Well, today was a pretty long day. Number five went to her first dentist appointment today at 8 this morning. I barely got to see her as I left the house to go to work. She was very excited.
So, in addition to fixing my smoothie this morning I fixed my juice and had to take it with me.
Berry Mango Smoothie
Frozen Banana (1)
Frozen Blueberries (1 c)
Frozen Strawberries (6)
Frozen Mango (.5 c)
Honey (1 T)
Water (2 c)
Veggie Juice
Granny Smith Apple (1)
Lemon (1)
Cabbage (4 leaves)
Romaine Lettuce (6 leaves)
Kale (6 handfuls)
Carrot (2)
Celery Stalks (4)
Cucumber (1 small)
Radishes (3)
The additional celery, cabbage and romaine seemed to add more juice to the mix this time. It wasn’t bad. It wasn’t great either.
I am finding it difficult to get excited about drinking the juice; however, as I was drinking it I kept reminding myself about how good it was for my body with all the “liquefied” nutrients that I so desperately need.
For dinner tonight, I had planned to use one of the Reboot recipes for Baked Acorn Squash which includes a portabella mushroom. We don’t have any at the house, so I stopped by our local Fresh Market grocery store to get some. While there I got my wife one of her favorite savory treats – calamatta olives. In addition, I was wandering and came across some “veggie crisps” which were apparently dehydrated and fried vegetable chips of various sorts. I thought “Cool” and bought some to eat on my veggie/fruit diet.
It wasn’t until I was halfway done with my cup-full of a snack that my thinking kicked in, and I realized I was probably cheating. DAGNABIT. Okay… well, never mind the veggie crisp things. !@($#!*@@!*!!
So, I came home and relaxed after work. I was still quite hungry so I fixed myself some sweet potato fries like last night, but I cut down on the salt and red pepper, reduced the heat to 350 and extended the cooking time to twelve minutes. They actually were a little softer than I wished. I think 400 would have been better.
Nancy determined that we would have leftovers tonight (well the rest of the “we”, not me), but she had to go to a meeting, so I got stuck with reheating the macaroni and cheese, spaghetti, noodles & parmesan and chicken nuggets for the kids (and Grandma who came in late last night).
I so wanted eat some of the noodles – I didn’t care which ones. They all smelled and looked so good – especially the spaghetti! But, I somehow persevered and managed to wait to fix my own dinner.
So what did I have? Ahh, the acorn squash from reboot sans the sage because I couldn’t find the crushed and dried sage and we had no fresh sage, so I did without. Also, I think I burned the onion and garlic which gave the whole thing a slightly strange taste. All in all I liked it, but I wish I had not overcooked the mushroom mixture (onions and garlic). Following is the recipe and a link to the site:
Roasted Acorn Squash Stuffed with Mushroom and Sage
1 medium Acorn Squash
3/4 tsp. plus 1/4 tsp. Sea Salt
1/2 tsp. fresh ground Black Pepper
6 Tbsp. Olive Oil, plus extra for brushing
2 Garlic cloves, minced
1 large Portobello Mushroom, chopped
1 small Onion, chopped
2 tsp. Fresh Sage, finely chopped
Pinch Red Pepper Flakes, optional
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Trim off each end of the squash. Stand the squash upright and halve lengthwise. Scoop out the pulp and the seeds and discard. Brush each squash half with olive oil, and then sprinkle with 3/4 tsp. salt and the black pepper. Arrange cut sides down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Roast the squash until the flesh is tender and the edges are golden brown, approximately 25-35 minutes. Remove from the oven, flip the squash halves over and set aside.
While the squash roasts, heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium high heat. Add the onions and garlic and saute 2 minutes, or until the onions begin to turn translucent. Add the mushrooms, sage, 1/4 tsp. salt and the red pepper flakes if using, and saute until the mushrooms begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Fill the roasted squash halves with the mushroom mixture and bake again for another 10 minutes.
Makes 4 servings
Per serving:
Calories: 254
Protein: 2 g
Fiber: 2.5 g
I enjoyed this enough to have two servings.
I followed the whole thing up with a few cherries.
So far I've had 3.5 liters of water today, and I'll probably drink another .5 liter or so.
