Time is up

It has been a month since we started this diet and I can tell you that I found out the hard way how much it has helped!  Over the weekend I helped with the bridal shower.  I made quiche lorraine ,chocolate covered strawberries, and a breakfast casserole.  There was also a chicken biscuit and fruit.  Guess that I sampled a little bit of everything.  Needless to say by that afternoon my stomach was miserable!  I continued to not eat well most of the weekend and now I am paying for it.  I don't believe the sugar hurts me so much as the gluten and cheese.  I need add 1 thing at a time so that I can tell what really bothers my stomach. 
I will keep you posted and let me know how it goes!

Blessings all have a great day!

Thought This was really worth the read!

What to Know Before Telling An Ill Friend to Cheer Up!

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July 30, 2012 by admin
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Has a loved one tried to help you cheer up but the way they did it was just all wrong?

Does anyone ever say, “Cheer up! It can’t be all that bad!” Or maybe someone has gently said, “I wish I could cheer up your day a little, but I don’t know where to start.” Cheering one up is no easy task.
And can those of us who live with chronic illness just confess that sometimes even we don’t know what we want to hear or what will makes feel better? If our circumstances cannot change, and the pain is relenting, someone jumping up and down beside us trying to make you laugh may just irritate you rather than help you cheer up.
Each of us have a distinct personality and that influences how we cope with up illness–and what will even help us cheer up. While a person with a melancholy personality may gain strength from quiet time alone, a person with a sanguine personality may be easier to cheer up.
For example one with a sanguine personality may enjoy going to a funny movie or playing a board game to get her mind off of things. She may even laugh so hard about her own hair falling out from medications you begin to feel uncomfortable!
She may prefer people around her a good deal of the time, even if it just to cry her eyes out, while a melancholy person may desperately need some time with the curtains drawn to feel replenished. She may have an inherent need to be alone so that she can gain the strength to go out there into the world and face all those people trying to cheer her up. (Speaker Georgia Shaffer will be talking about this during our virtual conference!)
If you are trying to cheer up a friend with a chronic illness, keep in mind that what refreshes and encourages her. What cheers her up may be the opposite of what will cheer you up.
For example, if you insist on taking her to lunch, but she says she’d really prefer not to go out, don’t make her defend her decision and bug her until she says yes. Don’t tell her she will feel a lot better if she just gets out of the house. Instead, bring lunch over, have a nice time to visit, and don’t stay very long.
If you see something, like some pretty flowers that you think would cheer her up, take them over to her and be aware of her response. Is she eager to have you in to talk awhile, or does she say “Thanks for the flowers, but now is not a good time”?
Either way, remember, the flowers are appreciated. Don’t hesitate to try to cheer up your friend. But try to think of what would truly cheer her up. . . Not what you would want if someone was trying to cheer up you!
TWEET THIS: Things TO SAY to an ill person #12 I saw these flowers & thought they’d cheer up your day #iiwk12
PIN IT! Join us at Pinterest for chronic illness tips and goodies. We hope you will help us pin our tips reaching out to those with chronic illness to help spread the word.
-ljc

Prayers Needed

Just a quick note that my sister Pam, who has been blogging here with me, is in Phoenix with her husband Kenney @ St. Josephs Hospital.  They believe he may have had a heart attack.  Please pray for him and for my sister as her exhaustion is so terrible right now that she can barely make it through the day.  Our mom is down there with her, which is a huge blessing.  They will be performing a stress test on Kenney today and we will have more information by this afternoon. 

Thanks for your prayers,
Keri

3 weeks

We are three weeks into the diet now and it seems that it has really become so much easier.  I realize how much better I feel with no gluten and sugar.  Now that it is pretty much out of my system I really don't want those things. 

Craig and I went to dinner Saturday night with all my coworkers.  I know I can always order a grilled piece of meat and some steamed veggies and or a salad, but was pleasantly surprised when they had a green plate that had a quinoa salad with it.  It was absolutely delicious.  The only thing that was on the plate that I really wasn't suppose to have was a portabella mushroom.  I did eat it, and I have to say it was Yummy.  I left feeling so satisfied.  There are so many options out there now because so many people are eating this way!  I was even able to refuse the bread, which by the way looked so good!  I know me, and one bite would have lead to several others:).

Until tomorrow!
Blessings,
Keri

Update and Buckwheat Banana Bread

I am feeling a little more rested today, but this is where I can get myself in trouble.  The couch is calling my name.  And I know I need to obey:-)

Here is the recipe I mentioned yesterday:
Buckwheat Banana Bread
Yeast Connection Cookbook
2 Tbsp flax seeds, ground
1/3 c water
1 1/2 c buckwheat groats (I used some gluten free flour in place of grinding up the buckwheat)
1/2 c pumpkin (or other) seeds
2 tbsp tapioca starch flour (I used potato)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp Xanthum Gum
1/2 tsp nutmeg or cinnamon ( I used both)
2/3 c chopped walnuts or other nuts
1/4 c walnut oil or other oil (I used the walnut oil since I had it)
2 c. mashed bananas (You could also use applesauce, pumpkin, pineapple puree, pears)
1/2 tsp unbuffered, corn free vitamin C crystals*
2 tsps baking soda*
2 Tbsp boiling water*

*You can use 2 tsp of baking powder in place of this combination.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Combine flax seeds with water in a small saucepan.  Bring to a rolling boil and immediately remove from heat.  (I used my glass measuring cup and did this step in the microwave on high for 2 minutes)  Set aside to soak until needed.

