Gluten Reduction and Product Recommendation

For some time, I have had a rash on my legs.  It would come and go with varying levels of intensity.  Sometimes it was just there and I never would have known except to see it.  Sometimes it was itchy and dry.  Other times it was red and burning.  I had been to my regular doctor and a dermatologist and no matter what we tried, it would not go away.  A friend had recommended I try coconut oil.  I had not heard of this before but after doing a little research on my own, I couldn't believe the amount of uses it has.   For a expansive list, click here.

I focused much of my reading on the benefits of using it for skin conditions like eczema (which is the official diagnosis I got at my last visit to the dermatologist) and there seemed to be a fair amount of success.  At the same time, I was also researching the effects of certain food on skin.   Most of my reading was focused on gluten (which I had already done a good deal of reading about because of my daughter's Celiac Disease diagnosis).  Though I tested negative through blood work for Celiac I had long wondered if my skin rash might be an allergic reaction to something I was eating.

I decided, at the same time, to try coconut oil and a dramatic reduction in my gluten intake.  I would say I am about 75% gluten free at this point.  The difference in my legs is amazing!  I can not believe how much less inflamed my skin looks.  So far in regard to the gluten reduction, the only difference I can see is in my skin but that alone has been well worth it.  I am also very happy that I have found a natural remedy that not only works but smells delicious! I have also used the coconut oil on my body as a general moisturizer, as a sweetener in my coffee and as a cooking oil, all of which I am equally impressed.

Whole 30-Eh.

I had every intention of updating this blog more regularly but life, it gets in the way.

I promised to be honest here about my whole 30 experience. So honestly, my whole 30 experience is over.  I found it to be extremely restrictive and in no way motivational or enjoyable.   I am not sure what it says about me but if I am going to stick with something it needs to be reasonable, not extremely hard (especially when it comes to cooking and planning) and not dramatically restrictive.

One thing that has remained...I am about 75% gluten free (with full intentions of going all the way with it).  I haven't noticed much difference yet except with my skin.  The rash that has plagued my legs for over a decade has all but disappeared since making this change.  I sort of feel less bloated but I think I will notice this more as I go forward.

I fully intend to keep this blog up and running to document my journey toward physical and mental wellness in regard to food and how I respond to it.  

Wholey Hard

I think it is safe to say that breakfast is the hardest meal to stick to 100% whole 30.  I hate not being able to have yogurt and I can only have so many eggs before getting bored.  Even fruit is getting boring only five days in.  I can say with full confidence that as soon as I am done I will be re-introducing dairy and grains of the non-gluten variety.  I will limit both but this this strict no cheating allowed situation is not for me.

As continue to go through this I have found that my thinking is changing a bit.  I am still positive that gluten is bad news...really bad news.  I have done so much reading and research about gluten since Julia's Celiac Disease diagnosis.  I am convinced that nothing good comes from gluten, even in small amounts.  As for everything else (grains, dairy, legumes etc.),  well, I am not convinced that the occasional ingestion of any of these could be a bad thing.

I think that when all is said and done when it comes to health and diet, the best advice I have ever heard is "everything in moderation."  I also believe that when dining out and cooking at home even, the opportunity to make better choices is always there.  In the past, I have always chosen "easier."   I know I can choose "better for me."

So, I am not sure where I am at with this whole 30 thing right now.  There are a few things I do know.

1.  I will not be re-introducing gluten in to my diet.

2.  I will continue to make water my drink of choice with an occasional glass of wine/beer and the once a day cup of coffee which I will sweeten with coconut milk and oil only.  I will not be drinking soda in any form or variety.

3. My dairy intake will consist of the occasional yogurt, milk in a bowl of gluten free cereal on occasion, butter in limited quantities (like when used in baking for example), cheese every once in a while.

4. Fried, greasy foods will be so infrequent that I should practically consider them eliminated from my diet.  I am not however going to deny myself the very once in a while indulgence.

And the biggest thing of all...

5.  I WILL be more thoughtful about my food.  I will allow myself the time to plan and make positive decisions about what I am cooking/eating.  I will make smarter choices when dining out.

