So, I've been having stomach yuck for a few weeks. Annoying, on again/off again, drive me crazy stomach issues. I called to make an appointment with my primary care provider, and they tell me he quit months ago. No...they didn't need to tell his patients about his abrupt departure when it happened. It's best the patients find out when they call to make an appointment for some health problem only to learn that they don't have a doctor anymore and they are now considered new patients for any new doctor, who just so happen to be scheduling new patient appointments into June. Yep. Sorry you feel like ass. We can get you in sometime in June. (it's March).
Fortunately, the woman on the phone tells me, they just hired a nurse practitioner at this place with appointments as early as April. Ok....April. I'm all for a nurse practitioner, especially since my last primary care provider wasn't the nicest person to talk to. I'm all in for April and an NP. I'll do an annual check up and talk about my stomach and it will be great. He will be nice, and he will listen and have all kinds of good health related info. Yes!
To be on the safe side, I decide to go to the walk-in clinic portion of this particular health care establishment so I'm not waiting a month with some possible emerging issue with the stomach, though. The walk-in clinic is supposed to be awesome. You feel sick and don't mind seeing someone who isn't your primary care person? Walk in for a same day appointment. Not there to manage an ongoing chronic problem? Pop in to the walk-in.
So I pop in to the clinic, wait my turn in the lobby, and after about 45 minutes, I go in to see the doctor covering walk-in patients that day. I warn you now.. well, no. I'm not going to warn you. You can be as surprised as I was.
It all started as I sat in the room and heard him talking to the nurses outside, and yes....I took some liberties with the dialogue because I can't remember word for word. I'm going for gist, here, people. Gist.
From outside the room:
"This working four days business is a real grind. I'm exhausted. complain, complain, complain." he says to all the nurses. I hear one respond, "Now you know how we feel."
Oh goodie. I hope that's my doctor out there. The door opens and yes! I'm the winner! Grouchy doctor pants to the rescue. Crap.
He says hi, asks about my symptoms, and I explain what's going on. He starts typing up what I say in his laptop. After a few typeee typeee moments, I continue to talk about what is going on and how I think it has been exacerbated by stress because it started in the midst of some stressful shit going down in stress-ville. "Hold on a minute," he says. "I have to be my own secretary now, and I'm not so fast at dictation."
After he types for a few minutes, I continue talking. "Nope. Not yet. I need a few more seconds to keep typing,"
"Ok. Now what do you think is going on with your stomach?"
uhm...me? you're asking me? the person here to see a medical professional to find out what is happening with my stomach? I say stress maybe, or an ulcer, or maybe my gallbladder is going to explode and I'll die. I'm probably eat up with the (whisper voice...)cancer. you know...something like that.
"Ok. Just wait right there. Stress doesn't cause conditions. It doesn't make you sick. It only exacerbates conditions. And it couldn't be an ulcer. And it's probably not your gallbladder, but I can't say for sure. You need your primary care physician to give you a work up to figure that out."
Oh, you mean the one who quit and no one told me, resulting in me not getting another appointment for a month?
He then proceeds to tell me that my former doctor quit because he felt he couldn't provide good medical care in the current health care climate. One day after lunch he supposedly walked into the administrator's office, said to cancel all his appointments and that he was quitting. "But he was a great doctor. He was my doctor. It's too bad he's gone. You will probably never have access to a good health care provider again going forward. It's a sad state of affairs."
I sit on the exam table, he pokes around my guts for a minute, and says I probably have a Hiatal Hernia. Classic symptoms. That's probably it. All from a two second poke around and a few minutes of typing on his laptop. He can't confirm or deny that because that's not his gig, but if he were a betting man, that was his guess.
My primary care person would have to do the full work up. He also says I would probably be sent to a specialist, but that most doctors now don't even know who a good specialist is because they aren't good at providing the medical care and it's too bad my first guy quit because he definitely knew who the good specialists are.
I tell him I have an appointment with the new nurse practitioner in April to be my primary care provider and surely that guy will send me to a good specialists. (all my nurse practitioner friends probably want to skip the next bit to avoid rage.)
