I'm Okay With It

Yesterday was day #11 and I can honestly say that my symptoms were no better than before I started the 30-day challenge.  That's not to say I don't recommend that you try it... I'm just saying I don't think it was right for me.

Prior to day #1, I had been gluten and dairy free for over two years. I attribute those two changes to the health improvements I have had since I was diagnosed in 2013.  My thyroid antibodies dropped from 890 to 150 and I'm still working on <35.  Last month, I took a break from red wine, nuts, chocolate, eggs and bacon; it definitely improved my digestive symptoms.  

At this point, I think it's safe to say that I've eliminated anything that might be upsetting my system.  And quite honestly, my life is too busy to eat like a caveman! Like I said before, breakfast and lunch aren't difficult to keep up with but the dinner meal is a whole other story.  Food is social. My life is busy. 

So, I'm not throwing-in the towel -- just reanalyzing. I'm convinced that if all I eat from now on is very bland, unseasoned and completely natural food, I would still have digestive issues.  It is what it is.  And I'm okay with where I'm at now. Life is good :-)

Challenge Day #7

So, I'm just adding turmeric to everything now...  it doesn't really have any flavor and it's supposed to be good for inflammation.  I've ordered some of the unflavored protein powder so I can make some of those turmeric gummie bears.  I'll let you know when I make them.

Breakfast: Sweet Potato Hash
[Cooked sweet potato cubes in coconut oil, sprinkled with cinnamon - love this stuff!]

Lunch: Beef Fajita Meat 
[That's all I had -- with some grilled onion.  I'm so glad Dr. Myers' challenge includes onion -- they're so sweet when they're cooked].

Snack: Protein Shake & Coconut Bar
[Shake: 1/2 cup water, 1 banana & 5 cherries (all frozen), spinach, 1/4 tsp pure vanilla, 1 tbsp protein powder, and ice.

Coconut Bar Recipe: 3 cups unsweetened coconut flakes, large; 2 tbsp protein powder, 1/2 tsp sea salt, 2 tbsp coconut oil, 1 tbsp coconut butter, 5 medjool dates, 1/4 cup dried cranberries and 1/4 cup coconut flour. Mix all ingredients in a food processor. Place in mini-loaf pan (8 bins) and refrigerate overnight].

Dinner: Grilled Chicken & Veggies 
[We ate leftover grilled chicken with some fresh roasted vegetables.  My husband grilled the chicken -- delicious! I made a pot of zucchini, yellow squash and carrots; added 1/8 cup extra virgin olive oil, turmeric, sea salt and pepper and he grilled that, too.]


"Bear one another's burden, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
Gal 6:4

Challenge Day #6

Busy, busy day!!! I have a scout troop that meets on Saturdays so not much time to think about cooking.  Luckily, I wasn't very hungry today.

Breakfast: Protein Shake & Hashimoto's Kitchen Coconut Bar
[Shake: 1/2 cup water, collard greens, 1 banana, 5 cherries, 3 strawberries (all frozen), 1/4 tsp pure vanilla, 1 tbsp protein powder, and ice.

The coconut bar was a little more formed this morning after refrigeration all night. Still working on how to bind it together but it's still delicious!].

Lunch: Leftover Grilled Chicken & Zucchini
[I told you -- I love leftovers!!]

Snack: Hashimoto's Kitchen Coconut Bar

Dinner: Grilled Steak
[My husband spoils me... he grilled steak for dinner!  That's all I had -- not very hungry].


"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Phil 4:13

Challenge Day #5

TGIF...  

Breakfast: Protein Shake
[1/2 cup water, 1 tbsp protein powder, 1 banana, 5 cherries, 3 strawberries (all frozen), 1/4 tsp pure vanilla, collard greens and ice].

Snack: Sweet Potato Hash
[Cooked sweet potato cubes in coconut oil, sprinkled with cinnamon]

Lunch: Chicken and Veggies
[Leftover chicken and veggies (zucchini and yellow squash) from last night's dinner].

Snack: Homemade Applesauce
[Best applesauce you will ever eat! So simple to make. Peel and dice ~5 of your favorite apples; place in a microwave bowl. Coat with 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil and cinnamon. Cover bowl with plate, leaving an opening for steam. Cook on high for 8-10 minutes. Blend the finished apples to the desired consistency].

Dinner: Grilled Chicken & Zucchini
[I'm so blessed that my husband loves to grill! Not sure how he prepped the chicken but he knows what I can't have.  It was all delicious].

