This week has not been the ideal environment for healing. Due to external circumstances, I have not been able to take care of myself like I need to. My dog is very ill and I have been on 24 hour nursing care and observation. I haven't been sleeping so I have very little energy to get through the day, let alone have time to cook healthy balanced meals. My gut pain is constant but I am very sensitive to stress and sadness so I've just tried to eat when I can to maintain calories and not worry too much about it. He is making improvements so I'm hopeful I can get back into some sort of routine again and try to end the diet experience on a positive note.
Food Journal Day 39 Friday
Breakfast: fritatta w/egg, spinach, garlic, onion, avocado, small protein shake
Lunch: spaghetti squash with shrimp and broccoli, kombucha
Dinner: baked salmon, garlic over greens (watercress, spinach, arugula) lemon olive oil dressing
Food Journal Day 40 Saturday
Breakfast: small protein shake
Lunch: tuna melt on GF bread (some ingredients not allowed)
Snack: 1/2 T. sunflower seed butter, GF crackers
Dinner: coconut ginger basa, sauteed ginger chard
Day 41 Sunday
Breakfast: protein shake w/ ClearVite, acai packet, carrot juice, cultured coconut milk, spinach, broccoli stems
Lunch: leftover spaghetti squash and broccoli, leftover salmon and greens, GF crackers, sunflower seed butter
Snack: beet chips, avocado, kombucha
Dinner: sun burger (brown rice, sunflower seeds, veggies) over greens, asparagus, avocado, leftover red snapper
Day 42 Monday
Breakfast: protein shake
Lunch: leftover salmon, asparagus, kombucha
Snack: tea, 3 sunballs over 2 hours
Dinner: sweet potato, avocado, raw massaged kale salad
Sunballs- Mary's Gone Crackers Sticks and Twigs crushed with sunflower seed butter, quinoa, hemp seed, chia seed, cinnamon and rolled in sesame seeds. I like bite size so I roll marble size. These are not sweet, I should have used some stevia.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
Day 37- Finally some needed changes
I am happy to report that I am making some needed adjustments to my regimen. After discussing with my acupuncturist, his advised me to back off a little. He thought my symptoms sounded like my body was unhappy with the changes and obviously holding me back from recovering. So, as of now I am officially adding whole grains back into my diet. I had tried replacing quinoa for fruit in small amounts but not everyday. I am also going to replace the Repair Vite with Clear Vite to get more nutrients and take the GI synergy only once a day instead of twice a day. I have tried adding in eggs but the jury is still out if they are affecting me. The diet is still strict but just easing up a tiny bit gives me the most unexpected joy. I no longer feel like any mistake I make is detrimental to my recovery and that I am in a constant state of panic with life or death decisions. It is a fluid process of what works for me and it's ok for me to experiment a little.
Just 3 days into backing off a little and I'm already noticing some positive changes. I feel less dizzy on an average, less disoriented, and my mood has greatly improved. I have less feelings of hopelessness and depravity. I still get dizzy spells, forget to put protein powder in my protein shake, and forget nouns and adjectives but it's not so bad. The only changes I've really made are reducing the GI synergy to once a day, eating bigger portions, eating more quinoa and allowing myself a treat like crackers or frozen cultured coconut milk. I also found some cacao nibs that have very little sugar so as a special treat I eat one or two and savor it, and feel much happier as a result. I'm not sure what this means for killing Candida but it does feel like a better environment to heal in. I suppose I will deal with the Candida later when my gut has healed a bit longer.
Day 36 Tuesday
Breakfast: protein shake with carrot juice, c.c. milk, fresh ginger, stevia
Lunch: baked salmon, arugula, lettuce, lemon olive oil dressing
Snack: can't remember but think I ate something
Dinner: salmon, brown rice, broccoli
Day 37 Wednesday
Breakfast: fried egg with leftover salmon, cream of rice cereal (11am)
Snack: GF crackers, beet chips
Dinner: shrimp with lemon and garlic, quinoa, broccoli
Dessert: frozen cultured coconut milk (3g sugar) with cinnamon and stevia
Day 38 Thursday
Breakfast: egg with wilted spinach on GF english muffin
Lunch: quinoa and broccoli
Snack: GF crackers (Sticks and Twigs by Mary gone crackers, and yes they taste similar)
Dinner: lemon shrimp, broccoli, spaghetti squash
Just 3 days into backing off a little and I'm already noticing some positive changes. I feel less dizzy on an average, less disoriented, and my mood has greatly improved. I have less feelings of hopelessness and depravity. I still get dizzy spells, forget to put protein powder in my protein shake, and forget nouns and adjectives but it's not so bad. The only changes I've really made are reducing the GI synergy to once a day, eating bigger portions, eating more quinoa and allowing myself a treat like crackers or frozen cultured coconut milk. I also found some cacao nibs that have very little sugar so as a special treat I eat one or two and savor it, and feel much happier as a result. I'm not sure what this means for killing Candida but it does feel like a better environment to heal in. I suppose I will deal with the Candida later when my gut has healed a bit longer.
Day 36 Tuesday
Breakfast: protein shake with carrot juice, c.c. milk, fresh ginger, stevia
Lunch: baked salmon, arugula, lettuce, lemon olive oil dressing
Snack: can't remember but think I ate something
Dinner: salmon, brown rice, broccoli
Day 37 Wednesday
Breakfast: fried egg with leftover salmon, cream of rice cereal (11am)
Snack: GF crackers, beet chips
Dinner: shrimp with lemon and garlic, quinoa, broccoli
Dessert: frozen cultured coconut milk (3g sugar) with cinnamon and stevia
Day 38 Thursday
Breakfast: egg with wilted spinach on GF english muffin
Lunch: quinoa and broccoli
Snack: GF crackers (Sticks and Twigs by Mary gone crackers, and yes they taste similar)
Dinner: lemon shrimp, broccoli, spaghetti squash
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Day 34- I'm not gonna lie, this is hard.
This has been the toughest week thus far. I didn't think it would get worse but it has. Because of my severely decreased intake of sugar, my body is going through some drastic changes. The most noticeable is the bloating. Every day now I am bloated, when I wake up to when I go to bed. It gets worse after each meal. The fatigue is life-altering, and I haven't seen an energy boost even after forcing myself to exercise 3 times a week. The dizziness and vertigo occur randomly throughout the day. The brain fog is incredible, it's no wonder I can't write everyday. I can't make a clear sentence to save my life or just try to communicate with the outside world for that matter. On top of all that, I have been extremely emotional and the depression is a real, palpable feeling, like a heavy jacket I can't take off.
My research has led me to believe some of my symptoms are common with Candida die off. What I understand is that Candida releases toxins into the blood stream, whether they are multiplying or dying. They end up in the liver to be filtered, causing the liver to work overtime trying to filter out all of these poisons. This causes the body to suffer in many ways. A common toxin is acetaldehyde, which is broken down to alcohol. The drunk feeling is a real symptom, I was starting to feel crazy and thought I had begun imagining new symptoms. There have been a handful of times now that I felt like I had a really nice buzz after two martinis. Since I hadn't drank any martinis, I was alarmed and thought I was going to be sick. The other night after dinner while driving home, it occurred to me that I was swerving and felt drunk. Amazingly, I've read about people getting DUI's and testing high for blood alcohol that have not been drinking and were undergoing similar detox and cleanses. So the brain fog and hangover feelings may be directly related to how much Candida is in my body.
There is a probable history and direction now that seems to be getting clearer. Two years ago I took a hefty dose of antibiotics for a month long GI upset. Then some months later I began to have random bloating which progressed to daily pain and digestive problems. Add a high stress job with emotions I hadn't learned to cope with yet and the ball was rolling. I ate a high carb, high sugar, highly processed vegetarian diet. I had been on oral contraceptives for 10+ years of my life. All these things contributed to a Candida overgrowth which led to Leaky Gut syndrome. Through a process of elimination with medical doctors and natural healers, I've been led to this. Now of course I don't know if this is the case but I'd like to think I had an answer, it would make me feel better. I am looking for some more concrete answers at this point because I find it unbearable to live between the Leaky Guy diet and a Candida diet. It needs to be one or the other. I understand I need to heal my gut before any real transformation happens but I am looking for guidance on how to do that. Any thoughts?
Food Journal Day 32 Friday
Breakfast: protein shake w/carrot juice, c.c. milk, kombucha, spinach, fresh ginger
Lunch: leftover pesto'd basa and spaghetti squash
Snack: beet chips, avocado
Dinner: sashimi, half roll (rice), collar (grilled), daikon, ginger, green tea
Day 33 Saturday
Breakfast: protein shake w/carrot juice, c.c.milk, kombucha, spinach, stevia
Snack: beet chips
Lunch: mahi mahi, quinoa, spinach
Dinner: shrimp, salmon, spinach, broccoli
Day 34 Sunday
Breakfast: protein shake w/carrot juice, c.c. milk, kombucha, spinach, kale, fresh ginger, stevia
Lunch: leftover mahi mahi, quinoa, spinach, beet chips
Snack: quinoa (1/4 cup)
Dinner: sauteed lemon shrimp and raw kale salad
Dessert: frozen cultured coconut milk and cinnamon (2g sugar)
Day 35 Monday
Breakfast: protein shake w/ c.c. milk, repairvite, kombucha, arugula, ginger, cinnamon, stevia
Lunch: tuna salad with leftover kale salad, kombucha
Dinner: roasted butternut squash, sauteed red chard
My research has led me to believe some of my symptoms are common with Candida die off. What I understand is that Candida releases toxins into the blood stream, whether they are multiplying or dying. They end up in the liver to be filtered, causing the liver to work overtime trying to filter out all of these poisons. This causes the body to suffer in many ways. A common toxin is acetaldehyde, which is broken down to alcohol. The drunk feeling is a real symptom, I was starting to feel crazy and thought I had begun imagining new symptoms. There have been a handful of times now that I felt like I had a really nice buzz after two martinis. Since I hadn't drank any martinis, I was alarmed and thought I was going to be sick. The other night after dinner while driving home, it occurred to me that I was swerving and felt drunk. Amazingly, I've read about people getting DUI's and testing high for blood alcohol that have not been drinking and were undergoing similar detox and cleanses. So the brain fog and hangover feelings may be directly related to how much Candida is in my body.
There is a probable history and direction now that seems to be getting clearer. Two years ago I took a hefty dose of antibiotics for a month long GI upset. Then some months later I began to have random bloating which progressed to daily pain and digestive problems. Add a high stress job with emotions I hadn't learned to cope with yet and the ball was rolling. I ate a high carb, high sugar, highly processed vegetarian diet. I had been on oral contraceptives for 10+ years of my life. All these things contributed to a Candida overgrowth which led to Leaky Gut syndrome. Through a process of elimination with medical doctors and natural healers, I've been led to this. Now of course I don't know if this is the case but I'd like to think I had an answer, it would make me feel better. I am looking for some more concrete answers at this point because I find it unbearable to live between the Leaky Guy diet and a Candida diet. It needs to be one or the other. I understand I need to heal my gut before any real transformation happens but I am looking for guidance on how to do that. Any thoughts?