"I can only speak to the doctor level of expertise. Doctor training is so high. It's up here (hand at his face). All those others are down here (hand significantly lower). It's a way to be cheap, cheap, cheap. You'll probably never get to see another doctor again. It's sad. That's the way this is going. And I can't speak to that person you are going to see. He might or might not know the good specialists. I don't know his background and expertise. You might be sent to a specialists who isn't good at the surgery for the hernia. Your old doctor would have known."
Oh dear. His outlook for my healthcare future is terribly bleak. I ask him, "What would you do if you were me?"
"Ha! I'm a DOCTOR." (note that the "ha" was original dialogue. he actually laugh/scoffed at me.)
Yes, but what would you do?
"Well, I will have access to the good specialists. I will know who to go to."
Well, since I have a whole month between now and when I see my new primary care provider, what should I do between now and then for my symptoms?
"Nothing, unfortunately. There's nothing you can do."
Really? There is no way for me to be proactive?
"Well. I guess you could try antacids."
I'm taking omeprazole. Should I keep that up?
"Sure. That's some kind of acid reducer. Sorry that you aren't getting the answers that you want, but I'm giving you the truth."
Well...there we go. That was my experience seeing "The Doctor" today. I walked out, looked at the nurses and said, "He's as uplifting as hell." They laughed. I guess they hear that all the time.
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Sunday, October 4, 2015
Whole Forever Again
Well, I was doing well, making better food decisions, all things that made me feel better, and then I let it slip. I had a work trip, and since I was low on groceries, I just didn't bother. I had my birthday while on the work trip and didn't eat well. On my return from the work trip I didn't get to the store right away, and I had a second birthday complete with homemade ice cream and delicious cake, and WHAM! It was clear to me that I felt awful. This morning I woke up hungry and grouchy. I yelled at the dogs and yelled at myself and was generally a grouch. I ate a couple of hard boiled eggs and some almond butter, and I could FEEL myself feeling better, coming out of the grouchy sugar hangover.
Who do I want to be? A grouchy, sluggish, ass or someone who is actually happy, rational, healthy, and that feels good? As tempting as it is to sit on my ass eating donuts with a side of donuts, I just don't want to feel awful. So, I went to the store today and purchased food for the week.
I went back and made the chicken shawarma recipe that I made early on in my first Whole30. It smells amazing, and I will be eating that with lettuce and tomato this week. I also cooked cabbage, which I love, and I will be steaming some broccoli.
I will be making the Pioneer Woman's pot roast this week as well with onions and carrots and baked potatoes. So that should take care of several days of lunch and dinner. Breakfast will be eggs and spinach or the steamed broccoli with a side of blueberries.
I remember reading a study once about succeeding in weight loss or other goals. There has always been this theory that by sharing your successes with people or having people comment on changes they see in you that you are more likely to succeed in reaching your goals. This study actually showed that the act of celebrating small successes or having people tell you you're doing great would actually undermine your determination to continue. It was like you were already celebrating even though you didn't get to the finish line.
I have always had this problem where I would have really great momentum in eating well or at least in eating to lose weight until the moment where I didn't have any momentum left. If I had to guess, it seems that it's usually about a third of the way through whatever goal I have. Once momentum dies, I revert to old habits, sabotage myself, and basically give up. I often wonder what is that point? What is the switch that flips? Is there something inherent in my humanness that says, "You've got this much time to do well. After that, we're packing it in and going home."
So, with that said, I look back at the Whole30 and remember how doable it was and how just setting myself up to succeed by cooking and being prepared and having a plan kept me on track. I looked at what I have been eating and how I have been feeling the last few days. It was basically some good choices with intermittent horrible, addictive choices mixed in. I told my friend Oldie today that toast is just a gateway drug....a gateway to other things like donuts and cake and sugary horribleness.
Thinking I'm too busy to plan or that I'll just go ahead and write off today and do better tomorrow leads to choices that actually physically make me feel not good. Why would I treat myself that way when it's easy to actually plan ahead and be prepared so that I feel good?
