What I ate -
Breakfast (4 pts):
1 egg, fried in olive oil
baked butternut squash with cinnamon (I baked it last night.)
Green tea w/soymilk
Mid-morning snack (2):
plain, homemade yogurt
Lunch (5):
homemade chicken soup
Green tea w/soymilk
Afternoon snack (5):
flaxseed crackers with almond butter
dandelion tea w/soymilk
Supper (12):
Turkey patties
salad w/olive oil and lemon juice dressing
1/2 avocado
Total pts = 28
How I felt -
Crappy. It's sugar withdrawal symptoms. It takes about 3 days for sugar to get out of your system. The last time I gave up all sugars, I felt like I had the flu for 3 days. This time, it's not as bad but I did have a headache and nausea all day. I can tell you from experience that the first 3 days of giving up sugar is the worst. If you can make it 3 days, then it becomes a lot easier. You feel better and you won't have cravings.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Day 1
Today is my first day of being back on my diet of no grains or sugars. (No fructose or lactose either.) My weight today was 178 pounds. (Blerg. Up from 165 in June. :P) I hope to track my success with my blog. Plus, for those of you out there that want to try it, you can use my meal ideas. (*Note: I was on Weight Watchers for years so I still add up points in my head when I do this diet. The points listed are my estimates. Nothing official or anything.)
Breakfast (I estimate about 8 Weight Watchers points):
Shake:
1/4 cup almond milk
1/4 cup coconut milk
1 T rice protein powder (The starch has been removed and the protein extracted. You can find it at health food stores. Whey protein would be an alternative.)
2 T flax seeds, ground (I grind them in my coffee grinder.)
1 T cocoa nibs, ground
about 1 t of chopped fresh ginger (this makes you almost feel like there's some kind of fruitiness to it.)
1 T almond butter (I can tolerate small amounts of nut butters, but not nuts themselves. Strange.)
Blend with a splash of water and ice in a blender.
Mid-Morning Snack (I estimate about 1 Weight Watchers point):
4 sauteed shrimp with lemon pepper and parsley (I got them pre-prepared at Whole Foods, then froze them in tiny, individual tupperwares so they're ready to go. If you can tolerate nuts, I say eat nuts as a snack! They travel well.)
Lunch (I estimate about 8 Weight Watchers points):
Salad with arugula (rocket), 2 slices of turkey, 1/2 avocado, roasted red peppers, kalamata olives (vinegar-free), palm hearts, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt.
Green tea
Afternoon Snack (I estimate about 3 Weight Watchers points):
1 hard boiled egg
2 T black bean dip
celery sticks
Dandelion Tea
Supper (about 5 points):
baked fish (cod)
steamed broccoli
artichoke leaves
olive oil dip: with lemon, parsely, oregano, salt, and garlic
Total points = 25
So far, so good! :-)
Breakfast (I estimate about 8 Weight Watchers points):
Shake:
1/4 cup almond milk
1/4 cup coconut milk
1 T rice protein powder (The starch has been removed and the protein extracted. You can find it at health food stores. Whey protein would be an alternative.)
2 T flax seeds, ground (I grind them in my coffee grinder.)
1 T cocoa nibs, ground
about 1 t of chopped fresh ginger (this makes you almost feel like there's some kind of fruitiness to it.)
1 T almond butter (I can tolerate small amounts of nut butters, but not nuts themselves. Strange.)
Blend with a splash of water and ice in a blender.
Mid-Morning Snack (I estimate about 1 Weight Watchers point):
4 sauteed shrimp with lemon pepper and parsley (I got them pre-prepared at Whole Foods, then froze them in tiny, individual tupperwares so they're ready to go. If you can tolerate nuts, I say eat nuts as a snack! They travel well.)
Lunch (I estimate about 8 Weight Watchers points):
Salad with arugula (rocket), 2 slices of turkey, 1/2 avocado, roasted red peppers, kalamata olives (vinegar-free), palm hearts, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt.
Green tea
Afternoon Snack (I estimate about 3 Weight Watchers points):
1 hard boiled egg
2 T black bean dip
celery sticks
Dandelion Tea
Supper (about 5 points):
baked fish (cod)
steamed broccoli
artichoke leaves
olive oil dip: with lemon, parsely, oregano, salt, and garlic
Total points = 25
So far, so good! :-)
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Getting back on the wagon with chicken soup
Everybody is different, but I cannot lose weight as long as I eat sugar and grains. Even if I consume very few calories. (crazy, right?) It was almost a year ago that I went on a modified Candida Diet and lost 30 pounds. I ate mostly meat and veggies. No fruit, vinegar, or sugar, and very limited starches. (Like 1/2 cup of rice per day at the most.) This week, I'm getting back with the program. To kick start it all off, I'm going to eat NO grains at all. Then, I'll add 1/2 of rice per day next week. I will post what I eat every day just to prove it can be done. To add a further challenge, I must avoid nuts because I have discovered that they make my migraines worse. (There goes my favorite snack food!)
Today being Sunday, I thought I'd make a big pot of chicken soup for lunches this week. It's a good, filling, yet healthy meal that you can make and freeze in individual tupperwares. Just as convenient as a processed TV dinner, but way more delicious and healthy! Here's how I make it:
Chicken Soup
Ingredients:
whatever chicken parts you want (I use 2 legs and 2 thighs b/c I think it makes a better-tasting soup)
1 or 2 carrots, sliced
1 or 2 celery ribs, sliced
1 onion, chopped
1 bay leaf
thyme to taste
salt to taste
here's the cool part: You know those veggies that you have in your fridge that are about to go bad? The ones you bought with every intention of eating them but it just didn't happen? Chuck 'em in the soup!
Directions:
Put everything in a big pot. Pour enough water in to cover. Simmer for 1 hour over medium heat. Cool, strain, then cut the chicken off the bone into bite-sized chucks. Remove bay leaf.
It's nice to have this soup on hand for a quick meal or snack when you need it.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
A Big Hug for Parent Wannabes
This week, I started fertility treatments again. I was doing them about 2 years ago, but took a year-long hiatus from it. I had gotten to the point where the mere thought of going into the doctor's office turned me into an emotional wreck. Since then, I have lost some weight and have gotten healthier so I thought it was worth another shot. For those in the know, I am trying IUIs with injectibles. This is not nearly as invasive as IVF. I'm not that hopeful since it didn't work the last time, but I'm a little scared of IVF. This IUI cycle is my last try before I resign myself to the full whack of in-vitro.
Yesterday morning, I went in super early (7:00am!) for the fertility doctors visit and saw other couples there. They looked young and healthy and anxious. I just wanted to give them all a big hug and say, "I TOTALLY know what you're going through". So----here's a big, virtual hug to all the infertile couples out there. I totally know what you're going through.
I know that with every year that goes past, you get more and more anxious about that ticking clock.
I know that while you paste on a smile when others tell you they're pregnant, you just can't be truly happy for them. No matter how much you might want to be.
I know that each mother's day that goes past gets more and more difficult to bear.
I know that when you see terrible parents, you just want to shake them.
I know that you want to scream at God and shout "why?" when yet another teenager gets pregnant even though they were on birth control.
I know that you lose all hope as your friends' children get older and older. You had wanted your children to grow up with them.
I know that it's another slap in the face when you try for adoption and realize that it's even more difficult and expensive and takes years longer than you ever imagined.
I know that the worst thought is, "what if I go through all of the procedures known to man and it doesn't work?" What if I never get to have children?
I know. I wish I could tell you that it's going to be okay. For now though, all I can offer is a big hug and lots of understanding. Most people have no idea.
Yesterday morning, I went in super early (7:00am!) for the fertility doctors visit and saw other couples there. They looked young and healthy and anxious. I just wanted to give them all a big hug and say, "I TOTALLY know what you're going through". So----here's a big, virtual hug to all the infertile couples out there. I totally know what you're going through.
I know that with every year that goes past, you get more and more anxious about that ticking clock.
I know that while you paste on a smile when others tell you they're pregnant, you just can't be truly happy for them. No matter how much you might want to be.
I know that each mother's day that goes past gets more and more difficult to bear.
I know that when you see terrible parents, you just want to shake them.
