I am now 8 weeks in to eating nothing except Whole Food Plant Based. My overall body weight has dropped from 196 lbs down to 181 lbs which I believe is pretty significant. I am exercising more yet seem to be stuck at this body weight for almost two weeks.
I will be off to the doctors office this Friday to get a 3 month followup blood test and I am sure that many of my numbers will be excellent. The one thing I continue to struggle with is my daily blood sugar numbers. I could just as easily blame the new diet due to the fact that I am eating more complex carbohydrates, but I accept this premises and start eating meat again I would lose of the other benefits I am gaining.
No, instead I turn to lifestyle choices and certain patterns that need to change. Oatmeal and berries in the morning have increased my energy and cognitive abilities during the day. Lunch is usually lighter and moves me into the afternoon feeling the same high energy levels. The problem I face is the things I am doing after work. A long ride home after a pretty stressful day gives way to reaching for a beer and usually another one and so on all the way up to dinner time which is around 6:45 PM. Even though dinner is the same healthy foods I believe that I may be eating way too late as I usually fall asleep within an hour or so after dinner. Between the beer and the late dinner logic dictates that glucose testing at 4:30 AM should show high results, which in fact they are.
I have no intention on giving up drinking beer, but I need to knock off drinking it every freakin night of the week. Dinner needs to be consumed earlier with a bit of light exercise following.
It’s so easy to play the “Blame Game” and say “Well, this diet doesn’t seem to be working out for me”. I have played this game before and the end result has always been the same. Instead I chose the “Self Discipline”. Figure out the things that aren’t working and correct them.
Simple Living Over 50 
Maybe I’ve missed it, but I haven’t see your blood sugar results or HbgA1c result lately. Curious to see how they respond to your new vegetarian diet.
-Steve
After eating Paleo for almost 9 months they went from 4.7 to 8.1. I too am curious to see where it is also. Should get the results next week.
Last time I looked into it, Beer was whole food plant based.
Yea, but the bottom line is any type of alcohol is poison. Carbs way to high.
I like beers too but have pretty much concluded that alcohol is not in my best interests. I haven’t banned alcohol entirely but haven’t had a drink since August and don’t have any plans to resume drinking.
I agree. I use the excuse that I had a stressful day. I have to stop making excuses.
also, are you getting enough fat in your diet? I would find it difficult to get enough fat through vegetables, I would have to eat a huge quantity of nuts and avocados
Because I am trying to lower my cholesterol I am choosing not to eat any fat. I need to burn off much of the fat I have built up in my cells to unclog those receptors. Eventually this should also increase glucose absorption.
You might want to do some more research. Try Tim Noakes or Nina Technolz. There’s an enormous amount of skepticism about the so-called lipid hypothesis. People have questioned whether there is any correlation between cholesterol in food and cholesterol in blood. Furthermore, there’s very little consensus that absolute cholesterol levels matter (in fact, low cholesterol has negative implications for longevity). Thinking has gone from total cholesterol to ratios of and levels of HDL/LDL and some would argue that it’s the type of LDL etc. The counter-argument is that cholesterol (however you measure it) reflects inflammation which may be caused by too much sugar/processed carbs. That’s a theory, you have to come to your own conclusion. I stopped eating oatmeal several years ago because I concluded it’s just another processed carb.
I am focusing more on the level of plaque build up on the epithelium. Higher levels of bad cholesterol are directly associated with this build up. Based on facts from many cardiologists including Dr. Caldwell Estylson this build up of plaque is responsible for, just to name a few, heart attacks, strokes, Alzheimer’s, erectile disfunction, and even mild cognitive disorders. Our bodies naturally produce enough cholesterol to maintain good health, but by adding more through diet is where we start to build up this gunk in our arteries. By eliminating all fat from the diet should bring the body back to a level where many of these Western diseases never have a chance to destroy our lives. On a personal level the way I feel right now with an increases daily energy level and clear mind is enough for me to keep pushing forward with this lifestyle change. The results of my blood test tomorrow will either keep me moving in this direction or show cause to make some adjustments. We shall see. And Ken, thanks so much for your response, you always make me question certain things.
WOW! Impressive, Bill. I can relate to eating dinner too late. I’ve managed to push it up to 8:00, which is absurd. I’m a night owl, so most days I’m not hitting the sack until midnight. I’ve been trying to change that for years, and I will continue on that journey. (Determined vs Stubborn?) I asked my doctor about it, and she laughed. “I don’t care when you sleep, what matters is the number of hours.” She knows me well. Over the years, I’ve given up drinking any kind of alcohol and soda. It’s H2O for me. Eliminating those made a difference. My blood sugar calmed down, when I made those changes. Just wish I could eliminate chocolate. I’m a realist — that’s not likely! 🙂
Keep going, Bill! You’re an inspiration to all of us.
–Kathy from:
diaryofadiabetic.wordpress.com
Dark chocolate above 80% cacao would be better for you, but it’s an acquired taste. I’m used to it now, plus I only eat a Square or two at a time. 😊
Good for you on the water, I do a lot of that but I have to have a glass of red wine (cab) a couple of nights a week.
I have tried it, but there just seems to be something in cacao that my body rejects. I always end up with body pimples and it kind of sucks.
Hi. I’ve tried the 80% cacao and it just doesn’t do it for me, but thanks for the suggestion.
P.S. I’ve NEVER eaten 2 squares of any kind of chocolate in my life. 🙂 I envy your restraint.
–Kathy from:
diaryofadedicateddiabetic.wordpress.com
Thanks Kathy 🙂
Bill, I was actually directing the Cacao comment to KKeevins-but I’m sorry that cacao does that to you. 😦
When talking to my hubby about the dangers of sugar in beer, his dad being diabetic, etc., it, unfortunately, falls on deaf ears, however, he has cut way back on his consumption. I enjoy ale myself from time to time, even though I’m not supposed to… so I totally get where yall are coming from. 🙂 I did find one by Angry Orchard that is actually called Less Sweet.
Beer, Beer, Beer! I have cut back but I must put a cap on work nights and try to stick to Friday and Saturdays.
Excellent observations. You are doing well.
Thanks, getting there