My Plant-Based Journey

Food as Medicine

Almost a year ago, I realized at age 50 that I needed to make a change in the way I was eating.  It all started when I watched a show called "Forks Over Knives" on Netflix recommended by a friend of the family, Kerrie Roberts.  It talked about eating a plant-based diet which I really had no intention of doing.  I didn't have any hemp clothing -- I don't want to live in a commune -- plus, the only vegetables I like are potatoes and green beans (and then, only in moderation).  

 I loosely remember my daughter recommending some healthier foods, but I was probably committed to some other diet or MY own hybrid version of it.  Of course all of my degrees in Occupational Safety and Computers and Religious Studies had obviously prepared me as a master nutritionist.  What would people that have done research for 30 years possibly know that I couldn't deduce from my vast experiences?  

What made a difference was when I took a look at my medicines.  One  of the medicines was Simvastatin (a statin drug), which lowers cholesterol by slowing the production of an enzyme in the liver.  The next drug was atenolol which is a beta blocker.  Beta blockers work by blocking the effects of the hormone epinephrine, also known as adrenaline. When you take beta blockers, the heart beats more slowly and with less force, thereby reducing blood pressure.  So already we have slowed my heart and my liver.  

The next two were a little less intense.  Hydrochlorothiazide, known as a diuretic, is a drug that basically speeds up the kidneys to release salt and cause lower blood pressure.  The last drug, allupurinol is used to treat gout by reducing levels of uric acid.  I take one other drug because I had a couple of seizures a few years back.  Of course, all drugs have side effects.    

My journey into the plant-based world was to see if I could get off some the medication.  Under the care of a physician, after about two and a half months, I was able to stop taking the first four medications.  Not only did if feel better, I lost 25 pounds in the first few months. When I discovered that it was actually not painful at all to eat this way, I was hooked.  I can't imagine living differently.  We are 100% whole-food, plant based and we love it!

I try not to tell anyone else what to do with their life, but I'm not sure why anyone would like to hold on to the probability of disease and unhealthy lifestyle just because they like the taste of something.  My tastes have changed dramatically and we love all the new things we create!  In reality, there is more flavor in the dishes we eat now than before.   

If you need more information, I recommend the following sites:

 http://nutritionfacts.org/

http://www.pcrm.org/ 

http://www.forksoverknives.com/

http://www.plantpurenation.com/

http://www.dresselstyn.com/

http://engine2diet.com/

A Father's Guide to a Successful Wedding

Recently, my daughter was married.  For a father, this is one of the most emotional times.  One part of me wanted to keep my daughter a little girl -- the other part was anxious to see her grow up and face the next challenge of her life. My fear was that it could also be a time where things didn't go as planned.  Fortunately, my daughters wedding was fabulous!  Most of the credit for this goes to my wife and daughter, but maybe some of these tips will help other dads out there navigate this difficult time - feel free to share.

Tip #1 - Be quiet!  Although you may have the best intentions, you have what we like to call a learning curve.  First, there are dozens of planning meetings that you have not attended.  You have only a small sliver of information.  Also, your emotional stake in this comes from a different vantage point.  It may be a blow to your ego, but you are just one of the actors in this drama - you must know your role.  I still remember the stare - it came from my precious daughter and my lovely wife simultaneously - it seemed to say "listen, we love you, but it's imperative to your health that you keep your advice to yourself -- we've got this -- we don't have time to explain -- please just step aside and let us do what we have been training to do!"   I felt like the guys that touched the ark in Raiders of the Lost Ark, I instantly knew I had overstepped my bounds.

Tip #2 - Have a Budget  This is the first thing I did.  This was my project.  I asked for everyone involved to give me estimates for things like the dress and the caterer and the flowers.  Once we had estimates, I set limits on each of the areas.  Anything that exceeded the estimates would have to be paid by the bride and groom (this was harder on us that on them).  If this wedding was estimated to cost $6000, then we divided that by the 12 months we had left and put it in the budget to save $500 a month.  Then my wife and daughter went to work looking for "deals."  The best thing is they actually found stuff like chair covers and back drops and other decorations that people had in their garage for free.  No matter what the budget, it can be reasonable if you have a plan.

Tip #3 - Have a Good Time!  Remember the wedding is supposed to be a celebration!  One of the most important things to my daughter was that everyone danced at the reception.  It didn't matter whether I liked to dance; because it wasn't about me!  In the long run, it went something like this, "We spent all this money - we're going to have a good time if it kills me."  The next day, I felt like it almost did, but it was worth it!  So, what do you do if the mother of the bride is being a diva?   Pick me, I know the answer to this because I witnessed it at another wedding!  This bride simply said "you're driving me crazy - stop being a diva!"   They laughed about it and moved on.  Having fun has to be a goal - not just a hope!

Hope some of these things help.  As guys, we are a little clueless about weddings.  And then, when we try to help we often make it worse.  If you know of other things that might help, feel free to comment because I still have another daughter to give away.   

Here We Go!

Here I go again in an attempt to document my thoughts.  This time, I vow to not limit the discussion to anything.  I hope to talk about how I feel about the plant-based lifestyle even though I know people get tired of hearing it - sorry!  It's my passion and it's hard to modulate the things we are passionate about.  I have found something that benefits me greatly and I only share because I care.

  
I also may talk about my family - my daughter just got married and my other daughter just wrestled some money back from a hotel that overcharged her - in a way, both were financial gains and cause for great joy.  More than any thing, I love the way family makes me grow and learn.  It's hard not to brag - but, they teach us so much.  My son is half way around the world.  We are empty nesters - so much to say.  

I will probably also talk about my faith because it is who I am.  The good things about my faith are not really mine to brag about, so I often talk about the things that discourage me in my faith.  Maybe some of you can help me with this.

Writing is really no fun if people only read it.  Many times people have told me years later that they enjoyed my writing only after I had already given up.  It is much more fun to discuss and share ideas - even if we disagree.  Come on this journey with me!