Recovering Crapatarian on eating well

I've mentioned this before. I am a recovering Crapatarian.
I grew up hating food, unless it was junk (salt, sugar, fizz).

I've been working on breaking the junk food habit, along with the "foods I'm allergic to" habit for my entire adult life.

I have tried every kind of diet: candida diet, gluten-free, raw foods, calorie counting. Some of them worked, but I never lasted very long on any of them. I have finally found a system that helps me keep my eating clean. And it has had a HUGE impact on my well-being. I didn't want to mention it until I'd actually managed to stick with it. I've been on this plan since last September, and I couldn't be more pleased with it.

I feel great, and I look great (if I do say so myself!). I'm off the pain meds! I'm on zero immune suppressants. And I am in remission. I've had 3 very serious flares (strokes, kidney failure, congestive heart failure, anemia, pleurisy, extreme weight loss- and then of course the extreme prednisone weight gain!), so I hesitate to say I'm "cured." Because frankly, all I have to do is start eating junk food and foods I'm allergic to and I'll get sick again.

I wanted to share some pictures of me last year and this year. I've received so many compliments lately that I had to go back and see for myself what I looked like a year ago. Hair, skin, eyes- not to mention 15 pounds lighter - with no exercise! (I did start exercising after I dropped the weight, because I finally had the energy).

It's possible to kick old habits! It's possible to get better! It's possible to feel great again. I still have a couple things to work out (I take sleep meds and they cause memory problems, and I have ADD- but those are old problems, and I will tackle them next!)... but I feel like I finally have my life back!
Carla
PS If you're interested in the nutrition plan, let me know. E mail me at carlau@comcast.net  !

summer 2014

summer 2015

Day 9

At times over these last 22 years of dealing with lupus, I've had to choose between my health and my vanity. Even facing death, I've been like " but my hair.. i don't want to lose my hair! And I don't want to gain 50 pounds from the drugs!"

It sounds petty and ridiculous to someone who hasn't been there. But believe me when those are your 2 options- look like hell or die- some of us have to actually ponder the choices before agreeing to looking like poo. Let's see- Death or death warmed over? is that really the best you got?

So that's why all these 22 years I've been looking for those 3rd options in alternative medicine and lifestyle change. And I've had successes. I just tend to forget, after I get off the drugs and get well and get on with my life, to maintain some sort of sustainable regimen (it's regimen, not regime! A regime is a political power- but I digress).

Anyhow I hope this plan continues to keep me pain-free (as it has for 9 straight days!) and is something I can stick with long term. I also deeply hope that it lowers my unacceptably high inflammation and brings my kidneys back to normal.

And here's today's ridiculous song.

Carla
http://www.thesingingpatient.com

Days 8: ADD kinda day, but stayed on the plan

Day 8:

I woke up feeling NOT tired for the first time in a very long time!
Still not in pain, as well!

Had a really long lunch with a new linkedin acquaintance, then sort of scattered my energy in somewhat useless directions. Just very ADD. It's rare to have energy so I'm sad I squandered it.
I didn't even manage to do a vlog, though I had a parody in mind:
A beatles song:
"it's day 8
 and I ate
 just what I'm s'posed to so let's talk of something else besides the things I'm eating..."

If you know the beatles well, you can tell me what the title of the original song is. I can't seem to dredge it from memory.

Memory... I remember when I had a useful memory. Actually, no I don't.
I recently read that congition is impaired when you have lupus (or any active autoimmune disease). My reaction was "uh, DUH, everything's impaired. The body has to use whatever resources is has to keep vital organs running while simultaneously attacking them. It's hard work. Just ask our government about Iraq. Destroy, rebuild, repeat.

One of my favorite things about this plan is that is is kind of a no-brainer. It doesn't matter if I have a crap memory, or ADD, or both. I posted the daily plan on the fridge, and now I just go see what the next snack/ meal/ supplement is and have it.

2 of my 3 meals per day for the first 30 days are shakes. Meaning I just pour some vegan protein powder in my magic bullet blender with water and ice, and that's my meal. No big decision making, no real prep time, and almost no dishes (1 plastic cup- I clean the base right after I finish blending).

I've never been much of a cook, and not even a fan of food. Unless it's junk (chips, candy, soda- none of which are actually food. I call them "anti-foods" because they take more from your body than they give it. So I don't mind not cooking. The 3rd meal could be cooked but for now I'm just making a big salad and putting snoked salmon or something like that on top.

I have to say though, once you wean your taste buds off the overstimulation of too much salt/ sugar/ additives/ artificial sweeteners, simple foods and healthy foods taste better. I'm starting to really enjoy the berry-flavored shakes (made of actual berry powders).

See you next post!

Carla
http://www.thesingingpatient.com

Guest blogger: Eat to Beat Inflammation and Pain

Today we have a guest blogger, Katie Brind’Amour, on the topic of anti-inflammatory foods.

Eat to Beat Inflammation and Pain

Let’s be honest – swollen joints and aching muscles just plain suck. Modern medicine has a host of helpful treatments for these ailments, but so does Mother Nature. Try chowing down on some of the foods below to reduce inflammation and ease joint and muscle pain, particularly if you suffer from lupus.

Fab Foods to the Rescue

Eat your vegetables and whole grains. Vegetables and whole grains (like brown rice, whole wheat, quinoa, and other grains) can offer a host of antioxidants and nutrients that can help your body fight fatigue and inflammation. In addition, the Vitamin E that naturally occurs in some veggies (like tomatoes, spinach, carrots, and sweet potatoes) may help reduce pain, protect your eyes, and heal weak or damaged skin.

Add some (healthy) fat to your meals. Omega-3 fatty acids are widely touted for their ability to cure just about everyone of everything. What you should care about, though, is that omega-3 fatty acids – like the ones found in fish, olive oil, nuts, and avocados – help reduce morning stiffness, joint pain, and functional limitations in individuals with inflammation caused by an autoimmune disorder.

Snack on nuts and seeds. Nuts and seeds are a powerhouse combination of healthy fats, essential nutrients, and powerful antioxidants that will help fight tissue damage, boost energy, and even reduce swelling or pain. Incorporate a small handful of walnuts, pumpkin seeds, or your favorite nut butter into your daily routine for the most benefit.

Don’t forget your dairy. The calcium in milk, cheese, yogurts, and green leafy vegetables (yes, I know they aren’t dairy) can help promote bone health and prevent osteoporosis, which is good news if you suffer from joint pain, bone deterioration, or skeletal weakness. {note: many people with lupus, including me, fare better on a gluten-free, dairy-free diet- Carla}

Bring some citrus into your diet. Early research in animals shows that citrus peels and extracts may significantly reduce swelling and pain (perhaps even better than morphine, which is saying something!). Even if this doesn’t have equally significant effects in humans, it can’t hurt to get some extra vitamin C and antioxidants in the diet.

Watch sodium intake. If you suffer from inflammation or swollen joints because of retained water, sodium may be your enemy. Try cutting back on processed foods like lunch meats, frozen dinners, and canned soups while simultaneously drinking more water – the combination should ease pain and swelling if sodium was aggravating your symptoms.

Make Anti-Inflammatory Foods Part of Your Routine

Try keeping a list of these foods near your refrigerator or in your wallet to remind you about the easy ways to incorporate natural pain management and anti-inflammatory treatment into your diet. After all, everybody eats (I hope), and simply making some trades or tweaks ought to start relieving some pain and inflammation in a few days to weeks.

If you are even more eager to put your new dietary savvy to the test, try keeping a food diary to track what you eat and the type and severity of symptoms you experience. Then discuss the journal with a physician or dietitian to brainstorm on other potential changes you can make to help get the most out of your food (and potentially avoid some unpleasant symptoms).

If you have chronic pain or inflammation, you owe it to yourself to try a few natural treatments for symptoms of lupus or other auto-immune disorders. You may find that personalizing your diet is the key to making your disease more manageable day to day, improving both your short- and long-term health and functional abilities in the meantime. Eat up!

Katie Brind’Amour is a Certified Health Education Specialist and freelance health and wellness writer. She enjoys blogging about friendship and life in the not-so-fast lane while chipping away at her PhD in Health Services Management.

Thanks, Katie, for the great post! I always love to hear about natural ways to decrease inflammation and improve health, especially low-cost practical ways, like adding in new foods. There are lots of great suggestions here. I would only advise caution to people with lupus in regards to dairy. In my personal experience, my inflammation would not let up until I eliminated dairy. For me, and many people with autoimmune disorders, it is an aggravating food. Otherwise, I have to agree with the overall approach to using food to reduce inflammation, because using drugs to control it, over the long-term, can lead to other problems, some of them quite serious. Food journaling is a great tool, and I especially like your tip of keeping a list of good anti-inflammatory foods handy, on the fridge and in the wallet. A helpful hint for implementing these tasty healthy ideas. Thanks again!

Carla

Carla Ulbrich, The Singing Patient

http://tinyurl.com/348hroc - Carla's book

www.singingpatientwellness.com - health coaching- visit this site to get a free e book on nutrition! 

www.thesingingpatient.com tour dates, videos, CDs, books

www.youtube.com/user/carlaulbrich- funny medical songs