Today I'm looking for beef bones. Ones to make broth with. Grass fed beef. Mmm..hmmm... Expensive!
I'm looking at prices to see if this is even feasible with my family. I know the argument that investing now in your health will prevent high costs later, but that same argument can be used for a lot of things. Buy good quality now so you won't have to buy it again for 10 years instead of 1-2 years for cheap.
The fact of the matter is, money is money. If it's not there, it's not there. I don't want to go into debt to live a healthy life. So now, the research. I really want to make this work.
Know of any inexpensive pastured beef/chicken/pork, including bones? Let me know. I'll be searching today.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Time to Revisit GAPS. No, Really!
You know how I was so excited for my gluten-free oats to come? Well, guess what? Stomach pain. It's not terrible, but enough that I know it's irritated. I've thought about writing posts a few times this past few weeks after different foods cause me stomach pain. The oats- dark chocolate- soy sauce (DUH- I forgot it has WHEAT in it!)- and more that I can't think of right now.
I'm glad that I can tell when food is affecting me. My stomach is saying "enough is enough", and I really need to soothe it and let it heal. I went back and looked at the foods that are acceptable on GAPS. I've been on a more restricted diet long enough that it doesn't seem that overwhelming to me. Here is a description of the foods allowed (taken from the GAPS diet website):
The best foods are eggs (if tolerated), fresh meats (not preserved), fish, shellfish, fresh vegetables and fruit, nuts and seeds, garlic and olive oil. Apart from eating vegetables cooked, it is important to have some raw vegetables with meals, as they contain vital enzymes to assist digestion of the meats. Fruit should be eaten on their own, not with meals, as they have a very different digestion pattern and can make the work harder for the stomach. Fruit should be given as a snack between meals.
It is very important to have plenty of natural fats in every meal from meats, butter, ghee, coconut (if tolerated) and cold pressed olive oil. Animal fats on meats are particularly valuable. Fermented foods (sauerkraut, yogurt, and kefir) are also a very important part of this diet in addition to homemade meat or fish stock. It is recommended to take a cup of warm meat or fish stock with every meal as a drink as well as soups and stews made with the meat or fish stock. The stock, kefir and fermented vegetables will over time restore the stomach acid production, which will improve digestion.
It is best to avoid processed foods (any packet or tinned foods). They are stripped from most nutrients that were present in the fresh ingredients used for making these foods. They are a hard work for the digestive system and they damage the healthy gut flora balance. On top of that they usually contain a lot of artificial chemicals, detrimental to health, like preservatives, colorants, etc. Try to buy foods in the form that nature made them, as fresh as possible.
Notice there are NO grains listed? Yeah, NO grains. The last time I did it I did allow myself Buckwheat, Quinoa, and brown rice. Nope. Not this time. I'm planning (HOPING) to follow this strictly. I just really hope that it won't mess up my running schedule. I found a new running group that I'm running with on Mon/Wed/Fri, and I LOVE it. LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I can't even tell you. I've been wanting to find an early A.M. running group for so long, and they're about my pace. We do 4-5 miles each time, which is perfect. I hope that when I get rid of all grains it doesn't mess up my energy. I started to do the Intro to GAPS diet back in October, but gave up after a few weeks. I got really nervous because I was losing a lot of hair. I went to a GAPS meeting last night at a local health food store called Real Foods. A lady named Melissa Washburn presented info about GAPS. She and her family have being doing GAPS for 2 years! It was great to light the fire under me again, and get me excited to try it again. I'm still debating on doing the GAP Intro, or just starting off with the regular GAPS that is more lenient. I think with the stomach pain when eating and the food sensitivities that I need the Intro.
Now the biggest question for myself: Am I ready to tackle this with my family? I think it would benefit all of us. I'm going to research a bit more & see if I can find others with large families and/or older kids, and see how they approached it. It would my life easier in that I wouldn't be preparing 2 separate meals. On the down side I'd have to win the battle with my kids, and try and help the see why it is so important. Hmmmm. A lot to think about. I'm for sure going to start it for myself the first week of February. I think Jimmy will want to do it with me, even if I don't tackle it with the kids.