Have a great day/evening/night/etc. God bless you.
krbj+
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Day Three: Enjoying It So Far
Wow. The day went by fairly quickly; although I woke up very tired.
Another day, another smoothie. Did I mention I love smoothies? I had another fruit smoothie this morning for breakfast.
Berry Good Smoothie
Frozen Blueberries (1 c)
Frozen Strawberries (6)
Frozen Banana (1)
Honey (1 T)
Water (2 c)
I’m a little leery about the whole juicing thing at this point, because I’m getting tired of the veggie juices. I don’t necessarily “hate” them, but they are becoming rather boring. Granted, I’m doing pretty much the same one each day, but that’s mainly because I can’t afford to do all the variant ones listed.
So I had my juice at around 11:30 this morning.
Boring Juice
Granny Smith Apple (1 large)
Lemon (one half)
Carrot (1)
Celery Stalks (4)
Cabbage Leaves (4)
Kale (6 handfuls)
Radishes (3)
Cucumber (1 whole “salad” cuke)
Pear (1)
This juice was by far the best so far. I think it was because of the addition of the pear.
I soon got hungry, so I fixed myself another steamed yellow squash (coined) and covered it in that delicious marinara sauce from Biggest Loser at around 1 p.m.
I spent the rest of the afternoon in the office.
Today was number six’s first birthday, so I knew there would be cake when I got home. My darling wife not only cooked a “healthy” cake (banana cake with honey to sweeten and whole wheat flour ),but she also fixed a banana-blueberry sorbet which I was able to eat!
Frozen Banana (3)
Frozen Blueberries (1 c)
Water (1 T)
She let the bananas and berries sit in the blender for about 30 minutes to soften, and then added the water and blended. She then put the mixture in the freezer until we had the dessert. It was quite tasty.
Okay, so I was still famished at this point – even though I ate about a half cup of sorbet (or was that a cup?)
I fixed myself some sweet potato fries by cutting up a sweet potato into some strips about two inches long. I then put them in a mixing bowl, poured about one or two tablespoons of olive oil over them, swished them around to cover them evenly then added some spices. I added ground red pepper, garlic powder and garlic pepper seasoning. Then I placed them on a cookie sheet in the oven on 400 degrees for ten minutes. They probably could have gone longer, but I was hungry. I tried them immediately and liked them, but felt they needed something, so I added a little sea salt – about two pinches – and they were great. Nancy (my wife) said they were too spicy – I admittedly went a little heavy with the red pepper. But I liked them and they were for me, so there. :P
ANYWAY, in addition, I fixed about two large handfuls of sugar snap peas, by boiling them for three minutes and then adding a couple of pinches salt to them as well. Yum yum yum.
Next, I ate a salad – left over mix from yesterday. I used Braggs’ Liquid Aminos for a dressing – just a few sprays over the whole thing.
I had three cherries to follow the meal and then put the kids to bed.
Through the day, I drank my three liters of water and will probably have some more before the night is over.
Oh, I did eat about thirty grapes throughout the day at various times. Especially right before coming to the bedroom – I ate about fifteen after the kids went down before starting a Dr. Who episode with the wife.
And the piece de resistance? The thing that makes this whole process a joy? I had a tablespoon of raw honey from the guy down the street. Quadruple yum.
God bless y’all.
Later….
Another day, another smoothie. Did I mention I love smoothies? I had another fruit smoothie this morning for breakfast.
Berry Good Smoothie
Frozen Blueberries (1 c)
Frozen Strawberries (6)
Frozen Banana (1)
Honey (1 T)
Water (2 c)
I’m a little leery about the whole juicing thing at this point, because I’m getting tired of the veggie juices. I don’t necessarily “hate” them, but they are becoming rather boring. Granted, I’m doing pretty much the same one each day, but that’s mainly because I can’t afford to do all the variant ones listed.
So I had my juice at around 11:30 this morning.
Boring Juice
Granny Smith Apple (1 large)
Lemon (one half)
Carrot (1)
Celery Stalks (4)
Cabbage Leaves (4)
Kale (6 handfuls)
Radishes (3)
Cucumber (1 whole “salad” cuke)
Pear (1)
This juice was by far the best so far. I think it was because of the addition of the pear.
I soon got hungry, so I fixed myself another steamed yellow squash (coined) and covered it in that delicious marinara sauce from Biggest Loser at around 1 p.m.
