay. But, again, the numbers would bounce up and down a bit. I heard Dr. Barnard on PBS and was intrigued by the idea that fats, particularly animal fats, can affect insulin/glucose use in the cells. I hit the Internet to do research (cause you never know about "infomercials", right? :wink What I saw looked worth checking out, so I signed up for the Sept kickstart. I figured 3 weeks was doable and I had lab work due not long after so I'd have some fairly immediate feedback on it (though I knew/know that there'd be carry over in the A1C from prior months). Still, the test results warranted continuing this. Yes, I lost weight (which I need to do anyhow) but keeping my lipids down and getting better glucose control were the main things and following a low fat, low glycemic, vegan way of eating seemed to be working for me better than anything else. After this last kickstart, I again had blood work due (early Feb) and my HDL was 66, LDL was 77, trig well within range, and my A1C had dropped another couple of points. Alongside that, my hubby's weight is also coming down and I'm looking forward to seeing what his blood pressure and cholesterol look like when he has his next check up - he's on meds for both (lots of family history there). It'd be awesome if he could reduce his medications. And, the third 'side effect' is that our son (who has all of our risk factors to deal with) is learning to eat in a healthy, risk minimizing manner now rather than having to try to make big changes later on in life. --Deb R
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LisaPunk Joined: 01/06/11 Posts: 42	RE: Why are we here? Posted Monday, February 21, 2011 at 1:17 PM i have a long rambly story so apologies ahead of time ive been a vegetarian for almost 15 years, in the past several years because of some medical issues i was dealing with i sort of turned into a "junk food vegetarian" i had very severe sleep apnea and for roughly the last 7-10 years have been trying to get better and deal with that and basically i was always too tired to really prepare nutritious meals or be as strict in my vegetarianism as i wanted. its so easy to cook a frozen pizza for dinner when you're exhausted rather than making a nice curry or rice and beans. because of the sleep apnea i had gained a lot of weight and was completely unable to lose it. (i can explain that if anyone is interested) my actual "normal" body type is pretty thin but because of the sleep apnea i havent seen that body type in the last 7-10 years. I *wanted* to be a strict vegetarian or vegan but i just couldnt handle much of anything. finally i ended up having MAJOR MAJOR surgery on my jaw this past october to correct the things that were causing my sleep apnea. when January came around i had recovered enough that i had enough energy to start preparing healthy meals and putting more thought and energy into that sort of thing so i did the january kickstart and have stayed vegan ever since. my main goal is to lose all this excess weight now that my body is functioning "normally" though it seems to be a very slow process
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Bugsmom Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 2069	RE: Why are we here? Posted Monday, February 21, 2011 at 1:24 PM LisaPunk wrote: i had very severe sleep apnea Hubby has severe sleep apnea - when first diagnosed some 6-7 years ago, the sleep study showed he was stopping breathing dozens of times per HOUR rather than per night. He's been on a CPAP since then and it's done wonders (at first, our then 6 yr old son called him "Darth Daddy" because of the sound LOL). It was so bad at first, that they had him on a "bi-pap" - the ingoing pressure needed to be so high that they had to have a second lower pressure to allow him to exhale! But, between being able to finally sleep properly, more exercise, better eating habits, (which mean lost weight - some 80 lbs in the last 5 years or so), he's back to the standard CPAP (single setting for inhale and exhale). And I get better sleep too because I'm not constantly waking up to nudge him into normal breathing again. --Deb R
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LisaPunk Joined: 01/06/11 Posts: 42	RE: Why are we here? Posted Monday, February 21, 2011 at 1:34 PM yeah the CPAP is definitely the standard treatment for sleep apnea. even my surgeon wanted to make sure that it was out of the question for me before he would operate on me. it does wonders for MOST people with sleep apnea and lets them live a normal life. my problem was the CPAP didnt work for me!!!! long rambly story short i had some crazy surgery done and it fixed it for me. but it was MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR surgery. glad to hear the CPAP works for your husband and he is doing so well. losing 80 lbs is a HUGE accomplishment and i think that i need to lose about 60 though 50 would probably be fine too. the surgeon told me i should lose some weight after the surgery without much effort because my body would be functioning normal again but it didnt work for me in that regard. i still have to be very conscious of what i eat and exercise alot but now at least the effort i put in has results whereas before i could work out til i was blue in the face and just be totally exhausted and not lose a single pound!!!
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theodore Joined: 09/16/10 Posts: 641	RE: Why are we here? Posted Monday, February 21, 2011 at 2:21 PM As I may have mentioned before, I turned vegan 10 years ago for the same reason a lot of people turn vegan. My brother was vegetarian, and I wanted to go one better than him. Anyway, he's turned vegan as well now, so I'm trying to go one better again by going healthy vegan. Hence I signed up for the Kickstart. Is there ever an end to this sibling rivalry thing by the way ?? I mean, what am I gonna do when my brother finally turns to healthy veganism ?? Any suggestions. Theodore Never make assumptions. You'll end up being an A**, and the UMP will TION you. -- Coach Smiley -- Fresh Prince of Bel Air
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LisaPunk Joined: 01/06/11 Posts: 42	RE: Why are we here? Posted Monday, February 21, 2011 at 2:22 PM fruitarian??
