Diet Update

In going over my previous posts, I realized the need for an update regarding my diet. The vegetarian journey began on July 12th. Within 2 weeks, I stopped eating even Salmon & eggs. Not long after, I also stopped drinking milk. So, I've been on a vegetarian diet for approximately a month, and a semi-vegetarian diet for about 7 weeks.

Since the diet change on July 12th, I've lost 20 pounds. The only exercise I get is through my day-to-day activities and the occasional manual labor, due to my limited strength. It's very important that I listen to my body, and rest when I need to. But I do try to stay as active as possible.

Back to the diet discussion, I would be a vegan, except I haven't been able to give up broths & cheese altogether. I eat very little of either, but true vegans eat zero animal fats, so in reality I'm just a serious vegetarian. In all honesty I cannot say I will never eat meat again, but I really don't miss it. Occasionally I get a hankering for some good venison, but it's pretty fleeting. If I ever do go back to eating meat, it will likely only be seldom, and only venison or fish I catch myself, from a water source I can trust.

Before all of this, I didn't want to know about our food sources - I felt that it was better not to know. Oh, how wrong I was! Now I want to know the truth about everything! And what I have found has caused me to cease buying ALL meat & fish from the grocery store. It is not my intention to start a debate about our food supply; however, in my opinion, almost everything we eat is tainted in some way. I prefer to just stick with fruits, veggies, & nuts. I want to eat food in the most natural state possible. When I go to the grocery store, I do my best to ensure I have very few items that are "processed" (meaning, in a box, can, jar, carton, or bag). And I am sure to read the ingredients in any processed items I buy. It sounds difficult, but after a little practice, it gets much easier.

The beautiful part about eating a vegetarian diet, is that you can eat all the fruits & veggies you want, without having to count calories. Of course, I have to limit my fruit intake to keep my blood sugar low, but I usually only eat fruit for breakfast. Each week I get something different, so there's always lots of variety in my diet.

I've also continued to eat spelt or kamut bread, homemade by a lady at the local farmer's market. She grinds the grains fresh, and bakes them the day before market. SO delicious! And so healthy. I no longer eat sandwiches, so I only ever eat one piece at a time, and I eat no more than 2 per day. Some days I don't eat any bread.

Also, my hemoglobin levels are finally rising. My last blood test came back at a 10.6! It's supposed to be 12, but it was 8 after I had surgery, so it's really improved.

The only issue I experience is light-headedness if I go too long without eating. Due to my very low sugar intake, I have to eat every 1-2 hours. So I snack all day on all kinds of healthy stuff: organic granola, raw almonds, real almond butter on toast or rice cake, apples, raw broccoli/carrots/cauliflower, apricot kernels (only 7 at a time), etc.

Suppers can consist of a spinach salad, red beans & rice, steamed vegetables, baked vegetables, vegetable soup, stir-fry, veggie spaghetti with spinach noodles, etc.

I'm very eager & excited to see the effects of this diet long-term.

Moving Forward

My last visit with the oncologist went very well. She explained where the cancer showed up on the scan, and what my options were: radiation combined with chemotherapy for 5-6 weeks. Surgery is not even an option at this point.

Next, I explained to her why I couldn't go through with such treatment, because my body belongs to God. Knowing what I know, in the spirit and in the natural, I cannot put that poison in my body. After thorough research, I went to the Lord with it, and felt no peace about taking the treatments offered. When I made the decision to forego treatment, I felt an overwhelming peace.  This I explained to her, and ministered to her about my relationship with the Father, and the work He has for me to do. She said she respected my decision, and that was it.

I do not expect to die, I expect to live. However, I want to live as though I were going to die very soon. Going through the motions isn't going to cut it anymore. I want to serve my Lord with everything that I am and all that I have. Cancer has no place in the plans my Heavenly Father has for me.

I'm doing what I know to do in the natural: eating healthy & staying active, keeping away from the foods that feed cancer. That is in order, though the healing doesn't come through that. I'm simply helping my immune system do what the Lord created it to do. The healing comes from the Father, and Him alone.

Moving forward, I will keep pressing on and do the work He called me to do. The time is short - we are living in the last days. I want to get to as many people as possible.

Alright Lord, where are we going today?