Wheat Free Update #2

It's been a little over six weeks since starting wheat free...I did have a few hiccups last week because I was hosting a baby shower and did a ton of baking (cake, cookies etc.). I had to use up my organic flours somehow right?

Anyway, I ate a scone (or two), I tried the cookies I made, and I ate a few mini salmon-cream cheese sandwiches.

The next day I had a terrible hangover feeling. So, now I know I don't want to eat wheat. For sure.

Cost: $15.35 on Amazon

Last night I re-read the Wheat Belly Cookbook. I highly recommend the cookbook, as it gives you great recipes to launch from. I have not read the Wheat Belly book, but I will be checking it out from the library when it's available. You might be interested in reading a really good review of it at CarpyHarpy.

I'm also determined to make some great lists of what to eat and what NOT to eat...I'm going to post them here for you too. I'm starting a wheat free section of this blog called My Wheat Free Wonderland, where I will be posting my recipes and tips for being wheat free.

I started this journey before I knew about Wheat Belly, but now I'm glad there's a place to go to find out more about symptoms and questions to ask your doctor. Dr. Davis suggests find an open minded general practicioner or a natureopath, they may be more open to questions and suggestions than say, an endocrinologist.

So...I'm feeling pretty positive, just want to focus on eating less carbs (15 per serving) and getting more exercise. My brain is clear, so I would like my body to reflect my inner self.

Stay tuned for more exciting episodes of My Wheat Free Wonderland!

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Noticeable Changes I've Felt Since Removing Wheat From My Diet

This is definitely not psychosomatic okay? These are real things I've noticed in the past six weeks of removing wheat and many grains from my diet.

Praises:

1. No joint pain. Remember my frozen shoulder? All that pain in the shoulder joint is gone. My knees don't ache or crack anymore either.

2. No more incontinence.

3. No cramps during my period.

4. No more brain fogginess. I can actually climb out of bed and be alert in the morning!

5. No wheat cravings whatsoever. Since going through the withdrawals I don't want wheat ever again.

6. My jeans are not tight anymore. I haven't weighed myself but I feel lighter.

7. The double chin that was in the making is not in the making anymore...I think it's gone.

8. Emotions and moods are more steady. I feel calmer and more patient. To find out the truth, ask my husband.


Hurdles:

1. I'm still wanting to snack...but have found there is so little to snack on now that I don't do it as much.

2. I still want sugar or something sweet. I haven't had white sugar in six weeks, but I have allowed myself small portions of honey and maple syrup. The maple syrup is now too sweet for me. I don't think this craving is abnormal...humans love sweets, we just have to know which ones we can eat and when. I researched when the best time to eat sweets is, and it's before noon! Whoa! I don't have my cravings then...mostly after dinner time. Also, if you do eat sugar, make sure to include fat and protein with your sugar so it is metabolized more slowly. Avoid those bloodsugar spikes!

3. Exercise. I exercised twice last week and so far this week is zero. I need to move more, get the lymphatic system draining...this is a huge hurdle for me. I think when warmer weather comes I'll be outside more and moving around much more.

4. Sleep. Or lack of.  I'm not getting enough rest. I'm still pretty tired. The time change did not help me. Dogsitting is not helping me. And children with sniffles and bad dreams are hard on moms who are sleep deprived.

5. Caffeine. I've cut back to one cup of coffee. But sometimes I want that second one so bad! It's not fair to not have a vice in life don't you think? I'm working on making my coffee weak enough that I can have a second cup and still taste good. I don't drink it if it's not good.


Where are you in your health journey? I'd love to hear!

Oh,
I have an appointment with an endocrinologist next month. I called to find out what the first appointment entails and the gal said: "Well, he'll probably do a biopsy and go over all your health history". What? I'm going to need a little more information before I jump on a biopsy. I'll keep you updated.

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Delicious Treat For the Wheat Free Peeps - Oat Bran Apple Bars

I've been wheat free for almost 5 weeks now and I decided I needed a treat...I'm going to a friend's house and need to take something with me to go with our tea. Plus I want to prove to my friends that there are really amazing things to eat without wheat and grains.

Today I made a muffin bar with gluten free oat bran. I've been avoiding oats, but when I saw the gluten free bran I felt pretty good about it not having a bad effect on me. So far so good.

Here's the recipe:

In your Kitchenaid mixer place - 

1 cup milk (of your choice)

3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

4 drops liquid Stevia

Mix well.

In a small bowl whisk together -

2 cups gluten free oat bran

2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp salt (optional)

Add the dry ingredients to the Kitchenaid. Mix slowly till moistened.

Next add to mixture -

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 banana

1/2 cup flaked organic coconut (Nutiva)

1/2 cup slivered almonds (or chopped nut of your choice)

1/4 cup honey

Mix till combined and pour into a prepared (buttered or sprayed) 9x13 glass baking dish.
Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25 minutes or until golden brown on top. Will be moist, not dry...but it will be cooked.

Let cool and cut into bars. Makes about 24 large bars. Top with fresh whipped cream and chopped apple for a delish breakfast, tea time treat or late night snack.

P.S. My darling girls ate several helpings this morning for breakfast. That means they're good.

NOTE: please be aware that oats are grains and this is NOT grain free. However, the use of gluten free oats can be helpful to those avoiding gluten. Next time I will make these with Bob's Red Mill brand bean flour or gluten free baking mix. I'll let you know what happens!

