Making a Comeback…

I never thought this blog would help anyone, ever. I thought it would be a funny way to keep my family updated and interact with some other Celiacs. Recently, I’ve been getting messages and I’ve noticed people are actually reading this. SO COOL! It’s inspired me to start sharing again.

Blogging is tough for me. It’s a commitment and life can be so crazy.  It helps knowing someone actually likes hearing what you have to say.  It’s been over a year since I have written anything. So here goes….

It’s been one hell of a year.  I started and completed a full time program and am now a registered Health Care Assistant. I moved.  I adopted a third cat. The list goes on.  I did not meet my goal.  I got distracted by stress and stress eating.  I drank too much wine and had too much fun. C’est le vie.  I also just turned 30.  This is the year I turn it around and I have already started.  I really just want to make healthy life choices.  Diets are not working for me.  Gyms do not work for me.  Walking the dog does. Making conscious choices about food will work for me.  I just have to stop and pay attention to my body.  It’s screaming about what it needs, I just need to quiet down long enough to hear it. It wants veggies and fruit and whole grains.  It wants to be healthy.  It’s incredible to hear your body talk.  I had never really heard it before becoming sick. There may be a link there….

Worst Blogger ever.

I’m terrible at committing to a  blog.  I really don’t know why.  Maybe it’s that wretched Facebook always being so all consuming? Who knows.

Status update:  I have Celiac, IBS (irritable Bowel Syndrome), and Hypothyroid Disease.  I have no known food allergies to date.  I am also sensitive to soy and dairy.

It’s been many months of experimenting and  learning.  First, I think I have figured out that if you remove any food from your diet for 1 month of course its gonna cause a reaction when you reintroduce it.  No more crazy no food diets.  I am way happier when I can eat.  I think all the experimental dieting has been a big part of my problem.

New goal: Eat healthy and lose a little weight.  Why?  I would like to be physically stronger, mentally sharper and physically lighter.  With bad knees and an achey body, I am too young to feel this old.  Part of the problem is the extra pressure the extra weight puts on my body.  I struggle with certain activities because I choose to carry the extra weight.  I have a modest goal of 20-25 pounds, to put me nicely in the 170-175 range.

How:  Eat tons of veggies and fruit, lean meats and healthy grains.  Also, I need to remove processed and refined sugars and alcohol from my diet and cut back on dairy.  Ever since I realized I can eat cheese with little to no consequence, cheese became a big player again.

My goal is happy and healthy.

Days 1-4

I’m not a very diligent blogger.  Sorry.  

I have started my anti-inflammatory diet this week.  I started Monday.  Technically making today day 5.  It’s had its ups and its downs so far.  Dinner and sit down meals are super easy.  I’m not having trouble coming up with great meal ideas.  Lots of fresh veggies and wonderfully baked/roasted fall root veggies.  I pretty much live off of root veggies.  I love them! They are sooo good roasted!  Also they aren’t complicated.  I cut up an assortment of root veggies (yam, sweet potatoe, carrots, turnips, parsnips, beets, onion etc.) add seasoning (garlic, cumin, peppercorn), toss in some oil to get them really crisp and then bake at 350 for an hour.  Turns out fabulous every time!  Sometimes when I’m feeling lazy I will do a vegan root mash.  Basically I take all my root veggies and some beans (garbanzo or black work nicely) and bake that all together.  Its delicious and super simple.  Besides cook time it takes about 15-20 mins of prep and clean up is a snap.  I throw everything in one dish!  Dinners are easy.  

Breakfast and lunch have been tough.  Breakfast will be easier when I get a new batch of egg muffins going.  Right now I have failed all over the place.  I’ve had apple cider for breakfast, an apple fritter and some other miscellaneous junk.  Not very good.  Lunch has been non existent.  Which is even worse.  To be fair though, I haven’t worked all week so I do need far less food then I usually eat.  I was also low on groceries.  My SPUD order came yesterday, full of delicious vegetables.  

Tomorrow is going to be a big bake day.  Egg muffins and chicken rice stew!  Yum!

