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Sunday, November 15, 2015
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Reintroduction Day 21: 03/09/14
Well this is it, my last blog post about the JJ Virgin Elimination Diet. I have done all of my tests: eggs, dairy and corn.
I am so glad that I started this diet, it was quite a challenge but after the Elimination part, I felt amazing. The Reintroduction part was eye-opening and I believe that in the future I will notice more of my symptoms and reactions to foods. I think this diet has allowed me to continue forward with the tools I need to keep myself healthy and make good decisions about what to eat.
I think my biggest challenge going into this diet was not really knowing what to eat. That is the most frequent reaction that I got when I told people about the diet: "what do you eat?!" I would like to compile a list of meal options so that anyone else beginning the diet won't feel so overwhelmed.
Breakfast:
-Vegan and Paleo Muffins
-Paleo Granola
-Breakfast Smoothies
Lunch:
-Salad with Orange Chicken
-Chickpea Quinoa Salad
-Hummus with rice cakes or vegetable sticks
-Rice Tortilla with Refried Beans
Dinner:
-Kale and Lentil Soup
-Stir-Fry Greens
-Orange Chicken
-Spaghetti Squash with Meatballs
-Paleo Chicken Pot Pie
-Butternut Squash Soup
-Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
-Whole Foods Quinoa Burgers and Squash Salad
-Beef Stew
-Spaghetti Squash Chicken Lo Mein
-Oven-Roasted Vegetables
-Stuffed Peppers
-Lettuce-wrapped hamburger
Snacks:
-Celery with Almond Butter
-Apples with Almond Butter
-Roasted Spaghetti Squash Seeds
-Carrot Sticks
-Good Beans
-Coconut Date Rolls
-Sweet Potato Fries/Chips
Not exactly sugar-free...
-Chocolate Chip Cookies
-Egg-Free Coconut Macaroons
As you can see, there was a lot that I was able to eat. I enjoyed taking the time to make all of these new recipes, each one was a challenge! My absolute favorite day would be: a smoothie with muffins for breakfast; rice tortillas with refried beans for lunch; paleo chicken pot pie for dinner. Just thinking about it makes me want to make those pies again, but they took the longest of all the dinners that I made!
For the future, my plan is to avoid the elimination foods 90% of the time. I think that I will generally do my best to eat clean, of course I will always be gluten-free, but I think I will try to not eat too much dairy or corn. Of course sugar will be my biggest struggle, I definitely was challenged by trying not to eat that. As I have said, now that I have gone through the diet, I am so much more sensitive to reactions to foods. There is no way that I can get away with eating three string cheeses in a day or a whole bag of candy, I feel it all throughout my body in headaches, grogginess, bloating and digestive slowness. It just isn't that worth it to me to eat foods that make me feel so bad, I would rather feel great and have enough energy to truly enjoy everyday and be able to do everything I want!
I hope that documenting my experiences doing the JJ Virgin Elimination Diet will help anyone who is thinking about starting the diet or struggling to follow it.
I am so glad that I started this diet, it was quite a challenge but after the Elimination part, I felt amazing. The Reintroduction part was eye-opening and I believe that in the future I will notice more of my symptoms and reactions to foods. I think this diet has allowed me to continue forward with the tools I need to keep myself healthy and make good decisions about what to eat.
I think my biggest challenge going into this diet was not really knowing what to eat. That is the most frequent reaction that I got when I told people about the diet: "what do you eat?!" I would like to compile a list of meal options so that anyone else beginning the diet won't feel so overwhelmed.
Breakfast:
-Vegan and Paleo Muffins
-Paleo Granola
-Breakfast Smoothies
Lunch:
-Salad with Orange Chicken
-Chickpea Quinoa Salad
-Hummus with rice cakes or vegetable sticks
-Rice Tortilla with Refried Beans
Dinner:
-Kale and Lentil Soup
-Stir-Fry Greens
-Orange Chicken
-Spaghetti Squash with Meatballs
-Paleo Chicken Pot Pie
-Butternut Squash Soup
-Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
-Whole Foods Quinoa Burgers and Squash Salad
-Beef Stew
-Spaghetti Squash Chicken Lo Mein
-Oven-Roasted Vegetables
-Stuffed Peppers
-Lettuce-wrapped hamburger
Snacks:
-Celery with Almond Butter
-Apples with Almond Butter
-Roasted Spaghetti Squash Seeds
-Carrot Sticks
-Good Beans
-Coconut Date Rolls
-Sweet Potato Fries/Chips
Not exactly sugar-free...
