Food Rehab-The Beginning of Week 3

Greetings Gems!

How is everyone? How is your November so far?

My last blog was 2 weeks ago plus one day. You can read it here. I advised that I was going back into Food Rehab.   Well, I did and I am still hanging in there.

A quick reminder of what I’ve chosen to do to cultivate my health. My goal was to eliminate all gluten, grains, dairy, soy, eggs, legumes/nuts, added sugar/sweeteners, and caffeine. The only oils that I cooked with are olive, avocado, and coconut oil. Once or twice I’ve used bacon grease from organic uncured nitrate-free bacon. The only fruit I’ve been eating/using are lemons, limes, and avocado.

Disclaimer: I’ve had a Five Guys Burger in a bowl (no bun) 2 times. Each time I requested grilled onions, green peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, mushrooms, and pickles and NO cheese.  Apparently, they frown upon burgers w/o cheese because each burger had cheese. I ate them both…cheese and all.  Then there’s Cassava Chips w/Sea Salt and Plantain Chips with Cinnamon. These are both healthier snacks but I’ve probably eaten at least one bag of each daily.

Here’s an update on my progress. Drum Roll…I’ve lost about 9lbs and 1 inch off my waist…no thanks to the extra carbs from the chips and starchy vegetables I’ve been enjoying such as sweet potatoes and acorn squash. No, we are not concentrating on numbers but I am keeping you up to date on the scale because weight loss just happens to fall into place when healing is in progress.

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My weight Nov 1, 2017
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November 14, 2017

The inflammation is slowly decreasing. My joint/muscle/shoulder pain is gone. My sinuses/allergies aren’t as bad. My facial acne started clearing up but it seems to have flared back up after the Five Guys burgers which are cooked in peanut oil.

Adrenal fatigue and brain fog still exists but could be a combination of my working 12-hour shifts…completing 48 hrs in 5 days and sleep deprivation.

There is still obvious hormonal imbalance and insulin intolerance which I know is a result of some of the foods I continue to eat. My emotions are all over the place which could be a direct result of all mentioned above or/and the time of year. Seems like the last few years, the holiday season always puts me in a funk.  This is the time that I miss my angel parents and big sister the most.

One thing I do know for sure is that I’m still feeding my candida. What is candida? Well, it’s a type of fungus residing in or on our bodies. Normally they don’t cause any problems but if the yeast is fed or allowed to multiply it can cause an infection called “Candidiasis.” How do you feed candida? Candida feeds on all types of sugar, starch, moldy foods/yeast, dead tissue, and alcohol. This all includes but is not limited to fruit, starchy vegetables like sweet potatoes/carrots/plantains, fungus type vegetables like mushrooms or leftover foods, and factory farmed meats. Eventually, I will wean myself off all of the last foods mentioned…hopefully by the end of the year and do a Candida Cleanse as well. I will write a blog with more detail about Candida at a later date.

I’m going to continue what I’m doing to bring about a better me. I want to feel better, to be better, and to do better. This can be accomplished if I put my mind to it and use the control that I have within me.

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If you are also taking steps to a better you…good for you! Keep up the good work and no matter how fast or slow you see the results, keep in mind that most of the things you are trying to change, increase, eliminate did not develop overnight so don’t be discouraged if the change doesn’t happen overnight.

What changes are you making to increase your health?

“It’s not about weight loss, it’s about cultivating health.”

Anthony Brown & Group Therapy – Trust In You Lyrics

TRUST IN YOU

You did not create me to worry
You did not create me to fear
But You created me to worship daily
So I’mma leave it all right here

Help me say yeah (You did not create me to worry) no
You did not create me to fear
But You created me (but you created me to worship)
That’s what you made me for, yeah (daily)
(So I’mma leave it all right here)

My hands are raised (my hands are raised because I surrender)
Your will is what’s is best for me (your will is what’s best for me)
Oh, I worship You (I worship you because You’re Jehovah Jireh) you’re Jehovah Jiren
I bow before the King of Kings

No more crying (No more crying no more complaining)
Not fit for crying, not fit for complaining, Lord
(I believe Your word is true)
Oh Lord, you promised never (Lord You promised never to leave me lonely)
To leave me lonely, so this is what I’m going to do (so this is what I’m going to do)

(I will trust in You Lord) I know you’re a healer
I know you will keep me Lord (I will trust in You Lord)
You are my shelter, You’re a world-make (I will trust in You, Lord)
(I will put my trust in You) so I will put my, yes I will put my trust in You
I’ll put my trust in You

You did not create me to worry
You did not create me to fear
But You created me to worship daily
So I’mma leave it all right here

(I will trust in You) trust in
(I will trust in You) trust in you, Lord
(I will put my trust in You) I will put my trust in You

Anthony Brown & Group Therapy – Trust In You Lyrics

Time For Food Rehab, Again!

