February 17, 2013
Holy cow the Whole30 has kept us BUSY. We are determined to enjoy our food so that this doesn't feel like punishment. Moreover, we plan to eat like this going forward, so we're keen on developing new habits and "go-to" foods that will be easy in the long term. But that takes some doing at first.
Alas, things have settled down. We're starting week three, and I will soon post our results from weeks one and two. But in advance of that, here's what we hope to improve upon. (Get ready for a long list; I'm leaving nothing out.)
The Naturopathic Patient
1. STUFF WE TALK ABOUT A LOT
·Cyclical breast pain
·Anxiety
·Allergies
2. WHINE WORTHY
Note: these are the items that mostly disappear when I am adhering to my naturopath's intructions. But after the holidays...yikes, this is what I get.
·Rarely sleep through the night
·Sugar cravings.
·Intermittent musculoskeletal & myofascial pain - leftover from the fibromyalgia days
·Itchy scalp
·Twitchy at night
·Lingering bronchitis & ear ache
·Occasional reappearance of tinnitus that Dr B's adrenal approach had licked
·Dry hair (wayyyy better nowadays but still not shiny and silky like...oh...Rapunzel?)
·My hands sometimes fall asleep at night depending on how contorted I am sleeping
·Gallbladder pain from coffee, gluten-cheats, and sugar during the second half of my cycle
·Rare but annoying asthma during aggressive cardio the second half of my cycle
·I wanna lose 10 more lbs. I'm down 35lbs from my highest (which is when I started seeing an ND) and I'm at a totally acceptable weight now...but just one more size smaller pretty please!?
3. PROBABLY NOTHING WILL EVER HELP BUT WHO KNOWS?
·I have these tiny white blemishes on my face that look like zits but cannot be popped. I can live with them but I wonder....will a super-clean diet do the trick?
·I have Multiple Familial Lipomatosis - from my dad's side. It seems this is genetic and cannot be fixed without surgery to remove the encapsulated lipomas (isolated lumps) on my thighs & glutes. Could this be something that impeccable, paleo-like nutrition will help at all?
Sheesh what a list. But I have tried to come up with every single imperfection I can think of in order to test how the Whole30 will affect the smallest of complaints.
I see a symptom missing and I have to send my heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Birr...my hair is no longer falling out & straw-like. My eyebrows are full again! That is, to date, my favorite naturopathic success. Hurrah for NATUROPATHY! (Plus, I don't have to include PMS on my list after decades of fighting that battle.)
The Man
1. STUFF WE THINK ABOUT A LOT
·Minor but persistent psoriasis, eczema, & dermatitis
· Unusual head rushes unlike any typical dizzy spell or vertigo
·Brief but substantial sinus reaction to most meals
·Circulation issues - my Love's hands and feet are always cold regardless of how much awesome warm Gear we throw at the problem.
2. WHINE WORTHY
Again, many of these are better depending on how compliant he is, but...
·Constipation
·Dandruff
·Arm bumps - Keratosis Pilaris, I think
·Fungal toenail
·An occasional large, painful zit
·Early waking, can't go back to sleep
·Intermittent fatigue
·Cranky & blurry eyes if food is not RIGHT on time
·Sinus headaches
·Plugged ears
·Elbow pain (recent, strange, & not related to any injury or repetitive motion)
·Historical shoulder pain (easily inflamed & even pops sometimes) - not solved by therapy with the very best of physical therapists
·VERY systemically sensitive to poison ivy; if it gets on him in one spot, he can have breakouts everywhere as a result.
3. PROBABLY NOTHING WILL EVER HELP BUT WHO KNOWS
OK - I got nothin' here. The Man is not that kind of man. He doesn't complain enough or pay attention to details enough to amass a list like I have. Maybe the Whole30 will make him more interested in my concerns over hats and shoes! Wouldn't that be a fabulous benefit?
Stay tuned to see how these all turn out!
February 3rd, 2013
My guy and I are doing the Whole30. Hurrah!
