Listen to your body, part 2

I've recently come to terms with the fact that I might be sensitive to wheat. I had been avoiding gluten-containing foods (gluten is the main allergy-provoking protein in wheat) for about two weeks and was feeling pretty good. Then ate four small butter cookies (made with enriched white flour) while volunteering at the hospital this morning and immediately had GERD-like symptoms (GERD = gastro esophageal reflux disease, a.k.a. acid reflux and/or heartburn).

Now maybe it was just an upgurgle of the frustration I usually experience while volunteering -- the angst and unrest associated with being expected to complete complicated tasks without any explaination of how to accomplish them -- but, more than likely, I just need to avoid the wheat.

As a science-minded person, I would perfer to get bloodwork done to confirm my self-diagnosis. However, I do not have insurance-enough for lab tests. Therefore, I will take the advice of a recent guest-speaker (Dr. Stephen Wangen) who believes that, if you take out the food and you feel better, who cares what the lab results say. (He also wrote a book, called Healthier Without Wheat) Yep, I guess I will just have to listen to my body on this one.

And, anyhow, self-diagnosis (Elimination Diet being included) has way more integrity than relying on external validation. If the answer is strong inside, there will be no need for anyone else to confirm what is right and what is wrong. Period.

I've found that the best way to strengthen the voice inside is by sustained periods of calm silence. Now if only I could find more time to do this... *sigh* Such is the life of the student.

Listen to your body

I got up early on Saturday and made a big breakfast of quinoa, lentils, and asparagus with an over-easy egg on top. It was delicious. And I thought it would sustain me for a long while...

...but, before it was even close to lunchtime, I was hungry again! Trying to get as much work done as possible before taking a break, I "push through" and ignore my hunger. That was a bad idea.

I was supposed to meet a friend for a walk around Green Lake at 1pm. My original plan was just jump in the car and (without integrity) just munch on a Clif bar and a apple with peanut butter and wait until dinner for a real meal. My body had a different plan.

Ten minutes before I was supposed to meet my friend, I had to call him back and tell him that I needed to postpone. I suggested meeting him an hour later. Thankfully, he agreed.

I needed a real meal, I was craving *meat*. Instead of the snacks, I went to the store, and bought myself a small steak and braised it with onions and broccoli.

The results were immediate.

I felt SO much better after I listened to my body. My energy and concentration improved. I was a whole new woman.

Now, if only I could move classes around the same way I postponed my walk around Green Lake -- I would move our Medical Nutrition Therapy class up an hour or so (earlier in the day) so that we could all get home and eat dinner at a reasonable time!