Week 2, GF, Smoothies and calorie counting

This week  I am using MyFitnessPal to record my calorie consumption now I have removed wheat from my diet.  I am averaging 2000Kcals but when I can keep under this its a bonus. 

This will be the 1st weeks goal, each week I will remove 50kcals from my daily limit so that I can keep losing weight over time. As I have a sedentary lifestyle, due to my health, I have to rely on my diet for 90% of my weight loss.

Also trying to have a smoothie everyday with the intention of adding new ingredients each week. 
This week I've chosen to add fresh mint and lemon water.
Next week I want to try to be brave and add a green ingredient. I have been told spinach can be well hidden in a smoothie by the fruits you add in with it. 

Monday:

Smoothie:
Almond Milk (original)
Fresh Banana
Frozen dark cherries
Scoop of mango sorbet
mint and lemon water

Food:
Rice crackers with ham and tomato
Chicken breast with mushroom and lardons, salad and kettle chips

2 Mrs Crimbles coconut jam macaroons.
(Oops, realised how many calories are in these today) 

Drinks:
2 Coffees 
1 Tea
LOTS of water and Ribena squash

Tuesday:

Smoothie:
Unsweetened Almond milk
Fresh banana
Frozen dark cherries
Fresh Blueberries
Scoop of mango sorbet
mint and lemon water

Food:
Rice crackers with ham and tomato
Pork loin with salad and kettle chips (but less than yesterday after realising how many cals are in just 50grms) 

2 Mrs Crimbles cranberry cookies. (150kcals each)

3 Coffees
1 Tea
Water and Ribena squash

Wednesday:

Half a cantaloupe melon, banana and a scoop of raspberry sorbet.**

Ham 
Rice crackers

Ham and chips for tea cos I needed something carby

2 Mrs Crimbles cakes

3 Coffees
1 Tea
Water and Ribena squash


Thursday:

This is why I should log every day... Cant remember exactly but I do know there was nothing that upset me.
Ham, salad, rice crackers, Mrs Crimbles cake.
Coffee, Tea, juice. 
Friday:

More Rice crackers and ham. YAWN

Dinner:
Chicken thighs roasted with honey and mushrooms with Rice

Banana and cherry smoothie

Mrs crimbles cake

2 Coffees
2 Teas
Water and Ribena squash

*Saturday:

Breakfast:
Rice crispies with almond milk

Snack:
Costa coffee and GF brownie

Lunch:
Cheese and mushroom Omelette and chips at the cafe

Tea:
M&S GF Burger
Stirfry veggies
Rice Noodles

Mrs Crimbles coconut macaroon

2 Coffees
3 Teas

1 glass of Southern Comfort and lemonade



*See next post for Sunday and the results of Saturdays food consumption

**WOW was this a bad idea. It seems it was too much fruit and not enough carb. I had horrendous stomach cramps and shivers just 30 mins after eating.
I had to eat 3 rice crackers and some ham to balance it out and ease off the pains. 

The 1st full weekend

Friday 25th to Sunday 27th July

Symptoms:

Skin better on hand. Still very sensitive and easily aggravated but much better.

Eyes still swelling overnight but not as dry and itchy.

Stomach: Wheat free is proving to be a success. Reduced dairy (no high fat items. No butter, no ice cream, only skimmed milk and milk alternatives)

Saturday night I did have a tiny pot of panacotta from M&S and it would seem that the dairy in that was enough to cause cramps but nothing too severe.

Food:

In general terms meals over the 3 days have included Lots of fruit; Melon, strawberries, mango, blueberries and banana. Veg, chicken, salmon, M&S GF sausages and GF Beefburgers. Rice, Potatoes, eggs, NO Bread. GF treats.

Even hubby has been GF with me all weekend and he says the lack of bread doesnt bother him at all. He would rather have more protein than carbs.

He loves Mrs Crimbles range cos they do 2 types of coconut biscuit/cake and almond slices.  So all in all its going really well. 

Hubby will still get his usual butties for tomorrow but the rest of the week will be up to him what he eats.

