Elimination Diet Day 4 & 5 of 10 August 6, 2006

I have neglected the blog in favor of a weekend house project that has been taking most of my energy. Here is a quick breakdown of the last two days:

Day 4: I had another smoothie for breakfast, a blueberry, strawberry, banana and yogurt smoothie. For lunch I did eat the rice bowl of lemon chicken, mixed vegetables, and rice. For dinner I had a shrimp and avocado salad with balsamic vinegar and oil. I went above and beyond on the water intake, drinking 1 entire L at dinner alone! Snacks: I had a banana and I snacked on cherry tomatoes throughout the day.

Day 5: I skipped breakfast and ate an early lunch of salad and avocado with an oil and vinegar dressing. For dinner, we went out and I ordered grilled chicken with steamed broccoli and tomatoes. I picked up some 100% juice fizzy drinks that quench my thirst for soda, and I drank one or two of those throughout the day, but unfortunately my water intake was lower this way. I notice that when I do drink all of my water, I am hardly drinking anything else. It is so much liquid on its own. Snacks: I am still working on the cherry tomatoes.

Elimination Diet Day 3 of 10 August 4, 2006

Yesterday’s Log:

For breakfast I had a blueberry, strawberry, banana and yogurt smoothie. For lunch, I ate some turkey and a kind of ad hoc veggie salad with oil and vinegar dressing. For dinner, I had a shrimp salad with a vinagrette dressing.

The good: Today I had protein with every meal!

The bad: I didn’t get grains in today. I will have to make sure I have a rice bowl or something for lunch tomorrow.

The ugly: I barely made it to 1L, if that, today in water intake. I was walking around all day and didn’t bring a water bottle with me. I’ve realized it is much easier for me to get my water in when I am sitting working at the computer. I absent mindedly drink my water continuously this way. I can get through 1.5L before the afternoon is through, but when I am walking around or out and about, I am less inclined to drink my water. Since the majority of my work week is spent walking around, patrolling my classroom, I can see now why I have had a difficult time drinking enough water in the past. I guess I’ll just have to be more purposeful about taking a water break in between the classes.

Elimination Diet Day 2 of 10 August 3, 2006

Yesterday’s Notes:

Breakfast

• orange juice (100% juice, organic), banana, mango, and nonfat plain yogurt smoothie
• yucky wheat-free and gluten-free toast with butter (Seriously, this stuff tastes like play-doh.)

Lunch

• Chicken stir fry (in lemon and olive oil) with veggies and rice.

Dinner

• Chicken salad with pico de gallo dressing.
• 100% sparkling juice drink.

Water Intake: 1L.

Snack: Banana

The good: I brought in more fruit and grain today.

The bad: I didn’t meet my water intake goal.

The ugly: I didn’t feel too great today. I was really missing my caffeine.

Goal Tracking August 2, 2006

The other day I came across Joe’s Goals, a free online site for goal tracking. I can think of numerous ways that this site could be helpful.

• Feeling tired and exhausted all the time? Track daily goals related to health, such as getting 8 hours of sleep or drinking plenty of water, and then look at your pattern over a month to see whether or not your tiredness might be related to a health habit.
• Need some accountability? Share your online goal page with a friend’s email address, allowing them to see exactly what goals you are completing and where you are faltering.
• It takes 28 days to develop a habit. Use the site to track behavior for 28 days–until it becomes a normal routine.
• Make your personalized Joe’s Goals page your home page, so that when you sit down at the computer, you are reminded and inspired to complete your daily goals.
• Move your fitness log online. Track your weight, days exercised, or even specific exercises done.

Elimination Diet Day 1 August 2, 2006

Yesterday I began the ten-day commitment to the Elimination Diet. Here is how that broke down for me by meal:

• Breakfast: Corn. OK, I know this is a little unusual, but that’s what I ate.
• Lunch: Grilled chicken salad with avacado and salsa.
• Dinner: Dill and lemon salmon, grilled potatoes, red leaf and endive salad with oil and vinegar, and 100% sparkling juice to drink.
• Snack: I finished off the salad that was left over from dinner.
• Water intake: 1.5L.

The good: I ate a lot of vegetables! That’s not very typical of my standard eating habits.
The bad: I did not eat protein with breakfast.

The ugly: I didn’t realize how little fruit I ate yesterday! That’s certainly something I will need to pay attention to for tomorrow. Also, I didn’t have any grains. Thankfully my sister has invited me for dinner tonight and I can count on her serving at least a side of rice at that meal.

For day 1, I had very few cravings and no headaches.