Whole-y Tired

Day three was...exhausting.  I was so tired today I could barely function...and even took a nap on the couch (which is unheard of for me).  I also had a mild headache all day.  I think I am officially in the "hangover stage."

I am officially used to drinking my coffee sans sugar and cream.  If that is the only thing that sticks then that will be something.  I never thought I would be able to do this honestly.

This is a very short update but it is all I have for today.  I am off to get some sleep!

Whole-y Harder

Today was day two on the Whole 30 Plan, and it was definitely harder than day one.  I had the same breakfast and lunch as yesterday.  I think that may have been part of the reason is was more difficult today; I think the only way to keep on track will be to have more of a variety.  So to that end I spent the morning looking at recipes with a focus on "plan-safe" snacks.  I came up with a few that I think I will try.

I also spent some time on Twitter (@wholeyfood is where you can follow me there) adding contacts and scanning through the various tips and suggestions of those I follow.  I forgot how much I love Twitter for quick and to the point bulletins!

For dinner tonight I had a turkey burger (sans bun) with cucumbers and cantaloupe.  I sprinkled a small amount of seasoned salt on both the cucumbers and cantaloupe.  Have you ever had salt on cantaloupe?  I discovered this awesomeness by accident when a restaurant served french fries with a side of cantaloupe  and some of the salt ended up on it.  So delicious.  Even though the whole 30 plan doesn't have much to say on the salt front (except that it is ok to have it considering how much salt you are cutting out by avoiding processed and packaged foods), I only sprinkled a small amount.  

So far, I can honestly say I am not missing the sugar in my coffee (which I almost just typed as coffee in my sugar so that should be a pretty good indication of how much I used to add to my coffee).  I haven't missed the grains much either yet.  Eating a burger without a bun was uneventful.  Not having a bowl of cereal for breakfast is...fine. It is weird not drinking milk or having a yogurt but so far that's it.  I can see how snacking might eventually lead to major grain cravings so I will continue to come up with plan safe snacks to help avoid the temptation.

I hope that as I go along I will "trust myself" more and not question my will power as much.  I turned down two invitations to eat outside of my home tonight.  I am not ready to face that kind of temptation yet (despite the options available I know I am not at the point yet where I will make smart decisions while out).   I think when I start to see and feel the results of my efforts, it will boost my "I can do this" and going out and ordering smart will just be what I do.

Whole-y Coconut!

Today was day one of my Whole 30 experience.  I know the biggest struggle I have will be planning but for today I managed to do well with it.  I need to remember to take the time that I deserve to plan and cook my meals and if I do that, everything else will seem easy.

I started the morning off with the Egg McNothin's which I had pre-made last night.  I used ham for the meat and a sprinkle of garlic in addition to the other seasonings mentioned in the recipe. I threw it in the microwave for twenty seconds to warm it up.   It was great!  My only "complaints" were that I might have gone a bit overboard on the spices and that next time I may cook it for just a bit less time (I like the yolk to be a little softer than it was).  I had a side of cantaloupe and a glass of water.

One of my other big "concerns" was how I would ever grow to love (or even just like) my coffee black.  This is coming from a girl who usually drinks it with extra cream and extra sugar.  Before embarking on this journey I decided to research my options.  I ended up adding 2 tablespoons of unsweetened coconut milk and 1 tablespoon of coconut oil.  It was by no means what I am used to but it was enjoyable and something I can definitely get used to.  

At lunch time I decided to throw together a salad.  I was not looking forward to having it with out dressing and was happy to find I had all of the necessary ingredients to make my own.  This was the recipe I followed:  

1/2 c raw apple cider
2 tbsp minced garlic
1 tbsp pepper
1tbsp onion powder
1 1/2 c extra virgin olive oil

Mix the first four ingredients in a bowl.  Add olive oil.  Cover bowl and shake until combined.  

It was good but next time I will add a bit more spice to it (maybe something with a slight kick) and a little less olive oil.  In any event it was the perfect addition to my salad, which I accompanied with a glass of water.

Around 2 or so I was hungry.  I made a shake with coconut milk, strawberries, bananas, and blueberries.  I hated it.  I usually use yogurt and milk in a shake like this which is obviously out.  So, I opted for a banana bread larabar which definitely hit the spot. 