These are all things I'm thinking about and trying to figure out. At the same time, I'm cooking and setting myself up to succeed this week. Here's to figuring out why I do the things I do.
Who do I want to be? A grouchy, sluggish, ass or someone who is actually happy, rational, healthy, and that feels good? As tempting as it is to sit on my ass eating donuts with a side of donuts, I just don't want to feel awful. So, I went to the store today and purchased food for the week.
I went back and made the chicken shawarma recipe that I made early on in my first Whole30. It smells amazing, and I will be eating that with lettuce and tomato this week. I also cooked cabbage, which I love, and I will be steaming some broccoli.
I will be making the Pioneer Woman's pot roast this week as well with onions and carrots and baked potatoes. So that should take care of several days of lunch and dinner. Breakfast will be eggs and spinach or the steamed broccoli with a side of blueberries.
I remember reading a study once about succeeding in weight loss or other goals. There has always been this theory that by sharing your successes with people or having people comment on changes they see in you that you are more likely to succeed in reaching your goals. This study actually showed that the act of celebrating small successes or having people tell you you're doing great would actually undermine your determination to continue. It was like you were already celebrating even though you didn't get to the finish line.
I have always had this problem where I would have really great momentum in eating well or at least in eating to lose weight until the moment where I didn't have any momentum left. If I had to guess, it seems that it's usually about a third of the way through whatever goal I have. Once momentum dies, I revert to old habits, sabotage myself, and basically give up. I often wonder what is that point? What is the switch that flips? Is there something inherent in my humanness that says, "You've got this much time to do well. After that, we're packing it in and going home."
So, with that said, I look back at the Whole30 and remember how doable it was and how just setting myself up to succeed by cooking and being prepared and having a plan kept me on track. I looked at what I have been eating and how I have been feeling the last few days. It was basically some good choices with intermittent horrible, addictive choices mixed in. I told my friend Oldie today that toast is just a gateway drug....a gateway to other things like donuts and cake and sugary horribleness.
Thinking I'm too busy to plan or that I'll just go ahead and write off today and do better tomorrow leads to choices that actually physically make me feel not good. Why would I treat myself that way when it's easy to actually plan ahead and be prepared so that I feel good?
These are all things I'm thinking about and trying to figure out. At the same time, I'm cooking and setting myself up to succeed this week. Here's to figuring out why I do the things I do.
Sunday, September 6, 2015
It's Day 33! Reintroduction and Meeting Again for the First Time
It's Day 33, and I have tried reintroducing one thing so far on this journey. Yesterday I ate a hamburger WITH a bun (GASP). I decided to have lunch at a place close to my house, and ordered the burger and a side salad (yes...I avoided the fries.) The bun had the appearance of a semi-healthy bun...it was wheaty and had sesame seeds on it and the lettuce was baby lettuce, which somehow changes the value of the bun, right? The bun HAD to be special, right? Wrong.
After eating the bun with a burger on it, I had this insane urge for dessert. GIVE ME ALL THE SWEET THINGS! NOW! I went to the grocery store to stock up on food for me and the dogs for a few days, and I kept desperately searching for something that was good enough to justify eating dessert. Almond poppy seed muffin? They were all out. Candy bar? Nothing could justify eating it. I was like a crack head in a crack box store where all the crack was available, and I kept looking and looking for what would scratch the itch. I am aware that in the checkout line at the first grocery store I had to visit, I looked like a total sketch-ball because my eyes were darting over the candy bars trying to decide what to do.
In the end, I had to stop at a second store for a few more groceries where I bought a banana and a travel pack of almond butter...maple flavored. That's right! Flavored almond butter, which means a smidge of added sugar on top of the banana. It could have been worse or it could have been 50 pieces of cheesecake. It wasn't. It was a banana and almond butter. All that frantic dessert craving, and I totally blame the bun.
Dinner last night and meals all day today were Whole30. I ended up making the Whole30 recipe for Shepherd's Pie tonight, which is ground beef with sweet potatoes on top. I like the recipe, but the next time I will use regular potatoes or mashed cauliflower. The sweet potatoes are a little too sweet.
