Sick lately

I thought I would/could escape. Silly Nathan.

After seeing CC's illness progress last week, I knew that Friday morning's scratchy throat spelled bad news. I remember back in the chain-smoking days - when scratchy throat instead prompted the question: am I sick, or have I been smoking too much? I remember smoking ultra-light Newport menthols when ill - ultra-lights were the only thing my throat would tolerate, and the temporary change to menthols tricked my lungs into thinking I was still smoking a full-flavored ciggie.
Pathetic.

Last Monday was the five year anniversary of quitting smoking. I celebrated with several/many drinks on Sunday and spent most of Monday lazing around hung over.
Pathetic.

This is the last week of veganism. It's gone by so quickly. And hasn't felt that difficult. We haven't eaten out much at all (which has been amazing for the budget). I've dropped 10 pounds (Mr. Scale had happy news for me this morning). Changes to my cholesteral come on February 17.

We thought about breaking the vegan diet last weekend to begin our new anti-inflamation diet. They're more similar than different. And oddly, I was craving fish. Since I've become convinced that Dr. Weil's diet is our best bet for long-term health, it seemed so arbitrary to delay beginning that diet for another week. But we held fast - primarily because I didn't want to explain to so many co-workers why I wasn't still vegan (the folks who, when I explained that my cholesteral was sky-high, said "Why not just take Lipitor").

In many ways, the new diet will be so much stricter than veganism. No more artificial sweeteners (goodbye Diet Coke and orange drink from Rainbow) and no more fast food (goodbye Big Mac). Severely restricted animal fats, refined flours, and other dairy. So goodbye bread and butter.
Hello whole grains, soy products, wild mushrooms and green tea! Hello sardines and fatty cold-water fish!

And no, Dr. Weil's diet doesn't require you to be so severe/strict - but, I figure that insofar as my chronic diseases are related to inflamation in immune responses - and insofar as any of the restricted foods may trigger a disproportionate allergy-like response from my immune system - then my best bet for getting well and reducing my dependence on prescription medicines is to follow this anti-inflamation diet as strictly as possible.

Plus, I'd rather have abs than brie.