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Post by Karen on Mar 2, 2012 17:51:43 GMT -5
A few times a month, the president of our company (he was VP until very recently) likes to take the staff out to lunch for a one-on-one. Today was my turn. He let me pick the restaurant, so I picked one down the street from our office that I just discovered that has gluten-free options. During lunch, he asked my why I went gluten-free. I didn't go into a lot of details, but said I've had some health issues that weren't related to my diet or digestive system, but that were a lot easier to manage when I eliminated some foods like gluten. He kind of gave me a weird look, so I followed it by saying I knew some people thought I was crazy for giving up some foods, but felt it was preferential to being on pills for the rest of my life. He actually responded really well, and said it seemed like a very logical decision and was a good approach to wellness (our office is on a wellness education kick). So, yeah, kind of awkward admitting to the president of the company that I have health issues, but super cool that he 'got it' and realized I was taking proactive measures!
It was a delicious lunch (I had a turkey sandwich, you guys! I NEVER have sandwhiches anymore!) and I got some really good career advice from him. I think the next time I go back, I'm going to get a gluten-free flatbread!!!
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Post by JC on Mar 2, 2012 17:56:08 GMT -5
Awesome!! Damn I would KILL for a sandwich right now. I have been dying for pizza too. For the most part I'm ok on the diet but lately we've been so broke that all we eat is the same thing every day because we just don't have the money to get anything nice. So my thoughts have been going in the naughty direction of forbidden foods.  |
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Post by Karen on Mar 2, 2012 18:41:39 GMT -5
I hear you... I'm in such a rut it's not funny. I've eaten out every meal this week due to travel or lunch meetings. Granted, I've been able to stay mostly on the bandwagon, but eating out, I've had a ton of salads. I'm SO sick of salads since they're the one thing I can usually count on to be gluten/dairy free. It was such a treat to have a sandwich, and a good one at that, too! This new restaurant is going to be my go-to for a treat! Last time I was there, I had a burger - with a BUN! There's one restaurant in town that claimed to have a GF burger and when it arrived, it was sans-bun. That was their version of GF.  |
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Post by loveshoes on Mar 2, 2012 20:56:14 GMT -5
I made a big mistake this week - have also been eating a spinach salad daily and I have also been constipated which I normally don't have a problem going. I was buying the field green 50/50 mix and somehow went to the spinach only. Anyways, I found I was only going "bunny poops" and searched online about spinach. I would have totally thought that the more greens the better - wellllllll spinach is high in iron and iron constipates! I have been off the salad the rest of this week and I guess I'll try the mix again next week.
Has anyone tried chia seeds? I just started coconut oil and coconut manna and the lady told me about chia seeds - she let me try some and they are really neat - kinda like tapioca in a way. Apparently even better than grinding flax seed and putting that in food.
I also came across an article on a thickener put in foods called CARRAGEENAN and it is in alot of foods including yogurts and dairy items. I am now avoiding items that have this - out is the coconut yogurt I have been eating - anyone know if the greek yogurts have any additives in them?
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Post by semicolon on Mar 2, 2012 22:16:05 GMT -5
So I've gone gluten free as of this week, although I think I'm eatiing quite a bit of empty carbs (and I'm ok with gluten-reduced in case I'm not 100%). My wonderful husband made me a gluten free pizza tonight, it was Bob's Red Mill mix. He is really going full hilt on this, even though he can't eat a lot of it with the diabetes. We are away for family events this weekend, we'll see how I do (haven't really mentioned the GF thing yet). Karen- that was great you could talk to him about it! Hope you didn't feel too on the spot. Ugh, spinach has the opposite effect on me!  |
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Post by redwood on Mar 3, 2012 17:26:36 GMT -5
It seems a lot of people on this board have a bad reaction to wheat and/or gluten, and maybe I'm just one that isn't sensitive to it. I've basically been on a virtually wheat-free diet for a year now, although I occasionally eat it here and there when I'm eating out and don't seem to have a reaction, and I experimented with sprouted whole wheat bread (mixed with other grains) and that was fine too. Should I assume it's ok for me then? I STILL think there is just too much wheat in the world and will always vary my diet to include lots of different grains like quinoa, rice, oats, spelt, kamut, buckwheat, like I am now, regardless of whether I can eat wheat or not. I love to have my pure buckwheat blueberry pancakes two days a week (I can provide a recipe, if anyone is interested).
As I was avoiding it, I hesitated to buy the chocolate cherry wheat bread that was at the farmer's market this morning. But I just couldn't resist - it was the chocolate cherry part of course. Hopefully I don't have a reaction to it now, as I want to be able to eat that thing! But I would consider it even better if it was a spelt chocolate cherry bread (I still eat chocolate - didn't give that up).
Oh, and I just started eating chia seeds too. I got a bag that was a mixture of stuff: chia, buckwheat, cocoa nibs, dates, almonds, evaporated cane juice. You just add water and it makes a mush (the chia thickens), and I usually add some fresh fruit to it for a snack. It also works to add some flax or protein powder too (I use a pumpkin seed one).
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Post by loveshoes on Mar 4, 2012 13:24:49 GMT -5
@ Redwood - I'm interested in your chia seed mixture - is there a brand name/recipe you can post?