Food Journal Day 32 Friday
Breakfast: protein shake w/carrot juice, c.c. milk, kombucha, spinach, fresh ginger
Lunch: leftover pesto'd basa and spaghetti squash
Snack: beet chips, avocado
Dinner: sashimi, half roll (rice), collar (grilled), daikon, ginger, green tea
Day 33 Saturday
Breakfast: protein shake w/carrot juice, c.c.milk, kombucha, spinach, stevia
Snack: beet chips
Lunch: mahi mahi, quinoa, spinach
Dinner: shrimp, salmon, spinach, broccoli
Day 34 Sunday
Breakfast: protein shake w/carrot juice, c.c. milk, kombucha, spinach, kale, fresh ginger, stevia
Lunch: leftover mahi mahi, quinoa, spinach, beet chips
Snack: quinoa (1/4 cup)
Dinner: sauteed lemon shrimp and raw kale salad
Dessert: frozen cultured coconut milk and cinnamon (2g sugar)
Day 35 Monday
Breakfast: protein shake w/ c.c. milk, repairvite, kombucha, arugula, ginger, cinnamon, stevia
Lunch: tuna salad with leftover kale salad, kombucha
Dinner: roasted butternut squash, sauteed red chard
Friday, February 25, 2011
Day 31- Disappointment rears its ugly head
So I feel like I should be excited that I've finished a month of the RepairVite program for Leaky Gut Syndrome but I'm not. I wanted to feel a little improvement after 30 days of torture. I am still having generalized abdominal pain, bloated, gassy, tired, depressed and now also really frustrated and hungry. The alterations I've made to this diet so far are cutting out fruit and adding quinoa and eggs. Since my symptoms look like a Candida overgrowth, I have reduced my sugar intake to the minimum. In order to survive, it was suggested I could replace a small amount of grains (GF of course) since they are less liked by Candida than fruit. I know I am not eating enough because I am hungry all of the time. It's not that I don't want to eat, it's that I spend so much time trying to come up with an idea of what to eat that I feel like I spend my entire day planning, cooking, eating and cleaning up. My kitchen is in a constant state of disaster, yet I'm still hungry. So struggling with getting enough food, I have lost more weight. I am at the lowest weight I've been in my adult life, but sadly I don't feel skinny because my belly is always distended. So at this point I am experimenting with adding a new protein- eggs. I had eliminated eggs in a previous elimination diet. I had suspicious but not definitive results so I just avoided them. I have toyed with the idea of adding in some animal protein but after thinking about it for weeks, I still feel uncomfortable and the mental aspect would most likely overcome any physical benefits. I am hoping to not have any obvious results as it is difficult to add something new in when I am already bloated everyday. But here's hoping...
As part of sugar withdrawals (I am guessing), I am having some terrible mood swings, headaches, more abdominal pain and tenderness and noticeably increased lethargy. I wish I knew that it was the sugar deprivation and that when I get over this I will feel better. I am uncertain if it's part of the detox, a reaction to the eggs, sugar withdrawal or something else. Either way, it's a lot worse than I had expected and I feel worse than before I started the program. So I'm either doing a good thing and my body is releasing toxins or I am doing a bad thing and making my body worse. Hmmm....
Food Journal Day 30 Wednesday
Breakfast: protein shake with carrot juice, cultured coconut milk, spinach, fresh ginger, stevia
Snack: hard boiled egg
Lunch: quinoa with broccoli, tilapia and avocado
Snack: beet chips, kombucha
Dinner: egg scramble with salmon, spinach, avocado and onion
Food Journal Day 31 Thursday
Breakfast: protein shake with carrot juice, c.c. milk, spinach, kombucha and stevia
Snack: hard boiled egg, kombucha
Lunch: vegetable broth soup with spinach and leftover tilapia
Dinner: basa fillet in cilantro pesto over spaghetti squash
As part of sugar withdrawals (I am guessing), I am having some terrible mood swings, headaches, more abdominal pain and tenderness and noticeably increased lethargy. I wish I knew that it was the sugar deprivation and that when I get over this I will feel better. I am uncertain if it's part of the detox, a reaction to the eggs, sugar withdrawal or something else. Either way, it's a lot worse than I had expected and I feel worse than before I started the program. So I'm either doing a good thing and my body is releasing toxins or I am doing a bad thing and making my body worse. Hmmm....
Food Journal Day 30 Wednesday
Breakfast: protein shake with carrot juice, cultured coconut milk, spinach, fresh ginger, stevia
Snack: hard boiled egg
Lunch: quinoa with broccoli, tilapia and avocado
Snack: beet chips, kombucha
Dinner: egg scramble with salmon, spinach, avocado and onion
Food Journal Day 31 Thursday
Breakfast: protein shake with carrot juice, c.c. milk, spinach, kombucha and stevia
Snack: hard boiled egg, kombucha
Lunch: vegetable broth soup with spinach and leftover tilapia
Dinner: basa fillet in cilantro pesto over spaghetti squash
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Last 3 Food journals
 |
| Baked tilapia and broccoli |
 |
| my fave carrot juice- 4g sugar |
Breakfast: protein shake with carrot juice, cultured coconut milk, spinach, frozen acai (protein=20g, sugar=8g)
Lunch: coconut lime basa, wilted spinach, kombucha
Snack: kombucha
Dinner:garlic and onion baked tilapia, steamed broccoli
Food Journal Day 28 Monday
Breakfast: protein shake w/carrot juice, c.c.milk, spinach, frozen acai, fresh ginger, stevia
Lunch: quinoa, broccoli, avocado, mini pickles
Snack: sweet potato fries, salad with hard boiled egg, lemon oil dressing
Dinner: lime coconut shrimp and chard
Food Journal Day 29 Tuesday
Breakfast: protein shake w/carrot juice, c.c.milk, spinach, frozen acai, stevia
Lunch: leftover tilapia, quinoa, broccoli, avocado, ginger tea w/stevia
Snack: avocado with beet chips, quinoa with cinnamon and coconut milk
Dinner: scallops with scrambled eggs and spinach
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Candida thoughts
I always have the best of intentions when I wake up then as the day progresses I can't follow through with my positive ideas. Like today for example, I thought to myself, try not to eat any fruit until later today. Then I saw the other half of a grapefruit and planned to eat it after breakfast. I am my own worst enemy.
I am going to give away the rest of my fresh fruit and stick with frozen acai for my morning smoothie in place of fresh fruit. It only has 3g sugar as do the coconut yogurt and carrot juice so my entire breakfast is less than 8g of sugar. I think that should be acceptable.
From the research I've done on Candida at this point, I am really hoping that is what's wrong with me because it fits. I've gone through needing a diagnosis to accepting it may never happen back to wanting a diagnosis. There are a few tests that seem to help determine if I have a yeast overgrowth but I don't have any professional opinions about them yet.
First, a spit test. I failed this one. I've also been told since it is part of the normal flora, it will always show positive signs. Jury is out.
Second, a blood test to measure the response of your immune system to Candida (antibody levels).
Third, a stool test looking for evidence of dysbiosis, an unbalanced flora.
Finally, a urine test measuring the waste product of yeast.
Reference web site
So I am interested in finding out some opinions about getting these tests performed, why are they beneficial, what are their drawbacks and is it worth it?
I feel as though it would be easier for me to follow a no sugar diet if I knew I was on the right path, not just another experiment that led me to another dead-end. It seems crazy to say out-loud but the Candida diet looks way easier than the one I am on right now.
Here is a website that I learned a lot from -Candida info
I made a very unsuccessful attempt at grain free crackers. I was inspired by some pictures of a few blogs I follow but not being able to use flour, they never made it to a cracker existence. I used seeds- pumpkin, sesame, sunflower, and hemp, herbs and tried to bind it with olive oil and hemp butter. I rolled it out 1/4 inch thick on parchment paper then baked for 25 minutes at 350F. It never found solid form and exists as burnt crumbs. Hmmmm, I'm not very good at this stuff but it is fun to experiment. Any ideas?
Food Journal Day 25 Friday
Breakfast: protein shake with new pea protein, carrot juice, cultured coconut milk, spinach, banana, stevia (this is fairly disgusting, had to chase each sip with kombucha, need to work on recipe) (28g protein)
Snack: plain coconut yogurt, blueberries, flax meal, hemp seeds
Lunch: quinoa, sweet potato, wilted spinach, kombucha, grapefruit (hour later)
Snack: coconut leather
Dinner: coconut ginger lime marinated Basa fillet, gingered chard
Food Journal Day 26 Saturday
Breakfast: hot quinoa cereal with coconut milk, hemp butter, hemp seeds, sesame seed, kombucha (protein=10g) 11a
Snack: grapefruit 2p
Dinner: sesame crusted ahi tuna salad, lemon basil dressing, tea 5p
Snack: artichoke, avocado lemon oil, kombucha (10p)
Snack: applesauce (just enough to take with pills)
I am going to give away the rest of my fresh fruit and stick with frozen acai for my morning smoothie in place of fresh fruit. It only has 3g sugar as do the coconut yogurt and carrot juice so my entire breakfast is less than 8g of sugar. I think that should be acceptable.
From the research I've done on Candida at this point, I am really hoping that is what's wrong with me because it fits. I've gone through needing a diagnosis to accepting it may never happen back to wanting a diagnosis. There are a few tests that seem to help determine if I have a yeast overgrowth but I don't have any professional opinions about them yet.
First, a spit test. I failed this one. I've also been told since it is part of the normal flora, it will always show positive signs. Jury is out.
Second, a blood test to measure the response of your immune system to Candida (antibody levels).
Third, a stool test looking for evidence of dysbiosis, an unbalanced flora.
Finally, a urine test measuring the waste product of yeast.
Reference web site
So I am interested in finding out some opinions about getting these tests performed, why are they beneficial, what are their drawbacks and is it worth it?
I feel as though it would be easier for me to follow a no sugar diet if I knew I was on the right path, not just another experiment that led me to another dead-end. It seems crazy to say out-loud but the Candida diet looks way easier than the one I am on right now.
Here is a website that I learned a lot from -Candida info
I made a very unsuccessful attempt at grain free crackers. I was inspired by some pictures of a few blogs I follow but not being able to use flour, they never made it to a cracker existence. I used seeds- pumpkin, sesame, sunflower, and hemp, herbs and tried to bind it with olive oil and hemp butter. I rolled it out 1/4 inch thick on parchment paper then baked for 25 minutes at 350F. It never found solid form and exists as burnt crumbs. Hmmmm, I'm not very good at this stuff but it is fun to experiment. Any ideas?
