"Don't be misled by other health claims attached to a wheat product. It may be "vitamin-enriched" with synthetic B vitamins, but it's still wheat. It could be organic stone-ground, whole grain bread with added omega-3 from flax oil, but it's still wheat. It could help you have regular bowel movements and emerge from the ladies' room with a satisfied smile, but it's still wheat. It could be taken as the sacrament and blessed by the pope, but - holy or not - it's still wheat.
I think you're probably getting the idea. I hammer this point home because it exposes a common ploy used by the food industry: Add "heart healthy" ingredient(s) to a food and call it a "heart healthy" muffin, cracker, or bread. Fiber, for instance, does indeed have modest health benefits. So does the linolenic acid of flaxseed and flaxseed oil. But no "heart healthy" ingredient will erase the adverse health effects of the wheat. "Heart healthy" bread packed with fiber and omega-3 fats will still trigger high blood sugar, glycation, visceral fat disposition, small LDL particles, exorphin release, and inflammatory responses." (Davis, pg. 158-159)
This is the last week of the trial period and I'll stick with it after. I still have some progress to make in eating better, but I'm happy to have been successful overall with my "wheatectomy". I've really noticed the last couple of nights that I am really sleeping better. I'm not waking at all during the night and feeling more rested in the morning. It's been a very busy couple of weeks, so I am still tired, but I'm happy with any progress. I've found that I crave sweets more, but I am not craving wheat products. I really don't miss bread at all. The only times I have found myself missing it is when I've been at a restaurant and they bring it out right in front of you. Ruby Tuesday's has these really good garlic cheese biscuit things....I smelled them, but I did not eat them. That was tough. But being at home, I don't wish I could make a sandwich or some toast. And toast was one of my munchie hungry go-to things, so I think this is a big step. Although I haven't been as zealous as I had originally hoped, I feel like I've made good progress nonetheless and feel like I can continue to improve my health being wheatless.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Week 3 - 8.25.2012
"Many people, on first setting out to identify foods containing wheat, find it in nearly all the processed foods they have been eating, including the most improbable places such as canned "cream" soups and "healthy" frozen dinners. Wheat is there for two reasons: One, it tastes good. Two, it stimulates appetite. The latter reason is not for your benefit, of course, but for the benefit of food manufacturers. To food manufactuers, wheat is like nicotine in cigarettes: the best insurance they have to encourage continued consumption." (Davis, pg. 197)
Surprise source of wheat for the day...Beer! Apparently there are gluten free beers on the market now...but how do they taste?
I have to admit I am really tired right now, so I don't know how long I'm going to be here. It has nothing to do with the removal of wheat from my diet, but rather waking early feeling sleepy and grumpy and just never catching up throughout the day. I'm a little nervous about weigh in on Monday. The bad news is I had gained weight over the 2nd week with a little added wheat and binge eating during my cycle. The good news is, so far, it seems to have come off, but I may still be at the weight I started at in the beginning. I won't complain though bc overall I have been feeling better. School started last week and it will be interesting to see how I handle the complete change of schedule. I have a feeling I will be counting down until the end of the semester. I'll be able to be home for lunches, so I just have to worry about breakfast. I'll also be busy with school work, so things I can just grab and eat will be important. One thought is to use a day on the weekend to cook up things I can have during the week, just pop in the microwave and eat. I imagine at some point this just becomes second nature and there won't be as much thought required into it.
Surprise source of wheat for the day...Beer! Apparently there are gluten free beers on the market now...but how do they taste?
I have to admit I am really tired right now, so I don't know how long I'm going to be here. It has nothing to do with the removal of wheat from my diet, but rather waking early feeling sleepy and grumpy and just never catching up throughout the day. I'm a little nervous about weigh in on Monday. The bad news is I had gained weight over the 2nd week with a little added wheat and binge eating during my cycle. The good news is, so far, it seems to have come off, but I may still be at the weight I started at in the beginning. I won't complain though bc overall I have been feeling better. School started last week and it will be interesting to see how I handle the complete change of schedule. I have a feeling I will be counting down until the end of the semester. I'll be able to be home for lunches, so I just have to worry about breakfast. I'll also be busy with school work, so things I can just grab and eat will be important. One thought is to use a day on the weekend to cook up things I can have during the week, just pop in the microwave and eat. I imagine at some point this just becomes second nature and there won't be as much thought required into it.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Week - 8.24.2012
"Instead, remember that the need for "healthy whole grains" is pure fiction. Grains such as wheat are no more a necessary part of the human diet than personal injury attorneys are to your backyard pool party.
...
Contrary to popular wisdom, including that of your friendly neighborhood dietitian, there is no deficiency that develops from elimination of wheat - provided the lost calories are replaced with the right foods.
...
Some people, for instance, are concerned they will not consume sufficient fiber if they eliminate wheat. Ironically, if you replace wheat calories with those from vegetables and raw nuts, fiber intake goes up.
...
The dietary community assumes that you live on taco chips and jelly beans, and you therefore require foods "fortified" with various vitamins. However, all those assumptions fall apart if you don't exist on what you can obtain from a bag at the local convenience store but consume real foods instead. B vitamins, such as B6, B12, folic acid, and thiamine, are added to baked, processed wheat products; dietitians therefore warn us that forgoing these products will yield vitamin B deficiencies. Also untrue. B vitamins are present in more than ample quantities in meats, vegetables, and nuts. While bread and other wheat products are required by law to have added folic acid, you'll exceed the folic acid content of wheat products several times over just by eating a handful of sunflower seeds or asparagus. A quarter cup of spinach, or four asparagus spears, for instance, matches the quantity of folic acid in most breakfast cereals. (Also, the folates of natural sources may be superior to the folic acid in fortified processed foods.) Nuts and green vegetables are, in general, exceptionally rich sources of folate and represent the way humans were meant to obtain it. ... Likewise, vitamin B6 and thiamine are obtained in much greater amounts from four ounces of chicken or pork, an avocado, or 1/4 cup of ground flaxseed than from an equivalent weight of wheat products.
In addition, eliminating wheat from your diet actually enhances B vitamin absorption. It is not uncommon, for instance, for vitamin B12 and folate, along with levels of iron, zinc, and magnesium, to increase with the removal of wheat, since gastrointestinal health improves and, along with it, absoprtion.
Eliminating wheat may be inconvenient, but it is certainly not unhealthy."
I wanted to include the above information because, in a way, it was new to me. To think that you don't need grains to live a healthy lifestyle contradicts what we are brought up learning. Davis often discusses ancient man, before farming, who were hunters and gatherers. Their diet consisted primarily of meat and plants they could gather and eat as they were. And they survived. Well, at least what killed them was not disease, but rather harsh living conditions. With the introduction of farming wheat, you can trace the increase in many ailments. It's good information to consider when thinking about the diet we subsist on today.
The last couple days have actually been really good. Last night I slept without waking the whole night. After experiencing that before I strayed last week, and then going back to fitfull sleep, I can't help but wonder if my eating had to do with it. I'm also finding new ways to fulfill my cravings that fit in with the current diet. For example, for lunch I had carrots and gluten-free crackers with hummus. I haven't enjoyed hummus in a long time, and the crackers made it feel like I was snacking on dip. Tonight, after dinner, I had strawberries with some chocolate syrup and whipped cream. It felt like I was eating this awful, fattening dessert when really, the majority of it was healthy strawberries. At the end of the book, Davis talks about what you can eat unlimitedly (is that a word?)...cheese, nuts and seeds were in this category. Such a difference from what I was trying to do before with no cheese and measured out proportions of seeds and nuts. It certainly helps to be able to do to the kitchen and no what can be eaten and what can't, and then to go about putting something together without really having to worry about measuring any of it.
