Things will calm down eventually... Right?!
Sunday morning at 445 I woke up to Ethan puking. In our bed... He ran a fever all day but no other symptoms. Except for feeling too bad to play and just laying around all day. His fever got almost to 102. I didn't give him anything for it, just let his body do its thing. If it would've gone over 102 I would've given him some Tylenol. By bedtime his temp was only slightly elevated, and by Monday morning everything was fine. I don't know what was going on but evidently his body fought it off! I think the reason he threw up is he had milk right before bed, and with getting sick, it didn't sit too well!
Monday afternoon I ended up bringing someone to the ER and was there till almost 8pm. Since it was so late we ordered in but I got my noncheating Chili's dinner. Tuesday I had errands to run with Mom and we ended up eating out again. Cheated this time - ate a mushroom swiss burger but I ordered broccoli with it instead of fries. Today I had to be up real early to bring the same person to have a scope done as a follow-up to the ER visit. That's where I am now. I only got a few hours sleep and I am exhausted! I would try to find somewhere in this building to get coffee or go across the street to the hospital's coffee shop but I have Gabriel and his big diaper bag and don't want to lug everything with me :-P May run through the CC's drive-thru on the way home though!
So, this week I've dealt with a sick kid, someone else with medical issues, not gotten enough sleep (some people function fairly well on little sleep, but not me!), have eaten out 2 days in a row, cheated once, and not drank enough water.
It's gotta get better from here, right?!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
A Treat!
I've been wanting cake. But not anything real sweet. Tonight I made cupcakes... BUT I made them from scratch and used half whole wheat flour and half all-purpose. I also made the icing from scratch and just put a thin glaze on each cupcake. Chocolate cupcakes with mint chocolate icing... Mmmmm... They weren't real sweet but definitely satisfying! And I only ate ONE! They're always better the next day anyway ;-)
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Lotsa Lettuce!
Jesse and I ate salads with leftover turkey in them for lunch. We ate almost 2 whole Romaine hearts! Jesse ate 2 big salads and I ate one and a little more.
I still find it surprising that Jesse enjoys salads every day so much! When we met, he ate very few veggies. And zero salad. I used to make him salads with lots of meat and cheese and just a little lettuce. Then over the years I gradually increased the amount of lettuce. Now he'll eat a salad consisting of nothing but lettuce and salad dressing! He'll eat Romaine, spring mix, etc, not just iceberg. We never eat iceberg... Ethan loves salad too! It's really important to me that he grows up eating healthy, nutritious foods instead of the junk most kids are fed! The same goes for Gabriel when he starts solids.
Jesse and I agree that this turkey breast came out the best so far! I used a recipe the first time I made it that called for brown sugar, garlic, and fresh rosemary. It came out okay, but I wasn't real thrilled with the rosemary taste. The next time I left it out but it tasted like it needed something else. This time I substituted a handful of peppercorns for the rosemary and YUM! It came out sooo good! I also sliced the garlic this time. It ended up being it the crockpot for over 12 hours so it was really tender! Tender, juicy, and great flavor! I don't think I'll play with the ingredients anymore. For now ;-)
I still find it surprising that Jesse enjoys salads every day so much! When we met, he ate very few veggies. And zero salad. I used to make him salads with lots of meat and cheese and just a little lettuce. Then over the years I gradually increased the amount of lettuce. Now he'll eat a salad consisting of nothing but lettuce and salad dressing! He'll eat Romaine, spring mix, etc, not just iceberg. We never eat iceberg... Ethan loves salad too! It's really important to me that he grows up eating healthy, nutritious foods instead of the junk most kids are fed! The same goes for Gabriel when he starts solids.
Jesse and I agree that this turkey breast came out the best so far! I used a recipe the first time I made it that called for brown sugar, garlic, and fresh rosemary. It came out okay, but I wasn't real thrilled with the rosemary taste. The next time I left it out but it tasted like it needed something else. This time I substituted a handful of peppercorns for the rosemary and YUM! It came out sooo good! I also sliced the garlic this time. It ended up being it the crockpot for over 12 hours so it was really tender! Tender, juicy, and great flavor! I don't think I'll play with the ingredients anymore. For now ;-)
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Frozen Lettuce, Disappointing Milk
I opened the fridge today to get a fresh pack of Romaine (I had 2 unopened ones) and almost all of it was frozen! There was a little that wasn't frozen so I used that for my salad even though it was smaller than usual. But at least the rest didn't go to waste! I used it to make Garlicky Black-Eyed Peas and Greens for supper ;-)
Speaking of supper... I have an ouchie :-( I bumped the side of my elbow on the pot the peas were cooking in. The top layer of skin immediately peeled off. I put some George's aloe gel on it as soon as it happened but I still ended up with a blister :-( Around the blister is red. OUCH...
I've been craving milk. I picked up a few single-serve organic lowfat containers and finally was able to drink one tonight. And as bad as I've wanted it, it didn't taste that good to me! Huge shock! Oh well...
Long overdue chiro visit tomorrow :-D
Speaking of supper... I have an ouchie :-( I bumped the side of my elbow on the pot the peas were cooking in. The top layer of skin immediately peeled off. I put some George's aloe gel on it as soon as it happened but I still ended up with a blister :-( Around the blister is red. OUCH...
I've been craving milk. I picked up a few single-serve organic lowfat containers and finally was able to drink one tonight. And as bad as I've wanted it, it didn't taste that good to me! Huge shock! Oh well...
Long overdue chiro visit tomorrow :-D
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Plateau
I've been hovering around 180 for weeks now... I'm not complaining! Just wish the scales would start moving again. I think there are a few things contributing to the plateau.
1. Yesterday was the first time I've exercised in a month
2. Stress - which has been worse the past month
3. And this may be the biggie. I lost so much so fast that I think my body needs some time to readjust.
We're supposed to start back on our daily walks again. We went yesterday but didn't make it today. Hopefully we'll go tomorrow!
And hopefully I'll see my number dropping again soon!
1. Yesterday was the first time I've exercised in a month
2. Stress - which has been worse the past month
3. And this may be the biggie. I lost so much so fast that I think my body needs some time to readjust.
We're supposed to start back on our daily walks again. We went yesterday but didn't make it today. Hopefully we'll go tomorrow!
And hopefully I'll see my number dropping again soon!
Today's Meals
Breakfast - Slept through
Lunch - Crockpot turkey breast - bone-in turkey breast, couple tablespoons brown sugar, sliced garlic cloves (4 large), and whole black peppercorns. It cooked for about 12 hours in my big crockpot! It didn't need to cook that long but I put it on before bed and slept in. I ate a salad with it.
Supper - We had a rough evening... I didn't have anything quick for supper and it was getting late so I picked up take-out - Chili's. I will definitely order this meal again! So yummy and filling and I didn't even cheat! I had:
Oldtimer Burger w/black bean patty (substituted for beef patty) - black bean patty, mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomato, and avocado slices on a wheat bun Fries w/ketchup
Corn on the cob w/butter
It was sooo good! It's so hard to find low protein options... The only supper-time takeout I had found before this that wasn't a cheat was Chinese - veggie stir-fry or veggie lo mein. But I'm sure this had a lot less MSG! Hopefully my body will do okay with it! I have a slight MSG reaction from the Chinese when I eat it so I'm hoping this is better!
After I ate, I had a small bite of Jesse's shrimp and pasta. I used to get it sometimes but with the chicken instead of shrimp. And know what? It didn't taste as good as it used to! But my supper sure tasted good! That's happened quite a few times lately. My tastes are changing more toward the "right" combinations of food... :-)
Lunch - Crockpot turkey breast - bone-in turkey breast, couple tablespoons brown sugar, sliced garlic cloves (4 large), and whole black peppercorns. It cooked for about 12 hours in my big crockpot! It didn't need to cook that long but I put it on before bed and slept in. I ate a salad with it.
Supper - We had a rough evening... I didn't have anything quick for supper and it was getting late so I picked up take-out - Chili's. I will definitely order this meal again! So yummy and filling and I didn't even cheat! I had:
Oldtimer Burger w/black bean patty (substituted for beef patty) - black bean patty, mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomato, and avocado slices on a wheat bun Fries w/ketchup
Corn on the cob w/butter
It was sooo good! It's so hard to find low protein options... The only supper-time takeout I had found before this that wasn't a cheat was Chinese - veggie stir-fry or veggie lo mein. But I'm sure this had a lot less MSG! Hopefully my body will do okay with it! I have a slight MSG reaction from the Chinese when I eat it so I'm hoping this is better!
