What is this blog about?

Let me introduce myself.
My name is Larry Strong and I am a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons).

Why this Blog
I have had a weight problem my whole life.  I have tried every diet I've seen, and nothing works over the long run.  I can lose weight on any diet but my diet dilemma is sticking to the diet and keeping the weight off.  I invariably gain it all back plus a little more.  When I got married in 1959 I weighed 210 pounds.  But over the next 22 years I gained 10 pounds a year and ended weighing 430 pounds in 1981.   In complete desperation I had stomach staple surgery.  I lost 75 pounds in 6 months, but then something happened to my body, I don't know what, and I gained it all back to 430 pounds in about 6 months.  Since then I have maintained my current weight (more or less).  I am now 76 years old and weigh 415 pounds.

The Diet Dillema Solution?
Several weeks ago I read an article by Jane Birch called "Discovering the word of wisdom".  It describes the whole food, plant-based perspective of how to maintain our health by properly following the Word of Wisdom as described in D&C 89 (LDS scripture).

10 And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained
for the constitution, nature, and use of man—
11 Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof;
all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.
12 Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have
ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to
be used sparingly;
13 And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times
of winter, or of cold, or famine.
14 All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth;
15 And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine
and excess of hunger.
16 All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine;

Reading Jane Birch's article and studying the word of wisdom I had an epiphany.
God created herbs, grain, fruit and vegetable to be used as food for men.  However, meat is to be used sparingly, and then only in times of winter (when all the other food doesn't grow around here) or in times of famine when no other food is available.  This was written 1n 1833, but since then the other food which we should eat is available in our grocery stores because it is imported from areas of a milder climate where it will grow.  There is really no reason to eat meat any more.

Supporting evidence of the Whole Food Plant Based (WFPB) diet.

Numerous professionals have provided scientific evidence to support this type of food plan, including the following:

Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn,, Jr., MD---heartattackproof.com.
T. Colin Campbell, PhD---tcolincampbell.org---thechinastudy.com
Jeff Novick, MS, RD---jeffnovick.com
Rip Esselstyn---engine2diet.com
Neal D. Barnard, MD---pcrm.org---nealbarnard.org
Dr. Michael Greger, MD---nutritionfacts.org
Dr. Joel Fuhrman, MD---drfuhrman.com---diseaseproof.com
Dr. Dean Ornish, MD---ornishspedctrum.com
Dr. John A. McDougal, MD---drmcdougall.com/health/education/free-mcdougall-program/

What this diet will do for you.

These professionals claim this diet will drastically reduce or eliminate the following health problems;

Arthritis (AS, gout, psoriatic, rheumatoid)
Atherosclerosis (heart disease, carotid artery disease, strokes)
Asthma
Cancers (colon, breast, uterus, ovary, kidney, prostate)
Cataracts & macular degeneration
Colitis (Crohn's, ulcerative
Constipation
Dementia (Alzheimer's, cognitive dysfunction)
Diabets
Diverticulitis
Erectile dysfunction
Gallstones
Gastritis (ulcers)
Hearing loss
Hemorrhoids
Hiatus hernia
Hypertenstion
Kidney disease
Kidney Stones
Multiple sclerosis
Obesity
Osteoporosis
Parkinson's disease
Varicose veins

My Plan

I have many of the problems described including obesity, arthritis, cataracts, diabetes, gout, and several more health problems.  Therefore, I am going to start this plan on  Monday, February 24, 2014.  I will report on this blog on a daily basis, or periodically, my progress, problems I encounter, how much weight I have lost, and corrections or easing of my many other health problems.  I also want to report from time to time the history of my health, the many different types of doctors (including some quacks) I have visited, the many different diets I have tried and their results and anything else that followers of this blog might be interested in.  And one last thing.  It is going to put a lot of pressure on me to stick to it.

Forever strong in life

Larry Strong
Feb 16, 2014