The Journey proposed

Earlier this year, I learned that there would be a weight-loss study conducted at work.  Always looking for an easier or more effective way to lose weight, I was excited.  I was less enthusiastic when I learned it was a vegan diet. But I didn't dismiss it immediately, instead, I began to think about how my life would have to change if I were to give up meat and dairy. I already knew plenty of people who had undertaken this path, and were happier and healthier. But I still viewed them as, well, nice, but a little odd.  You know, like a normal person who sees dead people or who has an alien encounter. A little on the fringe.

Still, I was resolved to go to the informational meeting, and I'm so glad I did!  I was already convinced that I wouldn't be able to make this kind of commitment.  It was too different, I didn't know how, it was a dark and scary place. Then someone in the meeting talked about how ALL, yes ALL of her joint pain disappeared when she had been a vegan, and how it was returning now that she had gone back to being a vegetarian.  "No more joint pain?  Where do I sign?" I thought.

The next day I happened to have an appointment with my doctor for my regular diabetes checkup. Some things, like my A1C, were well controlled with medication.  It was a 6.5, not fantastic, but not bad. But my cholesterol was 231 and my LDL (bad cholesterol) was 55, not good when you consider I'm already on medication for them. I mentioned I wanted to take part in this vegan diet study through work, and wow!  You would have thought his team just won the world cup or something! His response was so positive that I knew I was going to go through with it. His enthusiasm, as well as that from friends, was completely contagious.

I was so excited, and also so concerned about my health, that I started the next day, rather than waiting for the study to begin. I was told this was acceptable.  I really felt like my body was counting down for the final throw in the towel moment, that I was committing suicide by food.  I had a serious talk with my husband, and he agreed to go on this journey with me!  There was no good reason at all not to proceed.  It still seemed like a dark and scary place, but the alternative was unacceptable.  The date was Nov 12th.  Read more about my starting situation in the next blog, if I haven't bored you yet.

I should mention that reading The China Study by T. Colin Campbell was also a major factor in my decision.  It's an amazing book that should be required reading somehow.