Joanne's journey to a healthy gut

Jazi · Post by **Jazi** » Tue Apr 09, 2013 3:57 am

I survived my first week GDS free, no fresh fruits (except a banana) and no fresh veggies. I lost 4lbs in a week (just goes to show how much I was eating prior).

I started Entocort on Saturday 4/6 and I actually feel like it's already helping.... is that possible?

I have cut out ibuprofen and I'm down to 20mg on my prozac.

I am working out faithfully 4-5 mornings a week including weight training.

I would like to include my daily menu and hope to hear from my new PP friends here. As I begin the healing process, I want to make sure I am not eating anything that may delay it. Thank you all in advance.

Sunday and Monday's menu:
Sunday

7:30: Coffee/Vanilla almond milk
Prozac/Entocort
9:30: 1 c Corn Chex, 1 c almond milk
12:30: Coffee/Vanilla almond milk
1:30: Banana
3:30: Sweet potato with butter (2 tbsp)
6:30: Avocado/salsa/2oz chips
Calcium

Monday 4/8/13
5am: coffee/ Vanilla almond milk
Prozac/Entocort/HMF powder & Florastor Probiotics
9am: 1 c rice chex/ 1/4 c bb crunchies (dried blueberries) 1 c Van. almond milk
10:45: banana
11:45: Greek chicken/Greek potatoes.
1:45: Same as above, wasn't even hungry :-/
5pm: 1 c Corn Chex, dry.
Calcium/Prilosec

Post by **tex** » Tue Apr 09, 2013 7:42 am

Hi Joanne,

You appear to be off to a good start. Bearing in mind that we all seem to have different food sensitivities, what you are eating would probably be OK for many of us here. Since you're obviously taking careful notes, if problems with one or more foods should develop, there's a good chance that you may be able to track it down with the help of your journal.

Best of luck on your new adventure to reclaim your health.

Tex

brandy · Post by **brandy** » Tue Apr 09, 2013 4:15 pm

HI Joanne,

Great start! I found working out and walking throughtout this disease helpful in maintaining stamina. Some days I was too tired but overall think working out is helpful to maintain strength to combat this disease and helps to relieve stress. Perhaps add a bit more protein as you can. Brandy

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Tue Apr 09, 2013 9:14 pm

I agree with Brandy; I think you could use a little more protein since we've found it helps heal the gut. I usually eat meat at every meal except when I have Corn Chex for breakfast.

Gloria

Jazi · Post by **Jazi** » Wed Apr 10, 2013 3:48 am

Thank you Tex, Brandy and Gloria!

Okay, so more protein. I was in search of the best protein shake (GSD free) and I have tried some but yuk!! I think I may need to use plain almond milk (unsweetened) as I feel they are way too sweet.

Is it safe to have chocolate protein shake? I have been staying away from chocolate like the plague but wondering if it's safe if it's not made with dairy.

I'm still working on getting used to cooking but my days are so long, when I get home I just wanna chill. I have, however, been making a chicken dish on Mondays but I need more "easy and fast" cooking ideas. I think I'm the only 48 year old Sicilian in the world that doesn't cook

ladyathome · Post by **ladyathome** » Wed Apr 10, 2013 2:35 pm

Jazi

I really like this protein shake (and I have hated all the other vegan shakes I've tried).
It's GFSFDF, non-gmo, and is non-allergenic. I like the chocolate, and I mix it with Almond milk and ice in the blender.
I got a little gas with it in the beginning, but that went away with continued use.

http://www.sunwarrior.com/store/warrior ... -500g.html

Jazi · Post by **Jazi** » Sun Apr 14, 2013 9:22 am

Thank you ladyathome. I used to enjoy the Sunwarrior vanilla... I will definitely try the chocolate.

I haven't updated my journal because my diet is pretty much the same everyday.

Breakfast: Rice chex with either freeze dried bananas or blueberries and unsweetened Vanilla almond milk

Snack: Banana

Lunch: Chicken that I baked in organic chicken broth

Snack: potato or corn chips

Dinner: Large sweet potato with butter (I'm hooked)

Snack: more chips

Not a very thrilling menu but I lost 10lbs!! I haven't had a chance to make the turkey soup recipe but I am looking forward to it... maybe today!

Friday night I decided to drink a little with my sister. We got Bud Light Lime-a-ritas (delish) and by the end of the evening, my belly started getting bloated. I switched to water. The next morning I was fine but famished because I hadn't eaten since lunch time on Friday. Well, I waited til dinner time to eat, by then, omg, I wanted to eat everything. I went to Wegmans and got a $6 meal, chicken breast, mashed potatoes and yams.... ate it all. What happened approx 30 minutes after is something I would prefer not to describe....but I'll try

I was in the bathroom for a while with the most excruciating pain. It was if I took a tun of laxatives (that's all I'll say on that).

Was it the alcohol? Something in my dinner? The fact that I hardly ate then drank? Today is Sunday and my belly is a little bloated, nothing major but still bloated.

Deb · Post by **Deb** » Sun Apr 14, 2013 12:24 pm

Joanne, there is gluten in most beers. That would be my first guess. There is a link on here with gluten free ones. Also, I've found gluten in store/restaurant mashed potatoes. How was the chicken breast cooked? Deb

wonderwoman · Post by **wonderwoman** » Sun Apr 14, 2013 1:42 pm

I also try to have protein at every meal. I keep looking at protein powders in the stores and always find the main ingredients are things I have been avoiding due to Enterolab testing. Usually they are rice or whey (dairy) both of which I am eliminating.

Ladyathome indicates she likes this protein drink and gave the web site. I checked it out and the main ingredient for the first one is brown rice. That's out for me.

