The 21-Day Sugar Detox- Day 13

I made it through another day on The 21-Day Sugar Detox! Thankfully, I slept so much better last night than I did the night before. Unfortunately, I had to wake up really early this morning.  I had to attend a catechist meeting and mini retreat, starting at 8:30 AM.

When I arrived at my meeting,they were setting up the food table. I handed over the breakfast bars I was asked to bring. I, then, chose my seat and set up my area with my special coffee mug and water bottle. There was no way I would let my system be contaminated with their bottled water and flavored coffee of unknown origin. Yep, I have become that girl. Returning to the food table, I examined the spread. I realized, there was not one food I could eat. Not one! Luckily, I'm used to fasting. So, this was no big deal. I went back to my seat and sipped my filtered water.

Normally, I hang around after meetings to chat a bit. Not today. The snow had started falling half an hour ago. I just wanted to get home, get into my sweats, and make something to eat. My little Fiat was covered in snow. After brushing it off, I began the drive home.  The ride was slow going. I HATE driving in snow!

I felt such relief pulling into the garage. I prayed a thank you for God seeing me home safely.  Boho rushed me at the door. I love the way she's so happy to see me, no matter how long I've been gone. I threw all of my things down in a heap, walked to my closet, and slipped into my sweats. After putting away my stuff, I made myself something to eat, a bacon, avocado lettuce wrap.

After lunch, I thought about how I was feeling. It has been weeks since I experienced any gastrointestinal symptoms. My joints are still hurting. But, I think that has more to do with me running out of my joint supplements. My rashes have greatly improved. The butterfly rash on my face is now hardly noticeable. In fact, every one of my symptoms has improved in some way.  Yay for me!

I spent my time before dinner chilling. I read a little, did a crossword puzzle, and viewed pins on Pinterest.

For dinner, I baked Italian Sausage Bagels (one of the pins I found on Pinterest). I couldn't make them exactly like the recipe because of my food restrictions. I made the appropriate changes.

I served them with Arugula and avocado stuffed into them.  I also sauted some slivered brussel sprouts with bacon, red onion, and Balsamic Vinegar.  Dinner tasted wonderful, even with the changes.

I decided to write this blog post immediately after dinner. I really wanted to spend the rest of the night chillaxing. Silver Linings Playbook is on Shotime tonight and I want to watch it again. I really like that movie.

Tomorrow will be a short post. It's Sunday, you know. I don't like to work on Sundays. But, if you need any encouragement, drop me a note either in email or comments.

Enjoy your weekend!

The 21-Day Sugar Detox- Day 11

Woo-hoo! I'm over halfway through The 21-Day Sugar Detox!  I'm starting to believe that this regimen is not so hard to follow on a long term basis.  While I'm happy I'll be able to add some foods back when I'm done, I have the confidence of knowing I can do it slowly and carefully.

The easing of my gastrointestinal symptoms is reason enough to adopt a more constrictive eating plan. I haven't suffered from the gas, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation that was a daily occurrence. I'm also quite confident the ulcer in my stomach has disappeared. The burning sensation in my belly is a thing of the past. I plan on getting another endoscopy in a couple of months to prove it.

Oh, and another huge plus is that my hair loss has slowed to an almost normal range. Now, I know it's the result of the combination of remedies I'm treating myself with; but, I know my diet is part of the cure.

Today, hunger was not an issue. As usual, I fasted until 2 PM, when I ate two of the chicken legs I prepared last night, raw cucumber sticks, and half an avocado wrapped in a slice of bacon. I peeled the cucumber, because I read in my research that sometimes microscopic mold can grow on the skin, inside the fridge. Since I'm on a mold-free plan due to my Candida, I thought it was best not to take the chance.

This afternoon, I did have a headache. I just worked through it, figuring I am still dealing with "die off" symptoms. Eventually, it cleared. I've been taking two drops of Oil of Oregano under my tongue for the past couple of days. It's supposed to be very effective in treating Candida and a myriad of other ailments. It seems to be doing something because the "die off" symptoms have increased. If you ever try it, be prepared for the mouth burn! The first time I placed the drops under my tongue, the burning sensation was almost unbearable. The next time, I was more careful! I left my mouth open and kept my tongue up. This way, the air could cool it down.  I read it could be rubbed under the feet to work just as well. I may try that at a later time.

