I sat in the doctor/nutritionist’s office and did my best to absorb what she was saying.
“No gluten. No dairy. No sugar.” (My three favorite foods in the world have to do with bread, cheese, and desserts.)
Cut out pork, cut down on red meats, eat fish and chicken sparingly. Cut out soft drinks. Drink more water. Eat lots of whole foods and fruits and vegetables. As much as possible, avoid foods with more than five ingredients. Don’t eat between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Those are the words she was saying.
The words I was hearing were these:
“Your life as you know it is over. You will never again be able to eat anything tasty and every recipe you have ever made (and that your family has loved) will need to be trashed. Get ready to never love anything you eat again. But have a nice day.”
So why was I even in the office of this rule-spouting doctor in the first place?
Mainly because my Rheumatoid Arthritis is getting worse, possibly even getting into my lungs. RA is exacerbated by inflammation in the body and therefore getting rid of inflammation through dietary changes seemed like a good idea.
Well, at least it sounded like a good idea when I first thought about it. But that was before I heard what it would take to accomplish that task.
After our hour-long conversation, I clutched the doctor’s sheet of instructions in my hands, sat in the car and cried. It all just seemed too hard, too undoable, too unreasonable, too unrealistic. I am 56 years old. How am I supposed to change a lifetime of eating habits overnight?
On the drive home I stopped by a Publix grocery store to pick up some gluten-free bread that the doctor had recommended. As I walked through the enormous store with tempting (but not good for me) food calling my name from every corner I thought, “If I do what she says, I can only eat about 20% of what is in this building.”
And that started the tears again–I was so completely overwhelmed and frustrated. And this was before I had my scan results back so I was dealing with that stress, too.
I got home, told Steve about the visit, and teared up all over again.
A little later as I was on the phone with Sarah telling her about how I was feeling, she stopped me in my tracks with one question, “So Mom, what are you going to do first?”
Suddenly the whole situation looked a little less overwhelming.
What was I going to do first? Just one thing?
Well, I could do one thing, no problem. And maybe (possibly) even two. Or three.
And so, for the past eleven days Steve and I have been diligently making changes, following the guidelines listed above. It’s not always been easy, but change seldom is.
One of the first things I did was to rid my freezer of all the things I’m not supposed to be eating. I moved them to our garage freezer and I will send them back to school with Sarah after fall break. They are not “bad” things, just not things that are the best for a person fighting inflammation.
When the freezer clean out was accomplished, I took myself off on a grocery shopping trip, marching past the shelves where I usually stop and stopping at other shelves I’d never paid attention to before. I have to admit that I got overwhelmed all over again when I saw item after item I was not supposed to be eating, things I have loved and eaten for my whole life.
Fortunately I am married to a guy who is totally on board with changing our eating habits. Steve has always been dramatically affected by the food he eats. Within a minute or two of putting something in his mouth, he either feels better or he feels worse. Like me, he’s been a lover of dessert his whole life, even though his body negatively reacts almost immediately after eating it. So cutting way down on sugar will be a help for him, as well. Unlike me, he has always LOVED vegetables and raw crunchy foods so he has a little bit less of an adjustment in that area than I do.
Not only is he on board with the plan, he is also on board with cutting up all the extra produce and doing the dishes after dinner. Pretty good guy to go on an eating adventure with.
Although I may have made my naysaying nutritionist sound a bit dictatorial, the truth is she that she was a true gem. She was encouraging, easy to talk to, and even gave me a big hug at the end of our appointment. Something I especially appreciated about her was that her rules were not ironclad; she obviously understands that rules cannot cover all the vagaries of life.
For instance she said, “I just told you a whole bunch of guidelines that are important for you to follow. However, If one day you really feel like eating a small steak, eat the steak. Eat it slowly and enjoy it and then take a good long break before you have another one. If you have a hankering for an in ice cream cone one afternoon, then have an ice cream cone. Just don’t eat those foods very often.”
My immediate goal is to change what I eat 80% of the time and give myself a break 20% of the time. I would rather do that and be able to maintain the new habits than demand 100% compliance of myself and wind up with changes that are too stringent to realistically maintain.
The good news is that in the first seven days of this eating plan, I lost 6.2 pounds! That has been a welcome side effect because I had been stuck at the same weight for almost a year and no matter what I did, I couldn’t budge off that number. The weight loss shows that my body is ridding itself of something but I don’t know what. Fluid? Inflammation? Toxins? I’m not real sure but I’m glad to see it go.
My ultimate hope (besides losing the needed 20 pounds) is to see less inflammation, to maybe see an improvement in my hands (one finger has gotten a lot worse even in the last month), and to feel a difference in my breathing. But even if none of that happens, the fact that I am trying to put good things in my body is a win-win.
