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OK, I've calmed down somewhat, though I still will not apologize for what I said to my dad (and he sure as hell isn't apologizing to me...)

However, it has not been an encouraging day. In order to calm down, my mom offered to take me to a designer's store which is having a big sale right now. Although I hate shopping, especially when I'm so big, I agreed, thinking it might cheer me up, since I really do feel as if I've lost some weight.

I did end up getting 2 pairs of pants that cost a bundle (but my mom paid for them). However, they were size 6. Now, this designer is smart - she doesn't have the usual EUR sizes that you see on Israeli clothes (i.e., 36= size 6, 38= size 8, etc). Instead, she has her own sizes (0, 1, 2, 3, etc.) which no one knows what they mean. I tried looking on her website, but the website didn't have anything. I did manage to get to a site that was selling some of her pants and, according to them, 0= size 4, 1= size 6, etc. So, according to those calculations, size 6 is a size 16 . I am very disappointed, as this is the exact size that I was when I started McDougalling about a month ago and I felt sure that I had lost some weight. The woman in the store did say that the designer has "small sizes" but I don't know if I trust that.

It's just a big disappointment. I guess the only thing I can do is keep doing what I'm doing and trust the process to show results not only in health but in weight also as time goes by, as long as I keep at it. I know that consistency is the key.

Djuna

I'm about to leave on a 2 day trip with my parents and aunt to the Gallillee. It actually has several goals besides just a short vacation. I'm meeting with a woman there who teaches English to elementary and junior high schools (the age groups that I'm thinking of requesting my teaching practicum) and my mom is meeting with some people who knew my grandfather years ago.

I'm already agitated this morning. I'm barely speaking to my dad (though I know that will thaw out). But basically we always stop at a cafe for breakfast and he's now pressuring us to "take coffee on the way" and have my mom make sandwiches. The annoying thing about it is that there is no consideration for the fact that I'm vegan now. My mom made hard-boiled eggs and is making sandwiches with cheese in them. I will not eat it! I'm going to insist that when we stop at the cafe to "take coffee on the way" that I get a sandwich there which I know is vegan and I'll eat that while everyone else eats their sandwiches.

OK, I'm going to try to calm down and be pleasant on this trip for my mom and aunt's sake...

Djuna

Well, it's not quite an experiment but more of an attempt to maximize my enjoyment and progress on McDougall.

I was doing well on McDougall for a while, then the last week or so have gone off (and had the migraine headaches to prove it). I think it's PMS and the stress of starting a master's program next week. Right now, my goal is to get back on track again so that when I start next week, I have a routine down.

Two things that have been an issue for me since starting back on McDougall in May are that I suddenly developed extremely dry skin on the bottoms of my feet (very itchy, peely, and eventually develop sores that sometimes make it hard for me to walk) and fatigue (hard time getting up in the morning, feeling generally tired throughout the day, though not to the point where I can't function at all). Also, the menu I was having was good but a bit labor-intensive. I know that when I start school, I will not have much time to cook for myself and I have an issue with cooking big batches of food on the weekend and eating it throughout the week. Call it a phobia, but I just hate the thought of warming up a dish that I know I cooked four or five days ago (even if it's been sitting in the freezer and there's absolutely nothing wrong with it). I'd rather cook small amounts fresh every day.

So I want to try a bit of an experiment that I'm hoping will relieve the fatigues and also simplify my menu. I want to try to use potatoes as my main starch. It's a snap for me to make mashed potatoes and they are delicious. I'll be eating other things too (like fruit and baked chickpeas as a snack) but the main focus will be on potatoes and veggies.

So here's the general menu:

Morning: mashed potatoes and raw veggies
Mid-Morning: fruit and baked chickpeas (I should note that in Israel, baked chickpeas are a popular snack and you can easily get them. They are basically chickpeas baked until crunchy, no oil and no salt added)
Afternoon: Mashed potatoes and steamed veggies
Mid-Afternoon: Baked chickpeas and fruit
Evening: Mashed potatoes and salad
Night: high fiber cereal (to munch on) and whole grain bread with a little honey or jam (I know, processed grains but minimally processed)

I have been having potatoes throughout the day so far (even when I'm not 100% McDougall) and I don't notice that they make me tired, so this is a good sign. But the last few days are not a good marker. I've had migraine headaches and taken a lot of pills for it, so it's hard to tell whether I'm tired or not (especially since I tend to sleep on and off all day when I'm weighed down with a heavy migraine).

