Committed to Change

[Silver]

Does that sound positive? What if I have doubts inside? I have felt committed and been positive before. What is going to make it different this time? What makes it finally click? I have a few ideas on what will make it different for me this time.

1) Failing to plan. Sometimes I just get tired of planning, shopping, and cooking. Whine.

2) Finding a different way to deal with my emotions. I got off track last year with a family crisis. I need to figure out a way to deal with these (since it will be ongoing) especially when it involves going out of town.

3) Another problem from prior times, was that everytime I start McDougalling, I have increased joint pain - so this time I am starting with an elimination diet. I am only on day two and finding it very difficult so I am already concerned about compliance.

I feel uncomfortable about journaling but wanted to document how I am feeling, physically and mentally, so if I get discouraged I can look back and maybe see some improvement.

I had allergy (food sensitivity testing) last year and found out that I test positive for sensitivities to egg, wheat, muchrooms, garlic, w/b pepper, walnuts, almonds, sesame, tuna (no problem), carrot, kidney and white beans, and pineapple. In the past when I have switched from SAD (vegetarian) to McDougall I have not really had an increase in the most of the above food items. The ones that do increase are the beans, carrots, and garlic. So I don't know that is these foods that are causing me problems. That leaves the nightshades (which do increase in consumption), corn (which also increases), and citrus (which does not). Since I don't have any idea what is causing me the problems and increased pain has been one of the reasons for going off the plan in the past, I decided on starting with an elimination diet this time.

What I am trying to heal is arthritis pain in the knees that make it very hard to get up from sitting in a chair or going upstairs, bursitis in my hip that has been keeping me from sleeping on one side for five years, plantar fasciitis (2 years now), back pain, and tendonitis and calcuim deposits when I exercise. I also have pain in the butt, that may or may not be piriformis syndrome (doctor doesn't know), as well as trigger point pain that was diagnosed as fibromyalgia (which I don't think I have). Some of these may be caused by leaky gut, or food sensitivities, and all are affected by my being overweight.

4-2-12
B-Cooked fruit soup with tapioca (apple, pear, blueberries)
L-Yam and steamed broccoli
D-Rice with cooked spinach and celery (tiny bit of salt)

4-3-12
B-Leftover rice w/ spinach and celery
S-Smoothie made with cooked fruit soup (apple, pear, blueberries, 4-5 blackberries, 2 peach slices, no tapioca-yuk) blended with spinach and ice. (I know, I know, better to chew my food)
L-Yam
D-Rice with zucchini and broccoli (tiny bit of salt)
S- 1/2 yam

We'll see how this goes.........

Edited to change food eaten.

[Silver]

Day 3

B- Fruit Soup. I wasn't hungry when I first woke up so I blended my soup with some spinach so I could take it to work. The soup was 1 apple, 1 small pear, 1/2 c. blueberries, 10 cherries cooked in a small amount of water. The spinach is the only thing I have eaten that is not following the elimination diet to the letter. It was uncooked.

L - Yam.

D - Brown rice with zucchini and broccoli.

S - Leftover Yam.

I am only drinking water. I like to drink it hot. Aside from going a little nutso the first night (crying "I can't do this!") I have not had any cravings nor have I been hungry. I worry that I might not be eating enough and will start to feel weak. It does not seem like I am eating very much.

I wanted to document in more detail about the pain that I have so when I am feeling better I don't forget how bad it was.

Knees/Legs - I have a very hard time going upstairs and getting out of my chair. To go upstairs, I have to hold onto the hand rails on both sides and pull myself up, hurting the whole way. It feels like the muscles won't work rather that something in the knees. The knees hurt when I go downstairs. To get up out of my chair, sometimes I need help. Most of the time I do it by myself, but it is very hard. I have to really lean forward and support myself with my hands on my knees or on something else. Last year I had a problem with my right leg that the doctor could never figure out except to say maybe it was something in my back (after an MRI) The leg pain was some of the most intense pain I have ever felt, but only laying down. Not sitting, not standing, only in bed, no matter what position I lay in. I had to sleep in a recliner for at least three months and was on so many medications that I couldn't function. That left a residule pain in:

Right buttock - Don't know what this is but the doctor said maybe Piriformis Syndrome. I am not taking the suggested meds. but just live with the pain. I am very sensitive to most medications and they leave me zoned out so much that I cannot work. The pain in this area is moderate all of the time, sometimes worse. I am trying the exercises suggested for this muscle but can't do them most of time because of my back.

Back - My back went out on me for the first time last year. I was laid up for a few months and then had several months of physical therapy. It still feels like it could "go" at any time. I need to be able to exercise to strenghten my core, but can't walk due to the foot problem and can't use the recumbent bike due to the butt problem. Offhand I can't remember what the MRI said but there is some "nerve infringement at D5/S1."