I will blog about this from time to time but don’t worry that I’m going to turn into someone who has a one track mind about food and health and writes about it constantly. The main thing I want to do now is to enlist the help of any reader who has made similar kinds of changes and can share any good tips/recipes/encouragements. I am beyond desperate for help since I feel like I have moved to a new country and don’t speak a word of the language.
I’ll close this portion of the blog with a photo I took of a sweet potato I was cutting in half for Steve and me to share. I noticed that, when cut, the potato was in the shape of a heart. That seemed to be apropos for this new chapter of life–loving myself enough to take more care with what I put in my body.
I’m sure you remember that about a month ago, we were being told that the monster storm, Hurricane Florence, was barreling straight toward the Outer Banks and was going to bring all sorts of devastation and destruction to our little sandbar.
When I see the pictures from Mexico Beach, FL, I just shake my head in disbelief and I remind myself that THAT is what I had pictured happening to the Outer Banks in the days before the storm turned. It’s no wonder I was a bit stressed!
We knew that Hurricane Michael was going to pass over us on the way out back out to sea but since we were such a long distance from landfall, we barely gave it a second thought.
We got some heavy rain and wind gusts up to 60 m.p.h. which wasn’t too surprising; what we weren’t prepared for, though, was the flooding, the closed roads, and the power outages for thousands of people.
This is our little theater in downtown Manteo.
This is five minutes from our house.
These pictures were taken about 20 minutes away.
Although we ended up getting hit a lot harder than we ever anticipated, what we experience was nothing compared to those folks who were near Michael’s landfall. I can’t even fathom what they have been endured. We continue to pray and to support the crisis organizations who are going in to help.
Thank you to all of you who were so supportive in the comments for my last post.
I did call the doctor’s office to see if there was any way my appointment could be moved up so I didn’t have to wait so long to discuss the scan results. They actually found a time for me to come in as soon as tomorrow but unfortunately, we will be in South Carolina through Wednesday. The next availability they had was next Tuesday, so that’s when I’ll be going. I am thankful to have the appointment moved forward a little, at least.
Another doctor update is about our newest grandson, Grayson.
Grayson has been having some trouble with gaining weight. Breast milk and several different formulas (including a prescription formula) have not agreed with his little system. He had an upper GI last Friday and will need to go to the Children’s Hospital in Orlando for further testing. Thanks for your prayers for our little man. (And happy fifth birthday to Noah on October 10!)
What about you? Do have any good advice for this new way of eating? I would truly appreciate hearing from you.
Hi Becky – I’m just reading this now and my heart goes out to you. I’ve been on a similar diet change journey because of autoimmune disease. Mine is psoriasis. I say journey, because it truly is, one step at a time. Instagram has been my go to for recipe inspiration. Danielle Walker has several great cookbooks. Her Instagram page is Against All Grain. Here’s a queso recipe I’ve made several times. Enjoy with grain free chips (Siete brand) or plantain chips. I don’t have an instant pot, so made it on the stovetop. I also use it on my tacos (grain free Siete almond tortilla) for a cheesy add to them. I think you’ll like this!
Heather,
Thank you so much for your wise and compassionate comment! Nice to hear from my readers who can relate on a very practical level.
And new recipes are always wonderful, especially when they come recommended by someone who has already made them and loved them. Will definitely try the cheese sauce recipe. The ingredients look rather fascinating; hard to imagine how all of that will combine to make a sauce!
But would love to have a viable sauce to turn to when I’m in the sauce mood. Thanks for for the info on Danielle Walker; looks like she has good stuff.
Hi Becky,
If you are watching your diet carefully, and your doctor mentioned not eating items with more than 5 ingredients, be careful with vegan cheeses. Some are highly processed. There are cheesey type substitutes using cashews. You can soak them, blend them to make creamy. You can google recipes for that. For a parmesan topping, I blend:
3/4 cup + 1 tbsp raw cashews.
1/4 cup nutritional yeast.
1/2 tsp garlic powder.
1/4 tsp onion powder.
3/4 tsp sea salt.
I’ve been plant based for about 10 years. I’ve made numerous veggie lasagnas. They can be yummy delicious, minus cheese of any sort. You can find rice lasagna noodles too. Or I’ve used eggplant sliced thin. I’m not a huge fan of eggplant, but actually liked it in the lasagna. I’d be happy to forward recipes.
Since you live in a more remote area, you might like shopping at vitacost.com. Heck, I live in a city and shop via vitacost! They are owned by Kroger. Prices are good, especially if you wait for them to offer a 10%-20% sale, which happens frequently. Free delivery over $50 purchase. There are lots of healthy items (and not so healthy items). Lots of gluten free noodles, baking items, etc.
