I was anxious to see Dr. Gundry this time around. I knew something was off with me. “Cristy”, said the nurse. I diligently followed her down the hall. My vitals were taken and when weighed I looked down at the numbers only to be disappointed. I knew I wasn’t an angel, but it was such a dramatic difference since my last visit. Soon after I was escorted down the hall to a small room with a host of products and supplements on the counter. I curiously checked out the assortment and recognized a few of the items.
The nurse placed my paperwork and lab results in a neat pile in front of me on the room’s examination table. I was tempted to look quickly but refrained. My curiosity could wait and I was nervously bordering on wanting to know and not wanting to know the truth. My blood can’t lie and I knew that.
I heard Dr. Gundry’s cheerful voice and sat up straight. Unassuming and easy to smile, Dr. Gundry entered, said hello and asked how I was feeling. I told the truth, “I am not feeling great.” As I spoke he looked down at my paperwork…
I started to explain my parents had been in the hospital for some time and my mom is still not well. We discussed in more detail and I explained how stressed, depressed and lethargic I had become. I assumed all along that it was stress causing this havoc.
“Well…”, said Dr. Gundry as he looked over everything.
The results? Not good… I had a plethora of issues plaguing me:
- weight gain, 11.5 lbs. to be exact (from my last visit)
- high sugar levels
- high protein levels
- positive marker for Lupus
- positive markers for Hashimoto’s
I was disappointed, but Dr. Gundry? I think he was surprised to see me go from star student to back in the trenches. Did he give me a slap on the hand? No, he was kind and non-judgemental. He had seen me test positive for Lupus and Hashimoto’s in the past, then negative going fully lectin-free, and now positive again.
Dr. Gundry obviously asked me, “So what happened?”. I admitted that during this stressful time in life, I cheated a bit. When I say “cheated”, I mean eating out more vs. eating in, grabbing a salad with chicken on it that probably wasn’t “pastured” and having too much wine. Enter in weight gain, too much sugar, and too much protein. Oh, and don’t forget my all-too-familiar friends Lupus and Hashimoto’s. More like the kind of friends you don’t want to run into, “Oh, hi there, it’s been a while…”.
Seeing the disappointment on my face, he said it’s normal to have a bit of a pity party in trying times; it’s human. I breathed a sigh of relief. It meant a lot to me that he understood. He also mentioned that with drinking, your inhibitions are low and overeating along with bad decisions are common. Something I knew, but having someone else say it to me proved helpful (and sobering, literally).
I felt more at ease. I could tell he knew that I knew how to get back to healthy; how to take my autoimmune diseases and put them back into remission (where they belong). Feeling more like my friend than my doctor, he pulled out his phone and showed me inspirational quotes that he had collected. Did I tear up? Yes. He may not know this, but he’s more than a doctor to me. He has shown a light on what has been a very dark path in my life. He has shown me how to achieve health and also gave me the confidence to stay the course.
While candidly discussing my diet and going over my blood work, he recommended I should avoid meat. Even “pastured” chicken you say? Yes. Why? I already knew the answer, because in the states, unfortunately, it’s rarely pastured. It may be labeled so, but in all reality, it is not. Grains are still fed to the livestock even if they are grazing all day. Sure, if I was living in the countryside somewhere in France, I would probably trust the chicken to be pastured. Or, if I raised my own and knew its food sources. It turns out, with two autoimmune diseases plaguing me, I just can’t risk it. Confirming I said, “So it really is plant-based. Eat my vegetables and maybe some wild seafood in there.”, and in my case, he agreed. I’m on the sensitive side of the lectin spectrum, but if you have arthritis, chronic pain, or an autoimmune disease, something tells me you probably are too. So this is important for you to know.
With my sugar being too high, I shamefully knew exactly where that came from. I was drinking too much wine (although compliant to have wine, it was just too much). I was drinking to sedate my anxiety and sadness in all honesty. I am a lightweight and I am by no means a drunk, however, having more than one glass of wine a night is not healthy. Yes, I was under a lot of stress and dealing with it in a very unhealthy way. Looking back, instead of reaching for another glass of wine, I should have been reaching for my yoga mat.
With my protein being too high, it was back to vegetables; a laser focus on being plant-based for overall health (while also laying off the alcohol). I was leaning too much on meat because it was my “comfort food” and easy to access when eating out a lot.
Why did I gain so much weight? Alcohol and overeating. As we discussed earlier with the lowering of inhibitions, I also for the first time in my life started binge eating at night. I was so stressed that I was mindlessly eating. It’s as if I didn’t know who I was; I had never in my life binged. As others who follow the Plant Paradox know, it’s pretty much impossible to gain weight on the diet. Done correctly, it’s effortless weight loss if you are truly following the protocol.
Let’s not forget my thyroid is a bit out of whack now too, that I have strayed a bit. Also, some supplements were increased, to help with my depression and mood. I would share, but do not want to encourage someone diagnosing themselves. Each person should consult a physician for supplement guidance and determine what is appropriate specifically for you.
Finally, Dr. Gundry asked questions about my lifestyle. Maybe that’s why I’ve been depressed as well; my relationships, environmental circumstances, and stressful events that have been my reality these last months. It all makes sense to me. If I were truly honest with myself, deep down I knew these things all along. What am I doing for myself to counter the stress in a healthy way? I mentioned my daily practice of transcendental meditation and Pilates, which were both Gundry-approved.
I am very grateful to have this sobering reminder of what it means to be lectin-free. In my case, I have to be diligent even when the going gets tough in my personal life. Dr. Gundry’s knowledge, confidence, and kindness have only fueled my determination to get back to healthy and along the way spread his message to others in need. I have had many feelings from this last appointment (sadness, anger, shame, and ultimately determination and self-empowerment). After much reflection and an honest look in the mirror, I have learned a lot from this one appointment with Dr. Gundry, but mostly from looking within (that you can find here). I also am re-reading Plant Paradox, as it’s time for a refresh. I’m humbled and I’m ready to do the work.
Want More Inspiration for Your Health Journey?
8 Lessons I Learned From Getting Lupus… Again
5 Ways To Get Support From Your Friends & Family On Your “Diet”
