Laura Goes Veggie
Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 6:42 am
Well, this is my first McDougall post! I guess I should have started in the Newbie section, but I was anxious to get something down in my new journal right away. I really need a place to journal to keep me on track.
Long story short....I've been trying to eat lowcarb for the past four years. I tried it in Nov. of 2004 and within a week my GERD, IBS, brain fog and knee pain went away and I was sold. Then, a few days later, my heart started pounding wildly. I figured I needed more carbs so I drank some orange juice and it went away after twenty or thirty minutes. Back on the diet, adding a few more vegetables. No luck. Added a little potato...got cravings for carbs and went off the diet completely. Back to eating SAD every day. Feel terrible, gain weight, go back on Atkins.
Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
I know, it's Einstein's definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. I tried many versions of low carb, from Atkins to Paleo to South Beach but it never worked. Even when I felt mostly good, I couldn't sleep well and occasionally felt SO charged up and over-energized that I thought I was about to have a panic attack. Not good.
That brought me to where I am right now.
- 197 pounds (I'm 52 years old, 5'7" tall)
- BP 124/82 on medication.
- Cholesterol 212, high LDL and elevated Crp.
- Arthritis pain and stiffness in my joints, especially knees.
- terrible eczema!
- heartburn
- drink too much alcohol and coffee
I needed to do something different. Then I remembered Dr. McDougall. I had I tried his diet in '94. I did it back then for a month (longer than I ever lowcarbed, lol) but started feeling sorry for myself and "needing" pizza and gave up. Now I'm older, wiser, and unfortunately sicker.
Did I say "long story short"? That's it...no more. No more looking back, no regrets. I've been reading everything I could find on the internet by Dr. McDougall and someone I just discovered, Dr. Esselstyn. This morning I had some oatmeal and a banana for breakfast. I'm going out to the supermarket now for potatoes, brown rice, vegetables, etc., etc.
Laura is now veggie!
Long story short....I've been trying to eat lowcarb for the past four years. I tried it in Nov. of 2004 and within a week my GERD, IBS, brain fog and knee pain went away and I was sold. Then, a few days later, my heart started pounding wildly. I figured I needed more carbs so I drank some orange juice and it went away after twenty or thirty minutes. Back on the diet, adding a few more vegetables. No luck. Added a little potato...got cravings for carbs and went off the diet completely. Back to eating SAD every day. Feel terrible, gain weight, go back on Atkins.
Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
I know, it's Einstein's definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. I tried many versions of low carb, from Atkins to Paleo to South Beach but it never worked. Even when I felt mostly good, I couldn't sleep well and occasionally felt SO charged up and over-energized that I thought I was about to have a panic attack. Not good.
That brought me to where I am right now.
- 197 pounds (I'm 52 years old, 5'7" tall)
- BP 124/82 on medication.
- Cholesterol 212, high LDL and elevated Crp.
- Arthritis pain and stiffness in my joints, especially knees.
- terrible eczema!
- heartburn
- drink too much alcohol and coffee
I needed to do something different. Then I remembered Dr. McDougall. I had I tried his diet in '94. I did it back then for a month (longer than I ever lowcarbed, lol) but started feeling sorry for myself and "needing" pizza and gave up. Now I'm older, wiser, and unfortunately sicker.
Did I say "long story short"? That's it...no more. No more looking back, no regrets. I've been reading everything I could find on the internet by Dr. McDougall and someone I just discovered, Dr. Esselstyn. This morning I had some oatmeal and a banana for breakfast. I'm going out to the supermarket now for potatoes, brown rice, vegetables, etc., etc.
Laura is now veggie!