“Fear is not sustainable. Joy and pleasure are.”

Dr. Dean Ornish

“Don’t say I can’t. Don’t say I’ll try. Say I’ll do! Then do it.”

Nalida Lacet Besson

Fear was the catalyst to start my journey. Fear because of the massive pain I was feeling in my entire body in July 2013. Fear of dying prematurely and not being around for my children. Fear for their future because of my unhealthy choices.

But as Dr. Ornish says, fear is not sustainable. That is why a lot of people vow to change after going through an illness, after watching a loved one go through an illness, after watching a loved one die, after getting a diagnosis, after having an epiphany and realizing that if they don’t make a change, obesity and it’s related illnesses WILL eventually take their lives prematurely. But how much and for how long will that fear cause real change? Oftentimes we revert back to old habits.

There’s nothing more special about me than anyone else. In a moment of great pain and desperation I looked at my young son’s face (he was 6 at the time) and realized I didn’t want to leave him and my daughters and for them to be without a mother because of my poor choices. I begged God to help me heal my body that I had abused with food and lack of fitness. At that same moment, I turned and saw Dr. Fuhrman’s Eat To Live book which had been sitting on my nightstand.

That was my answered prayer. So to go back to my old life of food addictive destructive behavior would be throwing back this gift of health, wellness, and joy back in the Lord’s face and I can never do that. After the fear came the joy and pleasure of wellness, health, community, gratitude, and love. Yes, I still have all the many life challenges I had. But I’m enjoying life with my family so much more. I can move. I can run. I FEEL so strong and healthy. And my mind is more at peace. Sure, we’re all going to die one day. But why should we be the ones causing our own demises?

I’m not using my old excuses of “trying” but not following through. As Dr. Fuhrman says in his books, trying is not enough. Trying is not a commitment. He gives an example of marriage vows. You don’t say I’ll try. You VOW to keep you’re promises.

I had a kindergarten teacher named Mr. Juste who used to say to us, “Don’t say I can’t. Say I’ll try.” That was good advice for a kindergartener. As an adult, I needed to step it up because “trying” wasn’t enough. Actually DOING is what gets results. And the joy and pleasure Dr. Ornish talks about, along with faith, sustains the journey.

#PlantBasedGodsGrace

Snapshot of 1st level fridge and freezer after grocery delivery from local supermarket and WFs. Rest in upstairs fridge and freezer. I stock up A LOT of frozen veggies, especially the ones on sale for 99 cents. Not seen are pantry items like dried beans, unsalted boxed beans, sweet potatoes, etc. I shop on a budget (I’m a teacher and my husband is a musician) but I am grateful to have these grocery delivery services available for a few dollars extra and to be able to get sales often while maximizing my time. I got to finish my bean stew and do some house cleaning while my groceries were being shopped for and delivered.

#PlantBasedGodsGrace

BP 113/79, HR 56. Monitor announces out loud “Your blood pressure is optimal.” Similar normal and optimal readings continue withOUT medication but WITH a nutrient-rich whole food plant based diet (without sugar, oil, or salt) plus exercise. Med free since August 27, 2017 and down 52 pounds since May 2017. Go Michael! Praise God!

#Grateful

#NoExcuses

#PlantBasedGodsGrace

Don’t get it twisted. There are several big companies making a ton of money off selling all this hyper-palatable food that is making us and our children fat and sick. As a matter of fact, it’s making the owners fat and sick too because they get addicted from the junk too but they can afford more care which might extend their lives a fraction more and they will be able to leave a large inheritance for their heirs. Let’s ask ourselves, why do companies pay scientists to add chemicals, sugar, oil, and salt (see the books The Pleasure Trap by Drs. Lisle and Goldhammer and The End Of Over Eating by Dr. Kessler) to make our brains go crazy and want more of what is killing us!! I hate going to the supermarket now because I hate seeing all these packaged frankenfoods killing us! It makes me sad. That’s why I do mostly online grocery delivery shopping but sometimes I still have to go in. Addiction to these food substances has become so rampant that people are walking around sick, leaning hard on carriages like zombies just adding more junk in the carriage to make them sicker because they are so addicted to these hyper-palatable “foods” and don’t know that if they abstain from it that in 6 weeks, the brain WILL begin to adapt and it will get easier. It really will! I’ve lived it. Give your brain and your body a chance to heal and LIVE! Don’t let these companies profit from your addiction and ill health. Please, please, watch Food, Inc. and Forks Over Knives (both on Netflix) and start LIVING. It’s worth it. I promise. Your life and your family’s lives are worth it.

I would say I’m sorry for this rant but I’m not. If it pushes one person to action then it will be worth it for those who get mad whom I don’t blame because it’s their addictive brain speaking. I’ve been there and, by God’s grace, will never go back.

—

“She gestured to a home along her route and shook her head, recalling how its patriarch, a morbidly obese man, died the previous week. “He ate a piece of cake and died in his sleep,” she said.

Mrs. da Silva, who herself weighs more than 200 pounds, recently discovered that she had high blood pressure, a condition she acknowledges is probably tied to her weakness for fried chicken and the Coca-Cola she drinks with every meal, breakfast included.”

First pic: August 2013, One month into my health journey. Second pic: September 15, 2017, on our 22nd Anniversary and about 4 months into Michael really owning his own journey. I’m so grateful to the Lord for so much!

