ED#32-36 Hives Remain, Going Back to Basics

The hives have not gone away; in fact, I woke up with more on my left thigh. I tried coconut oil. I tried Neosporin (yes, it works on everything else!). I tried not itching and full-blown itching. This morning I went to the health services at work and she said it looked like an allergic reaction--brilliant. She put Benadryl gel on it and told me to take one Claritin (antihistamine) until it went away.

If I look at my Excel spreadsheet, it looks like sardines may have caused the reaction initially. I had more sardines over the weekend. Ugh. Or, it could be the Insta-Ketones protein bar (I want to take these to Iceland!). Or, it could be a build-up of histamines from the avocados. Or, or, or... It is frustrating. I am not going to take the Claritin, but I may purchase the Benadryl cream. I made waffles out of eggs/coconut flour. No reaction. I need to switch up my vegetables--the pictures of my dinners are way too similar, day in and day out.

Check out the picture of Brenda! I had a great consult with her last week. She's such a good sport. And in the five minutes between my head hitting the pillow and my eyelids falling shut, I'm enjoying Gary Taubes' book, The Case Against Sugar.

I'm still running; see the picture of Rock Creek. I love DC.

ED#31 Hives and Radishes

I have a couple of hives on my upper thigh. I am not sure what it is from, given I had chicken last night. Even so, I am forging ahead introducing radishes. I thinly sliced them, coated with avocado oil, and roasted them to perfection. Is it a delayed reaction to the sardines? Brussels sprouts? I will have to wait and see.

ED#30 A Month Already - Sardine Celebration

I mixed two cans of Trader Joe's sardines packed in water with half of an avocado, salt, pepper, oregano, onion powder, basil, and coconut aminos. I made lettuce wraps with the sardines, more avocado, and roasted Brussels sprouts. So good! If you don't like vegetables, try roasting them. It brings out such a wonderful flavor. And, if you don't like sardines--try again. The nutrient density of this wonderful fish is outrageous. It is a great source of protein, fat, B12, selenium, phosphorus, Omega-3s, vitamin D, calcium, and more!

ED#29 President's Day

Although a holiday, I spent the entire day at work getting things done. It was very productive. For dinner, I had leftover chicken drumsticks, shrimp, broccoli, celery, Romaine, avocado, tons of coconut, and introduced cauliflower. I have really missed cauliflower...so good when it is roasted. I ate a ton more broccoli and cauliflower off the roasting pan, not pictured. I am considering rotating on and off of the coconut; I eat a LOT of it and I would really hate to have to give it up due to an allergic reaction. It is definitely one of my fat-dense favorites! 

ED#28 Chicken and Cumberbatch--YUM

Steven bought a bunch of chicken drumsticks--mega bulk! They were really good. I had class all day; it was nice to come home and relax. We watched, "Dr. Strange"; it is hard not to love anything with Mr. Benedict Cumberbatch. Although, it would have been slightly better had he just used his innate accent. :)

ED#27 Cleared Pork

Steven bought a pork loin seasoned roast. I weighed out 8 ounces and rinsed it thoroughly, then added my own safe spices. Additionally, I had avocado, cabbage, onion, broccoli, and lots of coconut. Steven didn't finish all of the spiced meat, so I snacked on another ounce or so and within minutes, I had a headache. I'm sure it was from the "smoke flavoring" or some other "natural flavor." The last time I did the elimination diet, I was not able to tolerate smoked meat at all. The good news--pork is back on the plate.

ED#26 Friday Night, Not Alright

I am still feeling the affects from the spinach. My stomach was so bloated all day. For dinner, I had a second round of beef meatballs, cabbage, lettuce, avocado, beans. I made coconut muffins--which I cannot eat--but they are gluten free and I added cranberries. Steven said the muffins were "okay, but the texture is terrible." Too funny. As soon as I clear eggs, I am going to make a coconut bread recipe I have--super dense and delicious.

ED#25 A Day Without Immigrants and Spinach

Today was "A Day without Immigrants"--businesses shut down as immigrants refused to either work or spend money in an effort to show the Trump administration how much immigrants contribute to the country's economy. DC felt the pain with various businesses and many restaurants closed. At work, we felt the pain with delays in receiving catering services for meetings and the cafeteria staff was very light. All Sweet Green restaurants were closed.

I tried spinach and had a reaction. Bummer. Dinner was meatballs, celery, Romaine, avocado, broccoli, cabbage, and spinach. I overate on the veggies, which also may have contributed.

