nurturedbliss

What a fast and furious 3 weeks!

The 30 day challenge has all but become a distant memory of profound impressions, unanswered questions, and a daily denial to an allergy that is of no great surprise, but a bitter, unwelcome, poignant dose of reality – yes it is that dramatic!

Of the thousands of potential food allergens under our endless skies, I would’ve gladly given up any number of items, including chocolate, instead of an item that is a main ingredient in a majority of my favorite foods. An ingredient I could eat at every meal and have no desire to substitute, cut back or remove from my diet…

Seriously? Must it be dairy?! Big ugh.

In a fit of denial this past 2 weeks, I’ve consumed dairy daily in an attempt to prove I was NOT reacting to it. Unfortunately, I still have slightly swollen lips that get worse with even a sprinkle of Parmesan (but I’m still hopeful it’s something else!) However, to date, all signs point to dairy with a less than traditional allergic reaction. Well, maybe my reactions are commonplace and I simply don’t know it? But it appears dairy makes the insides of my mouth and lips burn and swell (more noticeable inside than out). I haven’t noticed the reaction is as strong with ice cream, yogurt or plain and raw milk, but all types of cheese seem to do a number for days.

In hindsight, I didn’t want to consider a dairy allergy, so I didn’t track dairy reactions closely when I started consuming again. My bad.

Because I didn’t notice (or didn’t want to notice) a reaction to dairy when I started drinking my morning lattes again, by day four, I was celebrating in my mental happy place – dairy was back!

On Day 5, I topped my seafood veggie zucchini pasta with a large helping of marinara and cheese. I literally relished in the return of my favorite food group, patting myself on the back for making such a tasty, homemade seafood dinner! And when I laid down to sleep, I drifted off with a sweet smile of content resting on my lips. First taste of cheese in 36 days!

The morning after wasn’t as kind to me. I woke with the inside of my mouth feeling raw and burnt. Even my gums were bright pink and my entire mouth was sensitive to toothpaste and brushing. It lasted approximately a week before dwindling to a continuous, minor annoyance of sorts.. I continue to drink lattes… I have raw milk that needs to be drank :)

I know you’re thinking – what’s wrong with you? But in my defense, I’ve only accepted it’s a potential dairy intolerance as I’ve been writing this…

Somewhere in the back of mind I decided I could live with the intolerance if I could get my body to adapt to dairy again, assuming having removed it for 30 plus days in a sense “reset” my intolerance. But I’ve finally reached a place mentally, and recognize, I can’t say with certainty the various ways dairy is permeating my day to day energy levels or system until I remove it again and test it back into my diet properly. Are my energy levels and sense of wellbeing as constant as they were during the 30 day challenge? No. And that pains me to admit. I love dairy.

I’ve given up gluten, grains, and legumes almost entirely. There are very few times gluten/grains may sneak into my diet, like while eating out. Flour is used to thicken about everything, including soup broths, but I don’t react terribly if super tiny infrequent doses. The one time I tested gluten back into my diet and ate it with each meal for 2 days, I was bloated, retained water, felt rundown and was constipated for 4 days (I was literally 5 lbs heavier and rings were tight!). An exception is traditionally made sourdough bread. It doesn’t seem to be an issue if eaten moderately, but then I haven’t tried it at each meal for a day or two.

One other time this month, I ate a small slice of birthday cake. I felt gross afterwards, was a bit gassy, felt rundown and distracted for remainder of afternoon and fought junk food cravings all evening. I have eaten rice pasta twice at a Thai place while out with friends. I felt a little tired for a few hours, but no bloating, water retention, etc. It may have been more related to lack of self-control, I finished the plate and it was a generous portion :) Oh, and I’ve had hummus (legume) and experienced no ill effects I’m aware of but I don’t plan to consume regularly. More of a fall back if out and it’s an option, like rice pasta.

Basically, at least for now, I’ve come to the conclusion all items mentioned do weigh on my energy on some level. I’m going to consider each situation when said items present themselves and decide if the trade off is worth eating it. I’m sure over time I’ll notice more or less side effects and will address if permanent removal makes sense. Time will tell.

My target date to go dairy-free is March 1st.