For dinner I tried this recipe:

Zesty Grilled Chicken and Vegetables

Ingredients

4 free range boneless skinless chicken breasts (1lb)

sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

1 tbsp light flavored olive oil

¾ c of ghee

¼ tsp cumin

1.8 tsp cayenne

⅛ tsp chili powder

1 bag stir fry veggie blend (bell peppers and onions)

Preparation

In a large zippered plastic bag pound chicken to ½ inch thick

Heat a grill pan over medium heat on burner,  When ready add oil and chicken.  Cook four minutes per side.  Remove from pan and set aside.

In a small bowl combine ghee with cumin, cayenne and chili powder.  Brush small amount on chicken breasts.

In a large microwave safe dish place veggies with ½ c water.  Cook on high until veggies are tender.  Toss with remaining flavored butter mix and serve along-side chicken breasts.  

I added carrots and rather than serve along side the chicken, I mixed it all together.  It was good...I might even say delicious.  This was my first time ever tasting or cooking with ghee and while you can definitely tell it is not "regular" butter, I think it is a taste I will get used to over time.  

For dessert tonight I am going make Warm Cinnamon Apples.  I am 100% percent sure these will be yummy!  Dessert is not something I plan to do every night but after a successful first day, why not reward myself with an on-plan treat?

All in all, day one was great and a success. If nothing else worked I would have been happy with the coconut milk/oil working for me as a sweetener/creamer in my coffee.  Perhaps the thing I liked best about today was how quick and easy everything was that I made.  I am not someone who enjoys cooking so when it comes to food, the less involved, the better.  

Whole-y Moly.

So...after doing a ridiculous amount of reading including, Grain Brain, Wheat Belly and It Starts with Food, I am about to start the Whole 30 diet. It is similar to Paleo but a bit more strict. It's a thirty day reset in which you eliminate added sugar (real or fake), alcohol, grains, legumes, and dairy. You can reintroduce any of these slowly after that time period but you don't have to. I know already that I will be reintroducing dairy (if it makes me feel yucky then I will eliminate it again) and maybe the occasional glass of wine and/or beer (which is what normally do anyway...barely ever drink alcohol as it is).  I am also not "allowed" to weigh or measure myself for the thirty day time period (except for one time tomorrow when I start and of course after the thirty days to see what difference there may be).  I am not doing this for just the reason of weight loss though.  My reasons are many.  Will this clear up the eczema on my legs?  Will I feel less scattered?  Will I be happier?  Will the fact that I have stuck with something for the full time be an amazing boost of confidence and motivate me to keep going?  All of this remains to be seen.  There is however, evidence to show that some or all of these things may be true after finishing the Whole 30.   I am looking forward to seeing what it means to me.  At the very least I will have successfully tested my ability to say no and make better choices in regard to food and life in general. 

I have no false illusions that this will be easy in any way but it is only for thirty days. Lately, I feel so "unchallenged" in my life; more like I am not challenging myself enough. I figured this would be the perfect jump start and a way to reset my body/metabolism etc. I have long believed that we should be going back to our "roots" when it comes to eating. Nothing is the same as it used to be with food...and there is nothing good to be said about all of the "processing" food goes through today.  Things that are supposed to be "natural" no longer are.  Don't even get me going on all of the negative effects of the "fake" sugars. 

 I am documenting this experience here.  I am going to include recipes, thoughts on how difficult it is, how hard has it been for me to better plan my food (one of my biggest challenges is lack of planning when it comes to eating), as well as how I am feeling physically and emotionally as I go through. And...I plan to be brutally honest (it's great, it stinks, I feel wonderful, I feel like crap, etc).

I finally feel like I am in the right head space to continue in this way on this journey to wellness- to improve and really take care of myself.  I have done a lot in the past year for my mental well-being.  To say that was a challenge (still is sometimes)  is putting it mildly.  There has been a lot of mental hard work and it continues to pay off.  Slowly but surely my confidence is building and this will be one more step in the right direction in a year that has been full of forward steps.   Thoughts, comments, support and well wishes are welcomed and encouraged.

Whole 30 Day 1 starts tomorrow.