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

Ooopss

Final day of the intro diet for me - so tired of chicken soup and meat patties... so much so that I couldn't even face it at lunch time and opted for a very ripe banana instead.


I can't believe I managed the full five days - and have not felt that hungry.


The ooopss is because i haven't actually had any yoghurt yet :-/  Don't think that is ideal as it clearly seems to play an important part of the healing process - but have a batch going now to have tomorrow.


Locally I can only get the 'Total' make as a starter so also ordered the Acidophilus online - just this afternoon while I was mixing the starter into the milk, the door bell rang and I answered the door (with yoghurt maker in hand) to find my delivery of Acidophilus - perfect timing.... must be a sign that I really need to start it.


Glad the most boring part is over - looking forward to introducing more foods and starting cooking in an SCD way.... have decided these may well be my first baked goods http://zscupoftea.com/2010/09/08/pumpkin-muffins-cookies-cake-scd-gfcf/#more-131


Hmmmmm ... hoping that turns into yummmmmmm


Lyn-de-lou

Ahhhhhh

Three days into the intro diet - nothing but eggs, chicken soup, meat patties and jelly (what a twit I can be - of course that gelatin thingy was JELLY!)

I hate making packed lunches at the best of times - but three days of above - this is not the best of times - I just had to open up a fresh packet of croissants  - the smell - the texture - the temptation.... its TORTURE.  And the habits - a little corner fell off and was halfway to my mouth before I realised what I was doing. Hope the little bears enjoy their lunch tomorrow (said through gritted teeth ;-)

Just keeping in mind how much better I will be ... it WILL be worth it.

Lyn-de-lou

And I'm off..

Hey - I've actually started and so far so good.


Okay, so I know it's only day one - but the thing I was most surprised about is that I was not that hungry.  You  need to know I have a huge appetite and like to graze - always in and out of the cupboard taking a little of this or a little of that.  Mind you, I do have a cold at the moment so maybe that has curbed my appetite.


Time will tell - eggs for breakfast, chicken soup and meat patties with some jelly - that was it for today and will be the same for next few days...wonder if I will get more hungry as time goes on...

Lyn-de-lou

And I'm off..

Hey - I've actually started and so far so good.


Okay, so I know it's only day one - but the thing I was most surprised about is that I was not that hungry.  You  need to know I have a huge appetite and like to graze - always in and out of the cupboard taking a little of this or a little of that.  Mind you, I do have a cold at the moment so maybe that has curbed my appetite.


Time will tell - eggs for breakfast, chicken soup and meat patties with some jelly - that was it for today and will be the same for next few days...wonder if I will get more hungry as time goes on...

Lyn-de-lou

ONE DAY TO (SC) D DAY

Back from the airshow - great time but rather wet on the Saturday.  I'm a crappy photographer with a very basic camera - so this is the best I can offer..

Anyhow - my last day of 'normal'diet - will have to find my new normal over the next weeks/months.  Started with a good old Ulster Fry - differs from a typical English cooked breakfast as it has soda bread and potato bread - with lots of white bread toast...

Have just made my gelatin thingy (anyone know what that should be called) and now away for my 'last supper' - pitta bread with houmous and a few glasses of white wine.  Although wine is permissible on the SCD I have decided to go at least the first month without...so off to enjoy


Lyn-de-lou

TWO DAY TO (SC) D DAY

Since I am new to blogging - this was really just to try out the scheduled posting options ... I'm currently up the North Antrim Coast at the airshow - savouring my last illegals foods and hopefully having a great time.

THREE DAYS TO (SC) D DAY

I promise to change my post titles - but only after D day ;-)


Preparation is crucial - I am sure someone very informed said that recently (like in yesterday's post [hee hee]) and this has been mine:


Started this morning at about 8.30am - first, made some more yoghurt, put on the soup (my butchering skills are woeful - that poor chicken!) but I did add some parsley from the garden in a little cotton sachet quickly run up on my sewing machine - means I don't have to pick it all out later, peeled more carrots and put them on to stew and made the meat patties - look

All done by about 9.10am - I cooked the patties, tidied the kitchen and am now posting this and it's only 10.30 - not too bad at all.


Here my little pattie pyramid - wrapped them in pairs in wax paper (couldn't be bother with that flimsy, futtery cling wrap stuff) ready for the freezer.

So  soup and carrots left to cook for a few hours and I'm leaving the gelatin thingy until Sunday night so it is fresh.. guess that's me all ready for the intro ;-)
Job done!


I have even gone further than that and got a few little things ready for when I can introduce more foods.  I picked the remaining apples off our apple tree before they spoiled, peeled them and stewed them down with a little bit of honey (they are a bit tart whatever type they are)  - there weren't that many left as No.1 little bear is quite partial to them....

But I still got a nice little pot of apple sauce...which I then put into an ice cube tray

This also, just like farm visit, reminded me of when the little bears were only baby bears - this is how I would have prepared a bulk amount of weaning food for my little uns.  But it is so convenient - froze for a while, then popped them out and into freezer bags...