I was wondering how you all handle social situations like being invited to someone elses house for dinner. I have to attend a family party today and I just called to find out that they are making stuff that I can't eat - I feel like a jerk but I'm going to bring my own salad ( will pick up from a restaurant that I know the salad is GF ). This is my inlaws and they know of my new dietary restrictions - I'm a little disapointed that they aren't making more of an effort to at least ask me and have things that I can eat. Maybe I'm being unreasonable. How do you all handle family situations like this?
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Post by redwood on Mar 4, 2012 13:54:14 GMT -5
Loveshoes - The brand of chia seeds mixture is called "Chia Goodness." This looks like the website: ruthshempfoods.com There is more than one flavor. The one I have is chocolate, but you can get one without it if you are restricting that from your diet. I guess you could make your own mixture too and then not put the can juice in it, which is sugar. It actually doesn't taste sweet, so I'm surprised that is even in there. It's near the very end, so it's not much. Well, my experiment with the whole wheat cherry chocolate bread went well and I had no reaction to eating two slices of it yesterday. I have had reactions to foods (bloating, gas), but I think it's more because of the fact I don't have a gall bladder. It's usually if I end a heavy, fatty meal that is the problem. But sometimes random things like eating lentil soup set it off. That happened last month, but 99% of the time, lentil soup is fine to eat, so who knows what it was? I didn't eat anything else out of the ordinary that day and the place I got the lentil soup lists all ingredients on everything they sell, and there was nothing "bad" in it. It's an awesome place for people on an endo diet, if any of you happen to be in Vancouver. It's called Sweet Cheribum: www.sweetcherubim.com/restaurant.html |
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Post by 1234 on Mar 4, 2012 18:04:15 GMT -5
Loveshoes, that's a tough situation. I think bringing your own food is fine, and when asked about it, explain again why you are making your dietary decisions. Maybe it will open a conversation about it, and you can talk about foods that you can eat?
I'm sorry you've had that experience. I've been lucky that my inlaws have been very understanding. My sister-in-law is special needs, and so the family is so used to making accommodations that the celiac thing wasn't even difficult, but it's still be really nice of them.
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Post by loveshoes on Mar 9, 2012 11:18:17 GMT -5
For those eating the chia seeds and flax do you think you can have too much? I am mixing 2 TBSP of ground flax into my hot cereal AND 2 TBSP of chia seeds just cause I love them so much and I have had 2 days of horrible retched gas and if I"m not tooting, I'm going #2 - it's insane! I wonder if it's just way too much fiber and if I need to just have 1 or the other and not both. Today I guess I won't have any chia, I did mix the flax into my cereal and I already feel some effects.
@ Redwood - I found the chia goodness cereal on ebay and ordered a 3 bag variety pack - can't wait for it to arrive! Thanks for the info!
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Post by semicolon on Mar 20, 2012 20:00:13 GMT -5
So I've been gluten free for about three weeks now and I was hoping for some improvements with my cycle. Sadly, my period pain was fairly bad this time. I'm still trying to get back on track. I was hoping for less pain and less of a feeling of being all bound up in my midsection. I'm pretty sure my bowel, bladder, and uterus are all stuck together again, which my specialist said would probably happen and I wonder if that is more the issue than endo or gluten reaction. My gut was not sure of it so I'm not very surprised, but I wanted to be a good endo gal and give it a try! The one thing that was different was that I didn't have the super heavy bleeding. I don't know if it's because I pushed through and did a 7 mile run on Sunday after a 4 the day before, knowing the pain was already starting (I was laid up on the couch later, ugh). I also took regular ibuprofen but that hasn't helped too much before for the bleeding (maybe my timing was better?). Anyone had change in bleeding with diet changes? Other thoughts? I was going to try the diet for at least two cycles so I'll continue for now (I've skipped many a cake at work lately |
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Post by 1234 on Mar 21, 2012 8:13:13 GMT -5
For me the relief in less abdominal cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, acid reflux, and brain fog was almost immediate--I think 5 - 7 days or so. It hasn't helped with period or ovulation pain at all, and I still have lots of intestinal pain, but it's more manageable.
Congrats on the 7 mile run!
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Post by JC on Mar 21, 2012 10:36:53 GMT -5
Surprisingly, your body takes a long time to normalize after going gluten free. Apparently the antibodies (if you have them) can stay in circulation for a couple months after going gluten free. For me, it took about a month before I started noticing big changes. It's definitely worth trying for a few more cycles like you said and I really do hope it works for you!
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Post by 1234 on Mar 21, 2012 14:26:49 GMT -5
that actually reminds me that I got the almost-immediate relief to the abdominal bloating, but the pain/acid reflux/brain fog took longer.
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Post by KSA on Mar 21, 2012 18:43:44 GMT -5
Stick with it I know it is so hard to do and I mess up alot but 3 weeks in your body is still adjusting to the new food. I love the gluten free bread my grandma makes not sure I could live without it but it is high in sugar and prob not a good combo. I am always bloated now tho but I try really hard to try to stay on the diet.
Jenaya what about the bag veggies? At Target I got them for $1.13 I was so happy. Money is tight here too so my days at Whole Foods and our health organic local store are kinda gone for now. I have also been on a cleminitne craving too and those are pretty cheap. I know not a full meal but little snacks thru the day to fill you up.
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