I am two weeks into my elimination diet. I am very proud of myself to getting to this point. My functional doctor said she hoped I could give her six weeks, but she would be good with four if it got too difficult for me. Unfortunately this diet is SO strict, I have realized that I can only commit to four. It just isn't sustainable to stay this strict. If I want to keep my sanity, I am completing four. I have an appointment with her next week to have that discussion.
This doesn't mean I am going to just eat the entire world again at four weeks. I just have to loosen the strings a bit because of how strict it is. I can slowly bring foods back in (but I am probably going to be a gluten-free girl now). And I have learned to make things on my own and make better choices.
Let me talk about what we've been up to before I discuss all the diet stuff.
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Briana headed back to SCAD for her winter quarter on January 4th. It was so nice having her home so long, but at the same time, we all get so used to her being back home that it makes it even more tough for her to go back - for all of us.
Briana wanted to bring her stuff back to the dorm and get situated (she brings a lot home because she is home for so long). So the Friday before she went back, we brought most of her things and got her room all set up again. She wanted two more sleeps at home, so she left her car at school and we drove her back home. She got to keep a good parking space, and Doug and I drove her back to school on Sunday...
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The very beginning of January was unusually warm and then we had a couple of very rainy days, but now things are quite chilly again.
Heavy rain...
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Briana has been doing great at school...
Classes are going well and she's been having fun with her friends...
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Briana decided to drive home for the holiday weekend so we could celebrate Doug's birthday (a few days late).
For
Doug's birthday present, Bri drew a D&D character for Doug and then had
SCAD print the small figure out on a 3D printer. And then she painted
it. And since she didn't have a box at school, she made one out of paper
and made the bow out of blue tape. This is what it is like having an
art student in your family!
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And as for my diet, I have only eaten at two restaurants since this all started (it is so hard to eat out) - otherwise I have eaten at home or brought food with me when I go out.
Before I started my diet on January 5th, I ate some of my favorite foods in order to say farewell for quite a long while. I ate pasta, sandwiches, eggs, butter, toast, desserts, etc...
I have learned how much ingredients like milk, corn, soy, sugar are included/hidden in packaged foods - foods you wouldn't think included these items. I have learned to make my own salad dressings and condiments. I tried to make a homemade ketchup and it sucked. I did make a honey mustard marinade and that turned out fantastic. I made a vinegar based coleslaw that turned out pretty yummy. I don't really like fish, so I have to stick with chicken and turkey and legumes. I can eat plain rice. I can eat tree nuts. I can eat potatoes and tomatoes thank goodness (I was worried nightshade veggies would be taken from me). I can eat mustard, seed oils and vinegar. Hummus and guacamole can be used for dipping. I can eat most vegetables and most fruits. But honestly, this is getting kind of boring.
Some of my meals...
I am on EIGHT different supplements right now including multivitamins.
Am I feeling any different? Not that much yet unfortunately. Maybe less bloated? My energy level still isn't very good. I have days I get discouraged, but I haven't given up. I'm proud of myself for that. I heard that cravings are supposed to start going away after a while of being on the diet. I can honestly say that isn't true. At least not for me. I would love to have an egg and a piece of toast right now. Can't do it though. And going to the grocery store when you cannot eat ninety percent of what is sitting on the shelves is eye opening.
Trying to be on this strict diet, still dealing with chronic illness, handling a bunch of personal "life stuff" things and knowing that our dumpster fire of a country is still being run by a bunch of evil power hungry morons and a closeted dementia patient makes life a bit difficult right now. My anxiety and depression are pretty revved up and I need to find good ways to lower my stress.
So that is the scoop for now. Wish me luck these next two weeks. Once I start bringing stuff back in, I hope I'll be able to tell what bothers me and what doesn't - what I can keep and what I need to give up.
Thanks for reading. Until next time...
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