I developed a kidney stone.
I was running on a treadmill at the gym when it started. At first, it felt like I’d tweaked a muscle in my back. I tried to stretch it out as I ran. But that made no difference.
Rather than risking lifting weights, I packed up and left the gym.
By the time I got home, I was in agony. I’d never felt pain like it.
I spent the night in the emergency room, hopped up on morphine.
Fortunately, the stone passed painlessly the following day. But the pain had been so bad I was left with a nagging fear that it might happen again. so I signed up with a nutritionist. I wanted her advice on changes that would help minimize the risk of another stone forming.
The week before our first meeting, I kept a food log. I had to record everything I ate and drank and the time of day. Doing this is a real motivation to eat clean and not to overeat.
About to eat another slice of cake? You probably won’t if you know that later in the week, someone will ask, “Did you really need a third portion?”
I was sure she would be impressed with my log. I didn’t eat meat, dairy, or fast food then. I was convinced she would think my diet was a moderation and healthy eating model.
But not so!
My diet was a shit show. My healthy lentil and tofu-ready meals contributed significantly to my 5,000 mg of salt daily. My regular evening pasta and marinara sauce plate sent my carb intake rocketing. My protein intake was miserably low.
I expected a minor change to my eating habits, but the nutritionist recommended a significant overhaul. No more vegan meals or faux deli meat. After nine years, my vegan diet reverted to one full of white meat and fish.