In a blender, grind 1/3 cup of the groats in fine flour.  Place a strainer over a mixing bowl and pour in flour.  Rub the flour through with a spoon, returning unground pieces to blender.  Repeat three time or until all groats have been ground.  (I would have tried this if I had, had the groats, but this is where I substituted with the gluten free flour.)

Oil and flour and 8 x 4 inch pan.  Tap the pan gently to coat the bottom and sides with flour.  Tap any extra flour back into the mixing bowl.

Combine pumpkin seeds, tapioca starch, salt, xanthum gum, and spices in blender.  Blend on high 1 minute, stopping twice to scrape the bottom.  Add seed mixture directly into the flour and whisk together well.

Combine in blender oil and add 2 ripe bananas, broken into 1" pieces.  Blend.  Continue to add banana chunks until you have the equivalent of 2 1/4 cups.  (I ended up using three bananas).  Add the baking powder (or vitamin C crystals) and the flax mixture.  Blend one minute.

Pour the liquid mixture over dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.  If using the vitamin C crystals you will need to dissolve the baking soda in the boiling water.  Add to the batter and stir with a few swift strokes until water disappears (don't beat it).  Quickly scrape batter into pan and place in hot oven.

Immediately reduce temperature to 325 degrees.  Bake for 70 minutes or until a toothpick thrust in the middle comes out dry.  Remove from the oven and cool in pan for 10 minutes.  Turn it out on a wire rack and cool completely before slicing.

I thought it was very good.  It is not terribly sweet, but it still tastes like banana bread.  I want to try this with pumpkin.  I will let you know how it turns out.

Never got out of my PJ's.

It is almost 9:00 pm and I have not been out of my pajamas all day today.  I got up at 7:30 am, went back to bed about 11:30 am, got up again about 2:00 pm, have laid around and watched movies all afternoon.  Guess what?    I am still pooped and ready for bed.

I tried a recipe yesterday for banana bread that does not have sugar or regular flour.  I will post it tomorrow.  It actually is pretty good:-)

Which Came First, MS or Metabolic Issues?

Okay, I over did it yesterday.  I had an appointment at 8:30 am with the massage therapist, which was wonderful by the way.  A 9:30 am appointment with the my acupuncturist, which just enhanced the results of the massage.  At 11:00 am I had an appointment to get my haircut and I had made plans with my dear friend Vivian to have lunch afterwards.  Vivian and I had a wonderful lunch and an awesome time of fellowship.  Vivian struggles with fiber myalga and other invisible aches and pains.  Because I work we don't get to visit with each other much, so we have really made an effort to meet up with each other the days I have been coming in for my appointments.  We were enjoying each others company so much that we included a little shoe shopping into our lunch date.  We did not get back to her house until 4:30 p.m.  My original intent had been to come back to her house, rest for an hour or two, do my grocery shopping and then attend a meeting of the Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering.  Either way I knew I would be pushing it.  Mom suggested I drive home with her and leave my car at my office.  I could drive back in with her first thing in the morning so I could do the grocery shopping I did not get done yesterday.  I agreed. Oh did I mention we did not get home until 9:00 pmish  So I drove back into town with mom this morning, with the full intent of running my errands as quickly as possible and heading home before noon.  Oh, did I mention I was exhausted when I got up this morning.

We got to town before 9:00 a.m. so I had to kill a little time, until I could go out to Costco, which was fine, I wanted to visit with my friend and co-worker Karen.  As she was catching me up on what had been going on at work in my absence I began to feel very overwhelmed and weepy.  I love my job and I miss the interaction with all of my co-workers and clientele.  But to be honest I am mostly freaked about the fatigue thing and wondering if I will be able to go back to work and function at an acceptable level.  I left there knowing that I really needed to talk to Dr. Susan.   I was just going to leave her a note and ask her to call me however,  I burst in to tears in the waiting room, when I could not think of the message I wanted to leave her, which got the staffs attention.  They told me to take a seat they would see if she would mind taking a few minutes to see me before her next patient.  God bless her, she took a few minutes to talk with me.  Long story short she said I am really dealing with a metabolic disorder and that in my case rest, rest, rest is the best medicine.  It is not caused by the MS but the MS probably does not help it.  I know, I know she told me this before, but just differently.  I have been laying low, not going anywhere or doing much of anything.  I am not good at just laying around.  Oh by the way instead of going straight home after talking to her, I went ahead and ran my errands, not getting home until about 3:30 pm.  Okay, now I am really, really, really, really tired!!!!  She says I need to go lay on the beach, anyone win the lottery lately and willing to sponsor my beach bathing:-)

How it looks on the outside isn't how it is on the inside

I know that we have been blogging about our progress on this diet, but I felt compelled to talk about having an invisible illness.  As my sister and I were talking the other night and she was telling me how hard it is when someone asks her if she is feeling any better she feels it so much easier to just say yes than try to explain how completely exhausted she is even though she has been resting.  She may show a bit of that on the outside but I am sure, as I know first hand, that it doesn't appear on the outside so it is very hard for people to grasp.  I am certainly not blaming anyone I just know that sometimes you just want to stay in your own little hole so as not to have explain how you are feeling.  I was telling her that it has become very hard for me to commit to any one's invitation to do something as I am never quite sure how I will feel.  No you don't want this to rule your life, but you do have to learn that if you push you will pay the consequences so you have to decide whether it is something that you will be able to recover from quickly or will this set you back for days.  With the summer heat, which is enemy number 1 for me, this is important for me to weigh. 

