Post Brugge/Ghent post

The trip was fantastic, I only had wheat once, some cookie crumbles in a Spekuloos gelato.  No pastries, or waffles, but I did have chocolate and dairy.  I ate my g/f cookies & snacks when needed.  I'm glad I brought the Bobo's Oat bars.  I had risotto once, and frites most days, although I was tired of them by the end of the trip.  I did have beer (barley), and felt like I wasn't puffing up.  I gained about 5lb, and when I got back I puffed up again.  Lack of exercise?  More water?  I'm going to increase my exercise again starting today, more walking, start the kettlebell swings and maybe some P90X routines.  I'm having a PP day today.

Flying away to Bruges/Brugge

I want to avoid gluten, but I will have dairy so I can enjoy chocolate and hot chocolate (I don't drink coffee).  I have a gluten free meal reserved on the plane.  I can have frites in Belgium, but I'm not sure about the beer.  If I can determine it's wheat free, but has some gluten, that might be OK.  I have Bobo's oat bars (apparently gluten-free) & Larabars (gluten-free) as snacks, and 8 boiled eggs packed.  We are taking a trip to the WWI Flanders battlefields on Sunday, and they are serving sandwiches at lunch, so I decided boiled eggs would be a good substitute.  I hope they serve eggs at the hotel for breakfast!  Waffles I can do without.  I will be getting loads of exercise, so I'm hoping to come back not having gained much, and maybe even a little smaller.  I know, unlikely, but I can sure try!  If anyone has suggestions for Brugge or Ghent, let me know! 

Thyroid tests were "normal", so since I don't have Hashimoto's, I am taking a low-dose iodine supplement (per Dr. Davis' Wheat Belly Blog), and drinking lemon balm tea before bed.

Catch-up post

Still waiting for the results from the bloodwork, I should get them on Thursday (appointment was last Thursday).  I am still bloated most of the time.  The scale hovers at 150.5-151.5  Today I will try to have low-sodium foods to try to get below 150.  I have been gluten/dairy free, Dukan-friendly foods, but not low-fat (I had bacon yesterday).  I did have two gluten-free cookies yesterday.  I can't fit into my travel pants, I am not happy!  Maybe I'll be mostly paleo on my trip (leaving Friday evening for Brugge).  This might be the first time I lose weight on a trip!

Symptoms of thyroid issues?

I am going to my PCP on Thursday to get my thyroid levels checked.  One symptom of thyroid issues is bloating.  I've also had the tingly fingers a few months back, the fuzzy thinking, inability to lose weight, rapid weight gain (a few months ago), general lethargy, light sensitivity, loss of balance, and hands & feet getting cold.  I kept dealing with one symptom at a time, and thought some might be menopause, but when I found a long list of thyroid symptoms, there they all were!  I had started to take kelp for iodine and was drinking lemon balm tea, and was sleeping better, but stopped taking them Saturday.  Now the symptoms are mostly back.  I'm going to suffer through them until Thursday's blood test, just so we can see what the values really are. 

Dukan Diet 2013 -- Week 1 Friday-Sunday

Day 4-6
Weight: 150.25b
Total lost Dukan 2013: .25 1lb
Total lost since 3/2011: 7.75lb (3.52kg, .55st)

Water intake: (140oz = 4.14l)

Exercise: walked a little after work

Well, today I am going to a steakhouse for lunch to meet a friend, we have an annual lunch during restaurant week.  I will have the veggies instead of the potatoes, and will try to avoid a bad sauce, but I will have the flourless chocolate cake.  Why so soon?  I feel like I am in the right mindset now, and can handle it.  We shall see!

I am still having some sort of allergic issue. I may have to skip stevia for a week and sweeten w/honey.  Stevia is made from a relative of ragweed, and I have an allergy to ragweed, chamomile, etc.  It could also be the stevia shaker puts out more stevia than I would get in the little packets.  I'll go off for a week, then experiment further.

I think I am already getting some sort of result from the iodine.  I had been noticing I'd been getting hot flashes the days after I'd have salty food, and I thought it was that I was getting rehydrated, but maybe I was getting an infusion of iodine from the salt?  I am going to buy some iodine at the drugstore and give myself the iodine skin test.  Basically, if it disappears in less than 6 hours, you are deficient, and if it's still there 6+ hours, you don't need to supplement. 

My kettlebell workout was fine.  I'm sure my form is terrible, and since I am using a home-made version of a kettlebell, my hand placement is straight across instead of a downward slant, which of course is harder to pass through one's legs! 

1 scoop e.w. protein powder
Colonix
Strip steak w/sauce
Steamed broccoli
Flourless chocolate cake

Can't remember what I had for dinner

Walnuts
Goat yogurt


Saturday:  weighed in at 152.25.  Probably due to the chocolate cake.  Sigh.  Had a frustrating early evening, no unusual foods.  Felt bloated as usual, but not for any discernible reason.  Had the salty meatballs & broccoli & carrots for dinner.

Sunday: went down to 151.5.  Had bacon & turkey sausage for breakfast, then went to Ikea, where I had the fish platter and some salad.  I did have diluted lingonberry juice, and once again I blew up like a balloon!  I'm getting so tired of feeling that way.  Had the salty meatballs & broccoli & carrots for dinner again. 

Dukan Diet 2013 -- Week 1 Thursday

Day 3
Weight: 151.50b (68.72kg, 10.82st)
Total Dukan 2013: gained 1lb
Total lost since 3/2011: 6.50lb (2.95kg, .46st)

Water intake: 90oz, 30 oz lemonade, 20oz herbal teas (140oz = 4.14l)

Exercise: walked at lunch, walked a little after work, did ~60 some kettlebell swings

I'm going to make sure I drink loads of water to compensate for the salty meatballs from yesterday.  I was feeling a little smaller yesterday, but the salt added to the scale.  Today was a PP day. I am still a little puffy.

Why all the tiny minigoals?  I need some minigoals to aspire to!

1 scoop e.w. protein powder
Colonix
2 small broiled pork w/mustard
Goat yogurt
Walnuts
Goat yogurt
Meat sauce (w/yogurt)
More goat yogurt