Gluten Free Days 6-10

This particular week was ROUGH!  I know my body was in detox mode and I was feeling deperate to find good tasting food, so I ate a lot of junk.  Here is what I ate on days 6-10 of my gluten free challenge:

Day 6:
Breakfast: Gluten Free Pancakes with Maple Syrup
                 Chocolate Almond Milk

Lunch:  El Tap Chicken Fajitas with corn tortillas

Dinner:  BBQ Pork Chops
             Baked Beans
             Cole Slaw

Snacks:  Popcorn, Chips, Dr Pepper, AND chocolate (geesh!)

Today my taste buds seem to be getting normal.  I didn't eat super healthy, it was Saturday, the weekends are always a challenge.  I am craving dairy a lot, but am trying to make sure I don't eat too much until I give my stomach time to heal.  Dr Pepper-my official beverage weakness-tasted amazing.  I feel like my stomach is still reacting every time I eat, not so much with cramps, but bloating.  I have noticed some improvement but hopefully someday I won't look pregnant. 

Day 7:
Breakfast: Berry Smoothie

Lunch:  Turkey Burger without bun
            Baked Potato
            Salad
            Grilled Green Beans

Dinner: Left over fajitas from El Tap

Today my Dad was put in the hospital for pneumonia and I spent most of the afternoon and night there.  I was really hungry around 7, but passed on Captain D's.  I feel mentally set on givng this a chance.  Physically I think I am detoxing from the gluten.  I have some sinus issues going on.  My skin got better then worse, but that could be from the Dr Pepper.  It usually breaks my skin out. :(  I realize that waiting too long between meals is not a good idea since I am not having as much super filling bread products.  I also tend to make healthier choices when I eat smaller meals more often.

Day 8
Breakfast:  2 eggs
                 Sliced tomatoes with basil
                  1/4 coconut milk yogurt

Lunch:  Whitts Nachos
             Tea

Dinner:  El Tap Enchiladas
             CHips and Salsa
 Snack:  GF cookie

I made it a week without gluten, unless it was accidentally consumed.  I notice a little change, but I was thinking I'd feel a lot better, lol.  Today I read it takes about 3-6 months to notice a big difference in most people.  I haven't lost weight, but still eating a lot of calorie, so I can't think no bread means instant weight loss.  My mind is a little clearer and I can concentrate a little longer, but just celebrating sticking to my goal.

Day 9:
Breakfast:  Berry Smoothie

Snack:  Mocha at the hospital

Lunch:  Harvest Salad with Chicken and balsamic vinaigrette(Great Harvest)

Snack:  Cinnamon cashews
             chips and dip

Dinner:  Gluten Free Pizza 2 slices
             Dr Pepper

Snacks:  Almond Crackers, Havarti Cheese, Olives

Today was definitely gluten free.  My pizza turned out pretty good, but I do miss real pizza, the dough is just not the same.  I threw in a Dr Pepper, which is definitely a skin irritant and alters my concentration.  As much as I don't want to, I need to stop drinking it, even occassionally. :(  Maybe eventually I won't want it at all.  I am enjoying drinking beverages more than eating actually, but I can have water, tea, coffee, carrot juice, and dairy free milk.  And the smoothies are always tasty, so I just need to hydrate really well and maybe I won't want the Dr Pepper.  I wonder what they put in that stuff! lol  I can go months without drinking it and just start craving it out of the blue.  Dr Pepper, I will defeat you! :D

Day 10:
Breakfast:  Carrot juice
                  1/2 coconut yogurt

Snack: G Free cookie
            chips and dip

Lunch:  1/2 Portabello Mushroom Pizza
            Dr Pepper :(

Snack: A few cinnamon cashews

Dinner:
Hot Dog, no bun, with chili and cheese
Fries
Vanilla Dr Pepper

Snack
Turkey Cheese Roll Up
Chips and Dip

Okay, today was awful nutritionally speaking!!!!!  I am pretty sure my trip to Sonic may have had gluten.  I am not sure about the chili and the fries I'm sure are fried with battered chicken.  I was emotional today and tried to make myself happy by eating junk....fail.  I tried to avoid obvious gluten but I'm thinking I probably made things worse by not researching my choices first.   

   

Homeschool Funschool Update

Today we had our first meeting with PAJCH(Putnam and Jackson County Homeschoolers).  The kids had so much fun.  We walked since it was a nice day and all the way home Noah kept asking questions about going back.  All the children in the group seem really awesome.  I love homeschooled kids, they just have a sweet spirit about them.  They are paired up with an older kid called their PAJCH Pal, and I know they are going to love that.  Ava's pal was super sweet and stayed with her and played the whole time.  It was a great experience and I look forward to getting to know everyone and letting my kids see how fun homeschooling can be. 
It seems like the more we do homeschool, the more I become aware of how life is learning and seeing opportunities to teach not only when we sit at the table, but throughout the day.  Noah seems to pick up on it too and asks a lot of questions about various things we encounter each day.  Even though I had some nervous feelings and hesitation about the "unknown" at first, I am seeing that this is a good fit for our family.  I am seeing that I can do it and I enjoy it, alot actually.  It's made our time at home during the day seem more quality and not so mundane.  So lots of good things are happening and I am thankful to have the opportunity to teach my children. 