Keeping you and your family close in my prayers. Hope little Grayson is improving. And Steve and his shingles. (Just read that post.)
Anne,
Interesting info–thank you!
I’ve never heard of Vitacost; just spend a few minutes perusing the site and it looks great. I’ve also never heard of making Parmesan cheese from almonds so you are definitely expanding my horizons.
I am not a fan of eggplant, either but it’s good to know it works well in lasagna without being too “noticeable.”
Hello Becky.
I am hoping your new diet can help you. The first ting that came to my mind is maybe you can have veggie lassagna? I know it is possible to buy pasta plates gluten free. And instead of the sauce with milk you can just use tomato sauce. And vegan Cheese on top.
I can relate to have things you should not eat. I cannot have dairy (And if then lactose free Because I am lactose intolerant) and I cannot eat beef. Too heavy for my stomach. All my child hood I had problems with my stomach but after I omnit those things my stomach is fine. I do cheat with One thing once in a while. Cheese on pasta. It does feel like a treat when I do it
Katrina,
Veggie lasagna is a great idea. I’d never thought of looking for vegan cheese. Will have to give it a try and see what it tastes like. I can’t imagine it tasting very good but maybe I will be surprised!
Glad you have found out what foods do and do not work for you. No sense in eating things that make you feel bad!
The vegan cheese you use that can melt is nice. I have tried it on pizza once and it was good
Katrina,
Hmmm. That’s good to know. I guess I will give it a try then.
A quick tip for your new way of eating: coconut milk. Contrary to most opinion, it does not have a strong coconut flavor and makes a great substitute in cream-based soups and home-prepared salad dressings. Also, research the AIP (auto-immune plan). I’ve done some meal prep and cooking for a family that follows this plan and there are some great resources out there. I could probably pull together a few recipes or ideas and send your way if you like. What a great opportunity to learn more about yourself, cooking and food!
Kristy,
Someone else had mentioned coconut milk to me but I didn’t pay much attention because I don’t love the coconut flavor. It’s good to know the flavor is not that intense; I will definitely give it a try.
Thanks for the tip!
I’m sorry your visit with your nutritionist was so upsetting – it would be for me too. Thank goodness you had Sarah to put it into perspective for you with her simple question. I hope it’s an easy adjustment for you and that you see a big improvement.
Sue Ellen,
Yes, it’s nice to have someone put a complicated situation into perspective; thankful for that daughter of mine!
Hi Becky,
I’m sorry to hear that your diet is impacting your RA and that you need to make how you need to make drastic changes to your eating and diet. I hear grief in your words about crying after the nutritionist visit, which is certainly understandable- food is such an indelible part of our days and provides routine, structure, and comfort in our days, so to have to make significant changes is not easy.
I can really relate to some of the changes you are making. Since June of 2017, I’ve had to make drastic dietary changes too. My nutritionist had me trial going off dairy and gluten last year for a few weeks, but when there was not a discernable change in my symptoms, I was allowed back on those foods. However, I’m still not able to eat anything fried, have more than a teaspoon of oil a day, am on an extremely low fat diet, and cannot eat several foods from soda to citrus to onions and garlic, to a whole lot more plus I can only eat 2 meals a day and have to finish 7 hours before bed (so I eat a small breakfast at 7:30 am and then one large meal at 3:30 and that is it). Happily, I can again eat a little chocolate and tomates.
At first, it was a devastating adjustment. My symptoms also kept me up at night, however, so it was very motivating to stick to this diet so that I could lie down and sleep. Eventually, I began to see that my health was so much better when I stuck to this diet, and so I began to see it in more of a positive light, like something proactive i could do to feel better. This new outlook began one night when I did not stick to the diet and was up with symptoms for hours in the night. In desperation I turned to a Facebook gropu for my condition and someone told me that I could see my condition as a negative or I could see it as something that would force my body to eat healthy– which ultimately was a blessing.
One thing I recommend is to invest in some kitchen tools like a toaster oven and hand blender, or a vegetable crinkler. It’s amazing how much these help me. I no longer miss things like french fries from Mcdonalds because they now seem so utterly greasy. Instead, I enjoy making my own “fries” on a daily basis from things like sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, zuchinni, and eggplant etc that i cut into the shape of fries and toast in my toaster oven. There are also other ways to enjoy food than the prior way– for example it is amazing how things like the colour and texture of food can add interest and delight in eating. I’ve found lots of great recipes on the internet for people with my stomach condition that approximate normal recipes but use foods I can safely eat.
If you want to talk more about recipes or other ideas I’d be happy to! I hope that your new diet continues to go well.