Food Journal Day 25 Friday
 |
| My disgusting breakfast today |
 |
| The best fish I've made yet |
Snack: plain coconut yogurt, blueberries, flax meal, hemp seeds
Lunch: quinoa, sweet potato, wilted spinach, kombucha, grapefruit (hour later)
Snack: coconut leather
Dinner: coconut ginger lime marinated Basa fillet, gingered chard
Food Journal Day 26 Saturday
Breakfast: hot quinoa cereal with coconut milk, hemp butter, hemp seeds, sesame seed, kombucha (protein=10g) 11a
Snack: grapefruit 2p
Dinner: sesame crusted ahi tuna salad, lemon basil dressing, tea 5p
Snack: artichoke, avocado lemon oil, kombucha (10p)
Snack: applesauce (just enough to take with pills)
Friday, February 18, 2011
Day 24- Candida, I hate you.
I went to see my acupuncturist on Thursday for a checkup and the second round of supplements. I described to him that I initially felt better but have noticed the bloating getting worse and now it is back to a daily symptom. When I take out everything that it delicious and I am still bloated, it really makes me question if it's the food at all. What is the worst thing he could say to me at this point, really? Well, he said it.
No more sugar.
Aaaacccckkkk, what??? I thought I was barely surviving trading in cookies for fruit and now no fruit either? It turns out sugar has always been my common denominator. From the previous elimination diets to the daily gluten-free, dairy-free lifestyle, I've always maintained sugar as a constant ingredient. I have been conscious of my choices however, I pretty much always ate homemade treats that were sweetened with fruit, dates, honey, agave, or raw unrefined sugars. I thought using flours like quinoa, buckwheat, garbanzo and almond flours were a better choice than the bleached refined white flours everyone else eats and enjoys in this society. I remember my first elimination diet allowed brown rice syrup and molasses. That was easy. Even when I was told in the beginning to rid my life of bread and cheese, my most common meal in many forms, I thought "at least they aren't telling me to stop eating cookies, I would have no reason to live." I am so sick of people saying to me they don't know how I do it, they would just die if they couldn't eat (insert anything). If constant pain was their motivating factor and a life less than desired, it wouldn't be so hard. Sorry, sometimes I let out that negativity monster I try so hard not to share with others.
So back to Candida, I hate you. You make my life miserable, I want to rid my body of you. This is my new mantra and I will be using it to get myself through the next month of what I imagine to be the hardest yet. Since I have never fully eliminating sugar from my diet, this is the next step. It seems likely that I continue to feed the yeast with the sugars I am ingesting, therefore it continues to thrive. Even with the supplements that are trying to kill the yeast, any "die-off" can also cause bloating, and any that remain are feeding off my sugar addiction (that they started, I'm sure). So I am on a new research path for now, candida and how I can kill it. I like researching and learning even more so I'm trying to look at it as a positive learning experience.
Compromise...
Since my acupuncturists widely agrees that I am human and starving myself of carbs can cause other harmful effects (mostly making one feel crazy), he has agreed to a compromise. There is a scale that describes what foods are best and worst for yeast inhibition so as an experiment he said I can add in whole grains in place of fruit (grains are lower on the list than fruit). This is not to say that every meal can be a giant bowl of rice but instead of snacking on fruit, replace it with quinoa or rice. I was already separating my fruit from meals for the last week, as I had done this before the detox hoping food combining was the answer. In small portions even added to meals, it is thought I will feel more full therefore feeling less like a sugary snack as often as I do. I will try this for 2 weeks and see how I feel. Obviously if I can work up to no grains, that is the goal. I will share with you more research as I learn other interesting tidbits.
Since I don't believe in wasting, I am going to expeditiously eat the remainder of fruit I have and rid myself of any other items that I can not hide or freeze indefinitely. It shouldn't take more than a few days. I have to finish this program strong and disciplined with gusto and perseverance. Its all I can do before giving up, especially when I am told it is extremely optimistic to think I will be healed in 4 weeks when this is over. Also, if I feel 80% better, than I am on the right track. If not, I need to find a new path. Not very inspiring words to look forward to.
Food Journal Day 23 Wednesday
Breakfast: protein shake with spinach, carrot juice, cultured coconut milk, blueberries, banana
Snack: coconut bites
Lunch: tuna salad w/avocado, artichoke, cucumber, carrrot, sunflower seed, lemon juice in lettuce wraps, kombucha
Dinner: sweet potato w/ avocado and broccoli, olive oil & salt
Dessert: applesauce (for pills) and coconut fruit leather
Coconut fruit leather: mixed dried unsweetened coconut, cinnamon, cocoa powder and flax meal with simmered raspberries and cherries and then a small amount of coconut milk to desired consistency. Spread thin (1/4-1/2 in.) on parchment paper over baking sheet and bake at 350F for 25 min. I tore apart into small bite size pieces and moved outside pieces to middle after 15 min to get consistent crusty edges. The final product is very thin but holds together well in small pieces, it's also tart and tastes too good to be allowed on this diet.
Food Journal Day 24 Thursday
Breakfast: protein shake with normal stuff
Lunch: salad with roasted beets and crab meat, herbal tea
Snack: coconut fruit leather
Snack: frozen coconut mango
Dinner: cedar plank salmon, grilled asparagus, spinach
No more sugar.
Aaaacccckkkk, what??? I thought I was barely surviving trading in cookies for fruit and now no fruit either? It turns out sugar has always been my common denominator. From the previous elimination diets to the daily gluten-free, dairy-free lifestyle, I've always maintained sugar as a constant ingredient. I have been conscious of my choices however, I pretty much always ate homemade treats that were sweetened with fruit, dates, honey, agave, or raw unrefined sugars. I thought using flours like quinoa, buckwheat, garbanzo and almond flours were a better choice than the bleached refined white flours everyone else eats and enjoys in this society. I remember my first elimination diet allowed brown rice syrup and molasses. That was easy. Even when I was told in the beginning to rid my life of bread and cheese, my most common meal in many forms, I thought "at least they aren't telling me to stop eating cookies, I would have no reason to live." I am so sick of people saying to me they don't know how I do it, they would just die if they couldn't eat (insert anything). If constant pain was their motivating factor and a life less than desired, it wouldn't be so hard. Sorry, sometimes I let out that negativity monster I try so hard not to share with others.
So back to Candida, I hate you. You make my life miserable, I want to rid my body of you. This is my new mantra and I will be using it to get myself through the next month of what I imagine to be the hardest yet. Since I have never fully eliminating sugar from my diet, this is the next step. It seems likely that I continue to feed the yeast with the sugars I am ingesting, therefore it continues to thrive. Even with the supplements that are trying to kill the yeast, any "die-off" can also cause bloating, and any that remain are feeding off my sugar addiction (that they started, I'm sure). So I am on a new research path for now, candida and how I can kill it. I like researching and learning even more so I'm trying to look at it as a positive learning experience.
Compromise...
Since my acupuncturists widely agrees that I am human and starving myself of carbs can cause other harmful effects (mostly making one feel crazy), he has agreed to a compromise. There is a scale that describes what foods are best and worst for yeast inhibition so as an experiment he said I can add in whole grains in place of fruit (grains are lower on the list than fruit). This is not to say that every meal can be a giant bowl of rice but instead of snacking on fruit, replace it with quinoa or rice. I was already separating my fruit from meals for the last week, as I had done this before the detox hoping food combining was the answer. In small portions even added to meals, it is thought I will feel more full therefore feeling less like a sugary snack as often as I do. I will try this for 2 weeks and see how I feel. Obviously if I can work up to no grains, that is the goal. I will share with you more research as I learn other interesting tidbits.
Since I don't believe in wasting, I am going to expeditiously eat the remainder of fruit I have and rid myself of any other items that I can not hide or freeze indefinitely. It shouldn't take more than a few days. I have to finish this program strong and disciplined with gusto and perseverance. Its all I can do before giving up, especially when I am told it is extremely optimistic to think I will be healed in 4 weeks when this is over. Also, if I feel 80% better, than I am on the right track. If not, I need to find a new path. Not very inspiring words to look forward to.
 | |||
| Coconut fruit leather- allowed? |
Breakfast: protein shake with spinach, carrot juice, cultured coconut milk, blueberries, banana
Snack: coconut bites
Lunch: tuna salad w/avocado, artichoke, cucumber, carrrot, sunflower seed, lemon juice in lettuce wraps, kombucha
Dinner: sweet potato w/ avocado and broccoli, olive oil & salt
Dessert: applesauce (for pills) and coconut fruit leather
Coconut fruit leather: mixed dried unsweetened coconut, cinnamon, cocoa powder and flax meal with simmered raspberries and cherries and then a small amount of coconut milk to desired consistency. Spread thin (1/4-1/2 in.) on parchment paper over baking sheet and bake at 350F for 25 min. I tore apart into small bite size pieces and moved outside pieces to middle after 15 min to get consistent crusty edges. The final product is very thin but holds together well in small pieces, it's also tart and tastes too good to be allowed on this diet.
Food Journal Day 24 Thursday
Breakfast: protein shake with normal stuff
Lunch: salad with roasted beets and crab meat, herbal tea
Snack: coconut fruit leather
Snack: frozen coconut mango
Dinner: cedar plank salmon, grilled asparagus, spinach
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Day 21- 3 weeks over, 5 more to go
At 3 weeks in, I wanted to share with you the adaptations I've made during this life-altering program. Don't be fooled if you think it won't flip your life upside down.
The most noticeable difference I can feel is in my kitchen. I usually have fresh fruit and veggies out on the counter where I can see them. It used to be rock hard limes, rotten bananas or sprouting potatoes. My fridge has (almost) gone through a metamorphosis. There is a snack shelf, a leftover meals shelf and the veggie and fruit drawers are full. There is still beer for friends and neighbors when they come over and the cheese drawer is taped shut so I can't even look inside. The reality of living with another prevents removing everything I'd like to. The freezer has plenty of space now for my fish, it used to be full of processed boxes of dinners and such. I hardly ever open the cabinet anymore. The only reason to open the door is for canned tuna, cans of coconut milk or a jar of artichokes. I call this the carb cabinet now because I would ALWAYS go to it for crackers, chips, and cookies. Now that I'm not eating that stuff anymore, I realize my entire cabinet is full of CRAP!
I am going to the grocery store weekly now to always have fresh veggies like spinach and chard and berries on hand. My grocery bills are much higher now, I used to buy what was on sale, now I don't have that luxury. I have made friends with my local seafood man, we have nice conversations every week. I am still buying fish on sale, but only wild caught and since I go every week I am only buying enough for the week. It also keeps a constant variety in my diet and I am trying new fish I've never cooked before.