I'm glad that I can tell when food is affecting me. My stomach is saying "enough is enough", and I really need to soothe it and let it heal. I went back and looked at the foods that are acceptable on GAPS. I've been on a more restricted diet long enough that it doesn't seem that overwhelming to me. Here is a description of the foods allowed (taken from the GAPS diet website):
The best foods are eggs (if tolerated), fresh meats (not preserved), fish, shellfish, fresh vegetables and fruit, nuts and seeds, garlic and olive oil. Apart from eating vegetables cooked, it is important to have some raw vegetables with meals, as they contain vital enzymes to assist digestion of the meats. Fruit should be eaten on their own, not with meals, as they have a very different digestion pattern and can make the work harder for the stomach. Fruit should be given as a snack between meals.
It is very important to have plenty of natural fats in every meal from meats, butter, ghee, coconut (if tolerated) and cold pressed olive oil. Animal fats on meats are particularly valuable. Fermented foods (sauerkraut, yogurt, and kefir) are also a very important part of this diet in addition to homemade meat or fish stock. It is recommended to take a cup of warm meat or fish stock with every meal as a drink as well as soups and stews made with the meat or fish stock. The stock, kefir and fermented vegetables will over time restore the stomach acid production, which will improve digestion.
It is best to avoid processed foods (any packet or tinned foods). They are stripped from most nutrients that were present in the fresh ingredients used for making these foods. They are a hard work for the digestive system and they damage the healthy gut flora balance. On top of that they usually contain a lot of artificial chemicals, detrimental to health, like preservatives, colorants, etc. Try to buy foods in the form that nature made them, as fresh as possible.
Notice there are NO grains listed? Yeah, NO grains. The last time I did it I did allow myself Buckwheat, Quinoa, and brown rice. Nope. Not this time. I'm planning (HOPING) to follow this strictly. I just really hope that it won't mess up my running schedule. I found a new running group that I'm running with on Mon/Wed/Fri, and I LOVE it. LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I can't even tell you. I've been wanting to find an early A.M. running group for so long, and they're about my pace. We do 4-5 miles each time, which is perfect. I hope that when I get rid of all grains it doesn't mess up my energy. I started to do the Intro to GAPS diet back in October, but gave up after a few weeks. I got really nervous because I was losing a lot of hair. I went to a GAPS meeting last night at a local health food store called Real Foods. A lady named Melissa Washburn presented info about GAPS. She and her family have being doing GAPS for 2 years! It was great to light the fire under me again, and get me excited to try it again. I'm still debating on doing the GAP Intro, or just starting off with the regular GAPS that is more lenient. I think with the stomach pain when eating and the food sensitivities that I need the Intro.
Now the biggest question for myself: Am I ready to tackle this with my family? I think it would benefit all of us. I'm going to research a bit more & see if I can find others with large families and/or older kids, and see how they approached it. It would my life easier in that I wouldn't be preparing 2 separate meals. On the down side I'd have to win the battle with my kids, and try and help the see why it is so important. Hmmmm. A lot to think about. I'm for sure going to start it for myself the first week of February. I think Jimmy will want to do it with me, even if I don't tackle it with the kids.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
I Miss My Oats.
I've gone mostly wheatless when I cook for my family, so it takes more creativity in deciding what to cook for them. Breakfast is usually rotated between oatmeal, scrambled eggs, yogurt and fruit, and coconut flour crepes.
Today was oatmeal day. I haven't been eating oatmeal because although it doesn't have gluten, it is commonly cross-contaminated with gluten as it is processed with the same equipment as wheat. I decided to give it a try, because it looked so good. I was hoping that people didn't know what they were talking about & it would only affect those with celiac's, not just the gluten intolerant like me. Result: stomach pain. Shoot- they were right. I'm glad that I'm in tune enough with my body that I can tell that it's reacting to it.
As a kid I HATED oatmeal. I liked oatmeal cookies and granola bars, but not the cereal. It wasn't until I was in my 20's that I figured out that I actually like oatmeal, I just can't stand the mushy "instant" quick cooking oats that my mom used to serve. Once I figured it out, I bought "old fashioned" oats, and have enjoyed eating oatmeal. Today I've decided that enough is enough. I'm going to give in and buy gluten-free oats.
I'm being stricter with my budget this month and trying to bring it down from the crazy amounts it got to (I'm too embarrassed to say right now... once it's under control I'll let you know how I did it :), so I searched around for the best deal. I didn't want to spend hours at it, so in my 30 minutes of research I've decided that AMAZON is the best deal.