So that's my first attempt at reintroduction. I'm going to have to stay away from bread, especially for the next month or more. It just makes me have too much of a craving for other bad stuff.
I really want sushi, actually. The problem with sushi and reintroduction is that it has soy (legume) and rice (grain). They suggest one restricted item at a time to be able to determine which food group actually makes you feel different. So, sushi might have to wait a while. Plus, I am kind of wondering if the rice will have the same craving-inducing effect as the bread....
After eating the bun with a burger on it, I had this insane urge for dessert. GIVE ME ALL THE SWEET THINGS! NOW! I went to the grocery store to stock up on food for me and the dogs for a few days, and I kept desperately searching for something that was good enough to justify eating dessert. Almond poppy seed muffin? They were all out. Candy bar? Nothing could justify eating it. I was like a crack head in a crack box store where all the crack was available, and I kept looking and looking for what would scratch the itch. I am aware that in the checkout line at the first grocery store I had to visit, I looked like a total sketch-ball because my eyes were darting over the candy bars trying to decide what to do.
In the end, I had to stop at a second store for a few more groceries where I bought a banana and a travel pack of almond butter...maple flavored. That's right! Flavored almond butter, which means a smidge of added sugar on top of the banana. It could have been worse or it could have been 50 pieces of cheesecake. It wasn't. It was a banana and almond butter. All that frantic dessert craving, and I totally blame the bun.
Dinner last night and meals all day today were Whole30. I ended up making the Whole30 recipe for Shepherd's Pie tonight, which is ground beef with sweet potatoes on top. I like the recipe, but the next time I will use regular potatoes or mashed cauliflower. The sweet potatoes are a little too sweet.
 |
| Gigi thinks the Shepherd's Pie smells pretty delicious. |
So that's my first attempt at reintroduction. I'm going to have to stay away from bread, especially for the next month or more. It just makes me have too much of a craving for other bad stuff.
I really want sushi, actually. The problem with sushi and reintroduction is that it has soy (legume) and rice (grain). They suggest one restricted item at a time to be able to determine which food group actually makes you feel different. So, sushi might have to wait a while. Plus, I am kind of wondering if the rice will have the same craving-inducing effect as the bread....
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Day 30 and Tomorrow is Day 31 and So on and So Far
It is 8:45 pm, and I survived Day 30 of the Whole30. I actually survived the Whole30. Yippeeee!
My celebratory day consisted of:
Omelet with Mushrooms, Spinach, Bell Peppers
Potatoes and Onions
Salad with Pork Loin
Hard Boiled Egg
Cashew Butter
Kale
Sweet Potato
Pork Loin
So, that's that. I went 30 days eating protein, healthy fat, vegetables, and some fruit. That's it. I cooked a lot and learned some things about bulk cooking to make life easier. I had a few bleak eating out experiences, but I also found some successful things to order and places to go. I find it easier to want to choose the better options. I know I love: kale, zucchini, spinach, broccoli, sweet potatoes, asparagus, cabbage, and a whole slew of other vegetables. I dislike brussel sprouts and don't feel the need to eat them again, especially with a balsamic reduction. I don't like a pork chop, but I dig a pork tenderloin. Roasted chicken is always good in a pinch. Salmon is delicious. Canned tuna can save the day. Don't freeze raw hamburger patties. Eat more fish. (that's on the menu for the weekend, actually).
How do I feel? I have way more energy. I wake up feeling good. I feel good throughout the day, but when it's bedtime, I immediately am tired. I have had a few nights typing up the blog where I have spent all my energy, and it's all I can do to keep my eyes open. My moods are way better. I don't get grouchy from eating too much sugar or sad and sappy from eating junk. I'm generally my happy, optimistic self. I handle stress better. I am physically feeling better. I don't have heartburn. I used to have it almost daily. I am swimming faster and have better endurance. Literally from one week to the next I was swimming significantly faster. Overall, I just feel more like me and less foggy and not controlled by less-than-stellar foods.
