So I'm on the last leg of the 21-DSD. Tomorrow is supposed to be my last day, but I guess I have to be honest and say I officially ended it last night with the gluten-free pizza I dominated! But let's rewind a little bit and go through this week.
Day 16
Tuesday is my day off. I'm fairly certain it was again a snacky kind of day. I had eggs, chicken and avocado for breakfast. Then I started in on meal prep, baking 4 salmon fillets, a pot of chili from the 21 DSD book, and another batch of the chocolate almond coconut bites from Primal Palate. Had to try a couple of those! Lunch was some of the salmon and leftover broccoli and brussel sprouts. And then I had a late second lunch of eggs and sausage before going to crossfit. After my husband and I got home, we each had a bowl of chili and some apple crisp. Oh yeah, I made that, too! Haha, a busy day in my kitchen! But everything comes together so easily. It just takes a little bit of time to chop and peel, but after that everything is a cinch!
Day 17
I worked all day Wednesday, so I had eggs, bacon and avocado for breakfast. I packed pecans for my mid-morning snack. And I brought ground beef and sweet potato hash for lunch. Dinner was more chili and dessert was the apple crisp. I LOVE that stuff, but I think I need to hold off on making it again for a while! Guess I could do a LOT worse though when it comes to dessert!
Day 18
Eggs for breakfast. Ground beef, brussel sprouts and sweet potato hash for lunch and dinner (plus extra sweet potato at dinner for extra carbs) and two of the chocolate almond coconut bites for dessert!
Day 19
Eggs and salmon for breakfast. For some reason this didn't settle very well. To be honest, the salmon isn't very good. It was basically just some frozen stuff I had on hand. But I was able to get through the morning. I had ground beef and sweet potato hash for lunch, and ALL the coffee today! I had coffee with breakfast (which is typical) and then went for a coffee run at lunch. Work was busy and kept me occupied for the afternoon, so I didn't eat again until about 5:30 when I had a banana before heading to crossfit. For dinner ... well ... I chose to destroy a gluten free pizza from Minsky's Pizza*, a local chain here in Kansas City.
I know what you're thinking: WTF, why?! Why so close to the end of the challenge?! Well, I have three words for you: Smolov Jr. Squat Cycle. At Crossfit, we've been doing a really challenging squat cycle for three weeks, which basically coincided with the 21 DSD for me. After the first week of the 21 DSD, I actually felt pretty good energy-wise, and I was surprised to find that clean carb sources like sweet potatoes were enough to get me through even the really tough days of the squat cycle. (Although I have to wonder how differently the cycle would have gone with a bit more carb back loading, but there's always next time!) So last night was the culmination of the cycle in which we tested our new 1 RM back squat (1 RM = 1 Rep Max, or the heaviest amount of weight we can lift one time ... basically testing for a new personal best back squat.)
It. Was. Awesome!!! People were getting PR's left and right! It was a really fun and encouraging environment with everyone cheering each other on, knowing what we'd all been through these past three weeks! The cycle had us squatting on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, with varying amounts of sets and reps while getting progressively heavier compared to the week before. Anyway, I hit a new back squat PR of 215 freaking pounds!!!! My goal for the end of this year is a double body-weight back squat, which would be around 235-240# for me. I was so pumped to find I was only 20-25 lbs off of my goal this early in the year!! So yes, I rewarded myself with food, and I'm ok with that. Because it was pizza, dammit, not a veritable buffet of cakes and cookies and ice cream and god knows what. I know you can argue that sugar is sugar and it acts the same way in your body, but I also really believe that when you lift heavy, it's ok to replenish your stores with a bit of a carb rush.
So here's where I'm at with the whole 21 DSD program. I am going to still finish out the weekend eating within the guidelines of the program so that I can say I did 21 days, but not without a few slips here and there. After going through these three weeks, even with those slip-ups, I realized that this is how I want to continue to nourish my body. I learned a lot about how much sugar I was eating, and what it really means to make an effort to make good choices. So no, I wasn't perfect. But I still feel really good about how I ate these past three weeks. Even though I was doing a detox, it felt right to allow for a bit of fun every now and then because going in to the program, I had more than the 21 days on my mind. I didn't want to work so hard at hitting this reset button only to go crazy on sugar on day 22. What is the point of that? The reason I did the program in the first place is because I wanted to kick-off my new gluten-free lifestyle with a bang, I wanted to get control over my sugar cravings, and I wanted to make good, healthy choices more often than not. I had hopes of building better habits over all, habits that I could take with me going forward. So when I think in terms of the big-picture or how I wanted this experience to impact the way I eat, not just for three weeks but for the rest of my life, then I think I executed the 21 DSD perfectly for me. Because I accomplished those goals. I ate WAY less sugar than normal, I stayed away from gluten entirely, and I made healthy choices like 97% of the time.
Once the detox is "over" I will continue to strive to make better choices, I will do my best to stay on top of the food prep so that we have healthy options on hand, but I will refuse to treat the occasional indulgence as some kind of mistake. I will treat it as simply living life and enjoying good food! I don't want to feel guilty every time I enjoy a particular food that I love. But now I realize that I don't need to eat those particular foods on a daily or even weekly basis. This program helped me to realize that I have more control over my cravings than I ever could have imagined. It helped me shed light on how I was eating and how I can do better. I've gotten rid of the excuses and discovered that there are only choices. And that is very empowering.
*Side note, I know that it's basically a no-no to get pizza from a pizza restaurant, even if they say it's gluten-free, because of the risk of cross contamination. However, Minsky's has this paragraph on their menu about how they've been specifically trained by GREAT - Gluten-free Resource Education and Awareness Training - with specific emphasis on taking the safety of those with celiac disease in to account. Thoughts?? I'm still new to this, and I know I shouldn't just hope that a restaurant lives up to their word when it comes to my health, but damn do they make great pizza!
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
21 DSD - Days 8 - 15
Thought I'd pop in with an update on how I'm doing with the 21-DSD. I'm not going to lie, there were some slip-ups this week. One of which was actually planned, but also relatively controlled. Here we go:
Day 8
This Monday got off to a good start again with my usual breakfast. I also started kind of making it in to a hash with just one big bowl of awesome in the morning. But Monday, it was the usual quiche. This time, I added shredded carrots and zucchini to the quiche instead. Lunch was leftovers at home. Dinner was Chili from the 21 DSD book (not the cookbook). For a treat, I made the Granny Smith Apple Crumble. Delicious!! I knew I would definitely make that again!
