Hi all,
Lately I've been feeling kind of down about this whole GFCFSFYFDF life style. I haven't been out to eat in 7 months or more and last weekend I went out for a steak and baked potato from a GF menu. I asked lots of questions and was careful, or so I thought. I followed dinner up with what looked to me to be a safe chocolate bar (same ingredient list as my good old standby Droste extra dark). Didn't matter, the next day I had a mild reaction. Don't know from which thing exactly. It was sort of a reality check, ie. my reality is I guess I just can't eat out. This really depresses me because I love to travel and it seems I'll never be able to. Yesterday I tried another cake mix from Namaste Foods and it was a disaster just like the first one. I use to bake regularly and was pretty good at it. Now it's no fun anymore.
Most of the time I don't think about what I can't do anymore or what I've lost, but you know, sometimes I just can't help it. Can you relate?
m
Feeling kinda down
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
M,
I'm not even ON my diet right now but YES, I CAN relate to what you are saying. I'm not too good at denying myself of things I like when they are right in front of me (thank God I'm not around smokers much anymore) and that's what did me in starting around last Thanksgiving. The Asacol is still keeping me close enough to normal to PRETEND that I don't have a BIG problem but it's a false comfort because when I choose to admit it - I know I do.
I know you have done MUCH better diet-wise than I have and I truly admire you for it, although I'm not suprised that you get "down" about it all occasionally. I suppose, after you have been feeling pretty good for a long period of time, that the temptation would be pretty strong at times.
Personally, I'm thinking you might do better on the Paleo diet which eliminates all grains, etc than trying to find similar replacements for what you have lost. I fell off the paleo wagon, but when I tried to just go gluten free I never managed to get ON the wagon at all.
Anyway, don't know if this will help. Just some thoughts I was having.
Love, Shirley
I'm not even ON my diet right now but YES, I CAN relate to what you are saying. I'm not too good at denying myself of things I like when they are right in front of me (thank God I'm not around smokers much anymore) and that's what did me in starting around last Thanksgiving. The Asacol is still keeping me close enough to normal to PRETEND that I don't have a BIG problem but it's a false comfort because when I choose to admit it - I know I do.
I know you have done MUCH better diet-wise than I have and I truly admire you for it, although I'm not suprised that you get "down" about it all occasionally. I suppose, after you have been feeling pretty good for a long period of time, that the temptation would be pretty strong at times.
Personally, I'm thinking you might do better on the Paleo diet which eliminates all grains, etc than trying to find similar replacements for what you have lost. I fell off the paleo wagon, but when I tried to just go gluten free I never managed to get ON the wagon at all.
Anyway, don't know if this will help. Just some thoughts I was having.
Love, Shirley
When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber"
-- Winston Churchill
-- Winston Churchill
M,
I learned on my respite trip with a friend who doesn't have any antigens to avoid, and away from the few restaurants close to home that special order a limited no. of things for us, how difficult it would be to be out of this little controlled environment of ours.
I have the greatest admiration for those of you on the go all the time, working, particularly in situations where there have to be lunches in difficult restaurants or served by the company for business luncheons, etc. Also, I can only imagine what it would be like for those who have clueless or inconsiderate families, or who's life is so full of other necessary things that meal planning becomes almost impossible.
I know you are just wondering if anyone else can relate, and the answer is a definite "YES."
Thankfully, once I get back into the groove, those feelings seem to leave, and I don't feel so bad.
Still, it might be fun to research that problem with the restaurant, if otherwise, you are having difficulty figuring out what happened, particularly if they claim to be a gf menu restaurant.
Btw, I found out a while back that although Outback here has a gf menu, their potatoes are soaked in butter (on the outside of the skin), before they are baked. I would imagine that this applies to both the baked and the sweet potatoes. One thing I would do if I plan on going back there would be to call far enough ahead to insure that a potato without butter soaking could be arranged for our arrival. They can always hold one out, but it takes a while to bake one in the oven.
At another restaurant where I've not been going, an acquaintance of mine with a bad allergy to msg discovered that they'd not disclosed to her that msg was in the meat.