Did I lose weight? I did. I lost about 8 lbs this month (I say about because I don't remember the exact number I had when I first weighed in). I also didn't have a huge weight drop because I had been busting my butt the few months before this to lose 20 lbs, so I didn't have the beginner drop. A few people commented that I look different....less puffy somehow. That's a good thing, I guess.
So, what's next? Well, I will wake up and eat the same way tomorrow that I have pretty much been doing for 30 days now. I will refuse to buy the foods I am not eating...no sweets or snacks or treats. I will try to keep home sacred territory in that sense. If I do eat something not on the plan, I will make sure it only has 1 food group not on the plan so I can see how that impacts me. So, no burger, shake, refried beans kind of meal. That's the reintroduction phase. Try one food group at a time and see how it impacts your body.
I will make decisions based on what is worth it, not on "oh my gosh i need a donut because I need sugar and I haven't had sugar and oooooo, maybe I'll have 2 or 3 donuts instead of one. Silly me eating all these donuts. I wish I could stop, but I just can't say no!!"
That's the plan anyway...that and also going back to counting my calories. I still want to continue to lose weight while eating well, and I think I need to do that through tracking my calories as well as eating clean.
There is always a voice in my head that thinks, "Oh, it's just a matter of time until you lose momentum and go back to old habits and old ways of eating and living. This won't last. Enjoy it while you can, because it will be business as usual in a few day." That's something I think all of us deal with in one context or another, not just food. So, I will have to keep reminding myself what it means to me physically and emotionally to eat well and take care of myself. I will also have to remind myself of the price of eating food that doesn't work well for me...the physical and mental implications.
If you have any questions about the process and what my experience was, feel free to ask. I would highly recommend it to anyone. I really do feel so great, and I also feel free from cravings, which is also an act of God, Congress, and the Pope. Thanks for reading along everyone. Tomorrow I'll go back to complaining about my leaky roof. :)
My celebratory day consisted of:
Omelet with Mushrooms, Spinach, Bell Peppers
Potatoes and Onions
Salad with Pork Loin
Hard Boiled Egg
Cashew Butter
Kale
Sweet Potato
Pork Loin
So, that's that. I went 30 days eating protein, healthy fat, vegetables, and some fruit. That's it. I cooked a lot and learned some things about bulk cooking to make life easier. I had a few bleak eating out experiences, but I also found some successful things to order and places to go. I find it easier to want to choose the better options. I know I love: kale, zucchini, spinach, broccoli, sweet potatoes, asparagus, cabbage, and a whole slew of other vegetables. I dislike brussel sprouts and don't feel the need to eat them again, especially with a balsamic reduction. I don't like a pork chop, but I dig a pork tenderloin. Roasted chicken is always good in a pinch. Salmon is delicious. Canned tuna can save the day. Don't freeze raw hamburger patties. Eat more fish. (that's on the menu for the weekend, actually).
How do I feel? I have way more energy. I wake up feeling good. I feel good throughout the day, but when it's bedtime, I immediately am tired. I have had a few nights typing up the blog where I have spent all my energy, and it's all I can do to keep my eyes open. My moods are way better. I don't get grouchy from eating too much sugar or sad and sappy from eating junk. I'm generally my happy, optimistic self. I handle stress better. I am physically feeling better. I don't have heartburn. I used to have it almost daily. I am swimming faster and have better endurance. Literally from one week to the next I was swimming significantly faster. Overall, I just feel more like me and less foggy and not controlled by less-than-stellar foods.
Did I lose weight? I did. I lost about 8 lbs this month (I say about because I don't remember the exact number I had when I first weighed in). I also didn't have a huge weight drop because I had been busting my butt the few months before this to lose 20 lbs, so I didn't have the beginner drop. A few people commented that I look different....less puffy somehow. That's a good thing, I guess.
So, what's next? Well, I will wake up and eat the same way tomorrow that I have pretty much been doing for 30 days now. I will refuse to buy the foods I am not eating...no sweets or snacks or treats. I will try to keep home sacred territory in that sense. If I do eat something not on the plan, I will make sure it only has 1 food group not on the plan so I can see how that impacts me. So, no burger, shake, refried beans kind of meal. That's the reintroduction phase. Try one food group at a time and see how it impacts your body.
