So without further ado, allow me to introduce you to Brian.

 

That night, in between rounds of beating myself up and wallowing in self-pity, my wife and I watched a documentary called “What the Health?” on Netflix. It hit me like a ton of bricks. It changed my life. I found the answers to a lot of the questions I was asking and answers to questions I didn’t even know I should be asking. It was like an awakening. It was weird, for sure. It’s like everything clicked into place. I knew I wanted to be better and could be better. I knew I had the mental toughness or at least I hoped. Finally, I had the answer. A plant-based, vegan, low-sugar lifestyle. 

 

OK. Where to begin. (Rubs hands together) 

 

I thought I was going to starve the first day. I had no idea the road I took. But, I’m an all or nothing type of person. Always a cannonball into the deep end. So for me, I had to be militant about certain things. I needed hard guardrails. I had to abide (the dude abides) to a few strict rules for myself.

 

 

As my level of ingredient education grew, I became more aware. I began to realize that it wasn’t my fault I ate the way I did. My parents didn’t know. I’m not looking to blame anyone, but I needed to stop blaming myself. It’s what American culture has become - over celebration of food. Bigger, cheesier, gooier. The “What the hell can we fry now” generation. We are bombarded by triple-bacon this and all-you-can-eat that. Driving down the main thoroughfare, we are inundated with cheap meat and sugary big gulps with free refills. Take a look at the back of any food label. Sugar is the only ingredient on that label that the US government doesn’t require your recommended % Daily Allowance. For the record, an average man is 37 grams per day and an average woman is 25 grams per day. Shocking. In my opinion, it started in the 70’s, when the sugar industry gave a non-independent report that sugar was good for you. The government ate it up, we got fat and the boomers are paying the price via Type 2 Diabeties with help the drug companies there to sell you pills and insulin. Just look at the statistics! Almost 10% of the population in 2015. Statistics About Diabetes Type 2 Diabetes has QUADRUPLED since 1980. Type 2 Diabetes Rates Quadruple Worldwide Since 1980 I find this quote interesting "The number of adults with diabetes has reached almost 450 million worldwide, and low- and middle-income countries have experienced the fastest increases” Why? Because there is a ton, a ton of salt, sugar and fat in fast food, meat & dairy. The more I learn, the more my Rule #7 comes into my head - no sugar, no sugar, no sugar. 

 

Side note: As a general rule of thumb when cooking and following a recipe, I generally cut the sugar in half. 

 

So what did I eat?

 

OK, fast-forward 8 weeks of eating vegan/plant-based diet and keeping my sugar intake down. I gave blood and anxiously waited for my doctor appointment to get the results a couple of days later. My blood work results shocked the doctor. The results shocked me. My overall cholesterol went down from 251 to 183 and my triglycerides went down from 540 to 147. My protein levels tested high-normal on the scale. The doctor took me off the medication. As a bi-product of eating this way, I lost 18 lbs. 

 

8 weeks later, we did another round of blood work to see what the results would be of taking me off the statin. My numbers went up a bit - to be expected. My cholesterol went from 183 to 206 and triglycerides from 147 to 183. I lost another 7 lbs for a total of 25 lbs. 

 

Dig Deep.

 

It’s now been a year later that I’m writing this. I consider myself living a Dietary Vegan/Plant-based lifestyle. I still wear leather. I’m glad I’m saving over 200 living creatures a year, but I’m doing it more for my health. (Selfish bastard.) Sugar is always going to be a battle, especially now that my wife has gotten into vegan baking! But, at least I know what I’m putting into my body. I’m definitely more educated and learning every day. I’ve added the gym into my lifestyle. I go 4 days a week for 60 minutes. That was the final “puzzle” piece for me. Tone my body now that I’m feeling better, sleeping better and having more natural energy. I went from a large to a medium, a 36 to 32 waist, 3 chins to 1 (Damn Family Curse!) and changed my body inside and out.

 

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

 

DIG DEEP.

Website: bmoorecd.com

Twitter: @bmoorecd