She was pretty furious about it, too.
There's another good steak restaurant right across the loop from our local outback that has earlier hours, and the steaks are delicious. I'd been thinking that there was something wrong with the food that didn't meet the eye, but after a little trial and error, I discovered that it was actually the fact that I'd been eating an entire salad, and and most of a plain, big sweet potato before eating about half of the little steak, and that it was the high amount of fiber in the sw. pot. plus all that salad, and being fuller than I'm used to that was the problem. Once I began to just have half the salad, and HALF the sw.pot and half the steak, my gut didn't mind at all, so now, I just bring the leftovers home, and enjoy yet another tasty meal. It's also basic enough that I could easily split it with someone when not able to drop the leftovers off where I could refrigerate them for next time.
Also, some restaurants will automatically put butter on other things without thinking. Are you asking for the manager each time you visit a restaurant? If you can tell him/her that you wish for him/her to make sure everything is cleaned thoroughly of possible antigens, and otherwise free of contamination, they can often prevent things such as the potatoes or entre's having butter, etc.
The steak place carries their own honey mustard dressing, but it's got seasoning out of a bottle that I have no idea what is. The waitress, however, is so accommodating that she brings a little container of honey, and another of "safe" mustard, and I actually sit there after we get our salads, and mix the two half in half and stir, then adjust for taste as necessary. It's a little messy, so ask for a few extra napkins to put under the containers, but you can make it taste good very easily this way.
I sort of like to skip the wine vinegars at restaurants, and if I can't get a safe honey mustard, I'll often just use a straight olive oil and s&p. Saturday at a meeting, I did it this way, and the salad greens and olive oil were so good fixed that way that I didn't mind one bit. Didn't realize what a difference the right mix of fresh, tasty greens could make!
Do you think that possible vegetable oil was used in cooking? Think it's frequently got soy oil, if the oil bothers you.
Just a few thoughts that popped into my sleepy head about now.
Hope you are feeling better by now.
Yours, Luce
I learned on my respite trip with a friend who doesn't have any antigens to avoid, and away from the few restaurants close to home that special order a limited no. of things for us, how difficult it would be to be out of this little controlled environment of ours.
I have the greatest admiration for those of you on the go all the time, working, particularly in situations where there have to be lunches in difficult restaurants or served by the company for business luncheons, etc. Also, I can only imagine what it would be like for those who have clueless or inconsiderate families, or who's life is so full of other necessary things that meal planning becomes almost impossible.
I know you are just wondering if anyone else can relate, and the answer is a definite "YES."
Thankfully, once I get back into the groove, those feelings seem to leave, and I don't feel so bad.
Still, it might be fun to research that problem with the restaurant, if otherwise, you are having difficulty figuring out what happened, particularly if they claim to be a gf menu restaurant.
Btw, I found out a while back that although Outback here has a gf menu, their potatoes are soaked in butter (on the outside of the skin), before they are baked. I would imagine that this applies to both the baked and the sweet potatoes. One thing I would do if I plan on going back there would be to call far enough ahead to insure that a potato without butter soaking could be arranged for our arrival. They can always hold one out, but it takes a while to bake one in the oven.
At another restaurant where I've not been going, an acquaintance of mine with a bad allergy to msg discovered that they'd not disclosed to her that msg was in the meat.
She was pretty furious about it, too.
There's another good steak restaurant right across the loop from our local outback that has earlier hours, and the steaks are delicious. I'd been thinking that there was something wrong with the food that didn't meet the eye, but after a little trial and error, I discovered that it was actually the fact that I'd been eating an entire salad, and and most of a plain, big sweet potato before eating about half of the little steak, and that it was the high amount of fiber in the sw. pot. plus all that salad, and being fuller than I'm used to that was the problem. Once I began to just have half the salad, and HALF the sw.pot and half the steak, my gut didn't mind at all, so now, I just bring the leftovers home, and enjoy yet another tasty meal. It's also basic enough that I could easily split it with someone when not able to drop the leftovers off where I could refrigerate them for next time.
Also, some restaurants will automatically put butter on other things without thinking. Are you asking for the manager each time you visit a restaurant? If you can tell him/her that you wish for him/her to make sure everything is cleaned thoroughly of possible antigens, and otherwise free of contamination, they can often prevent things such as the potatoes or entre's having butter, etc.
The steak place carries their own honey mustard dressing, but it's got seasoning out of a bottle that I have no idea what is. The waitress, however, is so accommodating that she brings a little container of honey, and another of "safe" mustard, and I actually sit there after we get our salads, and mix the two half in half and stir, then adjust for taste as necessary. It's a little messy, so ask for a few extra napkins to put under the containers, but you can make it taste good very easily this way.
I sort of like to skip the wine vinegars at restaurants, and if I can't get a safe honey mustard, I'll often just use a straight olive oil and s&p. Saturday at a meeting, I did it this way, and the salad greens and olive oil were so good fixed that way that I didn't mind one bit. Didn't realize what a difference the right mix of fresh, tasty greens could make!
Do you think that possible vegetable oil was used in cooking? Think it's frequently got soy oil, if the oil bothers you.
Just a few thoughts that popped into my sleepy head about now.
Hope you are feeling better by now.
Yours, Luce
Melissa,
I can't relate...sorry. But I can empathize, and I do! I only keep away from foods that make me gassy, nothing else. I try not to deny myself. In your case, though, is it denial or the road to health? What do you want to do to feel better? If a life-style change is in order, and if the results give you life, should you even question it or just persist? These are very difficult questions you have to ask yourself. Whatever you do, don't stress about it! Try and come at it intelligently. Ask yourself what you want out of life, if a total dieatary change is in order be strong and persist with it. If the diet is causing you stress, maybe you need to rethink the way you're going about it and ask for help from the many people here that will gladly give it to you and support you.
With much love,
Peggy
I can't relate...sorry. But I can empathize, and I do! I only keep away from foods that make me gassy, nothing else. I try not to deny myself. In your case, though, is it denial or the road to health? What do you want to do to feel better? If a life-style change is in order, and if the results give you life, should you even question it or just persist? These are very difficult questions you have to ask yourself. Whatever you do, don't stress about it! Try and come at it intelligently. Ask yourself what you want out of life, if a total dieatary change is in order be strong and persist with it. If the diet is causing you stress, maybe you need to rethink the way you're going about it and ask for help from the many people here that will gladly give it to you and support you.
With much love,
Peggy
Awwww, Melissa! I can sure relate!
Over the holidays I was feeling so deprived that I ate some things I shouldn't have......and you know the rest. It brought the MC back and even screwed up my followup colonoscopy after doing so well for 5 years.
I have a new outlook now, which goes along with the great advice you've already gotten above in this post. I think I am finally 100% fully committed to a path. For me, it's the paleo/caveman diet. I recently re-read Dr. Cordain's book on the paleo diet and remain so impressed with his data and conclusions. Have you read the book yet? It truly is inspiring.
I had been mostly sticking to the diet but allowing potatoes, rice, legumes, maple sugar candy, etc. I have now eliminated everything that is not supposed to be on the diet. And I have never felt better. And I am never hungry! But it does require a new way of looking at food. Eating meat/fish for breakfast and snacks, eating TONS more veggies and fruits. Which means you have to plan ahead and do a little cooking ahead.
As you undoubtedly know, eating paleo means simply eating REAL foods.....those natural foods our ancestors ate. Nothing processed, packaged, or made with refined grains/sugar, etc. Maybe it would be worthwhile to try it for a period of time (even a week or two) to see how you feel.
I do eat out and I have become very creative. Last night my hubby and I went to our local diner (how's that for romantic? LOL) and I took a large container of steamed veggies along with me (Savoy cabbage, carrots, brussel sprouts) and ordered a poached egg and some sliced turkey breast. (Sometimes I'll order two appetizers like steamed shrimp and clams). When I got home I made a dessert with cut up fresh peaches, dates, walnuts, and a little apple juice to moisten it. YUMMY! I know it probably sounds boring to you, but somehow these foods start to taste incredible.....I don't know how else to say it.
I have realized that I am at the mercy of my genes and that I MUST eat paleo style in order to be healthy. So I guess I have no other choice now. LOL! BTW, if you read the book, check out the chapter where it shows how the RDA is met or exceeded for all nutrients (except vitamin D, which our ancestors got from the sun) on the paleo diet. Even calcium, with absolutely no dairy intake at all!
Anyway, I am thinking of you and know EXACTLY how you are feeling.
Love,
Polly, who has now finally been dragged kicking and screaming into that old cave, hopefully for good (please take note, Karen, Matthew, and Joanna!)
Over the holidays I was feeling so deprived that I ate some things I shouldn't have......and you know the rest. It brought the MC back and even screwed up my followup colonoscopy after doing so well for 5 years.
I have a new outlook now, which goes along with the great advice you've already gotten above in this post. I think I am finally 100% fully committed to a path. For me, it's the paleo/caveman diet. I recently re-read Dr. Cordain's book on the paleo diet and remain so impressed with his data and conclusions. Have you read the book yet? It truly is inspiring.
I had been mostly sticking to the diet but allowing potatoes, rice, legumes, maple sugar candy, etc. I have now eliminated everything that is not supposed to be on the diet. And I have never felt better. And I am never hungry! But it does require a new way of looking at food. Eating meat/fish for breakfast and snacks, eating TONS more veggies and fruits. Which means you have to plan ahead and do a little cooking ahead.
As you undoubtedly know, eating paleo means simply eating REAL foods.....those natural foods our ancestors ate. Nothing processed, packaged, or made with refined grains/sugar, etc. Maybe it would be worthwhile to try it for a period of time (even a week or two) to see how you feel.
I do eat out and I have become very creative. Last night my hubby and I went to our local diner (how's that for romantic? LOL) and I took a large container of steamed veggies along with me (Savoy cabbage, carrots, brussel sprouts) and ordered a poached egg and some sliced turkey breast. (Sometimes I'll order two appetizers like steamed shrimp and clams). When I got home I made a dessert with cut up fresh peaches, dates, walnuts, and a little apple juice to moisten it. YUMMY! I know it probably sounds boring to you, but somehow these foods start to taste incredible.....I don't know how else to say it.
I have realized that I am at the mercy of my genes and that I MUST eat paleo style in order to be healthy. So I guess I have no other choice now. LOL! BTW, if you read the book, check out the chapter where it shows how the RDA is met or exceeded for all nutrients (except vitamin D, which our ancestors got from the sun) on the paleo diet. Even calcium, with absolutely no dairy intake at all!
Anyway, I am thinking of you and know EXACTLY how you are feeling.
Love,
Polly, who has now finally been dragged kicking and screaming into that old cave, hopefully for good (please take note, Karen, Matthew, and Joanna!)
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Melissa,
It really is tough sometimes! I feel for you. One thing that drives me nuts is having to bring food with me everywhere I go.
For a long time, I kept trying to test new foods to see if I could expand my diet, but everytime it just causes me problems. I have finally come to accept that I need to stick with an extremely simple diet for 6-12 months to heal. And I mean limited as I'm not able to eat any fruit or starchy vegetables or grains. In fact, for the moment I am only drinking water...no tea...green or herbal!
But, ironically, once I came to accept it, I found there's a certain kind of joy and freedom of not being ruled by any food attachments and being able to live very simply. Of course, I hope to expand my diet one day, but in the meantime I am enjoying the simplicity. I get my kicks from juicing these days!
I'm also coming to see that for me I need to focus on healing inflammation which for some of us goes beyond the primariy food triggers related to MC.
Good luck with this! Celia
It really is tough sometimes! I feel for you. One thing that drives me nuts is having to bring food with me everywhere I go.
For a long time, I kept trying to test new foods to see if I could expand my diet, but everytime it just causes me problems. I have finally come to accept that I need to stick with an extremely simple diet for 6-12 months to heal. And I mean limited as I'm not able to eat any fruit or starchy vegetables or grains. In fact, for the moment I am only drinking water...no tea...green or herbal!
But, ironically, once I came to accept it, I found there's a certain kind of joy and freedom of not being ruled by any food attachments and being able to live very simply. Of course, I hope to expand my diet one day, but in the meantime I am enjoying the simplicity. I get my kicks from juicing these days!
I'm also coming to see that for me I need to focus on healing inflammation which for some of us goes beyond the primariy food triggers related to MC.
Good luck with this! Celia
I beleive in magic!
Hi M,
I sure can relate, and I have to tell you it makes me just plain MAD!! I obviously am stuck in this phase of grief. I honestly don't know if I will ever be able to stick to the way I should be eating.
When I am eating the way I am supposed to, my motivation is health, or not having D of in my case I react with an itchy rash or hives.
I am just getting over having hives all over my face, that put me back on my diet, which is chicken, fish, and veges. I can't tell you how sick I get of this. I go back and forth, I think the only solution is to think of your health.
Also in my case, anytime I am not supposed to or can't have something, that is all I want. It is awful. The way I quit smoking was by not telling myself I couldn't have a smoke, that if I just had to have one I could.
I also watched my dad die from a lung disease, carrying around an oxygen tank. That mental picture won and I gradually didn't want to smoke anymore. That is how I try to do this diet thing. I'm not doing as well on this though. Just try to think health, thats what I try to do.
Love, KathyP
I sure can relate, and I have to tell you it makes me just plain MAD!! I obviously am stuck in this phase of grief. I honestly don't know if I will ever be able to stick to the way I should be eating.
When I am eating the way I am supposed to, my motivation is health, or not having D of in my case I react with an itchy rash or hives.
I am just getting over having hives all over my face, that put me back on my diet, which is chicken, fish, and veges. I can't tell you how sick I get of this. I go back and forth, I think the only solution is to think of your health.
Also in my case, anytime I am not supposed to or can't have something, that is all I want. It is awful. The way I quit smoking was by not telling myself I couldn't have a smoke, that if I just had to have one I could.
I also watched my dad die from a lung disease, carrying around an oxygen tank. That mental picture won and I gradually didn't want to smoke anymore. That is how I try to do this diet thing. I'm not doing as well on this though. Just try to think health, thats what I try to do.
Love, KathyP
Birdlady
Jaco, a parrot in Salzburg, could not only speak but seemed to understand grammar. Whenever his person left, Jaco would say "God be with you." But when several people were departing, Jaco would change it to "God be with all of you."
Jaco, a parrot in Salzburg, could not only speak but seemed to understand grammar. Whenever his person left, Jaco would say "God be with you." But when several people were departing, Jaco would change it to "God be with all of you."
m,
Do you cry in the grocery store? I still do, only less often then a year or two ago. I know exactly how you feel. I'm sure February in Michigan isn't helping you any either.
Where'd you go to eat? I have two places I go now. I learned that most places put butter on their steaks so you have to be sure to tell the waitress NO BUTTER. I've also found that steamed veggies are sometimes bought in frozen and have been processed in something I'm intolerant of before they reach the restaurant. I learned that the hard way.
I've found that when I feel that way it helps if I splurge on something good I can have. I'll get a nice steak, make meringue cookies or eat a whole bag of potato chips. Nice thing about this diet is that I don't seem to gain weight no matter what I eat.
Feel free to call me if you want to complain to someone who understands (PM me with your phone number). Also, Dave is getting laid off next week maybe we'll come and visit your museum. I still want to show him all of the rocks you have there.
Hang in there! Love, Jean
Do you cry in the grocery store? I still do, only less often then a year or two ago. I know exactly how you feel. I'm sure February in Michigan isn't helping you any either.
Where'd you go to eat? I have two places I go now. I learned that most places put butter on their steaks so you have to be sure to tell the waitress NO BUTTER. I've also found that steamed veggies are sometimes bought in frozen and have been processed in something I'm intolerant of before they reach the restaurant. I learned that the hard way.
I've found that when I feel that way it helps if I splurge on something good I can have. I'll get a nice steak, make meringue cookies or eat a whole bag of potato chips. Nice thing about this diet is that I don't seem to gain weight no matter what I eat.
Feel free to call me if you want to complain to someone who understands (PM me with your phone number). Also, Dave is getting laid off next week maybe we'll come and visit your museum. I still want to show him all of the rocks you have there.
Hang in there! Love, Jean
Be kind to everyone, because you never know what battles they are fighting.
-
annie oakley
- King Penguin
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- Joined: Fri May 13, 2011 5:56 pm
M......Like Jean I too cry in the grocery store sometimes. But we are all here for you. This board was so good to me when I was in such a deep depression. I cry even more at the Pharmacy. I hope that you feel better soon...and maybe you may have to accept that change is something you can't get away from. Love Oma
May I be more compassionate and loving than yeterday*and be able to spot the idiots in advance
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harvest_table
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 1509
- Joined: Wed May 25, 2005 6:29 pm
- Location: Fergus Falls, Minnesota
Hi M,
Grocery store town crier here too!
Although, not so much anymore.
Dieting is such a big lifestyle change and I find my journey be very personal, private and sometimes lonely but it's getting easier as time passes. I still feel sorry for myself, like yesterday at the shop as I was eating cold meat and carrots everyone around me was pigging out on pizza that smelled so good I could hardly stand it! (sigh)
I have to laugh at Cavewoman Polly's
comment about bringing her own food to the resturant! That's funny. It appears that many of us are managing to find creative ways to live with our MC and beat the system. Did you know that the airlines gives Peg a bulkhead seat when she flies just by her giving them a copy of a doctors note for colitis? For peat sake, I kid you not! HAHAHA.
Traveling can be tough, but not impossible with MC. I carry a back pack now, with me at all times that's stocked with staples I can eat like dried fruits, meats, nut, fresh fruit and veggies. Before leaving the house I throw in some leftover meat, or whatever I have. This practice has helped me so much in managing my diet and not getting stuck away from home without having something safe to eat at all times.
Give yourself some credit M because it's not a cake walk and your doing a great job. I think each of us just has to go through the ups and downs of this journey in order to figure out what's going to work for us, but the good news is we are not alone and have lot's of support here.
I hope your feeling better today. (((((((((BIGHUG)))))))) Hang in there!
Love,
Joanna
Grocery store town crier here too!
Although, not so much anymore. Dieting is such a big lifestyle change and I find my journey be very personal, private and sometimes lonely but it's getting easier as time passes. I still feel sorry for myself, like yesterday at the shop as I was eating cold meat and carrots everyone around me was pigging out on pizza that smelled so good I could hardly stand it! (sigh)
I have to laugh at Cavewoman Polly's
comment about bringing her own food to the resturant! That's funny. It appears that many of us are managing to find creative ways to live with our MC and beat the system. Did you know that the airlines gives Peg a bulkhead seat when she flies just by her giving them a copy of a doctors note for colitis? For peat sake, I kid you not! HAHAHA.Traveling can be tough, but not impossible with MC. I carry a back pack now, with me at all times that's stocked with staples I can eat like dried fruits, meats, nut, fresh fruit and veggies. Before leaving the house I throw in some leftover meat, or whatever I have. This practice has helped me so much in managing my diet and not getting stuck away from home without having something safe to eat at all times.
Give yourself some credit M because it's not a cake walk and your doing a great job. I think each of us just has to go through the ups and downs of this journey in order to figure out what's going to work for us, but the good news is we are not alone and have lot's of support here.
I hope your feeling better today. (((((((((BIGHUG)))))))) Hang in there!
Love,
Joanna
THE GLUTEN FILES
http://jccglutenfree.googlepages.com/
http://jccglutenfree.googlepages.com/
Thanks for the words of encouragement and your empathy.
Jean - it was Bavarian Inn in Frankenmuth and I even asked about butter on the steak. And yes, I'm sure you're right about this time of year not helping.
Polly - I don't know how you're so successful eating out, you have even more restrictions than I do (I think).
m
Jean - it was Bavarian Inn in Frankenmuth and I even asked about butter on the steak. And yes, I'm sure you're right about this time of year not helping.
Polly - I don't know how you're so successful eating out, you have even more restrictions than I do (I think).
m