Anyway, I wanted to say all this because it has become so important for me to have a group of people who understand where I am and what I am going through so that I can share and not be judged.  Friends and family do not mean too, but a lot of times they say things that can really hurt you when really you just want someone to listen and hold your hand.  I am blessed with a group of women that I am able to share all of these things with and they with me.  We cry together, laugh together, and hold each other close, praying for complete healing all the while as we know that our God is in control of our lives.  God has also blessed me with a sister who understands and we are able to share our good days and bad with each other.  Also knowing that God has a purpose for us and that through these struggles we will be able to help others.

If anyone reading this that suffers from a chronic illness or chronic pain please don't suffer alone.  There are groups out there that are positive.  www.restministries.org is a wonderful website.  On there you will find a tab for Hopekeepers.  If you will  click on this and put your state or zip code in it will let you know if there is a group in your area.  Maybe you will be called to start your own group, this will bless you many times over.

God is good and He endures forever!  Do not loose hope reach out!

Love and Blessings
Keri

Homemade Pork Tamale vs. Sweet Potato with Pecans

First of all I would like everyone to know that eating garbanzo beans and cherries in the same meal is not a good idea.  Definitely had major stomach blow up.  I am happy to report when eaten at different times there does not seem to be a problem:-)

This morning mom called to tell me that Maggie had just delivered fresh homemade pork tamales to her and that she was having one for breakfast.  It made the sweet potato I was microwaving less than appealing.  But at least I know that not eating the tamale prevents me from having a migraine.  Something that corn tends to do to me:-(  Actually the sweet potato drizzled with a little walnut oil and topped with toasted chopped pecans was pretty good.

Last night I had Pad Thai noodles with sauteed swiss chard and scallops.  Yummy.  The Pad Thai noodles are made from rice and I really like the texture when cooked.  I think you would really like them and they can be found in the Asian section of the grocery store.

Today I am going to try some recipes out of the Yeast Connection Cookbook.  I will let you know how they turn out.

I went to bed completely exhausted last night and woke up almost as tired.  This is really getting old!  I am going to check out the National MS Society website for the discussion groups as you suggested.

I have decided to steal Ahnnah's saying, "I am fine, except for my condition":-)

Flaxseed Wrap and Cherries

After two or three weeks I am starting to get bored with the things I have been eating.  I need to come up with a couple of new items.  Today I tried making something called a Flaxseed Wrap.  The ingredients are easy to obtain.  It tasted pretty good, but like most gluten free breads, tortillas, etc it did not stay together very well.  Cheese definitely would have helped:-)

Since today we can add fruit back into our diet my fruit of choice is cherries.  I love cherries.  I bought two or three pounds a week ago when they were on sale.  I don't plan on eating all of them, my plan is to dry the majority of them for future use.  I think I will go pit a few to eat now that I think of it.

Flaxseed Wrap
Healthy Wheat Belly-Shrinking Recipes

3 tbsp ground flaxseeds
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp paprika
Pinch of sea salt or celery salt
1 tbsp coconut oil, melted, plus more for greasing the pans
1 tbsp water (you can use assorted vegetable juices to alter the flavor if you wish)
1 large egg

Mix together the ground flaxseeds, baking powder, onion powder, paprika and salt in a small bowl.  Stir in the 1 tablespoon coconut oil.  Beat in the egg and 1 tablespoon water until blended.

Grease a microwave-safe glass or plastic pie plate with coconut oil.  Pour in the batter and spread evenly over the bottom.  Microwave on high for 2 or 3 minutes until cooked.  Let cool about 5 minutes.

To remove, lift up an edge with a spatula.  If it sticks, use a pancake turner to gently loosen from the pan.  Flip the wrap over and top with desired ingredients.

Emailed a MS life coach today, hopefully I will hear back from her.  It is somebody I read about in a  MSFocus magazine.  If she does not contact me back I am contacting the National MS Society, I need to get some perspective on where I go next.  Will keep you posted.

Love,
Pam

P.S.  I just figured out today how to title my posts:-)

My Evil Twin

Today my evil twin over took my body and I lost the battle over a tortilla and a bag of Peanut M&M's:). I know you might ask why a tortilla? Well I made tacos for my men last night and just ate the meat and lettuce and some homemade salsa, but tonight when I got home from work I just wanted to eat all of it wrapped up in a yummy homemade tortilla and I couldn't fight the urge as my hormones are ragging right now! It tasted so good! Then I took Clay to basketball practice and on the way we stopped and bought a couple big waters and the M&M's were right there calling to my evil twin, "Buy me I am so yummy"! I ate the whole bag and now I have a belly ache. I know I should be stronger than that, but I said I would be truthful through this whole journey, so I am telling you the truth.   I also must add the rest of my day I ate really well, as that does count!

That was yesterday and today I am back on track.  I tried something different for breakfast today.  I cooked some old fashion oatmeal and put a tablespoon of almond butter in it and stirred it all up.  It was really yummy and stuck with me much longer than just oatmeal or just a rice cake with almond butter on it.  I did steal the idea from a friend who is a nutritionist and had suggested the idea with peanut butter. 

I can tell you that being gluten free is definitely a key for me.  I know that is what has caused a lot of my stomach problems.  One thing I have had to be careful with on this diet is to eat enough protein and to keep my potassium up.  I am looking forward to my two weeks with no fruit to be up so that I can at least have 1 piece of fruit a day.  I really like to have a banana in the morning with my breakfast, or some blueberries in my oatmeal.