After I ate, I had a small bite of Jesse's shrimp and pasta. I used to get it sometimes but with the chicken instead of shrimp. And know what? It didn't taste as good as it used to! But my supper sure tasted good! That's happened quite a few times lately. My tastes are changing more toward the "right" combinations of food... :-)
Monday, March 22, 2010
Today's Food + A Guiding Principle
Breakfast - 1/2 cup of coffee (with a little bit of demarara and 1/2 and 1/2), 1 serving raisins 2 hours later
Lunch - at Outback - 1 bite of Jesse's pasta, 1 bite of the shrimp and crab appetizer, and my meal was a sirloin steak and double serving of broccoli
Supper - Romaine salad, leftover baked fries, and a piece of bread from Outback
Between lunch and supper I had 1 small square Ghirardelli chocolate (72%) spread with a little peanut butter (peanuts and salt only). My hormones were kicking and I had been craving PB and chocolate all day! Rather than a sugary peanut butter cup, I made my own which was tastier and very low in sugar!
GUIDING PRINCIPLE
For years now I've used this to help my decisions about what to eat - I look for foods that are as close as possible to the way God made them. This means whole foods, minimum processing, and minimum chemicals. I do cook them but you get the idea! For example, I buy whole wheat pasta. Brown rice. I cook whole grain pancakes (and they're yummy!). Ethan drinks organic milk and eats organic yogurt. Etc. These foods are the healthiest, and my body does best with them. Ironically, they're also usually the most expensive :-(
Hey, did anyone watch Food, Inc yet???
Lunch - at Outback - 1 bite of Jesse's pasta, 1 bite of the shrimp and crab appetizer, and my meal was a sirloin steak and double serving of broccoli
Supper - Romaine salad, leftover baked fries, and a piece of bread from Outback
Between lunch and supper I had 1 small square Ghirardelli chocolate (72%) spread with a little peanut butter (peanuts and salt only). My hormones were kicking and I had been craving PB and chocolate all day! Rather than a sugary peanut butter cup, I made my own which was tastier and very low in sugar!
GUIDING PRINCIPLE
For years now I've used this to help my decisions about what to eat - I look for foods that are as close as possible to the way God made them. This means whole foods, minimum processing, and minimum chemicals. I do cook them but you get the idea! For example, I buy whole wheat pasta. Brown rice. I cook whole grain pancakes (and they're yummy!). Ethan drinks organic milk and eats organic yogurt. Etc. These foods are the healthiest, and my body does best with them. Ironically, they're also usually the most expensive :-(
Hey, did anyone watch Food, Inc yet???
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Three Good-byes in Seven Days
We lost another budgie tonight :-( He had a tumor and died in Jesse's hands. So to recap, in the past seven days I've lost my grandmother and our two tamest budgies... Been a rough week! And last week was when I had Gabriel in the ER. I'm ready to move on to happier times!
Friday, March 19, 2010
Today's Meals (and a recipe)
I caught big packs of sirloin steak on sale yesterday and I took advantage! We've been eating steak salads once or twice a week so it was great to get it cheaper! I cooked enough for our salads for lunch then bagged the rest to freeze.
For supper we had Chili "Burgers" on whole wheat buns and Herbed Potatoes. Yummy! I had some cookies too. Not real sugary ones though. I had the munchies so bad! Probably hormonal...
Here's the recipe for the potatoes:
HERBED POTATOES
1 2/3 lbs potatoes, sliced thin
4 shallots, chopped fine
2 tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped fine
1 tsp. dill
Salt
Pepper
6 tbsp. butter, melted
Preheat oven to 400. Spray an 11x7 pan with Pam.
Combine herbs, salt, and pepper. Toss potato slices with herb mixture until coated evenly. Place evenly in pan. Top with butter.
Bake, covered, for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes or until the top is crispy.
For supper we had Chili "Burgers" on whole wheat buns and Herbed Potatoes. Yummy! I had some cookies too. Not real sugary ones though. I had the munchies so bad! Probably hormonal...
Here's the recipe for the potatoes:
HERBED POTATOES
1 2/3 lbs potatoes, sliced thin
4 shallots, chopped fine
2 tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped fine
1 tsp. dill
Salt
Pepper
6 tbsp. butter, melted
Preheat oven to 400. Spray an 11x7 pan with Pam.
Combine herbs, salt, and pepper. Toss potato slices with herb mixture until coated evenly. Place evenly in pan. Top with butter.
Bake, covered, for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes or until the top is crispy.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Body Changes and Current Stats
A year ago when I got pregnant here were my stats:
Shirts - 24
Pants - 24
Weight - 212
At my all-time high I was:
Shirts - 26
Pants - 26
Weight - 227
As of today:
Shirts - 18/20
Pants - 20
Weight - 179
Woohoo!!! I don't know if I was this size when I got married! I do know that my wedding ring set is too loose for me to wear now! And although I'm not disclosing the exact sizes, I'm wearing smaller sized bras now too ;-)
When Jesse and I met in 1995, I was 20, wore size 12/14 tops and pants, and weighed about 135.
So I'm headed back in the right direction :-) I won't be disappointed if I don't make it back to my smallest size. After all, I'm older and this body has carried two kids! But I would like to get close! I'll settle for just being healthy, no matter my size or weight :-D
Shirts - 24
Pants - 24
Weight - 212
At my all-time high I was:
Shirts - 26
Pants - 26
Weight - 227
As of today:
Shirts - 18/20
Pants - 20
Weight - 179
Woohoo!!! I don't know if I was this size when I got married! I do know that my wedding ring set is too loose for me to wear now! And although I'm not disclosing the exact sizes, I'm wearing smaller sized bras now too ;-)
When Jesse and I met in 1995, I was 20, wore size 12/14 tops and pants, and weighed about 135.
So I'm headed back in the right direction :-) I won't be disappointed if I don't make it back to my smallest size. After all, I'm older and this body has carried two kids! But I would like to get close! I'll settle for just being healthy, no matter my size or weight :-D
Unexpected Encouragement :-)
There's a website I visit daily called Lazaroo. Each day they post a
bible verse with a short devotional. The verse today was Daniel 1:15.
Here's the story:
3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives. 4 “Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon.” 5 The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service.
6 Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah. 7 The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names:
Daniel was called Belteshazzar.
Hananiah was called Shadrach.
Mishael was called Meshach.
Azariah was called Abednego.
8 But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods. 9 Now God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel. 10 But he responded, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has ordered that you eat this food and wine. If you become pale and thin compared to the other youths your age, I am afraid the king will have me beheaded.”
11 Daniel spoke with the attendant who had been appointed by the chief of staff to look after Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 12 “Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said. 13 “At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.” 14 The attendant agreed to Daniel’s suggestion and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king.
Daniel 1:3-15 NLT
This just really spoke to me! The king's food was considered the best. The tastiest. The most nutritious. To the people, the king's food was the ultimate! But God showed Daniel a better way. A healthier way. And God rewarded his obedience!
I prayed for wisdom in what was the healthiest way for me to eat.
There are so many diets etc out there! Low calorie. Low carb. Low fat.
Raw foods. Vegetarian. Vegan. Blood type. Etc. And all of them have
great results for people. But I didn't know which was right for ME. I know I need to watch my fats because of my gallbladder. And I know my
body does best on whole grains and organics. I could've gone to 8
nutritionists/dieticians and gotten 8 different eating plans to follow. But God led me to the way of eating that is right for me!
I'm losing weight. I'm detoxing. I'm healthier. Obviously this is what works for my body! Praise God!!!
bible verse with a short devotional. The verse today was Daniel 1:15.
Here's the story:
3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives. 4 “Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon.” 5 The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service.
6 Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah. 7 The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names:
Daniel was called Belteshazzar.
Hananiah was called Shadrach.
Mishael was called Meshach.
Azariah was called Abednego.
8 But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods. 9 Now God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel. 10 But he responded, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has ordered that you eat this food and wine. If you become pale and thin compared to the other youths your age, I am afraid the king will have me beheaded.”
11 Daniel spoke with the attendant who had been appointed by the chief of staff to look after Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 12 “Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said. 13 “At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.” 14 The attendant agreed to Daniel’s suggestion and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king.
Daniel 1:3-15 NLT
This just really spoke to me! The king's food was considered the best. The tastiest. The most nutritious. To the people, the king's food was the ultimate! But God showed Daniel a better way. A healthier way. And God rewarded his obedience!
I prayed for wisdom in what was the healthiest way for me to eat.
There are so many diets etc out there! Low calorie. Low carb. Low fat.
Raw foods. Vegetarian. Vegan. Blood type. Etc. And all of them have
great results for people. But I didn't know which was right for ME. I know I need to watch my fats because of my gallbladder. And I know my
body does best on whole grains and organics. I could've gone to 8
nutritionists/dieticians and gotten 8 different eating plans to follow. But God led me to the way of eating that is right for me!
I'm losing weight. I'm detoxing. I'm healthier. Obviously this is what works for my body! Praise God!!!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Garlic Pasta and Beans
We were all exhausted after our trip and ended up taking a long, late nap! When we woke up it was past supper time and I had to cook! So here's what I came up with...