The second one below, The Warrior Blend, I would be leery of trying. I think I will just continue to stick with meat and vegetables

http://www.sunwarrior.com/product-info/classic-protein/

Classic Protein Raw Vegan ingredients are raw whole grain brown rice protein

the vanilla and chocolate also contain xanthan gum, stevia, and rice oligodextrin

http://www.sunwarrior.com/product-info/warrior-blend/

the Warrior Blend Protein

Natural flavor ingredients are raw pea protein, raw cranberry protein, raw organic hemp seed protein, salt and medium chain triglycerides

Vanilla flavor includes the above plus vanilla flavor, vanilla extract, stevia, & natural fibers (Feenugreek, Konjac)

Chocolate flavor includes the above plus chocolate raw organic cocoa, vanilla extract, cocoa butter buds, salt, stevia and natural fibers (Feenugreek, Konjac)

brandy · Post by **brandy** » Sun Apr 14, 2013 2:16 pm

Hi Joanne,

White wine or GF beers are generally safer alcohol choices. Also, weirdly most restaurant mashed potatoes have white flour (gluten/wheat) in them. Chicken can be problematic--depends on preparation. Try and ask for a gluten free menu or allergen menu when you eat out. You are doing great detective work! Brandy

Jazi · Post by **Jazi** » Sun Apr 14, 2013 2:45 pm

Thank you ladies. I thought Lime-a-rita was gluten free, why, I don't know. My daughter said she found something on line stating it was. When I searched today, I found no such thing.

I don't know how the meal was prepared since I didn't ask.... so much for "assuming" certain things are safe. I'm still suffering a little today... not going to the bathroom but with bloating and cramping.

Jazi · Post by **Jazi** » Sun Apr 14, 2013 5:11 pm

Hello Charlotte, love the name Wonder woman!

Unfortunately I am unable to have testing done at Enterolab so finding trigger foods is going to be a heck of a lot trickier for me. I would prefer to eat my protein than to drink it and I am trying to come up with different ways other than chicken at every meal. I have to become more domesticated. I was given a great turkey soup recipe and I believe I saw a turkey meatloaf recipe on here, gotta go look for it.

I was just in my kitchen for an hour baking chicken and cooking Risotto (GF) and doing dishes.

But I'm happy I did it and I have lunch for the next two days. Tuesday, I will work on something else for Wed, Thur and Fri... if only I didn't have to eat

gluten · Post by **gluten** » Sun Apr 14, 2013 9:12 pm

Hi, I use a beef protein called " Carnivor " by Muscle Meds. Serving size one scoop. Supplement facts- calories 124, caloies from fat 0, total fat 0, saturated fat 0, frans fat 0, cholesterol 0, total cardohydrate 8 g, dietary fiber 0, sugars 0, protein 23 grams. vitamin A 80 I.U. 2%, vitamin C 25 mg 41%, thiamin 0.1 mg 6%, riboflavin 0.2 mg 11%, nacin 8.2 mg 41%, vitamn B-6 6.5 mg 325%, vitamin B-12 1666%, calcium 23 mg 2%, phosphorus 20 mg 2%, magnesium 2 mg <1%, sodium 44mg 2%, potassium 6mg <1%. Jon

Jazi · Post by **Jazi** » Wed Apr 17, 2013 4:55 am

Sunday 4/14

9am: coffee
10:30: Chex w/banana/unsweetened almond
11:30: 2 oz corn chips/1/2 c mild organic salsa
3pm: 1 grilled chicken fillet/2oz chips/salsa
1/4 c Lundberg Risotto Tuscan (kinda salty)
7:30; two chicken wings.
prilosec/calcium/zyrtec

Monday 4/15

5am: coffee
prozac/entocort/probioticsx2
9am: 1 c chex/1/4 c freeze dried blueberries/1c unswt.almond milk
10:00: Banana
12:30: 3oz chicken/1/2 c Risotto tuscan
1:30: 2oz corn chips/1/2 c organic mild salsa
** belly hurts and is bloated.
3:30: sweet potato 1 tbs butter
5:30: Olive garden, GF penne pasta with pomodoro sauce and shrimp.

Tuesday 4/16

5am: Coffee/van almond milk
Prozac/entocort/vit D drop/ Vit. B complex
*Belly feeling better today than it has since Saturday.
8:30: Hungry earlier than usual... 1C rice chex/blueberry crunchies/ 1 c unswt van. almond milk.
10am: Banana
11:45: Other half of Olive Garden GF pasta. 3oz baked chkn
2pm: 1/2 sweet potato 1/2 tbsp butter
7pm: TGIF, corn chips with salsa/ jack daniel burger with bacon, no bread of course.

TGIF's allergen menu is not the best. Almost EVERYTHING has soy in it. I can't guarantee there was no soy in my JD burger but it seemed to be the only one without wheat or dairy.[/u]

Jazi · Post by **Jazi** » Thu Apr 18, 2013 4:11 am

gluten wrote:Hi, I use a beef protein called " Carnivor " by Muscle Meds. Serving size one scoop. Supplement facts- calories 124, caloies from fat 0, total fat 0, saturated fat 0, frans fat 0, cholesterol 0, total cardohydrate 8 g, dietary fiber 0, sugars 0, protein 23 grams. vitamin A 80 I.U. 2%, vitamin C 25 mg 41%, thiamin 0.1 mg 6%, riboflavin 0.2 mg 11%, nacin 8.2 mg 41%, vitamn B-6 6.5 mg 325%, vitamin B-12 1666%, calcium 23 mg 2%, phosphorus 20 mg 2%, magnesium 2 mg <1%, sodium 44mg 2%, potassium 6mg <1%. Jon

I just googled it.... quite interesting. I've never heard of beef protein. Is it safe for us with LC? I have to do some more research. Thanks!