Several posts ago, I was whining about making the change to running in cold weather and how I just couldn't get my body out the door if the temp was less than 30 degrees. Oh, how times have changed!!
There is nothing like a little artic vortex (the weather person's phrase, not mine) to give a person a completely new perspective on what "cold" really is. And it's all relative folks, it really is.
Across much of the country, temps were in the single digits or below. In my little area of the world, there were several days of temps in negative degrees once the wind chill was factored in. And this happened, of course, the week that most people were starting the serious training for the local half that I've signed up for. So I made friends with the dreadmill again, and tried to be grateful that I had one in my building to use.
But the positive that has come out of such a cold spell? I can now run comfortably in 15 degree weather and even enjoy running in the snow, as long as ice isn't involved. Thank you artic vortex!!
I have also recently been experimenting with running without music. I've only tried it twice so far for an entire run and I have to say that it's not as bad as I imagined. I even did my long run today without music or my run app to track my pace. I knew the route I was running so I just didn't care. It was nice to not worry about how fast or how slow I was going. It was cloudy and a little rainy at the start, but the rain stopped and it was great to just enjoy the scenery of the horse farms, old trees, and barns on my route. So peaceful!!! I only wished I had my phone at the times I wanted to take some photos.
It was also the first week that I added an extra day to my running schedule, which now means getting up at 4:15 3x per week. It's was rough. I go to bed so early it's insane. But I just keep telling myself it's only until the end of March. It's only till the end March. March.
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Surrender
I recently read a post by a yoga blogger who was talking about surrender. She discussed what it was in her life she was feeling the need to "surrender" to and it made me think about the term in relation to my own life.
The answer to the question didn't come to me until I was out on a run last week. I need to surrender to the cold. In one week I begin my training plan for my very first half marathon. And all of my training will take place in the coldest winter months. What in the world was I thinking????
It's been a little better since I made this decision. I've quit checking the temperature on my phone before going for my morning run; I just take my dog out and let my body tell me what I think I need to put on. I always put on my warmest running hat and gloves, knowing I can take them off if not needed. And then I try not to think about it anymore, get out the door and GO, accepting that I will be cold until mile 2.
This routine served me well one morning last week when I got up to take doggie out and discovered it was snowing! That wasn't in the forecast. My immediate first thought was "treadmill", followed by "I could fall", but I pushed those thoughts away and just thought about how pretty it was. Came in, got dressed and headed back out. It WAS pretty, so quiet, peaceful. Beautiful. When I got back and looked at my phone, it said temps were 15 with the wind chill. Had I looked at that before running, I would never have went.
I am also trying to surrender to "just being me"...at least in the context of running. I'm always just trying to be me, but with running I've been doing that horrible habit of comparison. And it just doesn't work. Mentally I know this, but was recently handed a huge serving of humility physically to make sure I get the point.
I went to a group run on Saturday that was sponsored by the half marathon I've signed up for. It's a run on parts of the course that the race will be on, which is crazy hilly. So I know I need to practice on the course. But it's so hard to show up (for me) for runs where I know no one. But it said there would be different routes (4, 7, 10) and different paces for all. So I make myself go. In the rain.
And guess what? Only those damn hardcore runners show up in the rain. 15 people, including me. Everybody wants to run 10 miles. Except me. Everybody wants to run a 9 minute pace. Except me, can't. So....they tell me I can go the 4 mile route, they will show me where to go when we split up.
I manage to stay at the back of the pack for the first half mile or so by running my fastest half mile ever, completely motivated by shame, but knowing that I can't keep it up. The race director guy hangs back at first and tries to be nice, chats me up, tells me where to go for 4m loop, then he gets tired of running so slow and goes ahead.
The pack keeps pulling further away and it makes me feel awful. A couple of runners go on the 4m loop with me to show me the way, but they have to keep doubling back to really talk to me. It's humiliating. I'm thinking things like "I'll never come to this training run again!" "Why in the world do I think I can run a half?" "Are these people laughing at me in front of my back?". But then I get mad at myself for being so negative. I can't help the pace I run at. It's my pace. It's the best I can do at this time. Maybe I will get faster the longer I do this, maybe I won't. But at least I'm doing it! I think of one of my favorite bloggers, John Bingham, who writes about coming in LAST in many races, but still he ran. He's ever written running manuals! His nickname is the Penguin because he is so slow! But he runs, and he enjoys it.
