Determined!

I had my 4th appointment Monday morning to go over the next phase of my protocol.  I am determined and the tapioca I purchased to mix in with coconut milk is out!  This next phase sounds challenging but will not be.  I will move on and overcome the candida die off and NOT BE CRABBY!  D pointed that one out this morning.

This is what my typical morning looks like.  I type and eat at my dining room table and fight off Nostrand as she tries to be cute and sneak a paw on the plate.

Random breakfast with leftover BBQ - So Yum!  All those greens!  I'm really trying to branch out on the greens - if there is one I haven't had or haven't had in a while,  I'm grabbing it.  This week is collard greens and napa cabbage

Monday nights dinner with my new added fruit.  I debated if plantains were really a fruit or a starch, but it depends on the ripening stage they are in.  On the green side starchier and on the more yellow speckled brown the sweet they are.  They were put in the fruit category.  Plantain chips with eggs, roasted vegetables on top of red leaf lettuce, avocado and I topped it with a little mayo - the good stuff, no fillers and junk here!  I figured I would have a little mayo since it has eggs and was egg day.

I started my new supplements last night (Wednesday) It's candida killing time.  So far so good.  There are 3 additional supplements and new shakes!

This week I have just felt hungry.  I have eaten 6 chicken thighs in 2 days.  In all not bad given all I do exercise wise.  This morning, I ran 6 miles, nothing out of the ordinary.

Breakfast this morning - chicken thigh that was cooked in broth, bacon, green beans, spinach, napa cabbage, olives and avocado.  There was extra broth at the bottom and it was fabulous.  I think tomorrows breakfast should be kinda on the soupy side.

I had to stop at the store on my way to work and decided to get a low sugar kombucha.  This was my first green kombucha.  It was sweet at first and a little bitter at the end.  I think I like the Triology the best.  For lunch I came home and had 4 scoops of my new mixed berry shake (360 cals, not that I'm counting) and a chicken thigh.  I was pretty good until 4pm, it was only a couple hours, so clearly not enough calories.  I still find if I eat a full lunch and the shake I am too stuffed for dinner.  Maybe a small lunch with the shake would be better.  A big bowl of roasted veggies, or a salad.  Experimenting is needed!

I cooked a pretty fabulous dinner - 2 eggs cooked in the leftover bacon grease from the 2 strips, green beans, broccoli topped with guacamole and over baked plantains.  I have been looking forward to those since Saturday when I bought them and they didn't disappoint!  I'm thinking that chicken thigh is calling my name though!  I may have to listen.

I have 2 bananas and I know I need to be careful with them since I tested higher on those for allergies.  So I will split one of those for this weekend and save the other for a little later.  Options, I love it!  Next week I get to add nuts and seeds!  Yes!  A small scoop of almond butter is calling my name 😍

Now to get some meditation in!

Week 3 wrap up

Ugh, it's only the end of week 3?!?  It feels like it's been forever!  Of course I have been doing this more since February - so technically 2 months in and some days I feel more deprived then others.  When I do I have some coconut manna.  It has 2 gram of sugar per tablespoon and I'm not "making" anything with it.  It's a whole food source so I'm counting it in.

Though I do love my carb ups!

So how else am I feeling? EXTREMELY EXHAUSTED SINCE WEDNESDAY!  Wednesday was expo at work so I worked from 8:30 am to 9:30 pm and had an hour break.  I've been moody and D says I just don't look happy lately.  Nope I can't say I am particularly happy right now but I am feeling better than I was.  If I can heal my gut and get the candida under control it's a win!  I just want to be able to eat the few things I really miss.  That is what is frustrating to me.

My meals have pretty much looked the same as they have in the previous weeks, so why bore you with the same pics, same meals.....

This is what I ate this morning.  4 strips of bacon and in the grease cooked purple cabbage and cauliflower.  I, of course topped it with avocado!

Another from earlier this week - 2 strips of bacon, pork/turkey patty with a mixture of greens and avocado.  I love everything in a bowl!

