Tuesday 20 November 2012

Eliminate sugar = Eliminate PMT

I suffer from incredibly bad PMT, my doctors even suspect it may be PMDD.
Monday it started but I can't believe the difference not having sugar has made. It's stunned me...previous months of PMT have left me feeling:
depressed
insecure
low self esteem
angry
irritable
shortness of breath
crying
unable to focus
extremely tired with heavy legs
stressed
no patience
visual distortions
confused
mood swings
clumsiness
binge eating
feeling lost and alone

.....and a few more symptoms that just make that one week unbearable.
I've been known to eat half a box of crunchy nut or a whole pack of biscuits post-menstrual.

I really think it has got to be thanks to the sugar but this month I've only had the following symptoms:
unable to focus
heavy legs occassionally
slightly less patience

!!! That's it! I'm overjoyed. This is coming from someone who has taken various medications for it such as calcium, magnesium, 5htp etc.
Now I have been taking evening primrose oil, spirulina, vitamin b&d for a while now so I don't think it's anything to do with those, as I took them before but still felt awful.
I'd recommend to anyone who suffers from PMT or PMDD to eliminate sugar completely from their diet. The results are amazing. I feel normal!

I'm also finding it easier to sleep from cutting out sugar, plus I've not had any lower back/fingers/toes pain.
I'm in love with natural yoghurt with honey or maple syrup drizzled over with fruit...soo soo good! The yoghurt is doing wonders for my skin and hair.

PS. I've been avoiding wheat too and my stomach looks flatter than it has in ages for it! Try it!

Sunday 18 November 2012

no sugar update!

I haven't had any sugar since my post! I'm feeling good and I haven't had any lower back pain or toe/finger aching in the morning, plus I have steady energy all day and am eating better. Not to mention people have commented that I've lost weight already!

Here's my favourite sweet snack to pick me up...


Lovely thick Greek yoghurt with chopped apples and maple syrup. Delicious!!

Wednesday 14 November 2012

What I ate today..

So today I ate pretty healthily. Everything sugar free

Breakfast - Muesli with grated apple and soya milk

Snacks - grapes, a satsuma

Lunch -Jacket potato with leftover home grown veggie & peanut butter stew & cheese.

Dinner- Vegetable & mung bean curry with brown basmati rice

Dessert - brown rice, sultanas, pumpkin seeds, date syrup and soya milk all mixed in a little cup mmm delicious!

So together with a long walk in the park and lots of tidying, plus yoga tonight I will be on track with getting trimmer and healthier! No festive flab for me thank-you very much.

Some recipe's I want to try!


Blueberry Almond Breakfast Polenta
Blueberry almond polenta breakfast

Oven fried Okra for nibbling

Peruvian Sopa de Quinoa
Sugar & wheat free fig cake

No more sugar!

Ok I admit it, I've not been trying very hard to be healthy. Over the last two days I've had 8 hot chocolates..and a mars bar! I woke up with terrible lower left back pain and aches in my fingers and toes. Plus I've been irritable and feeling down recently. I'm sure it's from the sugar.

It's like I've forgotten everything my doctor told me! He told me to cut back on sugar and to eat wholegrains and nibble throughout the day to keep my blood sugar levels healthy.

 So that's it! I'm off the sugar now and forever. I don't want to get diabetes that runs in my family. I don't want my skin to look older than it is and I don't want to have to deal with aches and mood swings and energy crashes.

I want to be healthy and full of energy and happy!



Here's what I'll be avoiding:
  1. Sugar
  2. Wheat
  3. Caffeine
Here's what I'll be enjoying:
  1. Fruit 
  2. Brown rice, quinoa and oats
  3. Lots of lovely water
Oats, I have no problem with, a bowl of porridge in the morning helps keep me satisfied until lunchtime with no energy crashes or lethargy.
Lunch is usually soup or rice and vegetables with hummus and salad.
For dinner I usually have omelette or some other light, low carb meal.

But most of all NO sugar!!!

I'll keep you updated.

Thursday 19 July 2012

Good and bad news...plus healthy breakfast ideas

Today I got the results of a blood test I had a few weeks back for diabetes and blood sugar.
The results came back ok but the doctor mentioned something about a higher than normal cvt (I think)..Anyway this means my red blood cells are larger than normal. When we were talking about my food diary I mentioned that when I had bread I was feeling sluggish and he said straight away that this could be because I may be a celiac, as high cvt and celiac is somehow linked.
So basically I had some more blood taken and will know the results in a few days. It wouldn't surprise me if I do turn out to be a celiac as I get so sleepy after having wheat plus bread makes me bloated and gives me bags under my eyes.

I'm contemplating giving up being vegan, my list of foods I can't eat is getting bigger!
It includes:

  1. sugar
  2. meat
  3. dairy
  4. eggs
  5. wheat
I'm sure there is more, but I'm considering introducing eggs and fish back into my diet. I can't have dairy as I'm lactose intolerant of course so I'd still be eating very well...could anyone give me any comments, advice or support? I would really appreciate it. Thank-you.


Meanwhile, here are a few vegan breakfast ideas, should I choose to remain vegan as the only thing I'll miss is my porridge in the mornings..click the captions for the links to the site and recipe.

Warm and Nutty Cinnamon Quinoa
Quinoa cinnamon breakfast bowl

Pancakes!
Vegan rice pudding
Tofu Frittata
Healthy salad bowl

Gluten free quinoa breakfast brownie bars
quinoa-breakfast-brownies

Sweet potato with yoghurt  and walnuts
Fronch toast




 After seeing so many options, I'm feeling more confident and happy that I can remain vegan and still eat a wide variety of foods. Just have to remember to cook some rice, sweet potato or quinoa before I go to bed!

Wednesday 18 July 2012

I made almond milk!

I've always wanted to make my own nut milk and after doing so, I felt such a sense of achievement!
Not sure why really, as I've made more difficult dishes before but this just gave me such a sense of accomplishment and once I drank it and appreciated that I had made it myself and therefore knew everything that went into it without having to worry about dodgy carrageenan and all that miscellaneous junk that I don't particularly want inside me.



As an added bonus, when making almond milk you are left with the "pulp" which is great for smoothies or just eating with agave nectar or honey stirred through as a sweet protein rich treat.
I'll never go back to buying almond milk now I know how easy and economical making your own really is.

Ingredients
1/2 cup of almonds, soaked overnight in water
Agave and / or salt to taste

Method
Place almonds along with 5 cups of water in a blender (you may need to do this in two batches) with your salt and or agave.
Blend for around a minute until you have a frothy white liquid.
Strain this through a muslin cloth and that's it!