I'm going this morning to get a blood test. It's the first one in YEARS (I shudder to count how many) that I've had, so I'm quite nervous about it, both about how it's going to go (what if I faint???) and what the results will be. I'll be checking the usual stuff, like vitamin deficiencies, as well as Vitamin B12 levels, Vitamin D levels, and thyroid. I'll report the results once I have them. It's good that I'm getting one of these finally, even if I hate doctors and everything having to do with the medical field.

Djuna

hi! I have enjoyed reading your journal, and glad to see a posting again. So glad you are doing the WOE again. other ppl, esp the ones in our families are just so odd to want us back on the SAD!!
my oldest sister gave me this line most recently, She when your someone close ot me, in my case it is my husband, best friends, starts to get all threatened by my eating, just say: I will still love you no matter what I chose to eat!!
keep at it, it is our choice, afterall, and no one else's!! what you allow to enter your body is clearly your choice, so make the best one, a no brainer here!!
Good luck in your graduate program.

Well, I did my blood test and all in all, it went very well. The nurse who took the blood was actually very supportive when I admitted I had not had a blood test in 20 years. She was joking around about it (not in a mean way) and I basically was laughing throughout the whole thing. She was actually quite impressed with how quickly my blood got into the vile and how easily she found a vein (sorry to be so graphic!)

Israeli healthcare, I should explain, is social health care. That is, every citizen is entitled to it for a nominal fee and they are very organized. So I can check my results online (not sure if you can do that in the States too). So I set up my login and just out of curiosity (although I was told it would take a few days for the results to come in), checked my lab results. I saw a huge list of things that I have no clue as to what they are (such as hemoglobin, hermaticrat, neutropholis, and lymphocites - whaaaaaaaa?????) and numbers. I have no clue what this is but my mom is a nurse so I'll check with her. At any rate, all these things seem to show that my numbers are within the normal range (i.e. between the low and high end) except for WBC-Leucocytes. The high number is 11 and I am at 11.7. Again, no clue what that means or whether this is good or bad, but I'll check with my mom. At any rate, I doubt that these are the numbers I'm most concerned about (like the normal stuff - vitamin B12, calcium, etc)

Djuna

Hi, Djuna. Goodness, this forum moves quick. Lot's of people who are active journal keepers.

I stopped by here for the first time last night to see what it's all about and your journal was at the top, so I started there. I read your intro and then the last two pages. I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed it. You say you're a creative writer... I agree. At times I almost felt like I was following a character in a novel as much as reading someone's journal.

I was going to comment last night, but it was late and I was tired. When I came back this morning it was quite a ways down the list. Hence my surprise at how fast this forum moves. It is obviously a popular feature of this board. I may be joining in soon.

Keep hanging in there. And keep us posted on your "Adventures in the Holy Land."

So my blood test results are in and I went over them with my mom (the nurse). Overall, I am quite pleased with them and I think that McDougalling even for a relatively short period of time that I have been doing (6 weeks, roughly, with a few weeks of not adhering to the plan) has made a huge difference.

A few things to note:
- my glucose levels are on the high side (100 mg/dl is the max and I am at 91 - I should note that there might be some measurements that are not as they appear in the US, since Israel tends to take European measurements). I'm thinking that might be because I had some sugary snacks the night before the test (don't know how a 12 hour fast can affect that) but it does not surprise me. I've suspected for a long time that my blood sugar might be starting to get into trouble (though thank goodness it doesn't look like it's prediabetes yet).
- B12 levels are high (it just says that I'm over 1000 pg/ml, not by how much). I have been taking a B12 supplement so my mom says I should stop for a period of time and we'll check it in another 6 months or so. This is a surprise, since you always hear about vegans not getting enough B12. I actually have been putting my McDougall menus (both before and after the potato experiment ) into Cron-o-Meter and it's been showing that I am almost at the 100% recommendation for B12 with food alone. So I shouldn't be surprised.
- Calcium levels are fine (max is 10.4 mg/dl and I am at 9.5), which again is a surprise.
- interesting note about TSH - Israel seems to be using the older ranges (0.35-5.5 mlu/l). I did a little research and found that the US revised those guidelines to 0.3-3. I am at 2.47, so for Israel, that is fine but for the US that seems a bit on the high side). However, I talked to my mom and she says this is actually a good thing, since it’s still within the normal range.

So I’m relieved that all that is over with! Now I have to really watch the glucose levels, though, since it’s clear that I might be going in a bad direction with that.