So, yes, I will go back to these training runs. I will be the one at the back of the pack. I will be the one yelling "car back" if a vehicle approaches from my direction. I will be the one making everyone else feel good about their current pace. I will be there in rain or snow. (But not sleet) And I will finish that damn race in as many hours as it takes and I'll have a medal around my neck just like those 9 min people!
The answer to the question didn't come to me until I was out on a run last week. I need to surrender to the cold. In one week I begin my training plan for my very first half marathon. And all of my training will take place in the coldest winter months. What in the world was I thinking????
It's been a little better since I made this decision. I've quit checking the temperature on my phone before going for my morning run; I just take my dog out and let my body tell me what I think I need to put on. I always put on my warmest running hat and gloves, knowing I can take them off if not needed. And then I try not to think about it anymore, get out the door and GO, accepting that I will be cold until mile 2.
This routine served me well one morning last week when I got up to take doggie out and discovered it was snowing! That wasn't in the forecast. My immediate first thought was "treadmill", followed by "I could fall", but I pushed those thoughts away and just thought about how pretty it was. Came in, got dressed and headed back out. It WAS pretty, so quiet, peaceful. Beautiful. When I got back and looked at my phone, it said temps were 15 with the wind chill. Had I looked at that before running, I would never have went.
I am also trying to surrender to "just being me"...at least in the context of running. I'm always just trying to be me, but with running I've been doing that horrible habit of comparison. And it just doesn't work. Mentally I know this, but was recently handed a huge serving of humility physically to make sure I get the point.
I went to a group run on Saturday that was sponsored by the half marathon I've signed up for. It's a run on parts of the course that the race will be on, which is crazy hilly. So I know I need to practice on the course. But it's so hard to show up (for me) for runs where I know no one. But it said there would be different routes (4, 7, 10) and different paces for all. So I make myself go. In the rain.
And guess what? Only those damn hardcore runners show up in the rain. 15 people, including me. Everybody wants to run 10 miles. Except me. Everybody wants to run a 9 minute pace. Except me, can't. So....they tell me I can go the 4 mile route, they will show me where to go when we split up.
I manage to stay at the back of the pack for the first half mile or so by running my fastest half mile ever, completely motivated by shame, but knowing that I can't keep it up. The race director guy hangs back at first and tries to be nice, chats me up, tells me where to go for 4m loop, then he gets tired of running so slow and goes ahead.
The pack keeps pulling further away and it makes me feel awful. A couple of runners go on the 4m loop with me to show me the way, but they have to keep doubling back to really talk to me. It's humiliating. I'm thinking things like "I'll never come to this training run again!" "Why in the world do I think I can run a half?" "Are these people laughing at me in front of my back?". But then I get mad at myself for being so negative. I can't help the pace I run at. It's my pace. It's the best I can do at this time. Maybe I will get faster the longer I do this, maybe I won't. But at least I'm doing it! I think of one of my favorite bloggers, John Bingham, who writes about coming in LAST in many races, but still he ran. He's ever written running manuals! His nickname is the Penguin because he is so slow! But he runs, and he enjoys it.
So, yes, I will go back to these training runs. I will be the one at the back of the pack. I will be the one yelling "car back" if a vehicle approaches from my direction. I will be the one making everyone else feel good about their current pace. I will be there in rain or snow. (But not sleet) And I will finish that damn race in as many hours as it takes and I'll have a medal around my neck just like those 9 min people!
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler !!!! (Let the Good Times Roll)
I've been battling a nice little cold all weekend, nothing horrible, just enough to make me not want to do anything. I believe it may be my penance for having such a wonderful time last weekend!!
I spent 4 fantastic days in Louisiana, 2 of them on Bourbon St in the French Quarter, 2 of them on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Started out on the North Shore, where I got in a sweet run along the shore of Lake Pontchartrain in 65 degree weather. My body did not know what was going on.
Also got to experience a drive thru daiquiri shop at 10am. What?! I'm on vacation!