The other thing that I know is that being able to control my environment and rest when needed has made a huge difference!  Praise God.  I am so hopeful for you sister that this will too make a difference for you.  It took awhile and I also I had to keep reminding myself that the reason I feel so much better is because I have been taking it easy.  The mind wants to say otherwise, like you should be doing more since you feel better!  Lies.  When you have an illness that no one can see and even you know it but when you look in the mirror you can't see it, well you tend to be much harder on yourself. 

I pray that this journey that we are on will help us to grow closer to God and only rely on what He wants from us not what others expect from us. 

Blessings to you,
Keri

P.S.
Pam maybe you should try a bag of Peanut Butter M&M's sure made me feel better;)  Love ya

Limitations

Something to hold on to. In my devotions this morning I read the following scripture and prayer. It really spoke to me as a person with an invisible illness who is struggling with what direction to go with my life. Is this constant unrelenting fatigue going to be with me from now on and if so what does that mean as far as work, my ministry, my life? Anyway, I hope the following blesses you as much as it did me this morning.

 Help me, O Lord my God! Save me according to your steadfast love. Psalm 109:26

 We were afflicted in every way - disputes without and fear within. But God, who consoles the downcast, consoled us. 2 Corinthians 7:5-6

 As I think about my day, dear Heavenly Father, I could be discouraged by my limitations. I'm thankful that your Spirit buoys me up with your gracious purpose and power to accomplish all things. Help me to see my disappointments from the perspective of your vast mercy and love. I cast myself upon you because I know you care. Amen!

Relief

Relief! The massage and acupuncture did help me feel better yesterday. Of course I should have come straight home, but instead I spent a very pleasant couple of hours with my sweet sister-in-Christ Vivian. We went out to brunch and I had an omelet with hamburger, green chilis and tomatoes. It was pretty tasty, even without the cheese:-) The recipe I mentioned yesterday was not a keeper, mom did not even like it. Beets can be very earthy and these were:-( I also had bar-b-qued chicken and summer squash. I may try adding a little more lemon juice today before I toss it completely. We have had much needed rain the past few days. The only down side is that I have an evaporative cooler, which only makes things muggier. The upside, my garden is so happy!

Migraine, Massage, and Acupuncture

 Yesterday was a roller coaster of anxiety and then a major migraine. We finally had a really good thunderstorm and I am wondering if that is what brought on the migraine. The kind that makes you wish you could throw up or cut your head off. Today I have a hangover. Thankfully I had scheduled a massage and an acupuncture treatment for today as part of the healing process while I am off. I pray that it helps. I finally was able to make contact with Dr. Susan. She says the issues I am having with my menstrual cycle indicate I am detoxing. I guess maybe things are working, I am just getting to go through the yukky stuff before I get the pleasant results:-) At least I hope that is what is happening. I reminded her I was following the candida diet in my follow-up email to her. It will be interesting to see what she says about the impact that the diet maybe having on how I am feeling. I tried a new recipe yesterday with the last of my beets. I have not had a chance to really try it. If it is a keeper I will post tomorrow.

Waiting

I am waiting, waiting on you Lord. This song by John Waller from the movie Fireproof keeps going through my head. I think God is working on my willingness to wait. Because I have been gluten free for a long time I am not noticing changes like Keri. But it is the tiredness I am wanting to lift, so I am waiting. A friend invited me to lunch at her house yesterday. It is funny, I don't feel deprived on this diet, at least not until I go outside my own little world. I forget about what I can't have until someone starts telling me what they are planning to fix. Peggy is a great cook and an awesome hostess after going through a litany of potential combinations we had a salad with tuna, hard boiled eggs, tomato, lettuce and my favorite, olive oil and lemon juice for a dressing. She understands as she tries to eat this way off and on.

Here is another salad idea:
Summer Squash Ribbons with Oregano, Basil and Lemon 
Cooking Light July 2008
3 sm. zucchini @ 1 lb.
3 sm. yellow squash @ 1 lb.
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/4 tsp grated lemon rind
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice (adjust to taste)
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 clove garlic minced
1/3 c thinly sliced fresh basil
1 Tbsp chopped fresh oregano
1/4 c. (1 oz.) shaved fresh parmesan

Shave zucchini and yellow squash into ribbons using a vegetable peeler stopping at the seeds, place ribbons in a large bowl. Discard seed cores.

Combine oil, rind, juice, salt, pepper and garlic in a small bowl; stir with a whisk. Drizzle oil mixture over vegetable ribbons.

Sprinkle with basil and oregano. Toss gently. Sprinkle with cheese. In our case serve on the side.

Serve immediately I realize that I forgot the lemon rind and the oregano as I type this up this morning as I had fixed this last night to have with steak and tomatoes at mom and dads. I will add a little of both when I have it for lunch today:-)

Sugar it's in everything!

