I decided that it might be best to start my new food journal with a ground zero, if you will. Yesterday, I started to do a little research and incorporate some of the anti-inflammatory ideas into my day. What I discovered in my research is that a lot of people have a lot of opinions about what is and what is not inflammatory. There are many books, charts, ratings and some seem to be based on opinion, some on loose studies and it is really hard to figure out what is based on facts. This has lead me to believe that what I felt yesterday is really what I need to do – I need to just listen to my body. It really is as simple as that.
The guidelines that my doctor gave me are pretty strict and after much thought, I have decided that following his advice to the letter is not my goal. I think that it will be best if I start with small changes instead of cutting everything out and then adding back in later. I am going to start implementing my first change today so the foods I ate yesterday are not a good example of anything. I wouldn’t call it a typical day and by the strictest standards, I wouldn’t call it anti-inflammatory either.
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~coffee with light coconut milk
~steel cut oats prepared in coconut milk and water, over easy egg prepared in olive oil, banana
~BBQ Chicken chopped salad without the tortilla strips from Panera, fruit cup
~almond butter and freeze dried banana chips (from TJ’s)
~center cut pork chop prepared in olive oil, mache and tomato salad with apple cider vinegar and olive oil, a few sips of BAD pinot noir
~coconut milk ice cream, nesquick chocolate syrup
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Yesterday, my mood was pretty light and easy though hearing the news that a change in my diet may be necessary was a little stressful. Work was also very busy and I knew from the moment I arrived that I would not be meeting all of my deadlines. The good news is that work stress does not seem to get to me the way it used to. On the pain front, I started the day with mild sinus pain and mild shoulder pain. After the exam at the doc, I had intense hip and shoulder pain which he said would happen after all of the poking and prodding. Also, as per usual, the sinus pain in my nose and behind my eyes grew more intense as the day passed. By the end of the day, I had a terrible headache behind my eyes and on the crown of my head. I had not trouble getting to sleep and slept well.
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So, there you have it folks. Food wise was a hodge podge but on the general well being and pain front, I would say that yesterday was pretty typical as I do go through many days in pain. Today, I will be starting with some small changes and I will be back tomorrow with a full report. But for now, I am off to the farmer’s market and then a yummy yoga class with my friend and my favorite yoga teacher. Then, I need to go buy a new bottle of pinot noir ;)
I really hope this effort helps you to feel better. I can’t imagine going through every day with pain. I personally think I’m really going to enjoy reading about the food you are eating and how you are feeling. Thanks for sharing. Enjoy the yoga class! Its raining here which is thwarting my plans to take my nephew to the park.. what to do?
grr. thought I’d left a comment the other day when I first read this post but it must have gone to post heaven.
I’ve heard of sugars causing inflamation and am very interested to see what you figure out for yourself. My mom is diabetic so of course she has to limit her sugar intake. Since I’ve been living with them for about a year now, I’ve observed how her body reacts when she does have sugar or anything that turns into sugar. Not only does she have nausea from her diabetes, but she starts aching…mainly her back and arms. She has very little circulation in her lower legs but I’m sure there would be some pain there if she could feel it. I think it’s Dr. Weil who talks about sugar and it’s effects on our body. Sugar actually feeds cancerous tumors and in some cases, people have been able to rid themselves of cancer cells by reducing their sugar intake.
Way to experiment in an effort to understand your body better! :)