Off to Bourbon St. on Friday. Stayed at a very nice hotel right on the strip which had a fabulous balcony opening onto the courtyard. Friday and Saturday were cloudy and rainy, but that did not deter the crowds in any way. This place is cray cray. I had some strange encounters with random people on the street each night, but I think you had to be there to get just how weird they were. Let's just say that one man acted like he was going to bite my neck (?) and another guy threw a bag of trash at my feet while gesturing in angry ways with his arms and hands. Neither of them said a word. ????????????????
Third picture is of this great little open air jazz bar that was right across the street. Several moments spent here.
We encountered an impromptu parade at one point when we were coming back from the French Market.
Did you know that Abita beer is made near New Orleans? Nope, me either.
We almost made it in time for a tour of the brewery. But then we didn't. :-)
The area around Jackson Square, on our way back from French Market. We then took a street car over to the Garden District and toured a cemetery.
This last photo we jokingly referred to as the "Lone Rangers", perhaps those who didn't have a family crypt to be buried in. This is where I would be. :-)
This is a random tree next to our stop to get back on the street car. We just happen to look over and it's filled with beads!! Beads hanging on trees, light posts, power wires, damn things are everywhere!!
So, great trip, had a wonderful time. My only complaint? Food!!! Let me just say, I was sooooo not a gegan girl on this trip. I had trouble just being a vegan girl!! It was so hard to find things I would eat. My friend was getting tired of the many adventures to find me some food, but I must say much patience was displayed. My friend did point out that I have a habit of reading the label of anything I'm handed to eat that is packaged. This is something I had not realized, but it's something I've had to do for so long. There was nothing on the main strip of Bourbon St., but as we started to venture out, there were some options. Thank goodness for the app VegOut. This thing saved me. Helped me find some ethnic options that were ok, but my greatest find was this tiny little café in the French Market. Meals From the Heart Café.
So basically, if you are a vegan in New Orleans, go to this café. You and your belly will be so happy.
Ok, gotta go take another shot of medicinal bourbon now. In honor of the trip that caused me to have this cold.
I spent 4 fantastic days in Louisiana, 2 of them on Bourbon St in the French Quarter, 2 of them on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Started out on the North Shore, where I got in a sweet run along the shore of Lake Pontchartrain in 65 degree weather. My body did not know what was going on.
Also got to experience a drive thru daiquiri shop at 10am. What?! I'm on vacation!
Off to Bourbon St. on Friday. Stayed at a very nice hotel right on the strip which had a fabulous balcony opening onto the courtyard. Friday and Saturday were cloudy and rainy, but that did not deter the crowds in any way. This place is cray cray. I had some strange encounters with random people on the street each night, but I think you had to be there to get just how weird they were. Let's just say that one man acted like he was going to bite my neck (?) and another guy threw a bag of trash at my feet while gesturing in angry ways with his arms and hands. Neither of them said a word. ????????????????
Third picture is of this great little open air jazz bar that was right across the street. Several moments spent here.
We encountered an impromptu parade at one point when we were coming back from the French Market.
Did you know that Abita beer is made near New Orleans? Nope, me either.
We almost made it in time for a tour of the brewery. But then we didn't. :-)
The area around Jackson Square, on our way back from French Market. We then took a street car over to the Garden District and toured a cemetery.
This last photo we jokingly referred to as the "Lone Rangers", perhaps those who didn't have a family crypt to be buried in. This is where I would be. :-)
This is a random tree next to our stop to get back on the street car. We just happen to look over and it's filled with beads!! Beads hanging on trees, light posts, power wires, damn things are everywhere!!
So, great trip, had a wonderful time. My only complaint? Food!!! Let me just say, I was sooooo not a gegan girl on this trip. I had trouble just being a vegan girl!! It was so hard to find things I would eat. My friend was getting tired of the many adventures to find me some food, but I must say much patience was displayed. My friend did point out that I have a habit of reading the label of anything I'm handed to eat that is packaged. This is something I had not realized, but it's something I've had to do for so long. There was nothing on the main strip of Bourbon St., but as we started to venture out, there were some options. Thank goodness for the app VegOut. This thing saved me. Helped me find some ethnic options that were ok, but my greatest find was this tiny little café in the French Market. Meals From the Heart Café.