As far as lifestyle is concerned, I spend most of my time at home which keeps me more isolated than normal. I don't look forward to social gatherings right now because food is the worst temptation for me. I haven't been drinking for quite some time so the bar is not a problem for me. I usually bring food if I'm going to someone's house but restaurants are tough. I have found a few local places that have one thing on the menu that's safe, but unknown situations and unplanned meals occur and I end up starving and frustrated. It's best to plan your meals so you don't make bad choices. I avoid situations that I know will test my willpower. Sure, I should be strong enough to overcome them but I am human, and not about to walk past the donut store to smell that intoxicating scent just to torture myself.
I feel so much better when I exercise but lately I've been struggling with getting enough activity. I always find an excuse not to go to the gym, and the fact that it's been below zero lately doesn't help. I need to work on prioritizing exercise and incorporating it daily instead of making excuses. Once my finger heals I will get back into rock climbing and hopefully trapeze. It helps to find things that are stimulating and enjoying, I will look into this more. What do you love to do for exercise?
Lastly, it's worth noting my mood is ever changing. Some days I'm happy and positive and other days I am a tornado of negativity. I am trying to adapt to the roller coaster of emotions by acknowledging that every day is different and trying to pinpoint what makes one day better than another. I have learned a lot about pain and it's role in mood and also healing. I'd like to get into this further at a later point with a clearer mind.
Food Journal Day 21 Monday
Breakfast: protein shake with carrot juice, coconut milk, spinach, blueberries, half banana
Lunch: spinach salad w/ leftover cod and veggie latkes, sunflower seeds, lemon oil dressing, kombucha
Snack: blended frozen banana and coconut milk (to take pills with)
Dinner: sashimi, seaweed, daikon, green tea
Dessert: mango mochi ball
Food Journal Day 22 Tuesday
Breakfast: protein shake with spinach, carrot juice, coconut milk, banana
Lunch: salad with shrimp, artichoke, lemon oil vinaigrette
Snack: fruit leather (at the grocery store and starving)
Dinner: veggie "stir-fry": asparagus, butternut squash, leftover cod, avocado, lemon oil dressing, kombucha
Dessert: coconut yogurt with blueberries and hempseeds
Snack: applesauce (to take pills with)
The most noticeable difference I can feel is in my kitchen. I usually have fresh fruit and veggies out on the counter where I can see them. It used to be rock hard limes, rotten bananas or sprouting potatoes. My fridge has (almost) gone through a metamorphosis. There is a snack shelf, a leftover meals shelf and the veggie and fruit drawers are full. There is still beer for friends and neighbors when they come over and the cheese drawer is taped shut so I can't even look inside. The reality of living with another prevents removing everything I'd like to. The freezer has plenty of space now for my fish, it used to be full of processed boxes of dinners and such. I hardly ever open the cabinet anymore. The only reason to open the door is for canned tuna, cans of coconut milk or a jar of artichokes. I call this the carb cabinet now because I would ALWAYS go to it for crackers, chips, and cookies. Now that I'm not eating that stuff anymore, I realize my entire cabinet is full of CRAP!
I am going to the grocery store weekly now to always have fresh veggies like spinach and chard and berries on hand. My grocery bills are much higher now, I used to buy what was on sale, now I don't have that luxury. I have made friends with my local seafood man, we have nice conversations every week. I am still buying fish on sale, but only wild caught and since I go every week I am only buying enough for the week. It also keeps a constant variety in my diet and I am trying new fish I've never cooked before.
As far as lifestyle is concerned, I spend most of my time at home which keeps me more isolated than normal. I don't look forward to social gatherings right now because food is the worst temptation for me. I haven't been drinking for quite some time so the bar is not a problem for me. I usually bring food if I'm going to someone's house but restaurants are tough. I have found a few local places that have one thing on the menu that's safe, but unknown situations and unplanned meals occur and I end up starving and frustrated. It's best to plan your meals so you don't make bad choices. I avoid situations that I know will test my willpower. Sure, I should be strong enough to overcome them but I am human, and not about to walk past the donut store to smell that intoxicating scent just to torture myself.
I feel so much better when I exercise but lately I've been struggling with getting enough activity. I always find an excuse not to go to the gym, and the fact that it's been below zero lately doesn't help. I need to work on prioritizing exercise and incorporating it daily instead of making excuses. Once my finger heals I will get back into rock climbing and hopefully trapeze. It helps to find things that are stimulating and enjoying, I will look into this more. What do you love to do for exercise?
Lastly, it's worth noting my mood is ever changing. Some days I'm happy and positive and other days I am a tornado of negativity. I am trying to adapt to the roller coaster of emotions by acknowledging that every day is different and trying to pinpoint what makes one day better than another. I have learned a lot about pain and it's role in mood and also healing. I'd like to get into this further at a later point with a clearer mind.
Food Journal Day 21 Monday
 |
| Valentines sashimi dinner |
 |
| My salads aren't very pretty |
Lunch: spinach salad w/ leftover cod and veggie latkes, sunflower seeds, lemon oil dressing, kombucha
Snack: blended frozen banana and coconut milk (to take pills with)
Dinner: sashimi, seaweed, daikon, green tea
Dessert: mango mochi ball
Food Journal Day 22 Tuesday
Breakfast: protein shake with spinach, carrot juice, coconut milk, banana
Lunch: salad with shrimp, artichoke, lemon oil vinaigrette
Snack: fruit leather (at the grocery store and starving)
Dinner: veggie "stir-fry": asparagus, butternut squash, leftover cod, avocado, lemon oil dressing, kombucha
Dessert: coconut yogurt with blueberries and hempseeds
Snack: applesauce (to take pills with)
Sunday, February 13, 2011
So I finally reached my limit and broke...
Now that the weekend is almost over, I can finally move past my bad behavior and get onto the right track again. I had a meltdown and decided to give myself a "cheat night" in order to get it out of my system and work towards an improved balance, and not be such a "negative Nelly". It started with meeting friends at a bar, then a cocktail. Since I haven't drank in quite some time, my self-control and willpower floated right out the door. Moving on to a restaurant, I tried to choose the least harmful dinner and received curried collard greens which besides the curry were allowed and a butternut squash fritter, which was definitely not allowed (as it was battered and fried). We had pickles, crispy brussel sprouts (crunchy but seemed fairly acceptable) and then another cocktail. Any resistance I had left at that point was gone so I convinced myself to get an ice cream sandwich because if I was really going to cheat then tonight was the night to do it.
I feel like a small weight has been lifted. I have been so hard on myself about my diet and pretty much everything else that this gives me a good opportunity to practice being kind to myself, to remember I'm only human and I make mistakes and it's OK. I have learned this from my very talented counselor and more sessions than my insurance would pay for, but who's counting. I understand I have a problem (for now, my sugar addiction) and it's not to be approached casually nor will it resolve itself without more effort than I originally imagined. I can grasp the severity of the addiction now, after the ecstasy I felt eating the cookies off the ice cream sandwich.
Now this is not meant to say it's OK for all of you to follow my bad behaviors and I do not want you to follow in my footsteps. I will have to live with the consequences of my actions (my dad's favorite saying when I was a kid) and this blog ultimately is a record for me to track my experiences so it's important I'm honest, even when I'm not the best role-model.
So say what you want to say, I'm an adult. I can take criticism. Besides, now I feel like I can better manage the next 40 days while approaching the end with a better attitude.
Just some thoughts:
-does curry always include a spice from peppers? I've seen so many different curry blends, maybe there's one without the peppers. Because oops, I used it in my soup today and realized it tasted too good to be allowed.
-with the deluge of diets out there preaching superior theories over others, how does one figure out which style is right for them without trying every single one and wasting a lot of time. I've researched everything related to digestive health and diseases and experimented with food combining, low GI, and the popular gluten-free, dairy free, soy free, nut free and more I'm sure I'm forgetting. I am interested in learning more about the blood type diet but more for my own knowledge, not that I want to follow it right after this experience. Any experiences or thoughts you have about diets you've tried before getting to this Leaky Gut trial?
-I want to start tracking my restaurant meals so I can get a better idea of how often I eat out and how that changes what I eat. Not sure of the best way to track it. Maybe I'll start with a different color.
Food Journal Day 17 Thursday
Breakfast: protein shake with spinach, carrot juice, blueberries, raspberries, 8 drops stevia
Lunch: salad with shrimp, artichokes, balsamic vinaigrette, tea (restaurant)
Snack: fruit salad (apple, blueberries, strawberries), herbal tea
Dinner: roasted butternut squash, steamed broccoli
Food Journal Day 18 Friday
Breakfast: protein shake with spinach, carrot juice, cultured coconut milk, blueberries, stevia
Snack: blueberries, 2 coconut bites (similar to coconut cherry bites, see recipe later)
Lunch: salad with veggies, balsamic vinaigrette, herbal tea
Snack: 2 coconut bites
Dessert: ginger cookie ice cream sandwich
Food Journal Day 19 Saturday
Breakfast: protein shake w/ spinach, carrot juice, cultured coconut milk, blueberries, strawberries, half banana, stevia
Lunch: leftover tuna salad, avocado, butternut squash, broccoli, fruit salad, kombucha
Snack: coconut bites, pumpkin seeds, cucumber water
Dinner:lobster meat, dipped in olive oil& lemon juice, steamed asparagus
Dessert: quarter cup coconut ice cream (GF, DF but not sugar free!)
Food Journal Day 20 Sunday
Breakfast: protein shake with normal stuff
Snack: peach in coconut milk
Lunch: homemade carrot soup with avocado and hemp seed, roasted sunchokes
Snack: quarter ounce of dark chocolate, olives, squash chips
Dinner: lemon pepper cod, vegetable "latkes"
Coconut bites: blended 1/2 cooked sweet potato, shredded unsweetened coconut, flax meal and coconut milk until desired consistency. Added drops of stevia to taste. Baked at 350F for 20 min but still gooey in middle. Just for fun I tried adding sunflower seed butter to a little of the batter and it tasted good. Because it has sugar mixed into the seeds I am trying to avoid it during this program.
Carrot soup: sauteed red onion and fresh ginger in olive oil, then added chopped carrots. After 10 minutes added vegetable broth, cooked for 10 more min. Pureed in blender, returned to pot, added S&P to taste. Boring so added curry powder (technically not allowed due to the hot pepper content) and small amount coconut milk to desired consistency. Served hot with diced avocado and hempseeds.
Vegetable Latkes: I didn't know how to make these before this diet so I am going out on a limb here. I grated zucchini, yellow squash, carrot, red onion, chopped spinach, seasoned with Italian herbs and S&P, then mixed with flax meal and coconut milk mixture. I also added some of the leftover cauliflower mashed potatoes to try and bind ingredients together. I placed spoonfuls on a hot griddle, spread thin and cooked for close to 15 minutes, flipping over occasionally. They don't hold a shape initially but by the end they resemble small pancakes. Good luck!