It really isn’t a big surprise. I was allergic to various milks at birth – mother’s milk, cow’s milk, goat’s milk but my uncle said he remembers me drinking soy milk. Not lactose intolerant, the milks caused rashes which was very strange and without explanation. Not to unlike my blistering rash which resembles white pimples everywhere (adult rash is folliculitis) but can’t say if related. I seemed to out grow milk reactions by preschool.

That’s it for now. Hopefully I’ll have more time to share in the coming weeks. I still scan blogs and share nutrition related articles on my FB wall. There are so many informative articles and recipes!!

Jeepers, I almost forgot to mention an important note – I have not gained a single pound in 3 weeks. Granted the goal wasn’t to lose weight but it was a welcome result! I’m still eating a high natural fat diet, grass fed meats, free range chickens and eggs, and lots of veggies, nuts, dark chocolate and fruit (organic when possible).

I haven’t counted calories but if I were to guess (I’m pretty versed on calorie counts) I’ve nearly doubled my calories compared to my pre-30 day challenge. I’m floored I’ve lost another 2 lbs and can only attribute it to my metabolism working more optimally.

Please share…

I welcome any feedback, experiences or information you can share about anything, but especially the weird dairy reactions I’m having. I’m really not thrilled by the prospect of cutting dairy out of my diet, my life. *sniffles*

It was much easier to stick to than I thought it would be. As you can see from my January Eats diary, I didn’t eat fancy or hard to find foods, go hungry, count calories or count carbs. I simply ate Mother Nature’s foods and avoided man made foods. Everything I ate came from natural ingredients and I know I ate more calories than I usually do – yet I LOST 13 pounds! Eight were from the Oct-Dec holiday period but the other 5 pounds I’ve carried for 10 years! I haven’t been this weight since 2001 *pinch me*

A Balanced State

From what I’ve learned, maintaining steady blood sugar is key to not just losing weight, but maintaining a healthy weight. So while my focus wasn’t to lose weight, with Paleo, I dramatically cut sugar (carbs) from my diet and ate healthy complex carbs that were mostly low in sugar and eaten with other foods. This slowed their ingestion and helped avoid imbalances. When simple or high carb loads are eaten consistently, the body repeatedly gets knocked out of a balanced state and becomes stressed and reactive, which results in few positive outcomes. Here’s an eye opening article about excessive sugar and health with many credible citations. Also, an informative study on sugar, presented by Doctor Lustig, MD., that’s well worth the watch.

If interested, there’s a book that gets into our makeup by a former research biochemist, Robb Wolf, called the Paleo Solution. If you think about how our bodies evolved and have been conditioned to nourish itself from natural resources for millions of years, and compare that to the dramatic changes in our diet that occurred overnight by comparison, it’s no wonder so many bodies have revolted with illness and disease. The hormones, liver, metabolism, pancreas, etc aren’t equipped to process the quantities of sugar (carbs) and chemicals consumed today. And more and more research supports returning to an ancestral, natural diet for better health. Here’s one of Robb’s blogs on gluten and grains.

Keep It Real

I really don’t think all sugar (carbs) are evil if eaten in moderation. And while my focus wasn’t about losing weight, I’m thrilled I did and plan to continue down this path after I lose my last 6 pounds. To keep it off, I obviously can’t return to former eating patterns that caused the problems, right? Permanent change = permanent results.

To shed some light on where I’ve been, for the first time in 10 years I believe I can reach my former weight prior to the ‘great explosion’ that took place between 2001 and 2004. I gained close to 80 pounds in 3.5 years. No lie. And just 5 short years ago, at the peak of feeling hopeless and accepting this was my new life, I never would’ve believed it was possible to lose – not all of it. Not for one second. Seriously.

Interesting enough, I didn’t follow an organized diet and for the first time in years, the weight just fell off. Moved, stressful job, no time to go out to eat, and when home I wanted to relax, not run out and pick up food. So I naturally fell into a very similar lifestyle as Paleo, cutting a load of carbs, all fast foods, and alcohol from my diet. I actually started craving fruits and veggies and ate a lot of chicken and fish (prior to grass-fed, loved Sam’s giant bag of fish and chicken!) Which reminds me, although grass-fed and organic are better for you, it’s not a requirement to gain better health. Any change you make to return to a simpler way of eating will make you healthier.

