I used to be fine with just a piece, or two, of my Lindt's 90% dark chocolate, but now I feel as though I could eat an entire box of chocolates and still want MORE! That's what happens when you restrict yourself from the foods you love. I could say the same thing about cheese. I keep seeing it in the fridge, and watching Nick eat it....I want it so bad!!
Here are some of the things that have bothered me most, thus far:
- Corn is in everything. Yeah, yeah, I already knew that. On this diet I am not allowed to have corn. All I want is one small piece of candy, or something sweet, but everything has corn. I am allowed to have agave nectar on this diet (because it's "natural" I guess....) but since it's 90% fructose, I can't have it (FODMAPs). I'm going crazy. I sound like an addict.
- There are no yogurts that don't contain either dairy or soy. Unless, that is, you know of any. Anyone?!?!?!?! I am just not that into almond milk, and the cultured coconut milk is good, but it would be much better with some.....unsweetenend cocoa ;)
- Stevia is gross. I hate it. It has that bitter taste like aspartame.
(**Speaking of aspartame, I received a couple comments about it on my last post. As it turns out, it's in my Flintstone multivitamin. A couple people wrote comments about the dangers of aspartame. I agree we shouldn't eat a lot of it, and I always tell people to mix up their artificial sweeteners instead of sticking to one and only one (I use Truvia, Splenda, and I guess...aspartame. I use very little, maybe one or two packets of either of these sweeteners each day) . I just want to point out that there are also plenty of studies that show bad affects from natural sweeteners, like Stevia. There is a downside to everything. This is why I always say eat everything in moderation. I don't think a Flintstone vitamin will hurt me. I prefer the chewable vitamins because the nutrients are absorbed better when broken down, then swallowed, in my professional opinion.**)
- There are no yogurts that don't contain either dairy or soy. Unless, that is, you know of any. Anyone?!?!?!?! I am just not that into almond milk, and the cultured coconut milk is good, but it would be much better with some.....unsweetenend cocoa ;)
- Stevia is gross. I hate it. It has that bitter taste like aspartame.
(**Speaking of aspartame, I received a couple comments about it on my last post. As it turns out, it's in my Flintstone multivitamin. A couple people wrote comments about the dangers of aspartame. I agree we shouldn't eat a lot of it, and I always tell people to mix up their artificial sweeteners instead of sticking to one and only one (I use Truvia, Splenda, and I guess...aspartame. I use very little, maybe one or two packets of either of these sweeteners each day) . I just want to point out that there are also plenty of studies that show bad affects from natural sweeteners, like Stevia. There is a downside to everything. This is why I always say eat everything in moderation. I don't think a Flintstone vitamin will hurt me. I prefer the chewable vitamins because the nutrients are absorbed better when broken down, then swallowed, in my professional opinion.**)
Ok that's enough complaining for today. Oh wait, one more things, I'm not feeling any better, or different. I'm guessing this might take more than 2 days!
Now let's take a look at few of the things I ate.
I am still only doing about 200 mg caffeine per day, which is down from my usually 300-350 mg. I'm feeling just fine. I plan on sticking to this, and actually working my way down eventually.
I had my gluten free oats, pureed pumpkin, and crunchy almond butter for breakfast. I used almond milk to cook the oats.
Today I was on the road because I had to teach a diabetes class in Toledo, which is about 2.5 hours away.
In the parking lot I ate this cultured coconut milk with a handful of my homemade granola (molasses, gluten free oats, almond butter, and almonds). The coconut milk has not caused me any bloating issues. On the low FODMAPs diet I should not consume coconut, but the milk (cultured) seems to be just fine.
I enjoyed this salad in the car too (don't worry, I'm a safe driver!). It's a spinach salad topped with quinoa, tomatoes, and balsamic vinaigrette.
For another source of calcium I steamed some fresh kale. Kale contains less oxalates so more calcium is available for absorption from kale in comparison to spinach, which contains many oxalates.
I steamed the kale and topped it with a dash of salt and a ton of pepper. I then sliced some butternut squash on top. I had about 4 ounces of organic chicken for my protein.
I've been snacking on plain rice cakes and nutritional yeast at night. Does that sound strange? It's actually very tasted. The rice cakes are lightly salted and perfect. I have also been eating my veggie chips, which are a new favorite snack.
Strangely, I haven't missed my popcorn. I am too busy missing my chocolate. Nick has been very supportive and has even given up ice cream this week (something else I'm missing) to make it easier for me.
I'll be back on Thursday or Friday. Thanks for reading! I'm about to go snack on some rice cakes and nutritional yeast (or "nooch" as some of you say...).