Day 9
I have Tuesdays off each week, so this Tuesday I actually met up with my mom to do some (window) shopping! I had breakfast at home that morning ... quiche, duh. Then we met up for lunch. We went to a restaurant called Gordon Biersch. I was a little bit nervous about what I'd find on the menu that was gluten free. Their normal menu didn't have anything that denoted gluten free, and a lot of items came with sauces that I just couldn't be sure about, so I asked if they happened to have a gluten free menu. And they did!! I'm so glad I asked so that I could be that much more confident in my choices. I know there's probably still the risk of cross contamination in the kitchen, but it's better than crushing some delicious food unwittingly laden with gluten sauce poured all over the top. I went with steak and mashed potatoes. So good! My dinner was the leftovers from my lunch, but I also roasted some broccoli and made the Perfectly Grilled Chicken that night after I got home for meals in the days to come.
Day 10
Typical breakfast. This time I brought nuts to snack on mid-morning at work. That helped me so much to not feel absolutely starving by the time I was able to eat lunch. I had made a couple of pre-prepped specifically-for-lunches sweet potato and ground beef hash. Basically just roasted sweet potatos with coconut oil and cinnamon and then ground beef cooked up on the stovetop mixed in. The beef was weird. Like super weird. I bought special free-range, organic beef that was 85% lean and 15% fat. I wasn't sure if it was something I had done with the seasoning, or if the variety of beef I got was actually that different from what I usually use, but I definitely had to make sure there was some sweet potato in every bite, otherwise, I don't think I'd have been able to eat the beef. It's also possible that I overcooked it, but it was weird! Dinner was some of the chicken and broccoli and the apple crumble for dessert!
Day 11
Thursday. I have Thursday mornings off, so I took the time to roast up some brussel sprouts using the Crumb-Topped Brussels Sprouts recipe from the 21-DSD book. Amazeballs. I will absolutely make brussels sprouts like that again. Breakfast actually included 2 of the Carrot Pumpkin Spice Muffins. I actually can't remember exactly when I made these, but they were also really good! I'd have them as snacks or as part of my breakfasts with the quiche. This morning, I had wanted to make the Pumpkin Pancakes, but then got lazy, so I just put coconut butter on top of the muffins. It turned out to be delicious! Lunch was chicken and brussels sprouts. Dinner was chicken and brussel sprouts and broccoli plus the last of the apple crumble.
Day 12
Breakfast = quiche. Snack = nuts. Lunch = ground beef and sweet potato hash. Dinner = chicken and brussels sprouts. Nom.
Day 13
Saturday. Oh, Saturday. This was where the planned cheating happened. My crossfit gym was finally having their Christmas party. We had known about it for weeks, as in before I decided to do the 21 DSD, and I had really been looking forward to it. Basically, the gym rented a bus to take members out to a bar downtown. I knew I just wanted to be able to enjoy the night and not worry (too much) about what I can and can't have. I know I was only doing a 21-day challenge, and I should have been able to abstain from eating or drinking any added sugars (a.k.a. the wine!). And really, I know it wasn't a matter of will-power. Had I decided that I wasn't going to drink, I know I would have been able to say no. However, I knowingly chose to participate. I decided, before the day of the party, to let loose on the reigns and just have fun. And I don't really feel bad about that.
I want the habits I build on this program to be sustainable. And that is how I plan to use what I've learned or gained by doing the program. I want to be able to have a meal and not want that dessert immediately after. I wanted to break the habit of a glass of wine each night. But I don't have any intentions of cutting out these things completely. Because life isn't about how perfectly you eat ALL the time. It's about doing your best, but also having some fun! So I did. It turned in to a pretty ridiculous night for a lot of folks, but I do think having the 21 DSD in the back of my mind helped me to not go too overboard with what I drank. I ended up having about 3 glasses of wine. While that is by no means a small amount of wine, it is also by no means outrageous. And I felt good the next day, which tells me I didn't go as hard as some. Haha! And the cool thing was that the very next day and the day after there were events and opportunities to again partake in a glass of wine, but I just didn't really want it. So, my plan for beyond the 21 DSD is to save the wine (and the sugary desserts for that matter) for weekends and special occasions.
My eating on Saturday also wasn't the best. It wasn't the worst though either! I made the pumpkin pancakes for breakfast, had some chicken and veggies for lunch. Made a delicious appetizer of raw bell peppers sliced into mini boats topped with guac and bacon crumbles and a taco-seasoned ground beef and sauteed pepper and onion bowls for dinner. We had people over to our house before the crossfit party, so I wanted to offer some healthy pre-party food. My downfall with the food was munching on tortilla chips (gluten free, of course) both before and after the party. So, it was definitely a cheat, but I could have done a LOT worse.
Day 14
Sunday I tried to get right back to it. Breakfast was eggs with some of the leftover beef and peppers from saturday night. Lunch was a grocery store salad from the salad bar. I actually didn't really enjoy this salad because I couldn't (or didn't) put any meat on it. And so it was kind of blah and not very satiating. I wasn't sure how the bacon or the meat choices that were offered were processed or if gluten was involved, so I just tried to stay away. My family and I actually went to visit my grandparents that afternoon, so I wasn't really in my own kitchen with my own food, so I ended up having some trail mix at my grandparents as a snack that afternoon, but I picked around all of the chocolate and dried berries. I went for the almonds and pistachios. Dinner was steak and potatoes out at a restaurant with the family. No wine. :)
Day 15
Back at it on Monday. I had eggs and taco beef for breakfast. We had a Mexican fiesta potluck at work, but I tried to stick with the guac and rice. (For the sake of honesty, I'll admit that a few tortilla chips ended up on my plate. Dang it.) When I got home, I had leftover steak and potatoes. Dinner was chili, and I made another batch of the apple crumble. It is sweet because of the apples, but it's nice that a fruit-based "dessert" is hitting the spot now. Normally, I'd probably wish I had a big ole piece of chocolate cake. WITH frosting. Only 6 days to go! Maybe I'll try to "make up" those cheats with a couple extra days of good eats!
Day 8
This Monday got off to a good start again with my usual breakfast. I also started kind of making it in to a hash with just one big bowl of awesome in the morning. But Monday, it was the usual quiche. This time, I added shredded carrots and zucchini to the quiche instead. Lunch was leftovers at home. Dinner was Chili from the 21 DSD book (not the cookbook). For a treat, I made the Granny Smith Apple Crumble. Delicious!! I knew I would definitely make that again!
Day 9
I have Tuesdays off each week, so this Tuesday I actually met up with my mom to do some (window) shopping! I had breakfast at home that morning ... quiche, duh. Then we met up for lunch. We went to a restaurant called Gordon Biersch. I was a little bit nervous about what I'd find on the menu that was gluten free. Their normal menu didn't have anything that denoted gluten free, and a lot of items came with sauces that I just couldn't be sure about, so I asked if they happened to have a gluten free menu. And they did!! I'm so glad I asked so that I could be that much more confident in my choices. I know there's probably still the risk of cross contamination in the kitchen, but it's better than crushing some delicious food unwittingly laden with gluten sauce poured all over the top. I went with steak and mashed potatoes. So good! My dinner was the leftovers from my lunch, but I also roasted some broccoli and made the Perfectly Grilled Chicken that night after I got home for meals in the days to come.