Yes, simple really works :)

Now that the 30 days are over, I can start reintroducing foods back into my diet. I plan on having a Feb Eats page but just to capture new foods being introduced rather than every meal. This will help track and monitor reactions, especially gluten, which can take more than 7 days to detect. Mine may be a bit tricky since I believe it jacks with my hormones and I won’t know immediately since women’s hormones change throughout the month. My rashes are believed to be progesterone related which is in the system 2 weeks during a normal month. I’m usually out of balance and experience multiple cycles a month. Blech. I really hope those days are behind me.

Here’s to successful testing and better health!

I didn’t understand dietary intolerance reactions until this past year. I thought they were limited to the more widely known reactions like swelling air passages, a runny nose or rashes. A dietary intolerance can also cause acid reflux, fatigue, irritability, bloating, insomnia, water retention, irregular cycles, constipation, hormone imbalances, cramping, depression, frequent urination and anxiety to name a few. Crazy when you think about it! Especially when you think of all the prescriptions and OTC drugs taken daily to combat these reactions.

But you know what, it’s not that crazy if you REALLY think about it. When you consider the reaction a diabetic experiences when they eat a sugar/carb laden meal compared to someone without diabetes, you can reasonably understand the connection between food and our human physiology.

In short, what we eat matters.

Human physiology and its history is fascinating. For example, one’s ability or inability to tolerate lactose can stem from their ancestral lineage. Continuing that line of thought, when you consider our ancestors (the ones Darwin spoke of), they ate a very clean diet as hunters and gatherers for thousands and thousands of years. Sugar was almost nonexistent, grains and legumes were nonexistent, and prepackaged fake foods weren’t even fathomed.

Flash forward to the western diet… and ummm, when did we evolve to McDonalds as a core nutritional source? I would think the lactose intolerant cultures would’ve evolved to tolerate milk first? But what do I know? It’s mere coincidence as other cultures are introduced to the western diet their heart attacks, cancer and disease go up. The FDA would never approve unhealthy foods for consumption and their food pyramid is spot on.

But I’m confused. Aren’t disease and obesity at an all time high?

Food science is a very young, emerging field. Even if you review what we’ve been fed in our lifetime, you’ll see numerous contraindications as scientists learn more. The best thing you can do for yourself is dedicate 30 days to discovering which foods are fueling you and which are causing you unnecessary challenges. Chances are much of what has been accepted as age, normal, bad genes, or fate can be corrected.

I’m not one to toot about anything for fear of steering someone wrong. But the positive changes I’ve felt over the past 23 days are undeniable and I can’t help but share it. I also understand, like me, people will hear it and incorporate change when they’re ready to. I’ve talked to several about the Paleo plan and I’ve heard, “O.M.G. I could never follow it for 30 days” and “How do you not eat pasta?” But what it boils down to is priorities.

Is eating the item that causes a dietary intolerance worth the “experience” afterwards that lasts for hours or even days?

That is nobody’s business but yours. But please be careful and pay attention to the intolerance over time. More than likely it will fester as you age, getting worse or even blossoming in new areas. While the plan I’m following may not work for you, make sure you find one that eliminates the most common allergens, supports your body’s nutritional needs, and is something you can follow. If it turns out I’m not allergic to any soy, gluten, grains, legumes, dairy, caffeine or chemicals in processed foods, I’ll try eliminating a few irritants I’m eating now like the nightshade family. Although I”m pretty certain it’s a gluten sensitivity.

Isn’t food amazing? Until recently, I thought Nightshade was just a comic book character!

I think I discovered the source of my munchies, well here’s hoping anyway!

Puzzled beyond belief, and feeling a bit guilty I ate to point of being stuffed, I pondered the events of the past few days. Mostly focusing on mood, stress then diet – had something I ate thrown my system out of balance? I went from feeling great to mediocre in a period of days. Not huge, I can control cravings like sugar (which is easier now than in the past), but I’ve felt like a bottomless pit.