I feel like a small weight has been lifted. I have been so hard on myself about my diet and pretty much everything else that this gives me a good opportunity to practice being kind to myself, to remember I'm only human and I make mistakes and it's OK. I have learned this from my very talented counselor and more sessions than my insurance would pay for, but who's counting. I understand I have a problem (for now, my sugar addiction) and it's not to be approached casually nor will it resolve itself without more effort than I originally imagined. I can grasp the severity of the addiction now, after the ecstasy I felt eating the cookies off the ice cream sandwich.
Now this is not meant to say it's OK for all of you to follow my bad behaviors and I do not want you to follow in my footsteps. I will have to live with the consequences of my actions (my dad's favorite saying when I was a kid) and this blog ultimately is a record for me to track my experiences so it's important I'm honest, even when I'm not the best role-model.
So say what you want to say, I'm an adult. I can take criticism. Besides, now I feel like I can better manage the next 40 days while approaching the end with a better attitude.
Just some thoughts:
-does curry always include a spice from peppers? I've seen so many different curry blends, maybe there's one without the peppers. Because oops, I used it in my soup today and realized it tasted too good to be allowed.
-with the deluge of diets out there preaching superior theories over others, how does one figure out which style is right for them without trying every single one and wasting a lot of time. I've researched everything related to digestive health and diseases and experimented with food combining, low GI, and the popular gluten-free, dairy free, soy free, nut free and more I'm sure I'm forgetting. I am interested in learning more about the blood type diet but more for my own knowledge, not that I want to follow it right after this experience. Any experiences or thoughts you have about diets you've tried before getting to this Leaky Gut trial?
-I want to start tracking my restaurant meals so I can get a better idea of how often I eat out and how that changes what I eat. Not sure of the best way to track it. Maybe I'll start with a different color.
Food Journal Day 17 Thursday
Breakfast: protein shake with spinach, carrot juice, blueberries, raspberries, 8 drops stevia
Lunch: salad with shrimp, artichokes, balsamic vinaigrette, tea (restaurant)
Snack: fruit salad (apple, blueberries, strawberries), herbal tea
Dinner: roasted butternut squash, steamed broccoli
Food Journal Day 18 Friday
Breakfast: protein shake with spinach, carrot juice, cultured coconut milk, blueberries, stevia
Snack: blueberries, 2 coconut bites (similar to coconut cherry bites, see recipe later)
Lunch: salad with veggies, balsamic vinaigrette, herbal tea
Snack: 2 coconut bites
Pre dinner Cocktail
Dinner: pickles, curried collard greens, butternut squash fritter, crispy brussel sprouts, cocktailDessert: ginger cookie ice cream sandwich
Food Journal Day 19 Saturday
Breakfast: protein shake w/ spinach, carrot juice, cultured coconut milk, blueberries, strawberries, half banana, stevia
Lunch: leftover tuna salad, avocado, butternut squash, broccoli, fruit salad, kombucha
Snack: coconut bites, pumpkin seeds, cucumber water
Dinner:lobster meat, dipped in olive oil& lemon juice, steamed asparagus
Dessert: quarter cup coconut ice cream (GF, DF but not sugar free!)
Food Journal Day 20 Sunday
Breakfast: protein shake with normal stuff
Snack: peach in coconut milk
Lunch: homemade carrot soup with avocado and hemp seed, roasted sunchokes
Snack: quarter ounce of dark chocolate, olives, squash chips
Dinner: lemon pepper cod, vegetable "latkes"
Coconut bites: blended 1/2 cooked sweet potato, shredded unsweetened coconut, flax meal and coconut milk until desired consistency. Added drops of stevia to taste. Baked at 350F for 20 min but still gooey in middle. Just for fun I tried adding sunflower seed butter to a little of the batter and it tasted good. Because it has sugar mixed into the seeds I am trying to avoid it during this program.
 |
| Carrot soup with avocado and hempseeds |
Carrot soup: sauteed red onion and fresh ginger in olive oil, then added chopped carrots. After 10 minutes added vegetable broth, cooked for 10 more min. Pureed in blender, returned to pot, added S&P to taste. Boring so added curry powder (technically not allowed due to the hot pepper content) and small amount coconut milk to desired consistency. Served hot with diced avocado and hempseeds.
Vegetable Latkes: I didn't know how to make these before this diet so I am going out on a limb here. I grated zucchini, yellow squash, carrot, red onion, chopped spinach, seasoned with Italian herbs and S&P, then mixed with flax meal and coconut milk mixture. I also added some of the leftover cauliflower mashed potatoes to try and bind ingredients together. I placed spoonfuls on a hot griddle, spread thin and cooked for close to 15 minutes, flipping over occasionally. They don't hold a shape initially but by the end they resemble small pancakes. Good luck!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Day 16- Can I just get a pizza and forget this whole thing?
I think this has been my toughest day yet. The sugar cravings are turning me into a bit of a lunatic. I threw something at my boyfriend tonight when he refused to take me out for pizza and ice cream. I researched desserts for hours with little success, although I'm secretly planning to push the envelope tomorrow and make something, anything. I am about to lose it. I've also considered adding turkey to my diet until this program is over. I have been a vegetarian for 14 years and only once in that time did I break down and ate turkey while I was sick and anemic from protein deficiency. This is drastic. I never act on initial impulses so I will sit on this for a few days. I am hungry. I want a cookie. No, I want a box of cookies. This better work. If I'm going to continue to have pain, I'd rather it be from something delicious and worth it.
Food Journal Day 15
Breakfast: hemp protein shake with spinach, carrot juice, cultured coconut milk, raspberries, splash apple juice (protein=16g)
Lunch: tuna salad lettuce wraps (avocado, tahini, celery, cucumber, dill, lemon juice, hemp seeds, toasted pumpkin seeds) yummy! (protein=37g)
My favorite tuna is RainCoast Trading solid albacore- while it is more expensive, it's worth its weight- all tuna-no water and it's delicious.
Snack: mini pickles
Dinner: baked salmon, gingered collard greens, cauliflower "mashed potatoes (protein=32g)
Snack: applesauce (to help get the pills down at night)
Daily Protein estimate 85g
Food Journal Day 16 Wednesday
Breakfast: protein shake with carrot juice, spinach, cultured coconut milk, blueberries, 4 drops of stevia (trying it instead of fruit juice to reduce sugar content) (protein=15g)
Lunch: leftover salmon and greens, nectarine (protein=30g)
Snack: mini pickle, beet and sweet potato chips
Dinner: seared ahi tuna with sesame seed crust, lettuce, ponzu sauce (forgot to ask for it on the side) (protein=30g)
Daily Protein estimate 75g
 |
| This is what I use in smoothies |
 |
| Tuna salad lettuce wrap |
Breakfast: hemp protein shake with spinach, carrot juice, cultured coconut milk, raspberries, splash apple juice (protein=16g)
Lunch: tuna salad lettuce wraps (avocado, tahini, celery, cucumber, dill, lemon juice, hemp seeds, toasted pumpkin seeds) yummy! (protein=37g)
My favorite tuna is RainCoast Trading solid albacore- while it is more expensive, it's worth its weight- all tuna-no water and it's delicious.
Snack: mini pickles
Dinner: baked salmon, gingered collard greens, cauliflower "mashed potatoes (protein=32g)
Snack: applesauce (to help get the pills down at night)
Daily Protein estimate 85g
 |
| Salmon, chard, cauliflower Dinner portions |
Breakfast: protein shake with carrot juice, spinach, cultured coconut milk, blueberries, 4 drops of stevia (trying it instead of fruit juice to reduce sugar content) (protein=15g)
Lunch: leftover salmon and greens, nectarine (protein=30g)
Snack: mini pickle, beet and sweet potato chips
Dinner: seared ahi tuna with sesame seed crust, lettuce, ponzu sauce (forgot to ask for it on the side) (protein=30g)
Daily Protein estimate 75g
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Day 15-Where do I begin?
Do I begin with slicing my finger open and using that as an excuse not to type for 5 day?
Do I begin with "The Superbowl Party" that almost ruined my streak of good behavior?
Or how my boyfriend had to literally pry a bag of chocolate coconut macaroons out of my cold "dead" hands at the store last night?
Well, lesson learned this week: I need to write more often because I've been on a roller coaster of emotions and now you are only going to get the cliff notes.
I started out feeling pretty good, my cravings aren't ruling my days and I've been feeling better about cooking and trying new things. I am looking forward to a list of ideas my friend Virginia (The Kitchen Mistress) is working on for me, and I've been continuing with daily research on what foods are power houses of anti-inflammatory magic and incorporating those daily. While researching, I've come across many contradictory ideas and everyone has a different opinion about everything. Take the Glycemic Index- the ratings are all over the place. If you are trying to find out if grapes, for example, are OK to eat, good luck because depending on the website, you'll see low, medium and high ratings. They respond by stating each item may be tested differently, and also depends on where they come from. Well, that is just not helpful. What is the use. I must remember to take all the information I soak in with a grain of salt.
Then the Superbowl party, ugh.
I knew I was going to be challenged so in defense, I brought all my own food. I made homemade pesto shrimp, toasted pumpkin seeds, and a giant fruit salad. I thought I had a chance. Until I saw the brownies. And cookies. And cheesecake.
It didn't help that I wasn't in the best mood, the interview I just came back from was a waste of time, plus rejection sucks even when I didn't want the job. Oddly, the Frito's caught my eye, not a snack I typically eat, but I watched the bowl obsessively and salivated over the imagined salty crunch. I think I was trying to distract myself from the desserts. By the 3rd quarter, all I could focus on was how to sneak a brownie without my boyfriend noticing (my personal food police, thank goodness for him) or hide a cookie in my jacket pocket for later. The only way I got through it was telling him what I wanted to do, so he had his eyes on me the whole time. I really felt like an addict, I got mad and my brain even concocted an old habit I once had-smoking. I knew at that point I was going into desperation mode so it was time to leave. Amazingly I got through the night without any slip-ups and I am really proud of myself for not giving in. It was one of the toughest back and forth battles my brain has fought since beginning the program (reasons to eat a brownie vs. Stephanie knows better).
On a different note, with a suggestion from a reader, Dr. M., I am going to try and count my protein intake for awhile to get an idea of how deficient my diet is. I have always struggled with this but without my tempeh go-to, it feels like I'm going to eat all the fish of the sea. Any ideas you have for protein are welcome (except meat, it's not gonna happen) or any other comments you have as well. It drives me to keep writing when I know someone out there is reading, and when you respond it's the easiest way to make someones day!