This first pic of their vegan smoothie that just happened to probably be the only gegan thing I had the whole time I was there! It was yummy and thick enough to need a spoon! I wanted to hug and kiss these people. Seriously.
The photo below is of vegan pancakes!!!!! This is only the second time since I've been vegan that I've had pancakes unless I've made them at home. Wanted to kiss them this time as well.
So basically, if you are a vegan in New Orleans, go to this café. You and your belly will be so happy.
Ok, gotta go take another shot of medicinal bourbon now. In honor of the trip that caused me to have this cold.
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Too Cold for Comfort
So I still consider myself to be a new runner. Very much so. January will be one year that I've been running consistently and seriously. When I started in January of this year, I started on a treadmill. I was so scared of running outside. I still remember the first time I ran outside-- it was a disaster of epic proportions. But, oh how things change! I now despise running on a treadmill, but guess what? I did just that 2x this week. Why? Because it's COLD!!!!
Running in 20 degree temps is not something I'm familiar with. It's not fun in any way. And it's a little early for it to be so cold where I live. So it's a nice little preview of what's to come when I have to be super serious about training for my first 1/2 marathon, starting in January. What was I thinking?! Oh, that's right, I'm a new runner and I don't know any better. I just don't know how I'm going to do it. I'm still running in the am, just works so much better for me, but running in the dark when it's 22 degrees outside?!?! Damn! It actually hurts.
I've been ok with the 30's and 40's, getting pretty good at knowing how to dress (dress for mile 2!), but anything below that I'm just not ready for. Mentally or physically. Will this get better? Will I get lucky and start going thru menopause so the hot flashes will help me out? Will the fact that I have this huge race looming over me get my wimpy ass out the door? We shall see, dear readers, we shall see........
Running in 20 degree temps is not something I'm familiar with. It's not fun in any way. And it's a little early for it to be so cold where I live. So it's a nice little preview of what's to come when I have to be super serious about training for my first 1/2 marathon, starting in January. What was I thinking?! Oh, that's right, I'm a new runner and I don't know any better. I just don't know how I'm going to do it. I'm still running in the am, just works so much better for me, but running in the dark when it's 22 degrees outside?!?! Damn! It actually hurts.
I've been ok with the 30's and 40's, getting pretty good at knowing how to dress (dress for mile 2!), but anything below that I'm just not ready for. Mentally or physically. Will this get better? Will I get lucky and start going thru menopause so the hot flashes will help me out? Will the fact that I have this huge race looming over me get my wimpy ass out the door? We shall see, dear readers, we shall see........
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
She Said I Kicked Asphalt!!!!!!
This past weekend I ran in only my 3rd 10K. This distance is still uncomfortable for me, but somehow I manage to get it done.
This was the first race that I went to another town to complete. And I learned a lot. The weather reports keep changing all week, so I had to pack several options. But silly me didn't take anything to the race to put on immediately after, when I started to chill from being cold and wet. It rained the entire race, with varying intensity and was quite windy. I think the temp was around 52. By mile 3 I could feel my feet squishing in my shoes. Thanking the Lord I had my visor to keep most of the rain off my face; my Brooks arm warmers; and my Bandi belt for my phone, which, when placed on the inside of my shorts, somehow kept my phone dry!!!! Tunes in the rain!!!
But the thing I was most thankful for was 2 wonderful friends that got up early, drove me to race, walked me to start line (all the while telling me, "It's not going to rain!"), held up 2 great signs ("Worst Parade Ever" and "You Kick Asphalt"), hung out in the rain while my slow ass ran 6.1 miles, and cheered me to the finish line. I mean, seriously?!! I felt like royalty! I've never had anyone at a race FOR ME. Sometimes I know other people running in the race, but I don't see them once we start. It was so nice knowing I was going to see familiar happy faces at the end and it made me want to do well so they would be proud of me. It makes a difference, not going to lie.