- Iron levels are within normal range but also on the low end (60 mlcg/dl is the min and I am at 62). This actually might explain why I have been feeling so tired throughout the day and have had a hard time getting up in the mornings. So it's clear I need an iron supplement.
- Urea is low (17 mg/dl is the min and I am at 16) but my mom says this is a good thing since it shows my body is more alkaline)
- A few good surprises: protein levels are actually very good (6.6 g/dl is the min and I am at 7.9) which was a huge surprise. So maybe what Dr. McDougall and the rest have been saying about protein being overrated is on the money .
- Cholesterol: I am in excellent condition on all fronts here:
Total Ch: 187
LDL: 99
HDL: 67.3
Tri: 102
This is actually important because there is a family history of high cholesterol (my dad has had it since his 50's and now my brother, at 47, is taking cholesterol lowering meds). I totally credit McDougalling and veganism in general for this

Hi Djuna, thanks for posting your blood test results. I quickly got out my lab reports to compare what you sister and mom said too.
congrats to your low numbers. I credit my vegan life style too, and Dr McDougall for getting my numbers way down and will keep at it for that alone. For me it was my liver enz, but hey, it is all over now, no more animal products with all that high fat!
love to ready all your words, and good luck with your teaching in Israel. Your English is better than most I can think of in the States. My mom was an ESL student , and she mastered English. Cool!


Have a good day over there!
Carollynne

Thank you to all who responded to my journal. Sorry I didn't acknowledge you before (I did read your responses ). It's been a very hectic week preparing for my studies. I start tomorrow (in Israel, the work week is Sunday through Thursday rather than Monday through Friday because of the sabbath on Saturday). I am very nervous but also very excited.

I did a little more research on blood glucose and I see that in the States, a normal range is considered 90-120, so for the States, my 91 reading is actually on the low side.

My plan for the next 6 months is to stick with McDougalling 100% of the time and go for blood tests again in February to see if my iron levels go up and my blood glucose go down. I'm convinced that having been 70% compliant on McDougall for the past 2 months (it was actually 100% compliant for the first 5 weeks and then off and on for the 3 weeks after that...) was responsible for many of my good numbers and even my mom (who is not a huge fan of veganism and especially not a very low fat starch based plan) admitted that it was probably that which helped my numbers. This changes my attitude towards a very low fat vegan diet somewhat, as I always found an excuse to go off of it because I never knew how it was really helping my health (since I didn't have a blood test in 20 years!) But now I can see the evidence in front of me and I know that this is the best for me in terms of health.

It's been rough the past week because I am a stress eater and I've been eating chocolate and other junk food I shouldn't (though not in binge amounts as I would have done a year ago, so there have been some good changes there). I think that once I start my studies, though, it will actually be easier because I simply won't have the time to think about food. This is one reason why I'm going for a fairly limited menu (i.e., potatoes, veggies, chickpeas, a little fruit, etc) as it puts much less thought into food. One thing I might do is, rather than steam veggies daily, make a big pot of veggies in tomato sauce (like a SNAP deal but with just veggies) and eat that over part of the week for simply the convenience factor and use more frozen veggies than fresh ones (only because they are faster to prepare). But we'll see what's more tasty to me .

Well, it's about 20 minutes or so before I have to leave for my first class and I can already say that the idea of doing steamed veggies for lunch every day is not going to work . The steaming actually takes very little time but the whole song-and-dance around it (getting the huge pot with the huge steamer basket - I mean HUGE because that's all I have - and heavy lid adjusted on my tiny hot plate, boiling the water, then washing the dishes) is a lot of time and it just makes me feel very rushed. So I'm not sure what I can do about this. Maybe make the steamed veggies the night before or maybe try my mom's microwave steamer to see if it's easier to work with. Or just make a pot of non-steamed veggies with tomato sauce or soy sauce and eat it (which, to be honest, doesn't quite appeal to me because I really love the flavor of steamed veggies).

Well, I was happy about my blood test results on the whole but came back from school today and got some disappointing news. The doctor called and left a message with my mom. She says she wants me to come to her in 1 month and do another blood test. She didn't tell my mom why.

I am very disappointed, as I thought overall my tests were good. My mom thinks it's because of the glucose level (which was 91, so within the normal range for the States, but on the high side for Israel). I plan on calling her tomorrow morning to see what the deal is, so at least I know why. I'm not too thrilled about this. Even though the test wasn't a big deal, I am not anxious to have a needle stuck in me again and I am also a bit annoyed because I don't see any really good reason for it. But she's a very good doctor and if she wants me to check it in a month, then that's what I'll do.