I can see me lifting a couple of these out the night before to add to a bowl of yoghurt for breakfast.  I also did the same with those very ripe bananas from the farm - didn't know you can freeze banana but apparently you can - they were so ripe they were on sale so thought I might as well.


It's starting to feel more real.... 


Lyn-de-lou

FOUR DAYS TO (SC) D DAY

I have been laid low with a bad back for the last few weeks - thought it might delay my D Day, but thankfully it has and is still improving.  It has meant I have had more time (it is possible when obliged to lie flat on your back with knees bent to have a laptop on your tummy and surf/type away) to research the diet and other websites etc and plan for it.

I think planning is going to be crucial - if I don't have foods ready in advance I will no doubt fail.  So, as I can now sit up and drive reasonably comfortably, I headed out today for a 'farm visit' Not to any old farm mind, but a brilliant wee organic farm not that far from where I live.  


It was a bit of a trip down memory lane as I haven't been there for a while.  It's just not as convenient as the numerous big shops nearer by.  I used to go here a lot when the little bears were wee.  Having Crohns and reading/hearing that it was likely to be genetic/heredity I was determined to all I could to save my little ones the same plight as me - so - ALL their baby food was home made with as much organic goods as possible.  Who knows if this will protect them, but at least it will not have done them any harm and I can honestly say I have kids who eat almost anything... I always think it was because they got 'real' food and 'real' tastes from an early age... anyway, I digress..


Back to Ballylagan today and through their gateway..

past the duck pond and on to the shop..

that's the fresh goods outside - the building behind holds all sorts of things from tinned goods, household products to diary and meat.


Here's what I bought for my first days on the intro part of the diet:

A chicken, carrots (love it when you get the green tops and soil still attached - these babies have NOT been washed in bleach!), onion and celery - for the intro soup, mince meat for the patties, eggs (one box free as their chickens have been laying like crazy) and some very ripe bananas.  Hidden underneath is a cucumber which I needed as my four year old would live on it and wanted cucumber sandwiches for lunch!  


Behind the box (from a major retailer) is more milk for my second batch of yoghurt and also the Welch's grape juice to make up with gelatin - can't say I fancy that at all, but will give it a go and see.


While the book suggested 2-3 days (five max) for the intro diet, I am thinking of just trying for the five days straight and looking on it as a kind of detox too (hence the emphasis on organic produce).  I'll let you know how long I last.


So tomorrow will be a day for the kitchen and cooking up an SCD storm ... getting excited now.




Lyn-de-lou

FIVE DAYS TO (SC) D DAY

My first post - I am so excited!  


Partly because I have been wanting to start a blog for sometime and now I am actually doing it (although the subject has changed from my crafting to my dieting) and also because I really want and believe I will see an improvement in my health.  
Yeah - win win!


So why the blog?  I hope that if some people follow it and ideally leave me comments and encouragement - it may just keep me going as this diet is HARD.  For anyone not that familiar with it my understanding is this:  bad microbes cause damage to the bowel so you need to starve these out by avoiding all starches and sugars (or for those more scientifically minded, all disaccharides and polysaccharides) and replace them with the good guys through the homemade yoghurt.  The author of the book, Elaine Gottschall says herself that it requires "fanatical adherence" as even a tiny crumb of banned food could feed those bad microbes for a month.


Also, I already have found much help and info from other blogs and websites - so if this can maybe help others at some point down the line then - guess what - it's 
win win again :-)


I had planned to start at beginning of September but this weekend, we (Mr Bear and the two little bears  - guess that makes me Goldie Locks) are off to the air show at Portrush, staying overnight on the Saturday night in a hotel where eating SCD might have been a problem - and - by delaying it one more week, I will get to eat my last fry on Sunday morning with the yummy soda bread and potato bread which makes an Ulster Fry just the best.


So, preparations underway for SCD kick off on Monday 6th September. Want to see how ....

For that crucial element - the YOGHURT, I bought the Lakeland electric maker and have already had a test run (see it there in my nice new preserving jar also bought at Lakeland).  The books were all purchased through Amazon as was the dimmer switch (big thanks to Yasmin on the SCDUK group who alterted me to needing this in order to regulate the temp just right).  The little yoghurt strainers with cookbook were bought (no idea where) many years ago and probably have never been used until now!


Finally, if you understand the SCD you will know that that bar of Lindt Lindor peeking out from the books should NOT be there.  It is one of my absolute favourite chocolate bars (did you notice I said just one???) - I am a chocoholic so this is my sacrificial bar I will be consuming between now and Sunday having left it on the altar of better health.  I will enjoy it  - even with tears in my eyes - so long sweet friend.


More of of my preparations in next post.


Lyn-de-lou


p.s. just as I was finishing this, my grocery delivery arrived with one of these ;-)