What is Hashimotos? And Food log for days 1-5

"In Hashimoto's disease, also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, your immune system attacks your thyroid gland. The resulting inflammation often leads to an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). Hashimoto's disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States. It primarily affects middle-aged women, but also can occur in men and women of any age and in children." Mayo Clinic

There is a link between hashimotos and celiac disease(gluten intolerance) and many people have lowered their antibodies by removing gluten from their diets.  So that is why I am eating gluten free.

My goal started to eat no gluten foods for at least 30 days. 
 
So the first five days of my journaling look something like this:
 
Breakfast:
Berry Smoothie
Coffee with coconut milk creamer
Lunch:
A weird sunflower seed recipe that was supposed to mimic tuna salad... it was okay
Almond Nut Thin crackers
Pesto Tomato Salad
Snacks:
Green Smoothie
1/2 of an apple
Dinner:
Chicken Feta Burger on Rudi's Gluten Free bread(so-so)
Roasted Potatoes
Dessert:
Coconut Milk Ice Cream Fudgesicle
Notes for today:
I feel satisfied with my food choices today.  Everything tasted pretty good and I resisted eating Doritos left over from our glutenous weekend.  Had some stomach discomfort but probably from the weekend of eating or readjusting to Green Smoothies.
 
Day 2:
Breakfast:
Berry Smoothie
Banana
Snack:
Coconut Milk Yogurt
Lunch: (with Debi Smith <3)
Strawberry Salad 
Snack: 
Chili Cheese Fries from Sonic (oops)
Dinner: (at Mama's)
Baked Chicken
Black Beans
Corn 
Dessert:
Baked Apples with coconut milk ice cream
Notes: Okay so not so hot on the choice to eat cheese fries, but they were yum-o, I must admit.  Hope they were gluten free and not fried with the other flour items on the menu. :/  I resisted fresh baked bread and mac n' cheese at my Mama's, that was a little hard, but mentally I feel focused on doing this.  I had a bad headache today and still had a little stomach upset.
 
Day 3:
Breakfast:
Cream of Rice hot cereal
1/2 of a coconut milk yogurt
1 glass of coconut milk (can ya tell I love me some coconut milk!!) 
Lunch:
Salad with vinaigrette dressing
left over feta chicken patty
a few veggie stick snacks
snack:
Caramel Moolatte
Dinner:
El Tapatio Enchiladas(in corn shells)
Chips, Salsa
Desert:
1 Udi's gluten free cookie
Notes:  Today, I was HUNGRY! I know days 3 and 4 have been rough in the past so I was just easy on myself.  I was pretty cranky today.  And I am craving dairy big time...hence the moolatte from DQ.  El Tap was so good, it made me feel like I won't be so deprived while eating out.  
 
Day 4:
Breakfast:
Berry Smoothie
Lunch:
Whitts BBQ nachos(made with 100% corn chips and GF bbq sauce)
A nice big fat iced tea
Snack:
Envirokids Rice Crisp Bar
2-3 Pirate's booty cheese puffs
Dinner:
Hamburger Steak
Home Fries
Salad
Notes:  Really really moody and feeling the detox today.  I am not craving bread, which is great, I just feel the physical effects of no gluten.  I am not eating the healthiest in the world, but still G Free, so proud of myself. I really hope I am not accidentally getting glutened when I eat out.  I think my blood sugar is off too.  
 
Day 5:
Breakfast:
Berry Smoothie
Lunch:
Left over weird "supposed to taste like tuna" sunflower seed salad(this recipe is not returning, lol)
Tias BBQ chips
A few Pirates booty puffs
Snack:
Another Caramel Moolatte
Dinner:
Whitts BBQ nachos...again
Another big fat iced tea
Snacks:
Popcorn
Dr Pepper
A few more Tias Chips
Notes:  Today was ROUGH...as you can tell, I started out trying to make healthy choices, but when everything started tasting gross, I went for flavor.  When I had my moolatte, I bought the boys a cone, and without thinking licked Eli's ice cream off the side.  So I think I got gluten for sure.  Later that day, I craved a Dr Pepper for the first time in a while and my moods got worse.  I am proud of myself for staying G Free despite my mistake and feeling like poo physically and mentally.  I am just relying on the strength of God.