4/12/13

I have an interview this morning! That's exciting!

You're right... I haven't been posting for a few days. Things are basically fine, although I am having flares from my interstitial cystitis problem. Very nasty burning feelings. I called my dr and he said it's probably just a week-before-my-period thing. I wish I didn't have a high chance of an uncomfortable week the week before my period AND the week OF my period... that's half the month! I have an appointment with him on Monday, so that's good.

In case you were wondering weather or not I ate the Cheezits or any other gluten since the cookies this Saturday, the answer is.... NO! No gluten at all. I have, however, eaten some sweets. I will be knocking this off soon... I just miss gluten sooooooo much! I have stopped eating sweets before full stop and been fine with that, I didn't really even have withdrawal. The wheat withdrawal is definitely with me these past week. I feel very tired and drained and moody and grouchy. Better this morning though! I have to snap out of those feelings for my interview.

I think my body is feeling deprived. I hope it ends after I go off the gluten for another week and ween myself off the sweets I compulsively, inexorably bought at the store on Tuesday (and have now thrown away). They were toffees. F***** delicious. But, none of those ingredients were a good idea.

Doing my exercise at home last few days because of the IC pain. When it's flaring, moving around a whole lot makes it worse. This morning it is more mellow so I am hoping to do some more intese exercise today or tomorrow. I do like exercise. I also have to do the laundry this weekend... isn't it funny how much easier it is to get out the door when you have all you options cleanly lined up in a row? This weekend I might also get some new workout attire because my old pants have been threatening to fall down <-- a GOOD problem to have at any rate :D

I have been enjoying my juicer. My first attempt at "pulp crackers" did not work out per se... oh well, I will try again or do something else with it! I want to get the fiber from my veggies, but something about being able to drink down all the nutrients in a whole bag of spinach really appeals to me. It feels like a powerful health shot!

My weight is hovering in the mid 160s, 164/165. Which is... still pretty exciting! My face looks really different than it did before! (Also now I have my natural hair color.)

So... that's something to celebrate.

PS... it occurs to me that we are all starting to look more and more alike, me, Roberta, and Ruth. Now that I'm getting thinner too and have the dark hair/ light eyes combo the Beiers have. That's the way it grows out of my head! My hair is another part of me which is happy to tell me it is WAY healthier now that I am getting my vitamins and protein, and not dying it every few months. :D

4/9/13

I am having such intense gluten cravings!!! There are Cheezitz in the pantry because Derek's family likes them and they were here, and I forgot to ask them to take it with. Derek wants to keep them because he likes them too. I haven't eaten any, which is an accomplishment, but I really want them :( Looking forward to the time when the cravings diminish.

Got some exercise in yesterday... weight training. Time for some more cardio today since my IC flare is over. Not jogging/running though! That really caused discomfort, unfortunately.

That's all I have to say for now... may blog again tonight.

4/6/13- Rennie's visit and Today

Hi,

So the Rennies visited all of yesterday. We had a fun time catching up. Everything I made was GF... except for the cookies. I only ate two small cookies and asked them to take all the leftover ones home... anyways, next time I will try to make a GF treat or no treat at all.

I don't have a stomach ache today, but I do feel intense burning while peeing (one of my IC symptoms) and the feeling is lasting all day even when I am just sitting or lying down. I actually think it is probably because I experimented with some jogging yesterday... Derek's siblings and I went on a trail through the woods and they wanted to jog for part of it, and it looked like so much fun that I wanted to also. My dr. had warned that jogging and running can cause inflamation and then infection with people in my condition. I guess, I thought because I was jogging so slowly for only one minute jogging/two minutes walking, I would be fine. Blah. Either way I got to the state I am now, I want to avoid in the future. It feels awful! Onwards and upwards.

Derek got me a juicer! I made a delicious juice out of celery, apple, cucumber and carrot. I am going to make crackers out of the pulp part tonight. Healthy all around!

Elizabeth

4/5/13

Hi!

Well, I am suddenly expecting company! Derek's mom called early this morning to announce that all five Rennies (parents + 3 siblings) are coming over tomorrow morning. We will be seven in all in a very small apartment.

I got lots of exercise today cleaning the house! It's nice to see it clean. I also bought food for the guests who might not want to adhere to my gluten-free, sugar-free regimen. I also made cookies but I didn't eat one... although I might have had a tiny bit of the dough. I expect they will be gone by the end of the day and, if not, I will give them to the Rennies to keep.

