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You can be the best role model! We need more Northern Calif. role models. Lead the way, baby!
f1jim

Thanks f1jim.

There is not much to report except I've been super busy. I haven't used the gym because I've been too busy/tired for that. I haven't run in the mornings because I've been too sleepy.

B ~ can of chickpeas.
L ~ most of Amy's fat free veggie soup with some spinach added
S ~ potato with honey and nutritional yeast

I'm not sure what I'll have for dinner. Maybe a yam in the oven with salsa? I should hunt down a good recipe... something that's fast.

Too busy to post! Back to work..

Seems I'm eating very easy convenience food lately. For breakfasts I have a serving of oatmeal. I get "Nice" brand, which is the cheapest in single servings. They have different flavors and I like them all. It would probably be healthier to cook my own without sugar, but I never like it as much as this. The consistency is never good, unless I cook steel cut, but who has the time for that? So I'm just going with the sugar and hopefully eating other healthy stuff and cutting out fatty stuff mitigates any damage I might be doing.

For lunches I typically have a can of chickpeas and either a potato with honey and nutritional yeast (except now I'm all out of the nutritional yeast at work) or chickpeas and something else.. another oatmeal.. today I had a black bean soup cup... see what I mean? Very easy convenience.

I think I'm probably the laziest cook on here. Sometimes for lunch I just have another can of chickpeas. I'm going to try to get some more greens in my system and other veggies. I used to work by Whole Foods which made life so much easier and healthier. Now I have to preplan and all that.

I'm trying to get to the gym and run also. I did go the other night for a bit over an hour. I know because I listened to a 60 minutes podcast on my ipod. I learned about how toxic sugar is, but I still think fat is worse. It was a little annoying listening to the program actually.

I'm going to try to get an audiobook on my ipod so I can listen to that on the treadmill when I run. Or I might swim some more, haven't gotten to into that just yet, but I should. Also I want to listen to French once I memorize some more of it.

Not sure what I'll have for dinner... no more chickpeas. Maybe I'll make a curry or something.

Hi Caroveggie:

Such a delight to meet talk to you today! Just finished reading your journal and your exercise commitment is really making me feel that I might need to go look at some gyms. Hopefully, I can find one that isn't really expensive and has some low impact exercise machines that I can use -- despite my fibro.

Hey -- good luck on that vegan shoe quest! So far I have found no one that has been happy with the results, but it's such a virtuous pursuit that no one gives up, as far as I can tell.

So, I will be following your posts and getting inspired by your goal to get back to the natural rhythm of exercise. I completely knew what you meant on that - but gosh, it has been so long since I was in that perfect groove myself! Here's wishing us both luck on that!!!!

Best to you - Michelle

I highly recommend the audio version of The China Study. The narration is excellent and just a bit snarky. Really makes the book great fun to listen to. You might also check out the podcasts of Dr. McDougall and Dr. Fuhrman's radio shows on iTunes. Both are worth listening to. Finally, get the Overdrive app. It allows you to 'checkout' and download free ebooks and audiobooks for 2 weeks from participating libraries. My local library just joined and I downloaded and am currently listening to The Compass of Pleasure (about addiction - including food addition) while exercising.

Kate

Hi again:

Didn't want you to miss this post from giddyupgin - who has started a "starchovores" group in Tacoma Washington. This link goes to that thread and her links to more about the group and it's page. She is a nurse so this is a health adjunct for her as well. Pretty cool.

viewtopic.php?f=38&t=28936

Vegan shoes: I've had the same problem finding leather-free shoes I like for work (sneakers are pretty easy to find.)

But I just bought some shoes from a brand called "Soft Stags" that are sold on Amazon. There are a variety of styles. I've had them for a few weeks and like them a lot. They're cheap, comfortable, and look good. Usually you only get 2 out of 3. They seems to run slightly big, FYI.