This morning I realized that I have been chewing gum all this time that I was supposed to be giving up sugar...yep, that's right I have been chewing gum with SUGAR in it! I am very sensitive to sugar substitues and I always chew gum that has sugar in it. DUH! I will be giving that up too! Still haven't found anything I like as much as coffee, so I guess I will just have to give that up too! I did buy some stevia, but it also seems to upset my stomach. I guess that is just the sacrifice of trying to be sugar free! Enough whining. The last few days I have been eating alot of salads with either chicken or tuna on them. I put a few raw sunflower seeds on it to give it a little crunch so I won't miss the croutons. Tuesday night I made stuffed peppers with ground Turkey, spinach, brown rice and salsa. YUM. Last night I just ate the stuffing without the peppers as there was extra left over. In the mornings I have been either eating oatmeal or having a rice cake with almond butter. I am not much a breakfast person, but have been making an effort as I know it is the most important meal of the day. I also find that if I eat small amounts throughout the day it makes it so much easier. I do believe cutting out all the bread that I love so much has made a tremendous difference. I haven't had any real stomach problems except for the stevia since I started this. Have a blessed day! Keri

Mixing Things Up

I decided to mix things up this morning.  I had eggs, homemade turkey sausage and tomatoes for breakfast.  I am on my own for dinner today so I will see what kind of creative food I can come up with today.  If I find something outstanding I will share the recipe.

I thought the yeast infection related rash was gone from my foot, but I can still see a residual patch.  I guess I better keep applying the monistat.

Today should be quiet except for bible study, which should be lively.  Kenney has gone back on the road, Cameron has class tonight, and everyone else is off to Disneyland.   I will be napping this afternoon:-)

Breakfast Turkey Sausage from Yeast Connection Cookbook
1 lb ground turkey
3/4 tsp seal salt
1/4-1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2-1 tsp dried sage or 10-12 fresh sage leaves minced

Mix turkey with salt, pepper, and sage.  Use a fork or a food processor for less than one minute.  Shape into 6 thin patties or several links.  Fry or bake until browned.
You can freeze the sausages, either raw or cooked, for future fast breakfasts.

Day 6 and 7

Sorry I didn't post yesterday.  It was a beautiful day of worship and by the time we got home I was famished and ready for a nap!  When I woke up it was time to meet some old friends we hadn't see in years for dinner. 

Saturday I finally made it to Trader Joe's and Whole Foods!  So wish we had one on our side of town!  When you go into a Whole Foods you just feel healthier!:)  Well at least you feel like you should be healthier.  I did most of my shopping at Trader Joe's as their prices are so much better.  I actually made it home with two large bags of food and only spent $40.  I thought that was great in and of itself as it of course costs more to eat better.  I now have some chips I can eat homemade salsa with and I also got some hummus.  I am a snacker so I needed some "grab" food.  I also bought some almond butter, some brown rice pasta, more steal cut oats and some raw almonds, and sunflower seeds.  I ate oats for breakfast and a salad for lunch and had grilled chicken and squash for dinner Saturday night.  Yesterday I was good and took the rest of my oats with me to church and ate them as I prepared for our little ones to arrive.  Sunday mornings are hard as our church has a cafe with the best pastries and biscuits ever!    Yesterday I pretty much ate the same as Saturday except I had a handful of nuts in the afternoon to satisfy my snacking urge.   Last night I ate grilled chicken and vegetables at the restaurant it was satisfying.:)  I am looking forward to next Monday when I can have 1 piece of fruit a day.  Maybe by then I will not really care if I have anything sweet, but right now it just sounds good. 

More later I must get my day going. 

Blessings
Keri

Thank you Lord for Your Holy Spirit!  Being with a body of believers and worshipping the Lord does much to revive the soul.  This is the first Sunday in a few that I have felt up to going.  I am ready for a nap though:-)

I cooked chicken breast with a little sesame oil and sliced onion last night.  Served it with a side of sliced tomatoes with basil and garlic, as well as a stir fry of  cabbage, zucchini, green onions, and water chestnuts.  Today I ate some of the left overs from last night, but put it over rice pasta.  I also had Autumn Porridge this morning so I may have over done the carbs.  I made a big tossed salad at lunch today, but decided I would save that for tonight.

I actually spent @ 4 hours reclining in one of our zero gravity chairs under the apricot tree with the misters on yesterday.  I read a whole magazine and just dozed.  I could really get use to this:-)

I am so excited that Keri's stomach is feeling better.  Hang tough little sister, the cravings for the foods that you crave will subside and you will find substitutes.

I ate lots of veggies yesterday in the form of couple of different fresh salads.  And I had a beef burger last night.  It was so yummy, it is from one of the steers we butchered recently.  Since going on this yeast elimination diet I have lost 8 pounds.  I am really hoping that it helps with the fatigue also.

Here is a new salad idea for you:
Arugula and Pea Salad
2 cups peas, shelled
6 cups arugula
4 cups swiss chard, stem removed and torn into bite size pieces
3 green onions thinly sliced
1/4 c olive oil
1/4c lemon juice

Cook peas in boiling water for @ 3 minutes.  Plunge into ice water to cool off.

Place arugula, chard, onion and peas in a bowl and toss.

Mix together the olive oil and lemon juice.  Drizzle over salad and toss or drizzle or individual servings.

Salt and pepper to taste.

I especially liked it, since I was able to use peas and swiss chard from my garden.  Unfortunately the peas are down for the season, but I still have swiss chard and my tomatoes are starting to set!

Eating to live not living to eat!

Eating to live not living to eat!  This has become my new motto.  Not that "Clean" eating is not tasty because it really is once your taste buds decide it so!  I just need to remind myself that I am doing this to live better and feel better but sometimes as the old mind set comes flooding by and tells me lies like, "just one little taste of that yummy roll won't hurt", well yes it does because then I want more!:). 