First I looked to glutenfreeoats.com, giftsofnature.com, glutenfree.com, and glutenfreemall.com. They were all pretty similarly priced ($9-$16 for around two pounds), but then you have to add on the shipping: anywhere from $7-$16!
On Amazon, I can get the same products, but avoid shipping costs through Amazon Prime or do the subscribe & save, in which I'll save 15% on the order, plus free shipping.
I ended up buying four bags of Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Oats with ship and save for $4.64 per 2 lb. bag. I will need to double check my local health food stores & see if they can compete in price. I'll shop locally if they're within a dollar. I still need to go to Azure Standard and see what their price is on gluten-free oats. The only problem with that is they deliver monthly, I would have to go pick up the order in Utah County, and they charge a delivery fee that would make it less of a good deal. I want my oats now, but will do some more research on it for next time.
Do you like oatmeal?
I love it now- I hated it as a kid.
Do you like to shop online?
I LOVE it! I live in a smaller city that doesn't have a lot of good shopping options. I love having things dropped off at my doorstep. Very convenient!
What is your favorite thing to buy online?
Anything and everything.
*What about you? I'd love to get your comments.
Today was oatmeal day. I haven't been eating oatmeal because although it doesn't have gluten, it is commonly cross-contaminated with gluten as it is processed with the same equipment as wheat. I decided to give it a try, because it looked so good. I was hoping that people didn't know what they were talking about & it would only affect those with celiac's, not just the gluten intolerant like me. Result: stomach pain. Shoot- they were right. I'm glad that I'm in tune enough with my body that I can tell that it's reacting to it.
As a kid I HATED oatmeal. I liked oatmeal cookies and granola bars, but not the cereal. It wasn't until I was in my 20's that I figured out that I actually like oatmeal, I just can't stand the mushy "instant" quick cooking oats that my mom used to serve. Once I figured it out, I bought "old fashioned" oats, and have enjoyed eating oatmeal. Today I've decided that enough is enough. I'm going to give in and buy gluten-free oats.
I'm being stricter with my budget this month and trying to bring it down from the crazy amounts it got to (I'm too embarrassed to say right now... once it's under control I'll let you know how I did it :), so I searched around for the best deal. I didn't want to spend hours at it, so in my 30 minutes of research I've decided that AMAZON is the best deal.
First I looked to glutenfreeoats.com, giftsofnature.com, glutenfree.com, and glutenfreemall.com. They were all pretty similarly priced ($9-$16 for around two pounds), but then you have to add on the shipping: anywhere from $7-$16!
On Amazon, I can get the same products, but avoid shipping costs through Amazon Prime or do the subscribe & save, in which I'll save 15% on the order, plus free shipping.
I ended up buying four bags of Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Oats with ship and save for $4.64 per 2 lb. bag. I will need to double check my local health food stores & see if they can compete in price. I'll shop locally if they're within a dollar. I still need to go to Azure Standard and see what their price is on gluten-free oats. The only problem with that is they deliver monthly, I would have to go pick up the order in Utah County, and they charge a delivery fee that would make it less of a good deal. I want my oats now, but will do some more research on it for next time.
Do you like oatmeal?
I love it now- I hated it as a kid.
Do you like to shop online?
I LOVE it! I live in a smaller city that doesn't have a lot of good shopping options. I love having things dropped off at my doorstep. Very convenient!
What is your favorite thing to buy online?
Anything and everything.
*What about you? I'd love to get your comments.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Merry Christmas! And Look What December Has Brought...
My last post was on December 11th... So busy... yesterday was the first day to slow down a bit, and it felt great! Naps, catching up on reading... feels so good. Today I slept in. I woke up at 6:00 AM, but didn't get out of bed until 7:30. I read, and then watched an episode of Chopped.
I'm rereading Natalia Rose's Detox for Women, because I've had a relapse of candida. You know my last post on the 11th? After that point I was pretty lax on the sweets I ate- I was more lenient with chocolate, and homemade sweets (like carmel) that came our way. I did buy some dark chocolate to eat instead, but it didn't work. I ate that AND the sweets. And now, over two weeks later, I'm already having some female yeast issues. I've also felt more bloated and gassy. Not cool.