March Health Update

March has come finally...and I'm so grateful. I was about to go crazy with how long February was lasting!

Updates: I didn't go off of caffeine completely. I did remove wheat though about the middle of February, and went through severe withdrawals...I actually thought I was sick or getting a brain tumor.

I got an appointment with an endocrinologist for late April. I can't believe it will take 2 months to see him. I guess my thyroid nodules are not dangerous...uh huh?
Oh, that's right, not sure I mentioned this, but I had an ultrasound done on my neck and they found 2 nodules, and a cyst of my thimus. I have not had a discussion with my doctor about this, he just referred me to the endo. Not really happy about it.

My thyroid was checked and the T3, T4, and TSH levels were in the normal range. I did research on this and apparently the normal range is quite large. So my thryoid could still me slow, but functioning enough (my Chinese doctor told me this about 4 years ago). I am taking Kelp tablets and upping my calcium. In case I'm iodine deficient...iodine is super important and most Americans are deficient. It affects the way we sleep and our moods. Isn't that amazing.

I've been doing so much reading on health that I feel like my brain is so full of information that I have to share it with someone...that's you!

Back to the wheat. I knew I was addicted to wheat, because I love baked goods, fresh bread, and noodles. I went cold turkey along with sugar. Those 14 days were bad. I was dizzy, got vertigo, bad headaches and major fatigue and brain fogginess. Then I woke up and felt better and amazing!!!

Since then I have stayed off wheat, it's about 4 weeks. I have had sugar though which I want to cut out completely too. I have consumed very limited amounts of rice and oats which cause blood sugar to rise (carbs)...but lots of almonds. I've had some corn too which is a high sugar carb, but I think I may be either allergic or intolerant of corn. I've never had allergy tests done (skin/blood), so it's hard to know.

A few days ago I finished reading Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis. It pretty much cemented all the reasons I had to NOT EAT WHEAT. Dr. Davis filled an entire book with all the science of it, so I won't go into laymans terms...basically, wheat is bad because it's not really wheat anymore. It's been messed with so much by scientists that he calls in a Frankengrain. And I believe it!

Plus the food industry has shoved wheat and its bi-products into many of the packaged foods on the market today. What would they do with all the parts...throw them away? Of course not. Think of wheat bi-products like a hotdog I guess...full of all the leftovers of an animal?

Plus, wheat is addictive. My brain told me so when I was trying to stop eating it. It kept yelling at me and saying, just eat some more wheat and this feeling will go away...you'll feel better! Wheat acts like an opiate in the brain, similar to nicotine and heroin. I'm not kidding.

How I'm Feeling Now: 

I feel lighter. I don't have brain fog. I'm not as tired mentally. I feel like I'm in a better mood and more patient with my children. I want to spread the word to my sad, sick friends. My joints and bad shoulder are improved 100%. I haven't had an ache in my knees or elbows and my shoulder feels almost normal! What?

What To Expect:

I haven't weighed myself but I feel like I am losing something. Wheat causes more visceral fat to grow on our internal organs, so if I lose that fat first I won't be able to tell as quickly. My face isn't swollen looking anymore so I expect I will lose a few pounds. I will try to get weighed at my Dr. appt in April and I'll let you know if there is good news.

Spend More To Save More

That's right...to get off wheat and packaged foods you may have to spend a little more money upfront...you may have to giveaway or throw away your packaged foods in the pantry. Don't feel guilty. Give it to a foodbank or a needy family.

Investing in yourself and your family's health is a good way to spend your money. If you eat junk food and spend money to go to the doctor all the time...what's the difference? Wouldn't you rather be healthy in the long-term and not end up with some horrible disease when you're 70-80?

Conclusion

So I think I'm on the right track. I will be comparing Wheat Belly to Nourishing Traditions this week. There will probably be a stand-off. :)

What Does Caffeine Do For You?

I've always loved coffee...since I was about 16 or so...the comfort of holding that steaming hot mug has been something I've enjoyed turning to throughout the years. Add a few years working in a coffee shop and I was hooked!

Caffeine can cause issues in some people...it can cause bladder pressure and a lack of the feeling like you need to urinate. So the bladder fills up with more urine and then you get a little leakage. Too much information? I don't think so.

Ever since I've had my last two children (over age 36 when I had them) I have had a very small problem with leakage. It was annoying and I was getting tired of it. I kept wondering why I had the problem!

Fast forward to today and I watched the popular TV show The Doctors. I put two and two together and figured out what my incontinence was caused by...consuming too much caffeine during the day.

Because I've also cut out sugar and wheat, and lowered my caffeine intake, I haven't had the leaking problem! This isn't something I usually mention on my blog, but I had to say it out loud so I won't forget to notice this! I've also been noticing that I need to go more often during the day now! Wow!

So here's what I'm trying to do: in the morning don't make coffee right away. I'm having a glass of filtered water with a tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar and waiting one hour before making breakfast and having only ONE cup of coffee. When I make the coffee it has to be delicious and worth it...ie. organic, tasty, and if it's not I don't finish the cup.

I've also cut out black tea and I'm drinking green tea w/ jasmine and pomegranate tea too.

During the day I'm focusing on drinking more water and juicing vegetables for an added vitamin, mineral boost.

I'm supposed to be staying away from stress but that doesn't seem to be happening.