elimination diet: week 1

So. I’m angelic. Not a single mark to my name on this diet so far. But it was a close call. As I took my seat at the hairdresser, I sighed contentedly and reached towards the tea waiting for me. Ah, I love this tea, I thought to myself. I sniffed to take in the aroma. Delicious. I raised it to my mouth and felt the warmth of the liquid brush my outer lips. No! I can’t drink this, I’m on the elimination diet! Phew. I realised before too late and asked the girl to take it away lest I forget and be tempted again. (Turns out she had done an elimination diet too so understood my pain!). It is my intention to stay angelic on this. Yeah, I’m hardcore angelic.

Week 1 thoughts:

• It is hard, there’s no doubt about it. But my mantra for this is “non-negotiable”.
• I’ve felt flat these past few days because I’ve been very hungry yet bored with my limited selection. It’s hard to get excited for the next meal.
• I remedied that by ordering two books – RPAH Elimination Diet Handbook and Friendly Food recipe book. I need help to step away from the monotony and find new ways to cook with the allowed foods.
• Most of the vegetables allowed cannot be cooked for more than 5 minutes so my slow-cooked soups are out of the question. I’m not really a fan of the vegetables quick-fried in rice bran oil and was turned off eating them after the first two days.
• My diet this week mostly consisted of: water, brown rice, roast potatoes, roast lamb, rice bubbles, rice milk, tinned pears, eggs, rice bran oil, nuttelex, sea salt and brown sugar. I miss my usual greens.
• I’m experimenting with my own pear crumble – Mix rice bubbles, brown sugar, nuttelex and golden syrup together and spread over top of some tinned pears. Bake in oven at 150 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes.
• Most symptoms of intolerance have not occurred since starting the diet. Those that have occurred, I have a couple of suspects for – my eye medication’s known side effects and rice milk/eggs sometimes making me feel sick.
• I do think I am feeling withdrawal symptoms as is claimed can happen.
• My mum’s text message made me laugh: “I’m sitting by the water eating fish and chips. Yum. Sorry. x”. She does know what it’s like having done a similar diet in the 90s.
• A few gorgeous girlfriends and a handsome husband cheering me on and checking in means a lot.
• My dreams! Almost every night I have dreamt that I have eaten something awesome like chocolate or cheese at a party and then remembered afterwards that I couldn’t eat it. During the day I’ve found myself thinking it truly happened. Never has my mind been so obsessed with food 24 hours a day!