Random gym pic with my new compression capri's from Old Navy.  I really like their workout selection.  It's inexpensive and last a long time.  Not to mention just plain cute!  I got a comment from an older woman that I just looked so bright for so early.  That's the one thing I like about early morning.  You see the same faces and become comfortable with who is there because it rarely changes - unlike the evening and weekends.  Plus you can get any of the equipment you need when you need it.  

Puppy came to work with me on Friday!

This week's workout's have really been bumped up!  I've added a few new exercises and kept my time about the same so I may not gotten in all the cardio - but it's ok.  

Here is my breakdown if you would like to follow - just make sure you lift as heavy as you can.  Some days I am stronger than others.  I always warm up for 10 minutes prior and 10 minutes after on the elliptical.

Monday:

Squats

Split squats

Leg press

Stability ball shelc

Calf raises

Reverse pec machine

cable trunk rotations

kb swings

Tuesday:

Cable arm pulldowns

Double strict press

Arnold Press

Alternating front raises

Chin ups

Pull overs

Hammer curls

Overhead Tricep ext

Thrusters

Flutter kicks

Wednesday:

Single leg gluten bridge

Hip thrusters

Single leg hip thrusters

Reverse hyper extension

Lateral walks

Hip abduction

Frog pump

Lateral raise

Upright row

Calf raise

Thursday:

Rest Day or Easy run (6 miles - 1 hour)

Friday:

Incline bench press

Fly

bent row

Machine row

Bicep curl

Tricep pulldown

Skull crusher

Bent arm lateral raise

Hanging knee raise

Saturday:

Back extension

Romanian deadlift

Curtsy Lunge

Donkey Kick

Leg extension

Calf raises

Rear delts

Slam ball without the slam!

Sunday:

Run Day! Typical 8 miles

That's been my week.  Accomplished, exhausted and overall pretty good.  I got a lot done which I feel good about.  Week for begins tomorrow and I get to add a serving of fruit!  I already have my frozen strawberries.  I just got blueberries today and bananas and plantains.  Maybe I can even eat some plantain chips for different texture!

I'm loving all the things cooked in the Instant Pot.  What would normally take 45 minutes to an hour takes 20 minutes.  When I get home from work I am starving (of course I'm always hungry) and it's so nice to get things done quickly!

This is my own version of AIP so if you're not in a reintroduction phase please use caution with spices.  This is the Instant Pot Curried Lemon Coconut Chicken from Kitchen Stewardship.

Funny enough I made roasted broccoli with this too and cauliflower rice.  Very similar to the butter chicken I made last week, just without the ghee!

I should have taken additional pictures but this just doesn't look pretty enough to photograph!  I snacked on a few pieces the day after I made this too.

Thursday night is usually reserved for breakfast but D wasn't feeling good.  BUT, I should back track my day so you come to my present state of mind.  Yesterday I worked from 8:30 am to 9:30 pm.  My work has bi-yearly trade shows and everyone works all day.  I didn't get dinner until after I got home and already exhausted.  

Thursday I would typically run at the gym but since I knew I would be exhausted I made it my rest day.Jack got me up around 4 to go outside and luckily I fell back to sleep until D's alarm went off.  Up and out of bed I fed the furry beasties and made D his weekday breakfast.  I so wanted to go back to bed!  D said why don't you?!  Seriously I have to be to work I can't do that.  I showered and made my breakfast and that's when his throat clearing began and said he thought he was getting sick.  SO he stayed home and I went to work.  Jack tore down the curtains and kicked D in the face within the hour I was gone.  UGH!  I carried on with my day.  At lunch I ran to Trader Joe's and got a few items and D's favorite chocolates and a soft pretzel.  Home and was able  to wolf down my shake and some veggies.  The rest of the day was uneventful until I was asked to go to get chicken noodle soup and phish food ice cream.

After the store I got home, fed the beasties again, gave D his soup and roll followed by his ice cream and made my dinner.  I was starving so grabbed things that were already done.  Sugar snap peas to snack.  I warmed up some hash browns in a skillet then added my leftover chicken on the side and I topped the hash browns with a fried egg.  Still I was hungry and ate 2 tbs of coconut butter.  It only has 2 grams of sugar so I believe I am ok there.  I feel I need more protein so I may grab some chorizo Applegate Organic Turkey Breast.  Bed will certainly happen early as well!

