Pleased with the results of my GF diet

[wonderwoman]

I am very pleased with my condition since going completely GF, CF, SF the beginning of March. Most days I get up about 6:00 and have several cups of coffee and read and then about 7:00 I have what I would say is almost a normal BM. Occasionally I will have a second one later in the afternoon but that is not very often. No more D at all. When I got back from my trip to Wisconsin for the funeral I had two days where there was some mucus but that cleared. While in Wisconsin I expected to have an upset due to stress but didn’t experience any. The only thing I noticed while gone is my BM's were not at the same time of the day as they are when I am home, and one day I didn’t have a BM. I did bring some staple foods with me and had my daughter buy some so I would have them when I got there.

I went for jury selection yesterday and was not chosen. I am so happy as it would mean traveling to downtown Phoenix on three days. I was really stressed out before I had to leave home. My DH wanted me to tell the judge my DX with the hopes he would excuse me. I will remember that for next time.

If Enterolab had not confirmed that I was gluten intolerant I might think I was misdiagnosed by the GI on Feb 12 when he said I had CC. I think this because I read here how some of the others struggle for years after being GF. I keep thinking maybe I was diagnosed very early in the disease and that’s why it has been relatively easy for me.

My concern right now is that I am hungry about 2-3 hours after a meal. I have been snacking on cherry tomatoes and strawberries (lots of them) and they don’t affect me negatively. I try to do just one handful of nuts but it ends up being 10 before I quit. I have been holding my weight so that is good. A friend thinks I need more carbs. Before my DX of CC I never ate after our evening meal. And we eat between 4 and 4:30 and now I am hungry in the evening. I have sweet potato chips, corn chips, tortilla chips, and some fruit rollups that I can eat. I never ate a lot of these before but maybe I will have to start eating them. I also have GF crackers but they have soy in them. That’s what gets me, I see GF in big letters on the front and didn’t think to read the small print on the back. My question is does anyone else get hungry between meals and what do you snack on????

[tex]

Charlotte,

It's great to see that you're doing so well on the diet. It's always good to see a progress report, especially such a positive one.

I get the impression that snacking sort of goes with this disease, and maybe all digestive diseases. I tend to do a lot of snacking. I usually eat nuts, (cashews or almonds, occasionally peanuts), or a banana. I used to eat an apple with peanut butter, but that seems to cause me to have digestive issues sometimes, so I rarely do that anymore.

Thanks for posting an update.

Tex

[mbeezie]

Charlotte,

I eat more potato chips than I ever have in my entire life. I am GF, DF and SF and I can't tolerate tapioca (which is in many GF products). I always avoided chips because of the salt and fat but now I indulge guilt free sometimes because I do get hungry and they satisfy me. It still boggles my mind that I can't tolerate lettuce, blueberries, almonds etc but I do fine with chips.

Mary Beth

[wonderwoman]

Tex, funny that you should mention apples and peanut butter. I pealed and sliced an apple just before turning on the computer. When I read your post I had three slices left that I dipped in peanut butter. That was so good. This was my first apple since being GF so will see what it does.
If apples work for me I would rather have an apple at night than chips or crackers. I never ate them before and would prefer something healthier. I just have to lay off nuts as well as I am eating way too many. Once I start I can't stop.

I bought some fruit and nut bars to take on the plane with me in case I was stranded someplace. I ate one of them on the way home and it wasn't anything like I expected it to be. Very disappointing. I didn't save the wrapper so I don't know what brand it was. I also ate a Chocolate Coconut Chew Larabar. That was OK.

My daughter introduced me to Qionoa (pronounced Keen Wa) and I often use that in place of rice. Or I use it as a hot breakfast cereal with sugar, cinnamon, and milk. I have some cooking now. One cup of Qionoa and two cups of water. Bring to a boil, turn off heat and let stand covered for about 15 minutes. The box said it contains more high quality protein than any other grain. I always think of protein as being meat, fish and poultry. I can also purchase it in bulk at a local grocery store for a lot less money than packaged.

I have been saving the empty packaging of the items I buy so I know where I got the item. I also write the price on the package because I find several stores here have the same item and there is often times a big difference in price. I normally am not so price conscious but have been lately because GF items are much more expensive. If I don't like the product I write that on it also so I don't buy it again.

Another thing that disturbs me is I still have a huge bloated lower abdomen. That tells me I must still have an irritated gut. When the gut is healed will my stomach return to its normal size???

[Polly]

Hi Charlotte,

What wonderful news! Congrats on your success!

Re the snack, can you tolerate guacomole? Olives? Hard-boiled eggs? These all fill the stomach nicely and have the added bonus of not being carbs. (IMHO, it is rare that we need to eat more carbs). How about plain rice crackers or rice tortillas spread with a non-peanut nut butter and a little pure jelly? They are tasty when you want something sweet. I recently tried an excellent nut bar - it was a pomegranate nut bar by Bora Bora - it has none of our intolerances and was "light" - not heavy like Lara bars. Also, keep in mind that you can eat some leftover dinner for a snack!