Becky I thought of more tips that help me. Since I can’t use a lot of flavouring things like garlic and pepper or oil or sauces I use a lot of spices. It’s amazing how much better vegetables taste smoothered in things like dill, oregano, thyme, and other spices. I’m also growing spices in my kitchen— rosemary and basil and it’s fun to add them to my meals. It’s another way to add enjoyment to my food. Or, I eat instant quick oatmeal now and then for breakfast (not the packaged in a box flavoured kind). On its own oatmeal is not that good but when you add cinnamon, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, raisins and walnuts with half or a quarter a teaspoon of brown sugar it’s so delicious and is like a comfort food.
Another tip is I use the MyFitnessPal app (it’s free) on my phone to track my daily calories, nutrients, sugar and salt and fat intake etc. That gives me a very good idea what I’m consuming. I literally measure out every teaspoon of peanut butter or cup of vegetables so I get a very clear idea but the app works if you just guesstimate too.
I also mentioned a toaster over earlier and while I love it you can also bake vegetables in your stone and get the same results (ie sweet potatoe fries).
There are also some fairly good milk alternatives like almond or rice milk and vegan cheeses you can try. I loved the almond and rice milk and wasn’t as big a fan of the cheese but some people like them. At our local grocery store they also sell vegan margarine (the brand is Becel, not sure if you have that brand in the USA)- you can use it to replace butter or regular margarine and it tastes exactly the same.
Every now and then I also go to a local organic store and they have a lot of vegan items as well as interesting alternatives for meat, milk and gluten etc.
Jenna,
Thanks for taking the time to pop back in on this comment thread.
I agree with you totally on oatmeal. I have eaten old-fashioned oats for breakfast every morning for YEARS. In the past I have put vanilla yogurt on it but am switching to almond milk instead. I know there is non-dairy yogurt but it seems expensive and the milk is a pretty good substitute although I do miss the yogurt consistency. I also add homemade granola that has two kinds of nuts, olive oil, a little bit of honey, vanilla, oatmeal and a couple of spices. I make sure I never run out because that just makes my morning.
And I have also used the MyFitness app for several years now and LOVE it. I am not as diligent as you as far as measuring out every spoonful but I have gotten pretty good at guestimating and I read the labels so I know how many calories. (Calories have been the only thing I’ve counted but I might branch out from there.)
And yes, I think it would be helpful to get more knowledgeable about spices. I cook with about 10 on a fairly regular basis but there are a whole lot more out there.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom and experience!
Jenna,
I love the perspective change you mentioned as far as being forced to give your body healthy things which, in turn, is a great blessing.
I had to look up vegetable crinklers online since I had never heard of them or knew they exist. Sounds like one of those will be a good addition to my kitchen; thanks for the tip! I’ve also started keeping my eyes open for a hand blender since you mentioned it.
It sounds like you have quite the journey in making your lifestyle changes part of your life. The whole thing of not being able to lie down for a long time after eating must have been SO hard to adjust to. Kudos to you for keeping your usual amazing attitude and embracing the changes necessary to keep your body healthy.
Thanks for taking the time to share your tips–I know they definitely come from experience!
Becky, the name of that app is Shopwell. I hope it helps! 🙂
LeeAnne,
I downloaded it today. Thanks so much!
My husband has diabetes. He enjoys watching programs on nutrition and about 2 years ago came across a Dr. Fuhrman who has lost weight basically on a vegetarian diet, which if followed closely can also reduce or omit the diabetes (not sure if he has diabetes). That perked my husband up and so, with or without my okay, he was going to go on this “diet.” I knew I needed to lose some weight, and with heels dug in, we got started with some of Dr. Fuhrman’s recipes. We have both lost 20 lbs. and still use the recipes of Dr. Fuhrman, BUT we also “cheat.” On the diet, we are not to have, butter, oils, salt, and meat is to be a condiment, not a main course. Never used quinoa before (I had pronounced it qui-no-a), but have a great recipe for quinoa chili. Once in a while I may add ground turkey. Many of the recipes we also use sweet potatoes. Of course, we also eat LOTS of salads. Pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds are added to the salads, plus low sugar Craisins, for some more taste. There is a dressing that is sold in the stores here from Walden Farms, no gluten, no sugar, or salt, etc. etc., but still tastes very good. We also use a mixture of chia seeds, flax seed and coconut, which we add to our cereal, or whatever. It seemed difficult at first, but the more recipes we made (and froze) it became easier. We too cleaned out our shelves (not the freezer – nothing to toss). You can do this Becky. I know you’ll have recipes for us to try too. You’ve got this!!!
Sharyn,
Congratulations on FORTY pounds lost between the two of you. That is a big accomplishment and I know you must feel so much better!
I’m glad I’m not the only person who pronounced quinoa qui-no-a. Makes me feel better. 🙂
That’s a great idea to add pumpkin and sesame seeds to salads. I love crunch in my salad an those could take the place of croutons. I will also keep an eye out for that salad dressing.