Day 10
Typical breakfast. This time I brought nuts to snack on mid-morning at work. That helped me so much to not feel absolutely starving by the time I was able to eat lunch. I had made a couple of pre-prepped specifically-for-lunches sweet potato and ground beef hash. Basically just roasted sweet potatos with coconut oil and cinnamon and then ground beef cooked up on the stovetop mixed in. The beef was weird. Like super weird. I bought special free-range, organic beef that was 85% lean and 15% fat. I wasn't sure if it was something I had done with the seasoning, or if the variety of beef I got was actually that different from what I usually use, but I definitely had to make sure there was some sweet potato in every bite, otherwise, I don't think I'd have been able to eat the beef. It's also possible that I overcooked it, but it was weird! Dinner was some of the chicken and broccoli and the apple crumble for dessert!
Day 11
Thursday. I have Thursday mornings off, so I took the time to roast up some brussel sprouts using the Crumb-Topped Brussels Sprouts recipe from the 21-DSD book. Amazeballs. I will absolutely make brussels sprouts like that again. Breakfast actually included 2 of the Carrot Pumpkin Spice Muffins. I actually can't remember exactly when I made these, but they were also really good! I'd have them as snacks or as part of my breakfasts with the quiche. This morning, I had wanted to make the Pumpkin Pancakes, but then got lazy, so I just put coconut butter on top of the muffins. It turned out to be delicious! Lunch was chicken and brussels sprouts. Dinner was chicken and brussel sprouts and broccoli plus the last of the apple crumble.
Day 12
Breakfast = quiche. Snack = nuts. Lunch = ground beef and sweet potato hash. Dinner = chicken and brussels sprouts. Nom.
Day 13
Saturday. Oh, Saturday. This was where the planned cheating happened. My crossfit gym was finally having their Christmas party. We had known about it for weeks, as in before I decided to do the 21 DSD, and I had really been looking forward to it. Basically, the gym rented a bus to take members out to a bar downtown. I knew I just wanted to be able to enjoy the night and not worry (too much) about what I can and can't have. I know I was only doing a 21-day challenge, and I should have been able to abstain from eating or drinking any added sugars (a.k.a. the wine!). And really, I know it wasn't a matter of will-power. Had I decided that I wasn't going to drink, I know I would have been able to say no. However, I knowingly chose to participate. I decided, before the day of the party, to let loose on the reigns and just have fun. And I don't really feel bad about that.
I want the habits I build on this program to be sustainable. And that is how I plan to use what I've learned or gained by doing the program. I want to be able to have a meal and not want that dessert immediately after. I wanted to break the habit of a glass of wine each night. But I don't have any intentions of cutting out these things completely. Because life isn't about how perfectly you eat ALL the time. It's about doing your best, but also having some fun! So I did. It turned in to a pretty ridiculous night for a lot of folks, but I do think having the 21 DSD in the back of my mind helped me to not go too overboard with what I drank. I ended up having about 3 glasses of wine. While that is by no means a small amount of wine, it is also by no means outrageous. And I felt good the next day, which tells me I didn't go as hard as some. Haha! And the cool thing was that the very next day and the day after there were events and opportunities to again partake in a glass of wine, but I just didn't really want it. So, my plan for beyond the 21 DSD is to save the wine (and the sugary desserts for that matter) for weekends and special occasions.
My eating on Saturday also wasn't the best. It wasn't the worst though either! I made the pumpkin pancakes for breakfast, had some chicken and veggies for lunch. Made a delicious appetizer of raw bell peppers sliced into mini boats topped with guac and bacon crumbles and a taco-seasoned ground beef and sauteed pepper and onion bowls for dinner. We had people over to our house before the crossfit party, so I wanted to offer some healthy pre-party food. My downfall with the food was munching on tortilla chips (gluten free, of course) both before and after the party. So, it was definitely a cheat, but I could have done a LOT worse.
Day 14
Sunday I tried to get right back to it. Breakfast was eggs with some of the leftover beef and peppers from saturday night. Lunch was a grocery store salad from the salad bar. I actually didn't really enjoy this salad because I couldn't (or didn't) put any meat on it. And so it was kind of blah and not very satiating. I wasn't sure how the bacon or the meat choices that were offered were processed or if gluten was involved, so I just tried to stay away. My family and I actually went to visit my grandparents that afternoon, so I wasn't really in my own kitchen with my own food, so I ended up having some trail mix at my grandparents as a snack that afternoon, but I picked around all of the chocolate and dried berries. I went for the almonds and pistachios. Dinner was steak and potatoes out at a restaurant with the family. No wine. :)
Day 15
Back at it on Monday. I had eggs and taco beef for breakfast. We had a Mexican fiesta potluck at work, but I tried to stick with the guac and rice. (For the sake of honesty, I'll admit that a few tortilla chips ended up on my plate. Dang it.) When I got home, I had leftover steak and potatoes. Dinner was chili, and I made another batch of the apple crumble. It is sweet because of the apples, but it's nice that a fruit-based "dessert" is hitting the spot now. Normally, I'd probably wish I had a big ole piece of chocolate cake. WITH frosting. Only 6 days to go! Maybe I'll try to "make up" those cheats with a couple extra days of good eats!
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Supplements for Celiacs
I have been eating completely gluten free for about 2 weeks now. While I understand that it can take months to really start healing, I've also noticed that not a whole lot has changed when it comes to certain, ummm, digestive "issues" we'll call them. (Poo, duh! Sorry if that's TMI, but I also feel like it's a big part of what people with celiac suffer through, so I'm going to mention it.) Basically, I'm no longer running to the bathroom after nearly every meal, but the poo quality still isn't where it should be. If you've ever read Practical Paleo, you'll know what I'm talking about. There's a whole section in her book where Diane Sanfillipo basically breaks down what your poo should look like if everything is working properly. I'm not going to get into details, but let's just say I know I've got a ways to go before my gut heals.
But that got me thinking, what else can I do to help speed the process along? This brought me to the topic of supplementation. What supplements are helpful for newly diagnosed celiacs to get their digestion in check as quickly and healthfully as possible? After some research, I came up with a personal plan. This is in no way meant to be taken as actual medical advice, just something I want to try for myself and see if it helps.
THE SUPPLEMENTS:
L-Glutamine
Magnesium
But that got me thinking, what else can I do to help speed the process along? This brought me to the topic of supplementation. What supplements are helpful for newly diagnosed celiacs to get their digestion in check as quickly and healthfully as possible? After some research, I came up with a personal plan. This is in no way meant to be taken as actual medical advice, just something I want to try for myself and see if it helps.
