Two Steps Forward, No Steps Back: My Health Focused Log

[Lost Dog]

Hope your weekend went well!

[UConnJulie]

Thanks Greg and LD ... weekend was/is good ... ended up not having any clients on Saturday, just one this morning so that was good. We did some yardwork which felt good.

Watched Zodiac last night ... scary stuff to think that they never caught him ...

Eats have been good ... trying to get some relaxation time in to not get too stressed out ...

Roland, made your Black Beans with Sofrito again yesterday for dinner tonight with my friend from New Zealand ... they smelled divine!! And of course I had to sample them ... YUMMY!!

[Lost Dog]

Glad they were a hit. Are beans something you shouldn't have right now?

[UConnJulie]

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

Glad they were a hit. Are beans something you shouldn't have right now?

Oh, no! Beans are absolutely something I SHOULD have right now ... I am to be getting my carbs from starchy veggies, legumes, brown/wild rice, whole grain pasta/bread, etc ... why did you think I couldn't?

[Egham]

Black beans are good! I try to have them daily in omelets and/or wraps ...sometimes more.

[UConnJulie]

I've had a few bad days ... lots of cravings ... I just ovulated so I'm pretty sure it is hormonal ... feeling blue ...

[Lost Dog]

Originally Posted by UConnJulie

Oh, no! Beans are absolutely something I SHOULD have right now ... I am to be getting my carbs from starchy veggies, legumes, brown/wild rice, whole grain pasta/bread, etc ... why did you think I couldn't?

Because you wrote "of course I had to sample them." I took that as you just had a taste.

I thought you could eat that stuff. So, good!

[Espi]

Cripes. Ovulation is another bad carb craving period. I had a very bad day too a few day ago around ovulation. I'm tracking body temp and it wasn't too hard to see why the appetite was so bad. The upward temperature surge was larger than it normally is, plus I'd not eaten enough 3 days in a row (too busy and having a sore throat).

Sometimes I don't give in, but actually when I do give in, I feel much better soon. So, I figure it's OK to do it, as long as I don't go overboard (ended up at 3200 kcal that day) more than twice a month.

[UConnJulie]

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

Because you wrote "of course I had to sample them." I took that as you just had a taste.

I thought you could eat that stuff. So, good!

Oh, I see ... yes, well, I was sampling them even though I had made them a day in advance of when we planned to eat them (with company). I had the second to last serving this morning as a side to my eggs ... YUMMY!

Originally Posted by Espi

Cripes. Ovulation is another bad carb craving period. I had a very bad day too a few day ago around ovulation. I'm tracking body temp and it wasn't too hard to see why the appetite was so bad. The upward temperature surge was larger than it normally is, plus I'd not eaten enough 3 days in a row (too busy and having a sore throat).

Sometimes I don't give in, but actually when I do give in, I feel much better soon. So, I figure it's OK to do it, as long as I don't go overboard (ended up at 3200 kcal that day) more than twice a month.

Well, the biggest issue is that I don't feel good when I eat poorly, but the cravings are so severe that it is nearly painful for me to avoid "bad" things ... nothing I ate was really horrible, just too high on the carb list (popcorn, pretzels, craisins, and of course some chocolate), and too much of it.

I am starting to wonder if there is something to that gluten intolerance that my doctor mentioned. I do notice that I feel much worse the next day after I have had my starchy carbs from sources with gluten ... specifically that my joint pain is worse, as is my energy levels.

Espi, I know that you have dealt with some gluten intolerance issues ... have you found any good resources?

[Espi]

I'm just avoiding gluten as much as possible. Unfortunately my food sensitivity is nonspecific so it pertains to all grains, not just the glutinous ones but also oats (extremely similar) and perhaps even rice. I've succumbed to eating rice a few days ago and will do again tomorrow coz I just dig Indian food (it's on a special).

I can't say I read any specific source but I've been toying with the idea of starting an elimination diet. I've not yet mustered the courage to do it, as it's awfully restricted: http://www.drcranton.com/elimination_diet.htm

When thinking about it longer & longer, it was a bit too much. After all, can't imagine life without eggs. And they do allow nuts, but these can be allergenic too.
Perhaps a detection diet would be a lot easier.
Detection diets in Google.

I do know for instance that stress makes intolerances worse. Also, a long withdrawal period can make things both worse (allergies) and better (intolerances). I've had chickpeas last week and this caused rather severe stomach cramps.
Ate peanut butter that I hadn't touched in over a month this weekend , and was itching all over! The new peanut butter jar I've opened since then didn't cause trouble.

But gluten definitely does bad things to both memory and joint function. The latter I understand: there's a pretty bad inflammation reaction (leaky gut yada yada) but the memory loss?
In layman's terms the Eades did a pretty good job in their Protein Power Life Plan.
Trouble is, how do you get in enough carbs if going too low causes problems for adrenal fatigue & thyroid. Mainly fruit as well as tuberous starches/veggies like carrots, potatoes, pumpkins, manioc, yam, cassave. I'm sure ljk will be able to tell you more.

[UConnJulie]

Espi, WOW!! That elimination diet is super-restrictive!

Avoid all forms of beef, pork and chicken, including luncheon meats, hot dogs, bacon, sausage and hamburger. Avoid all cold cuts. Avoid tenderized, spiced, processed or otherwise treated meat products of any kind. Most shrimp now sold in the USA is farmed in Asia and raised on human waste, antibiotics, etc.)

Avoid eggs or any foods containing egg, including custards, cakes, cookies, ice cream, pies, macaroni, salad dressings, noodles, pancake mixes, and all other manufactured or processed foods.

Source = http://www.drcranton.com/elimi nation_diet.htm

What the heck is left for protein for someone like me?! I live on chicken (organic, free-range) and eggs!!! In fact my husband jokes that he is going to sprout feathers one of these days!! It looks like the only protein sources he recommends are lamb from New Zealand (I've never had lamb ever in my life) and deep water wild caught fish ...

I don't think I'll be doing that any time soon ... but I think I will eliminate gluten to see if it makes a difference ...

[UConnJulie]

Yesterday was better, food-wise ... cravings hit only in the evening ... and I did some yoga (very intense ... lots of spinal twisting and balancing) for about 45 minutes ...

Michaela is sick ... ran a fever of 102.5 yesterday evening and this morning it is down a bit to 100.7 upon rising this morning (after Tylenol yesterday evening). Today was their first field trip at school (to an apple orchard), but I've had to keep her home. It also means that I will not be going up to New Hampshire alone with my husband this evening (leaving the kids with my parents) - BUMMER! I just can't leave my sick baby alone ... and Hayley will probably have whatever it is by Sunday, so that's not really fair to my parents either. Matt of course still has to go since they are drawing down the lake on Monday and we have to get our docks and boat out of the water ... sigh ... oh well ... let's make lemonade ...

[stingo]

The best laid plans... still you'll find something fun to do I'm sure. Chin up

[Egham]

Poor Michaela - Get well soon.....and, don't pass it on to your sister!
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Just think, if you can manage for just the two of you to spend a weekend in NH sometime within the next very few weeks before it gets too cold, you'll be able to just enjoy. No chores.

In the meantime, I hope that you'll be able to make the best of this weekend. Stay focused on making that lemonade!

[SpacecityPaula]

Hope Michaela feels better soon!!