Keep up the good work!

Love,

Polly

[tex]

When the gut is healed will my stomach return to its normal size???

Yes, the bloating should disappear, and your abdomen should return to normal dimensions. In my case, I guess I was bloated for too many years, and my colon became permanently stretched, before I figured out the problem, and cut out gluten, because all the GI docs always pointed out how "capacious" my colon was. For some unknown reason, my small intestine is also a third longer than normal.

Tex

[wonderwoman]

Polly, thanks for the tips on snacks. I will try the Bora Bora bars. I have corn tortillas and tortilla chips here. Also salsa. I also remembered I have guacamole in the freezer that I will get out. I always have deviled eggs in the refrigerator. I guess I have things here it’s just that I’m not accustomed to eating between meals.

Tex, I can't wait for the stomach to go down. I'll look pregnant when I get into my swimming suit and head for the pool.


Last evening on the “chat session” I talked about the GF Betty Crocker Brownie mix, GF yellow & chocolate cake mixes, and the GF chocolate chip cookie mix. I tried the GF brownie mix and thought it was excellent. They came out with these new products last summer and are not in all the stores yet. I can buy them locally, however, some people can’t. If you go to the Amazon web site below you can buy them in 6 packs for $21.46. That’s $3.57 each. I noticed that if ordered in the next 8 hours there is free shipping. I don’t think you can mix and match, you need to order 6 of one kind.

Darn, I just noticed the GF brownies & cookies contains SOY LECITHIN and the two GF cakes contain SOY FLOUR and I am soy intolerant. Well, for those who are not soy intolerant this is a great product. Last night was the first time I had one of the Brownies since last week. There are only a couple left.


http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_ ... luten+free





http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_ ... luten+free

[wonderwoman]

I noticed the whole URL above doesn't show. Part is missing, so I redid it and it still doesn't show. However, I think it works.

[tex]

Charlotte,

Not to worry - I added some code to the operating code for this board, which automatically shortens long URLS, so that we don't have to scroll horizontally, when reading posts that contain long URLS. The system automatically handles it, so that the link still takes us to the correct address, when we click on a link.

ex

[mbeezie]

Ugh - really mad they are now adding soy flour to the Betty Crocker products. I have used them since they came out and the yellow mix only had potato and rice flours. I just checked a label on the box I have in my pantry - no soy flour. But I checked the website and they are now listing soy. Sooooo disappointed as this was the only product I could find without soy or tapioca. Think I'll check the local stores and buy up the old cake mixes with no soy flour. And I'll send them an e-mail begging them to remove it.

Here's the link to contact Betty Crocker if you want to complain about the addition of soy flour
http://consumercontacts.generalmills.co ... rocker.com


Mary Beth

[wonderwoman]

Thanks for the heads up Mary Beth. I will send them an e-mail also complaining that they added soy..

[Gabes-Apg]

Charlotte
i have started a similar system as you.
If i happen to be driving through a different suburb, and see a health food shop or supermarket with different owner type thing i call in and check out their range.
I buy one pack of a new item to try. i have started keeping tabs of products and place of purchase in my diary.

Even the big supermarket chains, dont have the same range across all their stores, it is different for every suburb!

I have even started a routine/timetable for shopping, getting to various outlets in the various suburbs! I get paid monthly so i like to go and get enough stocks of the basics to last me the month type thing.


I can honestly say that since the MC diagnosis it takes me 'double the amount time' to hunt and gather my groceries
add to that the amount of time i spend cooking no more snacking on salads or fruit (less ingredients and variety but it takes me more time.... go figure!)

and charlotte - I also can not figure how can you have lots of D but still have a bloated stomach... thank goodness i lost weight when I had chronic D and even when i am bloated, all my work clothes fit ok

COngrats on the accomplishments and getting control on this D. in the back of our minds is the fact that there is no cure, but the feeling of accomplishment that you figure out what works and start getting your life back is definately worthy of celebration

[mbeezie]

Charlotte,

Many foods can cause bloating, GERD, diarrhea, etc, not just gluten, dairy or soy. I get horrible symptoms from tapioca (I remember Matthew said he had a problem with tapioca too). Another biggie that we don't often talk about on this forum is corn. Corn is in everything and some people, like my son, are corn sensitive. Could also be any number of fruits, veggies or food additives. Mediator release testing was enormously beneficial to me to figure out my remaining sensitivities.

Mary Beth

[starfire]

I wrote them an e-mail also. Hope it helps.

Love, Shirley

[Stanz]

My question is does anyone else get hungry between meals and what do you snack on????

Charlotte,

I haven't had any of the bloating and maybe that relates to your needing to be SF and CF, as I don't seem to have a problem with those either.

I just plain am never hungry until dinner time most of the time, food is of no interest to me. My DH is concerned I'm developing an eating disorder now after just so many years of bad experiences eating.

Connie