I just finished a delicious lunch - leftovers from yesterday. Unless something very unforseen happens, don't think I'll ever be a pure paleo person. I love grains and legumes too much for that, and am looking forward to baking more when more healing has taken place.
The leftovers from yesterday consisted of a stew with black beans, scallions, broccoli and cauliflower, and of course, plenty of delicious EVOO (flavored with celtic salt and turmeric). I cooked it in my new tagine, which incidentally, I LOVE. For whatever reason, my system does very well with beans - go figure??? I had it over rice. Yesterday, I had a pork chop with it.
Anyhow, I've been thinking a lot about cooking, and Joe sure knows how to make a person's mouth water. Unfortunately, there were 4 major no no ingredients in his recipe for me - quinoa, shrimp, tomato and garlic :(. But what I have discovered now, is that when cooked well, with good presentation and some fresh herbs, a rather plain diet does not equal deprivation!!!
I'm looking forward to making some more exotic things in my tagine, which would include fruit and nuts. I've ordered a tagine recipe book that Sara recommended (thanks), and it should be in the mail when I get back from the mountains next week-end.
I'm at the point in my healing where I'm starting to regain my energy, and becoming loads more comfortable in the kitchen. My weight has stabilized, and I'm hoping to see it creep up a bit over the coming weeks. I work out, meditate, and am starting to think about more interesting topics than the condition of my gut :).
My mood has also improved, and I rarely experience MC symptoms such as gurgling, bloating, brain fog, firehose D, etc. The only cloud in the sky is that norman is very elusive. However, my general health has improved so much, that I try not to think too much about norman. I'm convinced that he'll become a regular visitor in due time. My criteria for a successful MC day is tied to number of BM's rather than type - so as long as I go only once or twice, I consider it success.
As far as MRT, I'm sticking to the greens, and avoiding those that seem to cause trouble. However, I've increasingly become aware of how important portion control is. Instead of large portions, I have just a little bit of each ingredient. I actually try to do this no matter how well things seem to settle, so my version of the rotation diet is to eat small portions of each individual thing, and then try my best to avoid some of them for a day or two.
I don't think I have it in me to do a strict rotation diet, at least not at this point in time, while I'm still finding my way around the kitchen :). For instance the stew I made yesterday, was even more delicious when I had it today. But, again, I did not have a large helping.
Well, this became a bit longer than I had intended, but it felt good to get it down in writing.
Good health and lots of happiness to all of you
.Love,
Kari
P.S. I have had hot cocoa a couple of more times since I wrote about it, and the only noticeable symptom is a nice buzz from the caffeine:). I have half a mug, rather than a full one.
for you!!