Overall, I can't say I will never slip with wheat (afterall even O'Reilly has a cookie now and again), but I feel confident that I can take the lessons of this book and go with it. After the crumbling resolve of last week, I feel solid again.
...
Contrary to popular wisdom, including that of your friendly neighborhood dietitian, there is no deficiency that develops from elimination of wheat - provided the lost calories are replaced with the right foods.
...
Some people, for instance, are concerned they will not consume sufficient fiber if they eliminate wheat. Ironically, if you replace wheat calories with those from vegetables and raw nuts, fiber intake goes up.
...
The dietary community assumes that you live on taco chips and jelly beans, and you therefore require foods "fortified" with various vitamins. However, all those assumptions fall apart if you don't exist on what you can obtain from a bag at the local convenience store but consume real foods instead. B vitamins, such as B6, B12, folic acid, and thiamine, are added to baked, processed wheat products; dietitians therefore warn us that forgoing these products will yield vitamin B deficiencies. Also untrue. B vitamins are present in more than ample quantities in meats, vegetables, and nuts. While bread and other wheat products are required by law to have added folic acid, you'll exceed the folic acid content of wheat products several times over just by eating a handful of sunflower seeds or asparagus. A quarter cup of spinach, or four asparagus spears, for instance, matches the quantity of folic acid in most breakfast cereals. (Also, the folates of natural sources may be superior to the folic acid in fortified processed foods.) Nuts and green vegetables are, in general, exceptionally rich sources of folate and represent the way humans were meant to obtain it. ... Likewise, vitamin B6 and thiamine are obtained in much greater amounts from four ounces of chicken or pork, an avocado, or 1/4 cup of ground flaxseed than from an equivalent weight of wheat products.
In addition, eliminating wheat from your diet actually enhances B vitamin absorption. It is not uncommon, for instance, for vitamin B12 and folate, along with levels of iron, zinc, and magnesium, to increase with the removal of wheat, since gastrointestinal health improves and, along with it, absoprtion.
Eliminating wheat may be inconvenient, but it is certainly not unhealthy."
I wanted to include the above information because, in a way, it was new to me. To think that you don't need grains to live a healthy lifestyle contradicts what we are brought up learning. Davis often discusses ancient man, before farming, who were hunters and gatherers. Their diet consisted primarily of meat and plants they could gather and eat as they were. And they survived. Well, at least what killed them was not disease, but rather harsh living conditions. With the introduction of farming wheat, you can trace the increase in many ailments. It's good information to consider when thinking about the diet we subsist on today.
The last couple days have actually been really good. Last night I slept without waking the whole night. After experiencing that before I strayed last week, and then going back to fitfull sleep, I can't help but wonder if my eating had to do with it. I'm also finding new ways to fulfill my cravings that fit in with the current diet. For example, for lunch I had carrots and gluten-free crackers with hummus. I haven't enjoyed hummus in a long time, and the crackers made it feel like I was snacking on dip. Tonight, after dinner, I had strawberries with some chocolate syrup and whipped cream. It felt like I was eating this awful, fattening dessert when really, the majority of it was healthy strawberries. At the end of the book, Davis talks about what you can eat unlimitedly (is that a word?)...cheese, nuts and seeds were in this category. Such a difference from what I was trying to do before with no cheese and measured out proportions of seeds and nuts. It certainly helps to be able to do to the kitchen and no what can be eaten and what can't, and then to go about putting something together without really having to worry about measuring any of it.
Overall, I can't say I will never slip with wheat (afterall even O'Reilly has a cookie now and again), but I feel confident that I can take the lessons of this book and go with it. After the crumbling resolve of last week, I feel solid again.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Week 3 cont. - 8.23.2012
"Carbohydrates, on the other hand, contain virtually no triglycerides. Two slices of whole grain bread, an onion bagel, or sourdough pretzel contain negligible triglycerides. But carbohydrates possess the unique capacity to stimulate insulin, which in turn triggers fatty acid synthesis in the liver, a process that floods the bloodstream with triglycerides." (David, pg. 153)
Surprise source of wheat for the day...soup. Some kinds of soup, such as creamy ones, may not be as much of a surprise, but check out the label of your Campbell's in the cupboard. Wheat is often used as a filler.
It feels good to be back on track for real. Well, sort of on track. I had a fabulous lunch. I made a big salad with romaine lettuce, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, dried soybeans, cashews, parmesan cheese and italian dressing followed by a quesadilla made from corn tortillas in my microwave. I was amazed at how much it filled me up, especially given that I hadn't eaten breakfast. I didn't even really feel hungry for a big dinner. I ended up eating a bowl of Crispix (wheat and gluten free). I am pretty tired, but it's been a crazy busy week, so I'm sure that had some to do with it. Otherwise, I feel good. I mostly feel good for getting back on track, but I also think my body is thanking me for paying attention again. The one thought that keeps running through my head is eat to live, not live to eat. It doesn't mean you can indulge once in a while, but to indulge everyday leads to where I am now, carrying extra weight dealing with health issues. I don't expect I will necessarily continue down this path without any more hitches, but that's life....especially when you're making such a huge transformation to how you eat and go against the information that has been beaten into your head for so long.
Surprise source of wheat for the day...soup. Some kinds of soup, such as creamy ones, may not be as much of a surprise, but check out the label of your Campbell's in the cupboard. Wheat is often used as a filler.
It feels good to be back on track for real. Well, sort of on track. I had a fabulous lunch. I made a big salad with romaine lettuce, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, dried soybeans, cashews, parmesan cheese and italian dressing followed by a quesadilla made from corn tortillas in my microwave. I was amazed at how much it filled me up, especially given that I hadn't eaten breakfast. I didn't even really feel hungry for a big dinner. I ended up eating a bowl of Crispix (wheat and gluten free). I am pretty tired, but it's been a crazy busy week, so I'm sure that had some to do with it. Otherwise, I feel good. I mostly feel good for getting back on track, but I also think my body is thanking me for paying attention again. The one thought that keeps running through my head is eat to live, not live to eat. It doesn't mean you can indulge once in a while, but to indulge everyday leads to where I am now, carrying extra weight dealing with health issues. I don't expect I will necessarily continue down this path without any more hitches, but that's life....especially when you're making such a huge transformation to how you eat and go against the information that has been beaten into your head for so long.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Week 3, Day ? - 8.22.2012
Yes, I slacked off a week. So I'll start back tomorrow with quotes from the book and surprise source of wheat. It was a combination of things that caused the break in writing. First, it's just been a super hectic week with getting kids ready to start school as well as myself getting ready to go back. Buying supplies, trying to secure financial aid, figuring out what is due when to make sure I graduate on time.