I will make decisions based on what is worth it, not on "oh my gosh i need a donut because I need sugar and I haven't had sugar and oooooo, maybe I'll have 2 or 3 donuts instead of one. Silly me eating all these donuts. I wish I could stop, but I just can't say no!!"
That's the plan anyway...that and also going back to counting my calories. I still want to continue to lose weight while eating well, and I think I need to do that through tracking my calories as well as eating clean.
There is always a voice in my head that thinks, "Oh, it's just a matter of time until you lose momentum and go back to old habits and old ways of eating and living. This won't last. Enjoy it while you can, because it will be business as usual in a few day." That's something I think all of us deal with in one context or another, not just food. So, I will have to keep reminding myself what it means to me physically and emotionally to eat well and take care of myself. I will also have to remind myself of the price of eating food that doesn't work well for me...the physical and mental implications.
If you have any questions about the process and what my experience was, feel free to ask. I would highly recommend it to anyone. I really do feel so great, and I also feel free from cravings, which is also an act of God, Congress, and the Pope. Thanks for reading along everyone. Tomorrow I'll go back to complaining about my leaky roof. :)
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Day 29 and Weird Meat Sticks, Cashew Butter, and Kale
It is 8:00 pm, and I survived Day 29 of the Whole30. Tomorrow is my last official day on the Whole30. What does that mean? I'll probably talk more about that tomorrow, but I have been thinking about life and what it looks like after tomorrow. Frankly, it will look pretty similar to how it looks now with the occasional regular ketchup.
Today started early, 3:45 am. I was meeting my friend Tracy at the pool by 4:45 am to swim before work since it has been so stormy after work lately. It was early, and I needed to make sure I ate something before swimming so I didn't get way hungry during the morning. I considered frying an egg, but I opted to try one of my Epic bars instead. Epic bars are made of meat and other ingredients. The one I grabbed from the variety pack was lamb and currant, but since I threw away the packaging, I picked up the pork bar to illustrate the Epic bars in a picture. You can see the consistency on the photo. It is almost like a slim jim mouth feel with less snap.
A week or so ago I ate the chicken sriracha variety, and it was fine. I wasn't blown away, but it was edible. The lamb and currant....gag-a-rific. I put one bite in my mouth and my jaw refused to chew because chewing would lead to tasting and swallowing. I struggled to eat that bite and tried to force myself to eat another bite. It wasn't happening. No way, no how. So I ended up eating almond butter and rushing out the door.
After swimming, I reheated pork loin and also reheated the brussel sprout/onion/butternut squash roasted veg with balsamic. The more I tried to eat it, the more I couldn't. It was getting more and more disgusting as time when on, so I threw the rest of those leftovers away. Goodbye. Life is too short.
I had leftover pork loin for post-swim breakfast, for lunch, and for dinner today. Unlike the pork chops that were gross, the loin was really flavorful and didn't dry out. I didn't mind eating it for all three meals today, and I will have it for at least one meal tomorrow.
I also sauteed kale for dinner in a bit of olive oil and low sodium chicken broth. It was really good....way more delicious than the brussel sprouts and butternut squash from last night. I finalized the dinner menu with some sweet potato and cinnamon.
All in all it was a good day. It felt natural and comfortable choosing to eat what I ate. I feel myself further and further away from instances where I crave something not on the plan. That's very nice. Oh, I had an afternoon snack of apple and cashew butter today. Man...cashew butter is delicious. Super delicious. Eat more cashew butter!
Today started early, 3:45 am. I was meeting my friend Tracy at the pool by 4:45 am to swim before work since it has been so stormy after work lately. It was early, and I needed to make sure I ate something before swimming so I didn't get way hungry during the morning. I considered frying an egg, but I opted to try one of my Epic bars instead. Epic bars are made of meat and other ingredients. The one I grabbed from the variety pack was lamb and currant, but since I threw away the packaging, I picked up the pork bar to illustrate the Epic bars in a picture. You can see the consistency on the photo. It is almost like a slim jim mouth feel with less snap.