I also cut my hair! I was stressing about needing to clean the whole house in one day, let alone entertaining for the weekend. I had to go to Target to get Windex anyways, so I got my bangs cut and my hair re-dyed to it's natural color. (I did dye it my natural color in November, but it seemed to be fading). I feel pretty and happy!

Still got to work on that self control... at some point I know I should be able to make cookies but NOT have any of the dough. Aunts: do you still make cookies when you are a guest?

I also think tomorrow with all seven of us might be a "special occasion"... not sure... I won't go crazy with the cookies because that would make me sick, but if I eat one it's not the end of the world. The Rennies like to exercise so we will probably go to the park and walk around.

That's all for today!

Elizabeth

4-4-13: A Happy Day!

hi!

I had a very nice cardio session at the gym today, very enjoyable. I am able to use the elliptical with a higher resistance than I used to, actually, twice the resistance. I feel fresh and invigorated. I also talked to the trainer who I am considering working with. He also has irritable bowel syndrome, and I think that will be helpful. I will need someone who will believe me when I say something hurts, not in a positive muscles-getting-stronger-way, but in a intestines-spasming-violently way.

I have been 100% wheat free for four days, and I am feeling better indeed. Less abdominal pain, although I still have some pain from my interstitial cystitis. I don't know yet whether my reduced abdominal pain is REALLY because of the wheat, since the pain goes up and down, but in a few weeks I will know. I am experiencing a lot of cravings and may be eating more sugar than is wise. The past few days since Easter, I ate some small servings of white chocolate sometimes because I cannot have any other kind of chocolate. People on diets are always talking about how chocolate is an okay treat. However, I looked this up online, and it said white chocolate is NOT like other chocolates... it really has no nutritional value whatsoever. Drats!

I think it makes sense, now that I am eliminating wheat, to eliminate even small servings of sugar-based junk foods. I know they are doing nothing for me and do hurt me, even in the small sizes I can easily fit into my daily calories. I am currently experiencing my refreshed feeling from the gym but it is dampened because I have a sore throat from the small piece of white chocolate. I bet I would feel even more amazing if I cut those treats if it wasn't a special occasion, like Roberta.

I am still getting used to thinking of food as feul, not enjoyment. I know if others can do it, I can do it too! I know I am making enormous progress. Hell, before this endeavor I would sometimes wake up in the middle of the night with cream cheese cravings so strong I would blither into the fridge. I would scoop the full fat cream cheese onto a bread, bagel, tortilla, ANYTHING and eat the whole container of it. I know that's gross, but it is an example of the way I let my cravings control me in the past. I am not perfect yet, nor will I ever be perfect, but I am doing pretty well!

My weight this morning was 164.5. It is so exciting to see that number! I'm pretty sure the lightest I ever got during my high school workouts was about 165. Before that going back to early puberty, and after that until now, I have always been heavier than 165 - culminating in being 210 in July 2012. During my high school diet, the only exercise I was doing was running - no resistance training, no upper body or torso or back muscle. So, as I continue, I will be seeing my body in a way it has never been in my life. I have never been a fit adult. I am only about 6.5 pounds away from being a healthy BMI! that is so exciting and will help propel me to stick with a wheat free diet, and ditch sugar traps as well.

Elizaebth

4/2/13

Hi,

I am still in abdominal pain. Still wheat free... I didn't want to walk to the gym today because of the pain, but I have been doing some at-home exercises throughout the day. I know it is important to exercise regularly!

I really enjoy hummus... tastes great with carrots, and those together make a favorite snack.

Have a great day!

Elizabeth

4/1/13

Okay, so: I am checking in, even though I didn't do great today.

I ate pretty well today, all healthy things. I intended to work through the day and have Derek take me to the gym at night, but now I have severe cramps. I was totally gluten free today and yesterday, and now my cramps are not only in my stomach but also in my left foot. Aunt Roberta: how did you get through the foot cramp? Did it just go away on its own?

I am experiencing a lot of sugar cravings... but, since I didn't have sugary snacks in the house, I was able to not succumb. I am still feeling lethargic. I think I will go to bed early today and then go to the gym EARLY tomorrow, before my aches and pains have time to add up.

Last night, I was experiencing the worst abdominal pain I have had in weeks. I had to take my narcotic meds because it was unbearable. I do tend to feel more lethargic on days after I take Vicodin... that's probably another factor.

Mea culpa...

Elizabeth

LATER SAME NIGHT UPDADE:

Once again, I am in acute pain. Feels like screwdriver twisting under left ribcage. Ow. I thought this might happen as I transition into 100% wheat free life because my body is so sensitive to changes. Hope these symptoms go away soon, and don't crop up while I am on the elliptical or something.