Elimination!

Diet, that is. It has been suggested that I do one. Hmmmm. Let me back up a bit.

Monday after work I had an appointment with a naturopath. I've been wanting to do this for awhile because of my numerous GI issues. After years of treating symptoms and nothing improving, it became obvious that conventional medicine was not helping here. And having the band just complicated some of that stuff.  So, this naturopath is through the Integrative Medicine department of the hospital I work in. She was very cool, and it was interesting to sit down with someone and really have them listen to all my wonky and wacky issues. We covered everything from the dark circles under my eyes to kidney stones to constipation. The recommendations? No surprise here: increase water, increase exercise. She does want me to limit protein to 60g a day, and see how I do losing weight with that. I told her I thought I'd been more in the 70-80g range, and she was concerned about my kidneys, what with the stones and all.

And of course, there are supplements: Taurine for kidney stones, a new multivitamin (with no pineapple - cuz I'm allergic), adrenal support, probiotic (for colon and sinuses, who knew?), and 2 tbsp of ground flax seed per day. I'm also supposed to use my neti pot with probiotic added once a day for a month.

Back to the elimination diet. She offered me the blood test (test 96 foods for $129), but it's only 60-70% accurate. I figured why not reap the benefits of eating clean for a while -- especially because I knew my husband would be on board for it. He likes trying new things, and he is on the push to lose another 30lbs anyway. So, I'm a big girl, I know I can do this. Anyway, the big picture of my symptoms looks like food sensitivity, right down to the dark circles under my eyes. My gut is telling me that dairy is the problem, so that will be the first thing I challenge.

This is no small undertaking, but if my hub does it too, then it won't be so bad. We're going to go over the information this weekend, plan meals, and shop so we can start Monday. The hardest part for me is going to be not eating any sweets. Lord knows I love my candy.  But, honestly, when I look back, 2010 was a shitty year for me, health-wise. Post preeclampsia hypertension, four surgeries, kidney stones, etc, etc. It's just been one thing after another. I want to be the healthiest I can be, and I need my energy back to lose the rest of my weight.

Anyone out there ever do an elimination diet?

BYOC

What day of the week do you love and what day of the week do you hate?

I don't know if I feel that strongly about any particular day. I can't even say I love Fridays because sometimes (like this weekend) I have to work on Saturdays. I pretty much love any day I have off work during the week where I can still drop the kids at daycare and actually get stuff done around the house.

2. What is your middle name and is there a meaning behind it?

Mine is Therese. I'm named after St. Theresa, the Little Flower. And my first name is after the Blessed Mother. How's that for an Italian Roman Catholic?

3. Since I’m dreaming of my next tattoo, I’m going to ask this one. Do you have any tattoos? How many? If you don’t have one – what would you get if you did have one?

I don't have any. I've always wanted one, but I've never been able to decide what I want, so I figure I should wait until I figure that out. I'm not in a huge hurry.

4. On that same theme of dirty little secrets…how many piercings do you have? Any you wish you had?

I have four in one ear and two in the other, though these days I've only been using the bottom two plus the one up my my cartilage. I always though a nose piercing would be cool, but I tried one of those magnetic studs and I pretty much look like a horse's ass with it on, so forget that. When I was in college I almost got my eyebrow pierced, but I heard something about there being a nerve near there that could paralyze your face, so I didn't do that either. Plus, I probably would've been disowned.

5. Repeat question: Summarize your life in blog land and in real life.

I've been quiet in blogland, but I'm super duper extremely beyond excited about BOOBS 2.0. I've already put it for the time off at work, and informed hubby that I WILL be going again. I also instructed him to go on the annual guys' fishing trip, so I don't have to hear about how I get to go away again. Ha!

Real life... this week's been a corker. The little guy has had a fever since Tuesday night, and my tater tot is developing a cough too. It's pretty darn cute though -- she'll cough a bit and then say in this fake hoarse little voice, "I have a frog in my throat! I hafta cough it out!"

Playing hooky

Well, not really. My little guy spiked a 103 degree fever last night, so I had to call in to stay home with him. He's in a pretty good mood, despite having a nasty red throat and lots of drainage. His fever is a little better too, thanks to ibuprofen. We're just hanging out watching movies and snuggling.

Things are going well, band-wise. I am feeling like I'm at a pretty good fill level. Not very hungry during the day, and portion sizes are small. Hell, I even got stuck on some Terra Chips yesterday. I should probably know better.

Other than that, I don't have much to report at the moment. Hope everyone else is doing well out there!

Sadness

Tomorrow night I have to go to a funeral home visitation for an 8 year old. Yes, an 8 year old boy. My coworker's son died in a sledding accident earlier this week. A horrible, freak accident. We're all brokenhearted over this, and everyone is just walking around like zombies at work. It's all just so awful -- it's hard to process, ya know?

Anyway, say a few prayers or just send some love and light over to them, if you wouldn't mind. There's lots of tears being shed around here.

Bathroom pic!

I really don't know what possessed me to take this today. The ever so slightly emerging cheekbones perhaps? Also, I'm thinking I either carry too much crap in my coat pockets... or I just need a smaller labcoat finally!