What happens when the scales are fine?

I am finding that doing the protocol is such a huge education in how my body works. 

Although I have been an advocate of 'listening to my body' for a long time, it turns out I really had no idea at all!

Prior to the protocol I really didn't feel a huge reaction to food. Other than the common tummy bloating from wheat or milk I never thought anything really affected me.  I would occasionally get tired after eating something with pastry but that was as extreme as it got.

Imagine my surprise when I introduced coconut milk at the end of round one in phase 4, and nearly vomited from the combined nausea and stomach pain.   I was blown away.   I have always had coconut milk and never noticed anything. 

Then I started thinking about reactions that may have gone unnoticed during phase 2. 

Initially I thought that any reaction I had to a veg or protein would show on the scales.  I knew there might be other symptoms but thought they would go hand in hand with an increase in weight.  How wrong was I!   Yes, often there is a weight gain but occasionally the inflammation will manifest itself in some other way. 

For me I have noticed liver and kidney pain, joint pain, headache, itching, sinus, bloating, constipation, runny/itchy eyes/nose, back pain, cramps, nausea and my ribs go out of joint on the odd occasion.  All of these have happened during round two with very few gains on the scales!   

When I ate beef in round 1 I didn't really notice anything happening, yet this round I get excruciating pain in the first knuckle of my ring finger on my right hand.  Without fail!     If I have milk in my coffee my rib goes out of joint! 

Would I have connected these pains with food prior to the protocol?  Absolutely not.  I would have passed it off as 'god knows what' and kept ignoring it.  In fact, my health was so bad and I was in such constant pain anyway I probably didn't even notice it was happening.

I asked some other people on the protocol what their symptoms have been when their bodies have rejected certain foods and the list is vast.

• full body pain
• aches in various parts of the body
• headaches
• joint pain
• bloating
• instant diarrhoea
• diaphragm pain
• breathlessness
• blocked nose
• eczema
• gall bladder pain (under right rib)
• wind
• stomach pain
• rumbly tummy
• skin rashes
• candida/thrush
• stiff joints

All things we would normally pass off as something completely different. Sometimes accompanied by a weight gain but not always.

When people refer to the protocol as a 'diet'  I have very quick to correct them.  It is not a diet, it is a change in how we eat and think.  This is a life change for me and not merely a way to lose weight.  The weight loss is awesome, don't get me wrong but being almost free of pain is the biggest bonus for me.  

The list of foods I can't really tolerate include: beef, milk, cabbage, wheat, corn.  I can only eat leeks, garlic, onion and tomato in small doses.   A small sacrifice in the bigger scheme of things really.  Doesn't mean I have to go without them but I do have to be aware that if I eat them there are consequences.    It also doesn't mean that it will be permanent.  I still have another couple of rounds to go and things do change over time.  Things I couldn't eat last round I can eat this round and vice versa.   

It really is an ongoing educative process.   Listening to your body and gauging responses from foods.  Even long after you have finished the protocol you can always go back to phase 2 foods to give your body a rest.  Like having a 'safe place' for your dietary needs.

If you have any other symptoms or side effects I would love to hear them and what caused them.  Please share them so I can add them to the list :)

Eating out on the protocol

One of the things I hear from people is "oh I couldn't do that, I like to go out too much!"   

I am sure you are familiar with this if you are doing the protocol. Or perhaps you are put off from doing the protocol for this very reason.

Now I have to admit at this point that I don't go out to eat very often due to finances (or lack thereof).  But if I do it is usually to catch up with someone more than the actual convenience of a meal out.

The total days of a round on the protocol is approximately 90 days.  I figure that phase 2 is less than half of that.  A small sacrifice in the bigger scheme of things.

The fact that I am probably going to feel less than ordinary if I go out and eat what I want anyway is a good motivator in itself to stay true.

Obviously the loading phase is the best time to cash in on no restrictions and go to town LITERALLY!  

For both rounds so far I have had a 'last meal' and gone out for something healthy but full of good fats for loading.  A great opportunity to fill up before the six weeks.

This doesn't mean that I don't go out during phase 2.   I just do it a bit differently. I opt to meet in a park or similar and take my own lunch.  Or, there is a great cafe in Launceston called Amelia Expresso that you can take your own food to and just purchase a cuppa (they also offer pastries, cakes and light snacks too).    I think more places should do this.  Even if not on protocol I find it expensive to take my kids out but would probably do more if I could take our food and just buy a drink for us!  A few places will also let you take your own food if you explain you are on a restricted diet but don't expect it across the board :(

During phase 4/5 it is much easier, although can still be challenging.  Particularly if you live somewhere that has limited choice of eateries.  We are lucky in Launceston as we have a great range of places to get good, healthy and interesting food.  Some places will be more than open to tweaking a dish to suit your needs too.

However, there are things to watch out for, in particular menu descriptions.  I was out last week with family, we went to a local pub (not my first choice but I didn't get to pick the place) and I ordered a prawn and avocado salad with no dressing (suspecting it would be out of a bottle and loaded with junk).  Sounds simple enough, the menu said quite clearly 'Prawn and AVOCADO salad'.  Yup, I assumed that meant slices of avocado, which was obviously a poor assumption to make.   Firstly, the meal came out drowned in salad dressing.  I explained that I couldn't eat that and that I had requested no dressing.  With much huffing and puffing the waitress took it back and eventually came back with a replacement.  This time no dressing but a huge dollop of commercial 'avocado' dip.  This was the avocado portion of the salad!!  I explained that no, I couldn't eat that either, I had been expecting sliced FRESH avocado.  Was met with a tirade of rudeness so I requested a refund and decided to eat when I got home.  They did try to tell me the dip was just mashed avocado but it most definitely wasn't.  I am not stupid!