That is the yin and the yang of running for me. I think it is the sport that finally suits me because it can be a solitary adventure but it can also be so fantastic when it's shared with others. Running is good, it's bad, it hurts, it soothes, it challenges and it rewards. My friend Mary asked me why I started running and I gave her a short, simple answer like "stress relief", but it made me think about it and if she asked me now my answer would be: I run because it's the only thing I've done thus far that makes me feel accomplished in my physical self, which is something I've never had before in my life. And that feeling of physical accomplishment affects my other "selves", sometimes without me even realizing it. I bet she is glad she got the short answer.......
Thank you, thank you, thank you to my friends for making this latest physical accomplishment my best one yet. Even in the rain and the wind.
This was the first race that I went to another town to complete. And I learned a lot. The weather reports keep changing all week, so I had to pack several options. But silly me didn't take anything to the race to put on immediately after, when I started to chill from being cold and wet. It rained the entire race, with varying intensity and was quite windy. I think the temp was around 52. By mile 3 I could feel my feet squishing in my shoes. Thanking the Lord I had my visor to keep most of the rain off my face; my Brooks arm warmers; and my Bandi belt for my phone, which, when placed on the inside of my shorts, somehow kept my phone dry!!!! Tunes in the rain!!!
But the thing I was most thankful for was 2 wonderful friends that got up early, drove me to race, walked me to start line (all the while telling me, "It's not going to rain!"), held up 2 great signs ("Worst Parade Ever" and "You Kick Asphalt"), hung out in the rain while my slow ass ran 6.1 miles, and cheered me to the finish line. I mean, seriously?!! I felt like royalty! I've never had anyone at a race FOR ME. Sometimes I know other people running in the race, but I don't see them once we start. It was so nice knowing I was going to see familiar happy faces at the end and it made me want to do well so they would be proud of me. It makes a difference, not going to lie.
That is the yin and the yang of running for me. I think it is the sport that finally suits me because it can be a solitary adventure but it can also be so fantastic when it's shared with others. Running is good, it's bad, it hurts, it soothes, it challenges and it rewards. My friend Mary asked me why I started running and I gave her a short, simple answer like "stress relief", but it made me think about it and if she asked me now my answer would be: I run because it's the only thing I've done thus far that makes me feel accomplished in my physical self, which is something I've never had before in my life. And that feeling of physical accomplishment affects my other "selves", sometimes without me even realizing it. I bet she is glad she got the short answer.......
Thank you, thank you, thank you to my friends for making this latest physical accomplishment my best one yet. Even in the rain and the wind.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
I'm Sorry My Food Has Faces In It!!!!!
I started to notice this past week that people apologize to me when they have food I do not eat. And it strikes me as a very interesting phenomenon.
It happened 3 times this past week: my manager at work placed leftover birthday cake on our conference room table close to where I was sitting and she looked at me and said "sorry"; someone brought dessert for a potluck and as she was walking by me with the dish she said "sorry, this has egg in it"; and then someone sat by me for lunch one day with tuna for their meal and they apologized for having it!
I'm not sure why people feel the need to apologize to me for their food choices. On one hand, I guess it's a positive display of their knowledge of my eating habits and the fact that they are "sorry" that everyone can't partake in sharing their food? Maybe? But on the other hand, it's kind of annoying, because it is constantly pointing out my out of the norm food life. Do they think I'm going to mistakenly reach for a brownie or piece of birthday cake like it's accidently vegan? And I hate when they add the word "can't" to the mix, as in "I'm sorry you can't eat this". Actually, I can eat it, but I'm choosing not to. So there doesn't need to be an apology for providing food that I'm choosing not to eat; it's like you are apologizing for my choices. It makes me uncomfortable.
Which brings me to the question: what is the proper response to these statements? My knee jerk Southern upbringing reaction is to quickly say "That's ok", or "No problem", but that doesn't really feel right. But I have no idea what response would be better. I'm still horrible at defending my food choices without sounding preachy, so it's usually better to keep my mouth shut, I've found. It happened the other day when someone made the classic statement, "But why can't you eat honey, that's why bees make it?". (Can't word again!!) When I pointed out that bees don't make the honey for us and that some bees do die in the harvesting of honey, they started giving me the look so I just shut up.
Any of this ever happened to other vegans reading this post? What do you say?
On a less whiny note, I started a 30 day ab challenge yesterday that looks pretty horrific; I'll post on the results of this as I go along.
