Change and Protein

Well, I have been on about every diet out there. Some days raw, some days pizza, some vegan or macrobiotic, mostly what I think my body needs. Grains have been a staple of my diet for 6 years and dairy was a no-show. Recently, sugar, wheat, cheese and anything that had been ruled out was what I was seeking. If anything, availability is key, and unfortunately, if there was a famine of a particular food, a binge was inevitable.

So, I have decided to listen to what I need now. All the research, moral implications and feeling energy I have and have had around food, the number one principle of eating well is balance and delicious flavor. Protein is inevitable. Protein is key to growth, to creating energy and muscle tissue, encouraging healthy assimilation. Thanks to epicurious for the inspiration for this recipe , and the reminder by Elana of Elana's Pantry about protein and amino acids.

Salmon Grapefruit Salad

• 1 lb salmon fillet, cut in half (to fit in a steamer basket)
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• Juice from 2 limes (about 1/4 cup)
• 1 T olive oil
  
• 8 cups mixed baby greens
• 1 avocado, thinly sliced
• 1 pink grapefruit, pith and peel removed, segments separated
• 1/2 cup jicama

Grapefruit-Ginger Dressing

• 5 tbsp grapefruit juice
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 cup white-wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh ginger

Mix cumin, olive oil and lime juice and add to salmon. Set aside and marinade for 30 minutes (optional). Add to bamboo or stainless steel steamer and steam for 3-4 minutes on each side.
Set aside and let cool for 5 or 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, whisk ingredients together for dressing.
Add to lettuce, avocado, and jicama mix. Be sure to coat lettuce leaves very well with dressing.
Shred salmon and add to salad.

Enjoy!
Waller

Gluten, Again?

Well, I was doing pretty well. 3 days gluten free. I was sailing in a positive direction, yet still overeating at night. Thought I was doing better than I was actually. The days were ok, no itching or severe anxiety. Then, I got confused. Felt like I have a lot to be thankful for, but I have also mad ea lot of mistakes in my life. My roommates pancakes look pretty good. Maybe better than the guilt of going out in public with my dress more than 3 inches above my knees (and in high school, that was a no-wake zone). Oh yes, and also, the frightening sensation of waking up 9 mornings out of 10 having put on an inch in the middle of the night due to eating in my dreams. That's no good either.

Well, I thought I was doing well. No gluten, anyways. Then, I broke through a commitment I had to my well being. I thought another day in turmoil seemed more attractive than one day hanging out in the knowing that I am taking care of myself. And when I do so--good things show up. Sometimes potential cognition is not enough to break through habits. And other times, well, I make another choice because I am seeking a healthier outcome. THis time, I really knew that I do this, I get that. And I did it anyways.

Back on the wagon again. Hanging on by a few threads until I get the gluten out. It takes a few days to feel free again. Sometimes all we have is now and what we need is the belief that we can live free from an addiction to food. I have done it, and I know it is doable. It is a matter of choice, and a continued commitment to the process. I hope you are doing well in overcoming the struggle. I was reminder earlier of a wonderful insight: the struggle is the blessing.

English Muffin Woman

Woohoo!! It has taken me a while to make peace with my gluten intolerance. It has been nearly 2 years since I made the connection that gluten was a cause of my poor health symptoms, and since I did pretty well sticking with a pretty gluten free way of life. I was happy and healthy, for a long while there and amazed at how quickly my symptoms cleared up. Most notable was my depression, poor memory, feeling of confusion, lack of menstrual cycle and blood sugar imbalance were lifted from my life. All within a matter of days.

I forget what it was like to have struggled so, and almost as an alcoholic who loses sight of the 12 steps, I recently forgot that food can potentially cause a severe lack of nutrition. I moved in with a roommate and as happy as I am to be living with someone, I really hate her food. I wish it would hide so I was not exposed to it! You would think it would be fine, but for some reason, 100 cal wheat buns and mini shortbread cookies were calling to me. I went a week without them and then decided I would be fine to have some. And more and more. And the past few days I have been unable to get out of the house due to anxiety and confusion. Many would disagree the food is the cause, but due to my history of breaking away from gluten and experiencing so much goodness, I get a sense that that is what this is about.