Michael’s blood pressure was 185/100+ in the beginning of July 2017 even though he had recently gotten serious and started losing weight. He was prescribed 1/2 blood pressure pill daily. But Michael went 100% WFPB SOS-Free and finally cut out all the seafood. 100%! He didn’t fuss or complained. Just ate all the yummy bean stews, veggies, sweet potatoes, salads, fruits, seeds/nuts, all his G-BOMBS, Joel Fuhrman, M.D.’s term for greens, beans, mushrooms, onions, berries, seeds –with zero sugar, oil, or salt.

As I’ve said before, small changes yield small results. Big changes yield big results. Michael had to decrease his medication to 1/4 pill per day to every other day because his BP was getting so low. He hasn’t been on BP meds since August 27 and his BP has been normal. His blood pressure readings and heart rate for the last 12 days WithOUT medication:

115/79, 56

106/76, 61

101/75, 62

108/80, 56

111/82, 60

103/78, 53

118/81, 55

115/82, 54

113/78, 66

117/72, 71

106/81, 59

110/81, 50

#Grateful

#PlantBasedGodsGrace

Dear friends and family,
Many people have asked me to write about my health journey and share how to be successful losing weight and keeping it off AND becoming fit and healthy. You've encouraged me to write a book. I don't have time for a full-size book yet but I spent a lot of time and thought on this 50-page booklet and Quick-Start guide. It's not all recipes because this journey is more than recipes (it starts with mindset and beyond), but includes 12 recipes (including my Lentil Loaf, two creamy dressings/sauces that will encourage you to eat your salads, and sugar-oil-salt free occasional desserts) plus a bonus one–my easy Kale Chips. One of my sisters recently went plant-based (Yay!!) and said that as long as she has those dressings/sauces that are so easy to make, she will eat a large salad at least once per day. There's a section on the ABCs of Weight Loss;The Whys, Whats, and Hows of a Whole Foods Plant Based lifestyle; Tips; Must Have Kitchen Staples to make it easier to live this lifestyle, especially with a family; and Resources. Please follow the link below and share.
Love,
Nalida

http://thebp.site/118491

When You Want To Quit–10 more!

Today was a tough run day. I first did my upper body strength training indoors with AC and a fan. Then I decided to go out and do 30 minutes straight running. It was so hot and I immediately felt fatigued within the first 10 minutes. That's when the excuses started playing in my mind. But with each excuse, by God's grace, I found a reason to counter it.

Excuse: There's no way you're going to make it. It's so hot, you just started and you're already tired. Just walk.
Reason: Nalida you can do at least 10 minutes. You've done 30 minutes straight before. Come on. Do at least 10 then you can walk or stop if it's too much. Don't stop at 2! So I went on until I got to 10 minutes….

Excuse: Okay, you did 10, stop now because your calves are already feeling a little tight and you're exhausted. You're already sweating like a pig. It's hot!
Reason: I did 10, I'll push to 20 minutes. That's doable. I'm already on the move and I'll probably feel better that I at least did 20 minutes straight….After 20…..

Excuse: Really it's hot! And you're doing fasted cardio. You're tired, hot, and you should probably eat before you pass out. Water isn't helping much here. Plus you have the doctor's appointment for your daughter.
Reason: I really want to make it to 30 minutes. I've done 30 straight before and I want to push myself. I have my water bottle and I'll make it. And 10 more minutes won't make me late for the appointment.

And here's the thing, by the time I finished 30 minutes straight, I stopped looking for Excuses NOT to continue running but started looking for Reasons TO run!

Reason to add 10 additional minutes to the original plan of 30 only: May as well go for 40 minutes straight. NOW I'm finally feeling that second wind. Plus, I'm Mika's guide for that 5K in November and that girl is fast. She finished the Boston Athletic Association 5K in 40:19 and that was with just a little bit of practice. So I ran 40 minutes straight. I'm not fast, but I ran.

So, the Lesson is to push a little more each time and look for reasons rather than excuses.

-Starting to get used to eating veggies and want to stop, just 10 more bites.
-Starting the whole food plant based lifestyle and want to quit, 10 more days.
-Starting to walk and work out (with Dr supervision if serious health issues), 10 more steps, 10 more kicks, 10 more lifts, 10 more minutes.
By the time you do 10 more, you'll be more used to it, feeling better, feeling stronger, that chances are you'll do more!

Psychologists and neuroscientists say we build up mental strength this way and that then helps us in future situations to be more successful.

So remember, when you want to give up–10 more!!

#BackyardRunner
#RunningMom
#WeightliftingWife
#Grateful
#PlantBasedGodsGrace

Just as with a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly, transformation does not happen overnight AND takes work. But that does not mean it is impossible. It IS possible. But as I’ve said before on my public Facebook page (www.facebook.com/plantbasedgodsgrace) change begins with a change in mindset. We have to do THAT hard work first, and continuously to keep achieving our goals.

So, let’s be willing to do the hard work. Read the books, watch the documentaries, read the websites, watch the YouTube channels. Pray, seek counseling from a traditional or faith-based counselor to deal with past issues and trauma (do you know that many people who are addicted to food-like substances or other substances have experienced past trauma or pain?), eat whole food plant-based,  nutrient-rich foods, add movement and exercise to your life, sleep well, meditate, and offer and receive love for yourself, family and community.

Love,  Nalida