So it's been a few weeks since I've updated my blog about going on the new eating plan.. eating only fresh fruits and veggies and meats.(you also get to eat rice, nuts, have olive oil and real butter.. so you get to eat a lot of great things!
Basically just NO processed foods.. and gluten free, dairy free and sugar free. I was doing SO good until about 2 weeks ago. I felt amazing and really DID feel a huge difference. I felt better than I had in months. Then we went out with friends one night and I ordered off the gluten free menu.. thought it would be fine.. but later that night I started feeling not soo good. The next day.. same thing.. ate great all day.. that night went out and ordered something off the gluten free menu, thinking I would be okay.. and again.. felt crappy the next day. Still trying to figure out what it was in what I ate that wasn't good for me. Or maybe I was just having an off day.?
The last three weeks I have been off and on eating "good" and eating "not so good".. ( I spent a week at girls camp..which made it really hard to eat that way)... but have been trying to be good for the most part...and I have to tell you. I CAN TELL a difference. Specially with sugar and gluten. When I eat it.. I don't feel very good. and it's within an hour.. if not minutes of eating it. When I stay away from it.. I feel GREAT. Dairy doesn't seem to bother me at all. which is good, because I was started to miss feta cheese on my salads :). Though I have to tell you I switched to Almond milk in my oatmeal and I LOVE It. So I just drink it instead of regular milk.
Another thing I noticed is that corn really bothers me. Even popcorn. Which I love. I can eat it and seriously MINUTES later.. achy.. feeling yucky.. and I am like.. oh but it was SOOO worth it! lol.
So what am I learning from all of this? That I get what I get.. if I want to feel good. I need to eat good.. and when I don't.. just be prepared to not be up to par. I realize that I can't go through life eating ONLY green.. and clean. I just can't. I wish I could.. but with life and traveling, it's not as easy as it looks. Even ordering from a gluten free menu doesn't mean the dressing is sugar free. BUT the good thing is that now I have a little more "power" behind how I feel. I mean I realize, I will still have "bad" days.. where I feel crappy.. just because I will, Just because of the weather, or because of the stress.. but if I can help it at all.. like have some sort of small decision.. it's a start. Knowing that what I eat and what I do, and how I treat my body.. MAKES a difference in how I feel. I have a choice. and that is what matters.. because before.. I felt like I didn't have a choice. I felt like no matter what I did, I would always be in pain and not be able to control any part of it.
I have also been trying to relax and take it easy this summer, not working so much, not worrying so much and I am SURE the that is helping as well. Gotta get a little relaxation in before "reality" comes back and the summer is over and it's time to work hard again :). Exercising is helping too. I have been starting to wake-board and have plans to to try and go at least 3-4 times a week in the mornings. My husband, and I and our friend, get up early.. usually heading out by 8:00, to the lake that is only 3 miles away.. and we each take about 20-30 minutes wake-boarding or skiing. (i don't ski). It's great exercise and I LOVE being out on the water that early. It's calm and peaceful and no one else is crazy enough to be out there. (the water is cold.. seriously cold! lol). But we are usually back home by 9:30 or 10:00 and still have plenty of time to work. It's my new "gym".. I think If I can start walking or running or bike riding at night too, it will help even more. Exercises does wonders for your health.
anyhow.. so that is the update on my health and eating clean! I TRULY love it. I do. I wish I had the will power to do it everyday. I wish I could wake up every morning and have my green drink already made. it sometimes a pain to get up and juice it and then clean the juicer (cleaning it takes the longest).. but It truly makes a difference on my day. Even just having one green juice in the morning.. makes a HUGE difference. and by that I mean.. juicing Kale, Celery, spinach and then either a fruit or tomatoes. I love it. Love the taste too. And gives me SO much energy! Another thing that gives me energy are my snacks. My favorite snack by the way (i have 3 small snacks a day between meals).. are sliced apples dipped in natural peanut butter (no sugar added) . Yum! My favorite! Sometimes I will just have that for breakfast too. It's so good.