I have yet to try GF bread. I did try some once before but found it tasted too much like the packaging it came in. 

I am hoping to lose some weight during all of this so I am trying to avoid making my own GF bread for the time being, but I do have the option to give it a try.


New items to try this week:

• Rice Flour
• Whey Protein powder
• Agave syrup

Rice flour and protein powders are to test out for making some pancakes this week.  They are not as high in calories as you might think and as long as I keep within my kcal intake for the day it gives me a treat.

I tried a flour free banana pancake recipe but despite following all the hints and tips I was given it still tasted like eating sweet fried egg to me so I definitely need a powder ingredient to add to them .



Weight:

I last got weighed on 5th July. Yesterday I got weighed to see if this 1st week had seen me lose any weight.

I dont know what changes may have taken place across the 3 weeks but my weight reading is 2lbs less now than it was on July 5th.

Hopefully I can keep losing that on a weekly basis (or 8-10lbs in a month) 
I tend to lose in 1 week then nothing for 3, then I can suddenly lose 7lbs. Odd metabolism, but as long as I can see weight loss it will be an added bonus. 

Thursday 24/07 (I know its late but I forgot to write it last night)

Day 5 without wheat and a reduced dairy diet.

Symptoms:

Stomach: So much better. Go so far as to say 90% normal (though Im rarely ever 100% normal,  ;) 

Skin: Hand has improved but still a long way to go until healed. Itching stopped but skin still sensitive, dry and inflamed, especially after showering. Have noticed a reaction when wearing washing up gloves, but latex free disposables seem to be ok.
Eyes sadly no better so still need to work out what's causing that.


Food:

Breakfast: Missed it again. I'm really not good with breakfast other than my coffee fix.

Lunch: 
1/2 Cantaloupe Melon with 1 scoop of raspberry sorbet and a couple of rice crackers with ham.

Dinner: 
Home made oven cooked potato wedges with ham and salad
Dessert: 2 scoops raspberry sorbet, banana and alpro cherry yoghurt


Drinks:
Usual, Coffee, Tea and Ribena. (Rice milk and skimmed milk)


Treats:
1 Mrs Crimbles Coconut macaroon and 1 FreeFrom Tiffin square.


Treatments:

Continuing with Ozaren Eczema blend on hands.

Results in photo.

Wednesday 23rd - Much Better Today

Symptoms:

Stomach: So much better today. A little windy but no pain.

Skin: Eyes still puffy but eczema on hand is better.


Food:

Breakfast:

Lunch: 
Smoothie; Banana, cherries, raspberry sorbet, almond milk and an alpro yoghurt. #DairyFree

Dinner: Steamed Rice, Brie and salad.  
Graze box cake square and a spoonful of sorbet. #WheatFre

Drinks:
3 Coffees (Goats Milk)
2 Teas
Water and Ribena

Treats:
Mrs Crimbles Almond slice


Treatments:
No chemical creams used. Only Ozaren creams. 

Tuesday 22/07 - Another hot day

Symptoms:

Stomach:  Still a bit grumbly and windy but much better than it has been in more than 8 days.

Skin: Eyes were terrible when I woke up. Badly swollen and skin on eyelids very dry and sore.  Even taking an extra benadryl last night had no effect.  Starting to wonder if there is something in the bedroom.... my pillow or dust or something.
(Spent short time in the garden yesterday. Pollen count high)

Skin generally itchy today. Especially if I go outside. Despite taking my usual antihistamines.

Food:

No breakfast.

Lunch:  1/2 Galia Melon

Dinner:
Griddled chicken steak, steamed rice and mixed leaf lettuce. Tomato and basil sauce, mayo.

1 FreeFrom Tiffin square and a scoop of raspberry sorbet

Drinks:
3 Coffees (Goats Milk)
2 Teas
Water and Ribena

Snack: Mrs Crimbles Almond Slice

Treatments:

Ozaren Eczema cream for hand and De-puffing cream on eyelids.
Dont think the eye cream is helping much though, as the swelling is more of an allergic issue rather than just fluid swelling. 