Wow lots of visitors and bringing lots of good ideas. Thank you.

lmggallagher It was great to meet you too! And thanks for stopping by and giving me giddyupgin's link. I checked it but I can't look at the meetups yet because it's blocked at my work.

Katydid Thank you for the ipod ideas. I will definitely check them out when I have time, especially Overdrive app. I will have to figure that out. Not sure if that's something with iTunes or if I would download it on my Android.

danmc And thank you for telling me about Soft Stags. I will check that out next time it's time to get new shoes.

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Well thank goodness for the spare can of chickpeas I keep at my desk. I forgot to bring my wallet today so that was lunch! Which reminds me I'm all out of McDougall cups also. They are also very handy. And the potatoes I bought from Costco have gone bad. I ate as many as I could but there were still too many. I brought one to work but it had rotted on the inside. I have a lot of cans of Eden rice and bean concoctions but I've learned they're not my favorite thing. So it's time for me to get to a health food store and stock up on more McDougall cups. I have a lot of rice but haven't felt like cooking it. Maybe I'll make some big curry dish to tide me over for a while. In which case I need more (but not too many) fresh potatoes anyways.

I just had the chickpeas but I might have another serving of oatmeal too. Maybe.

...and now for another update and how I'm doing emotionally...

I somehow managed to jog a little this morning despite being pretty depressed lately because someone I know committed suicide. It's pretty sad and I didn't know him too well (he was in a play I'm in) but wish I had made more of an effort to befriend him more. He was older than me but still young. You can't help but think over your little interactions with him and wonder/regret the impact. There is one instance I keep going back to where I wish I had acted differently but I can't change what happened and now he's gone. So I'm obviously still coping with it and dumping it all here. I also wrote last night in my private journal my thoughts. This weekend is his memorial service and at our rehearsal we're going to all talk which I think will help also.

I don't know what made me feel the need to start jogging again but emotionally I didn't want to, felt strangely committed to it so I would jog, think of him, walk, jog, think of him, walk, etc. It was pretty crazy. This all happened around 5 am too. So he has been on my mind and I've been reading some website forums to help friends/family of people who have committed suicide. I guess I am in shock and grief. It has made me a quieter person since I found out but I think continuing with the things you gotta do for health, work, others, and sharing my thoughts (either here, with others, or my private journal) is what helps. I hope his soul is being comforted.

I'm so sorry -- even though you were not close to him, it is completely normal that you feel grief. Suicide creates a very strong shock and a ripple that affects everyone connected to it. I pray that you and his other friends and family also receive comfort for your souls. So sad...

Thank you Quinoiamania. I'm still in shock that I won't see him again and that he's completely gone.

Oh so sad to hear about this man. I think it's wonderful that you will go to the service and also that you all will talk about him at your rehearsal - that will help the community of which he was part heal.

I just was at a family funeral the day before the McDougall get together - and it really helped me come to grips with the loss through talking to her family and friends. That's really how we cope with these things - talking it through with others or just hearing about a persons life in it's totality.

Also, I would not dwell on interactions that you had with him in past. It's so hard to know the reasons for a suicide, but often it is due to massive depression -- in that state really the person is rarely affected by things or people external. The pain is internal within them and that's what they seek to end. Nothing another says or does - can change that for the critically clinically depressed.

Take care - Michelle

We have a replacement Dr. Bob and also a musical director. So if we can learn all the songs and dancing and the actors have their lines down in a month, then we'll be good to go. It's just a shame though what happened, pretty sobering.

I reread Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease by Esselstyn and really enjoyed it. I really took in the pictures of the diseased arteries and the healed (on plant based no oil diet) arteries.

Also saw a "Kitchen Rescue" 1 hour movie with Rip Esselstyn on Netflix. He went to two familys' houses and took out all the dangerous foods and then went shopping. He made breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even desert. All the food looked really yummy. I've already had the sweet potato lasagna at a veg potluck, so I know I'll be getting the Engine 2 book for the recipes (went back twice for the lasagna).