THE SUPPLEMENTS:
L-Glutamine
- What it is: An amino acid that supports the repair of guy lining and improves gut function.
- What form: powder. It is tasteless, so I plan to try adding it to hot lemon water in the morning.
- How much: Diane suggests 2-4 grams in water taken up to twice a day. The directions on the package say 1 rounded teaspoon once or twice a day. I'm guessing that's probably pretty close to the same thing. I will start with 1 rounded teaspoon once a day and see if I need to increase from there.
Magnesium
- What it is: a mineral that plays a role in more than 300 enzymatic processes in the body. Most people are magnesium deficient.
- What form: powder. I bought Natural Calm Plus Calcium. It's a raspberry lemon flavored powder that I plan to mix into hot water in the evenings.
- How much: The package suggests 1-1.5 rounded teaspoons twice per day at least 5 hours apart. Diane suggests that people who weigh less than 130 should begin at the lower end of the range. I plan to start with 1/2 teaspoon and then proceed from there.
Digestive Enzymes
- What it is: enzymes help the small intestines break down food in order to make it easier for the body to absorb nutrients. You may need digestive enzymes if you experience food in your stool, floating stools, oily stools or gas and bloating after meals, among other symptoms.
- What form: capsule.
- How much: The package recommends one capsule with every meal. That's what I plan to (try to remember to) do.
Probiotics
- What it is: bacteria that can help restore the balance of good bacteria in your digestive tract to improve intestinal function and the integrity of the gut lining.
- What form: capsule
- How much: The package suggests up to three capsules a day. I think it will be easiest for me to remember if I take the probiotics and the digestive enzymes together at each meal.
So, there you have it. These are the four things I plan to try to help improve my digestion. I will be interested to see how it all works out, and I will keep you posted!
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
21 DSD - The First Weekend
I started the 21-Day Sugar Detox on the first Monday of the month, like the book suggests you do. You can see the first 5 days of my experience here. Days 6 and 7 were the dreaded first weekend of the detox. I knew these couple of days would be quite a bit more challenging than the weekdays since 1) I was running low of pre-prepped food and would have to make more and 2) I would run in to more situations were temptations were present or 3) I would have to battle the boredom cravings. I know that I sometimes eat out of boredom or anxiety, so I'd have to prep and keep myself busy that weekend in order to avoid a major slip-up.
Well, the boredom thing didn't end up happening. My husband and I ended up judging a 2-day crossfit competition at our gym. It pretty much ran all day on Saturday and a half-day Sunday. However, this also meant less time to prep. It was kind of like a catch-22. But I made it through! Here's the run-down:
Friday night after crossfit, I really wanted to let loose as I mentioned. I wanted to unwind with a glass of wine and chow down on some pizza or something sweet and carby. I stayed strong though and made it through.
Saturday morning I realized too late that we didn't have any more leftovers for me to bring with me to the competition, where I knew I would be stuck all day. I also knew that there would be food available at the competition but I wanted to bring my own for two reasons. 1) Having just been diagnosed with celiac, I had no idea what ingredients would be used and whether or not I would be safe eating any of the available options, and 2) whether or not I'd be tempted to buy something sweet if it was available. I'd rather just not know and stick to what I brought. It ended up that there was some delicious looking smoked meat available, but I still didn't know if a rub was used or if there was a sugary bbq sauce, so I'm glad I brought my own food! I ended up frantically making another batch of the beef with broccoli at 6:30 in the morning!! It came together really quickly and ended up being an easy fix. I just had to put in a little extra effort. At the end of the competition, someone had brought a case of beer for the judges, and it was really hard not to join in on the effort. I think had it not been for celiac, I would have caved on the sugar detox and had a beer! But I knew I couldn't anyway, so I was able to say no. We stopped by the store on the way home from the competition so I could get some sweet potatoes to make a quick, healthy sweet potato and ground beef hash.
Sunday was another half-day of judging, so I was occupied during the morning. I didn't need to bring any food with me, but had leftover sweet potato hash for lunch when we got home. That night I did have chipotle for dinner. I went to their website and discovered, happily, that I can have most of what they offer as long as I avoid their flour tortillas. Yay! I also figured since it was meat, veggies and a little bit of rice that I was within the 21 DSD guidelines. I didn't have any other dressings, etc. so I'm ok with my decision! Later that night I made Bittersweet Hot Chocolate from the 21 DSD book, and it was good! Different, but good. I actually ended up using the leftovers as a sort of creamer for my coffee the next couple of days (it's basically full-fat coconut milk, water, cinnamon and cocoa powder). I sipped on that while watching the Golden Globes with my husband. All-in-all it was a fun weekend, and it ended up being easier to stick to the detox than I thought!
Well, the boredom thing didn't end up happening. My husband and I ended up judging a 2-day crossfit competition at our gym. It pretty much ran all day on Saturday and a half-day Sunday. However, this also meant less time to prep. It was kind of like a catch-22. But I made it through! Here's the run-down:
Friday night after crossfit, I really wanted to let loose as I mentioned. I wanted to unwind with a glass of wine and chow down on some pizza or something sweet and carby. I stayed strong though and made it through.
Saturday morning I realized too late that we didn't have any more leftovers for me to bring with me to the competition, where I knew I would be stuck all day. I also knew that there would be food available at the competition but I wanted to bring my own for two reasons. 1) Having just been diagnosed with celiac, I had no idea what ingredients would be used and whether or not I would be safe eating any of the available options, and 2) whether or not I'd be tempted to buy something sweet if it was available. I'd rather just not know and stick to what I brought. It ended up that there was some delicious looking smoked meat available, but I still didn't know if a rub was used or if there was a sugary bbq sauce, so I'm glad I brought my own food! I ended up frantically making another batch of the beef with broccoli at 6:30 in the morning!! It came together really quickly and ended up being an easy fix. I just had to put in a little extra effort. At the end of the competition, someone had brought a case of beer for the judges, and it was really hard not to join in on the effort. I think had it not been for celiac, I would have caved on the sugar detox and had a beer! But I knew I couldn't anyway, so I was able to say no. We stopped by the store on the way home from the competition so I could get some sweet potatoes to make a quick, healthy sweet potato and ground beef hash.
Sunday was another half-day of judging, so I was occupied during the morning. I didn't need to bring any food with me, but had leftover sweet potato hash for lunch when we got home. That night I did have chipotle for dinner. I went to their website and discovered, happily, that I can have most of what they offer as long as I avoid their flour tortillas. Yay! I also figured since it was meat, veggies and a little bit of rice that I was within the 21 DSD guidelines. I didn't have any other dressings, etc. so I'm ok with my decision! Later that night I made Bittersweet Hot Chocolate from the 21 DSD book, and it was good! Different, but good. I actually ended up using the leftovers as a sort of creamer for my coffee the next couple of days (it's basically full-fat coconut milk, water, cinnamon and cocoa powder). I sipped on that while watching the Golden Globes with my husband. All-in-all it was a fun weekend, and it ended up being easier to stick to the detox than I thought!