GARLIC PASTA AND BEANS
1/2 c. olive oil
8 big cloves garlic, minced or pressed
2 handfuls parsley flakes
1 package (12-16 oz) whole wheat pasta
Salt
2 cans navy beans, rinsed and drained
Lemon
Pepper
Put a pot of water to boil for the pasta. Heat olive oil over low heat in a saucepan. Mix in garlic and parsley. When the water boils, add the pasta and salt and cook according to package directions. After starting the pasta, add the beans to the oil. Mix and continue cooking over low heat. When the pasta is done, drain and return to the pot. Mix in the bean mixture. Squeeze lemon juice to taste and mix in. Top servings with pepper.
Ethan LOVED it! He ate 3 plates! Jesse and I enjoyed it too :-)
GARLIC PASTA AND BEANS
1/2 c. olive oil
8 big cloves garlic, minced or pressed
2 handfuls parsley flakes
1 package (12-16 oz) whole wheat pasta
Salt
2 cans navy beans, rinsed and drained
Lemon
Pepper
Put a pot of water to boil for the pasta. Heat olive oil over low heat in a saucepan. Mix in garlic and parsley. When the water boils, add the pasta and salt and cook according to package directions. After starting the pasta, add the beans to the oil. Mix and continue cooking over low heat. When the pasta is done, drain and return to the pot. Mix in the bean mixture. Squeeze lemon juice to taste and mix in. Top servings with pepper.
Ethan LOVED it! He ate 3 plates! Jesse and I enjoyed it too :-)
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Rough Few Days...
We lost my grandmother Saturday night :-( The funeral was this morning so Jesse and the boys and I drove over yesterday evening and stayed the night at a hotel. Five meals in a row of not eating at home... So here's how I did:
Monday lunch - Veggie sub and baked chips from Subway.
Monday supper - Shoney's buffet. BBQ rib, green beans, corn, red beans and rice, buttery roll - a little of each. (cheat meal)
Tuesday breakfast - Waffle and coffee. (I felt like I needed something more than fruit to fortify myself for the visitation and funeral, especially after so little sleep. Don't know whether to count it as a cheat meal since it wasn't fruit but I did follow the food combining rules...
Tuesday lunch - Family get-together after the funeral. Jambalaya, roast beef po-boy "finger sandwich," and a brownie. (cheat meal)
Tuesday supper - Steak, sauteed mushrooms, broccoli, decaf coffee.
I don't think I did too bad considering. It was a 2-hour drive each way and we were gone a total of about 24 hours, including eating on the way out of town and on the way back.
And Monday before we left, we found our tamest budgie dead in the cage :-(
So yeah, a rough few days...
I'm looking forward to eating normal tomorrow! Time to get back on track!
Monday lunch - Veggie sub and baked chips from Subway.
Monday supper - Shoney's buffet. BBQ rib, green beans, corn, red beans and rice, buttery roll - a little of each. (cheat meal)
Tuesday breakfast - Waffle and coffee. (I felt like I needed something more than fruit to fortify myself for the visitation and funeral, especially after so little sleep. Don't know whether to count it as a cheat meal since it wasn't fruit but I did follow the food combining rules...
Tuesday lunch - Family get-together after the funeral. Jambalaya, roast beef po-boy "finger sandwich," and a brownie. (cheat meal)
Tuesday supper - Steak, sauteed mushrooms, broccoli, decaf coffee.
I don't think I did too bad considering. It was a 2-hour drive each way and we were gone a total of about 24 hours, including eating on the way out of town and on the way back.
And Monday before we left, we found our tamest budgie dead in the cage :-(
So yeah, a rough few days...
I'm looking forward to eating normal tomorrow! Time to get back on track!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Bean Dip Meal
Tonight's supper... I was going to make a burrito but went another direction. I think my mom's Mexican dip was in the back of my mind as I was putting it together. Just wish I would've had an avocado to make it perfect!
I layered:
Refried beans
Chile peppers (canned)
Ranch dressing
Romaine
Chopped grape tomatoes
1 chopped green onion
Crumbled baked Tostitos
Ate it with a spoon. Yum!
I layered:
Refried beans
Chile peppers (canned)
Ranch dressing
Romaine
Chopped grape tomatoes
1 chopped green onion
Crumbled baked Tostitos
Ate it with a spoon. Yum!
Temptation Avoided, and a Change of Tactics
My sister-in-law's bridal shower was today. The only things I ate were a small piece of cake and a couple butter mints! I ate lunch right before I went and I'm sure that helped!
Sundays are hard food-wise... I'm up early, have nothing but fruit to eat from 7am to 1pm, and then am starving and weak! So tonight I tried something new. I ate my usual protein and veggie meal at lunch, but tonight I ate another protein and veggie meal. I'm hoping it will help me not be so hungry tomorrow. If this doesn't work, I may have to start eating a real breakfast on Sundays...
Sundays are hard food-wise... I'm up early, have nothing but fruit to eat from 7am to 1pm, and then am starving and weak! So tonight I tried something new. I ate my usual protein and veggie meal at lunch, but tonight I ate another protein and veggie meal. I'm hoping it will help me not be so hungry tomorrow. If this doesn't work, I may have to start eating a real breakfast on Sundays...
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Food, Inc
Watched it tonight on OnDemand. I had been wanting to see it for a while. All I gotta say is Wow... Go rent it and watch it!!! And then let me know what you thought of it!
ETA - I meant to say what it's about! It's a documentary about how our food is produced etc. Really good!
ETA - I meant to say what it's about! It's a documentary about how our food is produced etc. Really good!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Frustrations and a Sick Baby
Been a rough couple days... Sunday night/Monday morning Gabriel would wake up to eat but wouldn't eat much. Not like him at all! At 8something he ate a little and threw up. A LOT. I didn't know his little body could hold so much! He threw up a couple more times but not as much. I called his pediatrician's office and they said to start him on Pedialyte. So I went down the street and bought a bottle of unflavored Pedialyte. I bought the unflavored because I figured the chances of him reacting to it were less. Especially since Ethan and I both have sensitivities to chemicals in food. He wasn't too thrilled with but we were able to get a few drops in him. He seemed to be feeling better so I went to bible study. Jesse assured me if he got worse he would call. Since we live less than 10 minutes from church, I was okay with that.
When I got home, he had only drank a few sips but I got him to drink about an ounce. Then Jesse got him to drink some more. At this point I was encouraged! And then he threw up the Pedialyte... Looked like every bit he had drank so far. And he was pale. And he had gone hours without a wet diaper. I called his pedi's office and talked to the doctor on call. She told me to bring him to ER to make sure he wasn't dehydrated and to get some fluids in him.
We got to a room in the ER fairly quickly! They gave me a different electrolyte solution (Enfalyte - cherry flavor) to feed him while we waited to see the ER pedi. And he kept it down! The ER pedi checked him and said he wasn't dehydrated and to monitor him at home. When we left the ER I went to the 24-hour drugstore to buy some Enfalyte since he had kept that down. They didn't have it. And all the flavored Pedialyte had not one but two artificial sweeteners! I am NOT going to feed my baby who isn't even 3 months old artificial sweeteners. Not knowing what I do about them, and especially not with knowing I don't react well to them! The pharmacist called another drugstore that was open but they didn't carry Enfalyte either. So I came home and figured I'd just try the unflavored Pedialyte again. I finally made it to bed about 4am.
At 8 I woke up to get him to drink some and he immediately threw up again. Now I was thinking there was something in the Pedialyte that didn't agree with him. I had checked the ingredients in Enfalyte and knew they were similar to Pedialyte but not the same. So I started calling around to find somewhere that carried Enfalyte. Long story short, Enfalyte is only available to hospitals and pharmacies by special order :-( I called the hospital and I couldn't even buy it from them without going through one of their doctors. They wouldn't even accept a faxed order from our pedi... While I got dressed to bring him back to the hospital, Jesse fed him some more Pedialyte. And it stayed down! A little while later, some more. And then some more. And it all stayed down! That was about 12 hours ago and he's spit up some of it but not much :-) He's had less wet diapers than usual but is well within the safe zone according to his pedi. The nurse called this afternoon to check on him. So nice of them!
I brought this up on here for a couple reasons. First, I am really upset that the hospital would not let me buy Enfalyte without him being seen by a doctor at that time. It wasn't enough that he was at their ER and saw one of their doctors during the night. And it wasn't enough that his pedi could fax an order and/or prescription for it... So frustrating!
And the other thing... I am APPALLED that every single flavor and type of Pedialyte, both name brand and generic, have artificial sweeteners! When a child has a stomach virus, you want as few irritating chemicals as possible in their system. And artificial sweeteners are a biggie! Never mind that I don't allow my kids to have them when they're not sick! Enfalyte doesn't have artificial sweeteners. So why does Pedialyte? Check your labels - they're not just in sugar-free products... They are added to many foods and drinks that primarily use real sugar.
Rant over... For now...
Gabriel has slept most of the day. He wakes up and drinks 4-8 oz of unflavored Pedialyte and goes right back to sleep. But at least he's keeping it down! Tomorrow if he's still doing okay I can start him on formula mixed half and half with Pedialyte. Then another 12-24 hours later if he's keeping that down he can go back to formula.
