Dairy Update

I was just talking with Rick and he told me that he stopped drinking milk a couple of months ago and his coughing has completely stopped!  You've probably heard him coughing over the past several years--he always sounded like he was going to cough up a lung, and I thought it was the cigarettes.  (He should still quit smoking.)  But interesting that it seems to be brought on by dairy.  And he always loved milk so much.

Adding back Dairy and Soy

I haven't blogged for a while.  During the last week, we added back dairy and soy, and I didn't have any reaction at all.  I was just a little worried about dairy but no symptoms.  I started the day with a little piece of jalapeno jack cheese, had gluten-free mac-n-cheese for lunch, and gluten-free pizza with veggies and cheese for dinner.  Unfortunately, Angel had problems each time she ate dairy throughout the day.

We added soy yesterday and ordered Thai food for dinner--lots of tofu in the curry and other dishes.  Everything was tasty and no reaction. Angel is done, but I'm looking forward to gluten tomorrow! Gonna start the day with cinnamon bread--yum.

First Addition: Corn!

My Lunch Today

Yesterday, after 3 weeks on the elimination diet, we added back CORN.  The first thing I ate in the morning was a corn chip--yummy!  During the day, I had popcorn, corn chips, roasted corn, polenta, and enchiladas made with corn tortillas.  I have had no symptoms whatsoever.  We're back off of everything today and I still feel good.  I'm very glad to find out that I have no reaction.

Salmon Dinner

On Sunday, November 6th, we had a very nice dinner of Salmon, Quinoa, two types of mixed green salad, and a puree of Cauliflower and Parsnips.  We’re eating very well on this diet.  I’m still looking forward to adding some other things back in, though.

Feeling Good!

We're 2-1/2 weeks into the diet and I am finally feeling good.  My cold is almost gone and I think the diet has done some good things for me.  I've got good energy and I feel 'lighter' inside.  I've stopped craving bread, too.  We went out to dinner last night and the bread basket was right in front of me the whole night--I wasn't tempted at all.  I had Seared Ahi Tuna, Quinoa, and Sauted Rapini with Mushrooms.  I asked the chef to saute my vegetables without butter, and no sauce on plate.  It was really good.  The smell of the after-dinner coffee was tempting, but I did fine.  I'm exctied that we're only 3 days away from adding things back.  I'm looking forward to seeing what happens!

12 Days into the Diet

It's getting harder.  I miss coffee in the morning, and I miss wheat.  I would probably not have stayed strictly on the diet without Angel's help!  Having enough food on hand has been the key.  My advice to anyone entering into this diet is to prepare well and make sure you keep loads of good food in the fridge-- rice, quinoa, veggies, chicken -- make sure there's something to grab when the urge hits!

Dinners the Last Few Days (This is a Diet??)

Sunday, 10/23:

Salmon, Parsnip Puree, Steamed Cauliflower and Broccoli, and Sliced Tomatoes

 

Saturday, 10/22:

Pumpkin stuffed with Yak, Garbanzos, Carrots, and Quinoa,

Sautéed Cabbage, and Kidney Beans

 

Friday, 10/21:

Tinga over Lettuce, Chayote squash, Beats, and Garbanzos

Feeling a little better

Woke up feeling a little better today.  We went to the Farmer’s Market and got some great greens, apples, squash, and other fresh stuff that we can have on the diet.  I’m finding out that the key to this is making sure  you have lots of variety and flavor.  If you eat the same thing too many times in a row, you start looking around for some of the old favorites (bread), and lots of flavor helps keep you happy.  Salsa and spice seem to help.  We’ve been doing this 3 full days now.  Strange, but I’m feeling ‘empty’. Not hungry, but like something is missing.  Wonder how long that will last.  Had a wrap today for lunch made with a rice tortilla and filled with Angel’s Tinga and some lettuce from the garden.  Really yummy!  Angel had a rice cake with almond butter and organic raspberries from the Farmer’s Market. Looked like dessert.

2nd Day

I'm sick!  I got a terrible cold just when it was time to start the diet.  So, because of that, I can't tell if the diet is causing any sypmtoms.  All I can feel is the cold--achy, stuffy, did I say achy?  So, it'll be a few days before I can report anything substantive about the effects of the diet.  In the meantime, achoooo.

Tomorrow’s the Big Day

Here we go—starting an elimination diet on Wednesday, 10/19/11.  My daughter, Angel, and I are setting out to document our adventure for the benefit of Chris (my son, her brother). Angel is a Registered Dietitian and is passionate about eating right to feel well.  I probably have some gluten issues, and I’m looking forward to see if changing what I eat will give me more energy and help me lose a few pounds.  

The plan is to blog what we eat, how we feel, and document the lessons we learn so Chris, and his lovely wife Lena, can have a head start when they begin the elimination diet November.  They’re planning to visit at Thanksgiving and Angel will get them started then.  We’ll post our recipes when there's something worth sharing. 

Angel and I will both post to this blog, so you’ll have the perspective of each of us.  Here’s to Living Without!