Let me start with a disclaimer: I give full, gleaming credit to the authors Melissa and Dallas Hartwig. I'm talking about their program as outlined in the book It Starts With Food. We will be doing the Whole30 according to their specific plan but with a naturopathic twist because that is how we do everything. We are NOT altering their program and I do not suggest it needs changing. We're just incorporating naturopathic approaches to wellness because it's how our house runs.
The Whole30 is a 30-day nutritional reset in which one eats only vegetables, fruits, meat, nuts, and healthy oils. Here are the no-no's: · No grains. None at all; not quinoa or rice or anything ancient or sprouted or otherwise supposedly better than wheat.
· No Sugar - real, fake, organic, plant-based or otherwise. None.
· No Dairy
· No legumes (no beans or peanuts or soy).
· No corn, which is usually treated as a grain in America anyhow. Also no white potatoes.
· No eating between three meals a day unless necessary due to physical activity.
Please see their site for details and specifics, particularly if you have any health conditions like diabetes. Remember folks, I am not a doctor or health professional of any kind! I'm a blogger.
Get your advice from a pro, get your naturopathic entertainment from me.
This plan is similar to my ND's program minus Biocleanse Plus (yum), minus beans, plus coffee... hurrah for the javahhh!
I like the idea of a reset. A detox program is attractive, but I get very annoyed by the judge-y looks I get when I use the word "detox". Hello! I'm not dumb enough to think that cayenne pepper and maple syrup comprise a healthy way to support my body after a period of poor diet or stress (uh...Christmas anyone?). Nutritional reset shuts up the judges. It also feels more accurate. By the by, I like "cleanse" too but people still get all frowny-faced.
Why the Whole30?
I've fallen off the Wellness Wagon since Christmas. Obviously I still struggle intermittently with sugar, and when I'm in the throes...oy yoy yoy. The symptoms sneak back in - even those my ND had previously eliminated. I'm ridiculous. The severity is never as bad as before my first days as a naturopathic patient, but guess what everyone? Junk food makes you feel like crap.
My husband is also much healthier since working with an ND. Part of his issue is 100% compliance with the treatment plans. He can't bring himself to do castor oil packs, or drink apple cider vinegar for example. Ultimately, his symptoms get progressively better but never disappear and it's hard to know exactly why since he's not quite as diligent as he might be. I've fallen off the Wellness Wagon since Christmas. Obviously I still struggle intermittently with sugar, and when I'm in the throes...oy yoy yoy. The symptoms sneak back in - even those my ND had previously eliminated. I'm ridiculous. The severity is never as bad as before my first days as a naturopathic patient, but guess what everyone? Junk food makes you feel like crap.
We're hoping the Whole30 will trash the symptoms along with the habits that keep them around. Also, after being a Naturopathic patient for a few years, I've come to know that switching things up with new approaches & new frameworks reinvigorates you! It's a great way to get motivated again. For reals.
And...I am really good at compliance when something is strict, finite and has potential for good results. The Man is really good at following rules. I'm thinking this is going to work! (I bet our ND ends up being stricter with us going forward. lol.)
Time passes no matter what; we may as well do something productive with it.
My husband has never done a cleanse/detox/reset of any kind. He's eliminated specific foods one at a time for a few months to test their effect on his skin issues, but he's never done it all at once. The reason we always did things piecemeal (harhar) is because he is both thin and very active; lots of meal options and ease have always been important. Translation: grains fill a guy up with very little effort. However, since his skin issues are so stubborn, he's now ready to give this a try. I'm so glad to have him as a partner in this!THE COMPLAINTS:
My big three are breast pain, allergies, and anxiety
The Man's big three are skin issues, sinus issues, & circulation issues
The Man's big three are skin issues, sinus issues, & circulation issues
Next post? A full list of our symptoms and complaints. This way we'll be able to track how the Whole30 helps us. You can compare our progress to your own situation - and try it too! START NOW! (That's what Melissa and Dallas recommend. Why wait?)
Stay tuned for our Whole30 Story....naturopathic style.
(Ha. One of my favorite songs just came on as I'm finishing this up. "Cornflake girl" by Tori Amos. Good thing I "never was a cornflake girl" either - cuz they ain't allowed on the Whole30.)`\
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