Dear reader,
I am not here to tell you that if you struggle with your relationship with food or have a high level of anxiety, that gluten is the culprit. If you have ever struggled with depression, going gluten free may not be the answer for you. But it has been for me. I have experienced a great healing from cutting gluten out of my diet. I have also been able to tolerate it at times, but not completely. It does leave remnants of symptoms, yet I normally will cut it out before we get in too deeply together. PLease know that I am not here to diagnose or confuse you, dear reader. You have the option to eat what you please, but also to become educated about the impact your choices are having on your body and mind. My intent is to share from my experience and knowledge base in hopes that perhaps you may take a bit of inspiration, or a recipe to increase your health and happiness, and find freedom from a food addiction or a lack thereof. Either way, food is meant to be injoyed, with love and appreciation. The act of cooking food inspires creativity and therein attracts you to a higher level of living than would eating out all of the time. Please cook with love, and love yourself no matter if you love to cook, love to eat, or simply love to learn about food.

On the morning of deciding to get back on the gluten free bandwagon, yet keep up with the dairy (and not give it all up at once!)
an english muffin with cheddar cheese sounded delightful. Can you believe you can order Gluten Free English Muffins on Amazon? For cheap, too? Amazing.

Gluten Free, Please!!!

A couple of years ago I was going through a very intense health crisis. My weight had been well below normal for many years, I had no sign of a menstrual cycle in 6.5 years and I was about to go insane because I was so hungry all of the time and my body seemed to be eating itself. Not sure where the food was going...

I ran into an ex-boyfriend who, when we were together, we were both severely digestively distressed. Not sure who was more so, but I was fully bulimic at the time, so much so that I did not notice his issues, and he did not see mine. Together, we were a perfect pair. He had moved around a bit like I, until he was in Washington becoming a politician, but his tummy would not have it. He tested positive for celiac, made the decision to give up gluten and BAM! Weight came on and wellness followed. He was my personal hero for committing to a healthy lifestyle. His reason was to never have to struggle as he did when he ate gluten, but I would say super courageous for being a macho man and sticking with a gluten free diet--which can be known as a hippy or health nut thing to do.

My symptoms looked a lot like his. I decided to follow him in the gluten free initiative and was amazed at how many of my symptoms cleared up. The most notable was my blood sugar balancing, weight stabilizing, period came back within a matter of months and anxiety decreased drastically. I never found out for sure if I was celiac, but the blood tests showed obvious signs of gluten intolerance (IgG panel very low). I gave up gluten and felt clear and not hungry all of the time. I promise my depression went from a 9.5 to a 2.

Recently, I moved in with roommates. They eat as normal as a 16 year old. There is plenty of bread and crackers and dumplings and casseroles around the house. There is also no excuse for me indulging in their food, but I have been. It has not been fun or pretty. My symptoms have come back, in a rare form this time.

*itching like I am constantly being attacked by fire ants (it's not fun!!!)
*sleeping with food--eating @ night when i cannot sleep
*blood sugar out of whack is causing my SEVERE anxiety
*fogginess, takes me 12 times the effort to do homework and pay bills

I am getting back on the gluten free wagon. I will write more about my "de-sludging" symptoms. Mostly, about how grateful I am for having recognized what I need. Commitment is a word that needs clear definition in my life. I can force myself to do something for a while, then give up only to realize I was trying and not committed. This is going to take a serious deep commitment, almost as if I am married to my gluten free lifestyle.

Some things that helped me in the past were to:
*Make delicious gluten free food
*Read, read, read other people's stories and successes of gluten free living
*Connect with other Gluten Free people
*Comment on Gluten Free blogsites
*Find Gluten free recipe sites

Questions/comments/issues about this post? Make a comment! I'd love to hear our experience of being on or off gluten, or if this brings up something you may recognize in your own life.

Take good care.

Warmly,
Waller