Besides the busy life, I found my resolve weakening last week. I won't say that I didn't cheat and have some wheat, but I did not have a lot. I remained mostly wheat free. I discovered that having a little wheat did not throw me off like I thought it would...both physically and mentally. I also discovered that even when you don't eat wheat, you still need to watch what you eat. Keep up with the fruits and vegetables, don't eat so much other carbs. This may be TMI, but PMS and my monthly visitor didn't help to keep my resolve. I really questioned last week whether I could commit to this for the long term. Now that I've made it through the worst, my resolve is coming back. I know what I need to do, now it's just time to do it.
I still feel that going wheat free has helped me overall. I still feel more focused, my body feels better and I have more energy. I'm not sure what the weight loss/gain is. Actually, I doubt I have a gain, but I had gained some back from what I lost. This could be due to other circumstances...I'll get the official number this Monday as I enter week 4. I'll be back in usual form tomorrow and will be better at keeping up with what I started.
Besides the busy life, I found my resolve weakening last week. I won't say that I didn't cheat and have some wheat, but I did not have a lot. I remained mostly wheat free. I discovered that having a little wheat did not throw me off like I thought it would...both physically and mentally. I also discovered that even when you don't eat wheat, you still need to watch what you eat. Keep up with the fruits and vegetables, don't eat so much other carbs. This may be TMI, but PMS and my monthly visitor didn't help to keep my resolve. I really questioned last week whether I could commit to this for the long term. Now that I've made it through the worst, my resolve is coming back. I know what I need to do, now it's just time to do it.
I still feel that going wheat free has helped me overall. I still feel more focused, my body feels better and I have more energy. I'm not sure what the weight loss/gain is. Actually, I doubt I have a gain, but I had gained some back from what I lost. This could be due to other circumstances...I'll get the official number this Monday as I enter week 4. I'll be back in usual form tomorrow and will be better at keeping up with what I started.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Day 9, Week 2 - 8.14.2012
"Why would Type 1 diabetes be on the increase? Our children are likely being exposed to something. Something sets off a broad abnormal immune response in these children. Some authorities have proposed that a viral infection ignites the process, while others have pointed their finger at factors that unmask expression of autoimmune responses in the genetically susceptible.
Could it be wheat?
The changes in the genetics of wheat since 1960, such as that of high-yielding dwarf strains, could conceivably account for the recent increased incidence of type 1 diabetes. Its appearance coincides with the increase in celiac disease and other diseases."
Surprise wheat source of the day...jelly beans. Davis notes that Jelly Bellies and Starburst brands do not have wheat, but other do.
I had a real test today of my non-wheat fortitude. I went out to lunch with my parents. The restaurant we went to was good enough to mark which items on the menu were gluten free. Other than the salads, there were 3 things that fit the bill. I ended up having the salad bar with a side of sweet potato fries. We were going to order some chips with queso, salsa and guacamole, but even that had wheat in it. The salad bar had some pasta which I avoided. They also had some gluten free bread which was actually pretty good. Overall had a filling lunch and remained wheat free. Then I took my daughter to Chuck E Cheese and saw the double chocolate fudge cake and had a moment of longing. Not that I would buy a whole cake, but it sure looked good. Some of those things I feel like I'm going to miss, but then I also get to eat stuff I normally wouldn't if I followed low fat/higher carb diets. In the end it was a good day and I feel good about the choices I made. I really need to hit the store though bc I'm running out of easy snacks. I don't snack that often, but usually in the afternoon and sometimes for a meal, I'll just put together snack like cheese, crackers, some fruit and some nuts. This has been worthwhile so far.
Could it be wheat?
The changes in the genetics of wheat since 1960, such as that of high-yielding dwarf strains, could conceivably account for the recent increased incidence of type 1 diabetes. Its appearance coincides with the increase in celiac disease and other diseases."
Surprise wheat source of the day...jelly beans. Davis notes that Jelly Bellies and Starburst brands do not have wheat, but other do.
I had a real test today of my non-wheat fortitude. I went out to lunch with my parents. The restaurant we went to was good enough to mark which items on the menu were gluten free. Other than the salads, there were 3 things that fit the bill. I ended up having the salad bar with a side of sweet potato fries. We were going to order some chips with queso, salsa and guacamole, but even that had wheat in it. The salad bar had some pasta which I avoided. They also had some gluten free bread which was actually pretty good. Overall had a filling lunch and remained wheat free. Then I took my daughter to Chuck E Cheese and saw the double chocolate fudge cake and had a moment of longing. Not that I would buy a whole cake, but it sure looked good. Some of those things I feel like I'm going to miss, but then I also get to eat stuff I normally wouldn't if I followed low fat/higher carb diets. In the end it was a good day and I feel good about the choices I made. I really need to hit the store though bc I'm running out of easy snacks. I don't snack that often, but usually in the afternoon and sometimes for a meal, I'll just put together snack like cheese, crackers, some fruit and some nuts. This has been worthwhile so far.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Day 8, Week 2 - 8.13.2012
"So this is your brain on wheat: Digestion yields morphine-like compounds that bind to the brain's opiate receptors. It induces a form of reward, a mild euphoria. When the effect is blocked or no exorphin-yielding foods are consumed, some people experience a distinctly unpleasant withdrawal.
...
Wheat, in fact, nearly stands alone as a food with potent central nervous system effects. Outside of intoxicants such as ethanol (like that in your favorite merlot or chardonnay), wheat is one of the few foods that can alter behavior, induce pleasurable effects, and generate a withdrawal syndrome upon its removal."
Surprise wheat source of the day...taco seasoning! Not all taco seasoning has wheat, so again, check the label. However, my step-dad, who has also gone wheat free, was looking at the Taco Bell website for dinner tonight, hoping he might find something in a corn shell he could eat. Nope! Everything had wheat because of the meat.
Got on the scale today and I was down 1.5 pounds from a week ago. And all I did was cut out wheat. I didn't exercise at all. And it would be easy to say, well, I cut out most sweets and ate so much more fruits and vegetables. This is true, but I also ate things considered to be bad for you if you follow a traditional "diet". I went through a whole pound of Kraft cheddar cheese over the week...and not the low fat stuff, the good stuff. I had bacon twice last week and tacos for dinner Saturday. On a really bad day I splurged on a McDonald's Rolo McFlurry. I made Chex Mix over the weekend with real butter. I did not control my portions, my calories or my fat intake. I ate in moderation within the bounds of being wheat free. I didn't miss the wheat products and didn't snack as much throughout the day. I lost 1.5 pounds. It's a good start. This week I want to try and add in some moderate exercise. I have issues with my sciatic, so right now I can't go all out on exercise. I hope over time as other things improve, that will as well. I have noticed that it doesn't hurt as much or as often as it had been.
Besides the weight loss, I have experienced other benefits. I have more energy, I feel more clear headed and my body feels better. I am sleeping deeper and my blood sugar levels are in line during the day. Things I need to work on are my fasting levels. I think I need to find a better, more protein rich snack at night and that will fall in line. I also need to lower my diet coke consumption. Finally, I still find myself tired, but I think I have discovered the cause. I have been sleeping deeper and when I get awakened by one of my children, it has usually been while I was dreaming. That puts me in a fog right there. However, as I've said before, when I'm tired it still feels more physical than mental.
I am looking forward to the next few weeks to see where this takes me. If things continue the way they have, this will be a life decision. There are very few things that make me feel sad that I may never eat them again. Zeffiro's pizza comes to mind as well as birthday cake. But the cake is more about the celebration than the food, so I'll just have to have birthday ice cream instead.