Food Journal Day 12 Saturday
Breakfast: protein shake with spinach, carrot juice, strawberries
Lunch: salad with salmon, artichoke, pumpkin seeds, avocado, balsamic vinaigrette
Snack: herbal tea (Traditional Medicinal's Throat Coat has a wonderful sweet flavor)
Dinner: leftover roasted vegetables, half grapefruit, peppermint tea
Food Journal Day 13 Sunday
Breakfast: surprise! another protein shake with spinach, carrot juice, blueberries and apple juice
Lunch: (smoothie at 11a, interview at 230p, then off to Superbowl party where "dinner" was all night)
Dinner: pesto shrimp, fruit salad (apples, kiwi, strawberries, blueberries)
Food Journal Day 14 Monday
Breakfast: protein shake with the norm
Lunch: leftover pesto shrimp, half grapefruit
Snack: sweet potato and beet chips with half avocado
Dinner: poached sole over greens with warm vinaigrette
Do I begin with "The Superbowl Party" that almost ruined my streak of good behavior?
Or how my boyfriend had to literally pry a bag of chocolate coconut macaroons out of my cold "dead" hands at the store last night?
Well, lesson learned this week: I need to write more often because I've been on a roller coaster of emotions and now you are only going to get the cliff notes.
I started out feeling pretty good, my cravings aren't ruling my days and I've been feeling better about cooking and trying new things. I am looking forward to a list of ideas my friend Virginia (The Kitchen Mistress) is working on for me, and I've been continuing with daily research on what foods are power houses of anti-inflammatory magic and incorporating those daily. While researching, I've come across many contradictory ideas and everyone has a different opinion about everything. Take the Glycemic Index- the ratings are all over the place. If you are trying to find out if grapes, for example, are OK to eat, good luck because depending on the website, you'll see low, medium and high ratings. They respond by stating each item may be tested differently, and also depends on where they come from. Well, that is just not helpful. What is the use. I must remember to take all the information I soak in with a grain of salt.
Then the Superbowl party, ugh.
I knew I was going to be challenged so in defense, I brought all my own food. I made homemade pesto shrimp, toasted pumpkin seeds, and a giant fruit salad. I thought I had a chance. Until I saw the brownies. And cookies. And cheesecake.
It didn't help that I wasn't in the best mood, the interview I just came back from was a waste of time, plus rejection sucks even when I didn't want the job. Oddly, the Frito's caught my eye, not a snack I typically eat, but I watched the bowl obsessively and salivated over the imagined salty crunch. I think I was trying to distract myself from the desserts. By the 3rd quarter, all I could focus on was how to sneak a brownie without my boyfriend noticing (my personal food police, thank goodness for him) or hide a cookie in my jacket pocket for later. The only way I got through it was telling him what I wanted to do, so he had his eyes on me the whole time. I really felt like an addict, I got mad and my brain even concocted an old habit I once had-smoking. I knew at that point I was going into desperation mode so it was time to leave. Amazingly I got through the night without any slip-ups and I am really proud of myself for not giving in. It was one of the toughest back and forth battles my brain has fought since beginning the program (reasons to eat a brownie vs. Stephanie knows better).
On a different note, with a suggestion from a reader, Dr. M., I am going to try and count my protein intake for awhile to get an idea of how deficient my diet is. I have always struggled with this but without my tempeh go-to, it feels like I'm going to eat all the fish of the sea. Any ideas you have for protein are welcome (except meat, it's not gonna happen) or any other comments you have as well. It drives me to keep writing when I know someone out there is reading, and when you respond it's the easiest way to make someones day!
Food Journal Day 12 Saturday
Breakfast: protein shake with spinach, carrot juice, strawberries
Lunch: salad with salmon, artichoke, pumpkin seeds, avocado, balsamic vinaigrette
Snack: herbal tea (Traditional Medicinal's Throat Coat has a wonderful sweet flavor)
Dinner: leftover roasted vegetables, half grapefruit, peppermint tea
Food Journal Day 13 Sunday
Breakfast: surprise! another protein shake with spinach, carrot juice, blueberries and apple juice
Lunch: (smoothie at 11a, interview at 230p, then off to Superbowl party where "dinner" was all night)
Dinner: pesto shrimp, fruit salad (apples, kiwi, strawberries, blueberries)
Breakfast: protein shake with the norm
Lunch: leftover pesto shrimp, half grapefruit
Snack: sweet potato and beet chips with half avocado
Dinner: poached sole over greens with warm vinaigrette
Friday, February 4, 2011
Day 11 - Reflecting on first week
I've officially finished the first week so I am sitting down trying to record any changes that have occurred this week. I have less pain and less bloating, but am still exhausted, have stinky farts, and now reek of garlic (I like to call it parfum de garlique) and my boyfriend is making himself scarce. Hmmmm.....
Well overall it's an improvement, I think. I have been doing a lot of research, and remarkably I have convinced myself I have leaky gut syndrome. When it was first presented to me, I immediately dismissed the idea when I read the diet detox that came along with the treatment. The symptoms, history, and progression all make sense. Now the diet doesn't seem so intimidating since I'm immersed in it. I am still hungry a lot of the time but it does seem to be getting easier. I've eaten out once or twice and seeing pictures of desserts was the hardest temptation to overcome but my dinner guests have not ordered food that I would be too tempted to eat. The stipulation when eating out comes down to surviving day by day- I can not have certain items within arms reach (at this time). Don't you dare order sweet potato fries, onion rings, anything with cheese or dessert. I must be a lot of fun to eat with. More to come later...
My biggest challenge today comes from stomach pain keeping my appetite to a minimum. Last night I sliced my finger open and went into shock which caused my stomach to cramp up. I am still feeling the effects today, like a hangover plus a throbbing finger. If I don't eat I feel worse so my "go-to" is a liquid diet anytime I'm not feeling up to digesting. Unfortunately, my injury will cause me to miss participating in trapeze class or rock climbing for some time. I will need to find something in the meantime to spark my interest while getting some exercise. Any ideas?
I want to tell you about the amazing cauliflower "sauce" I made by accident, but I must go to bed so you'll have to check back tomorrow. I bet you can hardly wait.
Food Journal Day 8 Tuesday
Breakfast: protein shake with spinach, carrot juice, coconut yogurt, and blackberries
Lunch: sardines, avocado, leftover sweet potato wedges, plum
Snack: apple and kiwi with fresh squeezed orange juice
Dinner: salmon and yellowtail sashimi, seaweed, daikon, green tea
Food Journal Day 9 Wednesday
Breakfast: protein shake with spinach, carrot juice, 1 oz. pomegranate juice, blackberries
Lunch: pesto marinated haddock, grapefruit
Snack: cherries
Snack: cucumber slices with sea salt, roasted garlic, pickled ginger
Dinner: lemon baked salmon, gingered beet greens, cauliflower mashed "potatoes"
Food Journal Day 10 Thursday
Breakfast: protein shake with spinach, orange juice, blueberries, pomegranate juice, aloe juice
Lunch: leftover salmon, wilted spinach, strawberries
Dinner: few bites of roasted vegetables, asparagus (catfish and dinner interrupted by slicing finger open with mandolin then going into shock- no appetite after that)
Having pain after breakfast smoothie, not feeling great, felt better after eating lunch but an hour after that started having grumbling and more pain, headache- smoothie was too sweet this morning, used OJ, all that was available when not at home
Food Journal Day 11 Friday
Breakfast: protein shake with spinach, cranberry juice, strawberries
Lunch: protein shake with spinach, carrot juice, blueberries, cultured coconut yogurt
Dinner: lemon shrimp, roasted butternut squash, steamed broccoli
Well overall it's an improvement, I think. I have been doing a lot of research, and remarkably I have convinced myself I have leaky gut syndrome. When it was first presented to me, I immediately dismissed the idea when I read the diet detox that came along with the treatment. The symptoms, history, and progression all make sense. Now the diet doesn't seem so intimidating since I'm immersed in it. I am still hungry a lot of the time but it does seem to be getting easier. I've eaten out once or twice and seeing pictures of desserts was the hardest temptation to overcome but my dinner guests have not ordered food that I would be too tempted to eat. The stipulation when eating out comes down to surviving day by day- I can not have certain items within arms reach (at this time). Don't you dare order sweet potato fries, onion rings, anything with cheese or dessert. I must be a lot of fun to eat with. More to come later...
My biggest challenge today comes from stomach pain keeping my appetite to a minimum. Last night I sliced my finger open and went into shock which caused my stomach to cramp up. I am still feeling the effects today, like a hangover plus a throbbing finger. If I don't eat I feel worse so my "go-to" is a liquid diet anytime I'm not feeling up to digesting. Unfortunately, my injury will cause me to miss participating in trapeze class or rock climbing for some time. I will need to find something in the meantime to spark my interest while getting some exercise. Any ideas?
I want to tell you about the amazing cauliflower "sauce" I made by accident, but I must go to bed so you'll have to check back tomorrow. I bet you can hardly wait.
 |
| Sardine lunch, not so tasty |
Breakfast: protein shake with spinach, carrot juice, coconut yogurt, and blackberries
Lunch: sardines, avocado, leftover sweet potato wedges, plum
Snack: apple and kiwi with fresh squeezed orange juice
Dinner: salmon and yellowtail sashimi, seaweed, daikon, green tea
Food Journal Day 9 Wednesday
Breakfast: protein shake with spinach, carrot juice, 1 oz. pomegranate juice, blackberries
Lunch: pesto marinated haddock, grapefruit
Snack: cherries
Snack: cucumber slices with sea salt, roasted garlic, pickled ginger
Dinner: lemon baked salmon, gingered beet greens, cauliflower mashed "potatoes"
Food Journal Day 10 Thursday
Breakfast: protein shake with spinach, orange juice, blueberries, pomegranate juice, aloe juice
Lunch: leftover salmon, wilted spinach, strawberries
Dinner: few bites of roasted vegetables, asparagus (catfish and dinner interrupted by slicing finger open with mandolin then going into shock- no appetite after that)
Having pain after breakfast smoothie, not feeling great, felt better after eating lunch but an hour after that started having grumbling and more pain, headache- smoothie was too sweet this morning, used OJ, all that was available when not at home
Food Journal Day 11 Friday
Breakfast: protein shake with spinach, cranberry juice, strawberries
Lunch: protein shake with spinach, carrot juice, blueberries, cultured coconut yogurt
Dinner: lemon shrimp, roasted butternut squash, steamed broccoli
Monday, January 31, 2011
Day 7- a little improvement despite the sugar hauntings
It's Monday and I'm feeling a little better today although I feel like I have a Benadryl hangover but I didn't take Benadryl. It doesn't seem to be the flu, just a nasty cold. I prepped food this morning for the rest of the day and I'm hoping that is the key to my success. Where I'm having trouble is the middle of the day, lunch time and snacks. If I don't have something to eat that's ready, I lose any energy to make something and end up feeling hungry because I don't know what to eat. For the majority of this past week, I have felt hungry during the day. I have seen a trend already, I am substituting any sugar/carb habit with fruit. I am eating a lot more fruit, also because it's easy, no cooking! So I'm being watchful of how much fruit I'm eating at this point although I think I need to be easy on myself and make the sugar transition slow. I am going through sugar withdrawals for sure, my body is trying to convince me that I might die if I don't get my hands on a pop tart soon. I dream about them at night, daydream about ripping open their shiny silver package and devouring both with such joy and ecstasy that my mouth waters in anticipation. Weird, huh? Of all things, I'm obsessing about pop tarts. I thought it would be brownies or chocolate chip cookies. I've required no such items be brought into the house at this time as I will have no will power not to attack the deliverer and rip it out if their hands, causing harm to them if they attempt to defend the said box of pop tarts.