Well enough about that.. I have some BIG news to share tomorrow!!! I can't wait! I have asked be be apart of a really cool new "Show".. that will be airing this fall on the web.. and I can not wait!! Tomorrow I get to share with you, all about it! wahoo!
Sorry for taking it so easy this summer.. I am just so enjoying my time with my family and with just enjoying my time. period. :) hope you are too!
See you tomorrow!!
Happy Wednesday!
Christy
Good post, Christie. Thank you for sharing. We all battle this stuff, at least most of us!
Posted by: Tia | November 25, 2011 at 10:03 AM
Wow, I really know what you're going through & it's tough! I'm doing something similar & I have good days & bad days. I think I've deprived myself too much & then go on a binge & then feel yucky. Processed foods are soo bad for us, yet I can't get my hubby to stop buying them & then when I want something bad I am determined to find it, no matter where he's hidden it! We are all human & can't be expected to stay on a regimen forever. Keep up the good work, it's great that you're exercising, that's the one thing I'm missing, that I know will make me feel better. Take care
Posted by: Wendy, aka Roo | July 14, 2011 at 04:40 PM
Enjoy your summer with the Fam, that's what you should be doing!! I'm glad the new eating habits are working for you and your news sounds very exciting!
Have a great Summer!
Posted by: Donna P. | July 14, 2011 at 08:47 AM
I am glad that you are finding something that works, making choices and knowing the consequences is empowering. Enjoy your summer, can't wait to hear your news! I am signed up for the mini workshop on color and it sounds like just the thing I needed after doing the 3 hearts. I come home from work and instead of watching TV I will go directly to my craft room and do a page in my art journal - I'm loving it.
Posted by: Donna L | July 14, 2011 at 06:51 AM
so glad you have some control over how you're feeling. having fun exercising, and enjoying summer.
Posted by: laura huffman | July 14, 2011 at 05:34 AM
I went totally gluten/dairy free to help with my RA and terrible tummy issues I have had for years..... and like you found that 100% was not easy. AND if I accidently ate something I reacted soooo strongly. So now I allow a *little* in my diet, and then when I accidently eat something or my reastion isn't as bad??? I am 85% clean and green and 15% whatever I want. Works for me !!!
Posted by: Lisa Pate | July 14, 2011 at 04:31 AM
I too am gluten and dairy free (ok, i cheat a bit on the dairy when I need - and i mean need - a wee bit of cheese). I'm also soy free due to thyroid issues but soy makes me feel awful so that is something to watch for. GF menus are popping up all over the place but unless the kitchen is careful about cross-contamination, you could still be getting some gluten. I ask for fresh lemon slices to squeeze on salad instead of dressing and like it better now. Just a thought. I've been GF for over 2 years and a little gluten now makes me feel so bad that it is not worth it. Oh, and tea - like ordering iced tea - can have gluten. Tazo tea has gluten. Why, I do not know. But Republic of Tea does not. Another way you could be inadvertently getting gluten when out to eat somewhere.
Posted by: Stacey | July 13, 2011 at 08:36 PM
Eating healthy is the only way to go! I'm a vegetarian and once in awhile when we eat out I'll order something that "should" be all vegetarian only to have pains in the tummy afterwards so likely meat broth in something. I have lost the enzymes to digest all meat I guess. It's hard to always eat healthy so go for the 80/20 rule - eat healthy 80% of the time and don't' worry about the 20%.
Posted by: Violet Verhoog | July 13, 2011 at 08:29 PM
Christy! congrats on living your life the green clean way.
Its so hard...I feel your pain! I too have had to make that choice...and when something goes wrong (a waitress doesn't check something, etc..) well, the three days of pain I get are not worth it. I have celiac (so no gluten), no shellfish or seafood, major sugar sensitivity as well as my newest one...soy. When I read your post I immediately thought she might be sensitive to SOY! This one is such a huge pain...soy is in everything!!! You might want to limit soy and see how you feel. (I get yucky feeling, tired and WICKED bloated and uncomfortable.