I woke up feeling so much better yesterday.  Thursday I ate very well and my stomach was so happy!  Yesterday was another success!  The only thing I still have to give up is the coffee and a bit of creamer and I hope to resolve that today when I go to Trader Joe's for some grocery shopping.  I will pick up one of the substitutes that is on our diet plan.  It has also helped to prepare my meals, several portions, ahead so that I am not tempted to eat the wrong things.

This morning I am dragging a bit, but I also worked Thursday night, doing one of my last hair clients, and I worked yesterday in my new position at the salon as mentor, educator and coach, which is quite frankly by dream job.  I am sure the extra pain I had last night was the aftermath of doing the hair, but just not being home and resting when I need too also plays a part in that.  Each week of my life finds me learning what I can and can't do and how much I need to pay attention to my body is telling me. 

Here is to another day of success! 

Keri

Drove into Prescott (32 mi one way) to run a few errands and pick up some groceries yesterday.  I was feeling pretty peppy until about half way to my destination.  Needless to say I just focused on the groceries and basically forgot the rest.  I really wanted to get some seafood/fish to mix things up a little more.  Keri suggested tilapia, so I go that and shrimp and scallops at Trader Joe's.  I pan fried the tilapia when I got home in a small amount of olive oil. I had dipped the tilapia in almond meal with lemon pepper for a little bit of a crust.  I added left over grilled squash and a huge tossed salad with lemon juice and olive oil for dressing.  Yummy!

The quinoa, oatmeal and pumpkin cereal really filled me up yesterday so I did not eat any lunch.  I did have a rice cake about 3:00 p.m with sunflower butter as I was leaving town.

I looked at the list again this morning that Dr. Susan had given me for a candida elimination diet and realized that the Yeast Connection books are also trying to help you with any and all food allergies.  So I think I will follow that food list.  I do know for me that gluten and corn are a problem so I will not eat anything with either of those ingredients, which I already do.  And I will just minimize the other potentially high allergy foods.  As with everything it is a process to figure out what is a problem and what is not.

Today my energy level is very low.  I told Keri yesterday that sometimes I just wonder if this is all in my head!  I am not a lazy person and I could push myself to accomplish all kinds of things, but then I think that I will only be twice as tired tomorrow!  I have to just take a deep breath, thank God again for the time off from work with pay!!!!  Thank you Lord, I again ask you for Your energy, it is the very best!!!

I started my period late Tuesday night, which always adds to the fatigue and the nerve pain. Not to mention sending me on an emotional roller coaster.  I have a call in today to Dr. Susan about the Evening Primrose Oil, since my period started much later than it should have.   I have to admit I have been feeling like such a whiner.   I don't look like I am not well and when someone asks me how I am feeling I hate telling them I am bone tired, because then I think they think well so am I, everybody gets that way.  And to be honest then I start thinking I am just a big baby and to suck it up or "cowboy up", especially when I have a spurt of energy and I want to jump into some project or another.  Take a deep breath Pam and just take care of yourself, and don't worry about what other people think, it is not important.  I know that is what Keri is thinking as she is reading this:-)

As for the diet, I notice that the yeast rash on my foot is all but gone.  I am not sure if it is the diet or the monistat I have been rubbing on it.  My guess is that it is both.  Either way I am glad that it is clearing up.

Yesterday, I ended up only eating a late breakfast and dinner.  I have to confess that I usually have a plain rice cake with almond butter and my Teeccino when I first get up.  Dinner was grilled summer squash and beet greens from my garden, yum!  Everyone else had hotdogs, corn on the cob and watermelon.  I could not think of any meat that I was interested in eating.  I was actually quite satisfied until about 9:30 ish when I had another rice cake with almond butter.

I tried a new recipe this morning for Autumn Power Porridge
3 c water
3/4 c steel cut oats
1/2 c quinoa, rinsed
1/4 tsp salt (I did not add)
3/4 c canned pumpkin
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice (I made up my own by looking up a pumpkin pie recipe)
3 tbsp agave nectar or maple syrup (I used a touch of stevia to just my serving)
1/2 c dried cranberries (I did not add, but I wanted to)
1/3 c coarsely chopped walnuts toasted
Milk optional (I splashed on a little almond milk)

In a large saucepan, combine water, oats, quinoa and salt.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat: cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Stir in the pumpkin, pie spice and agave nectar.  Remove from the heat; cover and let stand 5 minutes or until water is absorbed and grains are tender.  Stir in cranberries and walnuts.  Serve with milk if desired.  Yield 4-1 cup servings

I made the full amount and have stuck the excess in the refrigerator for any easy breakfast for the next couple of days.

Day 4

Yesterday was a great day of following my diet.  The only thing I haven't given up yet is the coffee and creamer, which I hope to find the coffee substitutes that my sister mentioned this weekend!

I have been sulking a bit this weekend, wishing that I didn't need to be on such a strict diet!  Oh how I was longing for the days when I could get up have a Dr. Pepper for breakfast, eat some fast food for lunch if I ate lunch and then whatever I wanted for dinner.  How healthy I was...NOT!  Here's to another day of success!  I have noticed my stomach is not giving me such fits!  YAY

Happy Independence Day

What a hot dry summer we are having here in Middle Tennessee.  I can't remember this ever happening in the 17 years Craig and I have lived here.  They have even banned fire works which is legal here in our county and sad for all the people who make their living selling them twice a year.I will definitely be staying inside today as the extreme heat really does me in!