Right now I'm rereading Senior Fitness by Ruth Heidrich. That's also good, lots of good info. I'm ready to spend a bit more time putting together healthy, yummy meals but I haven't had the time yet. I went to the East Bay this weekend for my mom's birthday barbeque. I brought 2 cans of Eden (lentils & rice and a quinoa chili) with me. My dad had a can of chickpeas for me (they know I love them) and they cooked corn on the cob on the grill (along with the burgers and hotdogs for everyone else). My family didn't even have a salad! Only some lettuce for the burgers. My sister who has lost a lot of weight with Weight Watchers had some burger and brought her own asparagus which she microwaved with some water. She had a little desert but I passed. Decadent caramel brownies. What's the point I thought? Why ruin my health streak? I'm more excited about putting together some yummy healthy meals after seeing those artery pictures. I've also discovered that when I'm determined to make sure I'm not eating oil I'll eat different things than I would've picked before, but I'll still enjoy my meal.

I want to buy some healthy cereals that Rip used to create a yum looking breakfast with fruit and almond milk. I'm not a super big fan of cooked oatmeal. At least, I don't seem to like the healthier (old fashioned or steel cut) version of it unless I feel like it. But the cold fruit cereal he made in the movie looked good. I can keep it at my desk with some fruit and the almond milk in fridge. So I've been thinking about that all morning. I really had a McDougall cup for breakfast. They are convenient. Although I like the idea of moving away from so much processed food.

Also want to add in more greens to my diet. I have to figure that out. I'm thinking a weekly or twice weekly visit to Whole Foods would help, because I can stock up on one of their premade buffet kale salads (the ones that have no oil) and then just keep it in the fridge at work to add to my lunches.

I have been thinking a lot about how sad it is that there aren't more healthy vegan (whole plant) restaurants around. Living in San Francisco, there are a lot of options, but not a single restaurant that offers vegan and no oil. Only places where you can request no oil. There is Nature's Express, but that's in Berkeley and has more of a vegan burger type menu (not that that's bad..). What I'd like is something like a Nature's Express only with a much larger menu, and all of it McDougall safe. A place where anyone trying to lower their cholesterol/reverse their heart disease could go and order safely. I'm also envisioning having healthy books on hand and also offering free classes for the general public, bringing in speakers, etc. The closest thing to this was Cafe Gratitude, but they had too much fat and were totally raw. This wouldn't be totally raw, but have sweet potatoes, potatoes, legumes, etc. along with salads, veg burgers, loafs, etc. (the whole plant kind) as well as any other healthy whole plant meal one could think of. I think that'd be a good business opportunity.

What usually happens with "healthy" type restaurants is that they miss the boat as far as real heart-health and disease prevention is concerned. One restaurant in SF has a sign in its window "voted most delicious healthy restaurant in SF" or something like that. So I went inside and looked at the menu and they had only ONE vegetarian option, and it wasn't low-fat. But my idea is that the restaurant itself would teach people what they need to know for their health ~ like the reason they don't offer oil is because it's unhealthy. There's SO much (unknown) confusion about this. People think they need their fish oils, their olive oil, canola oil isn't harmful, etc. etc. etc. I think it's time for a restaurant that really shows how it is if you want to reverse your heart disease, diabetes, stop your MS, lose weight, etc. There are plenty of other restaurants out there that have it wrong, but they carry the same attitude, like "eat here, we're a healthy restaurant." It takes so much delving into the subject just to understand you shouldn't add oil that there should be a lesson on that topic alone. Along with one on protein, calcium, iron, general plant based health, reversing heart disease, senior fitness, etc.

Also I've been thinking it'd be good to start a little healthy fast food cart like those I see around the city with hot dogs and pretzels. Offering food that would be heart healthy and advertise it as such, including informative fliers, etc.

Lots of enterprising ideas If I were rich I'd get this done! For right now I'm paying off orthodontic bills and saving money.

Anyway.. since I came from the East Bay this morning, for lunch I'll have the rest of the Eden rice/beans mix and maybe something healthy from the grocer a few blocks away.