Hand seems a little better today than it was yesterday. Keeping soaps etc away from the skin as much as possible and have applied cream 3 times today. 

Monday 21st.

Symptoms:

Stomach:  Ok, a little grumbly and windy but no where near as bad as it was last week.

Skin: Very bad. Hand eczema spreading, eyelids very swollen, a little sore and itchy. 
(Did spend time in the garden yesterday and this morning. Pollen count was high)


Food:

Breakfast/Lunch:*
Rice Crispies with almond milk and maple syrup drizzle.

Dinner:
Mixed leaf lettuce, Tomatoes, Cucumber, Breaded ham slices, Rice Cakes and Mayo.

Dessert.
Raspberry sorbet and melon

Treats:
Mrs Crimbles Cherry Bakewell slice

Drinks:
3 Coffees
3 Teas
Water and Ribena


* (Im not much of a breakfast eater and I had a visitor this morning which delayed me eating until lunch)


Skin treatments:

Day 1 with new aromatherapy products from Ozaren.
De-Puffing cream for my eyes and an Eczema Blend for my hands.

Initial application: No negative reaction. Wonderful smell, felt gorgeous rubbing it in.  Will keep monitoring it to see if there are any significant improvements. 

A better day

Sunday 20/07

1st official day of wheat elimination and dairy reduction

After yesterday it would certainly seem that wheat is more of an issue than dairy, though I am still trying dairy alternatives and reducing high fat dairy from my diet.

Yesterday I ate:

Late Lunch: Fish and Chips at Sainsburys cafe.  I hadnt eaten all day as nothing in the house seemed 'safe' and by the time we got to the store I was feeling really sickly.

After a few mouthfuls I realised I shouldn't be eating the batter (flour) and took the rest off.

Tea:
Pork steak, rice, mushrooms and green beans.

Drinks:
Coffee and tea with skimmed milk and loads of water and Ribena

Treats:
Free From Tiffin


Today, so far, I have had no negative issues with my tummy.
My eyes are very itchy and the eczema on my hand has flared up again so Im still not sure if that is being caused by food or pollen. 


This morning I have had rice crispies with almond milk and a little maple syrup.
I was really surprised at how nice the almond milk is, though I couldnt put it in my tea as it is sweet.
Need to look into unsweetened options next week. 

Also want to look into how well milk substitutes heat up as I usually have a 50/50 mix of espresso and milk for my coffee. 

Will be like a chemistry lab in my kitchen this week. 

                                                                                                        

UPDATE:


Sundays food diary in full:

Breakfast:
Rice crispies with almond milk and a little maple syrup.

Lunch:
Bacon, scrambled egg and mushrooms - NO CARBS
1/4 Galia Melon

Dinner:
Chicken thigh fillets baked in tomato and basil sauce with a little Brie on top.
New potatoes and carrots.

Dessert: *Wheat Free Pancakes With banana and maple syrup.

Drinks:
2 Coffees (made with a 50/50 mix of skimmed and almond milk)
3 Teas (Skimmed milk) 
and a lot of water (& Ribena)

Treats: 
1 Mrs Crimbles Coconut Macaroon





*Mrs Crimbles pancake mix.

1st FREE FROM product test

Lazy Day Foods:  Free From Tiffin made with Belgium Chocolate.

As 'free from' foods go this is really nice, though its a little sweet.
But it does mean I can have a chocolatey treat.

Other items in the shopping basket included:

A selection of milk alternatives; Almond, Rice and Goats Milk. I have no idea if I will like the Almond or Rice milk but I do know I like goats milk. 

Mrs Crimbles biccies and pancake mix (Wheat free)
Rice Crispies and Rice Cakes

I huge selection of fruit and salad items
LOTS of chicken and pork for protein
Rice
Eggs

and Soya Yoghurts.
Ive tried them in the past but I intend to use them in my smoothies so hopefully wont notice the cardboard taste they tend to have. 