Saturday, January 11, 2014
21 DSD Days 1-5
Hey guys!
I made it! The first five days on the 21-Day Sugar Detox are done!
Day One
This day was actually pretty easy. Mostly because I was super motivated and had prepped a lot on Sunday. For breakfast I had the Tomato Basil Quiche with bacon and avocado. I didn't pack a mid-morning snack, but wished I would have. For lunch I packed the Ginger Garlic Beef and Broccoli plus about 1/3 to 1/2 cup of quinoa since I planned on going to crossfit that night. I did feel like I "needed" a mid afternoon coffee pick-me-up, but my determination to not eat sugar never really wavered. I also had a mid afternoon snack of the Cinnilla Nut Mix. Dinner was again the beef and broccoli with a "dessert" of 1/3 to 1/2 cup of sweet potatoes roasted in cinnamon and coconut oil with a homemade coconut butter on top.
Day Two
Day two ended up being a little bit tougher energy-wise. I actually had the day off of work and continued to do some more meal prep at home in the morning. Then I was super productive around the house ... i.e. I finally took down the Christmas decorations! But by early evening, I had nothing left. I'm talking to the point where I just didn't even feel like going to Crossfit, which is rare for me. But lets get to the food! Basically, since I was at home all day, I was a lot more snacky and less 3-square-meals-a-day. But I had the same breakfast as Monday, but since one of the things I prepped that morning was the green apple sausage, I had one of those instead of the bacon. Lunch was another meal I had prepped that morning: Mexi Meatloaf. Snacks throughout the day included more of the Cinnilla Nut Mix, plus just random scoops of homemade almond butter or coconut butter. Not a TON at any one time, but I think this was just me trying to figure out what to do with a sugar craving, which resulted in straight-up almond butter face-stuffing. Dinner was the Balsamic Braised Beef with steamed cauliflower.
Day Three
Day three was another looooonnng day at work, so that helps deter some of the cravings. Breakfast was the quiche, again. This time with two of the green apple sausage patties and 1/2 of an avocado. Mid-morning snack was the Cinnilla Nut Mix. Lunch was the Balsamic Beef with steamed cauliflower. I also brought two of the chocolate almond coconut bites from The Food Lover's Kitchen/Primal Palate. Those little guys have been a lifesaver! They make it feel like I'm getting a treat or a dessert. I had enough energy, even after a long day at work, to go to Crossfit that night. Afterward, I destroyed a couple of slices of meatloaf for dinner and a scoop of almond butter for "dessert!" I'm finding now that hot tea or some sort of hot drink helps to reduce my cravings for sugar. It lasts longer than a treat would, and it's soothing. I guess it's something I can maybe try to replace the habit of dessert with. Instead of always needing something sweet after a meal, maybe I just look forward to a nice hot cup of coffee, tea or lemon water. I know it sounds kind of boring, but it's working for me so far!
Day Four
This day began with another breakfast just like day three. I'm talking the exact.same.thing. But I'm kind of a creature of habit, so I look forward to a meal if I know what it is going to be rather than dread it. It's kinda like if Sunday is pancake day. You look forward to it because you know what it's going to be ... well, and also because it's freaking pancakes. But you get the idea. I had the last of the beef with broccoli for lunch, then went to work and crossfit and didn't eat again until 8:30 that night. I was starving by then, but luckily we had some of the balsamic braised beef left. I dominated a giant bowl of that (again with the steamed cauliflower ... I know, it's all getting a little old to me, too). I'm actually writing this on Day 6, so I'll just have to assume I had yet another chocolate coconut almond butter bite (or 2) for dessert.
Day Five
Day 5 began exactly like the days before. Quiche. Sausage. Avocado. Delicious. Brought some nuts with me to snack on mid-morning. This time I made the Spicy Nut Mix, but with a few variations based on what I had (or didn't have) on hand. Lunch was actually a spinach salad with tomato, green pepper and bacon. I made simple dressing using olive oil, garlic salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice. I also packed carrots and homemade almond butter for dipping. Dinner was again after a long afternoon at work and an evening crossfit class where we've been doing a pretty gnarly squat cycle, so I was really wanting to just come home a crush a ton of pizza. But we didn't have pizza. We had sausage. And eggs. Basically I had what I had for breakfast (AGAIN!) because it's all we had on hand that would be ready in .5 seconds.
How I'm Feeling
Well, I am definitely feeling the importance of preparation. I think I did a pretty good job of it as what I made lasted me through Friday night, even if it wasn't exactly what I wanted at the time. However, I also feel like I've sort of been a slave to the kitchen this week. It requires a lot of time and effort. But because of my recent diagnosis, I really want to complete this challenge. And besides, I don't really have a solid idea of what I can and can't have when it comes to convenience-type foods, so I figure why risk it? And most fast food is out anyway, so I've kinda just gotta get used to this.
I'm also feeling the cravings kind of start to kick in. The first five days were work days, so it helped that I was out of the house, but I could definitely tell that by Friday, I just wanted to let loose. But I've stayed strong so far! Here's to 16 more days.
I made it! The first five days on the 21-Day Sugar Detox are done!
Day One
This day was actually pretty easy. Mostly because I was super motivated and had prepped a lot on Sunday. For breakfast I had the Tomato Basil Quiche with bacon and avocado. I didn't pack a mid-morning snack, but wished I would have. For lunch I packed the Ginger Garlic Beef and Broccoli plus about 1/3 to 1/2 cup of quinoa since I planned on going to crossfit that night. I did feel like I "needed" a mid afternoon coffee pick-me-up, but my determination to not eat sugar never really wavered. I also had a mid afternoon snack of the Cinnilla Nut Mix. Dinner was again the beef and broccoli with a "dessert" of 1/3 to 1/2 cup of sweet potatoes roasted in cinnamon and coconut oil with a homemade coconut butter on top.
Day Two
Day two ended up being a little bit tougher energy-wise. I actually had the day off of work and continued to do some more meal prep at home in the morning. Then I was super productive around the house ... i.e. I finally took down the Christmas decorations! But by early evening, I had nothing left. I'm talking to the point where I just didn't even feel like going to Crossfit, which is rare for me. But lets get to the food! Basically, since I was at home all day, I was a lot more snacky and less 3-square-meals-a-day. But I had the same breakfast as Monday, but since one of the things I prepped that morning was the green apple sausage, I had one of those instead of the bacon. Lunch was another meal I had prepped that morning: Mexi Meatloaf. Snacks throughout the day included more of the Cinnilla Nut Mix, plus just random scoops of homemade almond butter or coconut butter. Not a TON at any one time, but I think this was just me trying to figure out what to do with a sugar craving, which resulted in straight-up almond butter face-stuffing. Dinner was the Balsamic Braised Beef with steamed cauliflower.
