Ok, this is weird. I was at the store the other day looking for a more natural version of Caesar dressing (I ended up with Brianna's brand which is quite tasty) and I ran across a selection of calorie free salad dressings. That is just a bit disturbing to me, calorie free? How can food, made from you know - real food, be calorie free? Everything has calories, minus water - but anything that you would need to make salad dressing will have calories. So then what is this dressing made of???
I looked it up: Walden Farms makes everything from spreads to sauces to dressings and they are all calorie free. Though that might seem like a great idea, I'm here to tell you to stay away - it's NOT real food! And what was even more disturbing is that some of the ingredients on their nutrition labels are foods that have calories, so what did they do to them to make them "lose" their calories? Hmmm..
Here is a sample ingredient list for their Caesar dressing:
Triple Filtered Purified Water
White Vinegar
Cellulose Gel (cellulose is an indigestible fibrous substance found in plants - the reason it has "no calories" is simply because we can't digest them, and does anyone really know how they make it into a gel?)
Salt
Anchoives (which have calories)
Parmesan Cheese Flavor (non-dairy)
Romano Cheese Flavor (non-dairy)
Garlic (which has calories)
Onion (which has calories)
Black Pepper
Natural Spices (?)
Natural Flavors (?)
Lactic Acid
Xantham Gum
Food Color (made from fruits or vegetables)
Sucralose (Splenda)
Sodium Benzoate
And if that wasn't enough to raise an eyebrow, read over the list from their Calorie Free Mayo:
Triple Filtered Purified Water
Cellulose Fiber
Cellulose Gum
Salt
White Vinegar
Corn Starch (has calories)
Egg White (even dried versions have calories)
Xantham Gum
Beta Carotene
Egg Flavor (what's that made of?)
Mustard (calories)
Lemon Juice (real lemon juice has calories)
Food Color (made from fruits and vegetables)
Sucralose (Splenda)
Sodium Benzoate
Come on, people! Are you really comfortable putting such a product into your body?
My purpose in this message is not to say that the people at Waldon Farms are bad people. They understand there is a need for foods that don't add to the average American waistband and want to provide people with options. My purpose, however, is to say "WAKE UP" - this is not what our eating habits should look like. We are so focused on eating whatever we please that we give into temptations that offer us "delicious taste" without the consequences (though there are still consequences for feeding your body chemicals).
Your body is is pleading for you to make some changes. Stop eating the crap and start eating real food. Food that comes from the earth is food your body was meant to digest and from which it receives the greatest benefits. Yes, some of those foods are high in fat and high in calories but they also are full of necessary nutrients - so just choose to eat them in moderation.
But don't be fooled by chemically processed look alikes. In the end, it's just not worth it.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Quick Note
Last night I experienced some awful stomach pains due to gas, therefore something I ate was not digested well.
Menu:
3 Chicken Tenders (baked) with buffalo sauce (Louisiana hot sauce, olive oil, cayenne pepper)
Feta dipping sauce (greek yogurt, buttermilk, red wine and apple cider vinegar, feta cheese, green onions)
Quinoa with butter (less than 1 tb), salt, and pepper
Spinach salad with tomatoes, carrots, avocado, and organic Champagne viniagrette
My guess is the dairy was the culprit. I think I'll recreate this meal next week without the dipping sauce and see how it goes.
Menu:
3 Chicken Tenders (baked) with buffalo sauce (Louisiana hot sauce, olive oil, cayenne pepper)
Feta dipping sauce (greek yogurt, buttermilk, red wine and apple cider vinegar, feta cheese, green onions)
Quinoa with butter (less than 1 tb), salt, and pepper
Spinach salad with tomatoes, carrots, avocado, and organic Champagne viniagrette
My guess is the dairy was the culprit. I think I'll recreate this meal next week without the dipping sauce and see how it goes.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Pour Some Sugar On Me....
An update - period week came and went as usual. Nothing reallly changed that I noticed, other than less spotting the week before. I still experienced Day 1 cramping and clotting as usual. I felt miserable for a good few days and then was back to normal. All that to say - I don't think yeast is my problem. I mean, it likely is a part of the problem but my month without sugar as an attempt to kill them off did not work as hoped.
After I realized it wasn't working, I went a little overboard on the sugar and gluten front. I ate cookies, cake, sandwiches, and more cookies this past weekend (we were traveling which did not help). It was an extreme amount, just more than I'd been used to. My sugar intake has definitely increased - TB of maple syrup in morning tea, kefir (sweetened with cane juice), maple syrup in afternoon tea, granola with yogurt... those kind of things. So not bad things, and I'm trying to use only natural forms of sugar - but certainly more sugar than I had in the last month.
Today it all hit me though, I feel pretty awful. My bowel cycles have been the same so there's still pressure and bloating there. But right now I feel like I have a rock on top of my pelvis. My stomach, hips, and lower back all hurt from the pressure. I can't understand the biology of it and what exactly is going on - but it does shake me a bit as if to say, "Hey, I can't handle this crappy food you're eating - so STOP it!"