Thank you SO much for sharing your tips!
Forgot to see if you can have fruit? I love ice cream, but trying to find a non dairy for my husband I made a lot of banana “ice cream” and other fruit “sorbets”. I still make them even thought my husband doesn’t like them. You can find recipies online. Basically use frozen banana slices (I freeze whole bananas and slice them frozen and the peel just falls off) and any combinations of other frozen fruit, nut butters, almond milk if allowed, a little cocoa powder, etc. Blend with an immersion blender or food processor. Eat like soft serve ice cream. I also do it with just frozen fruit or ice cubes of juice that I freeze. I love just frozen pineapple juice (unsweetened), I also will freeze this in our electric ice cream maker. Frozen blueberries with a touch of water or juice makes a great sorbet. To me it is a great substitute for ice cream.
Patti,
Yes, I can have fruit, which one of my favorite foods. Your idea of freezing whole unpeeled bananas was a good one. Seems like I am always buying too many bananas so that will be a good way to preserve them before they go bad.
I would never have thought of eating frozen pineapple juice! Will have to give that a try. Since I love ice cream, it’s nice to have these wonderful options to try. Thanks for taking the time to share!
Like some of your commenters, I too did a huge dietary shift almost 10 years ago. Game changer! No more allergies, very little sickness, weight loss, energy,….!!! Actually, it was my husband who started after hearing lectures by doctors John McDougall and Caldwell Esselstyn. Our entire family (4 now grown kids) followed along. All of us experienced improvement in health! We are whole food, plant-based, very little added oils, so no frying, etc. Basically, a healthy vegan diet. Add 2 young grand kids and a son-in-law who all follow the way of eating (I don’t call it a diet!). I highly recommend checking out documentaries: Forks Over Knives, and What the Health. So inspiring! And there are loads of websites, facebook support, etc. to help and inspire. Engine2 is another inspiring group. Great recipes, etc.
So many sick and suffering folks in this country, and much is caused by poor diet. I was amazed to find out Dr. Spock, the famous pediatrician, became quite ill in his later years. After giving up animal foods, especially dairy, his health improved. He restored his health, and enjoyed happy, healthy years.
When I go in a grocery store, I only consider about 20% of the items true food. The rest, simply, is not. Gluten is not an issue with me, but I do avoid heavily processed foods. There are lots of options: rice noodles, etc. I’d be happy to share recipe ideas, or websites I have used.
Thanksgiving is coming up, and we all still LOVE Thanksgiving!! I don’t even think about the old foods anymore, but we have the same flavors in new recipes! You can do this, Becky! Trust me, it feels SO GOOD to FEEL GOOD!!!
Ann,
The thing that struck me most about your comment was the fact that your children and grandchildren have chosen the same way of eating. Think of what an amazing chain reaction of healthy living you and your husband started that will continue through the generations.
I’m sure it makes family get togethers, reunions, holidays so much easier since you are all on the same page, food-wise. Very inspiring.
I love the name “Forks over Knives.” Will definitely check that out and the other resources. (And will try the rice noodles, too.) Thank you!
Grayson deserves his own comment cause babies are my ‘thing’. It is so worrying to the mama when a baby isnt gaining. So stressful. Fortunately, he is her third, so she knows it is something inherent in him and not something she is/is not doing. His skin looks really dry/rough too, I wonder if the two issues are related. Hopefully Childrens Hospital will get to the bottom of it quickly, these little ones seem so vulnerable. Prayers for Meagan and Nathan as they handle their anxieties about this. It’s not easy.
Lesley,
Thanks for your bonus “baby comment.” 🙂
I’m thankful they are near very good doctors and hospitals and can hopefully get to the bottom of this quickly. You and I both know how stressful it is when our little ones are going through something of a medical nature. Thanks for the concern and the prayers.
The best thing about all this is that Steve is a willing partner in this journey. I suppose the fact that he can still partake in his popcorn ritual helps 🙂 I find that purging the kitchen like you did is the best way to start. That way there is no temptation. I came up as prediabetic on my yearly bloodwork, so sugar is mostly out the window for me. Minimal dairy too. The trick is to find something that satisfies the cravings that are sure to pop up and still falls in the ‘accepted foods’ category. Sarah is right, focus on one issue at a time. For me, I have to go in 100% while I am home and only stray a bit when I am eating out or there is a special occasion. Bottom line, I think you will feel much better in a few weeks, I sure did. It amazies me that when given the ‘right’ food, our bodies know exactly what to do with it for our betterment. If only we knew that years ago! I picture my insides heaving a huge sigh of relief that I am feeding them properly now. And yes, the weight will come off because your body never wanted it there to begin with. We just weren’t giving it the right tools to function in a healthy way.