Day Three
Day three was another looooonnng day at work, so that helps deter some of the cravings. Breakfast was the quiche, again. This time with two of the green apple sausage patties and 1/2 of an avocado. Mid-morning snack was the Cinnilla Nut Mix. Lunch was the Balsamic Beef with steamed cauliflower. I also brought two of the chocolate almond coconut bites from The Food Lover's Kitchen/Primal Palate. Those little guys have been a lifesaver! They make it feel like I'm getting a treat or a dessert. I had enough energy, even after a long day at work, to go to Crossfit that night. Afterward, I destroyed a couple of slices of meatloaf for dinner and a scoop of almond butter for "dessert!" I'm finding now that hot tea or some sort of hot drink helps to reduce my cravings for sugar. It lasts longer than a treat would, and it's soothing. I guess it's something I can maybe try to replace the habit of dessert with. Instead of always needing something sweet after a meal, maybe I just look forward to a nice hot cup of coffee, tea or lemon water. I know it sounds kind of boring, but it's working for me so far!
Day Four
This day began with another breakfast just like day three. I'm talking the exact.same.thing. But I'm kind of a creature of habit, so I look forward to a meal if I know what it is going to be rather than dread it. It's kinda like if Sunday is pancake day. You look forward to it because you know what it's going to be ... well, and also because it's freaking pancakes. But you get the idea. I had the last of the beef with broccoli for lunch, then went to work and crossfit and didn't eat again until 8:30 that night. I was starving by then, but luckily we had some of the balsamic braised beef left. I dominated a giant bowl of that (again with the steamed cauliflower ... I know, it's all getting a little old to me, too). I'm actually writing this on Day 6, so I'll just have to assume I had yet another chocolate coconut almond butter bite (or 2) for dessert.
Day Five
Day 5 began exactly like the days before. Quiche. Sausage. Avocado. Delicious. Brought some nuts with me to snack on mid-morning. This time I made the Spicy Nut Mix, but with a few variations based on what I had (or didn't have) on hand. Lunch was actually a spinach salad with tomato, green pepper and bacon. I made simple dressing using olive oil, garlic salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice. I also packed carrots and homemade almond butter for dipping. Dinner was again after a long afternoon at work and an evening crossfit class where we've been doing a pretty gnarly squat cycle, so I was really wanting to just come home a crush a ton of pizza. But we didn't have pizza. We had sausage. And eggs. Basically I had what I had for breakfast (AGAIN!) because it's all we had on hand that would be ready in .5 seconds.
How I'm Feeling
Well, I am definitely feeling the importance of preparation. I think I did a pretty good job of it as what I made lasted me through Friday night, even if it wasn't exactly what I wanted at the time. However, I also feel like I've sort of been a slave to the kitchen this week. It requires a lot of time and effort. But because of my recent diagnosis, I really want to complete this challenge. And besides, I don't really have a solid idea of what I can and can't have when it comes to convenience-type foods, so I figure why risk it? And most fast food is out anyway, so I've kinda just gotta get used to this.
I'm also feeling the cravings kind of start to kick in. The first five days were work days, so it helped that I was out of the house, but I could definitely tell that by Friday, I just wanted to let loose. But I've stayed strong so far! Here's to 16 more days.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
21 Day Sugar Detox
Before having my endoscopy to confirm a diagnosis of celiac disease, I had already decided to try going gluten free, regardless of the results. I had planned to kick-start this new way of eating with the 21-Day Sugar Detox, a program developed by the author of Practical Paleo, Diane Sanfillipo. First of all, it's not what you typically think of when you hear the word "detox." I'm still eating food, and a LOT of it. However, instead of sugary, processed junk it's all whole, real food with NO added sugars and very little fruit and no alcohol for 21 days while you work toward changing your taste for and your habits surrounding sugar.
There are two books tied to this program. The first book is more about the effects of sugar and why it's worthwhile to limit our intake. This book includes three different levels of detox depending on how you're currently eating, and each level contains modifications for various factors. For example, if you are very active (i.e. crossfit!), then she outlines how and when to add more carbs to fuel your body for workouts. So the book has the three levels of detox, each of which outlines yes/no foods for the 21 days as well as foods to eat in moderation and the modifications I mentioned. She also provides each level with a detailed meal plan for the entire 21 days. The rest of the book is a TON of awesome recipes for you to use on the plan. The second book is a cookbook with even more 21 DSD recipes! I only have the first book, but I've been very happy with everything I've made from it so far.
The 21 DSD program kicks off the first Monday of every month. Really, you can begin whenever you'd like, but the support group on facebook and motivational emails follow the first monday of the month timeline. So I started it yesterday. One day down, 20 to go! I can already tell, weeknights and weekends are going to be the most difficult. Otherwise, when I'm at work, I can only eat what I pack, so that should be fine. Everything I read said that the most important step you can take is food/meal prep. If you have healthy choices ready to go and accessible, it should be a breeze! So of course, I hadn't planned on doing any of my grocery shopping until the day before. I had planned on making a day of it: shop in the morning, cook all afternoon. Well, we got several inches of snow the night before this planned day of epic food-making, so I had to risk life and limb to get to Costco, but I was determined to start this! Here's what I made for week one:
Breakfast
Snacks
Lunch/Dinner
Treats
Beverages
Water, coffee, tea, or hot water with lemon
There are two books tied to this program. The first book is more about the effects of sugar and why it's worthwhile to limit our intake. This book includes three different levels of detox depending on how you're currently eating, and each level contains modifications for various factors. For example, if you are very active (i.e. crossfit!), then she outlines how and when to add more carbs to fuel your body for workouts. So the book has the three levels of detox, each of which outlines yes/no foods for the 21 days as well as foods to eat in moderation and the modifications I mentioned. She also provides each level with a detailed meal plan for the entire 21 days. The rest of the book is a TON of awesome recipes for you to use on the plan. The second book is a cookbook with even more 21 DSD recipes! I only have the first book, but I've been very happy with everything I've made from it so far.
