Happy Veganuary!

Happy Veganuary, 2025! It's been a while since I wrote anything on Blogger. I switched to Medium and then Substack. But, now I'm back because I want to have a place where I can zone in on my plant-based journey and revive my Vegformation community. This was prompted by Physician's Committee to Responsible Medicine taking over PlantPure Communities POD Network. I was deep into the plant-based movement when I was running a plant-based restaurant with my daughter until the fallout from the pandemic closed us down. I admit, I lost momentum after that and focused on my writing instead. 

Well, guess what? If you don't focus on your health it deteriorates and then you have no choice but to focus on your health! During the past few years, I have wrestled with Type 2 diabetes, Lipedema, and POTS. I mistakenly believed that following a plant-based diet prevented chronic health issues. Not true! Following a whole food plant based diet definitely helps, but its about a whole lot more that I spend a lot of time diving into and would love to share with others who are on a mission to reverse chronic diseases and have optimal health. 

It is with this mission in mind that I am reviving the Vegformation blog and group meetups. Stay tuned! 

In the meantime, be sure to check out resources to help you on your plant-based journey. Here are a few to get you started...

Veganuary.com

From Food to Freedom

Plant-Based Diets

Let's watch this together

Hey! I’ve just signed up to watch a free documentary series called iThrive! Rising from the Depths of Diabetes and Obesity, which starts Tuesday, November 14th.

It’s about the diabetes and obesity epidemic.

I think this series could be the answer to some of the health conditions we all suffer from. I’d love it if you registered and watched this documentary series with me. Here’s the link to register for free:

https://go.ithriveseries.com/watch

RKMD Supplements Review - 90 Day Life Challenge - Day 16

I decided to add some accountability to the 90 Day RKMD Life Challenge I am doing. I am not affiliated with any of the supplements mentioned in the video. I have noticed more results in the short amount of time I've been on these supplements than any other supplements I've ever tried before. I plan to keep vlogging during this challenge and see if the positive results continue, I sure hope so! 

A New Job

"You have to take care of yourself before you can take care of others." ~ Dr. Phil

Seven days until I declare my independence from the most addictive drugs on the planet: sugar, oil and salt. I will do it for at least one year and depending on the results, most likely I will do it for the rest of my life!

I am debating on whether I want to record my journey and post it on YouTube. I would like to inspire someone but I hesitate because what if I fail like I have a thousand times? I don't want to give false hope to myself or anyone else. I think it may help me have some accountability, maybe. I think about the time that my weight was posted in the local newspaper every week for three months and that didn't motivate me much. Just think of your weight being announced to everyone in the community! I can't believe I did it, but it did take away my modesty of telling someone how much I weigh. I haven't been on the scales since my birthday in February. I weighed 314 lbs. My BMI was 53 along with my waist measurement.

I think seeing progress will keep me motivated, but I have to be consistent with clean eating and exercise first. I know this. I don't have to pay for some diet program to do what I know I need to do. I have spent thousands of my hard earned dollars looking for the magic formula when I knew the truth all along. It was a form of procrastination.

So, I'm doing the countdown until July 1st to begin my SOS (Sugar, Oil, Salt) free, WFPB (Whole Food Plant Based) journey. I'm not sure why I'm picking July 1st instead of July 4th, maybe to get a head start. Someone suggested I start "NOW". Been there done that. Failed miserably. Having a specific start time to count down to is more exciting to me. It builds up the momentum to push me out the gate of my comfort zone. It also gives me time to stock up on healthy foods and get the junk food out of the house. I totally believe what Chef AJ says that "If it's in your house it's in your mouth"! I really feel like I am starting a new chapter of my life. My job that I have been doing for what feels like forever ends next week. It will provide the perfect opportunity for me to start a new job at Take Care of Yourself Inc!

Diet Beta Test

Since reading a blog post by Katherine Nilbrink, one of my favorite plant-based nutrition mentors about listening to your body instead of following the latest diet fad, I have become more aware of how certain foods make me feel. I notice how sugar laden food tastes so good in the moment, but within a few minutes of hitting my bloodstream makes me feel sick and weak. I notice how poor eating habits have caused inflammation which has wrecked havoc on my body. It has caused edema, raised my blood pressure to dangerous levels, and created joint pain that includes a frozen shoulder which makes it difficult to do simple things like brush my hair or get money out of the ATM.

Dieting has been on my mind a lot lately. But, my track record with diets are not good. In fact, it's the one thing I think I've failed at the most. There are so many good programs out there, but I usually derail the first week, sometimes the first day.