I spent the rest of the afternoon in the office.
Today was number six’s first birthday, so I knew there would be cake when I got home. My darling wife not only cooked a “healthy” cake (banana cake with honey to sweeten and whole wheat flour ),but she also fixed a banana-blueberry sorbet which I was able to eat!
Frozen Banana (3)
Frozen Blueberries (1 c)
Water (1 T)
She let the bananas and berries sit in the blender for about 30 minutes to soften, and then added the water and blended. She then put the mixture in the freezer until we had the dessert. It was quite tasty.
Okay, so I was still famished at this point – even though I ate about a half cup of sorbet (or was that a cup?)
I fixed myself some sweet potato fries by cutting up a sweet potato into some strips about two inches long. I then put them in a mixing bowl, poured about one or two tablespoons of olive oil over them, swished them around to cover them evenly then added some spices. I added ground red pepper, garlic powder and garlic pepper seasoning. Then I placed them on a cookie sheet in the oven on 400 degrees for ten minutes. They probably could have gone longer, but I was hungry. I tried them immediately and liked them, but felt they needed something, so I added a little sea salt – about two pinches – and they were great. Nancy (my wife) said they were too spicy – I admittedly went a little heavy with the red pepper. But I liked them and they were for me, so there. :P
ANYWAY, in addition, I fixed about two large handfuls of sugar snap peas, by boiling them for three minutes and then adding a couple of pinches salt to them as well. Yum yum yum.
Next, I ate a salad – left over mix from yesterday. I used Braggs’ Liquid Aminos for a dressing – just a few sprays over the whole thing.
I had three cherries to follow the meal and then put the kids to bed.
Through the day, I drank my three liters of water and will probably have some more before the night is over.
Oh, I did eat about thirty grapes throughout the day at various times. Especially right before coming to the bedroom – I ate about fifteen after the kids went down before starting a Dr. Who episode with the wife.
And the piece de resistance? The thing that makes this whole process a joy? I had a tablespoon of raw honey from the guy down the street. Quadruple yum.
God bless y’all.
Later….
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Day Two: Danger Ahead!
I thought today would be a lot harder in general, as I knew that tonight I was going to a covered dish supper where I was the guest of honor. In addition, yesterday was kind of rough. I had a headache until late night, which I was able to overcome by a hot shower and clever application to pressure points.
Today started out frustrating, as I was unable to have my breakfast (another smoothie) until late.
Late Smoothie
Frozen Banana (1)
Frozen Mango (one-half cup)
Frozen Blueberries (1 c)
Fuji Apple (1 small)
Honey (1 T)
Water (2 c)
It turned out really well. I blended the mixture a little longer than usual and it was thinner than usual – which worked out well.
My veggie juice drink turned out to be my lunch.
Veggie Drink
Kale (6 handfuls – pre-cut from Publix)
Cabbage (3 leaves)
Celery (4 stalks)
Carrots (2)
Radishes (3)
Cucumber (one-half large)
Granny Smith Apple (1 large)
Lemon (1)
This juice turned out to be the best so far. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I took a salad made of the same mixture from last night (Red Leaf Lettuce) – and I added a little more Romaine and some chopped cabbage. I used the first dressing from yesterday.
I got home and ready for the going-away party. I was famished when I got home, so I ate an orange. Yum.
At the party, I was overwhelmed by the lovely chicken fingers, roast beef, cole slaw and cakes prepared or bought for our consumption. I avoided them all though and simply ate a few bites of fruit (watermelon, cantaloupe and pineapple).
I did drink a few sips of wine – actually by accident, as I forgot!
When I got home, I was extremely hungry and considered forgetting it and going to bed, but a clearer head and rumbling stomach prevailed.
I steamed some more coined squash and heated it up with some more of the marinara sauce from last night. It was great. I don’t think I need pasta if I can eat this stuff.
I also ate ten cherries and a teaspoon of honey. Absolutely terrific!
Tomorrow should be fun too. The baby will be one year old, and we’re gonna have cake! What will I do!?!?!?
Today started out frustrating, as I was unable to have my breakfast (another smoothie) until late.