Hopefully once you hit day 3 or 4 you won't be craving that chocolate and cheese?? ; ) haha. Actually, you'll probably stop craving it right when your elimination diet experiment is over :p
ReplyDeleteHave a great Wednesday, Gina!
So nuts are allowed on the diet?
ReplyDeleteCorn would undoubtedly be a really tough one. I'm not sure if I can get the hang of Stevia or not yet. Cultured coconut milk sounds yummy. I'm about to go check that out!
I can totally see that you would start craving things you are not allowed to have at all. I remember I wanted soft cheese so badly when I was pregnant...
ReplyDeleteI love getting calcium from kale!
I take Flintstones vitamins too. Giving up chocolate and cheese would be so difficult for me!
ReplyDeleteThat salad looks really good!
coconut milk yogurt? http://www.sodeliciousdairyfree.com/products/coconut_yogurt.html ?
ReplyDeleteI hate stevia too!! It tastes horrible and bitter to me. I just don't get it.
Wow, eliminating corn from your diet would def be tough! It really is everywhere. Props to you for going through with this! It's interesting to see what you're eating. I'd be craving the chocolate too... haha ;)
ReplyDeletecongrats on the caffeine! i'm not sure how i'd handle it. (probably very poorly. :p) wow, there's so many foods i haven't tried, like stevia, and nutritional yeast, and quinoa. lol...i really need to get out more!
ReplyDeleteI always tell people that adjusting to the taste of stevia is like making the leap from soda to diet soda or from 2% milk to skim...it takes a while to get used to but once you do, you're taste buds won't want to go back. ;-)
ReplyDeleteWow-- this sounds really tough!!! I'm really impressed, Gina-- keep it up!
ReplyDeletewow, I don't know how you're doing it but I'm sure it's a good experience to have first-hand when in this field!
ReplyDeletesounds like a super tricky diet...i have much more appreciation for those who have to try elimination diets!
ReplyDeletei completely agree with you...ignoring cravings always leads to bad things like craving a food even more.
ugh gross. this seems really painful. i would probably gauge my eyes out hahaha. no popcorn?! i guess you could crumble up rice cakes and pretend they're popcorn...
ReplyDeleteduuuude nooch is AMAZING. you must must muuuuuuust cook it into quinoa! it makes it cheesy!!! i just did nooch + roasted red pepper hummus all cooked into the quinoa the other night and it was like spicy mac n cheese!
Isn't it so true that the second you deny yourself a piece of chocolate, cheese, whatever your vise is, that's ALL you want? Sucks!
ReplyDeleteEverything you've been eating looks pretty tasty and fresh. I hope you start to notice a difference (for the better) soon... :)
I commend you for following such a restrictive diet for the sake of your profession and for hands on experience. Looks like it can be frustrating even for the healthiest person in the world. I agree that depravation is not the way. But at least this is just a temporary project and not a "lifetime" type of diet. Best of luck and hang in there!! Im rooting for you! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat about coconut milk yogurt? Not as creamy as soy or dairy, and not enough protein, but it does the trick mixed with some fruit and granola!
ReplyDeleteWill you be at FNCE? Would love to meet up and might have a dinner opportunity if you're around!
Elimination diets are hard, but you know it is the best way to find the root of the problem. There are so many great alternatives out there now. It takes time and dare I say your taste buds change after a certain point? Yeah, they do. I miss frozen yogurt still. I hate super sweet ice cream or frozen treats, so I really have not come across a good alternative to my old friend.
ReplyDeleteI can't remember if I told you already.. but I take a chewable flintstone vitamin as well -- for the reasons you stated as well as for another reason of not liking to swallow pills.
ReplyDeleteThis diet sounds really tough! Good for you for sticking with it. Chocolate cravings would hit me hard too!
ReplyDeleteSheesh! That elimination stuff sounds pretty depressing! Kudos to you for sticking to it:)
ReplyDeleteI have to say that reading about you staying on your elimination diet is helping me stick to my own eating plan. If you can give up chocolate, than I can stick to my plan!
ReplyDeleteSounds like torture...I really hope you are able to narrow down what is causing you problems! Yuo're right...it's everything we try not to teach clients! I will have to show a lady I'm helping right now this post!
ReplyDeleteps. wrote a post on nat'l and artificial flavors...would love your thoughts!
Wow, this is sounding rough for you because of your initial dietary restrictions. I wonder if someone who needed an elimination diet would wind up eliminating as many things as you have to just to experiment.
ReplyDelete