Where do I go from here? I would like to say I'm done with crazy elimination diets, but I'm not 100% sure of that yet. I just want to eat well. I want to eat foods that my body was designed to digest. I want to take note of those things that cause a reaction and minize them - but maybe not completely eliminate them unless the reaction is that bad. I'd like to just create my own list based on what I have been learning and what my body has been saying. I will create my own list, and though I may never find complete healing, I will at least know that I'm doing my best.
I guess that leaves me to say - food list and meal plans to come...stay tuned.
After I realized it wasn't working, I went a little overboard on the sugar and gluten front. I ate cookies, cake, sandwiches, and more cookies this past weekend (we were traveling which did not help). It was an extreme amount, just more than I'd been used to. My sugar intake has definitely increased - TB of maple syrup in morning tea, kefir (sweetened with cane juice), maple syrup in afternoon tea, granola with yogurt... those kind of things. So not bad things, and I'm trying to use only natural forms of sugar - but certainly more sugar than I had in the last month.
Today it all hit me though, I feel pretty awful. My bowel cycles have been the same so there's still pressure and bloating there. But right now I feel like I have a rock on top of my pelvis. My stomach, hips, and lower back all hurt from the pressure. I can't understand the biology of it and what exactly is going on - but it does shake me a bit as if to say, "Hey, I can't handle this crappy food you're eating - so STOP it!"
Where do I go from here? I would like to say I'm done with crazy elimination diets, but I'm not 100% sure of that yet. I just want to eat well. I want to eat foods that my body was designed to digest. I want to take note of those things that cause a reaction and minize them - but maybe not completely eliminate them unless the reaction is that bad. I'd like to just create my own list based on what I have been learning and what my body has been saying. I will create my own list, and though I may never find complete healing, I will at least know that I'm doing my best.
I guess that leaves me to say - food list and meal plans to come...stay tuned.
Monday, June 28, 2010
It Is Time
Alright folks, time to see if my hard work paid off. It's period week! The first thing I noticed was less spotting. Typically I'll have spotting for the entire week before I start, but I didn't have that this time. However, Day 1 already isn't looking so good. I'm not bedridden with pain, but I'm definitely uncomfortable and so far have not noticed much of a difference. We'll see how the rest of the day goes.
As far as my diet is concerned, things have been ok. I was able to control my sugar craving by adding a teaspoon of maple syrup to my morning tea. I've also been drinking Kefir for the past week which, in addition to helpful probiotics, does contain a lot of sugar. I could probably make my own and just sweeten it naturally with fruit. I'll try that once I add fruit back in.
Still no fruit. It hasn't been too hard, I don't really crave fruit. But it is harder when I think about how good fruit is for you, full of vitamins and antioxidants. I do believe it will be safe to add fruit back in soon, and just keep it to a minimal intake.
I'm still not sure about dairy. As I said, I've added in Kefir and a bit of another yogurt - didn't notice any changes. So the dairy may not affect me, but I'm still a bit grossed out by what I've been learning about commercially produce cow's milk lately. So I don't know that I will fully go back to consuming dairy. I've enjoyed my coconut milk and almond milk. Cheese is tough but I am going to try some authentic Greek feta (which means it's made primarily of goat or sheep milk). I still can't stomach goat's milk but I want to keep trying. I've heard it is so much better for you, and for babies, plus we could have our own goats right in the backyard (someday)!
I have been very anxious waiting for period week to arrive, mostly so I can see if all my efforts have been worth it. Even if nothing has changed, I have learned some valuable lessons that will help direct my future eating habits. More to come...
As far as my diet is concerned, things have been ok. I was able to control my sugar craving by adding a teaspoon of maple syrup to my morning tea. I've also been drinking Kefir for the past week which, in addition to helpful probiotics, does contain a lot of sugar. I could probably make my own and just sweeten it naturally with fruit. I'll try that once I add fruit back in.
Still no fruit. It hasn't been too hard, I don't really crave fruit. But it is harder when I think about how good fruit is for you, full of vitamins and antioxidants. I do believe it will be safe to add fruit back in soon, and just keep it to a minimal intake.
I'm still not sure about dairy. As I said, I've added in Kefir and a bit of another yogurt - didn't notice any changes. So the dairy may not affect me, but I'm still a bit grossed out by what I've been learning about commercially produce cow's milk lately. So I don't know that I will fully go back to consuming dairy. I've enjoyed my coconut milk and almond milk. Cheese is tough but I am going to try some authentic Greek feta (which means it's made primarily of goat or sheep milk). I still can't stomach goat's milk but I want to keep trying. I've heard it is so much better for you, and for babies, plus we could have our own goats right in the backyard (someday)!
I have been very anxious waiting for period week to arrive, mostly so I can see if all my efforts have been worth it. Even if nothing has changed, I have learned some valuable lessons that will help direct my future eating habits. More to come...
Monday, June 21, 2010
Where's the REAL food?
It's been about two and a half weeks on the anti-yeast diet. I can't say I feel much better - still have the same dilemmas as before, only now I've added intense sugar cravings!
