Making the Vegan Transition!

Yesterday I wrote about my very painful experience with gallstones. Well, I have a bit of good news! After doing another ultrasound this morning it has been determined that surgery is not needed. The doctor suggested I make simple changes to my diet to reduce the chance of having to deal with gallstone pain again.

And so for the zillionth time in my life, it was suggested that I pretty much adapt a vegan diet.

Well, in my doctor’s words, “Cut back on high fat foods like cream, cheese, fatty meats, take-out and processed foods.”

Sounds like a plant-based diet to me. 

I know I could simply cut back on these foods, but why not eliminate them altogether?

My boyfriend has been a strict vegetarian (no meat, eggs or dairy) for 5 years now. And while I like many, many vegan foods I have always had a difficult time sticking to just vegan foods.

3 Reasons Why:

For one, I can’t stand beans. The taste, the texture, the smell. While I have forced myself to eat them many times because I understand that they are actually super healthy, I have always had to disguise them as well as I can. But sometimes even knowing they are there turns me off.

Another thing, one I hate to talk about, is my poor relationship with food in general. I am a food addict. Not going to lie, I love food. I love ice cream, and steak and cheese! There are indeed always great alternatives, but they aren’t quite the same as the real thing.

And lastly, the alternatives are a little bit pricier! I mean, tubs of ice cream go on sale for $2.99 all of the time! But a super tiny tub of vegan ice cream rarely dips below the $3.99 mark. Most vegan foods just don’t go on sale, ever! And while I know buying unprocessed, fresh foods, and ingredients, is truly much cheaper than buying anything processed, sometimes I just really want an Oreo (which is vegan! And does go on sale) or a veggie burger!

 

I might as well try it again, though:

 

What it comes down to is the fact that clearly my current diet is not working out for me. I’m overweight, I’m exhausted, I have gallstones and I’m just plain tired of living like this.

Because my boyfriend is vegetarian, because I have been vegan on and off, and because I have done a lot of research, own a lot of books and watched many documentaries, I know in the end that a vegan diet can do wonders for your health. So for the next little while I’m going to start the switch.

I can’t promise anyone, not even myself, that this time it will work out. I can’t guarantee I will stick to this diet for the rest of my life. But I know that for now I can start making the transition to a healthier diet.

I might even keep you guys updated on my progress ;)

How about you? Are you a vegan or vegetarian? How did you make the transition?

Thanks,
Cole

 

PS - At least most beer is vegan! And one reason Nick refuses a vegan title - He loves Guinness!

Backpacks, Gallstones and Gratitude

 

I took my daughter back to school shopping today! We got her a backpack plus many other little items such as markers, pencil crayons, scissors, glue, etc. Very exciting stuff for a five year old (and even for a twenty three old! Who doesn’t love markers?!).

When Nick is at work we always take the bus for several reasons. One, because he has the car. Two, because I need to renew my license. And three, because Sidney think it’s just SO much fun! Luckily for us our apartment is a short walk to the bus terminal downtown.

But today that walk was just too long.

 

Right after Sidney and I crossed the street, I threw my coffee cup into a garbage can and immediately keeled over as a sharp pain shot through my upper abdomen area. It came out of nowhere, as if someone stabbed me for no apparent reason. I tried to finish our walk home, but after a mere few steps I couldn’t even stand.

Squatting down, leaned up against a brick wall just a short ways down an alley (so I wasn’t RIGHT downtown), I called my mom on my cell phone bawling my eyes out. This pain was worse than child labour pains without meds, and I know this for a fact because I gave birth - naturally! And unlike child labour pains, it wasn’t going away!

After my dad picked us up we went back to their house, dropped Sid off and my mom took me to the hospital. She couldn’t stay with me because my dad needed the car, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to know what was wrong with me, and I wanted the pain to go away.

And of course, just like always, as soon as I get to the emergency room, the pain does subside a little and I started to wonder if I should just call my mom to take me home right away. But I didn’t, because I knew the pain could and most likely would come back.

The nurses did a urine test and some blood tests, and after waiting around for 5 hours, they did an ultrasound. And guess what? I have gallstones! Yippee!

Well, maybe a “yippee” isn’t a good reaction, but I’m glad it isn’t something super serious. As painful as gallstones can be at times, they’re really not that threatening.

Still, another ultrasound is needed, and it’s possible that I might need surgery. I wouldn’t want to experience that pain ever again, especially during class or while I’m out with Sidney again! That would be awful, especially if I couldn’t get a hold of anyone to pick us up.

The doctor told me that females, in their fertile years, with fair skin, have the highest risk of developing gallstones. And I’m all three, baby! Sign me up!

I guess I'm just lucky!

And really I am! Because even though I have these dang gallstones that might require surgery, I’m fortunate enough to have family to help me when I need them, to live in a country with free health care and a city with a great hospital and hospital staff! So much to be grateful for. :)

Have you ever had to deal with gallstones? Or something similar?

Thanks,
Cole