So after a week of major diet modifications, I ran into some challenges. Knowing what to eat is easy since I have a pretty narrow list of stuff I'm not allergic to, it's just weeding the other stuff out that has been difficult. These things were rough for me this past week:
1. Eliminating gluten. Although I'm not celiac, I am borderline and have a high intolerance to wheat gluten. I have come to discover that wheat or wheat by-products are in frigging everything! I was never a big processed foods person, but looking at labels made me realize I am going to have to start being really careful. Gluten-free baking mixes and products are more available than they've been in the past, which is lucky for me, so I will start using them.
2. Eliminating beef and dairy. Seriously, how am I supposed to get my cheeseburger fix on? Fortunately I am strong of will right now, so I am buying more poultry and seafood and not buying beef at all. I stare wistfully at the meat counter - the rib-eyes, the New York strips .. and lets not forget the t-bones. How I will miss thee.
3. Cutting down on grains. The doc said one serving a day of rice or grains that are not wheat or contain gluten. This narrows it down to things like quinoa and rice. I'm Asian, so this presents a challenge. But I am supposed to eat more potatoes, so it kind of balances out I guess. Still it's hard to make only a little rice in a big ol' rice cooker.
After the first week, although I am frustrated by not being able to just eat whatever I want, I am feeling a little better. I am experiencing a little less stiffness and swelling in my joints and am feeling pretty good about what I do eat. Let's see what this week brings. My goals are to eat all five fruits and vegetables every day and drink more water. And so it begins.
-3 -3
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