Neck - every year or so I get tortocollis. The xrays show "severe arthritis". I haven't had this problem for a few years but wound up on Day 1 feeling like it was coming back so I have been sleeping in the recliner for the past few days, since I am a stomach sleeper, and it keeps my head in one position. It feels like it is getting better and won't require an emergency trip this time.

Joints - whenever I work out I get tendonitis, or calcium deposits from repetitive motion.

Hips - this is what is giving me the most problems right now. I have had bursitis (xray and MRI) for the past five years. I cannot lay on my right side at all. The pain is always there and pretty strong most days.

Trigger Points/Sore Skin - I have sore spots all over my body. The physiotherapsit (MD) I have been seeing said I have fibromyalgia. I don't really think I do because I don't have any of the other symptoms. It hurts even to lay in bed. I cannot lay on the floor, and it even hurts quite a bit to lay on a doctor's table. When my husband rubs my back or legs, I tell him he is doing it too hard and he tells me he is barely touching me.

Wrist - I sprained it a few weeks ago opening a jar of spaghetti sauce. It has been sore before this in the back of my hand, the wrist and up my forearm. Carpal Tunnel? I don't know. It doesn't hurt to type, but it does to write. Still sore right now from the sprain.

It seems like swimming might be the best exercise for me but I have not tried that.

The doctors just want to give me meds and send me to different specialists. It seems like all of the things must be related. Maybe something auto immune. It is why I know I really needed to start this elimination diet. I think I might already be getting a little better.

I am feeling very optimistic.

[Silver]

Day 4

B - Fruit Soup (1 small apple, 1 small pear, 1/2 c. blueberries, 10 cherries, 10 blackberries) blended with spinach.

L - Yam and Steamed Broccoli

D - Rice with Zucchini and Cauliflower

Hot Water to drink throughout the day.

No cravings. No hunger. I am feeling a little better. My foot feels a little better and there is a definite improvement in getting up out of the chair and going upstairs. Still feeling very optimistic.

[Silver]

Day 5

B - Fruit Soup blended with Spinach

L - Rice with Zucchini and Cauliflower

S - Yam

D - Rice with Celery

Still feeling good.

[Debbie]

Youre doing great. Keep up the good work!

[Silver]

Thanks Debbie!

Day 6

I have some major improvements to record today!

When I got up this morning to go to the bathroom, and then head back to bed, I was so groggy, I didn't realize until I got back to bed that I had walked without shoes! Without any pain. Anyone that has had experience with Plantar Fasciitis will know that the morning pain is the worst. I have also been able to take the dogs on their nightly walk. Both for the first time in two years. (Well except for the time I was pain free for three months after a cortisone shot, the second cortisone shot didn't work, and gave me pain in other areas of the foot - which are now getting better too.)

Also I can get up from a chair without help! Without using my hands and without the pain in my leg muscles and knees.

While I still have pretty severe hip pain, the above two improvements show that this elimination diet is having an effect.

Yesterday, I was ready to give up on the elimination diet because it is very hard. I am getting very tired of eating rice and steamed veggies, but I was told by Bob, "5 days is not enough to start adding to the eliminatin diet and being tired of it is not a good reason to chuck it." Sad to say, I never saw it like this before. Yeah, I don't like it. Yeah, it's boring. Yeah, they're not my favorite. So What? Do it anyway. It's obviously working, so do I want to go back to pain? No, I do not. So sticking with it I am.

Think of how great those foods will taste when I add them back in!

Still no cravings. Still not much hunger. Still getting filled up very easily. (I'm not sure if I'm eating enough.)

B - Fruit soup, the usual ingredients, blended with cooked spinach this time and ice. I blend the soup because it lets me eat it over a longer period of time and the sugar from the fruit maybe doesn't affect me as if I had it all at once? I don't know, but that is what I tell myself. It takes me an hour to finish the drink and I am full for hours.

L - 1/2 large Yam

D - Steamed Broccoli and Cauliflower. Some more of the Yam. There is still some left over for a snack tomorrow.

No rice today.

See? Somehow this doesn't seem like enough food. But I am full and not hungry. Maybe when I start going to the gym, it will increase my appetite and I will eat some more.

[Silver]

Day 7

B - Leftover Yam. approx 1/3 cup

L - Fruit Soup blended with ice and spinach

S - Jicama, 1 Rice Cake

D -Brown Rice with Spinach and Celery. Steamed Broccoli and Cauliflower.

S - 1/4 raisins. I noticed in Neal Barnard's book that dried fruit is OK so I ate these at night when I was hungry but didn't want to go cook.