When I got home, he had only drank a few sips but I got him to drink about an ounce. Then Jesse got him to drink some more. At this point I was encouraged! And then he threw up the Pedialyte... Looked like every bit he had drank so far. And he was pale. And he had gone hours without a wet diaper. I called his pedi's office and talked to the doctor on call. She told me to bring him to ER to make sure he wasn't dehydrated and to get some fluids in him.
We got to a room in the ER fairly quickly! They gave me a different electrolyte solution (Enfalyte - cherry flavor) to feed him while we waited to see the ER pedi. And he kept it down! The ER pedi checked him and said he wasn't dehydrated and to monitor him at home. When we left the ER I went to the 24-hour drugstore to buy some Enfalyte since he had kept that down. They didn't have it. And all the flavored Pedialyte had not one but two artificial sweeteners! I am NOT going to feed my baby who isn't even 3 months old artificial sweeteners. Not knowing what I do about them, and especially not with knowing I don't react well to them! The pharmacist called another drugstore that was open but they didn't carry Enfalyte either. So I came home and figured I'd just try the unflavored Pedialyte again. I finally made it to bed about 4am.
At 8 I woke up to get him to drink some and he immediately threw up again. Now I was thinking there was something in the Pedialyte that didn't agree with him. I had checked the ingredients in Enfalyte and knew they were similar to Pedialyte but not the same. So I started calling around to find somewhere that carried Enfalyte. Long story short, Enfalyte is only available to hospitals and pharmacies by special order :-( I called the hospital and I couldn't even buy it from them without going through one of their doctors. They wouldn't even accept a faxed order from our pedi... While I got dressed to bring him back to the hospital, Jesse fed him some more Pedialyte. And it stayed down! A little while later, some more. And then some more. And it all stayed down! That was about 12 hours ago and he's spit up some of it but not much :-) He's had less wet diapers than usual but is well within the safe zone according to his pedi. The nurse called this afternoon to check on him. So nice of them!
I brought this up on here for a couple reasons. First, I am really upset that the hospital would not let me buy Enfalyte without him being seen by a doctor at that time. It wasn't enough that he was at their ER and saw one of their doctors during the night. And it wasn't enough that his pedi could fax an order and/or prescription for it... So frustrating!
And the other thing... I am APPALLED that every single flavor and type of Pedialyte, both name brand and generic, have artificial sweeteners! When a child has a stomach virus, you want as few irritating chemicals as possible in their system. And artificial sweeteners are a biggie! Never mind that I don't allow my kids to have them when they're not sick! Enfalyte doesn't have artificial sweeteners. So why does Pedialyte? Check your labels - they're not just in sugar-free products... They are added to many foods and drinks that primarily use real sugar.
Rant over... For now...
Gabriel has slept most of the day. He wakes up and drinks 4-8 oz of unflavored Pedialyte and goes right back to sleep. But at least he's keeping it down! Tomorrow if he's still doing okay I can start him on formula mixed half and half with Pedialyte. Then another 12-24 hours later if he's keeping that down he can go back to formula.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
A Couple Recipes
These are both really good! Ethan likes them too :)
VEGGIE FILO ROLL (adapted from Moosewood Restaurant Lowfat
Favorites)
Filling:
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 c. chopped onions
1 c. chopped carrots
1 c. thinly sliced red bell pepper
1 c. chopped or sliced squash
8 oz sliced mushrooms
1/2 tsp. tarragon
1 tsp. basil
Salt and pepper
Bread crumbs:
1 c. bread crumbs or shredded wheat
2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
Filo:
2 tbsp. olive oil
12 sheets filo dough
Preheat oven to 350.
Make the filling - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute the onions for 5 minutes. Add the carrots. Cover and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the bell peppers and squash. Cover and cook for 1 minute. Add the mushrooms, tarragon, and basil and cook until the mushrooms are tender, about 5-10 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Combine the bread crumbs and garlic. Spray a cookie sheet with Pam.
Assemble – Take 3 sheets of filo and lay carefully on the cookie sheet. Lightly brush with olive oil. Sprinkle about 1/4 of the seasoned bread crumbs over the sheet. Repeat until the filo is all used. Spread the vegetable mixture evenly on the filo to within an inch of all four edges. Starting from a long side, roll filo like a jelly roll. Tuck in the ends and lay seam side down on the cookie sheet. Brush the top with remaining olive oil or spray with Pam.
Bake for 30-40 minutes until golden and puffed.
GARLICKY BLACK-EYED PEAS AND GREENS (adapted from Moosewood Restaurant Lowfat Favorites)
2 c. dried black-eyed peas
4 garlic cloves
12 oz fresh greens (eg collard, mustard, kale, spinach)
1 tbsp. olive oil
2-4 tbsp. minced or pressed garlic
1/2 tsp. thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
Rinse the peas. Place them in a soup pot with the garlic cloves and enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes until tender, adding water if needed. The peas should be moist but not soupy when they’re done. Drain if needed. Cover and set aside.
Rinse the greens and set aside.
In a large skillet, heat the oil and sauté the minced garlic and thyme for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add the greens and stir until they’re cooked to desired doneness. (I needed to do this in 2 batches.) Stir the greens into the black-eyed peas. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Serve on rice. Top with green or red onions.
VEGGIE FILO ROLL (adapted from Moosewood Restaurant Lowfat
Favorites)
Filling:
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 c. chopped onions
1 c. chopped carrots
1 c. thinly sliced red bell pepper
1 c. chopped or sliced squash
8 oz sliced mushrooms
1/2 tsp. tarragon
1 tsp. basil
Salt and pepper
Bread crumbs:
1 c. bread crumbs or shredded wheat
2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
Filo:
2 tbsp. olive oil
12 sheets filo dough
Preheat oven to 350.
Make the filling - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute the onions for 5 minutes. Add the carrots. Cover and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the bell peppers and squash. Cover and cook for 1 minute. Add the mushrooms, tarragon, and basil and cook until the mushrooms are tender, about 5-10 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Combine the bread crumbs and garlic. Spray a cookie sheet with Pam.
Assemble – Take 3 sheets of filo and lay carefully on the cookie sheet. Lightly brush with olive oil. Sprinkle about 1/4 of the seasoned bread crumbs over the sheet. Repeat until the filo is all used. Spread the vegetable mixture evenly on the filo to within an inch of all four edges. Starting from a long side, roll filo like a jelly roll. Tuck in the ends and lay seam side down on the cookie sheet. Brush the top with remaining olive oil or spray with Pam.
Bake for 30-40 minutes until golden and puffed.
GARLICKY BLACK-EYED PEAS AND GREENS (adapted from Moosewood Restaurant Lowfat Favorites)
2 c. dried black-eyed peas
4 garlic cloves
12 oz fresh greens (eg collard, mustard, kale, spinach)
1 tbsp. olive oil
2-4 tbsp. minced or pressed garlic
1/2 tsp. thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
Rinse the peas. Place them in a soup pot with the garlic cloves and enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes until tender, adding water if needed. The peas should be moist but not soupy when they’re done. Drain if needed. Cover and set aside.
Rinse the greens and set aside.
In a large skillet, heat the oil and sauté the minced garlic and thyme for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add the greens and stir until they’re cooked to desired doneness. (I needed to do this in 2 batches.) Stir the greens into the black-eyed peas. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Serve on rice. Top with green or red onions.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Weight Check
178!!! I wouldn't be surprised if it goes back up some though since I just came off not eating much for a few days. But it's still encouraging :-) Could be that the fast kicked started the loss again though. We'll see!
Friday, March 5, 2010
9pm - Visible Success! :-D
Had a BM a while ago. Let's just say I know the difference between a flush with lots of results and one without. And this one had LOTS of results! Wow I needed that bad... Both to have an effective flush, and to see the evidence of it! Feeling very encouraged :-D
More Mexican
You would think since my last real meal, the one that sent me into the attack, was Mexican, I'd want to stay away from Mexican for a while. Right? WRONG-O! Actually, I love Mexican food but it's a challenge doing it with no cheese:-( So here is another of my creations...
8 servings instant brown rice
10 oz mild Rotel
Handful chopped bell pepper (I used frozen)
Water to prepare according to package directions
1 large can refried beans, warmed
3 green onions, chopped
Cumin, onion powder, garlic powder
Cook rice according to package directions, adding bell pepper and Rotel with the rice. When rice is done, stir in remaining ingredients.
I wish I would've had some fresh tomatoes to add as well. I bet this would even be good added to a salad with ranch dressing. Hmmm... I may see tomorrow's supper coming together with the leftovers...
8 servings instant brown rice
10 oz mild Rotel
Handful chopped bell pepper (I used frozen)
Water to prepare according to package directions
1 large can refried beans, warmed
3 green onions, chopped
Cumin, onion powder, garlic powder
Cook rice according to package directions, adding bell pepper and Rotel with the rice. When rice is done, stir in remaining ingredients.