You may be asking... why do this to yourself? The answer is, I don't know! I've thought of quitting many times over the past week. I've actually allowed myself to have a tiny bit of maple syrup every now and then - I just can't stand plain tea. My period is on the way and my hope is to see an improvement in my monthly tragedies. If I don't, I won't worry so much about yeast.
What has been really interesting though is discovering how much sugar I used to eat. I am a fairly healthy eater and tried to stay away from most sweets, especially since I don't eat wheat. But little did I realize, sugar is in EVERYTHING! Really, everything. There's the obvious - cakes, pies, and doughnuts. Mmmm.. doughnuts. But then there are also things like tomato sauce, salad dressings, soups, pretty much any condiment I find delicious. It's everywhere.
It frustrates me how difficult it is to find natural food sources. It's insane that we are ok with putting chemically-made, overly processed foods into our bodies. It also proves to me why there are so many health issues among our society today, and what needs to change.
The past couple of weeks have been really hard and I don't know that I could go completely sugar free. Nor do I believe that is right, our "good" bacteria needs sugar to feed on in order to keep our immune system and digestion balanced. But I will take a harder look at what I am eating. Absolutely no high fructose corn syrup (which is in worchestershire sauce, by the way) and very little white sugar. If I need something sweet, I will stick to what is natural.
I'd also like to read more on raw milk. I watched a pretty disturbing video today about the conditions of some dairy mills. I knew this was the case with most beef and chickens, but for some reason didn't think about the conditions of dairy farms. I've been staying away from cow's milk, for the most part, but when I think about feeding my husband and children someday - I'd like them to enjoy real milk, REAL milk. It's so expensive though, I think that's the hardest part for me. But I have to keep telling myself, it's worth it. Health is worth it.
You may be asking... why do this to yourself? The answer is, I don't know! I've thought of quitting many times over the past week. I've actually allowed myself to have a tiny bit of maple syrup every now and then - I just can't stand plain tea. My period is on the way and my hope is to see an improvement in my monthly tragedies. If I don't, I won't worry so much about yeast.
What has been really interesting though is discovering how much sugar I used to eat. I am a fairly healthy eater and tried to stay away from most sweets, especially since I don't eat wheat. But little did I realize, sugar is in EVERYTHING! Really, everything. There's the obvious - cakes, pies, and doughnuts. Mmmm.. doughnuts. But then there are also things like tomato sauce, salad dressings, soups, pretty much any condiment I find delicious. It's everywhere.
It frustrates me how difficult it is to find natural food sources. It's insane that we are ok with putting chemically-made, overly processed foods into our bodies. It also proves to me why there are so many health issues among our society today, and what needs to change.
The past couple of weeks have been really hard and I don't know that I could go completely sugar free. Nor do I believe that is right, our "good" bacteria needs sugar to feed on in order to keep our immune system and digestion balanced. But I will take a harder look at what I am eating. Absolutely no high fructose corn syrup (which is in worchestershire sauce, by the way) and very little white sugar. If I need something sweet, I will stick to what is natural.
I'd also like to read more on raw milk. I watched a pretty disturbing video today about the conditions of some dairy mills. I knew this was the case with most beef and chickens, but for some reason didn't think about the conditions of dairy farms. I've been staying away from cow's milk, for the most part, but when I think about feeding my husband and children someday - I'd like them to enjoy real milk, REAL milk. It's so expensive though, I think that's the hardest part for me. But I have to keep telling myself, it's worth it. Health is worth it.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Too Much of a Good Thing...
We love to indulge; our society is one that pushes the idea of doing anything and everything to satisfy yourself. This comes in many shapes but a very obvious way is through food. We crave tasty treats - high fat, high sugar little (or big) pieces of heaven. What I'm learning through my dietary adventures is that too much of anything can become a bad thing.
The new Paleo fad stresses that we need to eat like the hunter-gatherer people of the cave era. They state that all grains are detrimental to our health. And I agree, but only because we have abused those grains. I believe grains were intended to be good - God made grains and for many of His first followers, bread was a staple item. Then we decided to added hormones and pesticides to crops, not so good. And later we discovered the wonders of sugar and started using it in EVERYTHING, hello diabetes. My question is, would we still be seeing the harmful effects of grains if we grew them and used them as they were originally intended?
I ask this because I've started looking at recipes for desserts and cracker-type foods that I can make while on this anti-Candida diet. Most of them use almond flour, coconut oil, and stevia. The Paleo diet also uses a lot of almond and coconut products. Therefore, I am interested to know what one's health will look like after consuming the same product (almond or coconut) day after day. Is our body going to develop some form of disease from digesting too much almond or coconut?
Right now I can't really toy with it because if my body is indeed fighting off a Candida overgrowth, I need to steer clear of all sugars and refined wheat products in order for the fungus to die. But once I am (prayerfully) feeling healthy again, I'd like to think more about how much and how often should I be consuming each type of food. Every person is different and no diet is fit for all, I am learning that it is about your individual internal system and listening to what your body is telling you. Then you will find the optimal diet for YOUR health. I hope to find the optimal diet for my health soon.
