Today is Thanksgiving and it just happens to fall on my second anniversary of being a VNO, vegan-no-oil. I read Dr. Esselstyn's book, How to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, and wrote to him about a question I had about not taking statin drugs. (I have tried 5 and have an adverse reaction to all even in a 1/2 dose). It was just after Thanksgiving, two years ago. I was going to start but I had a lot of holiday and traveling on my schedule before I was going to try the plan out. That would get me to May when I probably would have forgotten my resolve and still been waiting without defense for the 3rd stroke.
The phone call that changed my life and health.
Dr. Esselstyn called on the morning of November 28th. We talked for a 1/2 hour. (I now call him My Doctor) I got off the phone and realized that tomorrow was probably not the best time to start: today was. Yeah!
I am not into depravation. Actually for some reason, I fear depravation.
I have learned to I.D. the triggers
Eating out at a restaurant where I could not call ahead is difficult.
Solution: bring emergency spices and even sauces for salads or steamed veggies.
Eat before I go.
Fix something at home that I know I like to eat when I return after the restaurant.
Invitations to parties.
I didn't want to alter a host's menu. I felt at first like a burden to mention My problem and My needs. Hello.... That attitude contributed to my poor health.
Solution: if someone is inviting me to their party, it's not all about the food. I call ahead and we talk about the menu and I ask if I can bring something I can eat. I choose something that will blend in.
If it is a PotLuck, I bring my lucky dish and make sure that there is a lot because my
contribution looks dramatic and lots of people want to try it.
Missing my favorites.
Well this is a day I could dwell on the Thanksgivings of the past, which like ole Scrooge, can come to haunt me and my healthy new day.
I see myself looking over a great pit hearing an echo calling, "come back, come back." Nope.
Solution: I do not leave that hole of lost foods. I think it is dangerous to leave a void.
I believe in replacement therapy. I jump into finding a delicious recipe, a new fruit
or veggie to feel the adventure. The sites on the side bar will keep you continually
delighted and informed.
Going down the deprivation spiral with negative thoughts and conversations.
Solution. Reframe my word choices. I am not on a diet (trigger word for me) I am on a
eating plan. I choose not to eat something instead of saying, I can't have that. I will say, it's not on my eating plan. I remind myself that I ate myself sick and now I am eating myself well.
Isolation. No one is going through what I am.
Solution: Dah, The pity party was over the minute I started to read sites, books and blogs from people ahead of me on the health path. Again. Lots of sites on the
sidebar.
I need a tribe. Silly but an honest solution. I was lucky. My husband and friends
supported me from the first meal. They helped me realize that this could work.
It is hard if you are alone or if your family is not supportive. Look for vegetarian
meet-ups in your town. This one is weird, but the Overeaters Anonymous fits quite well with anyone who hasn't developed an advocate voice for themselves. Meeting are easy to find. They're free and anonymous.
Lastly. The blog. I write this blog for me, too. I am so grateful that there are so many viewers and appreciate your following. This year I managed to write more than (12) entries so far and I still have December.
So write your own story even if it is just for you. Your road.
Happy Happy Thanksgiving. Blessings and health to all of us.
Elin