I wish I would've had some fresh tomatoes to add as well. I bet this would even be good added to a salad with ranch dressing. Hmmm... I may see tomorrow's supper coming together with the leftovers...
I Did Good :-)
Lunch I had my much anticipated chicken and salad. Yum!
Supper was a struggle... Jesse's been awake nearly 24 hours working on a project and was trying to finish before taking the boys for me to cook. Then nothing on the meal plan (the couple meals I have ingredients for still) sounded good. So I ate a banana and then threw something together. Turned out pretty good! Something was missing but this time it wasn't meat ;-) even though it was vegan! I made some Bisquick biscuits to go with it. But I made them half the size they're supposed to be and only ate 2. I also ate less of the main dish than I thought I would. My appetite today obviously isn't back to normal!
I thought really hard about cheating. Not eating anything unhealthy, but eating meat plus carb because I was so hungry. Remember my revelation that the hungrier I am the more I'm tempted to cheat?! There ya go! But I was determined to find something quick and easy THAT FOLLOWED MY GUIDELINES to cook. And I did!
Supper was a struggle... Jesse's been awake nearly 24 hours working on a project and was trying to finish before taking the boys for me to cook. Then nothing on the meal plan (the couple meals I have ingredients for still) sounded good. So I ate a banana and then threw something together. Turned out pretty good! Something was missing but this time it wasn't meat ;-) even though it was vegan! I made some Bisquick biscuits to go with it. But I made them half the size they're supposed to be and only ate 2. I also ate less of the main dish than I thought I would. My appetite today obviously isn't back to normal!
I thought really hard about cheating. Not eating anything unhealthy, but eating meat plus carb because I was so hungry. Remember my revelation that the hungrier I am the more I'm tempted to cheat?! There ya go! But I was determined to find something quick and easy THAT FOLLOWED MY GUIDELINES to cook. And I did!
Lessons
"And so what we have learned applies to our lives today,
and God has a lot to say in His Book.
You see, we know that God's Word is for everyone;
and now that our song is done, we'll take a look." Veggie Tales
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
This is the verse on my heart today. What did God teach me through my gallbladder attack? That my favorite foods just don't taste as good anymore. That MSG and other chemicals in foods are a big problem for me. To make wise choices when I eat out. That there are consequences to eating the wrong foods - both immediate and long-term. That my gallbladder needs time to heal. That special occasions do not negate these facts ;-)
Did these lessons sink in? Only time will tell...
and God has a lot to say in His Book.
You see, we know that God's Word is for everyone;
and now that our song is done, we'll take a look." Veggie Tales
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
This is the verse on my heart today. What did God teach me through my gallbladder attack? That my favorite foods just don't taste as good anymore. That MSG and other chemicals in foods are a big problem for me. To make wise choices when I eat out. That there are consequences to eating the wrong foods - both immediate and long-term. That my gallbladder needs time to heal. That special occasions do not negate these facts ;-)
Did these lessons sink in? Only time will tell...
Day 4 - Late Morning
The night went okay. Didn't get to sleep till 2am because that's when Ethan went to sleep. He had had a VERY late nap and wasn't tired. Then Gabriel was up every couple hours to eat. I had some heartburn but not too bad. TMI I kept burping and it was just air but it tasted like the concoction. Blech!
The boys and I woke up about 1030am. I was dreaming about 2 things mainly - being invited to my grandma's for dinner, and fried food. (And no, Yvette, I hadn't read your latest blog at this point - Weird!) But after I woke up the thought of fried food was disgusting so that's a good thing :-)
As for how I'm feeling physically, I'm doing okay! I feel run down - partially from barely eating anything the past few days, partially from not enough sleep last night, partially from not taking my supplements but once or twice in the 3 days. I kept forgetting! The heartburn and nausea is gone :-) I'm a little hungry. Definitely thirsty. I'm not a person who's ever been big on sweet drinks all the time so I'm looking forward to just drinking water again! The overwhelming physical feeling right now is just the exhaustion...
Emotionally/spiritually I have mixed reactions right now. I feel a sense of accomplishment :-) I feel good for persevering and doing something beneficial to my health. Ever since Gabriel's birth I've known I needed to do a flush, so it's been hanging over me. It was a tough 3 days. It took a lot of prayer and reliance on God! I feel emotionally spent right now. Part of that is from the physical exhaustion, I know. But if you're never done something like this, you don't understand that the physical aspects of denying your body are hard, but the emotional and spiritual aspects are the toughest! That is where the REAL battle is fought. As it is on a daily basis...
I can eat shortly. Yay!!! I'll be headed to my natural health place later to get started back on all my usual supplements. That'll be nice :-)
One thing to do then LUNCH! Salad and chicken!!!
The boys and I woke up about 1030am. I was dreaming about 2 things mainly - being invited to my grandma's for dinner, and fried food. (And no, Yvette, I hadn't read your latest blog at this point - Weird!) But after I woke up the thought of fried food was disgusting so that's a good thing :-)
As for how I'm feeling physically, I'm doing okay! I feel run down - partially from barely eating anything the past few days, partially from not enough sleep last night, partially from not taking my supplements but once or twice in the 3 days. I kept forgetting! The heartburn and nausea is gone :-) I'm a little hungry. Definitely thirsty. I'm not a person who's ever been big on sweet drinks all the time so I'm looking forward to just drinking water again! The overwhelming physical feeling right now is just the exhaustion...
Emotionally/spiritually I have mixed reactions right now. I feel a sense of accomplishment :-) I feel good for persevering and doing something beneficial to my health. Ever since Gabriel's birth I've known I needed to do a flush, so it's been hanging over me. It was a tough 3 days. It took a lot of prayer and reliance on God! I feel emotionally spent right now. Part of that is from the physical exhaustion, I know. But if you're never done something like this, you don't understand that the physical aspects of denying your body are hard, but the emotional and spiritual aspects are the toughest! That is where the REAL battle is fought. As it is on a daily basis...
I can eat shortly. Yay!!! I'll be headed to my natural health place later to get started back on all my usual supplements. That'll be nice :-)
One thing to do then LUNCH! Salad and chicken!!!
GROWL!
Yup. I'm hungry LOL It's nearly 2am, I haven't been to sleep yet, and I'm hungry! I guess now that the flush is over and I know I can eat regular food, my brain is no longer suppressing my hunger signals. I wish it would for now though... Can't eat till noon :-P
I'm feeling okay. Aloe and baking soda water helped the heartburn. It's not gone but it's definitely better! I'm feeling twinges from my gallbladder but I have to remind myself that's what's supposed to happen. It's not the start of another attack. It's my gallbladder forcing out the newly crushed stones. I believe in my body's ability to do this... I have seen the results from past flushes... I will not panic... I will stay calm...
I'm feeling okay. Aloe and baking soda water helped the heartburn. It's not gone but it's definitely better! I'm feeling twinges from my gallbladder but I have to remind myself that's what's supposed to happen. It's not the start of another attack. It's my gallbladder forcing out the newly crushed stones. I believe in my body's ability to do this... I have seen the results from past flushes... I will not panic... I will stay calm...
WOOHOO!!!
Hour is over! I'm technically done! Got some bad heartburn and reflux though. I'll drink some aloe and see if that helps. If not, papaya tablets. But it's done! Happy dance! Woohoo!!!
35 Minutes Down, 25 To Go
So far it's all stayed down! I'm having some heartburn and nausea but not too bad. I was shaky for a while too but that's passed. Almost there...
Thursday, March 4, 2010
And It's Down!
I was able to get it all down at once! Chased it with a couple sips of Sprite. So far so good... Usually getting it down is the hardest, then the next 1/2 hour is a struggle to keep it down. But I'm encouraged! Thanks to all of you who are praying me through this! Will update in about 1/2 hour as the worst should be past by then...
Here... I... Go...
Concoction in hand. Jesse's coming in here to pray for me then I will down it! I have a heating pad preheated to put on my liver and gallbladder, my phone, and a book. Hopefully the hour will go by real fast!
I Wonder...
They say that the more toxic your body is, the harder time you'll have with the concoction. I know my body's been through a major detox so I wonder how tough tonight will be as far as nausea etc...
Drum Roll Please...
The apple cider is FINISHED! I absent-mindedly picked up my bottle to take a few sips and after a couple my straw just got air :-D Woohoo! It'll probably be a couple hours before I mix the concoction and go to bed. I'll update after I take it. Yes, I have to be laying down but that's the advantage of having internet access on my phone :-)
The end is near...
The end is near...
One Thing's for Sure... (TMI)
Apple cider, at least in this quantity, IS a natural laxative LOL Especially with little else in my stomach!
Almost there...
Almost there...
Day 3 - 630pm
Well, Gabriel got hungry right after my last post and then I worked on something Ethan needed done and then I ended up with both boys asleep in my lap. So the chaos is still chaos. We're all fighting colds again so the boys are fussy. Jesse's slept almost all day after working all night and he's not feeling good either. Sigh...