...
Wheat, in fact, nearly stands alone as a food with potent central nervous system effects. Outside of intoxicants such as ethanol (like that in your favorite merlot or chardonnay), wheat is one of the few foods that can alter behavior, induce pleasurable effects, and generate a withdrawal syndrome upon its removal."
Surprise wheat source of the day...taco seasoning! Not all taco seasoning has wheat, so again, check the label. However, my step-dad, who has also gone wheat free, was looking at the Taco Bell website for dinner tonight, hoping he might find something in a corn shell he could eat. Nope! Everything had wheat because of the meat.
Got on the scale today and I was down 1.5 pounds from a week ago. And all I did was cut out wheat. I didn't exercise at all. And it would be easy to say, well, I cut out most sweets and ate so much more fruits and vegetables. This is true, but I also ate things considered to be bad for you if you follow a traditional "diet". I went through a whole pound of Kraft cheddar cheese over the week...and not the low fat stuff, the good stuff. I had bacon twice last week and tacos for dinner Saturday. On a really bad day I splurged on a McDonald's Rolo McFlurry. I made Chex Mix over the weekend with real butter. I did not control my portions, my calories or my fat intake. I ate in moderation within the bounds of being wheat free. I didn't miss the wheat products and didn't snack as much throughout the day. I lost 1.5 pounds. It's a good start. This week I want to try and add in some moderate exercise. I have issues with my sciatic, so right now I can't go all out on exercise. I hope over time as other things improve, that will as well. I have noticed that it doesn't hurt as much or as often as it had been.
Besides the weight loss, I have experienced other benefits. I have more energy, I feel more clear headed and my body feels better. I am sleeping deeper and my blood sugar levels are in line during the day. Things I need to work on are my fasting levels. I think I need to find a better, more protein rich snack at night and that will fall in line. I also need to lower my diet coke consumption. Finally, I still find myself tired, but I think I have discovered the cause. I have been sleeping deeper and when I get awakened by one of my children, it has usually been while I was dreaming. That puts me in a fog right there. However, as I've said before, when I'm tired it still feels more physical than mental.
I am looking forward to the next few weeks to see where this takes me. If things continue the way they have, this will be a life decision. There are very few things that make me feel sad that I may never eat them again. Zeffiro's pizza comes to mind as well as birthday cake. But the cake is more about the celebration than the food, so I'll just have to have birthday ice cream instead.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Day 7, Week 1 - 8.12.2012
"Contrary to popular wisdom, including that of your friendly neighborhood dietician, there is no deficiency that develops from elimination of wheat - provided the lost calories are replaced with the right foods.
If the gap left by wheat is filled with vegetables, nuts, meats, eggs, avocados, olives, cheese - i.e., real food - then not only won't you develop a dietary deficiency, you will enjoy better health, more energy, better sleep, weight loss, and reversal of all the abnormal phenomena we've discussed." (Davis, pg. 193)
Surprise wheat source of the day...Veggie burgers like those from Morningstar or Bocaburgers. Just because they're veggie doesn't mean they don't use wheat.
I've made it a week. Before starting this, I was a little weary. As Davis says, eating wheat is something that is bombarded at you constantly. And wheat is in everything. But I've found that it wasn't so hard. There aren't a lot of traditional snack options, but I'll snack on fruit or carrots or cheese and crackers (the crackers I've been munching on, by the way, are Mary's Gone Crackers and I found them in the gluten free section of the store). I think it's more important to note, though, that I hardly feel the need to snack. If I eat a good breakfast, lunch and dinner, I don't feel the need to snack as much. Generally I've been going breakfast to lunch with no snack. Then in the afternoon I'll have a snack. And then dinner. I sometimes have a snack before I go to bed. Previous to cutting out wheat I snacked out of boredom, had times where I just stood staring into the pantry trying to find something that sounded good. The need to snack has pretty much disappeared. That feels great right there. I also find that I'm not as thirsty as I used to be. This is a good and a bad thing. I've been drinking more Diet Coke lately along with water. I need to back off the Diet Coke. Sodas are acidic and throw off the body's pH. I made some Chex Mix with Crispex cereal, nuts, sunflower seed and pumpkin seeds. It turned out great and made for a good snack. I also bought some whipped cream to go on fruit when I want something a little sweeter. Also, the Weight Watchers small fudge bars are always good.
I have to apologize as I've lost my train of thought due to a sick child that I am having to attend to. I will continue tomorrow as well as weigh in and take new pics.
If the gap left by wheat is filled with vegetables, nuts, meats, eggs, avocados, olives, cheese - i.e., real food - then not only won't you develop a dietary deficiency, you will enjoy better health, more energy, better sleep, weight loss, and reversal of all the abnormal phenomena we've discussed." (Davis, pg. 193)
Surprise wheat source of the day...Veggie burgers like those from Morningstar or Bocaburgers. Just because they're veggie doesn't mean they don't use wheat.
I've made it a week. Before starting this, I was a little weary. As Davis says, eating wheat is something that is bombarded at you constantly. And wheat is in everything. But I've found that it wasn't so hard. There aren't a lot of traditional snack options, but I'll snack on fruit or carrots or cheese and crackers (the crackers I've been munching on, by the way, are Mary's Gone Crackers and I found them in the gluten free section of the store). I think it's more important to note, though, that I hardly feel the need to snack. If I eat a good breakfast, lunch and dinner, I don't feel the need to snack as much. Generally I've been going breakfast to lunch with no snack. Then in the afternoon I'll have a snack. And then dinner. I sometimes have a snack before I go to bed. Previous to cutting out wheat I snacked out of boredom, had times where I just stood staring into the pantry trying to find something that sounded good. The need to snack has pretty much disappeared. That feels great right there. I also find that I'm not as thirsty as I used to be. This is a good and a bad thing. I've been drinking more Diet Coke lately along with water. I need to back off the Diet Coke. Sodas are acidic and throw off the body's pH. I made some Chex Mix with Crispex cereal, nuts, sunflower seed and pumpkin seeds. It turned out great and made for a good snack. I also bought some whipped cream to go on fruit when I want something a little sweeter. Also, the Weight Watchers small fudge bars are always good.
I have to apologize as I've lost my train of thought due to a sick child that I am having to attend to. I will continue tomorrow as well as weigh in and take new pics.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Day 6, Week 1 - 8.11.2012
"Of all the grains in the human diet, why only pick on wheat? Because wheat, by a considerable margin, is the dominant source of gluten protein in the human diet. Unles they're Euell Gibbons, most people don't eat much rye, barley, spelt, triticale, bulgar, kamut, or other less common gluten sources; wheat consumption overshadows consumption of other gluten-containing grains by more than a hundred to one. Wheat also has unique attributes those other grains do not, attributes that make it especially destructive to our health..." (Davis, pg. 6)
Surprise source of wheat of the day...deli meat! I'm not sure if all deli meat uses wheat as a filler. This is where checking your labels is important. For example, Davis lists sausage as a wheat source. However, the turkey sausage I ate earlier this week did not have wheat in it. When in doubt, look at the label!