Yum, keep thinking - a food cart is a wonderful idea and the idea for a learning experience restaurant is so cool! Have you seen the Whole Food's experiment to launch healthy cooking courses at some of it's stores. I think they have one in Oakland now with an education center. They are training healthy vegan - the whole foods guy talked about it at the advanced study weekend .

I am hugely tired right now -- so the name of it and his name are totally escaping me - maybe I'll take a pre-dinner anp and dreamaa bout your great ideas....ZZZZzzzzz

Ah, thanks for dreaming with me Michelle..

I know Whole Foods is leading the way somewhat but they still cater to their investors. I was in Whole Foods after work today (went and got a bunch of oil-free kale salad mixes) and (as discussed somewhere else on McDougall forum) Whole Foods vary a lot store to store, not to mention there are big long aisles of raw meat to look at, tons of cheese, oils, etc... So on the one hand they do promote a healthy diet to their employees (which is good), and occasionally offer health classes (also good), on the other hand they confuse the public because there are chickens roasting over here, a seafood section, organic grass-fed beef, cheese section, really yummy artery clogging ice-cream.. etc. Even looking at the buffet I found it pretty odd. There'd be a perfectly McDougall-safe kale and lentil dishes with no oil, and then fried rice, mac n cheese, oily stir fries, etc. Thank goodness they label all the ingredients though.

I remember hearing that Whole Foods started as a vegan place but in order to grow, "had" to start selling meat. In order to grow or in order to please investors.

So the place I'm envisioning would have none of that. Only healthy foods, and anything that could be remotely harmful for those wanting to reverse heart disease (avocado, nuts, seeds) marked with an explanation.

Guess I'm thinking of a glorified Farmer's Market, except with pre-made dishes, or just a restaurant where everything on the menu is completely healthy, McDougall-safe.

Anyway today I got my high fiber dry cereals. I got plain wheat squares (cheapest, whole grain, Whole Foods brand), old fashioned oats (all my oatmeal is instant or steel cut), and bananas and frozen blueberries for the fruit. Oh yes, and the almond milk. ..although I may have some in the fridge, got some just in case. So in the video Rip made this breakfast with 4 cereals. I'll be using this other flax something or other in place of GrapeNuts since Whole Foods didn't have GrapeNuts. Also I forgot the walnuts. Which is OK, I still don't fit into my old clothes yet so I might as well skip the nuts. Rip also puts mango and kiwi in his. I have mango and I love them but I've only had them by themselves. So I'll try a little mango in the cereal once they get ripe. I'm not so sure about kiwi. It tends to be kind of a strong fruit. For now, I'll stick to the brain-food blueberries and banana until I can add the ripe mango to it also. So I'll have that tomorrow for breakfast. Looking forward to it.

Today:

Breakfast: McDougall cup "Chinese Chicken Noodle"
Lunch: Sweet potato with Eden's quinoa/chili and a small chopped raw onion and sliced banana
Dinner: Whole Foods kale assortment (no oil) with lentils and turnip, eggplant something or other, quinoa salad of some sort (everything no oil and McDougall safe). For some reason this Whole Foods didn't have just brown rice. They had brown coconut rice. I'm not sure what that is but just in case it was fatty I avoided it.

Whole Foods was offering "5 for $5" today, which was 5 samples of 3 kale salads, a quinoa salad, and a chickpea mix (all no oil, dairy or meat!) so I bought that for lunch tomorrow.

I only walked a little today. I'm out of shape. I spent more time reading Senior Fitness. I think it's good to read/reread these types of books, it's good reinforcement.

The cereal is really good!

Whole wheat squares, Perky's Crunchy Flax, old fashioned oatmeal (uncooked), blueberries, banana, almond milk, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Cut the banana in quarters lengthwise and then slice it so you get a lot of little bits. The banana bits provide the sweetness (I picked unsweetened almond milk).

Good way to start the day.