Late Smoothie
Frozen Banana (1)
Frozen Mango (one-half cup)
Frozen Blueberries (1 c)
Fuji Apple (1 small)
Honey (1 T)
Water (2 c)
It turned out really well. I blended the mixture a little longer than usual and it was thinner than usual – which worked out well.
My veggie juice drink turned out to be my lunch.
Veggie Drink
Kale (6 handfuls – pre-cut from Publix)
Cabbage (3 leaves)
Celery (4 stalks)
Carrots (2)
Radishes (3)
Cucumber (one-half large)
Granny Smith Apple (1 large)
Lemon (1)
This juice turned out to be the best so far. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I took a salad made of the same mixture from last night (Red Leaf Lettuce) – and I added a little more Romaine and some chopped cabbage. I used the first dressing from yesterday.
I got home and ready for the going-away party. I was famished when I got home, so I ate an orange. Yum.
At the party, I was overwhelmed by the lovely chicken fingers, roast beef, cole slaw and cakes prepared or bought for our consumption. I avoided them all though and simply ate a few bites of fruit (watermelon, cantaloupe and pineapple).
I did drink a few sips of wine – actually by accident, as I forgot!
When I got home, I was extremely hungry and considered forgetting it and going to bed, but a clearer head and rumbling stomach prevailed.
I steamed some more coined squash and heated it up with some more of the marinara sauce from last night. It was great. I don’t think I need pasta if I can eat this stuff.
I also ate ten cherries and a teaspoon of honey. Absolutely terrific!
Tomorrow should be fun too. The baby will be one year old, and we’re gonna have cake! What will I do!?!?!?
Monday, August 8, 2011
Day One: Evening... Not Too Bad
I am so not enjoying this diet right this moment.
The family had spaghetti for dinner. Yum. And I am very hungry.
It’s not that I haven’t had plenty to eat. I suppose I have. It’s just that I’m desiring GRAINS and possibly some meat. Grains though are something I want dearly – noodles, bread, etc.
But, I’ll make it. It’s just day one, but I think it should only take a couple of days before I am not too concerned with the appetite.
So… since this afternoon, I’ve had another cup of Aztec Sweet Chili from Yogi tea. In addition, I’ve drunk 2.5 liters of water so far today and plan to drink .5 to one more liter tonight.
Anway, I got very tired late afternoon (around 3 p.m.) and ate about a cup and a half of watermelon. It quickly reenergized me. I did still get pretty hungry about an hour later, so I ate a banana which filled me up for a late dinner.
I helped my wife fix dinner – she was fixing spaghetti for the kids (marinara sauce with some ground beef thrown in), and some buttered noodles. We had someone come to the door to talk to her as the noodles were ready to pull off the stove, so she asked me to drain them. I did and unthinkingly threw a couple (literally only two or three) in my mouth to check the tenderness.
DOH!
Since they were all having spaghetti, I figured steamed veggies by themselves would not serve as an adequate repast. I coined a yellow squash and steamed it in the microwave. Then I made a nice marinara sauce from scratch using a recipe from “The Biggest Loser”. You can check out the recipe on the Living Strong website at the following link: Marinara Sauce.
I accidentally put two tablespoons instead of teaspoons of honey in it. I guessed the amounts of the spices and added ground red pepper (to make it extra spicy).
I loved it and even ate some by itself. MUHAHA
Anyway, I had another salad for dinner, just as my lunch but with a different salad dressing. The recipe is found on the website for the reboot, but here it is:
Ginger Honey Soy Dressing
2 Tbsp. Minced Fresh Ginger
2 Tbsp. Minced Fresh Garlic
2 Tbsp. Raw Honey
4 Tbsp. Nama Shoyu or Tamari
4 Tbsp. Olive Oil
Puree the first four ingredients in a blender. With the blender running, slowly add the oil until the dressing is emulsified.
I didn’t really like the dressing as I thought I might, but it did give the salad a nice kick.
I had about a cup of watermelon to follow the meal.
I’m feeling great except for a slight headache. More to come tomorrow.
The family had spaghetti for dinner. Yum. And I am very hungry.
It’s not that I haven’t had plenty to eat. I suppose I have. It’s just that I’m desiring GRAINS and possibly some meat. Grains though are something I want dearly – noodles, bread, etc.
But, I’ll make it. It’s just day one, but I think it should only take a couple of days before I am not too concerned with the appetite.