One more day and I will have been at this a week. That is a big deal for me. It's so easy to get on some plan which you follow diligently for a few days only to get derailed, feel guilty, and then hop back on the wagon. I think what makes eliminating wheat so easy is that I'm not having to deprive myself. I'm eating real, full fat cheese daily. I ate bacon, fried up in a pan, twice. Along with this, though, I am also eating more fruits and vegetables. I feel like my diet is more balanced than it's ever been. And the transition really hasn't been hard. I'm still dealing with a bit of sleepiness, but I feel more motivated to do things during the day, like laundry or dishes. That may not sound like a big deal, but there were times I was so exhausted I just didn't do anything. I no longer get to that point. When bedtime comes around I am very tired, but then I've been sleeping deeper. And when I am tired, my mind still feels sharp. My body just feels better...I don't know a better way to say it than that. I've also noticed that I am able to be more patient. Looking after 3 little ones can really be taxing, especially when they are being whiney, disrespectful and/or are not behaving. It seems to catch like a virus too, because often we'll either have a good day, or I will feel picked on because all 3 are being terrors. Today was in between. By the time their dad came to watch them, I was definitely ready for a break. However, before that point, I had not lost my temper or yelled (boy I sound like mother of the year, eh?). What this means though is that instead of getting beyond frustrated at the start of my son's temper tantrum, I was able to stop it...or let him have it and get past it, feeling less frustrated and less of a bad mom for it. My blood sugar level this morning was 151. I forgot to take my meds last night. I am hoping that over time I can get those levels down so that I don't need to take meds. Of course, once I drop some weight, that will become easier too. I am anxious for Monday morning where I can see the official weigh in. I have to admit I stepped on the scale today...it was a good number, but I don't want to say anything yet. I know the body just naturally can fluctuate from day to day, so even if it's up a little on Monday from today, I'll be happy with any loss.
Surprise source of wheat of the day...deli meat! I'm not sure if all deli meat uses wheat as a filler. This is where checking your labels is important. For example, Davis lists sausage as a wheat source. However, the turkey sausage I ate earlier this week did not have wheat in it. When in doubt, look at the label!
One more day and I will have been at this a week. That is a big deal for me. It's so easy to get on some plan which you follow diligently for a few days only to get derailed, feel guilty, and then hop back on the wagon. I think what makes eliminating wheat so easy is that I'm not having to deprive myself. I'm eating real, full fat cheese daily. I ate bacon, fried up in a pan, twice. Along with this, though, I am also eating more fruits and vegetables. I feel like my diet is more balanced than it's ever been. And the transition really hasn't been hard. I'm still dealing with a bit of sleepiness, but I feel more motivated to do things during the day, like laundry or dishes. That may not sound like a big deal, but there were times I was so exhausted I just didn't do anything. I no longer get to that point. When bedtime comes around I am very tired, but then I've been sleeping deeper. And when I am tired, my mind still feels sharp. My body just feels better...I don't know a better way to say it than that. I've also noticed that I am able to be more patient. Looking after 3 little ones can really be taxing, especially when they are being whiney, disrespectful and/or are not behaving. It seems to catch like a virus too, because often we'll either have a good day, or I will feel picked on because all 3 are being terrors. Today was in between. By the time their dad came to watch them, I was definitely ready for a break. However, before that point, I had not lost my temper or yelled (boy I sound like mother of the year, eh?). What this means though is that instead of getting beyond frustrated at the start of my son's temper tantrum, I was able to stop it...or let him have it and get past it, feeling less frustrated and less of a bad mom for it. My blood sugar level this morning was 151. I forgot to take my meds last night. I am hoping that over time I can get those levels down so that I don't need to take meds. Of course, once I drop some weight, that will become easier too. I am anxious for Monday morning where I can see the official weigh in. I have to admit I stepped on the scale today...it was a good number, but I don't want to say anything yet. I know the body just naturally can fluctuate from day to day, so even if it's up a little on Monday from today, I'll be happy with any loss.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Day 5, Week 1 - 8.10.2012
"The human body is a tightly controlled pH vessel. Veer up or down from the normal pH of 7.4 by just 0.5 and you're...dead.
...
In daily life, the pH of the body is locked at 7.4, thanks to the elaborate control systems in place. By-products of metabolism, such as lactic acid, are acids. Acids drive pH down, triggering a panic mode response from the body to compensate. The body responds by drawing from any alkaline store available, from bicarbonate in the bloodstream to alkaline calcium salts such as calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate in the bones. Because maintaining a normal pH is so crucial, the body will sacrifice bone health to keep pH stable. In the great triage system that is your body, your bones will be turned into mush before pH is allowed to veer off course. When a happy net alkaline balance is struck, bones will be happy, joints will be happy.
...
Unlike all other foods derived from plants, grains generate acidic by-products, the only plant products to do so. Because wheat is, by a long stretch, the foremost grain in most Americans' diet, it contributes substantially to the acid burden of a meat-containing diet.
Wheat is among the most potent sources of sulfuric acid, yielding more sulfuric acid per gram than any meat. (Wheat is surpassed only by oats in quantity of sulfuric acid produced.)...The sulfuric acid produced by wheat consumption is undoubtedly dilute. But even in teensy-weensy quantities in dilute form, it is an overwhelmingly potent acid that rapidly overcomes the neutralizing effects of alkaline bases."
Surprise (possible) wheat source of the day...Blue cheese, Cottage cheese, Gorgonzola cheese and Roquefort. Because the cultures used to ferment some cheeses come in contact with bread (bread mold), they potentially present a gluten exposure risk.
I have completed almost a week of being wheat free and I am feeling good. Today I felt like I had more energy. We had a lot to do today and I never felt like I was dragging. Of course now that it's bedtime I am feeling exhausted. I'm feeling better overall and healthier. I've found that I am going to need to take some recipes and make them up ahead of time so that I have some easy to grab snacks. Fortunately, I have found the cereal Crispix...they are kind like Chex, but have one side corn and the other side rice. I inspected the label and there is no wheat. This weekend I plan to make a few snacks to have something to go with the vegies and fruit I am eating. One is Chex Mix, which I'll make with the Crispix, some different kinds of nuts, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds. I have a recipe for sweet and spicy nuts....basically mixed nuts with different spices and a small amount of brown sugar. I also have a recipe from one of my diabetic cookbooks for garbanzo beans. The goal is to get all these made by the end of the weekend. I am anxious for Monday to see if I have dropped any additional weight. I also plan, at that point, to add in some exercise to see how that affects my weight loss. Obviously I think it can only help. I haven't done any this week bc I wanted to get a true sense of what this new way of eating was all about and what I could start to expect. The biggest thing I have learned is that this has not been nearly as hard as I thought it would be. The idea of going without all the wheat products we've come to love was a little intimidating. Now I am glad to be on the path. I am going to bed now because I am falling asleep but will write more tomorrow. Oh, and I forgot to test my blood sugar this morning. We'll see what tomorrow brings.
...
In daily life, the pH of the body is locked at 7.4, thanks to the elaborate control systems in place. By-products of metabolism, such as lactic acid, are acids. Acids drive pH down, triggering a panic mode response from the body to compensate. The body responds by drawing from any alkaline store available, from bicarbonate in the bloodstream to alkaline calcium salts such as calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate in the bones. Because maintaining a normal pH is so crucial, the body will sacrifice bone health to keep pH stable. In the great triage system that is your body, your bones will be turned into mush before pH is allowed to veer off course. When a happy net alkaline balance is struck, bones will be happy, joints will be happy.
