Struggles

Haven't been feeling great the past couple of days. Especially today, very tired, no energy and joints ache. Hmmmm going to have to review things. I had a few coffee on Sunday and my body did not like it...think I would learn. :(  Looks like I have to back up again to try figure out what the issue is. Eggs maybe?? I've been eating them since last week....would it take that long to react. ?? Going back to the fish & safe veggies for a few days to see what happens.

Rainy Friday

It is teaming down rain here today we're getting upwards of 40mm, would  love to be able stay in bed today with a good book. However that doesn't pay the bills. Nothing new to report really, just plugging away. Still feeling good. My new foods other than the base list are chicken,beef,stringbeans,eggs & mixed greens. I am slowly expanding the list. I walked 4 times this week for 30mins ea time. That is very good for me. They are not fast walks, but at least I am out there. Will be getting my bicycle(my passion) out this weekend to go for a trial run, it will be eaiser on my ankle I think. I have not cycled this year yet and I miss it.:) One thing I have noticed is that prior to this change in diet I had diaherra at least 3 times per week and now it has stopped. I always blamed it on the medications, however it seems it must have been food related as I haven't had it since. Another bonus!!! The challenge to this diet is eating out, I have not done that yet but as my list expands it will get eaiser I suppose. Just another great week! I am glad to hear my friend Jen is back on track and feeling good again...keep up the fight Jen ..good work:)!
Cheers!
Moe

More fish

Last evening I introduced another fish..salmon....I had it again for breakfast, seems weird to be eating fish and veggies for breakfast but I love it and so does my body. I respond really well to fish and I have no problem eating lots of it. I am find my appetite has decreased alot and I am more satisified after meals than the previous weeks. I realized how little protien I was eating prior to this diet  Over all I am feeling much better. My bodys loves my changed diet and the weight loss becauses of it will certainly help my weight bearing joints.  So far my new foods are beef, chicken, salmon & stringbeans. It has been just over 2 weeks since I've started this journey, has it been easy NO! Is it worth it ...VERY MUCH SO. In fact my friend who lives with me ask me to help her eat more healthly foods because she has seen such a good change in me. Of course I'll help ...just a few more veggies to chop!!!

Super Sunday

I had a great Day again!! Have been enjoying eating steak the past 2 days!I even took a chance and tried coffee again today...I just could not accept not having it! Had a cup and a half and no ill effects yet! Hoping I can have it in moderation. Soooo I did something today I have not done in a loooooong time. I went for a walk on the boardwalk(35 mins), although it was a very slow pace it was nice to just do it!! Although it was not without some pain as I have very little cartlidge left in 1 ankle but it was not unbearable. Life is good. !!!!Tomorrow a new food:) I am thankful today for the day I found  Jen's link on the Arthritis website....this diet has made a big difference in my Life. Thank you Cameron too I appreciate the advice & support

Cheers
Moe

Steak Hooray!

I had steak today and OMG it was yummy!! Funny I'm not even big on red meat, but it was something new and very very good. I just steamed it ...was pretty plain with just a bit of sea salt but I didn't mind. Hoping it sits ok....will not try anything else new for a few days. So far other than my starting foods my new ones now are stringbeans, chicken & beef. I am feeling very good today:)

Feeling Better

I feel better today! Going to stay on the "safe" stuff today and if I feel as good tomorrow I will try steak. I am anxious to expand my list as I am struggling today. I almost did the "coffee stop" this am ....was so close. This is VERY hard, but I am still hanging in ...by thinking of the "good feeling". One day at a time I guess. I am going to the movies tonight with a friend and my favorite part is always the popcorn....oh well hope the movie is good. I did read the book "Eat, Pray , Love and loved it so maybe the movie will inspire me to keep going. Except for the part where she eats Tons of Pasta in Italy!I
 saw my rheumatologist this morning. Things are going very well with my joints and he was very pleased with where I am. Dropped my plaquenil to 1 per day now. I was glad of that as I'd like to be taking 0 meds. I did not mention my diet as I know they just don't get it and he is the ONLY rheumatologist here on the Island and I do not want to lose him.

Backing Up

Yesterday and today not so good days. Head is aching , foggy and sore. Woke up last night and ankles and wrists were aching. Same this morning and a stiff neck to go with it. I am really not sure what the cause is. Thinking cucumber or apple or both. I am going to go back to the safe foods for a few days keeping chicken & green beans as I think they are ok. Lets hope it works.