For dinner, I cooked a Braised Lamb Shank, served with Coconut Lime Cauliflower Rice and Vegetable Gravy.  By far, this was best dinner yet! I ate the lamb in true caveman style, bone-in. After braising for three hours, the lamb was just falling off the bone. Who says you can't have a great meal with autoimmune modifications?

Now, don't get me wrong.  It's not like all my symptoms have all disappeared.  I'm still breaking out with a zit here and there. And, my worst rash is still on the mend. Obviously, when we are suffering from autoimmune disease or other harsh illnesses, 11 days is not long enough to cure all that ails us.  But, at least I'm working on healing myself.  The fact that I notice improvement at all is proof I'm on the right track.  Rather than covering up my symptoms with pharmaceuticals, I'm curing my disease. That takes time and sacrifice. I know I'll come out ahead in the end!

As always, if I can help you, let me know! Tmoperillo@gmail.com

All questions you submit via email are kept strictly confidential.

Goodnight.

The 21-Day Sugar Detox- Day 10

Only a half hour left of day 10 of The 21-Day Sugar Detox. This morning was a rough one. I awoke around 5 AM, sopping wet. I was sweating profusely! I was also nauseous. I got out of bed to cool myself down. I walked to the kitchen to drink a glass of water. I, then, walked back to bed and got under the covers. Luckily, I was able to drift back to sleep.

When I awoke at 8:30, it was as if nothing had occurred. I felt fine. Weird! I figured it could be "die off" symptoms from my Candida treatments. Or, maybe, it is part of the detox. I just hope it doesn't happen again.

Today, I had a few errands to run, including dropping off my donation at The Home of the Sparrow. I unloaded six big bags of stuff as donations. Then, I did a little shopping. I picked up some really cute scarves and a maroon crochet shawl.

I finished up my errands at 1 PM. After putting away my purchases and starting a load of laundry, I made a quick lunch. Pig in a lettuce blanket is what I called it. Two slices of ham, one slice of bacon and a little mustard on two lettuce leaves. So good!

 Pig in a Lettuce Blanket

After lunch, I answered some emails, finished laundry, and starting preparing for dinner. We were eating early because my husband had a meeting to attend at 6:30 PM. I prepped everything; so, I could just pop it in the oven when I was ready.

I did have a headache for awhile this afternoon. I know this is definitely a symptom of Candida "die off". I can only believe that combined with my natural treatments, this detox is working to kill my Candida.  That is wonderful news!

At 4:30, I tossed my Chicken with Artichokes and Olives into the oven. The recipe is from The 21-Day Sugar Detox. I chopped the cucumbers and avocado for our salad. At 5:30, all was cooked, plated, and ready to eat. The Chicken was really good. You have to really like olives in order to enjoy it. It's very briny.

After dinner, I actually took time to watch a couple of TV shows I really like. Usually, I'm working while they play in the background. Tonight, I sat back and enjoyed them. Of course, that could be why I'm blogging at midnight!

Tomorrow, I will be halfway done with the detox. I'm kind of excited about making this far. It's been up and down over the last ten days. But, I feel as though things are happening inside me. I feel like I'm in the process of healing!

As always, if you have questions, email me or leave in the comments below. I'd be happy to help.

The 21-Day Sugar Detox- Day 9

I can't believe it's almost day 10 of The 21-Day Sugar Detox ! The days seem to be passing quickly, now. My cravings are now completely GONE! My skin is clearing. All in all, I'm improving each day that passes.

I think the biggest change is the energy I have when I wake. I pop out of bed each day, ready to take it on. I'm known to be quite the procrastinator. For the last two days, my motto has been, "Let's get it done!". Even my husband has noticed the change. And, you know men; they usually don't notice anything different!

Today, I tackeled cleaning up my workroom. During the holidays, things had gotten out of hand in there! I was busy filling orders, making gifts, and formulating new products. The room was a mess! Well, I flitted around that room like a little cleaning fairy. Finally, at 2 PM, I took a lunch break. I ate two leftover chicken legs from last night's dinner and an arugula, cucumber, and avocado salad. After lunch, it was back to cleaning.

When I was done, my room was organized and clean. Plus, my car was filled with bags for donation I will drop off tomorrow at Home of the Sparrow Resale Shop. They are a great local charity who help homeless families in the area. So, I get a clean workroom; and, I get to help my community! Love it!

