[caesie'n'linc]

Get Jane Kennedy's cookbook, Fabulous Food, Minus the Boombah. There are no recipes with carbs in this book, which I thought I'd find hard to deal with because I love my potatoes and bread. I'm loving the food, loving her ideas and really not missing my taters as much as I expected.

She uses cauliflower as a replacement for rice, and there's a cottage pie recipe which I've tried which uses cauliflower and horseradish puree as a replacement for the mashed potatoes on top. I didn't tell DH what I'd done, and he commented that I'd done something interesting with the potatoes but he couldn't figure out what. He didn't pick that there was no potato in it at all.

Note that I have no knowledge of diet or anything like that, just trying out this no-carb thing to see if it helps me shift the few kilos I put on when I weaned DD2. So far I don't think it's helping but it's certainly given me new ideas to work with.

Or her other book OMG! I can eat that?
I have both and there are some really yummy recipes in there I just add carbs in some form to her meals for the kids & DH, but I rarely have carbs myself anymore...unless I cook myself sweet potato, that's my treat every week or two LOL DH & the kids don't like it so I don't cook it often.

[ZombieMum]

Before cutting out items like bread and pasta - I would be heading off to the GP and ask for the Coeliac Screening blood test.

If you don't, and find that you do feel a bit better with removing a lot of wheat products, then you may not want to go back on a normal diet to be tested (the tests need gluten to be consumed for them to show up positive) - unfortunately if your issues are gluten related, then you are putting your health at risk at not being diagnosed, and no doubt some gluten will still be getting into your system.

If it's not gluten, then it could be fructose issues. (which is found in wheat as well as other foods.)


I understand that you don't want to head off to the Dr - unfortunately there are a lot of people out there who have similar issues and have numerous tests with no diagnosis.

A referral to a dietician would be a good idea.

You might also be interested in reading this website.
http://shepherdworks.com.au/disease-inform...low-fodmap-diet

[*LucyE*]

My DH has started a new 'diet' (it isn't so much a diet as a lifestyle change) which is no wheat, grains, potatoes, cauliflower or white rice.

He is allowed brown rice but it needs to be toasted first. Somehow this changes it and is less irritating to the body.

DH has found that he has lost flab, has more energy, mind is clear, and is generally feeling healthier. He has tried many other diets before, including meal replacements. None of them have proven to be sustainable long term.

Be careful with the atkins style, protein heavy diets because they can put too much stress on the body (esp the kidneys). I know you said you didn't want suggestions on seeking medical advice, I do believe you should find a good nutritionist or dietician to help with your diet.

[SoxyMama]

My DH has started a new 'diet' (it isn't so much a diet as a lifestyle change) which is no wheat, grains, potatoes, cauliflower or white rice.

He is allowed brown rice but it needs to be toasted first. Somehow this changes it and is less irritating to the body.

DH has found that he has lost flab, has more energy, mind is clear, and is generally feeling healthier. He has tried many other diets before, including meal replacements. None of them have proven to be sustainable long term.

Be careful with the atkins style, protein heavy diets because they can put too much stress on the body (esp the kidneys). I know you said you didn't want suggestions on seeking medical advice, I do believe you should find a good nutritionist or dietician to help with your diet.

I'm not keen on the medical side because my issues are quite complicated. I don't know unless they have the expertise of all my issues they can figure out what the answer is. I'm happy to nut it out in this thread if anyone wants to have a thrash at me. FWIW I'd be open and vulnerable in doing so.... there are a few tales and history in there too. If anyone does think they have some good advice at what is best for me.

[SoxyMama]

Okay have decided to be vulnerable. Long story.... but hoping someone can help me figure myself out.

* I HATED food growing up. I spent most of my teenagehood eating a mars bar and can of coke for lunch, rarely breakfast (if I did weetbix) and despised dinner. The only time I 'enjoyed' dinner and food in general, was visiting my grandparents. They'd have homemade porridge every morning with honey, turkey sandwich or something of the like for lunch (which I could do/live without never liked bread anyway)and vegies with fresh fish for dinner. Nothing was every fried. I LOVED their food, otherwise I tended not to eat other times.

* I got through to young adulthood - and actually food was never on my mind. I hated typical lunches in primary school as well - I remember my Mum could never find anything I'd like to eat. But I cannot remember focusing on food very much - I just remember I didn't like it much.

* I never enjoyed or liked cooking. Cooking has always been a 'chore'.

* I always had a negative self-body image, but looking back I now know that was ridiculous. It wasn't food related though - I just didn't like food. It was more my boobs were bigger than others, I was more shapely but now looking back I realise I was too thin for my body weight. The first time I remember taking note of my weight and BMI was at Uni and my BMI was about an 18. And then I WAS eating more so I hate to think what my BMi was before then. I am 175 cm tall and shockingly at the moment 86kg. I have put on 6-8 kgs almost instantly - since I started with the Depo Injection for the pill.

* I only began to 'like' eating once I met my husband, as he liked to cook and cooked yummy sauces and nice things! I was still a size 8 when I got married - it was only after kids I've EVER had an issue with my weight. And not with my first daughter either - I easily got back to around 70kg after DD1 - flat tummy in a few months and felt great!

* Then I had DD2 - and all went downhill from there. I spent the 3 months post birth in so much agony I could barely stand up. I remember when DD was just starting solids, even a tiny spoonful of food would have me writhing in agony on the floor. At NO time did a health professional take my pain seriously, though I had test after test after test after test - blood tests, blood and cancer specliasists, liver stuff as my LFT's were also elevated. After about 18 months of specliaists and complete agony, they found I had stage 4 endometriosis and severe bowel endometriosis. Too difficult to treat by lap surgery - I need a full bowel reconstruction and hysterectomy. I've been on and off waiting lists, and now starting the proedure again to get back on one for surgery. Apparently it is too complicated to deal with and needs 2 specialist surgeons for about an 8-9 hour major surgery as my case is so bad.

* I went on a common pill - levlen - to control my symptoms. Whilst I am on the pill two things happen - I gain excessive weight EVERY time but it DOES control my symptoms. Control meaning I am still in pain, but not in complete unbearable agony every moment of every day.

* Alongside this I have continued to have LFT rises and falls, which may or may not be attributed to having a FNL (Focal Nodular Hyperplasia - benign growth on my liver) and slight liver scarring (test showed 6.1 which shows minor scarring). Apart from that liver specialist continues to say it is due to weight etc. I should add now at 86 is the MOST I have ever been. I do not believe this - as I had liver issues when I was also 73kg and then they were actually worse LFTs than now at a higher weight. So I don't 'buy' his excuses either.

* Pill is great, except I've found out I'm also FVL positive (factor v Leiden) which means I technically shouldn't take the pill because it can cause blood clots - higher chance of. So I went off the pill again. Until I found out I could take Depo Provero as it was less of a risk as is progesterone based, not oestrogen based. BUT I have definitely gained a huge amount of weight since the DAY I started it, and I cannot wait until January 12th as I won't be taking my next shot. I feel living with my endo and bowel symptoms to ME are more tolerable than the weight gain

* I have a huge problem with food in general. Even on Lite n Easy - though I have lost weight on it - if I stick to the FULL program I get pain - if I eat what I'm supposed to eat calorie and volume wise - I get pain. But I do eat and I continue to get pain. Then I have days where because I'm constipated, bloated and feeling like absolute crap, clogged up and energy-less I then resort to REALLY bad methods of taking a series of days of laxatives. I must be the ONLY person in the world, who takes laxatives and LOVES the way they feel. I love the way my stomach feels empty afterwards. No pain, just relief. When my endo was at its worst I would go for up to 7 days without main meals (just a few rice crackers at night) and I'd feel better than I do when I eat.