I know that you want to scream at God and shout "why?" when yet another teenager gets pregnant even though they were on birth control.
I know that you lose all hope as your friends' children get older and older. You had wanted your children to grow up with them.
I know that it's another slap in the face when you try for adoption and realize that it's even more difficult and expensive and takes years longer than you ever imagined.
I know that the worst thought is, "what if I go through all of the procedures known to man and it doesn't work?" What if I never get to have children?
I know. I wish I could tell you that it's going to be okay. For now though, all I can offer is a big hug and lots of understanding. Most people have no idea.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
A Good Snack to Have on Hand
In her book The Gut Flush Plan, author Ann Louise Gittleman includes several recipes. I made this Tangy Tapenade yesterday and find that it is a delicious, nutritious snack! It's great to have this in the fridge, along with some cut veggies, to help when you have the munchies.
Ann Louise's Tangy Tapenade
Serve this delicious and flavorful blend on grilled poultry, fish, or a burger, and, of course, with raw or steamed veggies.
2 T pitted black olives
2 T green olives with pimentos
2 T drained capers
1/4 cup walnuts
1/2 cup fresh basil
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1/2 cup flaxseed oil
3 T fresh lemon juice
salt and cayenne pepper, to taste
Combine all ingredients in a food processor or electric blender, and pulse lightly to blend. Do not puree. Transfer to a container with lid and refrigerate until serving time. Store leftover tapenade in a covered container in the refrigerator.
Makes 1 cup or 4 1/4 cup servings.
I cut up some celery, carrots, zucchini, daikon radish, and bell peppers to dip in the tapenade. Yum! I have it all in the fridge, ready to grab when I get hungry. Also, I made a salad dressing by mixing a spoonful of the tapenade in some olive oil, and adding more lemon juice. It came out great!
Ann Louise's Tangy Tapenade
Serve this delicious and flavorful blend on grilled poultry, fish, or a burger, and, of course, with raw or steamed veggies.
2 T pitted black olives
2 T green olives with pimentos
2 T drained capers
1/4 cup walnuts
1/2 cup fresh basil
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1/2 cup flaxseed oil
3 T fresh lemon juice
salt and cayenne pepper, to taste
Combine all ingredients in a food processor or electric blender, and pulse lightly to blend. Do not puree. Transfer to a container with lid and refrigerate until serving time. Store leftover tapenade in a covered container in the refrigerator.
Makes 1 cup or 4 1/4 cup servings.
I cut up some celery, carrots, zucchini, daikon radish, and bell peppers to dip in the tapenade. Yum! I have it all in the fridge, ready to grab when I get hungry. Also, I made a salad dressing by mixing a spoonful of the tapenade in some olive oil, and adding more lemon juice. It came out great!
Detoxing
After a month of traveling (during which I totally strayed from my diet), I felt the need to get back to healthy eating. I just feel better when I stick to my diet. Detoxing can give you a kick-start in the right direction and rid your system of all the bad things you've ingested. They say that if the digestive system is polluted, then it will pollute your bloodstream, and indirectly, your whole body. Cleansing your digestive system if one of the best things you can do for your health.
To this end, I have found the book The Gut Flush Plan by Ann Louis Gittleman very helpful. (It's not quite what it sounds like. This is the same author as The Fat Flush Plan.) This book suggests many of the same things I'm already doing. (giving up wheat and dairy, taking fish oil and probiotics, etc.) It kind of validated everything in my mind. She outlines a 3-week cleansing diet, which I have been following. (more or less) I'm in week two, but I did cheat and have cheese fries with a friend one day. :-( Oh well....more to cleanse, right?
Week 1 = fortifying - before the detox part, it helps your body if you fortify first. This will make it less jarring to your system. Dr. Gittleman suggests eating probiotic foods, healthy oils, drinking teas like honeybush and dandelion root, etc.
Week 2 = flush - clearing out all the bad things in your gut.
Week 3 = feed - feeding the good bacteria in your gut and starving all the bad bacteria will ensure good health in the future.