So… since this afternoon, I’ve had another cup of Aztec Sweet Chili from Yogi tea. In addition, I’ve drunk 2.5 liters of water so far today and plan to drink .5 to one more liter tonight.
Anway, I got very tired late afternoon (around 3 p.m.) and ate about a cup and a half of watermelon. It quickly reenergized me. I did still get pretty hungry about an hour later, so I ate a banana which filled me up for a late dinner.
I helped my wife fix dinner – she was fixing spaghetti for the kids (marinara sauce with some ground beef thrown in), and some buttered noodles. We had someone come to the door to talk to her as the noodles were ready to pull off the stove, so she asked me to drain them. I did and unthinkingly threw a couple (literally only two or three) in my mouth to check the tenderness.
DOH!
Since they were all having spaghetti, I figured steamed veggies by themselves would not serve as an adequate repast. I coined a yellow squash and steamed it in the microwave. Then I made a nice marinara sauce from scratch using a recipe from “The Biggest Loser”. You can check out the recipe on the Living Strong website at the following link: Marinara Sauce.
I accidentally put two tablespoons instead of teaspoons of honey in it. I guessed the amounts of the spices and added ground red pepper (to make it extra spicy).
I loved it and even ate some by itself. MUHAHA
Anyway, I had another salad for dinner, just as my lunch but with a different salad dressing. The recipe is found on the website for the reboot, but here it is:
Ginger Honey Soy Dressing
2 Tbsp. Minced Fresh Ginger
2 Tbsp. Minced Fresh Garlic
2 Tbsp. Raw Honey
4 Tbsp. Nama Shoyu or Tamari
4 Tbsp. Olive Oil
Puree the first four ingredients in a blender. With the blender running, slowly add the oil until the dressing is emulsified.
I didn’t really like the dressing as I thought I might, but it did give the salad a nice kick.
I had about a cup of watermelon to follow the meal.
I’m feeling great except for a slight headache. More to come tomorrow.
Day One: Reboot Standard Diet
Okay, I’m on day one of my reboot standard diet.
The reasons I’m doing this are many. Of course there are obvious reasons, I want to lose fat and “look good”. I want to _be_ healthier. I want to think clearer (not that I am concerned that my thinking is bad). I want to honor my God by having a healthy body.
I haven’t eaten a regularly poor diet in years, but the times I binge and the natural desire to “maintain” my weight have not helped me lose the weight. I’m hoping that through re-training my desires and taste buds to expect and desire natural foods primarily will enable me more easily to eat a lower-calorie, high-nutrient value diet each day.
So, what have I eaten so far?
Before I ate breakfast, I drank two cups of water.
For breakfast I made a fruit smoothie.
Frozen peach – (one-half)
Frozen banana – (1)
Frozen strawberries – (1 cup)
Frozen mango – (one-half cup)
Honey – (1 T)
Water – (2 c)
That filled me up and tasted really good (not too sweet). I had enough to fill my cup three times, so it felt like an overabundance which was nice.
For mid-morning I juiced some veggies.
Granny Smith apple (large)
Lemon
Carrots (2)
Celery stalks (3)
Kale (3 leaves)
Cucumber (one-half large)
Radishes (3)
Romaine lettuce (6 leaves) – I’m afraid of spinach due to oxalates, and will refrain from it for now.
For lunch I had a salad with red leaf lettuce, romaine, chopped cucumber, chopped carrots, chopped celery and chopped radish. I made a dressing of apple cider vinegar (1 T), olive oil (5 T), honey (1/2 T), minced garlic (1 clove) and some garlic pepper seasoning on the top of the salad.
I had a little trouble getting it all down -- had a large bowl full of lettuce, but I ended up enjoying it. The dressing was a little low on flavor, but I'm finding right now that I am thoroughly enjoying the aftertaste of the whole salad. It's a rather peppery, fresh taste with the fullness of the oil combined with the sweetness of the honey. Very fulfilling.
I’ll blog later tonight after dinner with more info.
I’m drinking an herbal tea now – Aztec Sweet Chili by Yogi Tea. I talk about it elsewhere on the blog. It’s my favorite.
I had a headache last night (still was eating grains and nuts yesterday), but so far, I'm feeling fine today.
