Vegetarian update 4-23-14
 

WARNING: I am not trying to "preach" to anyone. I have never considered myself the "general manager" of the universe. This is simply some notes on what I have chosen to do.

First of all, I should really call this the Vegan update, because that better describes what I have been doing than vegetarian. I have been on blood pressure pills for over 3 years. First I was on hydrochlorothiazide, and then I was on lisinopril. Even on the pills my bp was usually around 135/90. I discontinued my bp pills about 2 weeks ago and have been watching my bp carefully. Without the medication, my bp now averages 106/70. I am 6'1" tall and when I started eating vegan I weighed 235. I now weigh 220 and for the first time in a long time my BMI is below 30. So, while I am still at the high end of the overweight scale, I am no longer medically obese. For the last 3 years, my fasting blood sugar has been around 130. This morning it was 106. Still a bit too high for my liking, but it's coming down fast.
The amount of resources available on the internet are amazing. My loving wife has taken such good care of me for the last 42 years that I really don't have many skills in the kitchen. I have learned many easy to do vegan dishes on the internet. There are also great vegan and vegetarian options in the supermarkets frozen foods section. I particularly love Amy's Kitchen.
So far, it seems to be working for me, but I can easily see how this isn't for everyone. After all, it wasn't for me for 99% of my life. Well, time to go have a mean green juice.

Wow! That's impressive progress! What are some of your favorite dishes/foods now?

This is awesome you are able to maintain your new lifestyle diet. Yes, your right its not for everyone and its very hard to do. We have been doing it for years and sometime we miss those cheeseburgers and steaks. On occasion we do indulge and we feel guilty after.

That is great your able to lower your blood pressure through diet. If you have high cholesterol that will be coming down as well. My doctor was going to put me on medications but I told him I'd do it with diet and I have with great success.

Keep up the great work and you will reap many health benefits.

Good luck with this. I tried it a while back and although it can definitely have health benefits, you have to be careful of certain things. Carbs and sugar can become a real problem because in the absence of meat, some people (me) tend to rely too much on them.
The other thing I found was it was very difficult to maintain for a long period of time. Going out to eat for example was a nightmare. Also being invited to someone's house to eat is a problem. If your spouse doesn't follow the program with you it makes it even more difficult.

But Like I say, if it works for you, great. Keep up the good work.

Barry your results are very typical, as far as the weight, you don't want to drop it like rock, 2-3 lbs a week is fine.

A BMI is perfect at 19-21, so that's your next goal. Maybe 175lbs

It will happen.

Other benefits and changes will occur to your body as well over the next 2-3 months......

Now the best part you get all new clothes

Kudos to you! I am not a fan of meat, have no objection to someone eating meat, I simply don't care for the taste. How do you get Vitamin D? I'm an outside person, hate mushrooms, and blood tests have me taking a supplement.

Over time would you post some of your recipes? There are a lot on the Internet, but someone having actually tried and enjoyed a specific recipe without meat, would be amazing help.

When our kids were young we tried meatless Monday and it was not a hit. I think it was because I didn't have the knack of combining the ingredients to make them palatable.

Thank you for giving those of us that may not be carnivores a true success story.

I've always liked Indian food and Thai food, so those two are my special going to a restaurant choices. I really can't say what my "at home" favorites are yet, because I'm still experimenting. I made some vegetarian lettuce wraps the other night that were delicious. I tried frying up some tofu the night before, and that didn't come out so good. Try to just google vegan recipes and you'll get a bunch of options. Oh yeah......I like to cut up a bunch of veggies and some potatoes, put some olive oil on them and then put them on a baking pan in a 500 degree oven and roast them. Then have them with a rice side dish.

Jimbo....thanks for your non-judgmental support and encouragement.

After your previous warnings about carbs, I did make a conscious effort to be careful,with them. I think the reduction in my fasting blood glucose means that I am doing ok with carbs. You are spot on with your other comments. Some restaurants have some pretty good veggie options, and some are very limited. My wife is not following the same program I am, nor do I expect her to make lifestyle changes just because I did. It makes it harder, but it wasn't a deal breaker, at least not in our house.

You have to be careful about how you interpret blood glucose levels. It's usually good that they are low, but it could also mean that you pancreas is working overtime and sending out huge amounts of insulin. If that's the case then you run the risk of becoming insulin resistant.
I think that there's another test, the name of which I can't recall that can tell you how much insulin you've been producing.

The test you are referring to, Winston, actually measures the C-peptide. It is an insulin C-peptide test. The pancreas produces C-peptide when it produces insulin.

Amazing, Barry! Keep us posted. I'm proud of you.

Thanks bk!