Yesterday was another day of not really staying on track.  I did good for breakfast and lunch but ended my day by eating seven layer dip for dinner with corn chips...I am so weak.  We were supposed to go to a party and had made the dip for that but when Craig come home he was on the verge of heat exhaustion and so we decided we had better stay home.  Well we couldn't let the dip go to waste.  Poor excuse but it's all I've got.

This morning we slept in and so I skipped breakfast and  had salad with tuna and lemon juice, olive oil and spices for dressing.  Yummy!  Then I decided to toast some chick peas for a nice crunchy snack.  They turned out better than in the past.  I roasted them in a 425 degree oven for about 20 minutes shaking the cookie sheet about every 5 minutes.  Oh I drained the can rinsed and then patted them dry tossed them in some olive oil and garlic.  When they came out of the oven I sprinkled with sea salt.  They are pretty tasty!

We are headed to a 4th of July gathering so I am trying to make a few things so that I will not be tempted to cheat.  I will let you know!  Once I really get started it will not be so hard, the trick is to make things ahead so that you are able to grab things when you are hungry!

Thank you Lord for a beautifully cool morning and a little moisture!  It really helps.  I actually spent about an hour in the garden picking the last of the beets, harvesting swiss chard and a ton of basil.  Now to find some recipes to use up the beet greens beside sauteing them.  The basil I want to turn into pesto, but that includes cheese and olives.  I will have to see what other recipes I can find.

I ate a lot of chicken yesterday.  I wish I had a good source of fresh fish and then someone else to cook it for me.  I hate cooking fish.  I have to admit I have been eating  pork, but that is because one part of the book says to, so confusing!  I have one last little piece thawed out so will eat this morning and then avoid for awhile and see if that has any impact.  Lots of salad also yesterday also, which is great at this time of year.

It really stinks to go to bed feeling exhausted and then to wake up exhausted.  I am praying that a month of rest and this diet make a huge difference.  This morning I made turkey sausage patties and served it with quinoa topped with toasted almond slivers, cinnamon, cloves and a splash of almond milk, all very good and satisfying.

I am trying to cook up extra grain whenever I make it for breakfast.  Then I divvy it up in to sandwich bags and freeze it for another morning.  That way I can quickly make breakfast most mornings.  So far i have done that with millet, amaranth and the quinoa.  I have made extra turkey sausage patties to have on another morning also.

I hate to burst your bubble little sister, but for at least the first week you should avoid the following:
All Dairy Products (butter)
Eggs and egg containing foods
Foods containing wheat, rye, barley - anything with gluten
Corn and food containing corn (popcorn)
White potatoes
Tomatoes
Fruits and foods containing sugar
Chocolate and colas
Yeast containing foods
Coffee and alcohol
Soy, peanuts, beans and other legumes (peas)
Coloring and additives
Beef, Pork, bacon, sausage, hot dogs, lunch meat

After 5 to 10 days or when there is a significant lessening of your symptoms you start adding back in the foods that you think are giving you fits.  They suggest you do so in a specific manner if you are interested I will share that with you as well.  But to be honest I keep reading the Yeast Connection Cookbook and I feel there is a lot of contradicting information.  I actually think now that I have written this out I will follow the list that I went with when I did the elimination diet and determined gluten was a problem for me.  Only I will exclude all fruit and foods containing sugar and anything with yeast, which includes all vinegars and any sauces with vinegar.  I also think I will eat like this for at least 3 weeks and then try adding back the things I think are problems for me or not.  We will see how I start feeling.

How my first day went

Well, I promised myself that I was going to be very honest here for myself, my sister and anyone reading this so they would know that this is not easy!  Yesterday I started my day with a cup of coffee and a bit of creamer, as this is something I am having to wean myself off of.  Then I had a bowl of oatmeal, plain of course.  Drinking lots of water as it reminds me of eating paste.  I will have to get to Trader Joe's today and get some Steal Cut Oats, so much better plain.  I had a meeting for work at 10 am and of course they had doughnuts and fruit!  Ugh, two of my favorites and not on my diet.  I refrained until 11:45 and then my grumbling stomach got the best of me!  I ate some fruit.  Only a tiny bit, but none the less I ate it! 

I had to run home and pick up Clay as he was flying to Arizona to be with my family for a few weeks.  I had no time to plan some lunch and he was wanting Taco Bell so I again cheated and had a burrito, which beans are on the diet but not tortillas or the sour cream.  I did only drink water:). 

Dinner time found me rummaging through the refrigerator for something to fix Craig and I for dinner.  We had left over chicken so I managed to make a really nice salad with Chicken and I used olive oil and lemon juice for my dressing.  Not so bad on the dinner. Did I mention the chicken was fried?  Ha, I did manage to pull off the breading as much as possible, but I am sure I still had a little of that.  Again lots of water.  Drinking water and nothing else is not a problem for me as most drinks whether they are carbonated or not really make me feel bad.

We ended the night with popcorn with real butter and a bit of salt, all by the way on the diet!  Yay. 
Today promises to be better as I am going to the store to stock up on foods I can eat so I won't be tempted by the ones that are not. 

All kidding aside I am really trying to make an effort as I have had so many stomach issues as of late that I am desperate to do anything that will help!  Until tomorrow!

Keri

Here is a wonderful snack that satisfies the desire for the something crunchy and salty.
Kale Chips
2 Bunches Organic Kale (any variety)
1/4 c. olive oil
1/4 c. lemon juice
Seasoning of your choice - I have been using a salt free mix of garlic and herbs
Sea Salt

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

Wash Kale, tearing the leafy part from the stems.  Throw away the stems and dry the leafy part in a salad spinner if you have one or blot as much moisture off as you can with a towel.