...
Unlike all other foods derived from plants, grains generate acidic by-products, the only plant products to do so. Because wheat is, by a long stretch, the foremost grain in most Americans' diet, it contributes substantially to the acid burden of a meat-containing diet.
Wheat is among the most potent sources of sulfuric acid, yielding more sulfuric acid per gram than any meat. (Wheat is surpassed only by oats in quantity of sulfuric acid produced.)...The sulfuric acid produced by wheat consumption is undoubtedly dilute. But even in teensy-weensy quantities in dilute form, it is an overwhelmingly potent acid that rapidly overcomes the neutralizing effects of alkaline bases."
Surprise (possible) wheat source of the day...Blue cheese, Cottage cheese, Gorgonzola cheese and Roquefort. Because the cultures used to ferment some cheeses come in contact with bread (bread mold), they potentially present a gluten exposure risk.
I have completed almost a week of being wheat free and I am feeling good. Today I felt like I had more energy. We had a lot to do today and I never felt like I was dragging. Of course now that it's bedtime I am feeling exhausted. I'm feeling better overall and healthier. I've found that I am going to need to take some recipes and make them up ahead of time so that I have some easy to grab snacks. Fortunately, I have found the cereal Crispix...they are kind like Chex, but have one side corn and the other side rice. I inspected the label and there is no wheat. This weekend I plan to make a few snacks to have something to go with the vegies and fruit I am eating. One is Chex Mix, which I'll make with the Crispix, some different kinds of nuts, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds. I have a recipe for sweet and spicy nuts....basically mixed nuts with different spices and a small amount of brown sugar. I also have a recipe from one of my diabetic cookbooks for garbanzo beans. The goal is to get all these made by the end of the weekend. I am anxious for Monday to see if I have dropped any additional weight. I also plan, at that point, to add in some exercise to see how that affects my weight loss. Obviously I think it can only help. I haven't done any this week bc I wanted to get a true sense of what this new way of eating was all about and what I could start to expect. The biggest thing I have learned is that this has not been nearly as hard as I thought it would be. The idea of going without all the wheat products we've come to love was a little intimidating. Now I am glad to be on the path. I am going to bed now because I am falling asleep but will write more tomorrow. Oh, and I forgot to test my blood sugar this morning. We'll see what tomorrow brings.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Day 4, Week 1 - 8.9.2012
"In fact, the incredible financial bonanza that the proliferation of wheat in the American diet has created for the food and drug industries can make you wonder if this "perfect storm" was somehow man-made. Did a group of powerful men convene a secret Howard Hughesian meeting in 1955, map out an evil plan to mass-produce high-yield, low-cost dwarf wheat, engineer the release of government-sanctioned advice to eat "healthy whole grains," lead the charge of corporate Big Food to sell hundreds of billions of dollars worth of processed wheat food products - all leading to obesity and the "need" for billions of dollars of drug treatments for diabetes, heart disease, and all the other health consequences of obesity? It sounds ridiculous, but in a sense that's exactly what happened." (Davis, pg. 56)
Surprise wheat source of the day...lipstick! Wheat seems to be in everything.
Day 4 was a rough one, but not because of the lack of wheat. Issues with my kids and other things going on in my life just overwhelmed me some today. I did not eat as good as I would have liked. Breakfast was cereal with 2% milk, pineapple, bacon, cheese and cashews. I started out well. Shortly after, my day fell apart. The afternoon consisted mostly of cheese and crackers and I've had more diet coke today than I ordinarily like to. At dinner time I really slipped and had some ice cream. Despite all of this, I did not have any wheat what-so-ever. I wasn't even tempted by it. The only thing that I gave a second glance was a lonely single Oreo sitting on my counter. I thought for a brief moment that I would like to eat it, but it was just a fleeting moment. I expect tomorrow to be a better day. My fasting sugar was 141 this morning by the way. Still not where it needs to be, yet lower. As for how I feel, it is pretty much in line with what I wrote yesterday minus the stomach issues. I'm still super tired. Of course, some of that is just being emotionally drained. My body is still feeling better and mentally I am doing well. I couldn't resist and I stepped on the scale this morning. It was down 1/2 pound. I know it doesn't seem like much, but that was after only 3 days and not exercising. Of course, the ice cream I ate tonight may have put that 1/2 pound back on. We'll see how tomorrow looks.
Surprise wheat source of the day...lipstick! Wheat seems to be in everything.
Day 4 was a rough one, but not because of the lack of wheat. Issues with my kids and other things going on in my life just overwhelmed me some today. I did not eat as good as I would have liked. Breakfast was cereal with 2% milk, pineapple, bacon, cheese and cashews. I started out well. Shortly after, my day fell apart. The afternoon consisted mostly of cheese and crackers and I've had more diet coke today than I ordinarily like to. At dinner time I really slipped and had some ice cream. Despite all of this, I did not have any wheat what-so-ever. I wasn't even tempted by it. The only thing that I gave a second glance was a lonely single Oreo sitting on my counter. I thought for a brief moment that I would like to eat it, but it was just a fleeting moment. I expect tomorrow to be a better day. My fasting sugar was 141 this morning by the way. Still not where it needs to be, yet lower. As for how I feel, it is pretty much in line with what I wrote yesterday minus the stomach issues. I'm still super tired. Of course, some of that is just being emotionally drained. My body is still feeling better and mentally I am doing well. I couldn't resist and I stepped on the scale this morning. It was down 1/2 pound. I know it doesn't seem like much, but that was after only 3 days and not exercising. Of course, the ice cream I ate tonight may have put that 1/2 pound back on. We'll see how tomorrow looks.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Day 3, Week 1 - 8.8.2012
"Wheat and diabetes are closely interwoven. In many ways, the history of wheat is also the history of diabetes. Where there's wheat, there's diabetes. Where there's diabetes, there's wheat. It's a relationship as cozy as McDonald's and hamburgers. But it wasn't until the modern age that diabetes became not just a disease of the idle rich but of every level of society. Diabetes has become Everyman's Disease." (Davis, pg. 97)
Surprise source of wheat for the day - Cheerios! Made from whole grain oats, but includes wheat as well.
It's the end of day 3 and I am TIRED. I've also had some stomach upset. I'm chalking it up to wheat withdrawl and hoping for the best tomorrow. Even though I am tired, it is a physical tired. I feel sharper mentally. I have been so tempted to step on the scale just to see if there's any change, but I am waiting for that first full week to be done. My blood sugars have been doing fairly well. Breakfast was pineapple, turkey sausage, cheese and cashews. Levels measured at 138. Lunch was a hamburger cooked in worcestershire sauce and butter with provolone cheese and carrots. Levels were 113. Dinner I snacked early on some crackers and a slim jim...then had some leftover chinese. Levels were up at 164. However, looking at an article from a diabetes magazine, it says the ideal 2 hours after the start of a meal is below 180. I have been hitting that and then some all week. My fasting levels are another story though. This morning was 149. Ideal first thing in the morning is 90-130. I'm not going over by a lot, but I still need to get it down. I realized that the last 2 nights I forgot to take my Metformin (diabetes medication) so that may have contributed. The hope is to eventually get off the meds, but it's going to take some time and some lost weight. I took my meds tonight, so now I'll see what happens in the morning. I think in an effort to save some money, I will stop checking after every meal. Meals that contain more carbs I will check, but otherwise I will stick to my fasting levels. Those test stripes are EXPENSIVE!