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theodore Joined: 09/16/10 Posts: 641	RE: Why are we here? Posted Monday, February 21, 2011 at 2:27 PM Oh Lisa I'm sorry to hear about your sleep apnea. I didn't see your messages when I posted. Yes, I know someone who used to suffer from this. I think they cured it by doing resistance exercise a few hours before going to bed. Am I right in saying that you have a sedentary job ?? Theodore Never make assumptions. You'll end up being an A**, and the UMP will TION you. -- Coach Smiley -- Fresh Prince of Bel Air
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LisaPunk Joined: 01/06/11 Posts: 42	RE: Why are we here? Posted Monday, February 21, 2011 at 2:37 PM yes i sit at a desk all day long i think technically i have been "cured" by the surgery i am just still recovering from surgery. it seems to be a very long process. they told me about a full year for total recovery.
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Oceandog Joined: 01/10/10 Location: California, USA Posts: 642	RE: Why are we here? Posted Monday, February 21, 2011 at 3:16 PM theodore wrote: As I may have mentioned before, I turned vegan 10 years ago for the same reason a lot of people turn vegan. My brother was vegetarian, and I wanted to go one better than him. Anyway, he's turned vegan as well now, so I'm trying to go one better again by going healthy vegan. Hence I signed up for the Kickstart. Is there ever an end to this sibling rivalry thing by the way ?? I mean, what am I gonna do when my brother finally turns to healthy veganism ?? Any suggestions. Theodore Theo yes, I hear that all the time! Sibling rivalry is vicious! So I am thinking you one-up him by eating THE healthiest, no processed foods and humanitarian work? Animal shelters need help, Habitat for Humanity.... you can also brag about your American fan club... I doubt he has THAT! Always offer kindness and a soft word to the beings around you; You do not know their journey. Your words can be the hug they need or the shove that breaks them.
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theodore Joined: 09/16/10 Posts: 641	RE: Why are we here? Posted Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 3:21 AM Oceandog wrote: Theo yes, I hear that all the time! Sibling rivalry is vicious! So I am thinking you one-up him by eating THE healthiest, no processed foods and humanitarian work? Animal shelters need help, Habitat for Humanity.... you can also brag about your American fan club... I doubt he has THAT! Thankyou Oceandog I've printed your message for future reference, and for proof of my "American fan club". It's quite easy for people to edit there messages at a later date, then you've got no proof of what they said. I do it all the time. Theodore Never make assumptions. You'll end up being an A**, and the UMP will TION you. -- Coach Smiley -- Fresh Prince of Bel Air
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theodore Joined: 09/16/10 Posts: 641	RE: Why are we here? Posted Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 3:48 AM . Never make assumptions. You'll end up being an A**, and the UMP will TION you. -- Coach Smiley -- Fresh Prince of Bel Air
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Oceandog Joined: 01/10/10 Location: California, USA Posts: 642	RE: Why are we here? Posted Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 12:46 PM theodore wrote: [quote="Oceandog"] I've printed your message for future reference, and for proof of my "American fan club". It's quite easy for people to edit there messages at a later date, then you've got no proof of what they said. I do it all the time. Theodore Never even thought of that! I can be taught!!! Always offer kindness and a soft word to the beings around you; You do not know their journey. Your words can be the hug they need or the shove that breaks them.
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veganer Joined: 01/04/11 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 196	RE: Why are we here? Posted Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 4:22 AM Why are you here? Last year I watched Dr. Neal Barnard's diabetes program on WQED - television. I called and told my friend who is a new diabetic. After watching the program and reading Dr. Barnard's book, he tried eating vegan and after a short time his doctor lowered his diabetes medication. I told another friend who tried it and his doctor took him completely off of cholesterol meds. For myself, I don't have any medical problems but I don't want to get any! Before I watched Dr. Neal Barnard's program, I never considered eating vegetarian let alone vegan. I have been eating partially vegan until the kickstart and since then its completely vegan. I have had no sugar since the kickstart began. If I feel like eating something sweet, I make a raspberry/banana/rice milk/cocoa powder smoothie which is so delicious and filling, it takes care of that. Theodore, I don't know much about a raw foods diet but would eating raw healthy vegan be considered the next step after healthy vegan?
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Checochinican Joined: 01/04/11 Posts: 148	RE: Why are we here? Posted Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 12:30 PM Those smoothies sound like a partial answer to my involuntary weight loss and lack of appetite during daytime hours. Soy milk and almost any kind of fruit. Bet that would go down easy.
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