Mentally it is a huge shift. Once I was ‘in the zone’ I really saw how much our society revolves around food. I mean, it is amazing. It is everywhere, in such unhealthy excess.
OK, to be honest, the best thing about all this is the natural weight loss without a lick of exercise (see what I did there? haha). Welcome to the club!
Lesley,
Yes, it makes a HUGE difference that Steve is willing to do this with me. I can’t imagine having to cook for me and then cook something different for him. And yes, the fact that he can still have his popcorn makes all the difference! 🙂
I love the word picture you painted about our bodies heaving a sigh of relief at being fed properly. That is a good mental picture to carry with me.
Thanks for the Club Welcome!
Prayers for Grayson. My cousin’s grandson was born about the same time. Hudson had what they called an angel kiss under his eye. They told them it would fade over time. When he went for his two month checkup and shots, it had not faded and was getting close to getting in his eye. They put him on a med that is supposed to constrict the blood vessels, at least that’s what I understood. The first dose had to be taken at the ped’s office followed by monitoring of about 2 hours.
Good luck on your new eating plan. I have tried to start eating better since retiring 3.5 months ago. I’ve lost close to 20 pounds, with many more to go, in just under 3 months. My A1C has dropped from the low level of pre-diabetes level to normal.and my cholesterol is down several points. It’s hard though as I love ice cream, sweets and baking. I gave up diet soda about 3 years ago but had gotten in the habit of having a regular root beer 2-3 times a week. I’ve cut that out and drink tea in the morning with water the rest of the day. I did just have a cup of apple cider.
The pictures of the devastation left behind by Michael are unbelievable. Pictures like that reinforce the need to evacuate when one is heading your way.
Phyllis,
Congratulations to YOU on the changes you have made recently and especially, the results of those changes! I know it must so rewarding to see the scale numbers drop and especially the numbers at the doctor’s office. I think that if everyone started eating better, a lot of doctors would probably be out of business.
So glad Hudson got the help he needed when he needed it. Sometimes our little ones just need a little extra TLC and attention during those first few months.
Oh Becky, first of all prayers for Grayson and the whole Smith and Hawley families…..Second, I know how hard it is to give up foods you love, I was diagnosed back in 2011 as being pre-diabetic and I said to my doctor, I don’t eat a lot of sugar, he said do you eat bread and I said OH YEAH, my favorite food, bread, croissants, waffles etc. and he said those carbs translate into sugar in your body (why I didn’t know that I am not sure) so he limited me to 30 carbs for 3 meals a day and 15 for snacks, I told him how healthy I was eating every day making a banana/strawberry/blueberry/oj shake every day and he said the sugar in that was probably off the charts!!! It was a big adjustment….and I was really sad about the food I would never be able to eat again….but I did it, lost 30 pounds doing it and my sugar level today is in the normal range….I know your condition is different but I found recipes and menus that would meet my cravings….my daughter recently was diagnosed with gall bladder and hypothyroid issues so once again we are adjusting our diet and my husband, who when I met him ate steak about 5 times a week, has now been diagnosed with serious heart issues, looking at a pace maker perhaps, the most ironic thing and frustrating thing about that is that he takes such good care of himself….no more steak more than once a month, he exercises at least 4 times a week, maintains a healthy weight, but once again we are looking at dietary issues, no red meat at all, no sodium, no fatty foods, so that is our new normal…..I am so glad you have a wonderful support system around you, you guys have all gone through such health issues…it doesn’t seem fair that one family should have to endure all this…….but I know you have your faith……
Dale,
NO sodium??! Oh my. That would be very difficult. I was just talking to a lady at our church Sunday who can’t have salt and she was talking about trying to eat an egg with so salt in it. Uninspiring to say the least!
So great that your sugar is now in the normal range after the changes you made. It probably made you feel like doing a happy dance the first time you saw the normal numbers; such a good feeling of accomplishment! (Not to mention losing that 30 pounds!)
I’m sorry about your husband’s heart issues, especially since he has been trying to live in such a healthy way. Think of how much worse shape he would be in if he HADN’T been making all those healthy choices.
Thanks for your good advice and encouragement!
Dear Becky,
I took wheat, dairy and sugar out of my diet two years along with corn, caffeine, soy, artificial sweeteners, and alcohol. This was on the advice of my doctor. It was hard to make the adjustment, but the benefits have been amazing. I’ve lost 30 pounds, I no longer get migraine headaches, and my blood counts have been perfect across the board. I know I sound like an infomercial, but changing my diet was probably the most important thing I’ve ever done for my health.
That said, it takes some time to adjust to a new way of eating, meal preparation, and thinking about food. I did it “Big Bang”. I picked a day to start, and spent the weekend before start day cooking and preparing foods that met my new guidelines.