I feel a little crazy.
I have opted for professional help in the food department, although I may need other professional help if the sugar cravings get worse. I have enlisted my friend Virginia to help me come up with ideas how to incorporate the vegetables and general ideas so I don't have to feel hungry and deprived. She is an amazing chef, check out her website http://thekitchenmistress.com/blog/. She blows me away every time I am lucky enough to eat her creations. You have no idea how ridiculous the camping experience is with her.
Last night I cooked dinner for my boyfriend's mother. Let's just say I was nervous to come up with something that I could eat and would not make her hate me/vomit. I was pleasantly surprised to find some inspiration on this blog http://stickygooeycreamychewy.com/. She has mouth watering pictures that gave me an idea (see lemon linguine with basil pesto shrimp) to adjust to my diet. I used spaghetti squash in place of the linguine and I made my own pesto with basil, garlic, olive oil and toasted pumpkin seeds. I marinated the shrimp in half the pesto and added lemon juice and zest to the rest for a lighter sauce to cover the "noodles". I sauteed thin asparagus on my flat griddle and cut into bite size pieces before tossing it all together. It turned out delicious! Unfortunately, it was not very photogenic as my green sauce looked sickly so I don't have a picture to share with you.
On a different note, I am having some difficulty taking the supplements I've been prescribed. My throat has begun anticipatory shrinking and my stomach is rejecting them by forcing them out the way they came in. Mostly it's the amount, 13 pills to swallow, twice a day but the worst part is the taste and smell. The GI Synergy herbal and fatty acid supplement includes garlic, so when I open the package I get an instant wave of nausea. Then, swallowing six pills one at a time, elongating the process so they don't get stuck in my throat, my stomach rebels against me and forces burps with a foul stench that even my boyfriend can't pretend not to notice. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I do feel as pretty as I sound. It just keeps getting better and better. And yes, I will share with you all these disgusting facts, so that you do not have to feel like the only ogre if you go through this someday.
Food Journal Day 5
Breakfast: coconut yogurt with blueberries
Lunch: Thai soup with avocado, grapefruit (soup was from a box, not diet friendly but too sick to really care)
Dinner: steamed artichoke with lemon vinaigrette dipping sauce
Snack: homemade cherry bites ( see note on this below)
and yes, I felt hungry all day
Cherry bites: I mixed unsweetened shredded coconut with flax meal and coconut milk and chopped cherries, formed balls with an ice cream scooper (best cookie utensil) and baked for 15 minutes at 325 F for a toasty treat that is technically on my diet but pushing the line. They are not very sweet at all but a perfect substitution for my cookie fix.
Food Journal Day 6
Breakfast: protein shake
Snack: apricot, pumpkin seeds
Lunch:? don't remember if I ate lunch
Dinner: pesto shrimp with spaghetti squash and asparagus
Snack: cherry bite, herbal tea
Food Journal Day 7
Breakfast: protein shake with spinach, carrot juice, blueberries, coconut yogurt
Snack: toasted pumpkin seeds, 1/2 fresh squeezed orange juice
Lunch: leftover shrimp and squash dinner
Snack: golden beet with shallot salt
Dinner: pan seared haddock, gingered beet greens, roasted sweet potato wedges
I feel a little crazy.
I have opted for professional help in the food department, although I may need other professional help if the sugar cravings get worse. I have enlisted my friend Virginia to help me come up with ideas how to incorporate the vegetables and general ideas so I don't have to feel hungry and deprived. She is an amazing chef, check out her website http://thekitchenmistress.com/blog/. She blows me away every time I am lucky enough to eat her creations. You have no idea how ridiculous the camping experience is with her.
Last night I cooked dinner for my boyfriend's mother. Let's just say I was nervous to come up with something that I could eat and would not make her hate me/vomit. I was pleasantly surprised to find some inspiration on this blog http://stickygooeycreamychewy.com/. She has mouth watering pictures that gave me an idea (see lemon linguine with basil pesto shrimp) to adjust to my diet. I used spaghetti squash in place of the linguine and I made my own pesto with basil, garlic, olive oil and toasted pumpkin seeds. I marinated the shrimp in half the pesto and added lemon juice and zest to the rest for a lighter sauce to cover the "noodles". I sauteed thin asparagus on my flat griddle and cut into bite size pieces before tossing it all together. It turned out delicious! Unfortunately, it was not very photogenic as my green sauce looked sickly so I don't have a picture to share with you.
Food Journal Day 5
Breakfast: coconut yogurt with blueberries
Lunch: Thai soup with avocado, grapefruit (soup was from a box, not diet friendly but too sick to really care)
Dinner: steamed artichoke with lemon vinaigrette dipping sauce
Snack: homemade cherry bites ( see note on this below)
and yes, I felt hungry all day
Cherry bites: I mixed unsweetened shredded coconut with flax meal and coconut milk and chopped cherries, formed balls with an ice cream scooper (best cookie utensil) and baked for 15 minutes at 325 F for a toasty treat that is technically on my diet but pushing the line. They are not very sweet at all but a perfect substitution for my cookie fix.
 |
| Coconut flax cherry bites |
Food Journal Day 6
Breakfast: protein shake
Snack: apricot, pumpkin seeds
Lunch:? don't remember if I ate lunch
Dinner: pesto shrimp with spaghetti squash and asparagus
Snack: cherry bite, herbal tea
Food Journal Day 7
Breakfast: protein shake with spinach, carrot juice, blueberries, coconut yogurt
Snack: toasted pumpkin seeds, 1/2 fresh squeezed orange juice
Lunch: leftover shrimp and squash dinner
Snack: golden beet with shallot salt
Dinner: pan seared haddock, gingered beet greens, roasted sweet potato wedges
Friday, January 28, 2011
Day 4- a rough one
I've heard during detox's it's common to feel sick as the toxins are being released but I didn't think I was doing much of a detox this time. However, I feel as though I've been run over by a truck and the flu is trying to make residence in my body. It could be just a coincidence in the timing but either way it sucks.
I figure since I'm writing this blog ultimately for myself, I better write even when I don't want to share my horrible feelings. They are just as important as the good ones, I just hate dumping my negativity into the world. See, that's where I get myself into trouble, I'd rather hold it all in and it festers inside until it turns into, into something, bad. Pain breeds negativity, I'm sick of being negative more than I am sick of being in pain.
So after a day of feeling pathetic and helpless, I decided I needed to get out of the house and took my dog to the park. Thank goodness for him. I had an unexpected enlightening conversation (not with my dog) that gave me a much improved perspective. So here I am, uncomfortable as it is, dumping my thoughts into nowhere land, forcing them out. I wish I could force out the mucus that's running down my throat as well.
Food Journal
Breakfast: protein shake with coconut milk & blueberries
Snack: fruit bar (last one in the house, finally), later a peach
Lunch: leftover salmon, avocado
Snack: cherries
Dinner: ahi tuna steak in lettuce "bun"
I figure since I'm writing this blog ultimately for myself, I better write even when I don't want to share my horrible feelings. They are just as important as the good ones, I just hate dumping my negativity into the world. See, that's where I get myself into trouble, I'd rather hold it all in and it festers inside until it turns into, into something, bad. Pain breeds negativity, I'm sick of being negative more than I am sick of being in pain.
So after a day of feeling pathetic and helpless, I decided I needed to get out of the house and took my dog to the park. Thank goodness for him. I had an unexpected enlightening conversation (not with my dog) that gave me a much improved perspective. So here I am, uncomfortable as it is, dumping my thoughts into nowhere land, forcing them out. I wish I could force out the mucus that's running down my throat as well.
Food Journal
Breakfast: protein shake with coconut milk & blueberries
Snack: fruit bar (last one in the house, finally), later a peach
Lunch: leftover salmon, avocado
Snack: cherries
Dinner: ahi tuna steak in lettuce "bun"
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Day 3-the elusive proteins
My day has started on a good note despite the discomfort in my gut and the poor sleeping quality . Since I started taking the massive amount of supplements I have been feeling less pain, but I also slowly worked into the diet the week before.
My diet this last year was already gluten-free, and dairy-free, although I had been cheating fairly often the last month. I have been a vegetarian for 14 years, and do not foresee eating meat in my future. I am nothing if not loyal to my cause. I eat fish because I have justified it in my mind somehow that they are not the same as warm blooded animals and I can't save every animal in the world. Thank goodness for fish, without this protein source I'm afraid I might wither away. I have been through the gamut with trying to supplement protein in my diet, it's really a lifelong battle of a restricted vegetarian. When it comes down to it, everything gives me gas. I am the fartiest girl I know, well beside one other, you know who you are. Beans and nuts seem to cause worse results, of course the proteins of choice of a veg-head. Tofu is not good for my "damp spleen" condition so tempeh was my go-to. I also experimented with the food combining rules and stopped eating fruit with anything else. That actually seemed to help but who am I kidding, when it's between being bloated by 3 inches or 5 inches, does it really matter?
So against my better judgment, I am adding fruit into my diet and we will see what happens.
Whew, is this boring to you? I can talk about health stuff all day. Another trait from my parents, like keeping Styrofoam, because I just might find a use for it someday.
On a different note, exercise has been a huge motivational hurdle for me. When I'm feeling good, I like to be active but when I'm in pain its a vicious cycle. Last night I went to the climbing gym and with the help and encouragement of everyone around I finally finished a route that had been eluding me for months! I realized that I was blaming it on my health, saying I didn't have the physical strength to complete it. Actually it was all in my head because I went into it with a different attitude of Yes I Can (Thanks Obama) and that's what it took to propel myself up the wall and succeed. It is a little intoxicating and I can't wait to do it again. That is also how I feel about trapeze right now. I'll tell you all about it after my next class on Saturday. Anyway, I have found a direct correlation between my mood and how much activity I get, so I'm always looking for new ways to not only get exercise but enjoy doing it as well.