Last time I had did a anti-inflammatory diet, I failed.  I got to the 30 day mark and had a free for all.  I ruined all my work and didn’t look back.  I was extremely hard myself the first time around.  It sucked.  I hated the diet and I hated food.  This time I intend to be far more forgiving.  For instance, I have not quit processed food cold turkey.  I don’t plan to either.  I have quit Soy, peanuts, nightshades and dairy cold turkey.  But there are a lot of other choices that can be made.  Giving up Daiya is much harder.  I have cut back dramatically.  I also switched from Miracle Whip to Veganiase.  Veganaise is much better for me and there’s no soy.  I switch from Vegan Becel to Soy Free Earth Balance.  I have cut way back on my sugar and alcohol intake.  I will be drinking moderately over the holidays.  I will have a few sweets over the holidays too.  Christmas is probably the worst time to start a new diet for any reason.  

My goal is to do my best and then slowly become more strict.  My eventual goal is to cut out all refined sugar, very limited alcohol consumption and little to no processed foods.  I think this will take me about 3 months to accomplish.  

Wish me luck!

 

TMI

I labeled this post TMI as it may be hard for some people to read this much detail. However, for me it was a case of not enough information. I am hoping that this information will prevent someone else being quite so uncomfortable… At least publicly.

The next step in my process is a colonoscopy. That fun went down on Friday.

After having a enteroscopy last year I wasn’t as scared. I felt more prepared for the actual procedure. Which I was absolutely correct in assuming. The procedure this time was smooth and easy. I felt no discomfort or pain. I was a little groggy this time around but again t wore off quickly.

What didn’t go so great? The Gastric Lavage or bowel prep. Basically, it’s a super laxative called Bi PegLyte. It’s sucks. It’s super gross, both to consume and what it does to you. It also lasts way longer then it says it does. The long lasting effects were the only thing I wasn’t prepared for. Also, you maybe be told that you don’t need to take time off work! Ha! As log as you don’t mind practically pooping your pants at work you’re fine to head in!

I took 2 days off. I took a day for ‘prep’ and the day of the procedure off. Honestly, it was minimum.

I work shift work. Often I work nights. Had I worked past noon, when you take the tablets, I would have had the most embarrassing work experience. The tablets start quite the racket in my belly, a little discomfort and a bowel movement. Luckily the tablets are just uncomfortable, your body is still under control. The liquid/fruit flavored water nastiness is the next step. Two liters of this laxative juice must be consumed 6 hours after taking the tablets. DO NOT leave your home during this process! Not even for a minute. Essentially, you just drank flu juice. My guts and bowel were convinced I had the flu. Were pajamas or sweats, something easily and quickly removed. Your body/bowels are no longer controllable. It’s not fun. The racket quickly moved into a loud rumble, it made me feel quite queasy. I spent far more then the 1-2 hours as suggested on the toilet. Make sure you have a full roll. I ended up being ‘sick’ all day Friday and am still feeling less then 100% on Saturday.

I wish I had been told this. I almost took a shift Friday night. Thinking ‘hey, last time was easy’. This is a different beast. Also while waiting in the IV room I overheard 2 other people stating that the prep kit was still in effect. I am clearly not alone with my experience. I had to learn the hard way.

Little fact, one of the ingredients of this specific product, Bi PegLyte, is lactic acid. In other words milk enzymes. I’m lactose sensitive. I was not made aware as to if there is a lactose free version. I haven’t seen one and one was not offered. I imagine for those severely intolerant that this process will be twice as much fun and a third day off may be a good call.

All in all, the experience was not that bad. It was far more long lasting then expected. I was told to not bother taking time off. I was not told about the havoc that would be wreaked on my gut (queasy and rumbley feeling) which is almost painful. Was it worth it? Definitely. I would never skip being uncomfortable or sick just because it was hard. I always want the answers. I can’t get better with out answers. Even if this is just, ‘Hey, you don’t have Crohns or Colitis’ it was worth it. It was also worth playing safe and losing 2 days of wages. It was a crappy experience (pun intended) but it’s all for a worthy cause.

I should have answers in a few weeks.

Diet time!

