Had my neurosurgeon appointment on Monday. It was really quick and kinda stupid for me to go... All he did was do a couple of "balance tests" I guess is what I'd call them, and told me that he's pretty sure that I just have a venous angioma (malformation). So, he says "because your so young" he'd like me get an angiogram done because it's the most definitive test to determine if it is truly JUST a malformation. If that's the case, I have to get a MRI every 6 months to monitor for hemorrhage. Blah. I'm really nervous about this test. It kinda creeps me out that they run a tube from the groin to the brain just to inject dye... but, if that's the worst to come, I guess I'm okay with that. I'm just waiting for the office to call me with the test date...
I did my fruit/veggie fast yesterday. I did have some chocolate soy milk though... but, she didn't say anything about what to drink! I assume it would have been best to only drink water. It wasn't bad - I ate as much fruit as I wanted and it was yummy :) I ran out of energy at the end of the day but I think it's more from the heat in the glass lab then my diet. I also bought a nice large wooden bowl from Target. It currently only has 2 apples and a pear in it, but I'll work on filling it tonight :) So, since I accomplished those two steps, it's time to move on!
And, to be vegan in 24 days...
Day 7
Start each day with a green smoothie.
Assignment: Make a green smoothie for breakfast, lunch or a snack today. Commit to having one green smoothie a day for the next seven days. It will become a habit you won't ever want to give up!
Guess I need to go grocery shopping again... I have some frozen fruit that I use to make smoothies. I'll have to grab some more and some fresh fruit too, along with something green - spinach or something. Glad I bought that magic bullet!!
Day 8
Eliminate poultry
Self-explanatory. And, already done :) 4 years ago!!
Day 9
Add a large salad every day
Assignment: From now on, eat one large salad every day. Start by getting yourself a large bowl that you love, if you don't already have one. then, make a new salad every day for the next 7 days. Discover salads as if for the first time, and make them different each day. In the future, you'll have a lot of ideas for making salads from this one week of experimenting!
Oh boy - at least I'm already planning a grocery trip! Added to list: more greens and salad goodies! Carrots, cabbage, beans... anything that looks interesting. Hmm, any suggestions?
Day 10
Read Diet for a New America
Assignment: Buy a copy of Diet for a New America, and read at least one chapter a day until you finish it. If financially feasible, buy a new or used copy rather than borrowing it from the library - you'll most certainly want to mark your copy up and keep it for further reference.
Funny. This is the book that made me decide to be vegetarian. Actually, I wanted to be vegan, but thought vegetarian was easier for me to transition to at the time. Thank you, Adam, for letting me borrow this book a little more than 4 years ago! I now own two copies. I bought one, then shortly after, received one as a gift. I figured it was about time to read it again, so here's my motivation to do so :)
Alright... I now have two assignments for this week - eat a salad everyday, and drink a green smoothie everyday. That's not too hard to handle. I'll also start reading. I kinda like this 3 days at once thing! Especially since I've already accomplished some of them :) And folks, I should be vegan in 20 days or less!! Next steps, another fruit/veg cleanse and the hardest of all, giving up cheese. Wish me luck!
**All assignments come from "Vegan in 30 Days: Get Healthy. Save the World." by Sarah Taylor