One thing I haven't really touched on is exercise. I have been having issues with my sciatic in my leg, so I've been sidelined a bit. I admit I have been curious to see if changing my diet at all would affect my leg. It could be all in my head, but it hasn't been as bad the last few days. The pain is not gone and I still have issues, but the ibuprofen has been working better and the pain is not as constant. I was reading in the book today how wheat can affect so many functions of the body, including the nerves. In the coming days, I will put together some summary information on Davis' finding about wheat. I also am curious to see if I have noticable changes without the benefit of exercise, as many people who have reviewed the book claim. I'll get the exercise in the routine in the coming weeks however....it will only help my cause.
Other than some mild side effects, the removal of wheat has not been too hard at all. I don't know why, but going wheat free is so much easier than when I tried to go low carb. I think part of it is because I don't count anything. I eat things that are wheat free. I don't go crazy on the portions, but I don't measure anything out either. I'm eating more fruits and vegetables too. I feel very positive about this change of pace.
Surprise source of wheat for the day - Cheerios! Made from whole grain oats, but includes wheat as well.
It's the end of day 3 and I am TIRED. I've also had some stomach upset. I'm chalking it up to wheat withdrawl and hoping for the best tomorrow. Even though I am tired, it is a physical tired. I feel sharper mentally. I have been so tempted to step on the scale just to see if there's any change, but I am waiting for that first full week to be done. My blood sugars have been doing fairly well. Breakfast was pineapple, turkey sausage, cheese and cashews. Levels measured at 138. Lunch was a hamburger cooked in worcestershire sauce and butter with provolone cheese and carrots. Levels were 113. Dinner I snacked early on some crackers and a slim jim...then had some leftover chinese. Levels were up at 164. However, looking at an article from a diabetes magazine, it says the ideal 2 hours after the start of a meal is below 180. I have been hitting that and then some all week. My fasting levels are another story though. This morning was 149. Ideal first thing in the morning is 90-130. I'm not going over by a lot, but I still need to get it down. I realized that the last 2 nights I forgot to take my Metformin (diabetes medication) so that may have contributed. The hope is to eventually get off the meds, but it's going to take some time and some lost weight. I took my meds tonight, so now I'll see what happens in the morning. I think in an effort to save some money, I will stop checking after every meal. Meals that contain more carbs I will check, but otherwise I will stick to my fasting levels. Those test stripes are EXPENSIVE!
One thing I haven't really touched on is exercise. I have been having issues with my sciatic in my leg, so I've been sidelined a bit. I admit I have been curious to see if changing my diet at all would affect my leg. It could be all in my head, but it hasn't been as bad the last few days. The pain is not gone and I still have issues, but the ibuprofen has been working better and the pain is not as constant. I was reading in the book today how wheat can affect so many functions of the body, including the nerves. In the coming days, I will put together some summary information on Davis' finding about wheat. I also am curious to see if I have noticable changes without the benefit of exercise, as many people who have reviewed the book claim. I'll get the exercise in the routine in the coming weeks however....it will only help my cause.
Other than some mild side effects, the removal of wheat has not been too hard at all. I don't know why, but going wheat free is so much easier than when I tried to go low carb. I think part of it is because I don't count anything. I eat things that are wheat free. I don't go crazy on the portions, but I don't measure anything out either. I'm eating more fruits and vegetables too. I feel very positive about this change of pace.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Day 2, Week 1 cont.
I may have spoken too soon about withdrawl effects. I was excessively tired today. I fell asleep for an hour and could have gone longer if I didn't have to go somewhere. I'm not really craving anything wheat related, so that's good. I'm finding I'm automatically eating healthier in respect to more fruits and vegetables. Taking away wheat takes away a lot of snacking choices. Other than being tired, I am feeling good. I had a salad, strawberries and cashews for lunch and blood sugars were 113. Dinner was a mish mash of stuff. It was a rough night and I just pieced some things together to make sure I got enough to eat. I ate some turkey sausage, cheese, strawberries and cashews followed by a fudge bar. I inadvertantly ate something with cornstarch in it when my youngest decided he didn't want his Mighty Mini popsicle. Davis warns about eating foods labeled as gluten free because the wheat is often replaced with corn, potato and/or tapioca starch. My blood sugars were still at 127 after dinner though, so I'd call it a success. I just ate a bowl of Crispex with milk and will head to bed shortly. We'll see how my fasting levels are in the morning.
Day 2, Week 1 - 8.7.2012
"Today diabetes is an epidemic, as common as tabloid gossip. In 2009, twenty-four million Americans were diabetic, a number that represents explosive growth compared to just a few years earlier. The number of Americans with diabetes is growing faster than any other disease condition with the exception of obesity (if you call obesity a disease)." (Davis, pg. 100)
Surprise wheat source of the day...chewing gum! The powdered coating that keeps it from sticking to the wrapper contains wheat.
I learned this morning that I need to have a better plan for breakfast not eaten at home. I went to get air put into my car's tires and grabbed the box of crackers I mentioned yesterday. I munched on some of those and my blood sugar levels tested 164. This tells me I still need to add some protein into my breakfast. Of course, it's not something I would normally eat for breakfast, but in a pinch... Once fall semester starts and I won't have time to fix a nice breakfast at home, I'm going to need to have a plan. Fasting sugar level this morning was 151. I think I found myself hoping that after one day my levels would magically be low and wonderful. But, just as it took time to get to this spot, it's going to take some time to correct it. I suppose that's why Davis recommends starting with 4 weeks, not 4 days. I am still tired today, but I feel a little sharper. Davis talks about how some people experience withdrawl symptoms after cutting wheat, but so far I seem to be good. I don't miss it all that much. But like any life change, it seems slow going at first. I look forward to the day when this feels like second nature and it doesn't consume my thoughts so much.
Surprise wheat source of the day...chewing gum! The powdered coating that keeps it from sticking to the wrapper contains wheat.
I learned this morning that I need to have a better plan for breakfast not eaten at home. I went to get air put into my car's tires and grabbed the box of crackers I mentioned yesterday. I munched on some of those and my blood sugar levels tested 164. This tells me I still need to add some protein into my breakfast. Of course, it's not something I would normally eat for breakfast, but in a pinch... Once fall semester starts and I won't have time to fix a nice breakfast at home, I'm going to need to have a plan. Fasting sugar level this morning was 151. I think I found myself hoping that after one day my levels would magically be low and wonderful. But, just as it took time to get to this spot, it's going to take some time to correct it. I suppose that's why Davis recommends starting with 4 weeks, not 4 days. I am still tired today, but I feel a little sharper. Davis talks about how some people experience withdrawl symptoms after cutting wheat, but so far I seem to be good. I don't miss it all that much. But like any life change, it seems slow going at first. I look forward to the day when this feels like second nature and it doesn't consume my thoughts so much.
Monday, August 6, 2012
Day 1, Week 1 cont.