On a side note, Boho was having a great time because I found the bag of toys I had bought for her Christmas gifts while cleaning. Before Christmas, I had torn that room apart looking for these darn toys, to no avail. Oh well, at least she had things to play with as I worked.

Surprisingly, I did not get tired all day, even with all the room organizing and regular chores. I sailed right into dinner time with no fatigue. Wow! Now, I'm impressed!

For dinner, I wanted something hardy. Since last week's hamburger was my favorite meal, I decided to cook a variation of the bacon burger. I made an Inside-out Burger!

To make this, I formed a half pound of grass-fed ground beef into two square, thick patties. I then placed them on a metal grill rack atop a Baking Sheet. That way the grease can run off the meat to make sturdier "buns". I put them in the oven at 400 degrees for about 40 minutes. Once cooked, I placed one on a plate, layered bacon, arugula, butter lettuce, and mustard, then, laid the second patty on top. In order to make it easier to eat, I wrapped it in Unbleached Parchment Paper. It was THE BOMB! I don't know if anyone says that anymore; but, the way the flavor burst in my mouth, I had to say it.

On the side, I made a small bowl of Cream of Cauliflower Soup. I basically took the leftover cauliflower rice from last night, warmed it with homemade turkey bone broth and 1 Tbsp Coconut Milk. Then, I used my Immersion blenderto froth it up a bit. And, of course, I crumbled bacon on top. So creamy and delicious!

I realized today that it isn't as difficult as I thought it would be to eat tasty meals with so many restrictions. I mean, seriously, I can't have any grains, fruits, nightshades (eggplant, peppers, tomatoes), nuts (this includes flours, butters, and milks), eggs, sugar, sweetener, and dairy. Basically, I can eat meat, seafood, chicken, and vegetables.  And yet, I've eaten some amazing tasting foods. I guess it's all about working within your limitations.

As each day passes, I feel stronger and healthier. I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!

Need help getting started on your trek to better health? Please, email me or comment below. I would love to help you. Email: tmoperillo@gmail.com

The 21-Day Sugar Detox- Day 8

Well, I'm winding down day 8 of The 21-Day Sugar Detox! I cannot possibly describe the total mental clarity I'm experiencing. It's as if my brain has been sparked into life. I kinda feel like Frankenstein's monster, only not so big and green. My skin is also clearing up quickly.  I can actually feel and see the detox working! Even my coffee is starting to become more flavorful! And, weirdly, my eyes even seem to see more clearly. I look at things; and, they seem so sharp. I told you it was weird.

Instead of going through my day, in some sort of timeline, I'm going to let you know what foods I ate at which meals. I'm not going to focus on the fact that I tend to skip breakfast most days. While not right for some people, it works for me. And no one is going to change my mind on that.

With that said, breakfast was coffee. For lunch, I made a tuna salad lettuce wrap. Instead of mayo (can't have eggs), I made an avocado cream. I put an avocado, salt, black pepper, 1tsp Apple Cider Vinegar, and a squeeze of lemon in a bowl. I used an immersion blender to squish it all together. Then I mixed together 1 can tuna, 1 stalk celery ( for crunch), 1 Tbsp capers, and the avocado cream. The mixture was then spooned onto my lettuce leaves. I would have loved to add boiled eggs, pepper sauce, and pickles to the mix; but none are allowed.  Boo, hiss!

It may seem that my lunches are quite large. Remember, I don't typically eat breakfast. So, I can afford to have a larger lunch. The fact is, I lost 2 pounds in my first week on this detox. I really don't need to lose any weight. Otherwise, I may have lost more.

My dinner was a combination of my favorite, chicken legs, and cauliflower rice with onions and bok choy. I'll give the recipes in a future post. I want to focus on the actual detox in this series of posts.

It seems as each day passes, I can see progress happening. I'm still getting some aches and pains. But, I never expected to be healed in 7 days. I know this is just the beginning of a long journey. I plan to stay away from nightshade foods even after the detox is over. But, at least I've started my journey. Have you? What is finally going to motivate you to get better? I'm hoping I can help. By sharing this with you honestly, I hope I can give you the courage to do it yourself.

If you have any questions or need a warrior behind you, email me or leave me a comment below. You don't have to give me your real name. Just put things in motion!

Tmoperillo@gmail.com