The new Paleo fad stresses that we need to eat like the hunter-gatherer people of the cave era. They state that all grains are detrimental to our health. And I agree, but only because we have abused those grains. I believe grains were intended to be good - God made grains and for many of His first followers, bread was a staple item. Then we decided to added hormones and pesticides to crops, not so good. And later we discovered the wonders of sugar and started using it in EVERYTHING, hello diabetes. My question is, would we still be seeing the harmful effects of grains if we grew them and used them as they were originally intended?
I ask this because I've started looking at recipes for desserts and cracker-type foods that I can make while on this anti-Candida diet. Most of them use almond flour, coconut oil, and stevia. The Paleo diet also uses a lot of almond and coconut products. Therefore, I am interested to know what one's health will look like after consuming the same product (almond or coconut) day after day. Is our body going to develop some form of disease from digesting too much almond or coconut?
Right now I can't really toy with it because if my body is indeed fighting off a Candida overgrowth, I need to steer clear of all sugars and refined wheat products in order for the fungus to die. But once I am (prayerfully) feeling healthy again, I'd like to think more about how much and how often should I be consuming each type of food. Every person is different and no diet is fit for all, I am learning that it is about your individual internal system and listening to what your body is telling you. Then you will find the optimal diet for YOUR health. I hope to find the optimal diet for my health soon.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Update and New Diet
It has been a while - last month was certainly a disaster! Life got really busy and I was unable to keep up with any sort of diet. I continued to stay clear of gluten and highly processed foods, but even that was a struggle towards the end of the month. We went on a vacation last week and ate A LOT so I've felt awful ever since.
The elimination diet didn't seem to work. I definitely saw improvements during my first two vegetarian weeks (along with new horrible cravings) but I never felt completely healed. That got me thinking about what it could be causing me to fee so sick all the time. Then I remembered reading about Candida overgrowth, that it feeds on sugar and can grow all over your insides to make you sick. While I don't eat a lot of sugar, I've never fully given up sugar. I still always had fruits, honey, maple syrup, condiments containing sugar, etc. There is a possibility this could help.
I've never had yeast infections or fungus on my feet so I thought this diet wouldn't pertain to me. But I have so many other symptoms, and every disease is different for each person, that it could be. The constipation, abdominal pain, pain during intercourse, chronic fatigue, and infertility can be caused by this disease. So I hope to see at least some of those improve over this next period of time.
The hard part - giving up sugar. It's in everything, so I sit here thinking, "what can I eat?" The hardest part is always the planning and organizing of meals. If I don't, I won't stick to the diet. But I also lack the motivation to plan because I'm so tired. There are some books out there about Candidiasis but few have a set meal plan or an abundance of recipes. I am hopeful that I might be able to find some help from the Paleo Diet craze - it's very similar minus the fruit and adding in a few gluten-free grains.
Where am I right now? I am starting to take steps to cut out the obvious foods (coffee being one - so sad) and learn what I can and cannot have. My next step will be creating a meal plan, hopefully I can start that tomorrow since I will be off work. And lots of prayer - oh, I need prayer. This sucks!
The elimination diet didn't seem to work. I definitely saw improvements during my first two vegetarian weeks (along with new horrible cravings) but I never felt completely healed. That got me thinking about what it could be causing me to fee so sick all the time. Then I remembered reading about Candida overgrowth, that it feeds on sugar and can grow all over your insides to make you sick. While I don't eat a lot of sugar, I've never fully given up sugar. I still always had fruits, honey, maple syrup, condiments containing sugar, etc. There is a possibility this could help.
I've never had yeast infections or fungus on my feet so I thought this diet wouldn't pertain to me. But I have so many other symptoms, and every disease is different for each person, that it could be. The constipation, abdominal pain, pain during intercourse, chronic fatigue, and infertility can be caused by this disease. So I hope to see at least some of those improve over this next period of time.
The hard part - giving up sugar. It's in everything, so I sit here thinking, "what can I eat?" The hardest part is always the planning and organizing of meals. If I don't, I won't stick to the diet. But I also lack the motivation to plan because I'm so tired. There are some books out there about Candidiasis but few have a set meal plan or an abundance of recipes. I am hopeful that I might be able to find some help from the Paleo Diet craze - it's very similar minus the fruit and adding in a few gluten-free grains.
Where am I right now? I am starting to take steps to cut out the obvious foods (coffee being one - so sad) and learn what I can and cannot have. My next step will be creating a meal plan, hopefully I can start that tomorrow since I will be off work. And lots of prayer - oh, I need prayer. This sucks!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Everything is a Mess!
Ok, that was a little dramatic. It's not that bad but the diet plan really has fallen apart. My symptoms the past week or so have been right back at square one. I can't say it's because of meat since there were other factors involved.
I felt the best (in some ways) and had the least amount of symptoms (though I added others) during the first two "vege" weeks of the diet. I had several regular BMs throughout the day and didn't have as much of a constant pressure in my lower abdomen and back, as I do now. Of course, I had the killer protein cravings and was moody and irritable.
What I realized though is that as I added in things like eggs, meat, and oatmeal - I decreased my fruit and vegetable intake. So it may not be one of those foods that is causing the symptoms, but the lack of whole, fresh foods from the earth.