After combing through the foods I’ve eaten over the past 4 to 5 days, I was at a loss and feeling frustrated (on top of feeling stuffed, not a good tri-fecta!) And that’s when the obvious hit me (finally!) – as I was reaching for my new herbal sleep helpers, it occurred to me, what other benefits do these lovely herbs provide? Googled and sure enough, can be used to stimulate the appetite.

Ugh! But amazing how much power is in mother nature’s bounty.

Now I’m back to square one. Melatonin alone only helps me fall asleep, I’ve even tried extended release, and zippo. What had been working was taking 30mgs of melatonin with 2 Advil PM. Could sleep for about 4 hours, even if I woke up once or twice. But after reading how ibuprofen damages the stomach, especially extended use and I’ve been using for years, decided it was time to try something else. Really wish chamomile tea helped, and I have Ambien when desperate, but would appreciate some ideas.

Elevator version, don’t take anything for granted and read labels before introducing new items to your diet. Even herbal teas may have appetite stimulants. Go figure!

Scanning some of the blogs I follow I came across a Huffington Post article that makes you stop and think about how our diets have changed. The intro starts strong but worth the read. Here’s the intro…

The slow insidious displacement of home cooked and communally shared family meals by the industrial food system has fattened our nation and weakened our family ties. In 1900, 2 percent of meals were eaten outside the home. In 2010, 50 percent were eaten away from home and one in five breakfasts is from McDonald’s. Most family meals happen about three times a week, last less than 20 minutes and are spent watching television or texting while each family member eats a different microwaved “food.” More meals are eaten in the minivan than the kitchen.

Speaking of food, after dinner I had some of the dried kale I made yesterday, very crispy and satisfying. It amazes me, just 2 weeks ago that would’ve never crossed my mind. Ever. And while looking for other ways to prepare kale, I came across this gem. Looking forward to giving this recipe a go soon. On a side note, an enjoyable aspect of this plan has been incorporating more raw foods.

Adopting the paleo diet hasn’t been difficult, although I’ve been eating less gluten, grain and processed foods since last year’s fast. With some imagination, I believe most can adapt easily to basic paleo. The Whole30 challenge is just that, a challenge, so it’s more restricted. Plus the science behind it is interesting and makes sense too. I’ll share some of the information I learned at Saturday’s class soon.

After following for 10 days, I’ve noticed an improvement in energy and overall sense of wellbeing. Similar to a fog being lifted. Everything seems a wee bit brighter. I’m not as stressed or irritable in spite of limited sleep, and oddly I have a bit more confidence. It will be interesting to look back after 30 days and determine if I’m a honeymoon phase of sorts.

Here’s another reason to forgo prepackaged foods of any kind. The “mystery” surrounding America’s declining health is a mystery in itself. The preservatives, chemicals, pesticides, injected hormones, high fructose corn syrup, stripped nutrition, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), etc. really leaves the brain trust scratching their heads? Scary.

I’m glad to see clean eating making headway though. I hope and pray my loved and cherished get interested!

Big celebration time!

Seven days strong and honestly feel much better than I have on calorie restricted diets, prepackaged diets or just daily eating. It really is amazing and I’m shocked the temptations I gave into during past efforts have not been a challenge! I credit this to NO high/low energy periods, NO cravings, NO feeling of deprivation and NO calorie counting!

Limitations: I have been invited to happy hours or get togethers and have kindly passed. I don’t feel like I missed a life event, there will be future get togethers after I’ve made it through this critical elimination period. I’m feeling so great on this, and my high hopes for identifying foods that work against me, keeps me motivated. This has been much easier than last year when I eliminated animal products (meat, dairy, eggs, etc), gluten, caffeine and sugar for 30 days.

Changes I’ve noticed:
> Bloating is gone!
> Water retention is gone! First few days restroom visits had me a bit concerned!
> Clothes are getting much loser too!
> Skin discoloration looking better! (Years of rashes must be healing!)
> Stomach & chest hives pretty much nonexistent. Still have slight discoloration from the previous times, but getting better. Confirms for me the reoccurring hives are dietary. My big hope is after I figure out which food(s) trigger the regular hives, it may help with autoimmune rashes too. Time will tell.

