A VIRTUOUS CYCLE

I have dropped 20 pounds so far on greens and beans. I have changed my weight goal from 250 pounds to 220 pounds as I am now convinced I can get there. Not only that, I am pretty sure that is where my body will naturally end up on a largely vegan diet. I have more energy to exercise so that fuels the motivation to keep moving, and moving melts the fat away. It is a virtuous cycle, compared to the vicious cycle I was previously on.

High fasting sugar

My fasting blood sugar in the morning has been in the 155 range. I am sticking to a vegan diet for a month to see what happens. According to Dr. Fuhrman, my blood sugar will normalize. I already feel different. Much better mental clarity, though I need to eat on schedule. I weighed 296 this morning. A drop of 9 pounds off my world record 305 during Christmas. I can breathe again.

Hard to believe a diet can do this

It's hard to believe a diet can make such a different in one's mental state. I underestimated the profound effect than unstable blood sugar can have on the mind, despite reading a multitude of health books and diet books the last 30 years. After the initial withdrawal symptoms, after three days on lots of non-starchy vegetables, beans, brown rice, nuts, berries, and seeds I find myself completely freed from food cravings and mental fog. And this is without quitting coffee or the occasional whisky. It is like my body clock moved back 10 years. It's a diet I can follow, as I ate this way for several years. And I can have hot sauce. It's a simple change really--instead of a large bag of tortilla chips I grab a bag of carrot chips. After the first few bites, I'm watching the TV show and I don't even realize I am eating carrots. And I saved myself 1200 calories and a wild swing in blood sugar. Yes, I was that bad.

DR. JOEL FUHRMAN DIABETES DIET

I started a new diet plan yesterday. I got a Christmas gift card for Barnes and Noble, and I saw Dr. Joel Fuhrman's new book about beating diabetes. Since I am pre-diabetic, and have insulin resistance, I thought it would be a good read. I decided to try the diet as I could understand it. It allows for a lot of beans, which other diabetic diets said were too high in carbohydrates. I find beans and rice satisfying with some vegetables, essentially a macrobiotic diet I ate for years and taught.

I weighed 301 pounds this morning. I peaked at 305 pounds during Christmas 2012. Sausage balls. My goal weight is 250 pounds, which is still over the chart limit for my 6'4" frame no matter how large I say that frame is. I will see what life is like at 250 and deicide where to go from there.

My daughter turns 18 soon, and will leave for college next fall, so this is my last chance to demonstrate to her the power of natural foods. My son needs a diet plan too, as his friend Caleb said yesterday--he's tired of eating at fast food places.

This is the desire of my heart and I know that God will grant me the power to do it.

BRANDING

I don't think hippies in the late 60's--early 70's wore branded clothing except for jeans. Everywhere I look I see kids wearing shirts that promote a particular brand. And they paid good money for that brand name. I've seen some $25 t-shirts that would sell for $10 otherwise.

"He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding." Daniel 2:21

Whatever wisdom you have, you got from God....Furthermore, whatever knowledge you are able to take in and assimilate into your life is made possible because of the ability God has given you to discern, perceive, and understand....Ideas may seem to come out of nowhere, but in truth, they have a source--either God or the enemy of our souls working in the imagination and lustful desires. Feelings may seem to erupt spontaneously, but in truth, they have a source--the heart, which is turned toward or away from God.

April 29

"God's Way Day by Day" by Charles F. Stanley

FREEBIRD'S AND CHIPOTLE

Freebird's and Chipotle are my heroes. They are miniature cafeterias that happen to use tortillas and salad bases instead of china dishes. In Fort Worth my parent's used to take me to Finley's Cafeteria on Camp Bowie when I was a kid. Unlike the other cafeterias like Colonial and Luby's in Fort Worth, Finley's was small, almost tiny. I remember the food came through one window between the kitchen and the serving line. Everything was made from scratch, and it was excellent. So I knew even when I was eight years old that cafeterias did not have to be giant industrial complexes--they could be small neighborhood feeding stations serving quality food. That's what I want The Simple Cafe to be--a small neighborhood feeding station serving natural foods in a fun vibrant atmosphere.