do an elimination diet

4 weeks of Stage 1. No real difference in what I was seeking, but surprising discoveries nonetheless.

I’m marking this as worth it for a few reasons. I know now a few things that it isn’t, and that’s valuable. It motivated me to start seeking an allergist, which I’ll do. I’ve gotten a few recommendations from fine folks here and from my Dr.

Also, it was a practice. I had to be extremely mindful about my food. It showed me how even as I turn 40, I use sugar as a reward. It showed me addictions can be dropped. It showed me that I probably could do Stage 2; I have discipline. It got me out to farmer’s markets and I found 2 new ones near me. After 10 days of not eating sugar, the natural sweetness and complexity of food flavors was WAY more prevalent. I feel like I can taste better.

Finally, Stella Artois and Papa Guido’s to celebrate my return from the diet was, simply, AWESOME.

It has, even though I’m having some of the disallowed foods, changed my eating for the better, if not my energy level.

11 days. I feel about the same. I definitely had some wicked caffeine withdrawal despite going half-caf for a week (and feeling fine). But now, stabilized, I feel about the same energy-wise.

I am trying not to be sad about that. It was according to the book a possibility that I would feel significantly worse on day 2 or so for 3-5 days, then much much better. This didn’t happen. If that did happen, then at the end of the month, I could have tested re-adding foods that have been excluded to see which one(s) was(were) responsible. It still might happen. But the longer I go adhering to the diet without an upturn, the more likely Stage 2 is going to be.

Stage 1 has been a challenge for me. I like to cook, fortunately, and I’ve been trying to look at this as a culinary challenge; trying to make foods interesting within the constraints of the diet. So far, it’s going pretty well with about two-thirds of my meals turning out quite decent. About a third of them are lacking in flavor but since I’m not allowed chili or curry I’m having some trouble fixing those few dishes.

Stage 2 will be even more challenging. Stage 3, I don’t even want to talk about, but there are no herbs or spices allowed of any kind and the foods so restrictive that it will basically be living on gruel.

Stage 2, in addition to no sugar, no caffeine, no chocolate, no alcohol, no additives we add: no bread, no wheat, no beef/chicken, no dairy, no soy, no citrus, no peanuts… etc. There’s more to it (just like there’s more to Stage 1), but these are the highlights.

My Stage 1 food has remained interesting due mostly to cheese. Normally, I don’t allow myself much butter, but during this diet, I’ve upped my allotment. Also, fresh homemade pasta is allowed. This allows me to make some comfort foods when I’m feeling all sorry for myself that I can’t eat anything in my cupboard. Stage 2 will offer no such self-pampering.

Obviously, with wheat, soy and dairy being part of Stage 2 and all those being the most likely culprits for food intolerance, I shouldn’t be much surprised that it is looking like Stage 2 is coming.

Oh, and in Stage 2, no vinegar. How am I supposed to make salad dressing with no vinegar?

Anyway, on the upside, between this and the HealthMIles challenge, I’ve lost a few pounds and my fat percentage is down. I am definitely eating much healthier, which if not contributing to my immediately feeling well, it is surely contributing to my overall health and longevity.

Day one went ok. Sleepy. Very very sleepy. Day two, I thought blood was going to start leaking out my eyeballs. It felt like Migraine and Sinus Headache ganged up on me and made the day really miserable – I think it was just caffeine withdrawal.

I was so very, very close to having a cup of green tea or coffee or something to make it stop. But with the help of several naps and a lot of water, I somehow powered through. The last two days, I have had a headache, but maybe a quarter of the power of Wednesday’s.

That was truly awful. At least now that part seems to be behind me.

Ok, you nutritionist and medical folk. Help me out here. I’ve started the Stage 1 Elimination diet.

In stage 1, among other things, I am not allowed:

1. Food additives
2. Sugar
3. Caffeine of any sort (no coffee, tea, soda)
4. Processed meats

I am allowed fresh meats, vegetables, wheat and dairy. In later phases, the exact kinds of meat and vegetables is limited, and no wheat and no dairy (and I think no soy).

So, this brings me to a question about some additives. Actually, I’ll just ask about one now: carrageenan

I don’t really like milk and haven’t had it for years. It is easy to find additive free, sugar free, milk. But I drink soy milk (soy is still ok in stage 1). I found an unsweetened organic soy milk, but it has carrageenan, which is a processed seaweed that apparently keeps food from separating.

It is also in organic cottage cheese.

Should I therefore skip these foods on the grounds of them having additives?

I’ll add that the book says that I can eat Shredded Wheat as it has no sugar added. If I can’t have this soy milk, I’ll have to put milk on it. That doesn’t thrill me.

What do you think?

I’m going to read this here book during which period of time I’m going to start mixing decaf beans in with my caf beans thereby weaning myself from my caffeine addiction and hopefully thereby reducing the pain I will feel when I give up the juice altogether.

I dunno… let’s call the preliminary period 2 weeks. We’ll go half caf tomorrow morning.

Fatigue, irritability, migraines, sleep issues… there is apparently “nothing wrong with me” according to medical professionals, but I don’t feel well far too often and the migraines are getting worse and more frequent.

It is time to find out if I have food intolerance. I can already tell you that coffee and sugar will be the hardest things. Coffee, I love you, I do. It just may not work out between us. It isn’t you, it’s me.