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| Me after completing a 5K race on 11-12-2016 |
This November 12th, morning was cold with frost on the grass. The kind of brisk day with sunshine filtering through my own crystallized breath before the breeze made it drift away. The exact weather conditions that when combined with any level of exercise would invariably for me result in a wheezing, congested asthma attack. That was how I could expect my lungs to respond to strenuous activity on any day with a temperature below 50 degrees. Knowing this about myself, I would make it a point to take it easy under these conditions. But all that changed. Today I ran in a 5K race for charity in 40 degree weather placing 2nd in my age group with no breathing issues. (outrunhunger.org )
Last winter I noticed that my problem with the cold was no longer an issue. I had fully transitioned to a whole foods plant based life and over a 2 year period lost over 100 lbs along with my cold weather exercise induced asthma. Now I run 5K three times a week to train and occasionally participate in a race. Training is the key. Practice makes perfect, right? At age 61 with no training I wouldn't expect to get very far. The same principle applies to transitioning to a whole foods plant based diet. Doing your homework is going to vastly increase your chance of success.
The movie Forks Over Knives (FOK) is a great place to start and is available on Netflix, ITunes and Amazon. Check out the FOK website for a synopsis of the film, a meal planner, recipes and for answers to frequently asked questions. The idea is to start making good choices with your fork before your Doctor has to start using his knives. The fork is safer and less painful. They have 125 kid friendly recipes in the book to get you started.
There are lots of easy to read articles out there to give you some basics as well. Personally, I like Joel Kahn, MD. Click the link for his articles in Mind Body Green. There are several books he has written regarding the effects of nutrition on heart disease and Diabetes. He got me started thinking about all the changes I didn't want to make but knew I should. After a few months I was convinced and haven't looked back.
Michael Greger, MD has a website called NutritionFacts.org. He likes to say that he reads every article on nutrition from every medical journal published every day "so you don't have to". The information is nicely broken down in plain English on his videos. The website includes a search bar. He has been doing this for years so chances are if you have a question about a particular medical problem he has addressed it and made it available for you to watch.
Caldwell Esselstyn, MD has his lectures recorded on Youtube making them readily available to anyone with a computer, tablet or smart phone. This is the doctor who convinced Samuel L Jackson and President Clinton that a whole foods plant based diet would benefit their health.
Dr. Esselstyn and his son, Rip Esselstyn have cookbooks to help you get started.
It's all up to you. If your significant other is not a fan of change, it doesn't matter. If your friends are less than supportive, ignore them. You don't have to change them. You just have to change you.
YOU gotta want it!
The movie Forks Over Knives (FOK) is a great place to start and is available on Netflix, ITunes and Amazon. Check out the FOK website for a synopsis of the film, a meal planner, recipes and for answers to frequently asked questions. The idea is to start making good choices with your fork before your Doctor has to start using his knives. The fork is safer and less painful. They have 125 kid friendly recipes in the book to get you started.
There are lots of easy to read articles out there to give you some basics as well. Personally, I like Joel Kahn, MD. Click the link for his articles in Mind Body Green. There are several books he has written regarding the effects of nutrition on heart disease and Diabetes. He got me started thinking about all the changes I didn't want to make but knew I should. After a few months I was convinced and haven't looked back.
Michael Greger, MD has a website called NutritionFacts.org. He likes to say that he reads every article on nutrition from every medical journal published every day "so you don't have to". The information is nicely broken down in plain English on his videos. The website includes a search bar. He has been doing this for years so chances are if you have a question about a particular medical problem he has addressed it and made it available for you to watch.
Caldwell Esselstyn, MD has his lectures recorded on Youtube making them readily available to anyone with a computer, tablet or smart phone. This is the doctor who convinced Samuel L Jackson and President Clinton that a whole foods plant based diet would benefit their health.
Dr. Esselstyn and his son, Rip Esselstyn have cookbooks to help you get started.
It's all up to you. If your significant other is not a fan of change, it doesn't matter. If your friends are less than supportive, ignore them. You don't have to change them. You just have to change you.
YOU gotta want it!
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| October 2013 |
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| September 2015 (different baby) |
