As the years have passed by, I have come to the realization that the older I have become, the worse I feel.  Oh, I can’t point to anything specific, but in general – if you ask me “how are you?” – I’m more than likely to respond with a pursing of my lips and a response of “meh”.

Let’s look at my various ailments and conditions that I now deal with on a daily basis.  First off, I’m about twenty pounds overweight, which with my now-sedentary job of sitting at a desk all day is going to go nowhere but up.  I don’t sleep well (partly due to sleep apnea/snoring).  My skin is terrible.  I have a bum shoulder.  I get acid-reflux after a big meal.  I have asthma.  I am developing cataracts and am trying to stave off the beginnings of glaucoma.  I don’t smoke, yet still manage to cough and hack in the mornings like a death-row prisoner on the back-half of a life sentence.

There’s also a history of heart disease and diabetes in my family.  My father had stents put in during his sixties and my cousin had a quintuple bypass at the ripe old age of forty-nine.

So, in summary – it’s all the symptoms and physiology of an American man in his early to mid-fifties.

So, what can I do to change all of that?

I recently stumbled across some literature about the benefits of a whole food, plant-based diet.  There’s plenty of it out there, both in written and video form.  Just type “plant-based diet” into your ‘YouTube’ search bar and you’ll quickly have access to thousands of videos.  Intrigued by what I had read and researched, I also checked out some documentaries on the subject (“Forks Over Knives” and “Game Changers” are both good introductions and available on ‘Netflix’).

The claims of a plant-based diet are pretty remarkable (and there are plenty of myths and misinformation associated with them as well).  Among other things, it is said that following this lifestyle results in the actual reversal of the ravaging impacts on one’s arteries from coronary heart disease, as well as reduces or eliminates the symptoms of asthma, diabetes, and many other chronic ailments that require multiple prescriptions to control and manage.  It is also said to lead to increased energy levels, reduced (and better maintained) weight, more restful sleep, and many other benefits – all accomplished from a change in diet.

But – it’s a pretty radical change.

Instead of meat and fish, protein is obtained from grains, beans, nuts, and lentils.  There is no dairy – which means no milk, yogurt, or cheese.  No eggs.  No animal protein whatsoever.  Most cooking oils (which includes olive oil) are out.  Refined and/or processed foods are eliminated, which means lots and lots (did I say lots) of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Basically – it’s the dreaded “V” word – and no – I’m not talking about “vegetarian”.  I mean a vegetarian’s hard-core, loud-mouth, annoying cousin – vegan.

I’ll be honest – I’m a foodie.  I enjoy a good steak.  I have a long-standing and unhealthy affection for crispy bacon.  I like eggs, cheese, ice cream, and yogurt.  I love sushi, oysters, and fried eggs.  I’ll sit down to a fifteen-course tasting menu and savor every single bite.

So, can a professed omnivore have the discipline to go vegan?  

Well, I’m willing to take anything out for a test run to see if it will work, so a few weeks ago – on a personal health odyssey – I began to adopt this new diet/lifestyle.  Now, I’m not militant about it, so you won’t find me holding a sign at some PETA march, buying clothes made from hemp, or railing at customers enjoying a night out at a ‘Sizzler’ steakhouse (as a matter of fact, I did have a little bit of turkey on Thanksgiving Day – I mean come on).  I’m not going to preach about the statistics, facts, and testimonials I’ve seen in my own research, but I have to say that so far?  So good.

I’m in the throngs of my third week – and still sticking to a whole food, plant-based diet.  Yes, I’m a practicing vegan.  There – I said it.  Actually, it’s not as difficult as one might think (especially with what is available these days in the “organic” section of your local supermarket). 

So, what’s a day worth of eating look like for me now?  Well, for breakfast I start off with oatmeal and fresh fruit or chew on a toasted bagel slathered in peanut butter.  Lunch is grain and vegetable salads with more fresh fruit on the side.  An afternoon snack might be a handful of toasted pumpkin seeds, a banana, or vegetables dipped in hummus.  Dinners are hearty vegetable and bean soups or stews – and this is just with basic knowledge and some simple recipes (I’ve got some cookbooks on order to expand my menu options).

What have I experienced thus far?  All personal gains.  I’m sleeping better.  I do feel like I have more energy, and my acid reflux has calmed down considerably after meals.  I’ve already shed about six pounds (and that’s without portion control) and with all of that fiber in my diet?  Let’s just say I’m now as regular as “Old Faithful” – with multiple shows each day.  On the down side, I’m also popping “Beano” anti-gas pills like “Tic-Tacs”, but still producing enough personal methane to fuel a small municipality (literature states this will calm down as well over time – so let’s hope that’s true).

Will my mindset and steadfast will win out over my primal desire for a juicy, bacon cheeseburger?  Will I weaken and succumb to the enticing glance of a “Chick-Fil-A” spicy chicken sandwich?   Time will tell (and who says I won’t fall off of the wagon every now and again).

In the meantime, if you’ll excuse me – I need to search the internet for a recipe on how to make some good “vegan” bacon – and quite frankly, my office smells like it’s time to swallow another “Beano”.