No, not a fad diet where I hope to lose 20 pounds in 2 weeks by drinking nothing but lemon flavored sugar water… 

The last time I felt great was when I was on an anti-inflammatory diet.  I felt great, really great.  I had energy, 8 hours of sleep sufficed, I could work and stay awake past 9pm.  It was incredible! Then I got lazy and didn’t make it through the one month detox point and crashed and burned.  It was bad.  

This time will be different.  This time I’m so sick and tired of being sick and tired that I am willing to try anything.  The last time I guess I just wasn’t there yet. I needed to be sick a little longer to really seal it in my head that ‘Hey, this sucks!’.  Well it’s sealed in and I am ready for change. 

My plan is to go back to ordering organic vegetables from SPUD.  Use this Grocery List (as a guideline) and scour the internet for fabulous recipes that I can share.  I really want to find some great slow cooker recipes.  ‘Tis the season for delightfully warm and savoury comfort foods like stews and soups! Yum!

 

 

GF DF Comfort Food Friday!

It’s been a long week for me. I needed some time to just veg out and be alone.  I also needed the perfect food to go along with my mood.  Here I introduce you to some of my favorites!

Mac and Cheese Daiya Style! <— Click for Recipe!
I’ve added Schneider’s Natural Select Ham and some Yves Organic Peas to the mix.  THis used to be one of my favorite meals.  Mac and Cheese is hard to duplicate with out cheese!  Daiya makes that all so much easier.  You can change yours up with all sorts of different vegetables/meat/etc.!

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip Cookies!   <— Click for Recipe!
So simple, so easy, so good!!! Again another favorite of mine.  I always add too many chocolate chips, but again the possibilties are endless. I made a double batch because I like larger cookies.  I also line my cheap, crappy baking sheets with wak paper so the cookies don’t stick.

Don’t forget the Vegan Wine! I’ll be enjoying a glass of Big Red from Pacific Breeze Winery, my favorite winery!

To top it all of I will eat this all to some fabulous 90’s re-runs and puppy cuddles.  Life is good!

The next adventure…. Cheesecake!

 

 

Egg Muffins!

Egg Muffins are my new favourite breakfast!  I love them! So tasty… om nom nom…

I stole the recipe from another blog Paleo Spirit, thanks Paleo Spirit!! The recipe is found here:
http://paleospirit.com/2012/basic-paleo-egg-muffins/

My first go I did 2 types.  One had red peppers, basil, parsley, cilantro, quinoa and Daiya Mozzarella shreds.  The other was a bacon, maple syrup, quinoa and Daiya Cheddar shreds.  Bother were delicious!  This batch was a ground turkey, maple syrup and quinoa mix.  So far my favourite was the Bacon.

I tried these muffins two ways.  The first batch I poured directly into a greased muffin pan.  Clean up was tough and they still stuck a little bit.  The second batch I poured into cupcake liners.  This options is ok.  Clean up was WAY easier but eating is much hard.  They stick to the papers like crazy.  The next batch is going to be done in silicon muffin trays.  I think this might be my magic problem solver.

These muffins are quick and easy, and they make mornings even quicker and easier.  I just remove 2 from the freezer and microwave and enjoy.  I have breakfast in less then 2 minutes.  Also you can change up the recipe any way you want.  I added the quinoa  to stretch my egg batter and to add fibre.  I added the Diaya Cheese shreds(which takes them away from being Paleo friendly) to add flavor and other nutrients.  I have seen these with real cheese, for those of you lucky enough to have the guts to handle real cheese.  I have also seen them where the egg is cracked directly into the muffin pan and the egg is never scrambled.  To each their own.  I like the scrambled version.  I use my soup ladle to spoon my mix into the muffin trays.  It works very nicely.

Hope you got a new recipe or idea out of this!

Happy baking!

 

Day 13

I’m ready to abandon this diet.  I cannot see how this works for anyone.  I’m feeling unhealthy.  You know that icky feeling when you know you haven’t been eating right for the last few days?  Yeah, that’s where I am at.  It hasn’t been totally useless, my gut has stabilized a fair bit, but still some weird random cramps from time to time and some irregularity.  Although its only been 13 days, my body is saying stop this.  However, it IS saying ‘Keep up the efforts’!  