I ate a bowl of my soup earlier. It tasted better today :-) Doesn't homemade soup always taste better after the first day?! Other than the apple cider, that's all I've had today. Almost 24 oz of cider and then I'm DONE till my next flush! I'm not hungry. At least not for anything I can have! That means the concoction will probably hit my stomach hard tonight... Maybe it'll work fast though!
Ethan's napping with Jesse. Which leaves me with one mildly fussy baby instead of a very fussy toddler also :-)
Counting the hours...
I ate a bowl of my soup earlier. It tasted better today :-) Doesn't homemade soup always taste better after the first day?! Other than the apple cider, that's all I've had today. Almost 24 oz of cider and then I'm DONE till my next flush! I'm not hungry. At least not for anything I can have! That means the concoction will probably hit my stomach hard tonight... Maybe it'll work fast though!
Ethan's napping with Jesse. Which leaves me with one mildly fussy baby instead of a very fussy toddler also :-)
Counting the hours...
Day 3...
Aka Waking up to Chaos...
A fussy, clingy toddler. A mess everywhere I look :-( Don't know where to even start putting Humpty Dumpty back together again! Enough about that...
So it's Day 3. There are good things and bad things about that. The good - In less than 24 hours I will be able to eat my chicken and salad :-) The flush will be over with soon! Less than 1/2 gallon of apple cider left to drink. Don't need to cook since we have leftovers for the day. The bad - Another day of no protein and carbs. More apple cider. Trying to get tonight's "concoction" to stay down :-P Last time I flushed, let's just say getting it to stay down was not a pretty sight... Praying for it to be easier this time!
Gonna try to make some progress of this chaos... If Gabriel will stay in the swing... Ethan will just have to get over it - can't have him in my lap 24/7!
Almost done with my first 24 oz bottle of cider :-D
A fussy, clingy toddler. A mess everywhere I look :-( Don't know where to even start putting Humpty Dumpty back together again! Enough about that...
So it's Day 3. There are good things and bad things about that. The good - In less than 24 hours I will be able to eat my chicken and salad :-) The flush will be over with soon! Less than 1/2 gallon of apple cider left to drink. Don't need to cook since we have leftovers for the day. The bad - Another day of no protein and carbs. More apple cider. Trying to get tonight's "concoction" to stay down :-P Last time I flushed, let's just say getting it to stay down was not a pretty sight... Praying for it to be easier this time!
Gonna try to make some progress of this chaos... If Gabriel will stay in the swing... Ethan will just have to get over it - can't have him in my lap 24/7!
Almost done with my first 24 oz bottle of cider :-D
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Struggling...
The soup turned out pretty good! It was missing... something... Maybe meat ;) And yes, I just simmered all the ingredients in a big pot of water.
Day 2 is usually the hardest, and tonight's definitely been tough! I find that after a cheat meal, I CRAVE my meat and salad for lunch the next day. But I haven't been able to have it yet :( That's what I want the most! Not sugar, not carbs, but a chicken breast and big salad with honey mustard dressing... Guess I know what's for lunch Friday! I ate a bowl of soup before church, and 2 more after we got home. I still feel hungry though. I think my body's just reacting to the lack of protein.
Tonight's been tough too because Ethan is misbehaving so much. Well, misbehaving some, but getting frustrated and upset easily. He's especially getting frustrated and upset over the consequences of his misbehavior ;) He lost his temper before church and after about 15 minutes of not being able to calm himself, I restrained him on my lap for a while before he was able to calm down and cuddled into me...
One more day of eating like this, then I flush, then at noon Friday I can go back to eating normal. My "new" normal, but that's not so bad :)
Day 2 is usually the hardest, and tonight's definitely been tough! I find that after a cheat meal, I CRAVE my meat and salad for lunch the next day. But I haven't been able to have it yet :( That's what I want the most! Not sugar, not carbs, but a chicken breast and big salad with honey mustard dressing... Guess I know what's for lunch Friday! I ate a bowl of soup before church, and 2 more after we got home. I still feel hungry though. I think my body's just reacting to the lack of protein.
Tonight's been tough too because Ethan is misbehaving so much. Well, misbehaving some, but getting frustrated and upset easily. He's especially getting frustrated and upset over the consequences of his misbehavior ;) He lost his temper before church and after about 15 minutes of not being able to calm himself, I restrained him on my lap for a while before he was able to calm down and cuddled into me...
One more day of eating like this, then I flush, then at noon Friday I can go back to eating normal. My "new" normal, but that's not so bad :)
Soup's On!
I'm back from the store, and the soup is cooking! I went to 2 stores. The first was a natural foods store where I picked up some supplements we needed and a few other things. I even walked down the cookie aisle without being tempted! But then I got to the grocery store...
As soon as I walked in the door, I could smell seafood cooking. There was a table set up right at the entrance demo'ing shrimp and cookies and I don't know what else. Yikes! I had to walk through the bakery and deli to get to the produce section. I made it without being too tempted. I actually enjoyed walking around looking at the fresh veggies deciding what I wanted :) Some of the fresh wasn't very, fresh, but I was able to get frozen. I picked up a few other things we needed while I was there. And then on to the cookie aisle! Jesse's been asking for a certain kind of cookie and Walmart (where I usually shop) doesn't carry them so I picked up a bag to surprise him. He's been working so hard he deserves a treat! Then on to the soup aisle to get the veggie broth. They were out :( I found an employee who confirmed that there was none in the back. Sooo I could either go back to the natural foods store and get some there, or just make do with water and put extra seasoning. I opted for going home!
So here's the list of what's in the soup:
Bell pepper (frozen)
Green beans (frozen)
Carrots (frozen)
Squash (frozen)
Zucchini (fresh)
Eggplant (fresh)
Poblano pepper (fresh)
Baby spinach (fresh)
Baby portabella mushrooms (fresh)
Onion (fresh)
Garlic (fresh)
Seasonings - Basil, oregano, Italian seasoning, parsley, Mrs. Dash, kosher salt (I may be forgetting something since I just grabbed and added from my spice shelf!)
It smells so good! I still haven't eaten anything. I was hungry when I woke up but less hungry as the day went on. Plus I was on the go. I think if I was home I would've eaten.
I'm doing good with my apple cider! I've drank about 40 oz in the 3 1/2 hours I've been up. My goal is to get in all 64 oz before we leave for church tonight but we'll see how it goes!
As soon as I walked in the door, I could smell seafood cooking. There was a table set up right at the entrance demo'ing shrimp and cookies and I don't know what else. Yikes! I had to walk through the bakery and deli to get to the produce section. I made it without being too tempted. I actually enjoyed walking around looking at the fresh veggies deciding what I wanted :) Some of the fresh wasn't very, fresh, but I was able to get frozen. I picked up a few other things we needed while I was there. And then on to the cookie aisle! Jesse's been asking for a certain kind of cookie and Walmart (where I usually shop) doesn't carry them so I picked up a bag to surprise him. He's been working so hard he deserves a treat! Then on to the soup aisle to get the veggie broth. They were out :( I found an employee who confirmed that there was none in the back. Sooo I could either go back to the natural foods store and get some there, or just make do with water and put extra seasoning. I opted for going home!
So here's the list of what's in the soup:
Bell pepper (frozen)
Green beans (frozen)
Carrots (frozen)
Squash (frozen)
Zucchini (fresh)
Eggplant (fresh)
Poblano pepper (fresh)
Baby spinach (fresh)
Baby portabella mushrooms (fresh)
Onion (fresh)
Garlic (fresh)
Seasonings - Basil, oregano, Italian seasoning, parsley, Mrs. Dash, kosher salt (I may be forgetting something since I just grabbed and added from my spice shelf!)
It smells so good! I still haven't eaten anything. I was hungry when I woke up but less hungry as the day went on. Plus I was on the go. I think if I was home I would've eaten.
I'm doing good with my apple cider! I've drank about 40 oz in the 3 1/2 hours I've been up. My goal is to get in all 64 oz before we leave for church tonight but we'll see how it goes!
Day 2 is Underway
I was up late so the boys and I slept in. Jesse offered to watch them after they woke up so I could get a bit more sleep. So I got some extra dozes in :-)
I'll be leaving for the store soon. Thinking of what veggies I want for my soup... And trying to mentally prepare myself for the temptation! Lots of prayer...
It's not just the mental aspects of the flush that are hard. For someone who normally eats fruits and veggies, but a good bit of (whole grain) carbs and (lean) protein as well, it is physically tough on my body! It's only 3 days, but it's a challenge...
As for how I'm feeling today... The apple cider doesn't taste quite so sweet :-) I drank almost 32 oz of water during the night. I was so thirsty! But my stomach was completely empty when I began this process yesterday. I'm tired. Partially from not enough sleep over the past couple days, partially from not hardly eating yesterday, partially from not having carbs or protein for over 40 hours now.