It's so hard though, it takes time to plan and prepare fresh meals like that. I think the stress of it all overwhelmed me (especially with work being crazy busy right now) which did not help the situation. I want to get a more solid meal plan together than I can follow, with a few days of vege cooking, a few days of meat, and so on.
I also need to reduce stress, consume more water, and exercise more regularly - those are always going to be there and will always need improvement for sure.
Meal plan will be coming soon...
I felt the best (in some ways) and had the least amount of symptoms (though I added others) during the first two "vege" weeks of the diet. I had several regular BMs throughout the day and didn't have as much of a constant pressure in my lower abdomen and back, as I do now. Of course, I had the killer protein cravings and was moody and irritable.
What I realized though is that as I added in things like eggs, meat, and oatmeal - I decreased my fruit and vegetable intake. So it may not be one of those foods that is causing the symptoms, but the lack of whole, fresh foods from the earth.
It's so hard though, it takes time to plan and prepare fresh meals like that. I think the stress of it all overwhelmed me (especially with work being crazy busy right now) which did not help the situation. I want to get a more solid meal plan together than I can follow, with a few days of vege cooking, a few days of meat, and so on.
I also need to reduce stress, consume more water, and exercise more regularly - those are always going to be there and will always need improvement for sure.
Meal plan will be coming soon...
Saturday, May 1, 2010
First Day of May
This week's been hard - work-wise, so I have not kept up with the blog very well. I am still on meat, eggs, and some oatmeal. So far things are good this week, much better than last week!
I did have some coffee first thing this morning and felt the old nausea, can't get any food down feeling that I used to have often. Conclusion: coffee is not easy on the stomach. If I must have it, have it later in the morning after I have eaten something.
That's all I have been noticing recently. BMs have been fairly regular, not like they were the first couple of weeks though. And they've been harder and more pellet-like. Conclusion: eat more fruit and vegetables!
I did have some coffee first thing this morning and felt the old nausea, can't get any food down feeling that I used to have often. Conclusion: coffee is not easy on the stomach. If I must have it, have it later in the morning after I have eaten something.
That's all I have been noticing recently. BMs have been fairly regular, not like they were the first couple of weeks though. And they've been harder and more pellet-like. Conclusion: eat more fruit and vegetables!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
What Day Am I On?!
Yesterday was a whirlwind of a day. I woke up to a crazy disasterous house and needed to dedicate the majority of my time to cleaning. It was good - but I don't know if I can recall what I ate throughout the day.
I will try though.
BREAKFAST
Oatmeal (oh yes, apparently I have added in oatmeal)
SNACK
Raspberry Mango Banana Smoothie
LUNCH
Walnut, Dill, and Honey Encrusted Mahi-Mahi
SNACK
Grapes
Lara Bar
DINNER
Chicken Breast
Asparagus
Summer Squash
Spinach Salad with Strawberries, Blueberries, and Pecans
SNACK
Oatmeal Cookies - it was so good to have a cookie, but not so great for my stomach
Overall, I feel good. Much better than the past few days. I will go another week with meat since the past few days were a bit unsettling.
I will try though.
BREAKFAST
Oatmeal (oh yes, apparently I have added in oatmeal)
SNACK
Raspberry Mango Banana Smoothie
LUNCH
Walnut, Dill, and Honey Encrusted Mahi-Mahi
SNACK
Grapes
Lara Bar
DINNER
Chicken Breast
Asparagus
Summer Squash
Spinach Salad with Strawberries, Blueberries, and Pecans
SNACK
Oatmeal Cookies - it was so good to have a cookie, but not so great for my stomach
Overall, I feel good. Much better than the past few days. I will go another week with meat since the past few days were a bit unsettling.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Meat Day 5
Ok, today was better. I didn't feel great but I felt fine. The hard part is being on my period and not knowing if the symptoms are related to that or related to meat, because they started around the same time. I bought a lot of meat so I will probably continue for a few more days and then cut it out to see if I feel better. I'm hoping meat is not the problem, I don't know how I would live without meat.
I am very gassy after our dinner of salmon and sweet potato fries. I think it must be the salmon because I never eat it, don't like salmon much. I've had sweet potato a lot lately and have not experienced this so I'm thinking - salmon.
BREAKFAST
Hash Browns
LUNCH
Chicken Lettuce Wraps with spinach, tomatoes, yellow bell pepper, and cucumber
DINNER
Salmon (4 oz) with Raspberry Chipotle Sauce
Sweet Potato Fries
Oranges
Calories: 1000 (32% protein, 30% fat, 38% carb)
- good on nutrient content, not enough food though
I am very gassy after our dinner of salmon and sweet potato fries. I think it must be the salmon because I never eat it, don't like salmon much. I've had sweet potato a lot lately and have not experienced this so I'm thinking - salmon.
BREAKFAST
Hash Browns
LUNCH
Chicken Lettuce Wraps with spinach, tomatoes, yellow bell pepper, and cucumber
DINNER
Salmon (4 oz) with Raspberry Chipotle Sauce
Sweet Potato Fries
Oranges
Calories: 1000 (32% protein, 30% fat, 38% carb)
- good on nutrient content, not enough food though
Monday, April 26, 2010
Meat Day 4
I did not feel good today...