For example: I cooked a pot of steel cut oats, and divided them into single serving containers with slice fresh peaches, a spoonful of stevia, and some cinnamon. I can make 3-4 days worth of breakfasts in the same amount of time it takes me to make one, and I can take breKfast with me and heat it up at work if I need to.
Same thing with lunch… I cook large amounts and package into single servings for for multiple meals. Example: cook some chicken breasts in the crockpot with some vegetable broth. When done, chop serving size amounts (4 oz) to add to a green salad for lunch.
One of my favorite dinners is roasted veggies with sausage. Cut some chicken sausage, toss with olive oil, oregano, basil, and some garlic powder. Roast on a cookie sheet at 375 for 10 mins. Add chopped broccoli, cauliflower, onion, carrots and zucchini to the pan and roast another 20 minutes. You can add or subtract veggies to increase the number of servings, and freeze leftovers in single serving containers.
Snacks: almonds and carrots, celery and humus, hard boiled eggs, fresh fruit… so many options.
That sweet potato is going to be one of your very best friends. They are amazingly versatile vegetables, and you can have them for breakfast, lunch and dinner! I love making sweet potato pancakes with brown rice flour, and serving them with unsweetened applesauce, ginger, and cinnamon!
The hardest part is starting, followed by the constant peer pressure to eat whatever is available, and the amazing lack of ready-made foods that meet your new guidelines.
But start anyway, and stick to it. Focus on what you CAN eat, and on the benefits that whole, fresh food brings to your life. Once I got sugar out of my diet, I no longer craved it. You’ll be surprised how your taste and cravings change, and how good your body will feel. You can do this!
Tobi,
Thank you so much for taking the time to write out all those incredible tips!
Cooking ahead and cooking extra will be very helpful, especially since it solves the “what am I going to eat for the next meal” problem.
And the roasted veggie idea sounds great. I have been noticing how much better vegetables taste when they are done in the oven and since I don’t really love veggies, that will help me to eat more of them without wrinkling my nose.
I will refer back to your comment often; thanks again!
Just wanted to send some support. Diet changes can be hard! My sons were diagnosed with Celiac disease almost 6 years ago. In addition, one also has dairy, soy, and tree nut allergies. The first little while is the hardest, but it does get easier. Most of the time we don’t even think about. Obviously the the hardest situations (at least for kids) are the social issues (like birthday parties). But even now my youngest will just say “No, thank you” when offered birthday cake or ice cream. We just bring our own gluten free/dairy/soy/tree nut free version and he is happy. Once in a while, one of the boys will say “I wish I could eat anything.” But they know they will get very sick if they do. They usually don’t even think about it other than asking if something is safe to eat when they aren’t sure. After a while, you will have a new menu of go-to recipes and you won’t think much about it.
JLB,
I am completely dumbstruck over the fact that you are dealing with dairy, soy, gluten AND nut allergies with your kids. You must be quite a creative cook to accommodate the changes that need to be made. I know that when you season food with love, it helps to take the place of those ingredients that can’t be eaten.
You are doing a great job of helping your sons make the necessary adjustments in their lives. It sounds like you have equipped them well.
Prayers for you all as you begin a new eating phase in your life. So happy that Steve is helping you along with it. It is my husband that should be on some special diets, but he is the unwilling one. I have tried making some substitutes, that I enjoyed, but he would rather do without than have the substitute… Prayers for Grayson that they will find an easy fix for his diet.
Patti,
Thanks for the encouragement and prayers. I know how hard it is for your husband to be willing to make those changes; it’s not an easy thing.
I DO feel very thankful that Steve is willing to go along on this journey.
Becky, I try to prepare healthy foods and meals and we eat a lot of fresh produce and I don’t fry things but we do not have to follow any kind of restrictive diet, thankfully. I think I would adapt much easier than my honey if we had to. 🙂 I do have a couple of friends who have to though. One is highly allergic to gluten, dairy and a host of other things. She uses an app on her phone that is designed to tell you if a particular food is safe to eat. She can filter by what she can’t eat, then scans the label and it tells her if it is safe or not. I don’t know the name of it but I bet you could search and find something that would be helpful to you in the grocery store. It saves a lot of label reading and time and has proved to be extremely accurate. (I will text her and try to find out which app it is for sure.)
I hope that the doctors can figure out something for Grayson. He is just adorable!! Happy belated birthday to Noah!
LeeAnne,
Love the info about that app; thank you! I will definitely look it up once you find out what it’s called. That is such a great idea.
Sounds like you’re already a healthy eater, even without having to follow the stricter guidelines. Good for you!
Replying to Anne –
I have skin issues, including localized scleroderma, and cutting gluten totally cleared all rashes, and my scleroderma plaques are much smaller/lighter colored/softer now that I have zero gluten in my diet.