I guess it could also be the iron levels (which, again, were in the normal range but quite low) and the white blood cell count (which was high, but not by a lot).

My mom loves her microwave steamer.

Well, my Vitamin D results finally came in with my blood test results (it was the last to come in). The range is 20-100 ng/ml and I am at 21. The notes they included indicated that a range of 10-32 is "hypovitaminosis". I looked that up and it seems that it's a condition of vitamin deficiency.

I'm guessing that this is why the doctor wants me to do a blood test in another month (but I have an appointment with her tomorrow morning to find out more). This is something that really worries me because there is a family history of issues with Vitamin D. My grandmother had issues with Vit D absorption to the point of getting a very severe osteoporosis in her 80's. My mom discovered that her Vit D absorption was nearly nil (I'm not kidding here - her doctor was alarmed when he saw the results of her tests) several years ago and she just did a comprehensive bone density check and MRI and is showing that 4 of the discs in her back are in severe degeneration. So this is really no joke here. I saw my grandmother and how debilitating it was for her to the point of being confined to her bed (she said she just couldn't walk for long or even sit because it was too painful to her) and I don't want that to happen to me or to my mom.

Did a little searching out of curiosity to see what foods contain Vit D naturally and the only ones I can really find are mushrooms and fish. I really hope the doctor isn't going to try to convince me to start eating fish (since so many non-vegetarians think that fish is "vegetarian" and this is especially true in Israel because, according to kosher laws where you can't mix meat and milk, fish is actually considered kosher and ok to eat with milk), which is just not going to happen. I have absolutely no desire to eat any animal foods (even before I found McDougall, I was never a very big meat eater) and I was never crazy about fish even when I did eat animal foods.

More tomorrow...

Djuna

Hey good luck sweetie! I am praying for you!!

I had my chat with the doctor and it seems that the reason why she wants me to do a blood test in another month is because of the white blood cell count. The max is 11 (10*3 micl) and I am at 11.7. She said pretty much what my mom said - that it shows that my body is in the process of trying to get rid of some infection and so she just wants to monitor it a bit. I asked her what we do if the second blood test comes up high and she says, "nothing." The count isn't that much higher than the max, so I guess it isn't anything to really worry about. I asked my mom about it and she said that while it's not life threatening, it usually isn't a good thing because the immune system gets tired when it is on a high white blood cell count, constantly producing them to fight infection.

The doctor was impressed, though, by my blood work, saying that everything was just fine (even the iron and Vit D that I was worried about). She was especially impressed that someone of my weight would be in such good shape.

I'm starting to see, though, that the stress that my work has been causing me is going to come back to haunt me. I wouldn't be surprised if the high white blood cell count is because of that (although the doctor said she never heard of this being because of stress - though I read research that it can be).

I think I'm at the point where I'm just fed up and disillusioned by the whole online university system. I've been hearing for hears how these schools target low income and ill-prepared students and can only provide very limited help (not the kind of help these students need to catch up) and I think I've been in denial about it. I'm not saying they are evil (like some others), but I think I just need to move on to something else. I feel like I am beating my head against the wall because I see so very little progress with my students. I do not blame them - they are trying their hardest (most of them) and are sincere about wanting to get an education. I blame the whole system for setting them up for failure.

Also, the whole "student as consumer" mentality is really not my thing. Because, of course, when they see that they are not at the level that college requires (again, by no fault of their own), they blame me. I am demanding, my expectations are way too high, I don't understand what they're going through, I want to fail them, etc. And because they consider themselves the "customer" and me the "salesperson", they go off on me and get rude and obnoxious and disrespectful. I just had one this morning use a very rude and demanding tone, saying I was "hinting" and "beating around the bush" and "expecting too much" and that we are "clashing". None of this is true - I am just trying to help guide her to do her own work and think for herself.

I think by starting this new MA program in TESOL, it's made me realize that I don't have to take this. I am worth more, my skills are worth more, and I can do much more good doing other things (even if it isn't teaching at a university) than giving myself hernias and ulcers and what not with the stress that this job causes me. So maybe this is my chance to just cut out. I will probably need to anyway eventually because I'll be starting a teaching practice soon along with my master's coursework and I don't think I'll be able to also handle online courses too.