The 21 DSD program kicks off the first Monday of every month. Really, you can begin whenever you'd like, but the support group on facebook and motivational emails follow the first monday of the month timeline. So I started it yesterday. One day down, 20 to go! I can already tell, weeknights and weekends are going to be the most difficult. Otherwise, when I'm at work, I can only eat what I pack, so that should be fine. Everything I read said that the most important step you can take is food/meal prep. If you have healthy choices ready to go and accessible, it should be a breeze! So of course, I hadn't planned on doing any of my grocery shopping until the day before. I had planned on making a day of it: shop in the morning, cook all afternoon. Well, we got several inches of snow the night before this planned day of epic food-making, so I had to risk life and limb to get to Costco, but I was determined to start this! Here's what I made for week one:
Breakfast
- Tomato Basil Quiche**
- Green Apple Breakfast Sausage**
- I like add some kale sauteed in coconut oil or half of an avocado with sea salt to these dishes
Snacks
- Cinnilla Nut Mix**
- Veggies with guacamole
Lunch/Dinner
- Mexi Meatloaf**
- Balsamic Braised Beef**
- Ginger Garlic Beef with Broccoli**
- Lunches for me are usually always leftovers from dinner
Treats
- Chocolate Almond Coconut Bites & Almond Butter from The Food Lover's Kitchen http://www.primalpalate.com/recipe/chocolate-almond-coconut-bites/
- Coconut Butter: I basically just put unsweetened coconut and coconut oil with some vanilla extract and cinnamon into my food processor and went to town on it.
Beverages
Water, coffee, tea, or hot water with lemon
** Means it came from the 21 DSD book.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
It's Official
Well, it's official. I have celiac disease. I had my endoscopy on Friday, and my liver doctor called me personally with the results today. She said she believes my elevated liver enzymes are related to autoimmune hepatitis. She said that, in her experience, it's just not that common that someone would have all these different diseases, but rather, when it comes to autoimmune issues, most likely they kind of all relate to one another in some shape or form. So, for me, she believes it all comes back to celiac.
On the one hand, I'm already mourning all the foods I'll never be able to have again. On the other hand, I'm super excited to get/feel healthy again! As I said in my previous post, I'm not sure I have as severe of a reaction to gluten as some other accounts I've read. Then again, I also think my symptoms have just been my norm for so long, that I just don't realize it. I'm interested to see how going strict gluten free will affect this.
I told my husband that I think the hardest part about the transition will be figuring out what to eat while dining out. But come to think of it, it's not even really that. I know most restaurants will have that option with grilled chicken breast and steamed veggies, but the hard part will be ordering something like that versus what I really want! The other hard part will be knowing what store-bought items have gluten in them and which do not. I know that most grocery stores now have dedicated sections for gluten free items, and I'm trying to eat less processed junk anyway, but I also don't want to unknowingly consume gluten.
I've already cleared out the pantry and most of the fridge. And then proceeded to immediately fill it back up with some gluten-free meal prep I attacked over the weekend. But more on that later! I guess all I can do is my best.
Here's to a (hopefully) healthy new year.
On the one hand, I'm already mourning all the foods I'll never be able to have again. On the other hand, I'm super excited to get/feel healthy again! As I said in my previous post, I'm not sure I have as severe of a reaction to gluten as some other accounts I've read. Then again, I also think my symptoms have just been my norm for so long, that I just don't realize it. I'm interested to see how going strict gluten free will affect this.
I told my husband that I think the hardest part about the transition will be figuring out what to eat while dining out. But come to think of it, it's not even really that. I know most restaurants will have that option with grilled chicken breast and steamed veggies, but the hard part will be ordering something like that versus what I really want! The other hard part will be knowing what store-bought items have gluten in them and which do not. I know that most grocery stores now have dedicated sections for gluten free items, and I'm trying to eat less processed junk anyway, but I also don't want to unknowingly consume gluten.
I've already cleared out the pantry and most of the fridge. And then proceeded to immediately fill it back up with some gluten-free meal prep I attacked over the weekend. But more on that later! I guess all I can do is my best.
Here's to a (hopefully) healthy new year.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
A New Year and a New ... GI System?
Happy New Year!
I've been away for so long, I'm not even sure where to begin. I guess I'll just try and dive right in!
I wanted to come back to blogging because I feel as though a major shift or change is on the horizon, and I'd like to try to be better about documenting it all. Both for the sake of sharing my experiences and for a little bit of extra accountability. I've shied away from blogging for a couple of "reasons" (a.k.a. excuses), one being that I just got busy with work and Crossfit, etc. The other being the fact that my diet has been so out of control in terms of sugar consumption that I was probably just embarrassed to document it! ("Hey, guys ... just popping in to show you the 35th straight day of me having toast and peanut butter for breakfast! Peanut butter AND cinnamon sugar? Don't mind if I do!" Followed shortly thereafter with a post about my delicious Pecan Pie dinner. Seriously, it was that bad! ALL THE SUGAR!) But with the start of the new year, I'm feeling more motivated to try and make a change.
And while I'm not going to lie and say all this extra sugar hasn't been freaking delicious, I also haven't been feeling my best lately, and I'm ready to get back on track and start treating my body right. And in two days, I have a better idea of what this change will entail. On Friday, I am undergoing an upper GI endoscopy to determine whether or not I have Celiac Disease. The road that has led me here has been a long one, but I'm so anxious to find out one way or another so I can begin a new journey to improved health.
Well, my hormones levels came back normal, but I had a vitamin D deficiency and elevated liver enzymes. Over the next two months or so, I went back for three more blood tests and each time, the liver enzymes were consistently elevated. At the time, I didn't really know what this meant or even that it was all that significant as I had read some articles that said sometimes strengthening exercises can cause liver enzymes to be elevated. It was related to physiological reaction in the muscles somehow. In my head, I guess I tried to justify it ... "oh, well I do Crossfit, so it's probably just that." However, when my doctor recommended that I see a liver specialist, I knew it was a bit more serious. But I was also pretty confused because everything I'd read about elevated liver enzymes, besides the muscle thing, talked about hepatitis, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or alcoholism. Kinda scary stuff! I mean, I actually went so far as to wonder if I was technically an alcoholic because I like to have a glass of wine after a long day of work and Crossfit. Could I be damaging my liver?!
So, I made an appointment with a liver specialist. I received some paperwork in the mail from her offices about a month prior to my visit, and I decided to be as thorough as I possibly could in answering all of the questions. It was actually kind of nice that I could write everything down beforhand instead of trying to remember everything on the spot while meeting a new doctor for the first time. I mean, I detailed almost anything I could think of that might have been off about my body, my digestive system ... everything. I wrote it down. Even if it was embarrassing. Anyway, I really think this ended up being the biggest, most beneficial step in getting me to this possible diagnosis of celiac disease. My liver doctor was actually very thorough herself in reading everything that I had written down! And one of her first comments was, "well, you're digestive system is a mess!" She immediately suggested that I get tested for celiac.
Apparently, there is also something called autoimmune hepatitis, so it's not really contracted like the other versions of hepatitis A, B or C, but rather it is inflammation caused by autoimmune reactions. I guess this, and all of my GI distress led my doctor to celiac disease. So, I had a blood test that day, and anxiously awaited to results. My blood tests came back firmly in the positive range. The next step in confirming celiac is the endoscopy. Although I've read the blood tests are pretty accurate, a biopsy of the small intestine is required to determine a true diagnosis of celiac disease while ruling out any other possible outliers. I want to be absolutely sure it is celiac and not something else.