Discoveries:
> Yacons! Via the local farmers co-op.
> Benefits of coconut! I’ve read about it through the last year but finally acting on it. Very tasty staple to diet.
> Kale & sweet potato chips! These are so yummy I bought a dehydrator to make my own.
> Biggie: I’ve learned I can live without processed sugars, flours, white potatoes, majority of grains, and legumes. With all the alternative flours available (coconut flour, almond flour, etc) not too difficult to avoid and locations are starting to serve gluten free / sugar free goodness when out and about.

Note, I do miss black beans, oats and brown rice. If i have no reaction to these, I’ll likely eat them again but sprouted.

If you’re interested in learning about a topic, underlined items are links to more information.

Helpful strategies: My eats tracking keeps me accountable. I made a commitment, if I eat it I post it, and will do that for every bite taken over next 30 days. In the past I’d give into boredom eating but now I think first because I don’t want to post it! Plus this blog, meal planning, and research are more rewarding.

Won’t lie, it’s a bit pricey to get started. But after you get the staples you’ll use, the grocery bill gets lower. Especially for me, I ate out 3 or 4 days a week and visited Starbucks daily.

I hope many more give this or a version of it a try! It really is worth it!

Today was the first day I really had to fight off the sugar/bread demon. Sword, best grrrrrrr face, and all. But I won!

Long fought battle too, approx 3 hours. Glad I can say the thoughts are no longer overriding my thinking and saliva glands are resting peacefully. It was a close call.

I once read, many moons ago, dill pickles help with cravings. So I ate an organic, fermented, spicy dill pickle and focused on how happy my gut would be with my decision. An hour or so later, the demon tripped my willpower and it started up again, so I ate a tiny little clementine. Within 30 mins, all was right side up again.

What helped was reviewing why I’m doing this, why this time of the year is the best time to do it, and how much better I’ll feel after I know which foods ruffles up my system. At the very least, I need to rule out known problematic groups like grains, soy and dairy.

Tracking your progress in this format really works. You should give it a try! Easily accessible when you need a little umph to keep you on track. Not to mention the little thought way back of your mind… you may be having a positive influence on a treasured friend :) xo

Energy! My energy level has been great, so great, I actually woke up early and thought, what the heck? and did 20 minutes of exercise! I really thought (feared) I would have to drag myself kicking and screaming for a simple walk around the block. I even prepared an out that I’d start moving more next week, I had plenty of changes going on this week but… Ha! No excuses needed.

I’m pretty excited!

Which reminds me, it’s important to stop and celebrate all accomplishments – they are after all improvements over yesterday, last week, and definitely last month!

And while I have longterm goals of where I want to be in 6 months, I’m still focused on the present. It’s easy to get too far ahead of ourselves mentally and lose focus on the now. My present celebrations are …

– I’m on plan for 4 days (yay!)
– Have actually cooked and prepared meals ea day (major wow!)
– I’m 3 days ahead of my move schedule (go me!)
– Plus my meals are planned for the next 48 hrs! (phfew!)

Take aways – Celebrate each accomplishment as they happen. Don’t rob yourself of the moment by comparing it to how far you are from goal. Remember even the tiniest bit of progress is HUGE because even baby steps are a step forward!

Day 2 is a wrap!

But, it looks like I had an oops. After re-reading the Whole30, it may require a protein and fat with each meal. I don’t think it’s huge I missed each with my evening snack, but will find out tomorrow.

Well, after some thought, it makes sense to include so the digestion is slow and steady to avoid spikes of any kind. None the less, yay progress! First two days weren’t bad and my headache is only slight.

The work week will be challenging. The majority of the past 3 years I’ve spent an average of 3-4 days a week intermittent fasting. I didn’t realize it had a name until I started researching foods, eating cleaner and their effects on the body.

The upside, I rarely lost energy during the day and I lost weight at a slow and steady pace. I also allowed one splurge meal a week. To clarify, it wasn’t a total fast, Mon-Fri I had an iced coffee with a splash of half & half and sugar free vanilla. Then maybe 6 to 8 almonds during the day if hungry, followed by dinner whenever I got home. Oddly enough, rarely had cavings or felt starving until about 6p or 7p.