 Lesson learnt!

ASK

ASK

ASK

If you are not sure, don't make assumptions.  Ask what is in the dish and double check you can eat it.

Last night I went out for dinner  ( I know, I really don't go out often!  LOL) with friends.  We went Mexican.  I made a decision that after sticking to protocol for six months I would have what I wanted!!  I had a dish that stuck to my phase 4 pretty much, I did have a small tortilla wrap and a few corn chips.  My downfall was having two margaritas and I gained overnight and felt a bit icky this morning.  But, this was my decision and I knew I would have consequences from my night out.  If I had wanted to stick to protocol I could have avoided some of the items on my plate and had water to drink.

Mind you, I am in round 2 and this is not my last round so I can probably afford to cheat a tiny bit.  When it comes to my last round I most definitely will not take these liberties as I will be endeavouring to achieve LS (leptin sensitivity).  I am thinking I probably have another 2 rounds!

What I am saying is that you don't have to stay at home and eat zucchini and chicken every day LOL  You can go out, you can mix it up a little and be creative and maintain that social life.  At the end of the day, the worse you can do is get a tummy ache and a bit of a gain.  There is always tomorrow :)

How to avoid coughs and colds this winter!

Did you know changing habits are having a sale?

Yup you heard right!!  

A SALE!

Take advantage of the discounted products such as the Inca Inchi Oil, vanilla beans or the immunity booster.   Just click on the links in my side bar to take advantage of the specials.

As much as  I like winter I do not like the coughs and colds that often come with it.  These can be avoided or at the very least reduced in severity if you prepare for them.  Boost your immunity and boost your health!

First thing I take in the morning is my 'eurgh concoction'.  Yeah, it doesn't sound pretty when I take it and doesn't usually taste all that great but as someone who was always prone to coughs and colds I can put up with the taste!   I have done this for six months and no cold, not a cough not a sniffle!   This from someone who has done seriously hospital with pneumonia and bronchitis on more than one occasion. In other words,  I swear by this stuff.

So what exactly is in my 'eurgh concoction'??

In a glass I mix a couple of dessert spoons of colloidal minerals, a tsp of supreme green powder, a tsp of probiotics, a tsp of camu camu, a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and about a 1/4c of water.  The trick is not to put too much water as you want to be able to down this as fast as possible, in one gulp if you can.  Then you need to have a full glass of water at the ready as the chaser.  (think scotch/beer or timtam/tea!)  And there you have it, a solution to a snot free winter!

Whether you are doing the HCG protocol,  21 steps or hunter gatherer protocol you have the right to take charge of your health and wellbeing.  These products can help you do that.

And you know what, they will even help your family.  Don't tell my kids but you know their breakfast smoothies??  Yeah, sneaky huh!   I am sure you get what I am saying without me having to spell it out.   Their smoothies may or may not have 'special' ingredients LOL   shoosh!!!!

They love their smoothies, as do I!

Disclaimer:  I have not been asked to write this post and have not been gifted or paid for doing so.  However, ass an affiliate of Changing Habits I do receive a small percentage of any sales made via advertisements on my blog.

Chicken Stock

There are so many reasons to make your own stock.  For me the main one is an intolerance to yeast extract.  Most foods that say MSG free will be loaded with yeast extract and it does the same job as MSG to enhance flavour.  You can buy stock that is free from both but it is very expensive and still doesn't taste as good as home made.

It is not hard to make and if you have a slow cooker that makes it even easier.

Ingredients:

1 x chicken (use good quality, free range or organic as any other will have hormones and loads of fat)

1 x onion peeled and chopped in half

10 peppercorns (or a good grind of pepper)

1/2 tsp of himalayan salt

2 bay leaves

(when not doing protocol I would include celery and carrot)

Method:

Cut any large chunks of fatty skin off chicken.  I find most are around the neck area.  Put enough water in pot to just cover the chicken.   Allow to simmer for around 8hrs in a slow cooker or if on stove top it will only take around 2 hrs.   

Be careful not to let it boil as this will make a cloudy stock.   

I usually wait until it has decreased by about 1-2inches in volume.

After it has finished cooking, remove all the chicken and veg and put aside, allow the stock to cool overnight. This brings the fat to the top and lets a sediment of small chicken to lay at the bottom.

Very carefully with a flat spoon skim the fat off the top.  In the photo below you can see on the side of the dish were the liquid has reduced.  

Once you have as much fat removed as possible fold a few sheets of paper towel and lay on top.  This helps get some more of the fat off.

Your stock should still have the sediment at the bottom and a minimum of fat floating on top by this stage.  Take care not to stir it up or you will have to wait for the sediment to settle again.

With a soup ladle carefully ladle the stock into containers or another pot

You should have lovely clear stock.  There will be some bits in there but this doesn't affect flavour at all.  Even if it has boiled and clouded up it will still be tasty!

Remove all flesh from the chicken and chop into smaller pieces.  I portion it up into just under 100gr servings and put into each container with the stock.  You can also just portion up and freeze for salads or soups later if you like.   From a small chicken this time I got 500gr of meat.

Be sure to freeze straight away and eat within 2mths or you can make up batches of soup and freeze for ease.  

I will do a bone broth next which is just as easy and tasty!!