Continuing to feel good. My hip may be a little better today. One week under my belt! That feels really good!

[Silver]

Day 8

B - Not hungry
L - Yam
S - Blended Fruit Soup with Spinach
D - Brown Rice with Spinach, Celery, Broccoli, and Cauliflower

I weighed this morning and lost 9.8 pounds the first week. I'm sure most of this is water.

Looking forward to the time I can start adding in foods. I think my first one will be potato. I'm going to try and go a full two weeks before adding foods back.

I think my hip is getting better.

[Rosey]

Day 6

I have some major improvements to record today!

When I got up this morning to go to the bathroom, and then head back to bed, I was so groggy, I didn't realize until I got back to bed that I had walked without shoes! Without any pain. Anyone that has had experience with Plantar Fasciitis will know that the morning pain is the worst. I have also been able to take the dogs on their nightly walk. Both for the first time in two years. (Well except for the time I was pain free for three months after a cortisone shot, the second cortisone shot didn't work, and gave me pain in other areas of the foot - which are now getting better too.)

Also I can get up from a chair without help! Without using my hands and without the pain in my leg muscles and knees.

While I still have pretty severe hip pain, the above two improvements show that this elimination diet is having an effect.

Been there with those pains for sure. This way of living and going barefoot almost 24/7 and when not barefoot in shoes from www.invisibleshoe.com have made almost all my leg and feet pains go away except my hip that I have bone spurs in but even that is better after losing a lot of weight. I was constantly having the plantar Fasciitis pain and that is gone completely now. I love it.

[Silver]

Day 9

I am discouraged because I am in so much pain today, especially with my hip - it is much worse, but my foot and knee are hurting too. The only thing I have done different is change the fruit from cooked to raw the last two days (and ate raisins two nights ago).

I cannot find guidelines anywhere on when to switch from cooked fruits and veggies to raw. So I thought I would try it since next week I am planning to start introducing new foods.

Tomorrow I am back to cooked, and going to leave out apples. In Neal Barnard's book, that is one he says to avoid. I'm wondering if I should be eating fruit at all, but at this time I'm not going to cut it out because that would limit my options too much. I only have fruit for the am meal, except today:

B - Rice Cake, Blended Fruit, forgot Spinach
L - leftover Rice with Broccoli, Celery and Spinach
D- Yam, Rice Cake
S - cooked Apple

[Silver]

Hi Rosey - Wow, looks like you are doing great. I never would have thought going barefoot would help. Those shoes look interesting too. Right now I have to wear inserts 100% of the time. It's something I'll have to think about though.

[Rosey]

Hi Rosey - Wow, looks like you are doing great. I never would have thought going barefoot would help. Those shoes look interesting too. Right now I have to wear inserts 100% of the time. It's something I'll have to think about though.

Thanks. Going barefoot has helped me completely. Even with things I never connected with my shoes. I used to were inserts all the time too.

[Silver]

Day 10

B - Fruit Soup (not blended), 1 Rice Cake
L - Yam
D - Rice with Broccoli and Spinach
S - Jicama, 1/2 Rice Cake

My pain levels have eased back almost to where they were the day before yesterday. I left out the apple in my soup and cooked the other fruit which was: pear, blueberries, and cherries.

Tomorrow I am going to return to blending the soup with spinach. When the fruit cooks, it is so mushy that there isn't much chewing involved anyway and it gives me a little more greens by adding spinach. The spinach and ice that I add also dilutes the flavor so it isn't too sweet. It was hard to eat today, it was too sweet. The added rice cake didn't help much. The rice cakes I am eating are brown rice, no soduim added.

I was a little hungry today, but not overly so.

[Silver]

Day 11

B - Cooked Fruit Soup, blended with Spinach and ice. (Pear, Blackberries, Blueberries)
L - 1/2 Yam, 1/2 cup Brown Rice
D - Artichoke, 1/2 Yam (Don't think I'll eat artichoke again. Didn't care for it.)

Some minor pain in the butt, and foot. Hip still the same, some improvement, but not a lot. Wrist still sore. Back is better, but I have been sleeping in the recliner the past three nights. None of the severe pain from two days ago. It seems some of the stiffness has returned, but not at the level it was. It is a little harder to get up from a sitting position and I'm having some difficulty going up stairs.

I plan to retest the raw fruit in a few days or so to see if I reacted to that or if a very stressful day could have had an impact.

[Silver]

Day 12

B - Blended cooked fruit soup with spinach and ice. 1 apple (trying again), 1 pear, 1/3 c blueberries, 10 cherries
L - Brown Rice with Broccoli Stem and Celery
D - Yam, Rice Cake, and Jicama

Pain level same as yesterday. Not much to say. Just doing the plan.