Protocol Check In!

How is my version of AIP going?!  What have I learned and what new steps have I taken or leeways I have done?!

I'm week 3 into my new job.  I drink an au lait with almond milk (unsweetened) 4 days out of the week I am there.  I drink water the rest of the time since it is very hot in the kitchen.  I think I get in close to 64 ounces while there.  On days I work I get up and do 30 minutes of yoga to myself warmed up for the day.  I'm standing for 9 hours and walking a mile there and back.  I was reflecting to when I worked at the bakery and would run 8 miles before even going to the gym or going to the gym after work.  That was less then a year ago and so much has changed with me physically and mentally.  I think it's all for the better!

The head chef/manager at Birmingham Roast (new job) makes a gluten free banana bread using a gluten free baking mix that I know has rice flour in in.  Everything that I have seen and read state that grains are just a no go when you have an autoimmune disease.   But, when this banana bread gets sliced I eat the small ends.

OMG!  It is so good!  

YES - that good!

 Two things to note here.  First is the extra bit of banana I am getting 4 days a week.  We go through so many loaves and I am addicted to it!  I seriously need to buy a slice that is in the middle cause if the ends are the shit then the middle has to be even better!  That brings me to the second part which is the rice flour.  Grain, arch nemesis of an autoimmune condition, which I just mentioned.  I can't say I have noticed any problems with the small amount of grain.  My protein powder has rice flour in it and my functional MD swears that it's ok.  I'm certainly not going to go out and eat a bunch of rice.  It just doesn't appeal to me at all.  When I did have more grain (gf oatmeal) I was super foggy, so I don't even want to go there.

I have been really tired on days that I work so I have been trying to take it easy when I get home.  No heavy lifting, maybe a little more yoga to wind down.  I'm leaving my heavy lifting to days that I'm off and doing all the other things and walking everywhere I can.

This past week they have let me put almond butter blondies on the menu and I bake up a storm there!  They are selling like crazy a good problem to have!

In less than a week I have baked 10 pans.  If you are in the area please stop by and pick one up.  So worth it since they are paleo, gluten free and vegan.

  The almond butter we use there is so incredibly good.

I have never seen it around here and heard it needs to be special ordered.  I know it would be spectacular on the banana bread!  I may have to splurge one day (eventually!).  Hahaha!  I do make sure not to have any dairy still.  I think it's working better, my skin is still clear.

As far as bloating is concerned - zero!  I got rid of brussel sprouts despite my epic love of them.  They turned out to be the cause since that was the only thing I cut out and bloating went away.

For the next 2 weeks (-ish) (when my mom comes up from Florida) I'm cutting out fruit, nut butters and milks.  Since I've been snacking on nut butters and milks daily as I mentioned I have noticed that my skin is breaking out.  My digestion seems to be the same though.  I've kept my egg consumption to 2 - 3 times per week, so I don't believe that is a problem.  I don't think coffee has caused me any issues, but will see since I am leaving that in and taking the rest out.  Oh, I almost forgot another symptom of me eating too much of something.  I get sores in my nose.  I have been off from the above and it is already healing up quickly.  It's odd, but I know what works and what doesn't work for me.  

I'm curious if the new candida protocol is working.  I am 30 days in today and have another 30 days to go.  I don't feel any different, at least I don't think I do.  Not sure when the next testing will be but my fingers will be crossed that I am back in a normal range!

I don't think there is anything I forgot but I will keep track of my progress with my skin and if it's healing quickly from not being so addicted to certain foods I know I can get carried away with.

What other issues can I talk about coming up?  The wheels will turn!

Bloat... could it be the eggs... again?!

I'm jumping full in today!  Since this last 3/5 shift I have been really bloated.  Usually it's just with 3shift and the addition of carbs but it has migrated over into 5shift and I keep my carbs pretty darn low.

So what gives?  I was messaging my friend and told her maybe it's the eggs.  I only brought them back in October, but prior to that it had been 2 years or give or take.

My current state!

So my experiment is a NO EGG day.  It makes me sad but it's just one day, but to make sure I eat nothing with eggs in it!  Holy cats!  This should be a little tough.

Here is what my breakfast looks like this morning.

Coffee with HWC and collagen, avocado, chicken, cheddar and bacon.  All super yummy things (ignore dirty stove!!)  Sadly after this meal I didn't feel any different.  Still bloated.... my other thought is it could be avocado!!  Which I love just as much as my eggs!

I didn't take a picture of my lunch since it was more of a snack then anything.  It was 3 sausage links, cheddar and some mayo and an Oh Yeah One bar - Chocolate Chip (my fav!).  Yes, I know, mayo has eggs.... but I don't think the eggs are the issue.  My other thought is it could be dairy too.  N=1 in full effect until I figure this crazy thing out.  I think when I went off AltShift and just did keto it really threw my system for a loop.  Struggling to get my to a more happy place.

Dinner is from Kalyn's Kitchen.  Green chile chicken mock enchilada Casserole.  Looks SUPER good and it's something different!  I think there is a theme this week.  Mexican inspired - it was Taco Tuesday!  

I added cauliflower to this and a little mexican queso.  Super good and I feel fine after - well besides full!  Recently too I had given up nut butters for about 2 weeks.  Nothing changed there so I added it back in from time to time.  Daily nut butter is crazy and I love it, but trying to scale back!

Tomorrow the eggs are in and the avocado is out!