I've been away for so long, I'm not even sure where to begin. I guess I'll just try and dive right in!
I wanted to come back to blogging because I feel as though a major shift or change is on the horizon, and I'd like to try to be better about documenting it all. Both for the sake of sharing my experiences and for a little bit of extra accountability. I've shied away from blogging for a couple of "reasons" (a.k.a. excuses), one being that I just got busy with work and Crossfit, etc. The other being the fact that my diet has been so out of control in terms of sugar consumption that I was probably just embarrassed to document it! ("Hey, guys ... just popping in to show you the 35th straight day of me having toast and peanut butter for breakfast! Peanut butter AND cinnamon sugar? Don't mind if I do!" Followed shortly thereafter with a post about my delicious Pecan Pie dinner. Seriously, it was that bad! ALL THE SUGAR!) But with the start of the new year, I'm feeling more motivated to try and make a change.
And while I'm not going to lie and say all this extra sugar hasn't been freaking delicious, I also haven't been feeling my best lately, and I'm ready to get back on track and start treating my body right. And in two days, I have a better idea of what this change will entail. On Friday, I am undergoing an upper GI endoscopy to determine whether or not I have Celiac Disease. The road that has led me here has been a long one, but I'm so anxious to find out one way or another so I can begin a new journey to improved health.
What is Celiac Disease?
It is an autoimmune disorder that is triggered by gluten. Basically, it results in inflammation of the small intestines, which results in very poor nutrient absorption and a whole host of other potential problems. It's quite a bit more severe or serious than simply an intolerance to gluten. Because of the resulting inflammation, symptoms of CD can be extremely wide-ranging. I've seen everything from GI distress like bloating and abdominal pain to rashes, headaches and joint pain listed as potential symptoms. And, according to the Mayo Clinic, untreated celiac disease can lead to:- Malnutrition. The damage to your small intestine means it can't absorb enough nutrients. Malnutrition can lead to anemia and weight loss. In children, malnutrition can cause stunted growth and delayed development.
- Loss of calcium and bone density. Malabsorption of calcium and vitamin D may lead to a softening of the bone (osteomalacia or rickets) in children and a loss of bone density (osteoporosis) in adults.
- Infertility and miscarriage. Malabsorption of calcium and vitamin D can contribute to reproductive issues.
- Lactose intolerance. Damage to your small intestine may cause you to experience abdominal pain and diarrhea after eating lactose-containing dairy products, even though they don't contain gluten. Once your intestine has healed, you may be able to tolerate dairy products again. However, some people continue to experience lactose intolerance despite successful management of celiac disease.
- Cancer. People with celiac disease who don't maintain a gluten-free diet have a greater risk of developing several forms of cancer, including intestinal lymphoma and small bowel cancer.
How Did I Find Out?
For me, I guess I have always kind of had digestion issues, so I wasn't aware that there was anything all THAT abnormal going on there. My GI symptoms aren't terribly severe compared to other accounts I've read. However, a few months ago, I went to my doctor for an issue completely unrelated to my digestive system (or so I thought). Basically my husband and I were in the very early stages of thinking about starting a family. (As in, maybe a year from now we'll start trying.) However, after years of being on birth control, and then taking myself off of it, there were certain things that were supposed to be happening on a monthly basis that just ... weren't. Even 6 months after off of birth control. So, I went to my doctor, who ordered some blood tests to get a better idea of what was going on with my hormones.Well, my hormones levels came back normal, but I had a vitamin D deficiency and elevated liver enzymes. Over the next two months or so, I went back for three more blood tests and each time, the liver enzymes were consistently elevated. At the time, I didn't really know what this meant or even that it was all that significant as I had read some articles that said sometimes strengthening exercises can cause liver enzymes to be elevated. It was related to physiological reaction in the muscles somehow. In my head, I guess I tried to justify it ... "oh, well I do Crossfit, so it's probably just that." However, when my doctor recommended that I see a liver specialist, I knew it was a bit more serious. But I was also pretty confused because everything I'd read about elevated liver enzymes, besides the muscle thing, talked about hepatitis, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or alcoholism. Kinda scary stuff! I mean, I actually went so far as to wonder if I was technically an alcoholic because I like to have a glass of wine after a long day of work and Crossfit. Could I be damaging my liver?!
So, I made an appointment with a liver specialist. I received some paperwork in the mail from her offices about a month prior to my visit, and I decided to be as thorough as I possibly could in answering all of the questions. It was actually kind of nice that I could write everything down beforhand instead of trying to remember everything on the spot while meeting a new doctor for the first time. I mean, I detailed almost anything I could think of that might have been off about my body, my digestive system ... everything. I wrote it down. Even if it was embarrassing. Anyway, I really think this ended up being the biggest, most beneficial step in getting me to this possible diagnosis of celiac disease. My liver doctor was actually very thorough herself in reading everything that I had written down! And one of her first comments was, "well, you're digestive system is a mess!" She immediately suggested that I get tested for celiac.
Apparently, there is also something called autoimmune hepatitis, so it's not really contracted like the other versions of hepatitis A, B or C, but rather it is inflammation caused by autoimmune reactions. I guess this, and all of my GI distress led my doctor to celiac disease. So, I had a blood test that day, and anxiously awaited to results. My blood tests came back firmly in the positive range. The next step in confirming celiac is the endoscopy. Although I've read the blood tests are pretty accurate, a biopsy of the small intestine is required to determine a true diagnosis of celiac disease while ruling out any other possible outliers. I want to be absolutely sure it is celiac and not something else.
What's Next?
The hardest part about all of this is the fact that I can't change my diet until after the endoscopy. During the endoscopy, they will take the biopsy, but they will also have a tiny camera (the scope), in order to actually see the lining of my small intestines and any possible damage. Because of this, I have to continue to eat gluten up until the day before the test. Otherwise, if I were to eliminate gluten from my diet too early, my intestines might begin the process of healing which could ultimately lead to a false negative ... or make it look like I don't have celiac when I actually do. So, I've continued to eat toast with peanut butter (and every other gluten-filled sweet I fear I may never be able to eat again) pretty much every day for the past month!
In two days, I will undergo my endoscopy. I have no idea how long it will take to receive the official results. Regardless, I plan to initiate a gluten-free diet. It's just not worth all of the inflammation and the resulting negative effects it has on your body. Going gluten-free may become a necessity for me, or it may just be something I do to try to improve my health overall, but either way, it's happening. I also want to try Diane Sanfillipo's 21 Day Sugar Detox again. I made it through oh, about 5 days, earlier this year. I'd like to set a goal and make it one of my new year's resolutions to complete the full 21 days.
More on all of this to come ...
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