Food Journal
Breakfast: coconut yogurt with blueberries, herbal tea
Snack: fruit bar (i have got to get these out of the house) instant gratification is the next habit to break
Lunch: leftover tuna salad, nectarine
Snack: coconut aloe juice
Dinner: salmon, asparagus
My diet this last year was already gluten-free, and dairy-free, although I had been cheating fairly often the last month. I have been a vegetarian for 14 years, and do not foresee eating meat in my future. I am nothing if not loyal to my cause. I eat fish because I have justified it in my mind somehow that they are not the same as warm blooded animals and I can't save every animal in the world. Thank goodness for fish, without this protein source I'm afraid I might wither away. I have been through the gamut with trying to supplement protein in my diet, it's really a lifelong battle of a restricted vegetarian. When it comes down to it, everything gives me gas. I am the fartiest girl I know, well beside one other, you know who you are. Beans and nuts seem to cause worse results, of course the proteins of choice of a veg-head. Tofu is not good for my "damp spleen" condition so tempeh was my go-to. I also experimented with the food combining rules and stopped eating fruit with anything else. That actually seemed to help but who am I kidding, when it's between being bloated by 3 inches or 5 inches, does it really matter?
So against my better judgment, I am adding fruit into my diet and we will see what happens.
Whew, is this boring to you? I can talk about health stuff all day. Another trait from my parents, like keeping Styrofoam, because I just might find a use for it someday.
On a different note, exercise has been a huge motivational hurdle for me. When I'm feeling good, I like to be active but when I'm in pain its a vicious cycle. Last night I went to the climbing gym and with the help and encouragement of everyone around I finally finished a route that had been eluding me for months! I realized that I was blaming it on my health, saying I didn't have the physical strength to complete it. Actually it was all in my head because I went into it with a different attitude of Yes I Can (Thanks Obama) and that's what it took to propel myself up the wall and succeed. It is a little intoxicating and I can't wait to do it again. That is also how I feel about trapeze right now. I'll tell you all about it after my next class on Saturday. Anyway, I have found a direct correlation between my mood and how much activity I get, so I'm always looking for new ways to not only get exercise but enjoy doing it as well.
Food Journal
Breakfast: coconut yogurt with blueberries, herbal tea
Snack: fruit bar (i have got to get these out of the house) instant gratification is the next habit to break
Lunch: leftover tuna salad, nectarine
Snack: coconut aloe juice
Dinner: salmon, asparagus
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Day 2- The rules of the plan
So today I thought I would go over the rules so you can understand the depth of my despair when I can't stop complaining about how I will die if I don't eat a cookie.
An Anti-Inflammatory diet means eliminating any and all food that can cause irritation and inflammation in your body. This includes:
Sugars-chocolate, honey, agave, candy
High Glycemic fruits
Grains- glutenous items, oats, quinoa, buckwheat, soy, corn, etc.
Dairy-including eggs
Soy-soy protein is in everything!
Alcohol- :(
Lectins- nuts, beans, potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers
Coffee
Processed food
You might be thinking, what can you eat?
Well this list is much smaller
Vegetables- excluding night shade family
Meats- I don't eat meat but fish is included, especially cold water and wild
Low Glycemic fruits- berries, apples, pears, etc.
Coconut- milk, oil, etc.
Fermented foods- kimchi, pickled ginger, mixed pickles, kombucha tea, coconut yogurt
I checked with my acupuncturist and he said I could also have seeds, green tea and shrimp
The supplements I am taking are part of the RepairVite program from Apex Energetics.
RepairVite- not sure exactly what it does other than "repair"
Strengtia- probiotics and arabinogalactans to support intestinal microflora
GI-Synergy- natural compounds with anti-bacterial, anti-yeast, and anti-parasitic properties
I'm also taking DHA Omega 3 and NeuroFlam for my "brain fog", I will elaborate on that later.
This is a description of Leaky Gut from the brochure, I borrowed it from Fair Oaks Healing Center newsletter
http://i926.photobucket.com/albums/ad110/daviddelapp/leakygut1015.jpg
Food Journal
Breakfast: protein shake with cultured coconut milk, carrot juice and blueberries
Lunch: leftover sweet potato and avocado from dinner, cherries
Snack: fruit bar, snap peas, carrot juice
Late Snack: coconut yogurt, roasted pumpkin seeds, green tea
Dinner: Tuna salad (avocado, pumpkin seeds, herbs, lemon juice)
An Anti-Inflammatory diet means eliminating any and all food that can cause irritation and inflammation in your body. This includes:
Sugars-chocolate, honey, agave, candy
High Glycemic fruits
Grains- glutenous items, oats, quinoa, buckwheat, soy, corn, etc.
Dairy-including eggs
Soy-soy protein is in everything!
Alcohol- :(
Lectins- nuts, beans, potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers
Coffee
Processed food
You might be thinking, what can you eat?
Well this list is much smaller
Vegetables- excluding night shade family
Meats- I don't eat meat but fish is included, especially cold water and wild
Low Glycemic fruits- berries, apples, pears, etc.
Coconut- milk, oil, etc.
Fermented foods- kimchi, pickled ginger, mixed pickles, kombucha tea, coconut yogurt
I checked with my acupuncturist and he said I could also have seeds, green tea and shrimp
The supplements I am taking are part of the RepairVite program from Apex Energetics.
RepairVite- not sure exactly what it does other than "repair"
Strengtia- probiotics and arabinogalactans to support intestinal microflora
GI-Synergy- natural compounds with anti-bacterial, anti-yeast, and anti-parasitic properties
I'm also taking DHA Omega 3 and NeuroFlam for my "brain fog", I will elaborate on that later.
This is a description of Leaky Gut from the brochure, I borrowed it from Fair Oaks Healing Center newsletter
http://i926.photobucket.com/albums/ad110/daviddelapp/leakygut1015.jpg
Food Journal
Breakfast: protein shake with cultured coconut milk, carrot juice and blueberries
Lunch: leftover sweet potato and avocado from dinner, cherries
Snack: fruit bar, snap peas, carrot juice
Late Snack: coconut yogurt, roasted pumpkin seeds, green tea
Dinner: Tuna salad (avocado, pumpkin seeds, herbs, lemon juice)
Here we go...Day 1
I woke up this morning with only a little dread at what I was starting today. My attitude has improved over the last week in regards to making this change for my health. Last week, another acupuncturist advised me that all my symptoms lead to Leaky Gut Syndrome and if I follow the new diet and plan, there is a chance I can feel like myself again. Last Tuesday was the first time I envisioned myself healthy, happy, and living my life as I want to, not as my body dictates. This was a huge step for me.
Just a little history for you...
I began feeling very tired, run down, bloated and generally unhappy with my work life until it became so bad it affected all aspects of my life. I worked in a high stress environment (an emergency animal hospital) and had never learned any skills with how to cope with what I was doing everyday. At that time I ate a TON of processed food, mostly cheese and crackers, frozen dinners and my most important emotional crutch of all- sugar. I did not have much of a life outside of the hospital, therefore no outlets to release my pent-up emotions. I started having debilitating abdominal pain and bloating, anxiety, and digestive upsets daily. I went to doctors, specialists, took tests, xrays, ultrasounds, even looking at my insides with cameras to get the same answer- there is nothing wrong with you. AARRGGGGHHH! So I realized it was going to be more difficult than I thought and I was the only one going to take any initiative to figure out what was wrong with me. I left my job, starting seeing an acupuncturist, a counselor for my anxiety and making my health my full time job. Since then I have learned more about myself than I learned my entire lifetime. I have endured a year of gluten-free, dairy free lifestyle with only a small change in symptoms. I've had good weeks and bad weeks, times when I thought I was getting better and times when I wanted to give up. More recently, December 2010 started with feeling o.k. so I began to experiment with adding gluten and cheese. The holidays took their toll on me and when January arrived, I felt like a train wreck. So here I am...
My thoughts are to share with you my diet and daily happenings in hopes I won't feel so isolated, you won't feel so isolated, because there HAS to be others out there that are going through the same ordeal! Lets chat and I'd love to hear what you're going through as well.
Food Journal The journal is helpful for me to record trends and variety and also to think twice about what I put in my body. When no one else looked in my food journal, I would write down cookie when I should have written 4, now with you looking, I think it will help with the binge cookie habit.
Struggling with setting up my fridge and pantry, which will take days, here's where I started.
Breakfast: protein shake with carrot juice, cultured coconut milk
Snack: coconut yogurt
Lunch: blueberries, fruit bar, roasted pumpkin seeds (snuck into movie theater to watch True Grit)
Dinner: half sweet potato, half avocado, olive oil and red hawaiian sea salt (tastes like bacon bits to me)
13 supplements and powder drink twice a day. Swallowing all these pills gives me heartburn. Ugh.
This is good, now you are holding me accountable and I am less likely to cheat. I am human. It will happen. I haven't gotten to my sugar withdrawals yet, watch out!
Just a little history for you...
I began feeling very tired, run down, bloated and generally unhappy with my work life until it became so bad it affected all aspects of my life. I worked in a high stress environment (an emergency animal hospital) and had never learned any skills with how to cope with what I was doing everyday. At that time I ate a TON of processed food, mostly cheese and crackers, frozen dinners and my most important emotional crutch of all- sugar. I did not have much of a life outside of the hospital, therefore no outlets to release my pent-up emotions. I started having debilitating abdominal pain and bloating, anxiety, and digestive upsets daily. I went to doctors, specialists, took tests, xrays, ultrasounds, even looking at my insides with cameras to get the same answer- there is nothing wrong with you. AARRGGGGHHH! So I realized it was going to be more difficult than I thought and I was the only one going to take any initiative to figure out what was wrong with me. I left my job, starting seeing an acupuncturist, a counselor for my anxiety and making my health my full time job. Since then I have learned more about myself than I learned my entire lifetime. I have endured a year of gluten-free, dairy free lifestyle with only a small change in symptoms. I've had good weeks and bad weeks, times when I thought I was getting better and times when I wanted to give up. More recently, December 2010 started with feeling o.k. so I began to experiment with adding gluten and cheese. The holidays took their toll on me and when January arrived, I felt like a train wreck. So here I am...
My thoughts are to share with you my diet and daily happenings in hopes I won't feel so isolated, you won't feel so isolated, because there HAS to be others out there that are going through the same ordeal! Lets chat and I'd love to hear what you're going through as well.
Food Journal The journal is helpful for me to record trends and variety and also to think twice about what I put in my body. When no one else looked in my food journal, I would write down cookie when I should have written 4, now with you looking, I think it will help with the binge cookie habit.
Struggling with setting up my fridge and pantry, which will take days, here's where I started.
Breakfast: protein shake with carrot juice, cultured coconut milk
Snack: coconut yogurt
Lunch: blueberries, fruit bar, roasted pumpkin seeds (snuck into movie theater to watch True Grit)
Dinner: half sweet potato, half avocado, olive oil and red hawaiian sea salt (tastes like bacon bits to me)
13 supplements and powder drink twice a day. Swallowing all these pills gives me heartburn. Ugh.
This is good, now you are holding me accountable and I am less likely to cheat. I am human. It will happen. I haven't gotten to my sugar withdrawals yet, watch out!
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