* When I eat, I feel lethargic, sick and tired. I have days when my entire body aches - I have a shoulder lipoma as well and often I feel around that my arms feel so weak they will fall off. I feel it is food that is doing that to me. Because if I don't eat food, I feel great. If I eat food, I feel crap!!

* I wonder now if the reason I had a bad relationship with food all my life is because food wasn't doing to my body what it does to others - and whilst I don't remember this when I'm young I do wonder if it was my natural way of my body saying food was making me sick, so don't eat it?? I am just guessing now - my dr says to have endo as bad as it is, I would have had to have it all my life. Yet I had NO symptoms my entire life, except after DD2 was born, which is also very strange!!

* Now add to this in the last few months I am constantly itchy all over hives or ezcema, or both. I get burn rashes all over my neck and on other parts of my body, on my eyes and face. I've suffered constant staph infections but after elimination and various antibiotics I now believe it is food or environmental. Except I've changes soaps to a staph/medical soap and changed shampoo/conditioner and my rashes keep coming back. Some nights I break out in hives all over my back and ezcema all over my arm. Then it can go away the next day. Then it comes back again! I am realising Elecon does treat them, but as soon as its done its job they all come back again! I am starting to think this is all food related too.

* When I hear food is for 'fuel' and you have to eat because you are hungry - don't want to starve I do not understand this concept at all. Because food makes me sick, ill and tired. It has the REVERSE effect on me. I can EASILY not eat until 2-3 and I don't get hungry - in fact give me 5 days of laxatives and no food and I'd feel GREAT! If I don't eat I have more energy.

* I get EXTREMELY tired. I drink 3-6 cans of Coke Zero a day just to stay awake. I experimented with this for a few months a couple of years back, and I became SO lethargic and tired I was in bed before the kids EVERY night without fail and had no energy. So I drink coke as it keeps me awake. I don't drink coffee, alcohol or anything else. I like chocolate and eat too much. Though I ALWAYS regret it - it makes me feel bloated and sick. I don't know why I eat it then -I guess I like the taste.

* I am ALWAYS thirsty - I drink many many litres of water a day and even that doesn't quench my thirst. I don't have diabetes and blood sugar levels have always been fine. I had a very short time I had a slightly elevated cholestoral (though wasn't overweight at the time at all) and otherwise my only inconsistencies in any blood tests are my elevated and unexplained LFTs. I am also positive to the haemochromotosis gene mutation, though the GP thinks this is not an issue as the blood indicators that would suggest actually having it actively would show in my blood tests and they don't.

So I am very confused about foods. People say eat, yet when I eat my body hates me for it. It is either in writhing bowel pain, or feeling sick and lethargic. I believe food is making me sick. And I don't know why and I don't know what it is. I am currently not being treated for any of my illnesses - I feel like the medical profession has ignored me and despite my GP being pro-active I do think now she thinks it is too hard to figure out. I'm sick of seeing specialists - who do their little tests and then send you to the next doctor who does their own little tests, none of which make connections with each other. I need a doctor House, someone who can piece all the puzzle pieces together and figure out why my body is acting up on me.

At this stage, my hope is to get back on the waiting list for my surgery and maybe that will 'cure' me.

But in the meantime, I need to fix my eating habits and my diet, and I don't know that a typical diet will help either as my body screams at me in various ways, when I eat food.

If I could look at all the food groups and choose one I am most comfortable eating - it would be salad greens, they always have me feeling fresh. Fruit can sometimes make me feel ill and bloated. Chocolate ALWAYS does. Pasta usually causes bloating or reflux. I LOVE vegies - I don't usually feel ill effects. I crave lemon and bitter on my foods. I go through constant changes of one minute craving salt and the next craving sugar, yet all the while I am continously thirsty. My thirst never ceases - even if I've just drunk a cup of water in a sitting! I now carry a large water bottle around everywhere I go. If I don't I often get dry parched to the point I feel like I'm choking - that's how thirsty I get - that can be just 5 minutes after just having a drink. Again this has never been explained and I've never bought it up with the GP about my thirst, nor have I about lack of energy. I go to the GP about enough other stuff to complicate matters.