In hindsight, I was pretty zonked after eating. Maybe because I wasn’t eating with purpose. Usually dinner was somewhat balanced, a healthy salad with chicken but followed by random munchies, ice cream or candy. And every Friday’s dinner was a free for all. That lasted about 2 years, then the free for all extended to 24 hrs. This past six months, it’s increased from 24 hours through when my head hits the pillow Sunday!

The result? I’ve gained a few pounds and motivation to move has tanked. Eh’hm. Yah. Not too bright. Another thing I’ve noticed, once I’m off the wagon its near impossible getting the monster back in check.

I’m really sick of fighting that little bastard.

Here’s what I have to do to give my body a chance to talk to me. Need to grab breakfast and eat lunch, even if small. Which means I need to start planning to avoid giving myself an out with excuses.

Next, need to plan ways to get moving…

First day of the new year and start of the Whole30!

Compared to the 30 day elimination plan I did last year, I believe this may be a bit easier since meat and eggs are on the menu. It’s essentially a strict version of the Paleo/omnivorous way of eating. And regardless if it becomes a way of life after 30 days, its a great way to figure out what works with your body and what may hinder it. Give it a go and find out for yourself.

So here’s what can be eaten:
- Fish, Chicken (try pasture raised), Beef (grass fed), limited Pork (farm raised if possible)
- Eggs, veggies (no corn or white potatoes), veggies, oh and – veggies!
- Fruits in moderation, nuts (no peanuts), tea, black coffee, and healthy oils

In other words, no soy, dairy, alcohol, grains (no rice, oats, wheat, barley, etc), no legumes, sugar, processed or packaged foods. I’m also opting out of caffeine for 30 *sniffles*. I have found caffeine to be my friend and haven’t experienced the negatives as described, but we’ll see when I re-introduce it.

Here’s a good shopping list from the robbwolf site. On a side note, stick to whole, natural foods during the first 30 days even though things like pretend noodles and stevia are listed.

You can make the next 30 days multi-purposed if your goals include losing weight in addition to discovering the best foods to fuel your body. Moderate dressings, nuts and oil intake. Not necessarily count calories, just eat consciously.

Because the desired outcome is to listen to your body, you cannot weight yourself for 30 days. If you feel like you’re eating too much, eat less. If you feel light headed or like you’re losing too fast, eat more. Simple. Find your balance naturally.

As difficult as it sounds it gets easier, especially after the sugar cravings pass. Try to limit fruit to one per day during the 30 day elimination period. It helps with understanding your body’s reaction when various forms of sugar are re-introduced.

Last year I followed the above except I ate rice and beans and eliminated gluten and all animal products for 30 days. The item I missed the most took me by surprise. As the 30 days came to a close, I couldn’t stop thinking about cheese! Introducing it back to my diet only made me feel better! (phfew!) I felt pretty rundown the 30 days I didn’t eat animal products.

Likely, the most difficult instances are going to be eating with others. Once you learn how to say, no thank you, without guilt when offered eliminated food or drinks at social occasions, you’ll be on your way to reap the rewards of success. Remember, you’re in control! Its only for 30 days. Get tough!

Ordering out will be easier than you think if you prepare, especially during this time of year when everyone is trying something to better their health. Most restaurants can accommodate special dietary requests. You can call ahead, google the menu, or advise the waiter you need a meal that’s dairy, gluten and sugar free. Preferably meat and veggies prepared in olive oil. If getting a salad, ask for olive oil and flavored vinegar and/or lemons on the side and mix yourself. Just one slip will undo everything eliminated to date.

After 30 days the education really begins. Introduce one food back into your diet every 7 days and pay attention to changes… sluggish, wired, achy, bloated? Most likely a food sensitivity, although sugar and processed foods should be nonexistent from what I’ve read even if no side effect is noticed.

For more information, visit Whole30 at the link above. If you’d rather try a vegan type elimination, I can forward links to great resources. Remember, not any one plan works for everyone and it’s important to do what works for you. And understand no matter how many positive things you read about an item, you’ll find just as many negative. It’s about trial and error, listening to what your body tells you and self-discovery. You know your body better than anyone!

Cheers!! Here’s to a successful 30 days! We can do it!!