Oh, and I have to limit the nuts, seeds, etc too...I've got horrendous diverticulitis (even a type that according to my dr. only seems to affect asian men!) so that adds to my fun.
I have a juicer that isn't hard at all to clean...just soak the parts and easy-peasy done. Its made by Breville. It was pricey, but I use it every day (well, most every day) Green juice is so amazing! and yes, I would love a "green juice goddess" to make it for me every morning! wouldn't that be nice!
Oh and a great magazine is Clean Eating. Every recipe that I have tried has been wonderful...and they have a website too. (and there are cookbooks as well...called the Eat Clean Diet by Tosca Reno.
Wishing you fantastic health...and a wonderful summer!
Posted by: Stephanie | July 13, 2011 at 07:42 PM
I've been thinking about you and your green diet, wondering how it's working for you. I can sure tell when I eat "off the grid". I feel horrible.
Keep at it! Make it a habit!
Do you use any sweetner? Honey?
Posted by: JaYne | July 13, 2011 at 07:01 PM
Christy, thought of you today when my just-found-out-about-this magazine came today: Pain Pathways. For those of us dealing with chronic pain (from whatever the source - fibro, RSD/CRP, Ca, etc). It is a relatively new publication and there are wonderful articles in it every month. Real life stories, Q/A's, updates on new techniques, traditional and 'wholistic', advocacy issues, and more. Folks who follow your blog may find help from it and from the US Pain Foundation. I know I feel more enabled to face my days knowing I have others who have understanding of my struggles.
Posted by: KatieK. | July 13, 2011 at 06:43 PM
Wondering - does the full moon bother you, too? How about premenstral or menstral hormones? Trying to figure that part of my symptoms out. Is it just me?
Gluten and sugar free sounds like a positive change for lots of us! Need to give up my Coca cola habit. Giving up caffeine sometimes feels like a death threat, though. hehehe Addictions are terrible!
Glad you are feeling better! Thanks for giving me a positive outlook to inspire me!
Posted by: Julie Nicholes | July 13, 2011 at 04:40 PM
you might check with the restaurants and make sure they are not adding MSG to their foods. It is a flavor enhancer, but once you get off of it by eating natural foods and then eat something with MSG in it...you ache all over! If you are eating at restaurants that do not make their own salad dressings, you might alos be getting preservatives in the salad dressing...another killer if you have been off of them. Hope this helps...I have a lot of the same issues you seem to have and doctors were no help! Took me 3 years to finally stop the break outs and cortizone shots! Relazing is GOOD for you and water, water, water! Blessings on your journey to better health! and thanks for all you do and share with us!
Posted by: Pattyb | July 13, 2011 at 04:31 PM
So glad you are feeling better!! I need to kick myself into gear and do something too!
Posted by: Kim Boken | July 13, 2011 at 03:04 PM
Excellent! Glad you are feeling better through diet and exercise. And I'm so excited to hear your news!
Posted by: Michele | July 13, 2011 at 02:39 PM
Excuse me....did you just apologize for taking it easy? Shame on you. There isn't a woman in the world that would think you were goofing off. We know better.
We need well balanced lives. You're doing yourself, your family, and your fans a favor when you take care of yourself. Thanks for that!
Posted by: Eileen | July 13, 2011 at 01:44 PM
Christy can u please share what plan u r on? It sounds like just what I need.
Posted by: September | July 13, 2011 at 01:34 PM
I hate waiting for news!
Posted by: Martha Richardson | July 13, 2011 at 01:34 PM
Good for you! So glad it's working and you're feeling better :)
Posted by: Toni K | July 13, 2011 at 01:11 PM
It sounds just great, Christy!! We are here regardless of how much time you take. Love your attitude and energy. I do think of you so often. I have been having more bad days than good...so much pain. But then I had a diagnosis come in and I have been taking meds and I am getting better! I still have some pain...but nothing like before. I feel like my life is back on track.
It was during my deep, dark pain I thought of that post you wrote about your struggles...it was such a comfort to me. Thank you for sharing your real life with us!
Posted by: Leslie | July 13, 2011 at 01:06 PM