Happy November to you!

welcome november

Guess who turned 50 a week ago?  You got it…ME!  Do I feel any different?  Different than what?  I’ve never been 50 so I really don’t have anything to compare it to…lol.

Me the day I turned 50
The day I turned 50. Look at that acne…also a result of the S.A.D (Standard American Diet) which I tend to overdo when I do it.

Anyway, I’m been slipping and eating everything under the sun.  Especially the last month or so.  Hubby and I even went to New Orleans as a pre 50th birthday celebration and while there, I ate so much that I got sick of eating!

I’ve been eating more of the things that I shouldn’t eat than the things that I should eat.  Yes, there were consequences, but I ignored and bared them.  Because of that choice, the majority of the symptoms I eliminated or/and decreased while on the AIP (Autoimmune Paleo/Protocol) have come back with a vengeance.

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My weight Nov 1, 2017

First off, I now weigh back in at 160lbs.  I am 5’5″ and I do have a small frame.  Weight has never really been my biggest issue.  In fact, the heaviest I’ve been in my life is around 180lbs which is overweight for me but I’ve never really focused on it.  Most of the people around me probably believe I’ve never weighed over 130lbs.  This is probably because my weight likes to gather in my abdomen, upper arms, and thighs which I normally keep covered at all times.

My main symptoms that hinder and affect my life are the fatigue, brain fog, hormonal disruptions, insulin intolerance, inflammation, joint and body pain/stiffness.  These and several other symptoms are directly related to my Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis/Hypothyroidism, Candida, and most important…the food/drinks that I allow in my body.

At this time I haven’t decided which protocol I am following because there are plenty.  There is the Whole30, AIP, Paleo, SIBO, The Candida Diet, Keto; etc.  All are designed to heal the body, gut, brain and they are similar in some or most ways.  My preference is AIP which is a stricter version of Paleo and I was on before and it helped me tremendously.  After being on it the first 3 months, I lost 40lbs and a vast amount of my symptoms.

AIP takes a lot of planning and effort but it is worth it in the end.  However, for now, because I want to get started right away and have no hindrances, I’m going to start with sugar/gluten/dairy/soy/allergen-free until I get back some of my energy and do away with some of the fatigue and brain fog.  When ready, I may even do a Whole30 before going into the protocol of my choosing.  In the meantime, I will also be selecting the freshest and best ingredients for my meals.

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The way I feel now…

One day she woke up and decided to be healthy…again. Today is the day. I am going into food/drink rehab…cold turkey. It’s not about weight loss but everything about cultivating my health. 

The only LOSS I desire is…
Loss of brain fog
Loss of fatigue 
Loss of lethargy 
Loss of hot flashes/cold intolerance 
Loss of ibs
Loss of geographical tongue
Loss of sinusitis/hay fever/allergies
Loss of chronic urticaria (hives/rashes)
Loss of joint/muscle pain
Loss of dry skin/nails/hair
Loss of anxiety 
Loss of hoarseness 
Loss of fluid retention (bloat/swelling)
Loss of insulin resistance 
Loss of insomnia/sleep deprivation 
Loss of hundreds of other symptoms

With that loss, I will gain…I will increase. So it’s officially BACK on. Either join me, help me, support me, or stay out of the way.”

Some of my posts from this point on will be about accountability as well as to seek and give inspiration and support.

As far as weight loss, I won’t and I encourage others not to be a slave to the scale but I want to share where I begin.  As mentioned above, today, November 1, 2017, I weigh 160lbs and my waist measures in around 35 inches.

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I actually took more pictures of my waist but not so sure I want to share them at this time.  I will share more weigh-ins and pics in a few weeks.

People don’t believe that food addiction is real but I am a witness and an addict.  I have literally been on a yo-yo with this journey.  Right now I’m going to hope and pray that I continue on this journey and don’t fall off the wagon as I always say.  Please pray for me and I will pray for you.  I know that I can do this and if I can, you can too!

Until the next time…peace, love, and strength to each of you and happy healing!