Long Weekend

What a GREAT Sept long I had, was busy but good! We had a family golf/BBQ yesterday. I actually golfed nine holes with a cart of course. I am not a golfer so this was only the 2nd time for me I did very well:) I could not have done that a month ago. There was a potluck BBQ afterwards and tons of various foods dishes arrived! So this was my most challenging day yet. I stuck to it though walked right by the nacho's & dip smothered in cheese my fav......:). Just kept telling my self "think about how good you are feeling" and it helped. So it seems that caffine is going to be and issue:( going to stay away from that for awhile and try again later. I have only added chicken, apples, cucumbers so far as I had to take some time to clear out coffee my body did not like. Today some of my muscles are sore from the golf so not a good idea to try new foods today. I will have to stay away from new activities till I'm done testing I guess. Soooo it is going slow but I feel grrrrreat!! Learning lots. Worried about getting all my foods tested in 21 days as recommended in the Elimination diet instructions. Welcome any feed back on that???

It's Finally here

Well the awaited last day. I had mackerel for breakfast believe it or not...and enjoyed it! Sooo last night there was a birthday party at our house...3 different kinds of pizza, cake, ice cream, wine .....and I didn't break ,,,not even a little bit. Funny thing it wasn't that hard. I'm wondering what to introudce tomorrow, thinking chicken, stringbeans(as I have some fresh from my mom's garden) and hmmmm not sure...really missing coffeee but don't know if I want to go there yet. May try green tea first.

Doing It!

Day 5 is here  getting  closer to the day I  introduce new foods. Feels great to have not strayed...not even one little bit...so far! The changes I've noticed...sleeping better, not so hard to get out of bed in the morning. Feel good when my feet hit the floor.  I just walked a bag of garbage out to the dumpster and as I walked across the parking lot I thought...hey there is a bounce in my step...I'm not draging my body, not today anyway. I feel Great today, I feel good inside...my body definetly likes white fish. This was so worth the effort.

Hoping it continue's

And So It Continues

It's day 4...feeling pretty good. I certainly can notice the difference in how I feel. I wake up feeling good but hungry...that's the way it should be. I still am a bit achey but will continue on ...I've consumed a lot of fish in the past few days. I still feel hungry lots, even shortly after eating, trying to curb that with snacking on carrots & celery and I am drinking a TON of water. I have dropped 5lbs and added bonus as every lb off my joints is a big plus, especially when my big issues are ankles and knees.
You really have to plan ahead with this diet, so as to not get caught without food, especially at work.

So on we go......

"What does not kill me makes me stronger"

Day Three

Well it's day 3. I'm half way there. Today is better, I don't have the brain fog like yesterday and feel a bit better. Youd think I would be sick of white fish by now,,,,,breakfast, lunch & dinner....but still liking it. Now sweet potato ...hmmm starting to get tired of it. Missing variety in general, but I'm seeing this through. I'm all ready dreaming of that chicken breast....will be my first new food added....can't wait:) Oh and STILL missing coffee ALOT! just saying!

Missing Coffee

Today is a work day and I am soooooo missing the morning coffee. ...my car just did not want to drive by Robins, but I did not give in. Have a bit of a headache today, moving slow and ache all over. I am told these are the hardest days. I am hungry this morning had a peach & a pear but that is not cutting it. Oh well I'll just drink my water and stop whining now!
Is it lunch time yet?

3pm...sooo day 2 is hard....foggy, headache is getting worse....I am moving in slow motion. It is only supposed to last a couple of days so hopefully I can stick this out !
Funny I ate cod for breakfast again and liked it...go figure! Finding I'm needing fish for all meals and could probably eat more.

"Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful"

Start of Elimination diet The Begining

So the beginning of my elimination diet journey. Went shopping yesterday and picked up all my allowed food. Peaches, pears, celery, carrots, turnip, sweet potato, spring water, sparkling water, & white fish. Thinking it is a good time of year to begin as all the foods are easy to find and good quality, except parsnips and they are not my favorite anyway so will skip them. I worried all day about taking  the magnesium citrate drink and finally got the courage and gulped it down last evening .....hmmmm it was a very interesting night!!!! It is now 5am and I am wide awake wondering what will my breakfast be as I am feeling pretty empty, but not quiet ready to tackle food just yet. And so it begins!!!!

9am...my first meal ...breakfast.....haddock & boiled veggies & a peach. I was starving so fish for breakfast...just didn't matter today:0

Bedtime....had  fish & veggies for lunch & dinner...pears & peaches today too. So far I am feeling good, having BIG issues with gas, probably the veggies;) I like the food , but thinking the lack of variety is going to be tough.

"Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall."