Munchie goes dairy free

Okay, so this post isn't about me. And it may be a little TMI for any of you with sensitive stomachs, so there's your fair warning.

I talked a few weeks (months?) ago about Adi and her eczema and bowel problems. Basically, she has eczema that comes and goes. Some of it seems to be related to cold, dry weather (which is hard to avoid here in CT). But other times it just gets really bad for no apparent reason (raised red, sometimes seeping sores). She also has always had loose bowels. Rarely does she have solid bowel movements (some are more solid than others, but none really qualify as turds - told you - TMI for some of you, I'm sure). Lately, not only have they been quite loose, but she will complain a few minutes before and tell me that her belly hurts. Then she tells me that she has to go, she goes, and then feels better.  Now, I'm keeping in mind that she's 2 and somewhat potty training, so her "belly hurting" may just be her being aware for the first time in her life that she has to go. BUT, coupled with her eczema and what I know different food groups can do, I've been (very unscientifically) trying to keep track of what she eats and how it all might be related. It seems like if she eats a lot of dairy in one sitting, that's a bad thing for her belly (yogurt, cottage cheese, straight milk, etc). I have not been as good at tracking her eczema vs. food intake, but should probably start.

I did talk to her pediatrician about this at her two year appointment. His suggestion (re:bowels) was to first increase her fiber intake to see if that helped. He actually suggested oatmeal cookies, which I thought was hilarious. First, because Adi gets so few "treats" that she didn't really care for the oatmeal cookies (yet mention ice cream and she's THERE). Second, because really? Cookies? So we went for more oatmeal. More whole grain cereal. And we tried to get more fiber in, but it didn't seem to help much. He wasn't as opposed to cutting out food groups as I thought he might be which surprised me. So because of her apparent reaction to dairy foods, we are cutting out dairy for a few weeks to see if that helps.  If it does, great! That's an easy fix and one we can certainly deal with, as Jared and I eat very little dairy at this point. If it doesn't, we'll reassess and think about cutting out gluten, which will definitely be harder for Munchie. She does love her pitas and crackers.

I'm determined to figure out if there is something nutritionally that might be upsetting her gut. I hate the idea that she's uncomfortable and her poor bum gets so irritated (I know, TMI again). Her eczema is sore and I can just imagine how irritating it gets on her arms and legs where clothes and everything else rub. If this is something I can fix, then I will. We can play around with new foods - it'll be good to expand her palate and challenge Jared and me to come up with new recipes that we can all enjoy.

Munchie loves to read. :)

Oh, hello, headache....

Ah, yes. That familiar 'sugar dragon wants to make your head explode' headache. Coupled with grumpiness. Welcome to the sugar detox part of day 2. Not a long post (I have a headache, wah!) but just dropping in for a few comments.

1. I survived church lunch. I ate on plan. Jared actually filled my plate while I filled Munchie's so I had salad, pulled pork (that we made) and some sauerkraut and sausage. I took a banana with me for "dessert" and also had a cutie (small orange/tangerine/what are those things, really!?!?).  It is possible that there was some sugar or other banned substance in the sauerkraut/sausage, but I'm okay with that. This Whole 30 is about getting myself feeling better and in control again. Today, I was in control.

2. I didn't gain as much in my off-roading the last few weeks as I thought. Stepped on the scale yesterday morning and was 141.8 lb. Not bad, considering at the end of my first W30 (8/15) I weighed 141.4 lb and the lowest I've been since then (9/1) is 139.8 lb. BUT, still not great, right? I really feel like 135 (maybe 130?) is where I should be to be healthy.

3.Jared ordered me a copy of Well Fed 2 and it's great. Now I really want the first one, too. I've got a few recipes from it on the menu this week (although I couldn't convince him to try the Crispy Chicken Livers this week...). I'll let you know how they are!

4. I've also found that as the weather changes, I'm having a hard time feeling satisfied with (or wanting) salads and cold lunches. I want soups, stews, and warm, chunky things. Fall and winter foods. Since I had a few big squash sitting in my kitchen, I attempted this Squash Soup. Of course, I didn't have butternut squash, I used the winter squash we grew (and cut from the vine before moving!). It's yummy, but fairly heavy - I'm going to have to ration it a bit (some is already in the freezer for later). 

K. That's it. That's all I've got tonight. I'm going to take my headache and sulk for awhile before bed...

I'm not sure what this post should be called...

Confession? Checking in? Reality check? Oh crap, I fell off the wagon and got drug behind it for three weeks?

Blogger says my last post was 10/02/13. It's been over a month since I've posted, and to be honest, I have not done well with stress management or maintaining a healthy life style in general. As Clara would say, I'm at the bottom of mud mountain. Not just hanging out there, but curled up in the fetal position, wondering what the heck happened. Actually, not really wondering. That's not fair. I know what happened.

Life happened.

And I didn't plan for it.

And then I let everything become an excuse.

"Adi woke up early and I didn't get my medicine taken in time, so I need to pick up breakfast on the way to work. Oh, hello Dunkin Donuts."

"Lunch is provided at work today. Pizza and salad and cookies will be okay for one day."

"Lunch wasn't enough, I need a snack. What can I find? Oh, hello <insert unhealthy choice here>"

"We moved, and I didn't plan for food for this week. Take out? Okay."

"Ice cream? yes please!"

"A few pieces of Halloween candy? Can't hurt"

I started a legs and abs challenge and around the time we moved, I took a few days off. "I'm working out; I'm moving boxes. That must count, right?" And then I never finished.

Etc. Etc. Etc.

So I have slipped back into old habits. And back into feeling miserable. And while I haven't stepped on to the scale yet, my pants are feeling a little tighter, I'm bloated, I have acne, and I am exhausted. And not all of that exhaustion is because I'm busy. It's certainly not because I'm working out too much - I've only been running once in the past three weeks (!).

So here's where it ends. No more excuses. No more "I'll start tomorrow."  I'm starting today. Right now. I'm taking back control and clawing my way back up the mountain.  I've got a new cookbook with a bunch of new recipes I'm excited to try. I have new ideas for breakfast and will make better choices (more filling, more exciting options) for lunch. We've been doing well with dinner but I am cutting out snacking between meals and after dinner. Planning, planning, planning.

I'm getting back to running. I signed up for another 5K to keep up my motivation - this one's the first weekend in December. Not only that, but I have some killer hills to train on around my house - my last run left me TIRED and sore in ways I haven't been in awhile (in a good way)!  I'd like to run another 10K next year (maybe the Iron Horse again? that was a pretty run!).  I have my treadmill set up in the basement and can get my long runs in on the weekends with planning.

I will work on stress management. I'm not sure how yet, but I will find a better way to deal with stress. Maybe yoga. Maybe checking out by picking up a book to read. Maybe something else. I don't know yet, but I'm going to come up with some strategies to deal with stress (mostly from work).

I know how to do this. I've done it before. I can do it again. I'm committing to another Whole 30. Or 45. Or whatever it takes. Starting today. Starting now. Because I'm not going to admit defeat, just because I've taken a step back. I know how to take the next step forward, and I'm ready to do it!