ED#24 Itching, Itching, Itching and Tuna

Besides the puffy eyes in the morning, I am constipated and cannot stop scratching my right ear and the back of my neck. Ugh. I am going to take out the garlic and see how I fair tomorrow. I added lemon at lunch...this also could be contributing. It is so frustrating. The onions and garlic could be a mold, dose-dependent reaction. I'm not sure. Regardless, I decided to add TUNA. Dinner also included iceberg lettuce, beans, avocado, zucchini, and onion. I did not add garlic. I mixed some avocado with the tuna; it tasted so good.

ED#23 Valentine's Day

The best thing Steven could have done for V-Day was to go shopping for me. He came home with a lovely dress for work, navy blue, perfect fit. So sweet. I made the coconut chicken and garlic green beans from the weekend cooking class. They turned out well. Even Steven--who does not like coconut--liked the chicken. It was good and felt like a treat. My eyes are still a bit puffy when I wake up in the morning. It is either the onions or the garlic. It has been too cold to run my regular route in the morning. Hitting the dreadmill while watching Food Network has been my new routine. Food Network makes everything better.

ED#22 Whipping Wind

The wind was unbearable today. It tore the roof off of the shed in the backyard. Dinner was leftover chicken wings, green beans with garlic, cabbage, avocado, Romaine. Not sure about the garlic...I had some puffy eyes, but it may be due to not sleeping as well.

Elimination Diet Day 21 and Running - Sunday Cooking Class

The mild temperatures the meteorologists were predicting, didn't quite make it in time for my morning run. Instead, I did most on the dreadmill and a quick trip to 7-Eleven for black coffee. Day two of the cooking class was various sliders (lamb, turkey, salmon, black bean), puddings, muffins, and cookies. Today, I brought home samples of the baked goods for Steven--and he hated them all. For a final project in the class, I have to make a main dish, vegetable dish, and baked good. I was hoping he would like something. :(

I tested apple cider vinegar and immediately flushed red in the face. Bummer.

I was very constipated the whole day, no idea why. Consistency would be so welcomed. For dinner, I had chicken wings, avocado, a TON of cabbage, broccoli, and tons of coconut.

Elimination Diet Day 20 and Running - Saturday Cooking Class

I hopped on the dreadmill and went into work to print off a few things before jetting up to my food allergy cooking class. Check out all of the pictures! The food looked and smelled amazing; unfortunately, nothing fit within my planned diet. But, check out the pictures. If I had my wish, I would have parked myself right next to the duck and just ate. One thing I learned, it is a pain to bake gluten free--no doubt about it. It is much easier--and healthier--to just skipped the baked goods.

For dinner, I had beef meatballs, avocado, lettuce, beans, broccoli, and tons of coconut.

Elimination Diet Day 19 and Running - TG for BEEF

Another great day to test grass fed beef! It was yummy. Dinner was beef meatballs, green beans, onions, celery, avocado, and Romaine. Thankful for no reactions. I hit the dreadmill this morning. It was in the low 30s and windy. Ran a few miles outside--to/from Trader Joe's.

This weekend, I am excited to take a food allergy cooking class. I'm not sure how much I'll be able to actually eat, but it will helpful to hear strategies, swaps, and recipes that I can use in the future.

Elimination Diet Day 18 and Running to the Locker Room

Another good day. I'm so happy that the lamb was fine. Below is a picture from the women's locker room. I l-o-v-e it when it is EMPTY. Dinner was cod and veggies, with coconut all sorts of ways for dessert. I tested zucchini; so far so good.

Elimination Diet Day 17 and Running Hump Day

Another gorgeous day in February. No ill effects from the onion powder or veggies I consumed. Still, I need to really watch overloading with the amount of food I take in at one sitting. This morning, I snapped some pictures of City Center, around 10th and H Street NW. There is a ton of (luxury) shopping and restaurants.

Tonight, I made frenched rack of lamb; it was as good as I imagined it would be.

Elimination Diet Day 16 and Running in 70-Degree Weather

Good day, overall. Who cannot be happy when the sun is shining and it's 70 degrees outside in February? No treadmill today. I went to 7-Eleven and had black vanilla coffee with cinnamon. It was OK. The best part about getting coffee there is that it breaks up my long morning run at the half-way point. Since it is not super sweet and creamy, I don't drink it as fast...so this delays my run a bit, but less running and more walking is not a bad thing. Tonight, I had no energy to run home; so it was a very slow jog, alternating with walking--all the while, enjoying the weather. I introduced onion powder and really enjoyed it on my chicken wings, avocado, broccoli, and cabbage all wrapped up in Romaine lettuce leaves. I think my taste buds may be changing slightly; the roasted broccoli and raw cabbage seemed sweeter tonight.

Check out the picture of the US Capitol and one of my favorite houses in Georgetown. I want a flag with a heart on it.