After swimming, I reheated pork loin and also reheated the brussel sprout/onion/butternut squash roasted veg with balsamic. The more I tried to eat it, the more I couldn't. It was getting more and more disgusting as time when on, so I threw the rest of those leftovers away. Goodbye. Life is too short.
I had leftover pork loin for post-swim breakfast, for lunch, and for dinner today. Unlike the pork chops that were gross, the loin was really flavorful and didn't dry out. I didn't mind eating it for all three meals today, and I will have it for at least one meal tomorrow.
I also sauteed kale for dinner in a bit of olive oil and low sodium chicken broth. It was really good....way more delicious than the brussel sprouts and butternut squash from last night. I finalized the dinner menu with some sweet potato and cinnamon.
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Day 28 and Dinner Is Late!
It is 8:01 pm, and I survived Day 28 of the Whole30. However, I still haven't eaten dinner because it is still in the oven. I made the roasted butternut squash, brussel sprouts, red onion, balsamic reduction thing, and I'm waiting on the walnut crusted pork tenderloin to finish cooking. The vegetables taste good, better than I expected.
Before we get back to the review of dinner, I will say we had a board meeting at work today, and that involved chicken alfredo pasta, lasagna, pizzas, and a mango tres leches cake. So yeah....I made a grilled chicken salad with really good balsamic vinaigrette and had a side of apple with pecan butter. I was satisfied and had plenty of lunch to tide me over without feeling like I wanted to eat the Italian smorgasbord. The pizza did smell really good, though. Really, really good.
Ok...the dinner bell is ringing. I'll go check the pork loin and let you know how it goes. I will also discuss coconut oil. Yes. It merits a discussion.... (chew, chew, chew.....)
...Dinner is over and the dishes are clean at 8:48 pm. It's a little late for me for dinner, especially since I like to be asleep by 9:30 or so. The pork loin was delicious. I ended up broiling it in the oven for the last 5 minutes or so, which made the walnut crust kind of crunchy. I will be eating pork loin for days.
The vegetables started off tasting good, but the more I ate them, the more I didn't like them. The brussel sprouts were bitter, the butternut squash was blah, and the red onion was ok but the whole dish just didn't do it for me. I would rather eat just straight up cabbage or asparagus or just about anything else. So, that was a bust, but at least I know. Now I have to decide if I want to choke down mediocre vegetables for another 3 meals or if I can try it one more time, become disgusted, and throw the leftovers away. Maybe tomorrow I'll like them for some reason.
Another problem with the vegetables is that they have a little bit of coconut essence. I used coconut oil as the fat for roasting them, and somehow the essence of coconut lingers. I am trying to find out when best to use coconut oil so that it compliments the food and doesn't turn me off with the smell or essence or whatever it is that I detect. Months ago I attempted to fry eggs with coconut oil in the skillet. Something about it made me gag. Ick. No coconut oil with eggs. I can't explain it. Anyone else have a good reason why sometimes coconut oil is gross? And what types of foods do you use it with that you really like the results?
Tomorrow is a new day, and I will be waking up at 3:45 am to get to the pool by 4:45 am for a swim. Ouch. It's early.
Before we get back to the review of dinner, I will say we had a board meeting at work today, and that involved chicken alfredo pasta, lasagna, pizzas, and a mango tres leches cake. So yeah....I made a grilled chicken salad with really good balsamic vinaigrette and had a side of apple with pecan butter. I was satisfied and had plenty of lunch to tide me over without feeling like I wanted to eat the Italian smorgasbord. The pizza did smell really good, though. Really, really good.
Ok...the dinner bell is ringing. I'll go check the pork loin and let you know how it goes. I will also discuss coconut oil. Yes. It merits a discussion.... (chew, chew, chew.....)