Looking forward to my hearty soup! Satisfying for body and mind :-)
I'll be leaving for the store soon. Thinking of what veggies I want for my soup... And trying to mentally prepare myself for the temptation! Lots of prayer...
It's not just the mental aspects of the flush that are hard. For someone who normally eats fruits and veggies, but a good bit of (whole grain) carbs and (lean) protein as well, it is physically tough on my body! It's only 3 days, but it's a challenge...
As for how I'm feeling today... The apple cider doesn't taste quite so sweet :-) I drank almost 32 oz of water during the night. I was so thirsty! But my stomach was completely empty when I began this process yesterday. I'm tired. Partially from not enough sleep over the past couple days, partially from not hardly eating yesterday, partially from not having carbs or protein for over 40 hours now.
Looking forward to my hearty soup! Satisfying for body and mind :-)
During the Night Musings
Day 2 is usually the hardest for me. The desire for "real" food seems to peak. At that point I'm getting tired of eating just fruits and veggies, and know I still have another whole day after this to go... That's why I tend to make soup Day 2. I use boxed organic vegetarian broth and whatever fresh veggies look good in the store. Squash, zucchini, and onions are what I usually start with. I chop them and add lots of seasoning. Basil and Italian seasoning are particularly satisfying for some reason!
I plan ahead for my flushes and get everything I think I'll need before I start so I'm not tempted as I walk around the store. Obviously it didn't happen that way this time! So I will be praying for extra willpower as I walk the aisles later...
Not looking forward to another day of apple cider :-( But hopefully I will be able to space it out more! Yesterday I drank all 64 oz in a little over 8 hours! And all I ate all day was a little bit of green beans.
My sweet baby is done eating. Time for some more sleep :-)
I plan ahead for my flushes and get everything I think I'll need before I start so I'm not tempted as I walk around the store. Obviously it didn't happen that way this time! So I will be praying for extra willpower as I walk the aisles later...
Not looking forward to another day of apple cider :-( But hopefully I will be able to space it out more! Yesterday I drank all 64 oz in a little over 8 hours! And all I ate all day was a little bit of green beans.
My sweet baby is done eating. Time for some more sleep :-)
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Bedtime Update
The ginger worked :-) And I'm less than 8 oz away from drinking the 1/2 gallon! And that's with not starting drinking it till this afternoon. I think the reason I'm having trouble getting it all down is it is SO sweet! I haven't had much sugar the past couple months and drinking so much sugar in such a short time is overload! I had an easier time drinking it after the ginger kicked in.
I'm feeling okay. Tired from only getting a few hours sleep. Struggling to get down the last bit of cider... Looking forward to a good night's sleep! Thinking positive :-)
I'm feeling okay. Tired from only getting a few hours sleep. Struggling to get down the last bit of cider... Looking forward to a good night's sleep! Thinking positive :-)
7:30pm update
Having trouble drinking the apple cider :-( All the sugar is giving me heartburn and making me a bit nauseous! Yucko. Plus Ethan still has an upset stomach and, well, let's just say that even when the diaper's empty, the smell can be a bit nauseating! LOL I took a ginger capsule a while ago. Hopefully it'll help my nausea!
I picked up my prescription this evening. I thought they were giving me suppositories but it was tablets. Not going to take one unless I absolutely need to though! That stuff will knock me out... Which would've been a good thing last night but is something I want to avoid otherwise!
I picked up my prescription this evening. I thought they were giving me suppositories but it was tablets. Not going to take one unless I absolutely need to though! That stuff will knock me out... Which would've been a good thing last night but is something I want to avoid otherwise!
How to Do the Liver/Gallbladder Flush
Day 1-3: Eat nothing but fruits and veggies - unlimited amount. They can be cooked and/or seasoned, but ZERO fat! No starchy veggies eg sweet potatoes, corn. I usually make a veggie soup Day 2 with organic vegetable broth as a base.
Each day, drink 1/2 gallon unfiltered apple juice/cider. Fresh squeezed is best. If you buy it, make sure you can see the pulp that settles to the bottom of the jug so you know it's unfiltered. You can also drink water, tea, or other juices. But make sure to drink all your apple juice! The apple juice breaks down the gallstones/liver stones so they will be easier to pass and don't get stuck.
Night of Day 3: This is when you do the actual flush. Get ready for bed. Just before bed, mix together 4 oz FRESH SQUEEZED lemon juice and 4 oz extra virgin olive oil. Drink. Get it down within a minute or two. IMMEDIATELY lie on your right side in bed. You can chase it with just a sip or two of Sprite. Make sure the mixture stays down at least 1 hour! You can take some ginger about 30 minutes before you drink the nasty-tasting stuff to help the nausea. A heating pad on your liver and gallbladder area may also help. I keep something to throw up in by the bed just in case. Lay on your right side at least 1 hour.
Sometime during the night or the next day you will pass the crushed stones. Plan on staying home Day 4 ;-) I've never had explosive bowel movements from the flush but some people do. You can drink another 8 oz apple juice the morning of Day 4 as a natural laxative.
The first couple times I flushed I did see some stones - you may or may not. You can start back on a normal diet on Day 4, but eat lowfat and foods that are fairly easy to digest until your body can handle heavier foods again.
I mentioned in my first post on this blog that January 2009 I successfully flushed a stone that was stuck. I started with an attack but was not in terrible pain. I thought at first it might just be spasms but at some point I realized I could actually feel a stone. I prayed for wisdom about how to handle it, as I do every time I have an attack. I began a flush. At the end of Day 1 the constant pain was really wearing me down! I kept praying for wisdom. I woke up Day 2 and felt a very strong leading to ingest nothing but apple juice all day and flush that night. I listened to what God was advising. And He was right on - imagine that LOL After I had drunk most of my 64 oz apple juice that day, I noticed the pain had lessened considerably. Before long I was just left with some lingering soreness. I knew the stone had become dislodged. Later that night I felt like I needed to have a bowel movement. When I looked in the toilet, there were what looked like a lot of grains of sand. This is precisely the form I had been told a crushed stone may take! The sudden decrease in pain, the "grains of sand"... There is no doubt what happened in my body! And yes, I did do the evoo/lemon juice that night still. I didn't see any more stones come out the next day but I wasn't exactly looking too hard either ;-)
I usually flush about 3 times a year but couldn't while pregnant. So this is my first one in over a year...
ETA: You can do a 2-day flush. Do it the same way except do the actual flush on night #2. It's not quite as effective but still works well!
Each day, drink 1/2 gallon unfiltered apple juice/cider. Fresh squeezed is best. If you buy it, make sure you can see the pulp that settles to the bottom of the jug so you know it's unfiltered. You can also drink water, tea, or other juices. But make sure to drink all your apple juice! The apple juice breaks down the gallstones/liver stones so they will be easier to pass and don't get stuck.
Night of Day 3: This is when you do the actual flush. Get ready for bed. Just before bed, mix together 4 oz FRESH SQUEEZED lemon juice and 4 oz extra virgin olive oil. Drink. Get it down within a minute or two. IMMEDIATELY lie on your right side in bed. You can chase it with just a sip or two of Sprite. Make sure the mixture stays down at least 1 hour! You can take some ginger about 30 minutes before you drink the nasty-tasting stuff to help the nausea. A heating pad on your liver and gallbladder area may also help. I keep something to throw up in by the bed just in case. Lay on your right side at least 1 hour.
Sometime during the night or the next day you will pass the crushed stones. Plan on staying home Day 4 ;-) I've never had explosive bowel movements from the flush but some people do. You can drink another 8 oz apple juice the morning of Day 4 as a natural laxative.
The first couple times I flushed I did see some stones - you may or may not. You can start back on a normal diet on Day 4, but eat lowfat and foods that are fairly easy to digest until your body can handle heavier foods again.
I mentioned in my first post on this blog that January 2009 I successfully flushed a stone that was stuck. I started with an attack but was not in terrible pain. I thought at first it might just be spasms but at some point I realized I could actually feel a stone. I prayed for wisdom about how to handle it, as I do every time I have an attack. I began a flush. At the end of Day 1 the constant pain was really wearing me down! I kept praying for wisdom. I woke up Day 2 and felt a very strong leading to ingest nothing but apple juice all day and flush that night. I listened to what God was advising. And He was right on - imagine that LOL After I had drunk most of my 64 oz apple juice that day, I noticed the pain had lessened considerably. Before long I was just left with some lingering soreness. I knew the stone had become dislodged. Later that night I felt like I needed to have a bowel movement. When I looked in the toilet, there were what looked like a lot of grains of sand. This is precisely the form I had been told a crushed stone may take! The sudden decrease in pain, the "grains of sand"... There is no doubt what happened in my body! And yes, I did do the evoo/lemon juice that night still. I didn't see any more stones come out the next day but I wasn't exactly looking too hard either ;-)
I usually flush about 3 times a year but couldn't while pregnant. So this is my first one in over a year...
