Proven Benefits of a Plant Based Diet

    As you know, I posted back in January of this year that I decided to start eating a vegetarian diet and also started juicing. Juicing was a tremendous help for weight loss and health. It is also extremely hard to start. The first 4-5 days the cravings are awful. Those cravings also prove just how addicting those chemical laden foods are. I juiced off and on for a month and lost about 30 lbs. I would have lost more if I could have been consistent. I also lost about 3 more lbs after that. The first of February I became mostly vegan. The days I dont adhere to it 100% are the days we eat out. Sometimes its can be a little hard at restaurants so I try not to stress about the non meat animal products.
     Since my kitchen has been destroyed (remodeling), so has my diet suffered. Too much fast food, processed foods, sugar and salt also crept back into my diet. I started juicing again for about 3 days and started slipping again. Its just so inconvenient trying to find things, working with minimal counter space etc. Plus the  cravings were horrendous. Which again backs up the addicting effects of all these unhealthy foods.
    While I was eating mostly plant based (especially while juicing ), my knees quit hurting, heart burn stopped, and more energy. Over-all just feeling so much better. The heart burn issue I have had several times a day and night with increasing incidence of reflux since I started having babies. However, while watching my diet it stopped completely. For about 8 months!
    Last night I rolled over in bed, still half asleep and  gastric reflux hit and choked me when I inhaled some. Disgusting I know, but it has to be said.  I have also been having more episodes of heartburn, and a bloated feeling. My knees feel weak and painful. Its not wishful thinking, just a coincidence or anything else. I have proven to myself this works. No question about it. I am still eating vegetarian, but mostly vegan but not  plant based totally. You see, even a twinkie  or an oreo is vegetarian. Potato chips are vegan. NONE of these are Plant Based!
                                                          That's the difference!
                                     I WILL get back on track. I have to!

Whole Food Plant Based Diet

      I commented in my post Vegan For Life, that I had gone vegan and was losing weight. I also noted my weight had been at a standstill for a time. It has now been about 3 months.
BUT in the last few days the weight loss has kicked in again. I have lost about 3 more lbs. a pound and a half yesterday. No changes in my eating, and I have been exercising less due to some fatigue. I have fibromyalgia so that is nothing new. I have read that when these stalls happen early on, that are ody is doing some much needed healing from past abuse. That may be the case. I dont know.
      I also recently read a very good book which helped solidify what I have been reading on this new way of eating.  It is  "Eat To Live" , by Dr. Fuhrman.
                                                            
                                                   I am NEVER  "dieting" again.


This eating plan means eating plant based whole foods. Eliminating, as much as you can, all processed foods, meat, dairy, refined sugar and refined white grains .  I know...I will now hear......
                                              " But what CAN I Eat?" 
That's an easy one. You can eat a whole variety of dishes made from healthy , wholesome plants from nature. Not whats made in a lab. You can have all kinds of dishes your imagination can dream up. What about a hoagie with marinated mushrooms in place of meat? Smoothies loaded with fruits and veggies. Salads, desserts, many sweetened naturally with dates. We have chocolate milk occasionally, but non dairy Silk Cashew Milk. I make home made non dairy butter, which I seldom use. My husband is still kind of on the fence with a few things. Veggie wraps, soups, and more. No more deprivation, or starving. Eat when you are hungry and eat till you are full. Once you are off the processed junk foods, etc, your body will no longer crave the crap, and reward you with health and vitality.

That Awful Four Letter Word.......DIET!

         Yep.......I am on a diet again. However this is the first time I have ever posted about it. First off, I must say I eat a pretty well balanced diet. The only thing I might lack in is enough protein. I am not much of a meat eater. Usually the only time I eat meat is the 1 day a week when we go out to a restaurant. While in middle school I was a vegetarian for 2 years. I love veggies. These make up most of my diet and I snack on nuts, and too much sweets.
        Last week I watched Dr. Oz . I liked him in the beginning, but then it seemed he pushed suppliments too much. But this day was different. he was discussing the results of his 2 Week Rapid Weight Loss Diet. He made a good sense by allowing unlimited quantities of low glycemic vegetables. It also eliminates foods that can make you sick or be toxic to the body. Such as wheat,gluten, diet sweeteners sugar,and dairy. It does however allow 1/2 cup greek yogurt and 1 cup almond milk. The video of this show can be found HERE. He showed scans of the brain of a person using wheat, carbs, gluten and sugar and one without. The brain on these things seemed to be inflamed and he said along with other problems, it caused one to crave more food.The people in his audience lost an average 9 lbs in 2 weeks. Some were losing 26 lbs in 2 weeks.
        I started on Monday. The first day was a breeze,The second day I had to take my son to the hospital for a test so was gone half of the day. So I didnt get my breakfast smoothie. For lunch I then had the Bourbon Chicken Skillet but subbed out the red potatoes for more of the broccoli. Then chicken stir fry for supper with cashews. On the first day I lost 2.6 lbs. A total of 4.6 lbs in 3 days. I am thrilled. I just hope this continues and that I can stick to it. Here is a printable sheet on the diet