I have been a fan of Chalene Johnson since I discovered her during my Beachbody days. I love her bubbly personality and she's so fit. She is passionate about helping people live their best life. So, when I saw that she is offering an experimental program where participants create their own diet that got my attention.

The truth is I know what to do. I've studied nutrition and wellness nearly every day of my life since I was 18. I also know that when it comes to our health, we can never learn enough. I always think when I join a "diet" program that I wish they did this or that because then it would be easier to follow. So, now is my chance to put together a program that works for me. I know I could do it on my own, but the accountability and motivation is higher when you surround yourself  with like-minded people. I also like being involved with BETA ground-breaking programs. There is something exciting about being the first to breath life into something that could help hundreds of people. I sure hope it's a first "diet" program I stick with. Why wouldn't it be if I am the one creating it?! I think this will be a fun experiment. I'll let you know how it goes.

The program starts May 1st, so there is still time if you want in! Sign up at dietbetatest.com.

Time for Change

Change happens when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change. ~ Tony Robbins

I'm finally becoming aware of how even the smallest indulgence of sugar, oil or salt is affecting my health. The high numbers from a recent health screening coupled with how I have been feeling anytime I eat sugar or junk food has made me more mindful of what I am consuming and how it makes me feel immediately afterwards. I have always loved food. It has provided me a comfort that I have felt no other way, but the price I have paid for eating whatever I want is way too high.

Years ago I resigned myself to sitting on the sidelines of life. I told myself that I'm a loner anyway, but I know that's a lie. I would rather participate. I would rather be in a swimsuit than sweats and a sweater to hide the fat on my arms and legs. I would rather walk in the big stores and go to a dozen yard sales in a row than sit in the car and "read" because my feet and knees hurt too much to walk very far. I would rather visit with my family than "take a nap" because I'm too exhausted to get out of bed. I would rather be a shining example of radiant health to my family and community than stay home in shame because I can't conquer food addiction and the evidence shows all over my swollen body.

The words of Tony Robbins are ringing in my ears lately.  "Change happens when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change". The pain of morbid obesity with chronic fatigue, high blood pressure, and diabetes is more than I can handle. I am ready to do what it takes.

I know I have been at the "I'm ready" crossroad a million times. I come to this place usually every January 1st when I make a resolution to "lose weight", but it's about so much more than that now. It's about quality of life. My body sometimes feels like I'm in my 80's instead of 50's. I know people in their 70's and 80's that get around better than I do. Ernestine Shepherd is a shining example. I'm not ready to be old before my time. There is so much life I want to live before it's time to check out. A few family members and friends have died recently of addiction and disease. It is a real wake up call.

One of my favorite internet marketing gurus, Ramit Sethi said something the other day that has stuck with me. He was referring to my procrastination of picking a path to make money online which is something I've always wanted to do so I can trade a sedentary job for an active life. He said, "Isn't it time?"

Yes, it's time!

Who's Fooling Who?

Paleo, High Protein, No Animal Protein, Keto, Low-Carb, No-Carb, Gluten-Free, No Sugar, Coconut Oil, No Oil, Sea Salt, No Salt, Vegetarian, Vegan, Raw, Mono Meals (bananas, potatoes, grapefuit), Packaged Meals, Smoothies, Juicing, Supplements, No Supplements, Detox, Cleanse, Intermittent Fasting, Water Only, L'Air!...

All these diet, non-diet, science-backed, "lifestyle" programs are so contradictory and confusing it makes me want to scream! The question that often comes to mind is what does the promoter or detractor of the program have to gain or lose by us buying into their rhetoric? There is often a big bottom line behind all the fads. Who's fooling who? We know diet is a billion dollar industry and many want to capitalize on a piece of the sugar-free pie!

It gives those of us who struggle with processed food addition the perfect excuse to say forget it all and just eat whatever I want. Therein lies the problem. Eating whatever I want used to work for me. Sure, I was a little overweight in my teens, 20's and 30's, but I didn't notice anything else going on. In my 40's I started to feel the energy drain and side effects set in, and now in my 50's I feel the aches and pains from the morbid obesity caused by my sedentary lifestyle and poor food choices.

I read the most refreshing blog post recently about trusting your body to know what you need rather than depending on the latest magic pill or diet fad. I really like the idea of just listening to my body instead of depending on others to tell me what to do. The thing is sometimes my brain gets confused and sweet, salty, or fatty foods when really what my body needs is water, rest or maybe even exercise.

I know the "secret" is to find what works for us individually, but the trick is to not be fooled by the industry that has more to gain by keeping us confused.