I am reintroducing vegetables into my diet.  Like green veggies, not just potatoes.  I am going to keep with 2 egg muffins (recipe coming!) and a fruit smoothie in the morning.  I am leaving out the daily coffee habit, but will reintroduce herbal tea.  I think that I am going to better off having a well rounded, balanced diet then doing this Nickel free diet.  I am also not convinced that its fully real.  At least not real for me.  I also fully believe you can ‘teach’ your body intolerances.  The last thing I need to be doing is unteaching intolerances, sounds like misery.  If there is one thing that I have learned from being sick it’s ‘Never ignore your body!!’.  Ignoring my body is most likely half of what even got me here in the first place.  So no more of that.  

My new plan of attack, is to eat two thirds fresh fruit and vegetables every day, minimum.  I am going to keep the junk food at bay, as I am an addict.  Keep drinking down to once or twice a month or less.  By drinking I mean casual drinks at home or out with friends and family, not ‘all out black out omg where’s my bra?!’ kinda drunk.  I will also remember to take my vitamins every day – which i have serious trouble remembering.  I am also going to avoid canned food and chocolate.  They are the items that seem to have the highest nickel content.  I almost always react to chocolate too, so might as well cut it out.  

I really feel like this is a far better plan.   

Diet Update

I’m officially Day 10 of my Nickel Free Diet.  It sucks! I’m not a fan.  It’s very limiting, which also means very difficult. Especially when searching for variety and nutrition.  Thankfully, all my vitamins passed the test and are OK for me. YAY!

My diet has been very high in protein the last 10 days.  I try to balance it out with fruit, especially smoothies.  I’m having at least one fruit smoothie a day.  I also make sure to get some grains, mostly rice or quinoa, daily.  So far it’s an OK diet. Not great, but with my vitamins I should be getting everything I need to stay healthy.  Hey, at least I can eat right?

The toughest part, I’m not feeling a significant difference.  I have done elimination diet’s before and when I did the suer healthy, 28 day, super strict detox/elimination part I felt incredible and quite quickly.  Although I do feel better, I haven’t kicked the fatigue, aches,  and brain fog.  My gut and bowel seem to be quite happy (or maybe stable is better) though, which is positive and a great start.  Patience is a virtue and I shall plug along and hope the other symptoms clear up with some more time.  It’s likely that they will.  If they don’t, I don’t think it’s a Nickel thing.  Which just means, back to the drawing board!

I have discovered, or maybe decided to admit, that alcohol is a huge factor in all this.  I am by no means a heavy drinker.  I like a glass or two of wine here and there, or maybe a little cider.  I rarely drink hard alcohol and I only drink Vegan wine.  No, wine is not Vegan, the fining process is usually done with fish scales, gelatin (made from animal bone), eggs or casein.  Casein is a protein found in dairy that my body can’t handle.  With the Nickel detox I have also tried to stay away from liquor.  I have had 2 glasses of cider on 2 occasions now.  The next day there was a noticeable increase in joint aches, fatigue and nasal congestion.  Not overly surprising considering what a hangover does to your body.  But after one maybe 2 glass of cider?  I wasn’t even drunk!

It’s time to commit to an alcohol free life.  I suppose the hardest part will be explaining to everyone at the bar why I’m not drinking and NO I am not pregnant.  I suppose I could just direct them here…

This time, I am going to leave you with some words I like to remember.  They help me.

Be the change you want to see in the world.
– Ghandi 

 

Check out Barnivore for help with Vegan Alcohol, Wines, Spirits and Beers!

Gluten Free Bread

I just tried baking my first loaf of Gluten Free Bread. I tried this recipe:
http://www.hopeskitchen.info/2012/06/best-gluten-free-vegan-bread.html

I failed.  It’s hard, heavy and dense.  It doesn’t taste terrible though.  I’m pretty sure its under mixed and under proofed.  Tomorrow I will try again with these tips:

http://glutenfreeonashoestring.com/top-10-secrets-to-baking-best-gluten-free-bread/

I just had to share those.  I think they are genius.

Tomorrow brings mass baking time 🙂 Wish me luck!