Mix the oil and lemon juice together and toss with the leafy portion of the kale.

Cover two large cookie sheets with parchment paper and spread the kale over the two cookie sheets.  Sprinkle with seasonings.  Go lightly.

Bake in the oven for approximately for 20 minutes.  I have been switching the cookie sheets at 10 minutes.  They are ready when everything is crispy.

The secret is to make sure the kale is as dry as possible before the oil and lemon juice and don't over do the seasoning.  Bon Apetit!

For those who are addicted to coffee and creamer (Keri) you might find drinking Teeccino a suitable alternative.  It can be found in natural food stores and online.  I particularly like the mocha, hazelnut and almond amarreto flavors.  It cost @ $11.00.  You can make it in your coffee pot, but I prefer to use a tea ball or you can purchase these little individual filters that hang on the lip of your cup,  less mess than the tea ball.  It takes only a tablespoon of the Teeccino per cup.  I actually get about two cups out of one tablespoon.  Of course the second cup is not as strong as the first.  I also add just a few grains of stevia for sweet and I am good to go.

Where to start?  I am Keri's oldest sister Pam and as she mentioned I have MS.  I was diagnosed in 2003 just as my husband and I were planning to move back to Arizona.   My symptoms started after being involved in a 4 car pileup on the 101 freeway in California.  I was going 75 mph.  About 3 months after the accident I was finally feeling well enough to give my house a good cleaning, but after a couple of hours I was done and decided to take a shower.  I like hot showers and as I stepped into the shower with my left side first and the water hit me I was overcome with the most incredible burning sensation.  I quickly turned to my right side and nothing, it felt normal.  Needless to say I got right out of the shower and made a phone call to the chiropractor I was seeing.  He was baffled also and sent me to a neurologist.  Because I did not have insurance at the time, it took a year before I could have an MRI and was diagnosed with MS.  My husband and I were in shock and we were not terribly excited about the treatment options that we were offered.  We decided to wait until we had moved to pursue a course of treatment.

From the beginning I knew I wanted to go with a more natural or holistic approach to treatment.  Once we were settled in Arizona I began praying for God to lead me to the right doctor.  One day while looking in the phonebook I saw the advertisement for Partners in Health Care Naturally and felt led to email the doctor listed.  I asked her if she had ever treated anyone with MS and she answered back immediately that she had.  I have been working with her ever since.  Her name is Dr. Susan Godman and she is a NMD or naturopath.  In the beginning I was extremely fatigued and in a lot of pain.  But through perseverance on my part and her amazing intuitive sense of what  needs to be addressed I have had no major episodes and we have been able to manage the pain.  She also insists that I see a neurologist so I do that also, but he usually wants me to try the latest drug, which I politely refuse and we move on:-)

However this spring I started having extreme bouts of fatigue, which I could not overcome.  Susan felt that my Adrenal glands needed some help so she treated me with something called Licort and strongly suggested I take medical leave from work.  I started the Licort and reluctantly agreed to take a week off and then I decided to take a second week off when I realized I was feeling better.  I did not feel like the Licort had helped so she felt we needed to do a second batch to see what would happen.  In the meantime I went back to work and also took a vacation to see Keri and her family.  I was basically at what I call my normal level of fatigue, but after coming back I started to feel the fatigue coming back on in spades.  At my follow-up appointment in June, Susan felt that I really needed to take more time off from work, a month, and we would also begin treating the onset of menopause.  I also mentioned that as a side note, that I was really frustrated with the toenail fungus on my right foot and what the red rash at the top of my foot.  She said it was a yeast infection and that is I wanted to make it go away permanently I needed to follow a sugar free and yeast free diet.  Ugh!!!

My mom happened to have a copy of the Yeast Connection.  The first thing I wanted to know was there any connection to MS.  Sure enough  the author says that he has helped many patients with MS minimize or eliminate many of the symptoms associated with MS.  I was sold.  Hence the reason I am really wanting to follow this diet.  I have already eliminated gluten from my diet, which has helped tremendously.  So following this diet is not that much of a stretch for me.  I shared this with Keri because so much of what she deals with in regard to her health is similar to my symptoms.  I am excited she wants to try this as well.

Today is my first official day of leave.  Yesterday I spent most of the day in bed sleeping.  It is very hard for me to just lay low, but I know this is exactly what I need to do.  So the plan for today includes working on my banking, taking a nap, doing some laundry, taking a nap, reading a book, and fixing the food per the diet.

Embarking on a Journey with my Sister

Wow were does the time go? It has almost been a year since I posted here! Well that is about to change! My sister and I are starting on a no sugar diet today, well she really has already started, so I am starting today, and we are going to make every atempt to post something each day to track our progress and how it is helping with the effects of our illness. Pam, my sister, has MS, and the fatigue from this desease has caused her to have to take a month off from work. I will let her intraduce herself and give you an overview of what she is going through. We share many of the same symptoms yet I have no diagnosis of MS. This has become a mystery that still has not been solved, but after 7 years of trying to figure it out, I have come to the realization that it doesn't really matter what the doctors say you just have to be proactive and try everything you can to get better. They do know that I have a Central Pain Disorder they just don't know what caused it. I still have episodes of varying kinds with the biggest problem as of late stomach problems and bladdar issues. I am very hopeful that this will make a big difference!! We will keep you posted!!!