Looking back, it started in 3rd grade. I would get this terrible pain in my chest, back and right ear. The pain would be so intense, I felt as if a knife was being stabbed through my back, into my chest, all while hitting a nerve that shot up to my ear. Curling up into the fetal position, I would cry and wish the pain away. That method does not work, by the way! This pain went on for years and I never knew what it was.
I came down with a viral infection and my husband, who was my fiancee at the time, drove me to Urgent Care where the doctor had many questions. The most surprising one being when I had my tonsils removed. Come to find out, I was born without them...who would of thought, but that is besides the point. After a few questions, I did have a viral infection, but walked away with a prescription for the pharmaceutical strength Prilosec. He diagnosed me with Acid Reflux Disease and apparently, I had been experiencing the horrible symptoms of it for eleven years.
Fast forward to January of 2008. I went to the doctor because I was sick, yet again, and my migraines were debilitating me to the point where I couldn't walk because each step sent a pounding sensation to my head where I felt as if my brain was just lose inside bouncing from hemisphere to hemisphere. I hadn't been able to exercise because the migraines would last a week, or even a week and a half, and once I felt like I could exercise, the weather was against me. My amazing doctor sent me to the lab and had my blood drawn to do a full lipid profile. I didn't think anything of the test, but within three days, I got a call. Since when do the nurses actually call a patient to give them test results? They call when it isn't good news and you need some type of intervention! I was given six months to get my numbers down, or else, they were placing me on medication! For me, the meds were the easy way out, but there was no way I was going to be placed on the same Staten drugs my grandparents took!
After extensive research, I made huge changes. I joined the gym at San Diego State University where I was studying for my B.A. in Psychology. Working out became a part of my routine and I exercised and lifted weights four to five days a week. At the same time, my diet was completely different. I cut out all red meat and only consumed four ounces of extra lean chicken or turkey a day. Eliminating all saturated fats was also essential, as well as reducing my sodium intake. Learning to read labels was not difficult, but it took a conscious effort. Realizing I could not eat a lot of the foods I had been eating was an eye opener and fueled my new passion for a cleaner and healthier way of not only eating, but living. Sounds healthy, right? Thirty pounds down, and going from a size nine to a size three was a confidence booster, but that was quickly shot down by my six month re-check on my lipid panel. My numbers had gone down, but they were not anywhere near where I wanted them to be. I still had high cholesterol, but was borderline for needing medication. That was not good enough for me.
The Best Man at our wedding sent me a couple of books and I read them cover to cover in a matter of days. One changed my life, The China Study by Dr. T. Colin Campbell. I had been slowly killing myself with my food. No one ever taught me how to eat healthy or about nutrition until our Best Man enlightened me. I began a Vegan diet as soon as I had finished the book and have never looked back. Three months into this new way of life, my Acid Reflux Disease was GONE, my acne was GONE, my skin felt more hydrated, I was sleeping better, I had more energy, and the best part of all, my cholesterol numbers fell into the middle of the normal range! My doctor was blown away and told me he was going to use my numbers as an example to his patients to show them lifestyle change is better than taking a pill everyday! He even suggested I start teaching a cholesterol course at the hospital! I am now referred to as his "Favorite Vegan Patient!" Besides having many ailments disappear, I have not been as sick as I used to be. Now, if I do get sick, it literally lasts a day, then I am back to feeling 100%. Basically, being Vegan is the only way for me to not be on medication. I wish I knew how to nourish my body when I was younger, however I am taking this opportunity to share my knowledge with those who are willing to listen and want to change their lives. Here is my Cholesterol Transformation:
Since going Vegan, I have watched many documentaries on health, diet, and lifestyle, as well as read many scholarly journals and research papers relating to a Vegan diet and disease. Most of the videos I have watched talk about Cancer and how our food and lifestyle choices contribute to its rapid growth within our bodies. With having four members of my family battle Cancer (I thank God they are all survivors!), I have yet another reason to continue on with this lifestyle! Cancer appears to run in my family as well as Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, and High Cholesterol, why wouldn't I make this change for myself and my family to lengthen my time here on this Earth?
The opportunities keep presenting themselves since I have changed my lifestyle. One of those opportunities took me to New York to appear on the Dr. Oz show! Although I did not get to talk, it was a fantastic memory I got to share with my daughter and it is a memory I will never forget! Yes, Dr. Oz is as nice a person in real life as he is on T.V.! This blog has also opened doors for me and I hope it will help others become more informed and give them the strength to change their lives!
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