One good thing that has come from all of this is that now I know what I was doing WAS working (besides the weight loss), and that it is important to stay with it. I love rereading things that I read at the beginning of my journey, because now different things stand out to me. It's very motivating, and I'm ready to give it a go again (starting January 1st!!! :) For one month I'm going to be really strict, like I was in August. No fruit, honey, or maple syrup (as well as sugar of course). And I'm going back to JUICING! That will replace my breakfast, like before. My next doctor's appointment is the first part of February, and we'll be doing blood work again. Hopefully I'll be able to see a difference in my results, compared to August.
On Christmas Eve I decided to go to a Santa Hat fun run. I didn't know anyone who was going, but it sounded like fun. When I got there it turned out I knew a couple of gals, and it was fun to run with them. The best thing of all: They run together every Mon-Wed-Fri at 5 AM! And they invited me to join them!! And they're about my speed (a bit slower, but that's okay)!!! And they're going about as far as I want to go! (5 miles) I've been wanting to find someone to run with for YEARS, so I hope this works out. They're training for the Utah Valley Marathon in June, and I'm a bit torn. I REALLY want to do it, but I think I'll wait & see how my training goes in January and see if I have enough energy while I'm doing this stricter diet. Maybe I'll go with the half marathon.
I'm rereading Natalia Rose's Detox for Women, because I've had a relapse of candida. You know my last post on the 11th? After that point I was pretty lax on the sweets I ate- I was more lenient with chocolate, and homemade sweets (like carmel) that came our way. I did buy some dark chocolate to eat instead, but it didn't work. I ate that AND the sweets. And now, over two weeks later, I'm already having some female yeast issues. I've also felt more bloated and gassy. Not cool.
One good thing that has come from all of this is that now I know what I was doing WAS working (besides the weight loss), and that it is important to stay with it. I love rereading things that I read at the beginning of my journey, because now different things stand out to me. It's very motivating, and I'm ready to give it a go again (starting January 1st!!! :) For one month I'm going to be really strict, like I was in August. No fruit, honey, or maple syrup (as well as sugar of course). And I'm going back to JUICING! That will replace my breakfast, like before. My next doctor's appointment is the first part of February, and we'll be doing blood work again. Hopefully I'll be able to see a difference in my results, compared to August.
On Christmas Eve I decided to go to a Santa Hat fun run. I didn't know anyone who was going, but it sounded like fun. When I got there it turned out I knew a couple of gals, and it was fun to run with them. The best thing of all: They run together every Mon-Wed-Fri at 5 AM! And they invited me to join them!! And they're about my speed (a bit slower, but that's okay)!!! And they're going about as far as I want to go! (5 miles) I've been wanting to find someone to run with for YEARS, so I hope this works out. They're training for the Utah Valley Marathon in June, and I'm a bit torn. I REALLY want to do it, but I think I'll wait & see how my training goes in January and see if I have enough energy while I'm doing this stricter diet. Maybe I'll go with the half marathon.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Oh, the Temptation!
Christmas season has hit full force. I love it so much- I'm really in the Christmas spirit this year. But I wasn't anticipating the TEMPTATION. I've been so good to stay away from crappy food, but I feel it wearing away at me. The goodies are tempting me more & more (like the ice cream I mentioned last post).
The neighbor gifts has started coming... corn puffs (the chip-like puffs that I USED to use to make into carmel puffs to take around for our neighbor gifts), homemade fudge with marshmallows and nuts. I have to admit- I tasted the fudge. And WHEW- sugar rush. So sweet I could hardly eat it, thank goodness :).
But I've got to prepare mentally for the weeks ahead & make a plan. I think I'll get some more extra dark chocolate that I ate back in August & allow myself some instead of whatever goodie I'm trying to avoid.
The neighbor gifts has started coming... corn puffs (the chip-like puffs that I USED to use to make into carmel puffs to take around for our neighbor gifts), homemade fudge with marshmallows and nuts. I have to admit- I tasted the fudge. And WHEW- sugar rush. So sweet I could hardly eat it, thank goodness :).
But I've got to prepare mentally for the weeks ahead & make a plan. I think I'll get some more extra dark chocolate that I ate back in August & allow myself some instead of whatever goodie I'm trying to avoid.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Hummus? I wish.
When I went to Costco last week I gave in and bought some Hummus. There was a lady giving out samples on those yummy gluten free multi-grain chips, so I tried it. I purposefully didn't look at the ingredients list on the Hummus because I didn't want to know. I knew it was pretty healthy for you.
