It still surprises me!

What building in New York has the most stories?

The public library.

No really, I am still surprised by the idea that I eat hippy-dippy foods. Things like: eggplant, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, kale, arugula (rocket), raw spinach, yogurt, cabbage, turnips, and radishes. It also surprises me that I eat like I came from Japan, stuffing myself with things like: tofu and brown rice. I haven't even started on things like beans, barley and steel cut oats.

You have to understand that I was a 'grab a quick sandwich' type person or worse. Worse in that a meal could consist of a pepsi and cheetos, maybe puffcorn and a root beer. I ate a lot of potato chips (Lays being my favorite of course). And my attempt at being healthier was to eat baked potato chips in a canister. As well, my attempt to be healthier was to substitute turkey bacon for real pig bacon. The main staples for me was hot dogs and top ramen.

This is not an exaggeration. This is how I ate. Cookies and donuts were regularly featured in my diet as well.

So if you understand where I began, where I started, you might be able to grasp how very challenging it was for me to make the transition to where I am now. And you may be shocked to learn I still have a ways to go in this morphing. Mercy me yes, there's more.

I did not do it overnight. It took time. It took baby steps. I took on one major hurdle then another until I got where I am now. Some parts of it were not at all easy for me.

Giving up potato chips was tough. Giving up chip dip (especially spinach dip) was hard for me. Ranch dressing was not quite as hard as I thought it would be - it being my favorite - because of how awful it made my hands break out in red, itchy, bumps.

It never used to cause me any issues. What happened seems to be that once I began eating more and more like the Hippies and the Okinawans and got deeper into the Mediterranean diet the more adjusted to the healthy stuff my body got. Then when I ate something that had certain additives in it my body responded against it. My body no longer was willing to tolerate the 'junk'. Specifically, (I discovered) my body rebels strongly against the 'gums', those unhealthy fillers that you will find in all kinds of foods.

Gums like xanthan gum, guar gum, locust bean gum, carrageenan and carob bean gum found in cream cheese, ice cream, sour cream and of course, bottled ranch dressing. Or even French dressing, Caesar Dressing, etc.

The internet doesn't want to make the manufacturers mad so it tones down the details and makes it sound nicer, but here's what it says:

Bottled ranch dressing often contains xanthan gum, which is used as a thickening agent to improve texture and stability. While generally safe in moderation, excessive consumption can lead to gastrointestinal issues like bloating and gas for some individuals.

Yeah, well, that is sure putting it mildly. Indicating you'd have to ingest it excessively and it only happens in some individuals is what I am saying is very much toned down. PPFFTTT!!!

So anywho, all I am saying is that it still surprises me that I went from not eating breakfast at all or only having toast and coffee (with cream and sugar), having a donut for lunch or pop and a bag of fritos, and just noodles with butter for dinner to where I am now, eating hippy-dippy style. I still can hardly believe it. I used to laugh at those Woodstock attendees.

If you are nodding your head then you know. If you are shaking your head then I invite you to come on over to my side. Your body will thank you. If you need advice, help, encouragement -- Here I am. And you can be sure that I understand.

How does a farmer mend his overalls?

With cabbage patches.