Recap on this elimination process

So just as a recap and to clarify a few things.

I've been following (well, as a rough guideline) Dr. Cranton's Caveman Diet for the past few weeks. I decided to take this on as I have some health issues that have been bothersome for the past few years and I've finally decided to stop and take a look at myself and utilize some of my knowledge that I have gained over the years.

I chose Dr. Cranton's diet as I found it to be fairly straight forward, restricts most foods that I could possibly find to be offending foods, gives my internal systems a break and, well, I thought it was well written. Really it's an elimination process - limiting the toxins, however I'm going to call it "the diet".

This diet was not intended to lose weight, this diet is intended to give my body a break, allow my immune system to relieve itself of some stress and to possibly diagnose some food allergies or intolerances.

Now, I knew I would lose weight following this plan as it does what any good diet and really what all of us should be doing anyway and that is:

CUTS ALL OF THE CRAP

Seriously people, if you're eating shit your body will show it! This applies to you and me and everyone else out there, it's not new's it's a fact.

My weight has been at the higher end of my preferred range for the past quite a few years (although I am not overweight, however carrying a few more pounds than what I like the scale to read) and I know what needs to be done to lose weight, hell I've been there, done that but sometimes it's just hitting the wall and looking at yourself and realizing that it's simply another decision and you have the reigns so it's up to you to change your direction.

Do I plan on eating like this the rest of my life, well YES in some aspects and already do/did in some aspects. I don't want to be as restricted as this detox has made me, and although I eat very healthy as it is, this detoxification process has opened my eyes to show me just where I've been slipping for the past few years. It's not difficult but it does require an open mind.

I have stumbled upon loads of great recipes lately and from there have a few thoughts of my own, however until I can add a few items back into my eating plan I am holding off on attempting any.

Happy day to you all!

Elimination Diet Update

Well, 14 days into this elimination/detox diet and I have many positive results to report:

-     my eczema, although not fully cleared, is exceptionally well, no itchy skin, no new eczema spots and my hands don't feel so terribly dry and cracked

-     digestion – well, the verdict is still out on this one, although I’m not feeling nearly as bloated as I had been

-     weight loss – this is strictly an added bonus. I did not start this with the intent of losing weight. I’ve been sitting 5-10lbs higher than I’ve wanted to for the past few years, however it also hadn’t bothered me enough to push me to take care of the issue. As of Day 13 and I was down roughly 6% in my weight. I am wishing now that I would have had Lorri at Real Bodies test my body fat percentage prior to taking this elimination diet on, however did not, but may need to see her about that this week.

-     I started a new program at the gym roughly around the same time that I started this elimination and am happy to say that I have had success in increasing my weights each week.

-     I’ve created some really yummy soups these past few weeks as a result of being a little more creative with my cooking and tried a few other things which I will post up

Although this elimination has been easy to follow and I certainly am not going hungry, it does take time and preparation. However, eating should always take thought, time and preparation, eating healthy is not difficult, however you need to prep and be sure to have a good stock of fresh fruits and veggies, nuts and seeds and be creative in your cooking adventures.

I have had many people tell me in the past few weeks that this diet is crazy, you could never live like that, how can you be so limited, etc. Really, it’s not difficult. My body is responding perfectly to it. Eating out does not have to be an issue, however that certainly depends on where you go. I don’t plan on following exactly like this forever, I would like to try and add in beans and legumes, eggs, some alternate grains etc but am trying not to hurry this along either.

It's simply about eating real, whole foods in their most natural state and eliminating all of the processed crap that only weighs our bodies down. Do I miss certain things, yes I certainly do. Will I try them again, yes more than likely. However, I do hope to take this adventure as a reminder that my once very clean diet had certainly been starting to slip.

I've been purusing the internet alot lately and as usual have come across some really cool ideas and really yummy looking recipes that I'm looking forward to testing out and adding my own twist to them once I am able to put a few new foods in.

On a side note, I started to write this post yesterday morning then I went for a visit at my sister Julie's and decided that I would enjoy a cup of her coffee (even though I've been off it nearly two weeks) and can report that by the time I got home a few hours later my eczema on my hands had flared up and was itchy all night. I'm not ready to fully blame the coffee yet as the weather had turned extremely cold (which makes it flare) and I had done alot of cooking and cleaning in the morning which meant my hands were submersed in alot of water over and over again (which also makes it flare). So, it was a small slip and I am back off coffee again and at this point am not planning on attempting anything else until I see if I can fully clear the eczema.

More updates to follow.

p.s. the elimination that I've been following is Dr. Cranton's Caveman Diet http://www.drcranton.com/elimination_diet.htm
which I made a few exceptions to as I thought it best to remove a few other foods that I was consuming on a daily basis.