If you suffer from the following, this book can help you: bloating, gas, irregularity, recurring diarrhea, IBS, food allergies, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, depression, Hypoglycemia, constant headaches
I especially liked chapter 14 - "Gut Flush at Home" because she tells you how to cleanse your home so that it can support your health. She tells you how to get rid of mold, bacteria, parasites, and other dangerous things that could be lurking in your home. Good to know!
To this end, I have found the book The Gut Flush Plan by Ann Louis Gittleman very helpful. (It's not quite what it sounds like. This is the same author as The Fat Flush Plan.) This book suggests many of the same things I'm already doing. (giving up wheat and dairy, taking fish oil and probiotics, etc.) It kind of validated everything in my mind. She outlines a 3-week cleansing diet, which I have been following. (more or less) I'm in week two, but I did cheat and have cheese fries with a friend one day. :-( Oh well....more to cleanse, right?
Week 1 = fortifying - before the detox part, it helps your body if you fortify first. This will make it less jarring to your system. Dr. Gittleman suggests eating probiotic foods, healthy oils, drinking teas like honeybush and dandelion root, etc.
Week 2 = flush - clearing out all the bad things in your gut.
Week 3 = feed - feeding the good bacteria in your gut and starving all the bad bacteria will ensure good health in the future.
If you suffer from the following, this book can help you: bloating, gas, irregularity, recurring diarrhea, IBS, food allergies, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, depression, Hypoglycemia, constant headaches
I especially liked chapter 14 - "Gut Flush at Home" because she tells you how to cleanse your home so that it can support your health. She tells you how to get rid of mold, bacteria, parasites, and other dangerous things that could be lurking in your home. Good to know!
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Green Cleaning
I have been thinking about green cleaning products lately. There are several that I use now, but I don't really know what I'm doing and I haven't been using them consistently. They say that regular cleaning products can make the air in your house more toxic to breathe than outside air! I know I feel sick when I use certain products. Anyway, I was excited to find this post about how to create your own green cleaners and how to use them. I want to pass this info on! If you are like me, this will help shed some light on the situation:
This post tells you how to make your own cleaning solutions out of natural things like vinegar, borax, club soda, corn meal, lemon juice, baking soda, etc. Not only are these things healthier for you and your environment, they are cheaper than the cleaners you have been buying. It's win-win!
I especially like their advice on how to clean carpets:
"Carpet cleaner: To clean and disinfect your carpet, the CHEC recommends blending 1/2 cup baking soda, 1 cup borax, and 1 cup cornmeal. Sprinkle mixture over rug and rub with a cloth. Let rest for several hours or overnight, then vacuum. To remove stains from your carpet, Logan advises mixing 1/4 cup liquid castile soap and 1/3 cup water in a blender until foamy. Spread the mixture on the carpet and let sit for a few minutes, then scrub the stain with a brush or clean rag. Also, club soda will remove many acidic stains, like coffee, wine, or juice. To deal with big carpet spills, pour cornmeal on the spill, wait 15 minutes, then vacuum."
I'm going to try this today and I'll let you know how it works. Has anyone out there had experience with natural cleaning solutions and methods? I'd love to hear about any other good tips out there.
This post tells you how to make your own cleaning solutions out of natural things like vinegar, borax, club soda, corn meal, lemon juice, baking soda, etc. Not only are these things healthier for you and your environment, they are cheaper than the cleaners you have been buying. It's win-win!
I especially like their advice on how to clean carpets:
"Carpet cleaner: To clean and disinfect your carpet, the CHEC recommends blending 1/2 cup baking soda, 1 cup borax, and 1 cup cornmeal. Sprinkle mixture over rug and rub with a cloth. Let rest for several hours or overnight, then vacuum. To remove stains from your carpet, Logan advises mixing 1/4 cup liquid castile soap and 1/3 cup water in a blender until foamy. Spread the mixture on the carpet and let sit for a few minutes, then scrub the stain with a brush or clean rag. Also, club soda will remove many acidic stains, like coffee, wine, or juice. To deal with big carpet spills, pour cornmeal on the spill, wait 15 minutes, then vacuum."
I'm going to try this today and I'll let you know how it works. Has anyone out there had experience with natural cleaning solutions and methods? I'd love to hear about any other good tips out there.
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