Well, since my last lab work at the doctor's office for a regular routine exam with a new Primary doctor, my results were totally off the charts! I was quite disturbed by this. He took me off my statins and all vitamins and suggested the Vegan Diet for six weeks, as a process of elimination to find the culprit of why my numbers on my blood work are out of whack!
Sigh, the first week without any meat was o.k. But no dairy definitely added more frustration, as I can't start my day off without cream in my coffee in the morning, so I began to read about antibiotics in poultry and other diseases of fish, cow's milk, etc. Oh my.......what is there left to eat? That soy stuff doesn't do it for me. Forget about Tofu.....not my favorite thing. (it just won't go down)
I read that a Vegan is a very strict vegetarian who does not choose to eat or use any animal products at all, from dairy and eggs to leather, wool and honey. While this is a major transition from my eating habits and forget about the leather, wool and honey.............do you think I would actually give up my Gucci, Prada, and Coach????? I wear wool when up north for warmth........I love honey in my tea when I don't feel good. Who started this Vegan stuff???? I can understand a Vegetarian more than I can understand a Vegan.
The doctor suggested I purchase the book "Eat to Live" and use it as guidance and understanding eating off the land.
Grocery shopping is a challenge and exhausting reading labels. I take a list of all animal ingredients to avoid, and look for them on the label. There are hidden animal products in an amazing variety of foods, so this was depressing and time consuming for me.
I started to look at my natural foods I used to eat and the ingredients were short and understandable, I didn't have to figure anything out whether the product came from an animal or not.
I was getting so frustrated trying to modify my own recipes. Most non-vegan recipes can be made vegan by substituting some of the products using what they call simple tricks like replacing eggs with cornstarch and water in baked goods. Most introductory to Vegan sites online explain these tricks. Those tricks don't make your own recipes taste the same and, therefore, I'm not enjoying my food!
The cravings for normal food is overwhelming. Eating a salad twice a day is so boring...............tons of fruit daily, I'm really have a hard time with and you cannot substitute it with juice as your fruit. I tried to explore a variety of vegan food that is available in "WholeFoods", the pricey organic store.
I hate to tell you the amount of money I wasted on food that tasted like cardboard and ended up throwing away or down the disposal. I love vegetables but having it for your main course is so different than having it as a side on your plate!
Did I forget to mention the doctor said no alcohol........that means no wine with my dinner! He dare say that to an Italian?
Well, two weeks have gone by and I spent a great deal of money at Wholefoods and I have lost 12 pounds.......that part is great but I'm miserable. I want a pizza, I want a veal cutlet, I want to smell my Sunday gravy simmering on the stove with meatballs and sausages!
I want my wine and a visit from Johnny Walker or Mr. Dewars now and then would be lovely.
Did I forget to mention the gas that is associated with being a Vegan? LOL My next lab work is Tuesday and I'm praying for a major improvement in the test results!
