Week 19 & 20 Weigh Ins/ Summer Madness/ The Reluctant Vegan

Week 19 Weigh In: I Made It Through

This has been the roughest week.  It is my T.O.M. and I had the munchies something CRAZY!  It has never been this bad.  So I was a little scared to step on the scale, but it is what it is.  I am down .06 this week for a total of 34.4 pounds since Jan. 2nd.  My A1C went from 12.5 in Nov. to 6.6!!!  My blood pressure and cholesterol are all normal.  I can't believe I turned things around so quickly.  There are some things my doctor still wants to work on, but I will take that challenge head on too. 

Victory Lady is starting a Biggest Loser Contest in June and I think I will join it.  I love competition and challenging myself to do better each week.  I think I'm in competition with myself really.  I never thought I could conquer my negative thoughts and self doubt enough to succeed at weight loss.  It has given me so much confidence in every aspect of my life, it is addictive.  I keep going, because I don't want that positive energy to ever end.  So T.O.M. can come in for a visit and wreck havoc on my meal plan, but next week is a new week.  Trouble don't last always!

Week 20 Weigh In: Summer Madness

So this is just the typical mid-month fluctuation.  I went up 1.8 this week.  If history is correct I should experience  a small drop next week and a big drop the first week in June (if I didn't just jinx myself =).  Hopefully the BL contest will keep me focused through cookouts, my birthday, and parties-aka Summer Madness. 

I informed my little sister that I would take her to Water Country this year.  Her first trip ever, and my first trip back since I was probably in middle school.  That was the last time I cared to see myself for people to see me in a swimsuit.  But this August, we will go and I will have on a cute one piece that I will proudly wear without an awful t-shirt cover up.  I won't promise you Demi Moore in Charlie's Angels, but I will give you fabulousness!

The Reluctant Vegan: My New Journey

The title says it all.  My doctor was very pleased at my progress, but she is worried about my liver and damage from weight and high cholesterol.  The high protein low carb diet that I was practicing could actually aggravate my situation.  So she wants me to begin a vegan no sugar diet based on the principles from the books Reversing Diabetes with Diet by Dr. Neil Barnard and The China Study: by Dr. Richard Campbell.  (I don't know those people) 

In a nutshell, I must avoid all meat and animal products, all dairy products, all sweeteners (including artificial), all baked goods (except for wheat, rye or pumpernickel bread), all refined and processed food products, all deep fried foods, all solid fats, and all beverages.  I have to read labels to make sure they were not made with any animal products.  There goes my Friday nigh happy hour plans.

I had ordered this book, By Any Greens Necessary, by Tracye McQuirter, (a trustworthy looking person) three weeks ago when I was thinking about starting a vegetarian journey.  She has been a vegan since college and travels the globe speaking about African American women and veganism.  I think I could relate to her insights on our culture and attitude towards giving up meat and dairy.  I will be reading it this weekend to get prepared to start my new lifestyle on June 1. 

I was in shock to learn doc wanted me to go completely vegan.  But, my bestie and my mom both decided to join me for much needed support.  Well my mom did until she found out she couldn't eat peanut butter.  She told me I was on my own.  Lol.  Whatever she decides, it means so much to me that they would take this HUGE leap.  It is a real sacrifice to reluctantly go vegan.  I mean, I don't eat pork anymore, but I have nothing against fish and chicken.  It is really hard to stop eating something when you haven't done the research for yourself to appreciate the reasons.  So for the next two weeks I will be reading and researching and giving myself the proper foundation for my new journey.  I'm kinda looking forward to it!