It happened 3 times this past week: my manager at work placed leftover birthday cake on our conference room table close to where I was sitting and she looked at me and said "sorry"; someone brought dessert for a potluck and as she was walking by me with the dish she said "sorry, this has egg in it"; and then someone sat by me for lunch one day with tuna for their meal and they apologized for having it!
I'm not sure why people feel the need to apologize to me for their food choices. On one hand, I guess it's a positive display of their knowledge of my eating habits and the fact that they are "sorry" that everyone can't partake in sharing their food? Maybe? But on the other hand, it's kind of annoying, because it is constantly pointing out my out of the norm food life. Do they think I'm going to mistakenly reach for a brownie or piece of birthday cake like it's accidently vegan? And I hate when they add the word "can't" to the mix, as in "I'm sorry you can't eat this". Actually, I can eat it, but I'm choosing not to. So there doesn't need to be an apology for providing food that I'm choosing not to eat; it's like you are apologizing for my choices. It makes me uncomfortable.
Which brings me to the question: what is the proper response to these statements? My knee jerk Southern upbringing reaction is to quickly say "That's ok", or "No problem", but that doesn't really feel right. But I have no idea what response would be better. I'm still horrible at defending my food choices without sounding preachy, so it's usually better to keep my mouth shut, I've found. It happened the other day when someone made the classic statement, "But why can't you eat honey, that's why bees make it?". (Can't word again!!) When I pointed out that bees don't make the honey for us and that some bees do die in the harvesting of honey, they started giving me the look so I just shut up.
Any of this ever happened to other vegans reading this post? What do you say?
On a less whiny note, I started a 30 day ab challenge yesterday that looks pretty horrific; I'll post on the results of this as I go along.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
I Want to Marry T. Colin Campbell
I'm going to try my best not to get back up on my soapbox for this post, but it's going to be hard.
I just finished reading Whole by T. Colin Campbell, the mastermind behind The China Study. This is another of those life changing books if you let the information in.
Oh, where to begin. There is SO much fantastic information in this book. Campbell has been researching nutrition for 50 years and at this point he is fully in the camp of eating a whole food, plant based diet (WFPB). Notice I didn't use the word vegan. Neither does Campbell. That isn't what he is proposing. His "aha" after years of research shows that when we eat foods as close to their natural state as possible, we get the greatest benefit from them. For example: Oranges have vitamin C. Vitamin C is good for us. So, lots of people take a vitamin C supplement. Or drink some OJ. But what Campbell's research has shown is that we are better off if we just eat the orange. Why? Because our bodies are much smarter than we are. If we just give our bodies the vitamin c without all the other components of the orange, our bodies do not utilize it as efficiently. If we give our bodies the orange in it's natural state, our bodies will utilize what it needs at that moment in time. Taking supplements for certain nutrients is all part of what Campbell terms the "reductionist" approach. It's huge in this country and it's a big problem for our health.
Campbell addresses the protein myth and our fascination with it in our country. I mean, what vegetarian or vegan has NOT been asked "But where do you get your protein?". Did you know that spinach and kale have about twice as much protein, per calorie, as a lean cut of beef? Did you know that animal protein has been linked to increased cancer rates in rats? A link has also been shown between cancer growth and the protein found in cow's milk.
We have been fed the line so much in this country that we MUST have animal protein to grow and maintain muscle mass. But Campbell points us to chimps, gorillas, elephants and hippos, all of whom eat a 100% plant based diet and don't seem to be all that weak or scrawny.
Campbell also gets into the sticky subjects of our reductionist medical system, where we treat the symptoms but don't really do anything to prevent them in the first place. Why is this? Because our medical system is driven by profit and profit is reduced by preventive medicine. Campbell states, "...health information is controlled, and has been for a long time, by interests that are not in alignment with the common good--industries that care much more about their profit than our health. And those industries feel deeply threatened by the possibility of mass adoption of a plant-based diet". What are these industries? The medical, pharmaceutical and supplement industries. Scary information about the power these industries have over our food information and choices.
Campbell goes into our food choices and how they affect the planet. How the production of so much meat affects fossil fuel use, water consumption, deforestation, and global warming.
