Our American culture is so often dominated by desires for instant gratification and expectations of all gain with no pain. Time after time we commit to that goal of losing weight, exercising more, or fitting in that ideal dress (pant) size, and time after time we fail. In the immediate face of the chocolate cake at your best friend's birthday party, the queso dip at your favorite restaurant, or the chance to skip the gym for a movie with loved ones, it is too easy to lose sight of those goals hanging so far in the distance.
After a fantastic first week committing to my Whole30:Vegan plan, I decided to visit my family at home in Houston. As I wound my way along the now familiar curves of highway 71, I visualized the challenges I would face and reminded myself to stick to the plan and remain devoted to my goals. In the beginning, I succeeded, but the comfort and festivities of being with family seeped in like the evil sludge in Ferngully, corrupted my good intentions and loosened my inhibitions. I began to slide further and further off of my health and wellness path, until I was right back where I started at the beginning of this attempt - shamelessly shoveling down a wheel of soft, gooey, delectable French cheese.
After a few days stuffing myself with refined grains, cheese, cheese products, pork fat laced refried beans and tortilla chips, I was reminded how it only takes one lowered inhibition and I'm off to the race tracks of unhealthy indulgences. After all the reading I've been doing about the ill-effects of eating animal products, I knew exactly what sort of awful things I was doing to myself with each and every bite. Still, I couldn't help myself.
Until this second failed attempt at returning to my usually healthy lifestyle, I had forgotten how important things like a strict schedule and consistent concrete evidence are for me to achieve my goals. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I have recently obtained some very important concrete evidence. The strict schedule will follow quickly, as school is about to start (and then I can kiss any leisure time for the rest of my life good-bye).
I recently went to the doctor for my annual check up. My blood was drawn, and my cholesterol levels were checked. This was about a month ago, when I was still firmly within the tracks of my whole foods plant based lifestyle. At the time, my total cholesterol was 186. 186 seemed rather high for someone who, as a general rule, does not consume animal products, but I thought maybe I had just gone to the doctor on an unlucky day. Furthermore, because this test had not been taken under fasting conditions, I thought maybe the results were a little falsely elevated.
I decided to have my levels re-tested under fasting conditions. Since my doctor wasn't worried about my cholesterol levels, she would not re-test my blood, so, this morning, after fasting for 12 hours, I went to the People's Pharmacy in Austin and had my cholesterol checked. The People's Pharmacy is incredible. The woman who drew my blood was very nice, perfectly professional and extremely helpful. I paid a measly 35$ for the test, and I got the results back in less than 10 minutes.
Lo and behold, after only four weeks of indulging in a few animal products, my total cholesterol had risen to 192. Now, this is still below the target number of 200; however, studies have found that it is actually the small to medium buildups of plaque that blocks less than 50% of the artery that are actually the most lethal (Campbell, The China Study). In The China Study, Dr. Campbell explains that evidence shows that 35% of heart attacks occur in individuals with total cholesterol levels between 150 and 200.
Here is the concrete evidence I really needed. I have been reading all of these texts thinking happily to myself that because I usually followed a vegan diet, I must be safe from the ills described in my studies. Nope. I am just as vulnerable and making many of the same mistakes as the average American. Wake up call! Sometimes, we need a reminder that we are not the exception. This was mine.
Now, I realize that I would be a statistical outlier if I suffered a heart attack at the age of 24, but statistical improbability is not the point. The point is that heart damage now means a weekend cardiovascular system for the rest of my life. My great-great aunt is celebrating her 100th birthday today. I want that to be me in 75 years, 3 weeks and 2 days. Plus, who wants to play Russian Roulette with statistics anyway?
 |
| I'm planning on having many, many more of these. |
So, now I have some major concrete evidence to motivate me to stick to my whole foods plant based diet guns consistently. I simplified my goals and streamlined my process. Basically, I am following the Forks Over Knives and Engine 2 Diet program.
For the next 28 days, I WILL:
1. Not eat any animal products
2. Not eat any refined oils
3. Not eat any refined sugars
4. Not eat any processed grains
5. Not drink more than one alcoholic beverage per day
6. Not drink more than one caffeinated beverage per day
7. Exercise at least 5 times per week
8. Get at least 8 hours of sleep per night
9. Drink at least 64 ounces of water per day
10. Meditate daily
I'm going to use this space to help hold me accountable. At the end of 28 days, I will have my cholesterol levels re-checked. Hopefully, we will see that Campbell, Esselstyn, Ornish, R. Esselstyn, Fuhrman et. al. are right, and that a whole foods plant based diet will reduce your risk of heart disease wholly and quickly.
Starting Stats:
Total Cholesterol: 192
HDL: 52
LDL: 107
Triglycerides: 164
Weight: 128
No comments:
Post a Comment