Interestingly – I can eat bread, pizza, cake, and donuts in Europe (and drink European beer) because they have different farming practices, including restrictions on specific chemicals used on crops in the USA.
Stefanie,
That is fascinating that you can eat eat gluten in Europe and not here. I wish they would export some of that bread to the USA!
Also interesting to know that being gluten free has helped with your skin issues.
What a big hunk of news (not cake) for you to digest! Yikes! Sounds good- healthy and all, but so hard to get into; I feel for you. Hope it makes a difference for you. (I will try to withhold sending a sympathy card…) Ruth
Ruth,
You can certainly send a sympathy card if you want! 🙂
It definitely is a big hunk of information. One bite at a time!
I went on a quest to overhaul my diet/food mentality several years ago, primarily with the goal to cut out sugar. One website I found incredibly helpful was “100 Days of Real Food.” You can sort recipes by various categories, including gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian. I know it’s a huge change but you’ve got this!
Linnae,
I made a note of that website you mentioned; I’m trying to keep all my new info in the same place so I can go back over and over and learn a little more each time.
I love that it has the sorting capability. Most helpful!
I, too, am glad you’re changing your eating habits. I did one complete round of Whole30 eating – which is basically what your nutritionist is recommending – and I never felt better in my life. After the 30 days, I really really REALLY wanted French bread (because Whole30 also prohibits all grains, so “gluten-free bread” is still a nono. I tried it, and found it quite gross.
We are what we eat. Truly. If we treated our food as the medicine we all need, we’d all be better off (I say, as I sit here and drink my coffee with milk in it, having eaten one link of breakfast sausage – PROCESSED FOOD – lol).
I think the 80/20 idea is good, but we tried that (Mike is on-board with healthier eating, too) and found that it was way too easy to “slip” back into the old ways of eating.
Good luck – I know it’s hard, and I’m hopeful the new way of eating will be beneficial for you. 🙂
You will find some amazing recipes if you google “Whole30 recipes” and you’ll be amazed at the VERY wide variety of foods you CAN eat. 🙂
Sending best thoughts for little Grayson.
Saffyres, (I think this is Stefanie?) 🙂
Interesting that even though you were craving French bread it still tasted bad to you when you ate it. I can’t IMAGINE French bread ever tasting bad; I guess that lets you know how much your body had changed.
Yeah, I know the 80/20 thing is probably a little lenient but I am just afraid to make it so stringent right off the bat that I get discouraged and quit. My goal would be to gradually increase that 80 to 90 or 95% (But probably never 100%. I have GOT to have some little something every once in a while!)
I will Google whole30 recipes and see what I can find that sounds good. I don’t know what people did back before the Internet and this wonderful wealth of information we have available to us. Very thankful!
Becky, to be honest, I am SO relieved to hear about your diet change. It has been a game-changer for me. I have been following that same regimen (although I do cheat with diary from time to time, and have the occasional gelato!) but I am super strict about gluten. I have psoriatic arthritis, which is in the same family as rheumatoid, being auto-immune and inflammatory and the diet has really helped. If I accidentally have some gluten (a host or server making a mistake), my joints start to swell (and it always seems to be a new joint joining the party!). Luckily, if I stick to the diet, the swelling usually subsides again after a few days. The diet sounds hard but it really isn’t, once you get into the rhythm of it. I can help with menus or recipes!!
Anne,
Glad to hear from someone whose arthritis was so dramatically impacted by being gluten free.
I actually had a test done last year by my GI which came back saying I was not gluten intolerant but regardless, I still know it’s better NOT to eat most breads. I was at the point where I was eating it at least once a day and that was not a good thing. Changes, changes, changes!
Prayers for you my friend. I know when Jim was diagnosed as a diabetic we changed some eating habits but not as much as you are having to do. It sounds like very little protein from poultry and fish and no other meats. Guess that will come from vegetables. I need to cut the sugar but have not done so yet. Your diet sounds almost like being a vegetarian. I guess that would be good for lots of us. Keep us informed about the medical situation and also the diet. Maybe you will be able to help us to healthier. Safe travels. Losing the weight is a real plus! Prayers for all concerning Grayson. May the doctors figure out just what needs to be done. Some of my nieces and nephews had to drink soy milk as babies because other kinds did not agree with them. Hope Noah enjoyed his birthday.
Anne,
We are eating chicken/fish about 3-4 times a week and getting a lot of our protein from beans. What’s amazing to me is that after the first couple of days (which were pretty tough) I have rarely been really hungry, which is a relief.
With Jim’s diabetes, you have definitely learned about making some changes. Not always an easy process, is it?
Thanks for your prayers for Grayson. Hugs to you and Jim.