This blog post is not affiliated with Lazy Day Foods.

Interim day

Friday 18/07

What did I eat?

• Graze box granola cereal with skimmed milk
• Homemade banana and raspberry smoothie with fat free yoghurt and skimmed milk
• Water biscuits and cheese.

Saturday 10am......... Hello Bathroom :/

The Graze cereal is meant to be wheat free (though it does contain other grains and lots of nuts).

The smoothie was all natural ingredients

The crackers do have wheat but no yeast .........

Based on the other ingredients I'm leaning towards dairy being the culprit at the moment. 

Looks like the shopping list is going to be full of dairy alternatives. 

The theory - Something is making me ill.

WELCOME TO FIDGITS FOODIE FINDINGS

This week has been trial and error with regards to food and its effect on me.

I started wondering about a food intolerance being the cause of my eczema and swollen eyes /face, rather than the initial theory that it was the high pollen count. (Of course it could still be the pollen to blame but I'm looking into all options)

I believe the culprit is either wheat or fatty dairy (or both) ............. It could also be chemical reactions between ingredients.

Lunch yesterday, was steamed rice, ham and egg, with tomatoes.  It was going to be an omelette but I threw the cooked rice into the pan and mixed it up into my version of egg fried rice.  So, that's no wheat or dairy for lunch.

Last night I had pancakes (homemade)....... they don't usually bother me, BUT if I am developing an intolerance* then it could be the flour. I had banana on them, again not usually an issue, and I had a scoop of ice cream...........

I've spent an hour, on and off, in the bathroom this morning.

I can drink skimmed milk by the bucket load and never have an issue......... but when the dairy is high in fat it seems to cause problems.

Cream, ice cream, butter.  Never really had any issues with any of it in the past except if I have an excess of it.  I can have 1 ice-cream and be fine, 2 in the same day and I might suffer, but there's never been a consistent pattern to it.

*5 yrs ago I developed an intolerance to ALL additives in food. Especially MSG. I was eating a terrible diet of ready meals and my body started to reject everything that contained even a hint of an additive and even some fresh foods if they had natural acids or spice (Tomatoes, onions, & peppers were a no go).  

I lived on steamed chicken, rice, lettuce cucumber, pitta breads and philly cheese spread. Everything else set me off. Couldnt even have pectin.  It took me 12 months to cleanse my system to allow me to start eating "normally" but I am still very aware of additives in food and try to avoid ALL MSG as much as I can.

The reactions I had then were dreadful. Violent IBS pain and upset stomach along with Urticaria all over my body.

I was miserable for more than 18 months. It took 6 months to diagnose the cause and a further 12 months to clean my body.

So to the reason for this blog.

I am going to use it as a food journal. For me mainly, but also to share anything I find that might help others. As well as asking for your input, leaving comments with your favourite GF recipes etc. 

From Monday, 21/07/14, (after I have been to the supermarket for supplies) I will be on an elimination diet.  In the meantime there is no more bread in the house and I wont be making anything else with flour in it.

I am going to be sensible about it. Im not rushing to start on one of these insane juice detox diets or anything like that, but I am going to cut out the non-essential foods and see how I get on.

So I will be starting out by eating simple clean foods such as chicken, rice, veg, fruit, (non-citric) and low fat dairy.  I am also going to try milk alternatives to see if I can drink any of them. I tried soya milk in the past and threw it down the sink, but I believe almond milk is rather nice and I know I like goats milk. 

This will mean cutting out ALL bread products (and anything else with wheat flour in it) along with rich dairy products such as butter and ice cream. 

I refuse to eat margarine and as I wont be eating bread then I shouldn't need the butter.

I will be continuing with yoghurt, initially, as a test food.  This will allow me to bulk up my meal smoothies but if I feel the need to cut it out then I will do.

If all this can help with my current health issues, IBS and skin irritations AND I can lose some weight in the process then it has to be worth it.

I would greatly appreciate any suggestions, hints tips and recipes to try out that are wheat/dairy free so that I can keep my diet varied.