-Chocolate Chip Cookies
-Egg-Free Coconut Macaroons
As you can see, there was a lot that I was able to eat. I enjoyed taking the time to make all of these new recipes, each one was a challenge! My absolute favorite day would be: a smoothie with muffins for breakfast; rice tortillas with refried beans for lunch; paleo chicken pot pie for dinner. Just thinking about it makes me want to make those pies again, but they took the longest of all the dinners that I made!
For the future, my plan is to avoid the elimination foods 90% of the time. I think that I will generally do my best to eat clean, of course I will always be gluten-free, but I think I will try to not eat too much dairy or corn. Of course sugar will be my biggest struggle, I definitely was challenged by trying not to eat that. As I have said, now that I have gone through the diet, I am so much more sensitive to reactions to foods. There is no way that I can get away with eating three string cheeses in a day or a whole bag of candy, I feel it all throughout my body in headaches, grogginess, bloating and digestive slowness. It just isn't that worth it to me to eat foods that make me feel so bad, I would rather feel great and have enough energy to truly enjoy everyday and be able to do everything I want!
I hope that documenting my experiences doing the JJ Virgin Elimination Diet will help anyone who is thinking about starting the diet or struggling to follow it.
Reintroduction Day 20: 03/08/14
I have been enjoying my healthy meal plan for this week! As usual, a kale smoothie and granola for breakfast. Then I had a nice salad with grilled chicken and some hummus and rice cakes. For dinner I had a quinoa sweet potato burger from Whole Foods. Feeling good!
I am a little sad that I won't be blogging as often once this is over. I have really had a lot of fun taking pictures of everything and sharing all of my recipes and experiences. I will have to continue posting any new recipes I try!
My new favorite restaurant ever is Life Alive, in Cambridge, MA and Lowell, MA. I didn't go out to eat the entire time I was on the elimination diet. This was mostly because I don't have transportation to go to any restaurants, but also because I knew that I would only be able to order salad and most likely it wouldn't even be organic so I didn't see any point in paying for a salad. Anyway, at Life Alive, I was actually able to order a nice well-rounded meal and it was already Elimination Diet approved!
I got a quinoa with delicious steamed dark greens, carrots, mushrooms, beets and broccoli flowers on it. I had olive oil and vinegar as a dressing and it was the best thing I have ever eaten in a restaurant. I ordered a delicious tropical smoothie with almond milk, coconut oil, bananas and pineapple.
After dinner, we walked to a gluten-free bakery called Violette which was absolutely adorable. They had so many delicious options and even had some vegan desserts. Violette also makes their own chocolate hazelnut spread which is amazing and vegan!
I am a little sad that I won't be blogging as often once this is over. I have really had a lot of fun taking pictures of everything and sharing all of my recipes and experiences. I will have to continue posting any new recipes I try!
My new favorite restaurant ever is Life Alive, in Cambridge, MA and Lowell, MA. I didn't go out to eat the entire time I was on the elimination diet. This was mostly because I don't have transportation to go to any restaurants, but also because I knew that I would only be able to order salad and most likely it wouldn't even be organic so I didn't see any point in paying for a salad. Anyway, at Life Alive, I was actually able to order a nice well-rounded meal and it was already Elimination Diet approved!
I got a quinoa with delicious steamed dark greens, carrots, mushrooms, beets and broccoli flowers on it. I had olive oil and vinegar as a dressing and it was the best thing I have ever eaten in a restaurant. I ordered a delicious tropical smoothie with almond milk, coconut oil, bananas and pineapple.
After dinner, we walked to a gluten-free bakery called Violette which was absolutely adorable. They had so many delicious options and even had some vegan desserts. Violette also makes their own chocolate hazelnut spread which is amazing and vegan!
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Reintroduction Day 19: 03/07/14
Finally a day without any testing! Nearly froze to death waiting for the bus at the grocery store, but made it back with a week's worth of elimination diet food. I don't want to continue feeling awful after I eat things so I want to just go back to eating what made me feel so good!
Here is a delicious roasted vegetable dinner that I had one night this week. Just drizzle some vegetables with oil and a little salt, they are so delicious!
Here is a delicious roasted vegetable dinner that I had one night this week. Just drizzle some vegetables with oil and a little salt, they are so delicious!
Reintroduction Day 18: 03/06/14
Testing corn is progressing the same, still not much of an improvement in the headache department. Not feeling very well after lunch at all. I can't wait to be finished with testing so that I can eat the foods that don't make me feel terrible. All of this experimentation is quite challenging and tiring.
Friday, March 14, 2014
Reintroduction Day 17: 03/05/14
Now every time that I eat corn it feels like my head is in one of those clamps you find on a work bench. Right on my temples there's a tremendously uncomfortable pressure that makes me want to go cross eyed and also take a long nap. The chips and popcorn are no worth it and I almost want to just stop testing them.
I thought that I might do a little blog post about the supplements behind this diet. I eat really well, but I also take some supplements to bring my body to 110%!
AM: probiotic, fish oil, multi vitamin, calm magnesium
PM: DIM+
Occasionally: Colloidal Silver and papaya enzyme
Let me tell you, papaya enzymes are my secret weapon, especially while testing these foods! Every time that I am feeling nausea or my stomach hurts I chew a few of these and it almost always goes away in a matter of minutes. I think that I have gotten it to be some kind of mental magic that just by chewing them my mind thinks "oh my stomach will stop hurting now" and then it does right away. I just love them they are just as chalky as Tums but not as questionable. ( Here's the kind I buy! )
The probiotic, fish oil and multi vitamin are just for maintenance. You know, for my hair and nails and skin, etc. The magnesium is fairly new, I also take epsom salt baths to get magnesium, but I've been drinking it for about a week now in the mornings. It is pretty good, I can't say I have noticed a huge difference yet, but I didn't really research this one, my mom sent it to me to start taking!
The DIM+ is to regulate hormone levels, which I really need since I am off the pill for the first time in two years. But, it also has a ton of fiber and really helps my digestive health which is totally great because it was definitely challenging during the testing weeks to feel good.
I thought that I might do a little blog post about the supplements behind this diet. I eat really well, but I also take some supplements to bring my body to 110%!
AM: probiotic, fish oil, multi vitamin, calm magnesium
PM: DIM+
Occasionally: Colloidal Silver and papaya enzyme
Let me tell you, papaya enzymes are my secret weapon, especially while testing these foods! Every time that I am feeling nausea or my stomach hurts I chew a few of these and it almost always goes away in a matter of minutes. I think that I have gotten it to be some kind of mental magic that just by chewing them my mind thinks "oh my stomach will stop hurting now" and then it does right away. I just love them they are just as chalky as Tums but not as questionable. ( Here's the kind I buy! )
The probiotic, fish oil and multi vitamin are just for maintenance. You know, for my hair and nails and skin, etc. The magnesium is fairly new, I also take epsom salt baths to get magnesium, but I've been drinking it for about a week now in the mornings. It is pretty good, I can't say I have noticed a huge difference yet, but I didn't really research this one, my mom sent it to me to start taking!
The DIM+ is to regulate hormone levels, which I really need since I am off the pill for the first time in two years. But, it also has a ton of fiber and really helps my digestive health which is totally great because it was definitely challenging during the testing weeks to feel good.
Reintroduction Day 16: 03/04/14
I can already tell that corn is not going to be a winner this week. Getting into bed tonight my joints and my back just feel so achey, like stiff and uncomfortable. Blah. I did enjoy eating popcorn last night and tortilla chips during lunch, but not enough to justify this. I have also noticed that this week so far I am having a lot more cravings for snacks. After eating a meal, I am not really satisfied and I just want to keep snacking and eating. Testing these foods has really thrown me off my regular diet and it's no fun!
Today, after class, I had a nice healthy snack! Apple slices with almond butter spread on them! It was really yummy, I love almond butter on anything! I could just camp out with a jar and a spoon and be in almond butter heaven!
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