So for awhile now I have been having stomach problems and sleep problems. Connected? who knows. From what I have been reading, probably. Anyway I need a place to vent and track so I figured I would do i here. Who cares if o no one reads it, although knowing the internet someone ill probably find it.
So exactly one month ago I embarked on an elimination diet, to try and find out why my body is so messed up. Haven't been able to deduce much for a few reasons.
1. got sick in the week I was supposed to start adding in food.
2. Have also been experimenting with my sleep patterns (probably a bad idea to do both at same time)
3. Have not felt any really change since going on diet. (had sort of regular bowel movement for a few days and then it all went to shit.
I got lazy and had a bad day so I skipped ahead and added in sugar early as well as not waiting the recommended 3 days per food. I really wanted to see it through but it really hard especially when you are doing it alone. And started to have anxiety about going to the wedding next weekend and not being able to eat anything.
So where I am now.
After waaaay too many hours of reading blogs and going to the doctor again I have sort of come to terms with what I am doing. I have decided that I will need to be honest with myself and others about my dietary needs because it is really important to find what is wrong and what works. I went to the doctor last week and took a blood test so I am waiting for those results. Most likely I am not celiac which would be good but will make my journey really long and really hard. Basically I have gas after every single things I eat, and generally have irregular bowel movement. Some days I do, Some days I don't. It is super uncomfortable and unpredictable. Although I have now finally convinced myself to stop taking laxatives and have found ways to change my diet everyday and not just when I feel blocked up (so I don't get to a place where I feel like I need them). Another relief is that now I know why I feel bloated and fat even though I know I am not and work out almost everyday. It's really disconcerting when you work really hard to be in shape and can feel your abs but can't see them. IT'S CAUSE THEY ARE UNDER THE BLOAT! All I want is to see my abs.
ok so for now what I am not eating
Gluten
Yeast
Dairy
Eggs
Soy
Tomato
Sesame
Citrus
Refined Sugar (except honey)
Chocolate
Oats
Corn
Strawberries
Kiwi
Mushrooms
Potato
Eggplant
Vinegar
Some of this stuff is still on the list because I just haven't tested it (the produce). Some of it I have eaten and don't know if I had a reaction. Like last week I started to have eggs and felt fine and then the next day had some chocolate with sugar in it (I had already tested sugar and though it was fine) and felt really ill. Most likely from the sugar and not the egg bit you never know. I have also been reading a lot about vegan diets so I figured I would try it. I am getting lots of protein from other places and for now I am fine. Although I love eggs so I hope this isn't a lifelong change. :( I tested soy yesterday and I hope that is back in. I don't think I can live without soy and eggs. Yesterday and the day before at dinner I have techina (sesame paste) and tomatoes and both nights didn't sleep great. I think that means they are out for now. boo. I live in Israel, it is going to be freaking hard to avoid those things. I also had to pee a lot last night which is probably because I ate dinner at 9 and kept drinking 20-30 ounces of water. Bad move. I have been so good about finishing eating and drinking early enough.
I guess on to the sleeping bit. For a very long time I have had trouble sleeping. Light, noise, bad pillows, hard mattresses, any light movement, needing to pee, anxiety, dreams etc. I don't sleep well. I am always tired and usually irritable. I once asked my mom if I was going to be tired for the rest of my life and she said she does't always feel tired and that's when I knew something was wrong. That was probably 3 years ago. I am not the best at taking acre of myself when life gets in the way. Since moving to Israel I am now part of a community that doesn't really let that happen. So I went to the doctor and told her I was having sleep problems. She said that I needed to monitor my sleeping for 2 weeks and then go back to her. So I did. It was bad. After I went back she said I need to sleep 7 hours hours a night only and the same seven hours. So I embarked on my journey to sleep from 12-7 everyday. At first it was hard. I could not pull myself out of bed at 7 to save my life. Then after a few days I regulated. I got out of bed and realized I love the morning. It is quiet and I have more time to do things like read, surf the internet, go to the gym. It was great except that every day between 1 and 4 pm I would crash. I could not sit upright or keep my eyes open. I didn't nap, probably couldn't if I tried but I was tired (and cranky). Now it has moved to around 6pm when I feel so tired I can't open my eyes. I like sleeping on a schedule, its just hard to do all the time and I need more than 7 hours of sleep. We will see what happens when I go to NY for 3 weeks now. Also I was sleeping well during the 7 hours for the most part but now I am back to feeling like I haven't slept and waking up a thousand times during the night. Why? I just want some answers. Possible because of what I am eating and when but I don't get it. Why am I so messed up. I just want it to end.
So that's where I am at. Trying to stay positive.
Good things that have come out of these lifestyle experiments.
1. I like the morning and will continue to wake up "early"
2. I have learned to be more creative in cooking...rice and quinoa for breakfast mmmm
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