ETA: You can do a 2-day flush. Do it the same way except do the actual flush on night #2. It's not quite as effective but still works well!
Gallbladder Update/Flush Started
I laid down with Gabriel about noon and we took a nap. He woke up hungry about 3 so I got up to make him a bottle. When I sat up I was very lightheaded! But by that point there was nothing in me and I'm sure that's why. I had to go to the bathroom - Yay for not being dehydrated! The pain is pretty much gone! I'm still a little sore but that's it :-)
The apple cider I had poured myself before the vomiting started was on my nightstand (it's in a straw bottle) so I took just a couple sips. It will help my lightheadedness but I want to go slow to make sure I'll keep it down! Thus far I've had about 10 oz of it and no nausea :-) I think I'll do fine with some food too, as long as I go slow.
So it looks like the attack has officially ended, and the flush has officially begun!
The apple cider I had poured myself before the vomiting started was on my nightstand (it's in a straw bottle) so I took just a couple sips. It will help my lightheadedness but I want to go slow to make sure I'll keep it down! Thus far I've had about 10 oz of it and no nausea :-) I think I'll do fine with some food too, as long as I go slow.
So it looks like the attack has officially ended, and the flush has officially begun!
Update - Gallbladder Attack - 1115ish
It got so bad that I couldn't keep a sip of tea down! I could taste the bile in my vomit... I called my natural health place and explained the situation. They advised me to call my doctor and get something to stop the vomiting. So I did.
But before I could leave for the pharmacy, my pain got worse. I realized my Lortab had worn off so I took some more. A few minutes later I had an excruciating pain. It was so bad I could not breathe! I started to panic then told myself to calm down and try to take a slow, deep breath. The pain had decreased just enough that I was able to get that slow, deep breath. So I took another. It was then that I realized 2 things - The Lortab and tea I took it with had stayed down! And the pain I was feeling was in a different spot! I found a semi-comfy position to sit in, supporting myself on a small trash can in case I needed to vomit again. A while later I realized I had started to doze off...
I haven't moved too much yet. Scared to! I have taken a few more sips of tea that have not even threatened to come back up. I put down the trash can and situated my pillow to lean on instead. So far so good!
I am almost positive the stone moved and is not stuck anymore :-) I think the extreme pain I felt was when it moved. My gallbladder is still sore, but nothing like it was!
I will start the flush today as planned. Later I'll go pick up my prescription to have on hand. Always nice to have antinausea meds for when you need them!
And the moral of this story of 7+ hours of PAIN - no more Mexican restaurants for a LONG time! Btw, I've eaten fatty food occasionally lately with no problem. I'm guessing last night it was a combination of fatty food and MSG that did me in...
Hoping the pain stays away!
But before I could leave for the pharmacy, my pain got worse. I realized my Lortab had worn off so I took some more. A few minutes later I had an excruciating pain. It was so bad I could not breathe! I started to panic then told myself to calm down and try to take a slow, deep breath. The pain had decreased just enough that I was able to get that slow, deep breath. So I took another. It was then that I realized 2 things - The Lortab and tea I took it with had stayed down! And the pain I was feeling was in a different spot! I found a semi-comfy position to sit in, supporting myself on a small trash can in case I needed to vomit again. A while later I realized I had started to doze off...
I haven't moved too much yet. Scared to! I have taken a few more sips of tea that have not even threatened to come back up. I put down the trash can and situated my pillow to lean on instead. So far so good!
I am almost positive the stone moved and is not stuck anymore :-) I think the extreme pain I felt was when it moved. My gallbladder is still sore, but nothing like it was!
I will start the flush today as planned. Later I'll go pick up my prescription to have on hand. Always nice to have antinausea meds for when you need them!
And the moral of this story of 7+ hours of PAIN - no more Mexican restaurants for a LONG time! Btw, I've eaten fatty food occasionally lately with no problem. I'm guessing last night it was a combination of fatty food and MSG that did me in...
Hoping the pain stays away!
Starting Flush Immediately (TMI warning)
It's 615am. I've been awake since Gabriel woke up to eat at 345am. Up to that point I had gotten about 1 1/2 hours of sleep. What started at 345 as some mild twinges has gotten to the point of being very painful! I'm sipping warm mint tea and apple cider, and I took my first non-natural medicine in almost 2 months :-( - Lortab I had left from my c-section. Yep, the pain's gotten that bad :-(
Besides the pain, I've had 2 loose bowel movements (more to come, I'm sure!) and am nauseous. Don't know if the nausea is from my gallbladder or the pain.
My gut tells me it was an MSG reaction that set this off. Before I went to bed I was extremely thirsty. That hasn't happened in a long time! And I am pretty sure it's from MSG as that's one of my MSG symptoms. My first ever really bad attack was after eating at a Chinese buffet. Coincidence?
I had to stop typing this earlier to go vomit. Ugh. At least the Lortab stayed in... Don't ask :-P Hopefully it'll take the edge off the pain!
Besides the pain, I've had 2 loose bowel movements (more to come, I'm sure!) and am nauseous. Don't know if the nausea is from my gallbladder or the pain.
My gut tells me it was an MSG reaction that set this off. Before I went to bed I was extremely thirsty. That hasn't happened in a long time! And I am pretty sure it's from MSG as that's one of my MSG symptoms. My first ever really bad attack was after eating at a Chinese buffet. Coincidence?
I had to stop typing this earlier to go vomit. Ugh. At least the Lortab stayed in... Don't ask :-P Hopefully it'll take the edge off the pain!
Monday, March 1, 2010
Interesting...
So I did cheat tonight. We went to my favorite Mexican restaurant and I ordered my favorite meal from there. But you know what?! It didn't taste as good as it used to! Just like my brunch last week, what used to taste good to me isn't as tasty now. I guess my body's adjusting to my new way of eating!
After our meal we went to a coffee shop. I didn't want to push my stomach so I didn't get coffee. I got a hot herbal mint tea. Yum!
Looking forward to getting back to healthy eating tomorrow! And hoping I don't pay dearly for tonight...
After our meal we went to a coffee shop. I didn't want to push my stomach so I didn't get coffee. I got a hot herbal mint tea. Yum!
Looking forward to getting back to healthy eating tomorrow! And hoping I don't pay dearly for tonight...
Kitchen Gadgets
Here are the three kitchen gadgets I use the most:
1. Cuisinart 7-cup food processor - Perfect size for almost everything I do! http://www.cuisinart.com/products/food_processors/dlc-2007n.html I also have the blade and disk holder, but the exact one isn't available anymore.
2. Oxo Good Grips garlic press - Because I love fresh garlic, but hate mincing it ;) http://www.oxo.com/OA_HTML/xxoxo_ibeCCtpOXOPrdDtl.jsp?a=b&item=46703§ion=10054
3. Oxo Good Grips salad spinner - Wash a lot of lettuce, spin, then store in a ziploc bag so it's ready to use! Much cheaper than buying it ready-to-serve and less chemicals too! (R-T-S lettuce is chemically treated to slow spoilage) http://www.oxo.com/OA_HTML/xxoxo_ibeCCtpOXOPrdDtl.jsp?a=b&item=56673§ion=10054
1. Cuisinart 7-cup food processor - Perfect size for almost everything I do! http://www.cuisinart.com/products/food_processors/dlc-2007n.html I also have the blade and disk holder, but the exact one isn't available anymore.
2. Oxo Good Grips garlic press - Because I love fresh garlic, but hate mincing it ;) http://www.oxo.com/OA_HTML/xxoxo_ibeCCtpOXOPrdDtl.jsp?a=b&item=46703§ion=10054
3. Oxo Good Grips salad spinner - Wash a lot of lettuce, spin, then store in a ziploc bag so it's ready to use! Much cheaper than buying it ready-to-serve and less chemicals too! (R-T-S lettuce is chemically treated to slow spoilage) http://www.oxo.com/OA_HTML/xxoxo_ibeCCtpOXOPrdDtl.jsp?a=b&item=56673§ion=10054
Meals today
No breakfast :-(
Lunch - Yesterday I cooked a whole roaster chicken stuffed with onions to have for lunches for a few days. So I'm having some of the breast and a salad.
Supper - Mom's Night Out tonight! And we're doing Mexican so I'm definitely cheating...
Lunch - Yesterday I cooked a whole roaster chicken stuffed with onions to have for lunches for a few days. So I'm having some of the breast and a salad.
Supper - Mom's Night Out tonight! And we're doing Mexican so I'm definitely cheating...
Mild cold
This cold I've had is the mildest in years! When it started I began taking a natural antiviral formula from my health place 3 times a day, and doing my neti pot twice a day (instead of the usual night only). And it's worked! I'm sure being healthier in general has helped too :-)
I knew I was going to get sick... Hard not to when you have a clingy toddler sneezing in your face! But I'm very thankful that it is not near as bad as it could be!
I knew I was going to get sick... Hard not to when you have a clingy toddler sneezing in your face! But I'm very thankful that it is not near as bad as it could be!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