Well, I'm still tired, but then I always am at this time of night. I had a snacky kind of lunch of cheese, pistachios, cashews and gluten free crackers...the good kind of gluten free, no corn starch, potato starch or tapioca starch to replace the wheat. They were a good flavor too. I'll post tomorrow what brand they are. Blood sugar after this was 129. Dinner was chinese made by my step-dad. He tried some gluten free soy sauce. It was good, but different. I think it will take a few tries to feel like it tastes right. It was made with beef, broccoli, bean sprouts, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts and green onions over brown rice. Lots of vegie goodness in there. Blood sugar level after this meal was 134. I'm feeling hungry now though. I'll probably have a snack of cheese and crackers followed by a Weight Watchers fudge bar. On a normal day I would probably have more to eat throughout but today was busy. I'm still feeling tired and sluggish, but I can feel a change starting in my body. Of course, maybe it's all in my head, but I just feel better. That's the best way I can describe it. It could be psychological, but whatever it is I'll take it. I have survived my 1st day being wheat free and it really wasn't that bad. I still had plenty of food choices and never really felt deprived. I had to look at some nutrition labels as I shopped, but it's not something I have never done before. 5-10 extra minutes at the grocery store seems worth it. Day 1 down, many more to come...
Day 1, Week 1 - 8.6.2012
"Understanding that wheat, specifically exoprhins from gluten, have the potential to generate euphoria, addictive behavior, and appetite stimulation means that we have a potential means of weight control: Lose the wheat, lose the weight." (Davis, pg. 54)
Surprise wheat source of the day...Soy Sauce! It's the second ingredient on the label. Who knew?
Surprise wheat source of the day...Soy Sauce! It's the second ingredient on the label. Who knew?
So today is day one and while I feel confident, I can't help but feel a bit off...like I'm going against something that is so engrained (no pun intended) in me. But, I will do my best nonetheless and see where this journey takes me. I am about to head out to the grocery store to stock up my pantry. My fasting sugar was 149 this morning. For breakfast I had 2 eggs mixed with bacon and cheddar cheese. I was going to add mushrooms, but they were bad. After my trip to the store I hope to eat more vegies and less fatty stuff. Of course the book states that fats aren't so much the enemy. It doesn't recommend going crazy on mayo, sour cream, butter and the like...but using such things in moderation is perfectly ok. It's the mindset I am taking with me going wheat free to see if it really is wheat that causes the problems. Davis recommends getting strict for those in dire health circumstances. I do not consider myself in that category, so I'll allow for other sources of carbs. My sugar levels after breakfast, by the way, was 113. I'll be interested to see how other carb sources other than wheat affect my levels considering my breakfast was carb free. I'm starting today at 193.5 lbs (I can't believe I'm admiting that). It's still down close to 15 lbs from my all time high weight of 208 a year and a half ago. My goals, besides ridding myself of diabetes and getting healthier overall, is to drop around 50 lbs. I haven't been that weight since I entered high school as a freshman 24 years ago. I woke this morning feeling tired and a trip to the garden left me winded (to be fair, I picked and hauled in 9 cucumbers, 5 zucchinis and 2 tomatoes, some of which were enormous). Below I am posting pictures I took this morning (please don't laugh at my farmer tan). I'll check back in this evening with more food choices and sugar levels.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Wheat Belly - William Davis, MD
This is the link to the book that started this blog. My mom read the book suggested by Bill O'Reilly (don't let that sway some of you) that he used lose weight and feel better. In the end, Davis suggests trying a wheat free diet for 4 weeks and see what you think. I figure, what have I got to lose other than excess weight and diabetic symptoms. I found out I was diabetic about a year ago. I've struggled since then to lose weight and get my blood sugars under control. I do good for awhile and inevitably fall back off the wagon only to have to start again. After 4 weeks, if it doesn't suit me, I'll just go back to wheat...no harm, no foul. But, if the removal of wheat does what Davis describes in his book, I'll be lighter, healthier and feel better overall. That's what this blog is about. It's a way for me to track the changes I experience in trying this new lifestyle. In doing so, I can pass on anything I learn to anyone reading this. As I continue on in this blog, I'll share quotes from the book as well as how going wheat free is affecting me. Then make your own decisions about what you see. I'll track my weight once a week, blood sugars daily, and just how I am feeling. Right now I generally feel sluggish on a day to day basis. I take prescription thyroid medication for a slow thyroid and prescription diabetes medication to help lower my blood sugar levels. I have high cholesterol and have managed to gain enough weight over the years to just put myself into the obese category, which makes it hard to keep up with my 3 little ones or even climb a flight of stairs for that matter. It's never too late to change, so off I go on a new adventure.
Tomorrow is day one. I'll be going to the grocery store to stock up on wheatless products...which will be a task in and of itself considering wheat is in EVERYTHING! I'll weigh in, report on what I am eating, how I am feeling and what my blood sugar levels are. To get an idea, I have measured my levels so far today: Fasting 137, After breakfast (a bowl of Raisin Bran Crunch with 2% milk) 159, After lunch (a bacon cheeseburger from Chili's and fries) 137. I'll measure again after dinner. Should anyone want to comment or ask questions, please feel free....and wish me luck!
Oh, I came across this picture when looking for my profile picture. I'm not sure when it was taken...I think a little over a year ago, but it gives you an idea where I am starting. I am maybe 10 pounds lighter now than in this picture. I will take a fresh one tomorrow morning.
This is the link to the book that started this blog. My mom read the book suggested by Bill O'Reilly (don't let that sway some of you) that he used lose weight and feel better. In the end, Davis suggests trying a wheat free diet for 4 weeks and see what you think. I figure, what have I got to lose other than excess weight and diabetic symptoms. I found out I was diabetic about a year ago. I've struggled since then to lose weight and get my blood sugars under control. I do good for awhile and inevitably fall back off the wagon only to have to start again. After 4 weeks, if it doesn't suit me, I'll just go back to wheat...no harm, no foul. But, if the removal of wheat does what Davis describes in his book, I'll be lighter, healthier and feel better overall. That's what this blog is about. It's a way for me to track the changes I experience in trying this new lifestyle. In doing so, I can pass on anything I learn to anyone reading this. As I continue on in this blog, I'll share quotes from the book as well as how going wheat free is affecting me. Then make your own decisions about what you see. I'll track my weight once a week, blood sugars daily, and just how I am feeling. Right now I generally feel sluggish on a day to day basis. I take prescription thyroid medication for a slow thyroid and prescription diabetes medication to help lower my blood sugar levels. I have high cholesterol and have managed to gain enough weight over the years to just put myself into the obese category, which makes it hard to keep up with my 3 little ones or even climb a flight of stairs for that matter. It's never too late to change, so off I go on a new adventure.
Tomorrow is day one. I'll be going to the grocery store to stock up on wheatless products...which will be a task in and of itself considering wheat is in EVERYTHING! I'll weigh in, report on what I am eating, how I am feeling and what my blood sugar levels are. To get an idea, I have measured my levels so far today: Fasting 137, After breakfast (a bowl of Raisin Bran Crunch with 2% milk) 159, After lunch (a bacon cheeseburger from Chili's and fries) 137. I'll measure again after dinner. Should anyone want to comment or ask questions, please feel free....and wish me luck!
Oh, I came across this picture when looking for my profile picture. I'm not sure when it was taken...I think a little over a year ago, but it gives you an idea where I am starting. I am maybe 10 pounds lighter now than in this picture. I will take a fresh one tomorrow morning.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)