Drugs or Coffee?

ahhh sweet sweet black nectar if the gods, why doest thou forsake me?

My 'No Grains in June' Challenge has been going quite well, so well in fact that I have slipped in two areas because I was feeling so good! Mainly I had forgotten several doses of Doxcycline (It's easy to remember when you are feeling bad - it's a constant reminder!) and I have gotten back into my morning caffeine habit (Mark convinced me it was OK - and it wouldn't have taken even that much) . I am still 'Mostly' Grain free (I will expand on my small lapses in a future post) and have been exercising a bit more and feeling quite good. However after about 5-6 days of morning coffee and  no drugs I am getting dizziness and more finger numbness and now carpal tunnel. Is this Lyme again? Is it my body reacting to caffeine? I am not sure and can't really decide which is worse :(

One thing I know: I'm going back to start over in these two areas. No more coffee and back on the drugs (now a full year into them) at least until I can get back to normal. Then I will have to experiment to find out what is happening.

The Plan For Camping

It's probably a good thing that I did not check my calendar when I decided to go grainless in June, because if I had notices that I was going camping, I probably would have just called the whole thing off. Now that I am nearly 1/2 way through I am going camping, but I am allowing myself to cheat just a bit.

I wen't to Trader Joes and picked up some unsalted Macadamia Nuts and  unsalted  Pistachios and dried cherries (no sugar - or anything - added. I really Like Trader Joes!)Expensive but a good paleo snacks. I also picked up some Wine to replace my standard Beer. Lastly my biggest cheats: Dark Chocolate! Chocolate is paleo, but the sugar is not. A organic bar of 72% coco should go good with the Merlot.

Lastly I saw a bag of lightly salted Sweet Potato chips and put it in the cart! Sweet Potato's are mostly paleo (starchy, but not as bad like a regular potato - It really depends on who you ask about Sweet potatoes. I don't eat them very often)  Yet this is a big cheat because it was fried in Canola oil which is no good due to the polyunsaturated fats (bad) that are unstable due to heating.

Not too bad, I think. And I am excited to go camping without feeling like I am depriving myself of anything!

Day 12 Progress Report

12 days in and am still on track. however I had a few set backs last week. Two migraines last week. I can't say exactly why, but I have eliminated the tea for now as it may be the culprit. Could have also been oils used at the 'olive garden' last wednesday. I have had everything cooked in coconut oil for so long my body may not have reacted to whatever terrible unsaturated fatty oil they used. Next time I will ask for them to cook in butter.

Lunch today: First fast food lunch I've had this month. I Paleo Hacked Chipotle. Salad Carnitas Bowl. skipped the legumes, rice, and dressing - added tomato salsa, cheese and Guac. Very good. Other problems I avoided was a graduation party that served tacos. I had the meat, salsa, a little cheese and lettuce. Skipped the shell and sour cream and the Cake (but it looked good) 

Cheating: Was literally handed a beer Sunday at a party and actually put it back in their fridge, but then was handed about 6oz of Dirty Bastard, which I drank and found quite enjoyable (better than Guinness? say it ain't so). Other than that I have still been grain free.

Exercise/Lifestyle: Ordered this pull up bar. Still need to do a little sprinting, but I have been doing some work on the weekends (roofed the chicken coop Saturday) and doing 10-15 minutes worth of morning exercises. Again sleep has not been my strong suit.

Results:  I have been feeling quite well, I have not had much if any numbness in my fingers, dizziness seemed improved until the last few days, which I think has more to do with stress and lack of sleep than anything. muscle twitching seems unchanged. Also I have lost 5-6 lbs. even with all the nuts I have been snacking on. I really need to find a good source of fruit only snacks.

Temptations: You already know about the doughnut problem. This week has also been the popcorn at work problem and someone brought m&m cookies to the weekly status meeting. . Still had a craving for a scone this morning but, so far I passed all tests and it really has not been too hard. However this weekend I am sure will be my biggest test yet. I'm going camping with the kids and my friend Trent - which usually means junk food and beer. I'm switching to red wine even though it seems odd camping, and will try to bring more fruit and finger veggies (I'll probably be the only one eating them though as there will still be junk food there).

Doughnuts at the office

Begone from me vile temptress!

Someone brought in Doughnuts and I am hoping by posting about it here it will relieve my temptations! Oh why do these little things hold such power over me!

Day 5 Progress Report

It's the 5th of June and so far so good. I have had no grains except for the Eucharist on Sunday. I was severely  tempted both on day one and two. especially day two, I had to get up early for my son's baseball game and I really really wanted a scone and coffee to get me through the 8am game (oh how I love the scones at The Bean). Stuck with my decaff Earl Grey tea and a banana. But only because I told myself I can't give in on day 2!

Lunch today: Hamburger patties topped with sun-dried tomatos, some fancy olives, Fresh pressed garlic, 1/2 a avocado and a little feta cheese. Who needs Ketchup? Also Carats and an apple.
mmmmm... Cant wait for Lunch! .

Sweet Drink Alternative: I struggle also with getting a Vitamin water or Sobe at the gas station, just to have something.  My better half has gotten me into squeezing a half a lime into a cool glass of water. It's really good and not overpowering. Not enough taste for you, try adding 1/4 squeezed lemon in it too with a few ice cubes. Perfect!

Day 5 Results: I am feeling a little better all around. I've lost a few pounds. My skin is feeling much better, not so itchy and my hands are not near as numb as they had been. Good to see some results so soon.

Cheating: None really. I had one glass of red wine last night. Still grain/ sugar free. Had a few too many nuts the first few days. I love these things. Can't really call it cheating though.

Exercise/Lifestyle: Another biggest weak point. I'm trying to do a little of Mark Sisson's workout plans. and just a little sore. I need to spend the time reading his whole ebook on the topic. Also I have been going to bed too late. That's just one more of my seemingly endless list of struggles....

The Challange

I have been following a few Paleo blogs and trying to be 'mostly' paleo, but not having a lot of success (mostly at work, but really I could fail at anytime). One of my favorite blogs has been Mark's Daily Apple. Mark has a Paleo down to much more than a Diet it is an entire lifestyle. Well I have decided to stop going at this half(quarter?) heartily and give myself a Challenge. It is Quite Simple:

Eat No Grains In June.


30 days grain free is the goal, secondary goals are:

1. Eat Less Dairy. I don't eat much now, but I will cut out the occasional glass of milk and reduce the amount of cheese.
2. Avoid Legumes.
3. No (or virtually no) caffeine. Over the last few months I have severely limited my caffeine intake. Yet I still had the occasional Caffeinated Coffee (weekends now usually) and Decaf Coffee/tea. The Former I will eliminate, but will probably still have some decaf tea.
4. Exercise More. Use Mark Sisson's Exercise Routine Sign Up here to get it for free
5. Log my process on this blog. How am I feeling, did it relieve any Lyme symptoms? etc.  

Where will this be the most difficult?

• Breakfast. I often eat a bowl of oatmeal (from fermented oats) and that will have to stop. Other dangers for me is the weekly (or biweekly) bagel or Scone. These will have to be substituted with eggs and or Banana's or other fruit.
• Lunch. When there is nothing available to take from home, I too often find some fast food joint.
• Dinner. Generally my strongest Paleo meal today, however sometimes my better half is too busy and we end up getting Pizza.
• Snacks. My work often has popcorn popped for free. I used to love this now oh how I loath Corn