There was a constant burning in my bloated belly all day. I blame the menstraul cycle - but even still, is it supposed to be this way? I am extremely tired and so very irritable. I feel very bad for my sweet husband.
BREAKFAST
Chai Tea
Strawberry Banana Kiwi Smoothie
SNACK
Raw Revolution Bar
LUNCH
Shepperd's Pie with Chicken
SNACK
Coffee (I almost crashed so I had to give in)
DINNER
Eggs, Hash Browns, Bacon
Calories: 1700 (protein 23%, fat 43%, carb 34%)
There was a constant burning in my bloated belly all day. I blame the menstraul cycle - but even still, is it supposed to be this way? I am extremely tired and so very irritable. I feel very bad for my sweet husband.
BREAKFAST
Chai Tea
Strawberry Banana Kiwi Smoothie
SNACK
Raw Revolution Bar
LUNCH
Shepperd's Pie with Chicken
SNACK
Coffee (I almost crashed so I had to give in)
DINNER
Eggs, Hash Browns, Bacon
Calories: 1700 (protein 23%, fat 43%, carb 34%)
Phase 3 (Meat): Day 2
The start of the week has been weird. I added in meat on Saturday, which is also the day I finally started my period and that did not help the situation. Sunday I had very few BMs and those that came were small, hard balls. This continued (along with cramping and bloating) through Monday morning. The possibility crossed my mind that it could be the meat causing inflammation of my colon. And it still could be...
Good news is we seem to be back on track. After a morning of discomfort and straining, I have had a few good passes.
Sunday's meal plan:
BREAKFAST
Mixed Fruit (strawberries, blueberries, grapes, bananas... ahh summer!)
Scrambled Eggs (about 3 whole)
SNACK
Lara Bar
LUNCH
Chicken Salad (about 5 oz)
Sauteed Mushrooms
SNACK
Biscuit with butter and jam - not a good decision, my stomach was not happy
DINNER
Chips and Salsa
Chicken Enchilada (corn tortilla)
*probably added to the cramping and bloating
Good news is we seem to be back on track. After a morning of discomfort and straining, I have had a few good passes.
Sunday's meal plan:
BREAKFAST
Mixed Fruit (strawberries, blueberries, grapes, bananas... ahh summer!)
Scrambled Eggs (about 3 whole)
SNACK
Lara Bar
LUNCH
Chicken Salad (about 5 oz)
Sauteed Mushrooms
SNACK
Biscuit with butter and jam - not a good decision, my stomach was not happy
DINNER
Chips and Salsa
Chicken Enchilada (corn tortilla)
*probably added to the cramping and bloating
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Beginning Phase 3
Today did get a little better, after the morning drama. I was still quite tired but was able to take a nap this afternoon. My decision overall was to start adding in meat early. I had planned on starting with chicken tomorrow, but instead will be starting will all meat today! If something goes wrong, I have at leaset narrowed it down to meat and can then get more specific from there.
Tonight we had burgers, they were great! I am quite gassy (precious, I know) but other than that feel fine. Still tired and moody - need to go to bed.
BREAKFAST
Biscuit with butter and apricot jam
(I know, not so good - but remember... I just didn't care at this point)
SNACK
Lara Bar
LUNCH
1 Whole Fried Egg with 2 Egg Whites
Tomato and Avocado
SNACK/ LUNCH 2
Shepperd's Pie
DINNER
(2) 5.3 oz Hamburgers
Brown Rice Mixture
Asparagus
Calories: 1800 (protein 23%)
I also had a lot of dark chocolate peanut MnM's today - my stomach was not so happy about that. Hopefully tomorrow will be better for everyone.
Tonight we had burgers, they were great! I am quite gassy (precious, I know) but other than that feel fine. Still tired and moody - need to go to bed.
BREAKFAST
Biscuit with butter and apricot jam
(I know, not so good - but remember... I just didn't care at this point)
SNACK
Lara Bar
LUNCH
1 Whole Fried Egg with 2 Egg Whites
Tomato and Avocado
SNACK/ LUNCH 2
Shepperd's Pie
DINNER
(2) 5.3 oz Hamburgers
Brown Rice Mixture
Asparagus
Calories: 1800 (protein 23%)
I also had a lot of dark chocolate peanut MnM's today - my stomach was not so happy about that. Hopefully tomorrow will be better for everyone.
Today: Not Such a Good Day...
I don't even know what day I'm on and my attitude this morning is - I don't really care! I know, it's terrible. And I have no reason to be in a bad mood, it's a beautiful Saturday morning, I got to sleep in really late, the living room is clean so I can just sit and read. Wonderful, right?!
But this morning I have been overly tired and irritable. And the more I think about it, I've felt this way for quite a while now. It seems like everything my husband says to me produces an involuntary eye-roll. What is going on?! And I'm not pregnant - that's for darn sure.