Snack: Hashimoto's Non-chocolate Coconut Bar
[I was craving coconut since I used to have my Hashimoto's Coconut Bars all the time. Since they included dark chocolate and pure maple syrup, I couldn't eat them during the challenge. So tonight I modified the recipe a bit.  They tasted delicious but didn't bind great. I'll figure that part out later.

Recipe: 3 cups unsweetened coconut flakes, large; 2 tbsp protein powder, 1/2 tsp sea salt, 2 tbsp coconut oil, 1 tbsp coconut butter, 5 medjool dates, 1/4 cup dried cranberries and 1/4 cup coconut flour. Mix all ingredients in a food processor. Place in mini-loaf pan (8 bins) and refrigerate for 1 hour].


"Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."
Proverbs 16:24

Challenge Day #4

Whew!!! Eating right means planning, shopping, cooking... sometimes not necessarily in that order lol.  I'm doing well with breakfast and lunch; most of that is done the night before; dinner still needs a little work.  No wonder drive-thru windows have always been so appealing to me :-)


Breakfast: Protein Shake
[1/2 cup of water, 1 tbsp protein powder, 1 banana, 5 cherries, 2 strawberries (all frozen), 1/4 tsp pure vanilla, collard greens, and ice].

Snack: Sweet Potato Hash
[Cooked sweet potato cubes in coconut oil, sprinkled with cinnamon]

Lunch: Meatballs & Veggies
[Dr. Myers' meatball recipe with roasted carrots and yellow squash]

Snack: Tuna Salad
[Soy-free tuna with avocado, celery and extra virgin olive oil.  Not as exciting without my usual honey mustard and sweet pickles but it was good - enough].

Dinner: Organic Chicken with Steamed Veggies & Homemade Applesauce
[So, dinner was about 2 hours later than usual tonight... had to run to the grocery store and then cook my food! 

I actually steamed my veggies in the rice cooker - minus the rice.  Just chopped the veggies and place them in the rice cooker bowl.  Add 1/8 cup safflower oil, sprinkle with sea salt and pepper; add water until veggies covered. I let the veggies steam for about 25 minutes and turned it off.  I just topped the rotisserie chicken with the steamed veggies; it was actually really good. 

The applesauce is easy-peasy. Peel and dice your favorite apples (~ 5), place them in a microwave bowl; add 1/2 cup water, 1/8 cup extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle with cinnamon. Stir. Cover the bowl with a plate leaving a small opening for steam. Cook for 10 minutes.  Spoon into a blender for about 30 seconds; add remaining juice from bowl to desired consistency]. 

"Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise."
Jeremiah 17:14

Challenge Day #3

Are you guys taking the challenge?  Please share your favorite recipes! 

Breakfast: Protein Shake

[1/2 cup water, 1 tbsp protein powder, 1 banana & 5 cherries (all frozen), slice of melon, 1/4 tsp pure vanilla, collard greens, and ice].

Snack: Sweet Potato Hash

[Cooked sweet potato cubes in coconut oil, sprinkled with cinnamon - love this stuff!]

Lunch: Salad
[Forgot to get organic chicken so my lunch was very dull lol. Lettuce, cucumbers, dried cranberries and olive oil.  Definitely not a satiating meal].

Snack: Brisket

Dinner: Meatballs & Roasted Veggies
[Dr. Myers' meatball recipe with pesto sauce. Roasted some carrots and yellow squash with a little seasoning].


"Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst."
John 6:35

Challenge Day #2

My husband says that I find something I like and I can have it everyday lol... actually, I'm a lazy cook.  The kitchen has never been my favorite place so I l-o-v-e leftovers!!!

Breakfast: Protein Shake
[1/2 cup water, 1  tbsp protein powder, 1 banana, 5 cherries, 3 strawberries (all frozen), 1/4 tsp pure vanilla, 1 large leaf of collared greens, and ice.]

Snack: Sweet Breakfast Sausage, Turkey
[Dr. Myers recipe, pg 256]

Lunch: Pseudo Waldorf Chicken Salad & Roasted Veggies
[So, the 'pseudo' part is without the raisins or nuts... otherwise, my Waldorf salad!

Veggies:  zucchini squash, yellow squash, carrots and butternut squash]

Snack: Cinnamon Apple Crisp
[Dr. Myers recipe pg 265]

Dinner: Beef
[Yes... basically, just some cooked ground beef! We had to run an errand after work and got caught in traffic so we stopped for a bite to eat.  That's all I could find on the menu.]

Snack:  Banana