Have deleted this blog, then reinstated it, considered deleting it again but have decided to leave it here - poor attempt as it was at blogging - BUT - while SCD didn't work for me (conclusion is my current symptoms are my long standing and underlying IBS) I do believe it can offer hope to those with Colitis and Crohns - so this stays here in cyberland just in case someone, somewhere comes across it and finds it in anyway useful.

Back in the saddle

For the very few that maybe keep an eye on this blog - it was probably clear that I fell off the wagon!


Two reasons: - went out for Sunday lunch with family to a place we have been to a number of times before.  I was going to phone ahead and check out what would suit but I knew the menu pretty well and was sure I could work around it - WRONG.  It has changed a lot - all the meats served with a thickened sauce, veg served as ratatouille and not just plain as usual. Lesson learnt - don't assume any place will be suitable unless you have checked it out.  I wasn't prepared to not eat at all, so compromised the diet and then lost my focus.


The second thing was the issue of cow's milk - still pretty sure the yoghurt wasn't agreeing with me - so yesterday, first batch of sheep's milk yoghurt made and another on the go today.  More soup and 'patties' made and ready to try again from tomorrow. 


I held off starting again until this week as I was away with work last week for two days and knew it would be   a difficult situation to do SCD.


Beginning with the intro again - I think a few weeks should see if the problem was the diary or if perhaps I am just one of the ones SCD doesn't work for.


Wish me well for round 2...


Lyn-de-lou

Boo Hoo or Boo Mo

I have avoided milk for most of my 10 years with Crohn's.. Can't say why for sure, but always felt it didn't agree with me - milk products like cheese, butter are fine.  So with not seeing as good progress as I'd have liked, I started to wonder if the yoghurt (while very important to the SCD way of things) was maybe not helping me at this stage.  So I have cut it out for a few days just to see what will happen.  

None of the bears take milk either - I have us all as a family on rice or soya milk - partly because it's easier just to buy one type and go with it (especially since rice milk doesn't have to be chilled so it's easy to keep a supply in the cupboard) but also as two different 'alternative' therapists, at different events said the same thing.... we are the only mammals that drink the milk from another mammal and that ain't right (though they put it much nicer and backed it up with reasons which I can't remember now).

Perhaps some of them are in this - just googled and picked one article at random - interesting reading.....http://www.qondio.com/should-you-drink-milk

We'll see if taking out the milk/yoghurt makes any difference.

Lyn-de-lou

Spoke Too Soon

Feeling a little discouraged ... suppose I was hoping to see improvements by now and while in last post I thought I was, last few days have proven otherwise.


Plus, 'twit' that I am, last week after having a wisdom tooth extracted, I consumed some pain killers - it was only on Saturday evening it dawned on me that they contain both starch and lactose - two illegal ingredients.  Ho Hum ... 


My mouth still aches a bit which is also leaving me feeling a bit flat - but I am not giving up - not yet anyway ;-)  


Lyn-de-lou

Progress?????

Has it really been nearly a week since my last post? - I've been busy.  Few weeks into the new term and everything is in full swing - back to 'Mum Taxi Mode'.


But busy as I have been - I have, amazingly, still stuck to the SCD.


The routine this week was mainly a bowl of yoghurt with stewed apples for breakfast.
Lunch tended to be a ripe banana, some cheese slices and a pumpkin muffin.
Dinner/Tea - a piece of protein (lamb chops/steak/chicken) with either pureed carrots and parsnips or roasted butternut squash.  And that's been it.  Still not very varied but I think I might be seeing a little progress.


I'll see what happens over next few days before posting about it.


Two things amazing me:

• that I'm still not feeling that hungry even though I am eating about a third of what I used to eat
• my self-discipline! I usually have no will power.  I can't diets.  SCD has so far, been easy.  I even coped with this....

Today we went to the 'Taste Northern Ireland Garden Party' in the beautiful Botanic Gardens in Belfast - so much lovely food for the trying - including some of my favourites...

Various breads from our local independent bakery, rice and bean salads, crepe with Nutella and (not the most appetising photo I know but I do love them) cocktail sausages.

It must be a form of self-torture to go to that - but all was not lost - there was plenty of this..

The gorgeous Fivemiletown Creamery cheese - those little Boilie's at the front were delicious.

So, heading into week three - I'm feeling good about it.  Will keep you posted how it goes.


Lyn-de-lou

Sunday Lunch (SCD Style)

My first Sunday lunch on the SCD.


Would love to show you a photo of it, but again, was too eager to get eating to think of it!  However, I can assure you it wasn't much to look like - here the cooking dishes...

You would think after 8 years in this house, I would be used to the oven - but oh no.  Set it on the timer and headed off to church - this is what I came home to.


It was meant to be chicken breast cooked in honey and mustard with butternut squash - I was able to save some and to be honest - it was pretty good - think I'll try it again next week and adjust temp/time.


Was talking to Mr Bear about motivation (part of the reason for this blog) to stay on the SCD when things are tough (or boring) and I decided I should pay myself £1 for every day I stick with it.  Chances of me having a £1 coin in my purse everyday is slim so it would be easier to round it up to £10 a week.  I have been talking for ages about doing a photography course and would love to get a SLR digital camera - but those babies cost.  Just think, if I stay on it for a year - I would have £520 - aka - new camera.


Today's treat instead - to celebrate one week on the SCD is something different and not my normal - having my nails done by a friend of my sister.  I am away now, armed with my first baked pumpkin muffin (see pevious post) for when we have a cup of tea.


Lyn-de-lou

Variety is...

.....just lovely after so much of a muchness.  Know you supposed to introduce foods gradually and I am wondering if I have been a little quick but it has been nice to have a little variety.

Breakfast was stewed apples with cinnamon and honey (straight out of the BTVC book) - think it would have been even better with some yoghurt ( but I'll come back to that in a mo) - lunch was just some cheddar cheese and for tea tonight I had some tapenade on little cheese slices (this tasted better than I expected as I usually have it on crackers or bread)... few photos might of been nice at this point but, hhmmm, I actually forgot to take some (too busy eating :-).


The yoghurt that was made yesterday right when the postie delivered some acidophilus - why did I not have it on my breakfast? Reading through some of the book (BTVC) this morning I happened to come across "do not use any product which contains FOS (fructooligosaccharides)" - checked my probiotic capsules and you've guessed it, FOS - serves me right for not following someones recommended brand on the SCDUK site and instead doing an online search for something cheaper!  Did get to a bigger Sainsburys today and was able to get the Woodlands yoghurt which means the batch fermenting now should be exactly right.


Looking forward to it tommorrow.


Lyn-de-lou