Well, no one around here likes it but me, and now I know my body doesn't like it. I feel crappy every time I eat it. Here are the ingredients: garbanzo beans, canola oil (a no-no), water, tahini (sesame butter), lemon juice concentrate, salt, garlic, spice, extra virgin olive oil, sodium benzoate (?!), and potassium sorbate (?! a preservative citric acid).
I also tried to eat Bryer's ice cream. (It says all natural). But I didn't look down the full list- one of the ingredients listed is WHEY. I didn't feel so great after eating that, either. Okay, okay! "Uncle"!
Well, no one around here likes it but me, and now I know my body doesn't like it. I feel crappy every time I eat it. Here are the ingredients: garbanzo beans, canola oil (a no-no), water, tahini (sesame butter), lemon juice concentrate, salt, garlic, spice, extra virgin olive oil, sodium benzoate (?!), and potassium sorbate (?! a preservative citric acid).
I also tried to eat Bryer's ice cream. (It says all natural). But I didn't look down the full list- one of the ingredients listed is WHEY. I didn't feel so great after eating that, either. Okay, okay! "Uncle"!
Saturday, December 3, 2011
GASP-- IT'S DEAD!
Ohhhhhh..... I made a bummer of a mistake this morning.
The day started off with my morning run- 7 miles, and beautiful! Until the last mile and 1/2, that is. I was running into a headwind and it was COLD. Even though it was harder against the wind I ran faster, because I was anxious to get out of the cold!
When I got home, I got everything ready to make breakfast. We were having sausage in scrambled eggs, and sour dough pancakes. Before my run I poured my entire sour dough start into a bowl & fed it, wanting to make sure I had enough start for the pancakes. When I got home it was nice & bubbly, and I got all the other ingredients ready to go. My 6-year-old and 10-year-old daughters like to pretend that they run a restaurant, and they were helping in the kitchen. I got another bowl out to mix some of the ingredients before adding the sour dough start. I asked Janessa to crack an egg and put it in the bowl (I was on the other side of the kitchen getting maple syrup and vanilla out). I walked over to where she was and there she was stirring the egg INTO THE BOWL WITH THE STARTER IN IT! My entire start. The one I've babied for weeks and weeks, tenderly feeding and babying.
At this point I'm not very proud of my reaction... I shrieked and said "NOOOOOOOOOO!" And looking back, this part is hilarious: I flung myself back into the fridge (about 6-7 steps)saying "NOOOOOOOOOO! That's MY START!" and put my hands over my face. I think I freaked poor Janessa out. She was just staring at me, then she walked out and started to cry. Poor thing. I went & got her and told her it wasn't her fault... I had said "the bowl", and why wouldn't she think it was the one with the stuff that looked like pancake batter?
Well, the pancakes turned out great (so everyone says... I still can't eat them). And now I have the chance to make my own start. Thank goodness for gnowfglins.com.
The day started off with my morning run- 7 miles, and beautiful! Until the last mile and 1/2, that is. I was running into a headwind and it was COLD. Even though it was harder against the wind I ran faster, because I was anxious to get out of the cold!
When I got home, I got everything ready to make breakfast. We were having sausage in scrambled eggs, and sour dough pancakes. Before my run I poured my entire sour dough start into a bowl & fed it, wanting to make sure I had enough start for the pancakes. When I got home it was nice & bubbly, and I got all the other ingredients ready to go. My 6-year-old and 10-year-old daughters like to pretend that they run a restaurant, and they were helping in the kitchen. I got another bowl out to mix some of the ingredients before adding the sour dough start. I asked Janessa to crack an egg and put it in the bowl (I was on the other side of the kitchen getting maple syrup and vanilla out). I walked over to where she was and there she was stirring the egg INTO THE BOWL WITH THE STARTER IN IT! My entire start. The one I've babied for weeks and weeks, tenderly feeding and babying.
At this point I'm not very proud of my reaction... I shrieked and said "NOOOOOOOOOO!" And looking back, this part is hilarious: I flung myself back into the fridge (about 6-7 steps)saying "NOOOOOOOOOO! That's MY START!" and put my hands over my face. I think I freaked poor Janessa out. She was just staring at me, then she walked out and started to cry. Poor thing. I went & got her and told her it wasn't her fault... I had said "the bowl", and why wouldn't she think it was the one with the stuff that looked like pancake batter?
Well, the pancakes turned out great (so everyone says... I still can't eat them). And now I have the chance to make my own start. Thank goodness for gnowfglins.com.
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