Monday, March 9, 2015

The FODMAP Journey : Day 7

So we are a week into our low FODMAP eating and I've had some real high's and low's.
Firstly, I want to say that I'm not going to call this a "diet" because really it is a lifestyle change. Just researching and learning about all the things we were putting into our bodies before was a real eye-opener. I mean, I knew we weren't healthy eaters in any sense of the word, and obviously after the elimination phase I will be putting certain fruits, vegetables and grains back into my diet, but now I can do it with a lot more knowledge about how everything affects my body. I can decide what's just not worth having ever again (high fructose corn syrup anyone?) and decide what things I feel should be a treat as opposed to what I am okay with eating on a daily basis.
It is amazing to see just how much the things I was consuming was affecting my body. Pre low FODMAP eating, I often felt sluggish, bloated and "weighed down," suffering from constant acid or indigestion. Initially in the week, I felt really tired, I was craving caffeine so much I was considering buying the entire inventory of the vending machine at work and having a free for all and I noticed I was having a really hard time focusing. By the end of the week though, I was feeling energetic, my mood had increased significantly and I hadn't felt so good in my body in a really long time. As with any change in diet, it took my body a little while to adjust but it is so worth it to feel as good as I do right now.
My husband, who has most likely been suffering from IBS since he was 16, is a completely new person. Aside from having to put up with bread and muffins that don't quite taste the same without wheat, all his IBS related symptoms have disappeared. Within 48 hours it was as if he'd never had stomach issues, and within a few days he could eat without worrying about getting sick. He's sleeping a lot better and even able to enjoy spicy foods again!
Aside from the initial shock to our bodies, the biggest struggle has been having to make the time to cook all our meals. This not only includes meals as a whole, but also things like Ketchup and salad dressings have to be made from scratch. Yesterday alone, I made 4 meals and had to go to the grocery store 3 times. Today we had a really busy day and the only place we know for sure to be FODMAP friendly happened to be closed. It is very difficult in the beginning, because there is a lot of research that has to go into it. BUT, today I made an enchilada sauce from scratch and I have to say I was pretty damn proud. It feels good to know exactly what you are putting into your body and if you can't make the time to make sure your taking care of your well-being, then nothing else really matters anyway. 

Let me know what you eat that makes your body feel the best!

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