It surely has to do with my eating habits because this is not a uncommon feeling, but it is new that it has been so consistent and so overwhelming. When I look at my meal plan the past few weeks, the thing that stands out most is protein. I'm getting plenty of carbohydrates and (too many) fats - but still not enough protein. I've gone without wheat, dairy, and various other things in the past - but I've never gone without meat for this long.
My conclusion: it's time to reintroduce meat (of all forms) and see if the symptoms subside.
Yesterday's meal plan:
BREAKFAST
Cantaloupe
Blueberries
Strawberries
Honey and Pecan Pieces
LUNCH
Sauteed Spinach and Red Bell Peppers
2 Whole Fried Eggs with 2 Egg Whites
DINNER
Vegetarian Shepperd's Pie (delicious!)
LATE NIGHT SNACK
Reisling
Piece of Bittersweet Chocolate :)
I honestly can't remember if I had my mid-day snacks yesterday and it's just so hard to try to think right now. Isn't that awful? I mean, how hard is thinking?! Oh Lord, help me!
But this morning I have been overly tired and irritable. And the more I think about it, I've felt this way for quite a while now. It seems like everything my husband says to me produces an involuntary eye-roll. What is going on?! And I'm not pregnant - that's for darn sure.
It surely has to do with my eating habits because this is not a uncommon feeling, but it is new that it has been so consistent and so overwhelming. When I look at my meal plan the past few weeks, the thing that stands out most is protein. I'm getting plenty of carbohydrates and (too many) fats - but still not enough protein. I've gone without wheat, dairy, and various other things in the past - but I've never gone without meat for this long.
My conclusion: it's time to reintroduce meat (of all forms) and see if the symptoms subside.
Yesterday's meal plan:
BREAKFAST
Cantaloupe
Blueberries
Strawberries
Honey and Pecan Pieces
LUNCH
Sauteed Spinach and Red Bell Peppers
2 Whole Fried Eggs with 2 Egg Whites
DINNER
Vegetarian Shepperd's Pie (delicious!)
LATE NIGHT SNACK
Reisling
Piece of Bittersweet Chocolate :)
I honestly can't remember if I had my mid-day snacks yesterday and it's just so hard to try to think right now. Isn't that awful? I mean, how hard is thinking?! Oh Lord, help me!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Phase 2, Day 5
Yesterday was a weird day. It started with a headache after my forbidden latte (serves me right). The headache subsided after a cup of 1/2 caff coffee - though that lead to some crazy BMs. And I was super, super tired yesterday. I've cut out eggs again for the rest of the week, according to the meal plan I set up. But I'm wondering - since they didn't cause any problems - if it's ok to continue to eat them. It seems that I felt a lot better with them, likely because of the protein, and I don't know if I'll make it through the weekend so exhausted.
Well, here's Day 5's meal plan:
BREAKFAST
Hash Browns
Vanilla Latte
SNACK
Lara Bar
Coffee
LUNCH
Fruit
Potato Chips
Pickle Spear
SNACK
Strawberry Banana Kiwi Smoothie
DINNER
Lentil Soup
Calories: 1500 (protein 8%)
My decision: I will eat eggs again today and see how my energy level is later on. It could just be the rainy cloudy weather making me tired, but I was definitely more tired yesterday than I've been all week.
Well, here's Day 5's meal plan:
BREAKFAST
Hash Browns
Vanilla Latte
SNACK
Lara Bar
Coffee
LUNCH
Fruit
Potato Chips
Pickle Spear
SNACK
Strawberry Banana Kiwi Smoothie
DINNER
Lentil Soup
Calories: 1500 (protein 8%)
My decision: I will eat eggs again today and see how my energy level is later on. It could just be the rainy cloudy weather making me tired, but I was definitely more tired yesterday than I've been all week.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Killer Latte
So this morning I splurged a bit and had one of my favorite International Cafe mixes - Vanilla Bean Latte. I didn't think it would be a good decision and now it was not. Maybe 2 minutes after I finished, I had (and still have) a killer headache. Interesting, isn't it?! Most of my problems have always been digestive, but now this.
Here are the ingredients:
Sugar, nondairy cream [corn syrup solids, partially hydrogenated coconut oil, sodium caseinate (from milk), dipotassium phosphate, mono - and diglycerides, artificial flavors], maltodextrin, instant coffee, contains less than 2% of natural and artificial flavor, sodium citrate, modified cornstarch, calcium phosphate, silicon dioxide.
I looked up some of the items above and it was quite interesting (and scary) to see what these chemical compounds are and how they are used. For example, silicon dioxide (also know as silica) is used primarily in the production of window glass, drinking glasses and beverage bottles [Wikipedia]. I don't like the sound of that.
So it's impossible to know exactly why I have a headache this morning - but I do know this:
- Stay away from foods with ingredients you cannot pronounce
- Stay away from foods with the words "artificial" or "modified" in them
- Stay away from foods that have more than 10 ingredients
Yikes!
Here are the ingredients:
Sugar, nondairy cream [corn syrup solids, partially hydrogenated coconut oil, sodium caseinate (from milk), dipotassium phosphate, mono - and diglycerides, artificial flavors], maltodextrin, instant coffee, contains less than 2% of natural and artificial flavor, sodium citrate, modified cornstarch, calcium phosphate, silicon dioxide.