And of course Campbell also goes into the hell that is factory farming. As he states, "Choosing plant-based foods over animal-based foods reduces pain in so many ways. It alleviates our bodily pain. It minimizes the pain animals experience by reducing CAFO farming. It also reduces human suffering associated with global poverty and hunger".
I've only hit a few high points in this review. The point I really want to come across is that the information presented in this book is valuable for all of us. It is not an easy read for many reasons. It makes us confront long held beliefs that just aren't true. It shows us how discerning and skeptical we have to be with information that is presented to us about our health, which is scary. There are parts of the book that are a little too scientific for me, as in, my eyes glazed over a bit when I tried to read about certain studies that were a little too detailed for my non-scientific mind. But do not let that deter you. Skim it, move on and get this valuable information.
This man is on a mission. He has fought against our current thinking on nutrition for many years. I can only hope that his message will be the catalyst this county needs to change our current unsustainable path.
And, unfortunately, Mr. Campbell is already happily married.
I just finished reading Whole by T. Colin Campbell, the mastermind behind The China Study. This is another of those life changing books if you let the information in.
Oh, where to begin. There is SO much fantastic information in this book. Campbell has been researching nutrition for 50 years and at this point he is fully in the camp of eating a whole food, plant based diet (WFPB). Notice I didn't use the word vegan. Neither does Campbell. That isn't what he is proposing. His "aha" after years of research shows that when we eat foods as close to their natural state as possible, we get the greatest benefit from them. For example: Oranges have vitamin C. Vitamin C is good for us. So, lots of people take a vitamin C supplement. Or drink some OJ. But what Campbell's research has shown is that we are better off if we just eat the orange. Why? Because our bodies are much smarter than we are. If we just give our bodies the vitamin c without all the other components of the orange, our bodies do not utilize it as efficiently. If we give our bodies the orange in it's natural state, our bodies will utilize what it needs at that moment in time. Taking supplements for certain nutrients is all part of what Campbell terms the "reductionist" approach. It's huge in this country and it's a big problem for our health.
Campbell addresses the protein myth and our fascination with it in our country. I mean, what vegetarian or vegan has NOT been asked "But where do you get your protein?". Did you know that spinach and kale have about twice as much protein, per calorie, as a lean cut of beef? Did you know that animal protein has been linked to increased cancer rates in rats? A link has also been shown between cancer growth and the protein found in cow's milk.
We have been fed the line so much in this country that we MUST have animal protein to grow and maintain muscle mass. But Campbell points us to chimps, gorillas, elephants and hippos, all of whom eat a 100% plant based diet and don't seem to be all that weak or scrawny.
Campbell also gets into the sticky subjects of our reductionist medical system, where we treat the symptoms but don't really do anything to prevent them in the first place. Why is this? Because our medical system is driven by profit and profit is reduced by preventive medicine. Campbell states, "...health information is controlled, and has been for a long time, by interests that are not in alignment with the common good--industries that care much more about their profit than our health. And those industries feel deeply threatened by the possibility of mass adoption of a plant-based diet". What are these industries? The medical, pharmaceutical and supplement industries. Scary information about the power these industries have over our food information and choices.
Campbell goes into our food choices and how they affect the planet. How the production of so much meat affects fossil fuel use, water consumption, deforestation, and global warming.
And of course Campbell also goes into the hell that is factory farming. As he states, "Choosing plant-based foods over animal-based foods reduces pain in so many ways. It alleviates our bodily pain. It minimizes the pain animals experience by reducing CAFO farming. It also reduces human suffering associated with global poverty and hunger".
I've only hit a few high points in this review. The point I really want to come across is that the information presented in this book is valuable for all of us. It is not an easy read for many reasons. It makes us confront long held beliefs that just aren't true. It shows us how discerning and skeptical we have to be with information that is presented to us about our health, which is scary. There are parts of the book that are a little too scientific for me, as in, my eyes glazed over a bit when I tried to read about certain studies that were a little too detailed for my non-scientific mind. But do not let that deter you. Skim it, move on and get this valuable information.
This man is on a mission. He has fought against our current thinking on nutrition for many years. I can only hope that his message will be the catalyst this county needs to change our current unsustainable path.
And, unfortunately, Mr. Campbell is already happily married.
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