Though this will be me....

But, I will go to the gym for 5 am!

Stressed and completely upset

I've debated if I should post this but it's part of my healing process, so here it is!

I'm extremely angry at this point (understatement!).  I can't have anything!  It doesn't matter that I may not want it I still can't have it.  I want a latte, I want to be able to eat ice cream if I want.   I want to eat a piece of chocolate or be able to bake something.  I want a different texture.  I'm not even hungry right now and I feel like if I could eat all the things I would.  I want a Siete tortilla chip with guacamole.  Or even a plantain chip for all that matters but nope!  Can't even do that.

I know this isn't forever but it's starting to weigh on me.  When you do things for others and get them the things that you can't have you become angry.  It's not directed at them you are just plan straight up angry, bitchy, unhappy, blah blah blah.

Pathetic enough I couldn't even buy anything I wanted.  All my money is going toward my care.  Yeah I know stop bitching, but I really don't want to.  I really just want to have my pity party right now and just get it all off my chest.  If I can 't rant then what good is writing about anything?!

Oh, but the one thing that I can have all I want of..... water.  Yeah WTH?!?  I hate water.  Yes I am one of those weird people.  I'd love to have a Zevia and I haven't had one of those in months.

Ok, so that was yesterday and today is Monday and I'm better this evening than I was this morning.  I got up early and went to the gym, which was great.  I had a decent workout.  It was a leg focused day and after running yesterday my legs were a little more tired so I couldn't push the amount weight I would have liked.  

I got home and my bad mood continued.  Everything was driving me nuts and I certainly didn't want to go to work!  I made my breakfast and had my tea as usual.  I had to take Jack out to go to the bathroom since all noises bother him and Stryker got me dirty!  I was so over today already.  I forgot to take everything with me.  No water bottle, no tea bag, nothing.  Then I noticed a 12:30 house showing when I got in the car!  ARG!  I usually call mom but didn't since I figured I would snap.

Long story, but everything went fine today.  I had meetings all morning and as soon as those were done it was off to lunch at home.  The buyers showed up on time and I was back to work when I needed to be.  I ended up emailing my doctor and letting him know how I felt.  He says it's for sure part of the detox process, as he has been through it as well as other patients and suggested to take some activated charcoal to help with the candida die off effects.  So I think I am going to try it tonight.

Dinner was fabulous and I think it helped.  I made sweet potato fries and roasted broccoli, avocado, bacon, brussel sprouts and a grass fed bacon burger mix.

The rest of the night I will try to relax and prepare for tomorrow.

3 weeks in and workouts

I'm on week three of my elimination protocol.  I almost thought I screwed up since I was drinking coconut milk.  Turns out the Trader Joe's canned organic coconut milk is perfect.  It's only 2 grams of sugar.  I was buying the stuff in the cartoon, pretty much any variety that was there and all the unsweetened kinds.  I liked them all but they also had other ingredients that I really didn't need.  Trader Joe's only has organic coconut and water.  Done and so tasty!  And I should mention it's on $1.29!  Bargain!

So speaking of tea can I just say that I'm so over it, whatever, too long drinking it and so I HATE TEA!  Yes, it's fine but I really want my coffee.  I miss the taste!  Caffeine didn't have an effect when I got rid of it February 1st, I just miss it!  I did go ut and buy more dandelion and chicory tea and a new one to me Pukka.  It just sounds cute! Pukka 😁  I got the After Dinner and I have to say it's very pleasant.

What else can I say about week 3?  I've lost 4 pounds, roughly.  I can't say I really care but it is nice to have my pants fit a bit better.  I wonder what the difference is.  Week 1 I was eating coconut butter at night.  Week 2 I got rid of it and now week 3 I've had it a couple times.

Week 1, I felt super bloated.  Week 2 that pretty much went away, but was occasional.  This week I can't say I have noticed any bloating BUT I have been super hungry.  I have been eating my shake at lunch with some veggies and I still am getting ravenous by the time I leave work.  I eat a big plate of veggies and meat at breakfast and again at dinner.  All I can say is it's good that I eat simple.  Dinner is ready in under 20 minutes.  

