Plan 3. Sometimes Life Throws You a Curve.......

Funny how we start down one road and sometimes have to take a sharp left or right....

Well, I lost some weight on Atkins and then went for my followup CT scan (I have moderate asymptomatic emphysema) and it shows a lot of things other than my lungs......The first 3 I had showed I had moderate atherosclerosis of my aorta. Well, his one showed change.
I see my doctor in Jan and have no symptoms and I did talk to him, so I went on the hunt for a plan.

There is only one eating plan I found that has been proven to work to reverse this but one has to be committed completely. This plan is to reverse plaque and there is another plan to prevent it. When I get to the other side of the problem, I will do the prevention. The one to reverse it is very strict but I know I can do it. I have been eating this way for 2 days and miss nothing.

It is Dr Dean ORNISH (when it is typed in small letters it looks like O m i s h) and he calls the behavioral part the "Open your heart Plan," because it has a lot of stress-relieving components that make a major difference. They work hand in hand with the dietary. There are detailed yoga moves and advice about the importance of relationships and frankly I am not through all of it yet. I bought it Sat and have spent most of my time on the food aspect of it because that is where my major problem is, I believe. I am beginning to read the physical and emotional part of the plan now.

Good News: I can eat carbs again I can eat grains that have not been modified and sweet potatoes and other potatoes. I can have fruit (which I have missed so badly) again, and occasionally a bit of sugar.

Bad News: NO PROCESSED FOOD! No animal products are allowed except egg whites, skim milk, and fat free yogurt (no more than a cup a day total of the milk products). Very little fat. No cholesterol. No avocado, olives, or oil of any kind. I drain and rinse my canned beans but they show up on my nutrition tracking as having fat. It is very little. I also had to give up caffeine, though a cup or two of decaf is ok, working myself down to a cup. Mostly I will drink herbal teas when I am weaned off of the coffee a bit.

Good News: My blood sugar is not suffering from eating all of these carbs, which is a surprise. I had a banana today--the first I have had in no telling when! Added Benefit -- I feel GREAT, though a bit tired. Just getting off the caffeine has made a big difference in my stress level, and probably plays a role in making me tired. I get hungry a little more often but I don't crave anything, and I only eat until I don't want anymore.

The Book is "Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease" and I bought the Kindle version.

I will keep you up to date -- will post again in 2 weeks, on or around Dec 6.

I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving.