Started diet... Heres my log... Diet trouble... help

artteacher · Post by **artteacher** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 1:48 pm

I'm so glad you're back, Karen. Will you come over and give me a pep talk?

And a foot rub, too, please,
Marsha

P.S. a big AMEN to what you just said. It's the same conclusion I finally came to, pretty unwillingly I must admit.

-the blockhead

thedell19 · Post by **thedell19** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 1:56 pm

I think my diet is rather simple right now and I seem to responding well to it so far I think. I have had some up and dows days but I thought that was to be expected. Right now in the muffins I only use rice flour, canola oil, a little sugar, bananas, GF baking powder, and eggs. The only two things I need to cut out according to Dr Fine's results were gluten and dairy. Everything else is fine. I just think it might take a little while before I see the full benefits of eating GFCF.

Post by **tex** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 3:02 pm

Andrew,

I realize that you think you are eating a simple diet, and compared with the average American, you are. But the fact of the matter is that anytime you are eating processed foods, your diet is actually rather complex. I felt the same way, back when I was in your present situation, (except that I never took any meds).

The point is, as long as you are taking Entocort, (to say nothing of the Asacol and Immodium), you should be able to eat virtually anything, without any major problems. The fact that there are a few problems, suggests that there is trouble in paradise. Either you are extremely sensitive to something that you are eating, and the meds are not able to mask the effect, or one of your meds is an antagonist.

Believe it or not, what Karen said in her post is right on the money, for many of us. I didn't even realize it until I read her post this morning, but I went through that same phase, a couple of years ago. At first I sought out processed GF foods, (I loved those Van's waffles, for example), and then I sought out GF, Dairy-Free, Corn-Free processed foods. I finally said to hell with all that, and ate meat and potatoes for a couple of years, and my gut finally healed.

Now, I can eat those things without any problems, but for some unknown reason, I kept getting sick, back when I was eating them before. Presumably because my gut was just too sensitive, as long as it wasn't healed.

It's not that it's impossible to recover while eating processed foods, it's just that they make the job much more difficult. If you weren't taking the meds, you would be able to see the effects of various foods much more easily. Theoretically, the meds should completely mask the symptoms, whether you are dieting or not.

Tex

thedell19 · Post by **thedell19** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 5:21 pm

Tex- Overall since starting the diet, I have felt progressively better. There was the incident with the bug in mexico I had that has resolved and withdrawal from ativan for those 3 days or so. Other than that I have been doing well for the most part but I am also dealing with stress (interviewing for a job) in which I always have nausea.

Really the only processed foods I am eating is the vans waffles which is once in a while, those two days of ginger snaps, and I guess if you can call baking muffins from scratch processed foods. But there is nothing fancy in that just rice flour, oil, water, and eggs. I really dont think I am eating processed foods that much and frankly for the price of them I would rather bake my own cookies and breads and muffins. What would you consider processed?

I thought this was supposed to be ups and downs during recovery. While on Entocort the only times I have not felt well were times of high stress and the bug from mexico and withdrawal from ativan. I think I am doing rather well. I will keep your suggestions in mind

celia · Post by **celia** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 5:58 pm

Andrew,

I think you've been really smart about seeing when you stray into eating perahps a few too many GF cookies! We each have to find our own way, and I want you to know I support you whatever your choices.

Good luck with the interview, or is it done already? How did it go?

Hugs, Celia

Post by **tex** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 6:22 pm

Andrew,

Please don't get me wrong. I agree that you're doing quite well. I was just trying to verify why Karen made those observations in her post. What she said is true. There's more than one way to skin a cat, though. Since we're all different, there's usually some leeway, except in the most severe cases. Once you start eliminating the meds, then you'll be able to see how much leeway you actually have. There's no urgent need to change anything, unless you start having problems, in which case you might consider reviewing what she said.

When we speak of processed foods, we're generally refering to those which have undergone extensive manufacturing processes, and are ready to eat, or only need rewarming, etc. Things like flour certainly are processed, (milled), but we consider them to be an ingredient, since they're not ready to eat, and ideally, they should be pure, without any additives. Anything you make from scratch, is not a processed food, nor are fresh vegitables, fruit, etc.

Tex

thedell19 · Post by **thedell19** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 6:25 pm

Tex-

Whew. I got to thinking I was doing something wrong. I do realize that if I do have problems when going off of the meds then I need to re-evaluated things.

moremuscle · Post by **moremuscle** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 10:16 pm

Marsha - NO, I WILL not GIVE YOU A PEP-TALK

LOL!!

Andrew, I think I misread one of your posts where you mentioned some trouble with your diet - after your last post I realize you are doing quite well. That's good news

Love,
Karen

thedell19 · Post by **thedell19** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 9:35 am

Day 17:
Meds: 2 asacol, 3 entocort, 3 imodium, wellbutrin, ativan, calcium (the same as always, in case I missed any)

Breakfast: hot rice cereal and banana rice muffin
Lunch: brown rice wrap w/ gf lunch meat and tiny bit of mayo, some leftover potato
Dinner: Lean pork chop, rice, applesauce, banana rice muffin

BM was small pellets and not a lot
Felt a little bit of nausea in the morning, probably due to stress

thedell19 · Post by **thedell19** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 6:03 pm

Day 18:
Meds: 2 asacol, 150 mg wellbutrin, 2 entocort, 3 imodium, calcium, 1 mg ativan

BM: small and normal

Breakfast: Banana rice muffin and hot rice cereal
lunch: brown rice wrap with gf lunch meat and mayo and banana rice muffin
Dinner: salmon, potato, greenbeans

thedell19 · Post by **thedell19** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 5:06 pm

Day 19:

Meds: 2 asacol, 2 entocort, 2 imodium, 150 mg wellbutrin, 1 mg ativan, calcium

Bm: small- a little bigger than pebbles

Breakfast: 2 vans original gf waffles & banana muffin
Lunch: brown rice wrap wth gf turkey breast and banana rice muffin
Dinner: shrimp and rice noodles with mushrooms sauted in olive oil and slice of homemade gluten free bread.

Drinks as usual- gatorade, distilled water, herbal tea

I dont think I got enough protien because on day 20 (today) I have felt kind of weak. I had a rather big bowel movement all formed. Maybe I will try and have a half a piece of chicken for breakfast or something so that I get more protien in my diet. I know eggs are an option but I think they are too heavy for breakfast. I have never been a breakfast eater- I stopped freshman year in high school and didnt start to eat brekfast again until about 2 years ago. I would like to try some bacon but I have trouble with grease in general- always have (fast food would always rip thru me) and I dont know if they make any leaner bacon that is GF.

thedell19 · Post by **thedell19** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 2:39 pm

Day 20:

Meds: 2 asacol, 3 entocort, 3 imodium, 150 mg wellbutrin, 1 mg ativan
BM: Decent amount in small formed pieces

Breakfast: 2 banana rice muffins and piece of gf turkey breast

Lunch: Brown rice wrap w/ gf turkey breast w/ lettuce, banana rice muffin

Dinner: 5 oz Beef tenderloin and chicken breast with baked potato and some cucumber slices

thedell19 · Post by **thedell19** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 2:41 pm

addition to day 20:

desert: 1 pb cookie and a couple small snickerdoodles (all homemade)

celia · Post by **celia** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 8:16 pm

Looks like it's going well Andrew. Keep up the good work! Celia

harvest_table · Post by **harvest_table** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 2:19 am

Andrew,

Would like to chime in here since I have some experience with asacol and entocort doing the med/diet combo. When I started Entocort at 3/day
(the same you have been taking) I also started a GF diet at that time. I believe the med carried me to wellness and compensated for any gluten I was unknowingly eating. I took it for 6 months and weaned off very slowly, felt great and pooped perfectly almost every single day. It wasn't until I stoped using the med that I really had to deal with the reality of how my diet was affecting my body. Meds are a bandaid and mask what is really going on with your diet and body.

I commend you for your commitment to your diet and believe in the long run diet can be your saving grace. A med/diet combination worked well for me to get me on the way to recovery.

You mentioned when you started this thread that your plan was to wean off meds to prepare for a test in July but from what I can tell your still taking the same amounts of Asacol and Entocort. It's prudent to taper these medications very slowly.

What is your plan and when/what procedure do you have scheduled in July? Keep up the good work on your diet!

Love,
Joanna