This was tonight's dinner

Bacon on the bottom under the hash browns and brussels that were cooked in the fat and coconut oil. Beef burger on red leaf lettuce, olives and pickles.  There was a little dressing that I found as well too.  Hilary's Spicy Island Dressing.

I want to try the Beet Vinagrette next.  They are gluten free, corn free, egg free, vegan and soy free.  Perfect for me right now!

As far as workouts they have been amped up but toned down in heaviness.  What do I mean by that?  It's added exercise and some additional with lower weights to learn the moves.  There is also an added day of weights.  The first 7 weeks of my plan were 4 days of weights, 2 days of cardio and a rest day.  Same for this week except the added weight day.  My treadmill running has been pretty great.  I'm pretty happy with my progress and will measure at the end, which I think is 17 weeks.  My run days are Thursday (should be rest) and Sunday (longer run).

I think that is all my updates for right now.  What else can I talk about soon?  I will figure that out!

Sunday Run Day, Indian Butter Chicken & 1 Update

Today was an early day.  I woke at 6:30am but got out of bed an hour later and went to the market to grab what I needed for the week.  I stopped at Dunkin on the way home to grab D a caramel coffee, a cinnamon roll and the pups a vanilla sprinkle donut.

Later it was time to hit the gym and run.  It was a little trying but overall pretty good.  I did intervals the second half.  Funny you can see the top of my head in the reflection from the tv!

I did drink a bunch of water after and thought it would be interesting to jump on the scale, I know I wasn't dehydrated.  Two weeks into my protocol and I figured why not!  Down 4 pounds, not bad.  I really think things shifted toward the positive this week.  So I am happy with the progression so far.  BUT, right now I really want something crunchy to break things up and a latte!  Oh well, soon enough right.  Patience!

Not much else after that until it was time to make dinner.  The Castaway Kitchen has made a phenomenal dish that I was tackling for dinner!  Indian Butter Chicken

 

I've been in the need for new flavors!  This delivered.  Three great things about this dish.  It's paleo, Whole30 approved and nightshade free.  I think I do better without a few nightshades, tomatoes being the biggest one.  I think having them in small amounts and once or twice a week is okay, but more than that and I don't feel my best.

Look at all the steam!  The recipe called for skinless chicken thighs.  I used bone in skin on chicken thighs and I think the extra fat in the dish was worth it.  Nice thing about this recipe is that you can sauté in the instant pot and finish it there too.  This dish is super easy and nothing weird is needed in the ingredients.  You can make your own ghee if you don't have some already.

My final product!  I sautéed up some brussels and added some cauliflower rice.  This was so good and I'm so full from it.  I can't speak highly enough of it.  

I love all ethnic foods and need to figure out where the next stop will be!  Being mindful of my protocol and what doesn't work for me of course! 

Breakfast skillets -Eggless!

Breakfast is my favorite, unless there is steak involved or burger for dinner (like tonight), then that would be my favorite.  Since eliminating eggs I have found breakfast to not be quite stellar as I once did.  I love my bacon so I am happy that I will keep that in every breakfast I have.  But, since starting my journey every morning I have been throwing all the things in the skillet.  Here is a recap of some of those breakfasts.  A variety of vegetables, avocado, bacon and other meat in mix.  I add extra fat by using either coconut or avocado oil.

  
 

I thought it would be good to highlight some other blogs that have skillet breakfast as well.  Maybe it will break me out of a rut and move to other things.  Though I am restricted in this elimination phase I could still mix it up a bit.

Moroccan skillet breakfast from Autoimmune Paleo

Mardi Gras breakfast sausage skillet from Paleo Cajun Lady

Breakfast Hash from Real Plans

Maple Sage Sausage skillet from Adventures in Partaking

There are so many more to choose from.  My advice - just grab things out of the refrigerator, chop and cook.  Don't forget to add some spices.  This morning I had a bunch of brussel sprouts in my pan with swiss chard, chicken, bacon and avocado, of course.  I decided I had some thick aged balsamic vinegar I could add.  Wow, that one thing did really take it up a notch!  So my advice when venturing into the AIP realm is to break out whatever toppings, sauces and spices you can and see what happens.