The reasons I’m doing this are many. Of course there are obvious reasons, I want to lose fat and “look good”. I want to _be_ healthier. I want to think clearer (not that I am concerned that my thinking is bad). I want to honor my God by having a healthy body.
I haven’t eaten a regularly poor diet in years, but the times I binge and the natural desire to “maintain” my weight have not helped me lose the weight. I’m hoping that through re-training my desires and taste buds to expect and desire natural foods primarily will enable me more easily to eat a lower-calorie, high-nutrient value diet each day.
So, what have I eaten so far?
Before I ate breakfast, I drank two cups of water.
For breakfast I made a fruit smoothie.
Frozen peach – (one-half)
Frozen banana – (1)
Frozen strawberries – (1 cup)
Frozen mango – (one-half cup)
Honey – (1 T)
Water – (2 c)
That filled me up and tasted really good (not too sweet). I had enough to fill my cup three times, so it felt like an overabundance which was nice.
For mid-morning I juiced some veggies.
Granny Smith apple (large)
Lemon
Carrots (2)
Celery stalks (3)
Kale (3 leaves)
Cucumber (one-half large)
Radishes (3)
Romaine lettuce (6 leaves) – I’m afraid of spinach due to oxalates, and will refrain from it for now.
For lunch I had a salad with red leaf lettuce, romaine, chopped cucumber, chopped carrots, chopped celery and chopped radish. I made a dressing of apple cider vinegar (1 T), olive oil (5 T), honey (1/2 T), minced garlic (1 clove) and some garlic pepper seasoning on the top of the salad.
I had a little trouble getting it all down -- had a large bowl full of lettuce, but I ended up enjoying it. The dressing was a little low on flavor, but I'm finding right now that I am thoroughly enjoying the aftertaste of the whole salad. It's a rather peppery, fresh taste with the fullness of the oil combined with the sweetness of the honey. Very fulfilling.
I’ll blog later tonight after dinner with more info.
I’m drinking an herbal tea now – Aztec Sweet Chili by Yogi Tea. I talk about it elsewhere on the blog. It’s my favorite.
I had a headache last night (still was eating grains and nuts yesterday), but so far, I'm feeling fine today.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Reboot Preparation - Juicing and All Natural Eating
Well, it has been quite a while since I posted. I've had a hard time keeping on my caloric watch due to the idea of limiting oxalates. I couldn't afford to eat good food and maintain a low oxalate diet, so it has been a real nightmare for me trying to lose weight.
My wife and I recently watched Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead via Netflix. We were so inspired, we thought it would be a great thing for me to try the Reboot.
An issue that might occur is a problem with oxalates, but I have decided not to worry about them. If I am eating healthy, raw food and if I consume at least three liters of water a day I am pretty sure that the kidney stones will stay away. They have been now for several months, and I've cheated some with the occasional soda and chocolate. I am pretty sure I'll be fine. If not, it'll just hurt a lot. :)
I start the actual Reboot next week -- Monday.
Right now, I am preparing by limiting my intake of certain foods. I am having no red meat or pork now until the Reboot is over. I gave up dairy yesterday. I'll give up poultry and fish tomorrow. I'm going to give up grains, beans, seeds and nuts on Sunday.
I'm starting the Reboot Standard Program. Check out the link if you want to see more.
My wife and I recently watched Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead via Netflix. We were so inspired, we thought it would be a great thing for me to try the Reboot.
An issue that might occur is a problem with oxalates, but I have decided not to worry about them. If I am eating healthy, raw food and if I consume at least three liters of water a day I am pretty sure that the kidney stones will stay away. They have been now for several months, and I've cheated some with the occasional soda and chocolate. I am pretty sure I'll be fine. If not, it'll just hurt a lot. :)
I start the actual Reboot next week -- Monday.
Right now, I am preparing by limiting my intake of certain foods. I am having no red meat or pork now until the Reboot is over. I gave up dairy yesterday. I'll give up poultry and fish tomorrow. I'm going to give up grains, beans, seeds and nuts on Sunday.
I'm starting the Reboot Standard Program. Check out the link if you want to see more.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Oxalates
So, apparently my kidney stones are caused by too many oxalates in my system that bond with calcium and form monster spike balls of pure evil within my tender kidneys. These nasty foes of sanity and comfort like to torment their bearer with incredible pain.