...Dinner is over and the dishes are clean at 8:48 pm. It's a little late for me for dinner, especially since I like to be asleep by 9:30 or so. The pork loin was delicious. I ended up broiling it in the oven for the last 5 minutes or so, which made the walnut crust kind of crunchy. I will be eating pork loin for days.
The vegetables started off tasting good, but the more I ate them, the more I didn't like them. The brussel sprouts were bitter, the butternut squash was blah, and the red onion was ok but the whole dish just didn't do it for me. I would rather eat just straight up cabbage or asparagus or just about anything else. So, that was a bust, but at least I know. Now I have to decide if I want to choke down mediocre vegetables for another 3 meals or if I can try it one more time, become disgusted, and throw the leftovers away. Maybe tomorrow I'll like them for some reason.
Another problem with the vegetables is that they have a little bit of coconut essence. I used coconut oil as the fat for roasting them, and somehow the essence of coconut lingers. I am trying to find out when best to use coconut oil so that it compliments the food and doesn't turn me off with the smell or essence or whatever it is that I detect. Months ago I attempted to fry eggs with coconut oil in the skillet. Something about it made me gag. Ick. No coconut oil with eggs. I can't explain it. Anyone else have a good reason why sometimes coconut oil is gross? And what types of foods do you use it with that you really like the results?
Tomorrow is a new day, and I will be waking up at 3:45 am to get to the pool by 4:45 am for a swim. Ouch. It's early.
Monday, August 31, 2015
Day 27!!! Holy Crap! It's Day 27!
It is 8:24 pm, and I survived Day 27! How crazy! 27 days is a long time....more than my fingers and toes combined. 7 more to be exact! For 27 days I haven't eaten grains, legumes, sugar, artificial sweeteners, dairy, or alcohol. That means I haven't had cheese or peanut butter or soy sauce or bread of any sort, no oatmeal, no chocolate covered donuts, no ranch dressing, no ketchup or mayo (unless I made them myself), no lima beans, no butter, no buttered lima beans (mmm, I love lima beans), no cream in my coffee, and no weird additives like sulfites or MSG.
I don't really have many cravings for all those things, though. I might think of something I want, but after a minute or two, I have forgotten all about it. That's nice. Often when I am craving something, it is because I am hungry. Once I remind myself of that, it helps ignore whatever I had been wanting. I also feel more comfortable ordering out at a restaurant. Of course most of the time I only go out to places I know I will find something I can eat.
I have learned to plan more for meals and snacks. I always have hard boiled eggs, almond butter, and nuts at work. I always have an idea for dinner and most of the time the dinner is actually already cooked. I always have a vegetable I can make to include with breakfast, whether that's spinach, broccoli, zucchini, or some combination of all three.
So that's where I am at Day 27. So far I have survived PMS, lunch meetings, sadness, Tucson day trips, and goodbye parties. Tomorrow is another challenge... the monthly board meeting at my job. We always order in lots of food and dessert for our board, and this month we are having Italian. Correction: This month they are having Italian. I am having grilled chicken and salad with bell peppers and celery.
3 days to go...well, three days +++++++++. Good night.
I don't really have many cravings for all those things, though. I might think of something I want, but after a minute or two, I have forgotten all about it. That's nice. Often when I am craving something, it is because I am hungry. Once I remind myself of that, it helps ignore whatever I had been wanting. I also feel more comfortable ordering out at a restaurant. Of course most of the time I only go out to places I know I will find something I can eat.
I have learned to plan more for meals and snacks. I always have hard boiled eggs, almond butter, and nuts at work. I always have an idea for dinner and most of the time the dinner is actually already cooked. I always have a vegetable I can make to include with breakfast, whether that's spinach, broccoli, zucchini, or some combination of all three.
So that's where I am at Day 27. So far I have survived PMS, lunch meetings, sadness, Tucson day trips, and goodbye parties. Tomorrow is another challenge... the monthly board meeting at my job. We always order in lots of food and dessert for our board, and this month we are having Italian. Correction: This month they are having Italian. I am having grilled chicken and salad with bell peppers and celery.
3 days to go...well, three days +++++++++. Good night.
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