Elimination Diets and Reactions to Foods

As a first note, I have to say that EVERYONE reacts differently.  Sure there can be some similarities but in general my reactions will be different from the next persons.  A friend of mine says she doesn't have a reaction to certain foods but has IBS.  To me that is a signal that something that is being consumed is not sitting well hence causing the IBS.  Well all know what IBS is right, yup!  It's the doctors way of saying that they don't know what is going on and will throw a pill at you.  For me it was Linzess.  Despite eating paleo, there was something still going on in my gut that just wasn't working. Trust me I fought it the whole time.  I'm learning though what is causing my leaky gut and taking not to either eliminate those things or cut down on them.  

My biggest obsession is peanut butter or nut butters in general.  I have tried about every company out there and every flavor combination there was to buy.  When I eat too much it shows on my face and yet I continue to eat it because damn it just tastes delicious.

Love is an understatement!

Now this Elvis Presley sandwich I would totally get into - except the bread.  Bacon, pb, jelly and bananas.  How can it get any better then that?!  I'm sure I can make a paleo/AIP bread that could more than substitute for this gluten yuck fest! LOL - sorry - I love the smell of certain breads, but really don't care about them or miss them.  I would rather have more of the fillings.

So reactions - I have already mentioned that when I eat too many nut butters - whether it's a legume (peanut) or a tree nut.  I get chin acne.  My digestion seems to be fine - I haven't noticed anything abnormal.  I think I need to have them no more than 3 times per week.

Eggs - another that I loved so much and would start every morning why them - minimum of 4 per day, plus mayo.  OMG, nothing quite like fried eggs with mayo on top and avocado!

So, again too many eggs and it's breakout city!  So again I have been sticking to 2 eggs or mayo no more than 3 times per week.  So generally I will have eggs twice and mayo once.

My last food that I have reactions to is dairy, no this one can show up in 2 ways.  I only have dairy twice a week and it's grass fed full fat plain greek yogurt.  If I have any cheese then in about 30 minutes to an hour I am running to the bathroom.  I can also have a number of breakouts.  Typically around the chin area and the occasional forehead monster.

My favs are Stonyfield (not greek), Maple Hill Creamery and Wallaby.

I believe that anyone that has digestive issues, autoimmune conditions, acne, achy joints and pain, the list goes on should do an elimination diet.  Even if they think they don't have any reactions.  How do you really know?  What if you are missing the key to what's wrong?  Wouldn't you want to live without some sort of drug if you really didn't have to?  I know I do!  I know there are some that I do need to be on and stay on that will not change and I am ok with that.  If I don't have to add on any others than that's a win in my book.

There are so many protocols to follow that can help uncover so much: paleo, primal, keto, low carb, AIP.

Which one(s) have you tried, what has worked?  What did you find out about yourself?  How long did it take you to accept that you couldn't eat a food that you ate all the time?  What did you continue to eat despite what you learned?

2 days in and going strong

Early morning rising again.  I woke up 10 minutes earlier than what I had planned on.  I actually got pretty good sleep.  That being said I am going to try 3 magnesium supplements and hope for a more sound sleep.  I made my way downstairs to change into my gym clothes and off I went.  It was just before the storms blew in and the gym was late opening.  I ran in when the doors opened, grabbed my towel and headed for some cardio.  

Here was today's workout:

10 minute elliptical warm up

6 sets bench press - 32.5# each arm

4 sets incline bench press - 27.5# each arm

4 sets eccentric pull ups

4 sets chest supported rows - 17.5# each arm

4 sets rkc plank

4 sets side planks

15 minutes elliptical

I finished, and as I headed to my car it was pouring, the thunder and lightening had already passed.  I got home to D already up and everyone but Jack waiting for breakfast.  I fixed everyone's breakfast, gave D his but Jack didn't want anything to do with food.  The storm had freaked him out way too much to eat.  He really is sensitive.

This mornings breakfast bowl had many similar things as the last few days.  Ground pork and bacon with cabbage, zucchini, bacon, asparagus and cauliflower.  I just love bacon and want it for breakfast daily.  If I could add coffee and peanut butter it would be the best! Haha!  Maybe in a month or so.

I made my lunch as I was making breakfast since today I wouldn't be able to come home again for lunch.  EGGS!  I haven't had eggs in over a month and got the ok to have some!  YES!  I'm not going to go crazy cause I can only have them 3 times per week.  That works!

Similar again to what was yesterday's lunch.  Shaved brussel sprouts, cucumber, hearts of palm, olives, spinach, radish and 2 eggs drizzled with olive oil.  I cooked the eggs so they were soft on the inside and would create a fabulous dressing to coat the rest of the vegetables.  The one thing I didn't show is my required shake.  Today's flavor was orange and it tasted just like Tang!  Loved it and I had 4 scoops.  I may split this up and have a couple scoops and lunch and a couple at dinner.

I had my appointment with a rheumatologist today, for my positive ANA test.  Good thing is he doesn't think I have Lupus since I don't present clinically.  He is doing more blood work just to make sure, but testing for other conditions too.  So I will find out soon, about a week he said and if he doesn't call then everything is normal.

I felt hungrier today, not bloated which was a relief.  At the doctor's office I did get a little dizzy, so when I got to work I had my shake.  I ate lunch a little later, I think it was just after one and then a few hours later I was hungry again.  When I got home I ate some Dang unsweetened coconut chips since we were having a showing of the house right when I got home.  I took the pups outside and I captured the pups running around.

 

Stryker

Stryker (Puppy) and Jack (Big Dawg)

 Jack ("Just Jack")

The realtor never showed up so I came inside and began making dinner.  I added broccoli to my veggie dinner and ground turkey cooked in coconut oil and finished with avocado oil and avocado on the side.

Of course, just as I was finishing making dinner.  D was sitting down to his, there came a knock at the door.  Seriously, 30 minutes late stood the realtor and his clients.  We of course let them in and I tried to clean up the kitchen a bit as they made their way around the house.  Here I stand in the kitchen hair pulled back in a bun and in my sweats and robe!  Really?!  You can't be serious! They could have at least called!  Blargh!  Oh well.

Time to relax, watch a movie and meditate before going to bed.  Tomorrow is nothing but cardio, well in the am that is.

I find that anyone that comes to read this will get bored and I need to figure out other things to talk about!  It can't all be food, exercise and meditation, can it?!  

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!