I did some research and found that foods high in oxalates should be avoided by all means. If you don't know exactly what foods are high in oxalates you're not alone -- but chances are, you're eating them.
What do I mean? Okay, here we go... some foods high in oxalates.
Whole wheat -- man! I really love my whole wheat breads, cereals, etc.
Blueberries... For a couple of months I was living on blueberry smoothies for breakfast. Every diet guru proclaims the benefits of eating blueberries. Alas and alack, they be high in oxalates as well.
Big strike number three goes to one of my absolute favorites: chocolate. Now, I was not pigging out on it, but it was nice to have a chocolate protein shake at night, or the occasional mini candy bar (often dark chocolate -- 45 calories) to handle a craving and be a treat.
And in my new year's diet, we made a special effort to eat more fresh vegetables, like sweet potatoes, baked potatoes and fresh spinach.
Guess what.
Yep.
They're all high in oxalates.
Okay, well, my absolute favorite snack is a handful of nuts. We've got peanuts, almonds and my favorite nut -- pistachios. I had heard that pistachios are supposed to be really good for your heart -- so I was trying to eat about an ounce at night a few times per week to help curb hunger, etc.
Yes, it's true... Nuts are high in oxalates too!
ARGH!
I cannot tell you how frustrated and demoralizing it has been to find out that all the "good" and "right" foods I'm "supposed" to be eating are foods that I should not eat because they will make kidney stones!
I was and continue to be pretty frustrated.
Then my wife pointed me to some research she found online that believes that calcium citrate supplements can actually help with oxalate absorption by bonding with whatever oxalates come into the body, thereby not causing stones. I'm not sure exactly how it works, but I've decided to give it a try. (My wife is truly an angel.)
So, I'm still assiduously watching what I eat for oxalates, but if I feel the need to indulge in a few pistachios or some whole wheat bread, I make sure to take a supplement at the same time (right before, during or immediately after the meal).
If you think you might need some calcium citrate, check out the prices on Amazon -- here's a sample of one:
Source Naturals Calcium Citrate, 1000mg, 180 Tablets (Pack of 2)
I did some research and found that foods high in oxalates should be avoided by all means. If you don't know exactly what foods are high in oxalates you're not alone -- but chances are, you're eating them.
What do I mean? Okay, here we go... some foods high in oxalates.
Whole wheat -- man! I really love my whole wheat breads, cereals, etc.
Blueberries... For a couple of months I was living on blueberry smoothies for breakfast. Every diet guru proclaims the benefits of eating blueberries. Alas and alack, they be high in oxalates as well.
Big strike number three goes to one of my absolute favorites: chocolate. Now, I was not pigging out on it, but it was nice to have a chocolate protein shake at night, or the occasional mini candy bar (often dark chocolate -- 45 calories) to handle a craving and be a treat.
And in my new year's diet, we made a special effort to eat more fresh vegetables, like sweet potatoes, baked potatoes and fresh spinach.
Guess what.
Yep.
They're all high in oxalates.
Okay, well, my absolute favorite snack is a handful of nuts. We've got peanuts, almonds and my favorite nut -- pistachios. I had heard that pistachios are supposed to be really good for your heart -- so I was trying to eat about an ounce at night a few times per week to help curb hunger, etc.
Yes, it's true... Nuts are high in oxalates too!
ARGH!
I cannot tell you how frustrated and demoralizing it has been to find out that all the "good" and "right" foods I'm "supposed" to be eating are foods that I should not eat because they will make kidney stones!
I was and continue to be pretty frustrated.
Then my wife pointed me to some research she found online that believes that calcium citrate supplements can actually help with oxalate absorption by bonding with whatever oxalates come into the body, thereby not causing stones. I'm not sure exactly how it works, but I've decided to give it a try. (My wife is truly an angel.)
So, I'm still assiduously watching what I eat for oxalates, but if I feel the need to indulge in a few pistachios or some whole wheat bread, I make sure to take a supplement at the same time (right before, during or immediately after the meal).
If you think you might need some calcium citrate, check out the prices on Amazon -- here's a sample of one:
Source Naturals Calcium Citrate, 1000mg, 180 Tablets (Pack of 2)
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