I looked up some of the items above and it was quite interesting (and scary) to see what these chemical compounds are and how they are used. For example, silicon dioxide (also know as silica) is used primarily in the production of window glass, drinking glasses and beverage bottles [Wikipedia]. I don't like the sound of that.
So it's impossible to know exactly why I have a headache this morning - but I do know this:
- Stay away from foods with ingredients you cannot pronounce
- Stay away from foods with the words "artificial" or "modified" in them
- Stay away from foods that have more than 10 ingredients
Yikes!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Phase 2, Day 4: Super Awesome Egg Day!
I had the most amazing lunch, I'm still thinking about it at 10:00 pm! I've never ventured out much with eggs, always scrambled or omelet-style. "Sunny side up" scares me because of the oozing yolk. But at this point, I don't have a lot of options, so I got creative. Basically, I sauteed garlic and onion, threw in some red bell peppers and spinach, topped it with 3 fried eggs (with runny yolks), avocado, and tomato. Amazing!
So, as you can see, today was good, though there were a few notable occurances. I had a smoothie for a mid-morning snack around 10:30 am. By 12:00 pm, I was so shaky and weak that I could barely cut up vegetables for lunch. This is not something uncommon for my pre-diet life, I attribute it to a genetic low blood sugar disorder. I haven't experienced it since I started the diet though, so that was a bit weird.
I've also been continuing to spot - not sure what that's about. My period should actually be starting in the next few days. I'm very interested to see what symptoms I have this time around. The last time around my cramps were so bad I could not sleep. We'll see if that changes.
Today:
BREAKFAST
Chai Tea
Banana
SNACK
Fruit Smoothie
LUNCH
Fried Egg Awesomeness
SNACK
Lara Bar
DINNER
Chips and Salsa (yes, technically I am not supposed to have corn yet)
Carribean Salad from Chili's
Calories: 1400 (15% protein)
So, as you can see, today was good, though there were a few notable occurances. I had a smoothie for a mid-morning snack around 10:30 am. By 12:00 pm, I was so shaky and weak that I could barely cut up vegetables for lunch. This is not something uncommon for my pre-diet life, I attribute it to a genetic low blood sugar disorder. I haven't experienced it since I started the diet though, so that was a bit weird.
I've also been continuing to spot - not sure what that's about. My period should actually be starting in the next few days. I'm very interested to see what symptoms I have this time around. The last time around my cramps were so bad I could not sleep. We'll see if that changes.
Today:
BREAKFAST
Chai Tea
Banana
SNACK
Fruit Smoothie
LUNCH
Fried Egg Awesomeness
SNACK
Lara Bar
DINNER
Chips and Salsa (yes, technically I am not supposed to have corn yet)
Carribean Salad from Chili's
Calories: 1400 (15% protein)
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Phase 2, Day 3
BREAKFAST
Omelet with mushrooms, peppers, spinach, garlic, onion
SNACK
Apple
LUNCH
Lentil Soup
SNACK
Salad with tomato and avocado
DINNER
Rice and Beans
Mushrooms
Calories: 1400 (15% protein)
Omelet with mushrooms, peppers, spinach, garlic, onion
SNACK
Apple
LUNCH
Lentil Soup
SNACK
Salad with tomato and avocado
DINNER
Rice and Beans
Mushrooms
Calories: 1400 (15% protein)
Monday, April 19, 2010
Phase 2, Day 2: Eggs are Delicious!
Egg day number two went well. I can't say I feel "bad" but I don't feel great. I can't exactly pinpoint why. I've been really tired all day from the busy weekend, so that doesn't help. After dinner I did have some bloating. I was also reminded last night that I continue to have this "rectal pressure" as I like to call it. I notice it more at night when I lay down, and do other things...
So that's a little frustrating that even though my BMs have been good and regular the past two weeks, I still have buildup and uncomfortable pressure. My hopes of not needing to see a doctor again are slowly fading.
So today..
BREAKFAST
Scrambled Eggs
Peppermint Tea
SNACK
Kind Bar
LUNCH
Lentil Soup
SNACK
Mango Strawberry Smoothie
DINNER
Amazing Omelet (mushrooms, red bell peppers, garlic, green onion, spinach, and avocado)
Hash Browns
Calories: 1500 (protein 16%)
It's nice that I'm getting more protein. My cravings are not as extreme as they were last week. I still want a big juicy burger, but that's coming. On to another day...
So that's a little frustrating that even though my BMs have been good and regular the past two weeks, I still have buildup and uncomfortable pressure. My hopes of not needing to see a doctor again are slowly fading.
So today..
BREAKFAST
Scrambled Eggs
Peppermint Tea
SNACK
Kind Bar
LUNCH
Lentil Soup
SNACK
Mango Strawberry Smoothie
DINNER
Amazing Omelet (mushrooms, red bell peppers, garlic, green onion, spinach, and avocado)
Hash Browns
Calories: 1500 (protein 16%)
It's nice that I'm getting more protein. My cravings are not as extreme as they were last week. I still want a big juicy burger, but that's coming. On to another day...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)