So.... go on... make sense of me Be harsh - I'm not scared to tell you about my past or talk about it.

This post has been edited by Katakacpk: 01/12/2011, 10:37 PM

[CupcakeMonster]

Wow you poor thing. I only have mild endo and every month feels like my uterus is going to fall out so I can't even imagine how you feel
Bodytrim is all food, not meal replacements.

And I love Jane Kennedy as well. She's fantastic

[Guest_Caramel_Swirl_*]

I stick to the paleo lifestyle as well. But it is important to understand that it isn't a weightloss diet it is a permanent lifestyle. People do tend to lose weight on it if needed, because they are cutting out the crap. But it is not a specific weightloss diet, just a healthy way of living for life.

I also have IBS, lactose intolerance and endo plus a serious disease and cutting out all the processed stuff (bread, sugar etc etc) has made a huge difference. I have also cut out red meat as I found that too irritating. Red meat is an inflammatory food. There are many inflammatory foods that are bodies just weren't ever meant to eat and this is why things like chronic pain, endo, athritis and many autoimmune diseases are all on the rise. Wheat has been linked with endo and my gynocologist told me to avoid it, same with sugar. You may want to google inflammatory foods.

Check out Marks Daily Apple - he is a paleo/primal guru and his site is full of lots of info.

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/primal-blueprint-101/



This post has been edited by Caramel_Swirl: 02/12/2011, 07:02 AM

[SoxyMama]

I stick to the paleo lifestyle as well. But it is important to understand that it isn't a weightloss diet it is a permanent lifestyle. People do tend to lose weight on it if needed, because they are cutting out the crap. But it is not a specific weightloss diet, just a healthy way of living for life.

I also have IBS, lactose intolerance and endo plus a serious disease and cutting out all the processed stuff (bread, sugar etc etc) has made a huge difference. I have also cut out red meat as I found that too irritating. Red meat is an inflammatory food. There are many inflammatory foods that are bodies just weren't ever meant to eat and this is why things like chronic pain, endo, athritis and many autoimmune diseases are all on the rise. Wheat has been linked with endo and my gynocologist told me to avoid it, same with sugar. You may want to google inflammatory foods.

Check out Marks Daily Apple - he is a paleo/primal guru and his site is full of lots of info.

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/primal-blueprint-101/

Thank you - those links are just the kind of info I was looking for I appreciate your feedback.

[Guest_Caramel_Swirl_*]

Thank you - those links are just the kind of info I was looking for I appreciate your feedback.

You are welcome - this is another site if you are interested. It has heaps of info as well and goes a bit more into disease

http://www.primalbody-primalmind.com/?tag=paleo-diet

[SoxyMama]

Before cutting out items like bread and pasta - I would be heading off to the GP and ask for the Coeliac Screening blood test.

If you don't, and find that you do feel a bit better with removing a lot of wheat products, then you may not want to go back on a normal diet to be tested (the tests need gluten to be consumed for them to show up positive) - unfortunately if your issues are gluten related, then you are putting your health at risk at not being diagnosed, and no doubt some gluten will still be getting into your system.

If it's not gluten, then it could be fructose issues. (which is found in wheat as well as other foods.)


I understand that you don't want to head off to the Dr - unfortunately there are a lot of people out there who have similar issues and have numerous tests with no diagnosis.

A referral to a dietician would be a good idea.

You might also be interested in reading this website.
http://shepherdworks.com.au/disease-inform...low-fodmap-diet

Sorry I completely missed your post for some reason. How do you ask to be tested for these things?? I am going to the GP next week - my rashes have flared up today really badly and my body is aching - something isn't right - I don't think it is normal to feel the way I do and I don't think this is my endo talking either. So I'm going to at least lay down these other issues, and ask for a referral to a specialist.

This post has been edited by Katakacpk: 02/12/2011, 07:56 PM