People are getting excited and Slim Camp is going strong! Congratulations to all of you who have set some goals, and are sticking to them. Remember Baby Steps!
In order to help you with your goals… Check out this website Hungry-girl.com. Thanks to Laurie for sending me the link, I think it’s a fabulous website. I love surfing things liek that, for tips, as well as insipirationt o keep me going.
And Speaking of inspiration… have I mentioned how much I love Bob Harper. :inlove:
Personally, I’ve given up on my Not Drinking Pop goal, for now. Why? Because it’s a much bigger goal than I gave it credit for. LOL However, I am being active 5 days a week. Not always at the gym, which I think is the key. Take today for instance, this afternoon I’m going for a walk with my downstairs neighbour. I’m also eating breakfast every day.
My New goal, starting today; No eating for three hours before bed.
Todays Guest Post is about food allergies…I’m hoping that this will show you how event hings we’re nto aware of can affect our efforts. It’s important to have a Dr’s input in your effrots to be ehalthier and lose wieght, especially if you feel you are doing everything right, and are not seeing results.
Tales of an Itchy Scalp and Dragon Scales
Beth Williamson
The first thing I noticed when I turned thirty-five is my skin changed. My scalp got dry and I started getting acne. I’d never had either problem, even as a teenager, so I it was a big shock. I got seborraic dermatitis on my face (these are like old people patches of uber-dry skin). Then a year later I decided to go on a quasi-Atkins diet to lose weight and ate basically protein, fruits and veggies for a year.
When I went off the diet, my occasional allergies became a big problem. I mean I’d always had environmental and seasonal allergies to lots of stuff like mold, mildew, dust, tree pollen and so forth, as well as bananas. But it seemed to just get worse no matter which meds I tried. Then the itchy scalp turned into something even worse. Huge patches of scales that didn’t seem to be affected by any dandruff shampoo known to man. That turned into what I call my dragon scales. I’d have these enormous raised patches of dry, tough skin on my hands. People asked me if I’d been burned. *blush*
My dermatologist gave me steroidal meds for the scalp and skin, which helped a lot. However it kept coming back so I kept having to use the steroidal meds, and I started to gain weight. 15 pounds in a year. Then suddenly last summer, I had an epiphany.
The year before my sister had been diagnosed with an allergy to wheat, corn and soy. Her symptoms mimicked mine in many ways. Aha! I went to the allergist and had them test me for wheat. After self-testing I was sure that was my food allergy causing my woes. When he told me I was allergic to soy and wheat, I was in shock. Soy?? I ate soy every damn day *sob* – I was devastated. I walked out in the parking lot thinking, what the hell am I going to eat?
Lucky for me, my sister had already done a lot of the hard work and gave me the fruits of her knowledge. I learned what names wheat and soy disguised themselves as in foods, what to avoid and what to look for (I never trust “Natural Flavors” in anything). I had to start eating organic food, the only food with every single ingredient listed. Fortunately my skin issues all went away within two months when I stopped eating wheat and soy, including the acne! However, I paid huge amounts of money for wheat-free, soy-free food. Let me tell you, frozen rice-crust pizza for $5 is so not worth it. Uck.
The unfortunate side effect of eating organic food is the amount of fat in it. Yogurt made with real cream, lots of cheese, and so on. I also gave myself permission to gorge on foods I could eat. *sigh* Like milk shakes (three Gs of fat in a cup), two large Chik-Fil-A waffle fries for lunch (yes, I really did), ice cream, big organic chocolate bars and potato chips. Lots and lots and lots of Utz potato chips. *slaps forehead* I could kick my own ass for wallowing in self-pity and making very unwise (and horrendous) food choices.
What happened? Wel in addition to the 15 pounds I put on, I gained an additional 25. Really y’all, I’ve come full circle back to almost the exact weight I was at 36 before I lost 50 pounds. I am angry with myself and made a vow to me to change it. I know what I can eat and what I can’t eat. If I’m wise and make my l own food and salads, I don’t have to worry about dragon scales. I’ve been doing better since Sasha’s Slim Camp started, but I’m not 100% meeting my goals. I have not eaten Utz potato chips in two weeks, although I have had some Lay’s. My sugar intake is almost 0 so my appetite is at least under control.
Making good food choices when you can’t eat low fat foods (they almost all have wheat/food starch or soy in them) is really tough. I love yogurt, cottage cheese and low-fat protein bars. However, I can’t eat any of these so I make other choices like organic granola with skim milk and strawberries. I’d love to one day lose that 50 pounds I gained back and hopefully I can reach that goal in the next year. I’ve discovered a great cookbook for people with multiple food allergies and I’m on the right track.
Wish me luck y’all. 
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Best of luck, Beth! Sounds like you’re on the right path. 🙂
So as usual, I’m little late to the party. 🙂 But I was in Disney World round about when y’all started. lol Anyway, I just saw the link to here on Passionate Prose and came by to check it out.
I had been steadily putting on weight for nearly 20 years. About three years ago I took off 100lbs, but then I got pregnant, had a couple or three miscarriages, left my husband and became a published author, so weight has been the least of my worries.
I have put back on about 35 lbs, but I’ve been holding steady there chasing ten pounds up, ten pounds down for the past two years, but I’m on my own now, I have 13 books contracted instead of 1, and I have a new boyfriend who loves to take me out to dinner, but that’s another story, all the while he’s lost 20lbs since we’ve been dating and I’ve gained 7!!!!!!
So hell yeah I’m ready to take off the rest of this weight, count me in!
My biggest problem comes in not eating, always has been. I don’t eat until I’m sooooo hungry and my blood sugar has dropped soooo low that I can’t make a good choice and I just eat anything.
I took off the bulk of my weight with weight watchers and I learned a ton there, Like a bacon cheeseburger meal from Wendy’s, even if it’s all you’ve eaten all day, is still more calories and fat the I can have if I want to lose weight. :tongue:
So I’ve made a lot of portion and choice changes, like a jr bacon cheeseburger and a small fry is perfectly acceptable–ok so not healthy but at least not causing me to gain weight–but like you said in your first post, Sasha, I know what to do to lose the weight, I just need to do it. I probably need to start by committing to eat breakfast every day.
Anyway, I’ve written a freaking book rather then a blog comment so shutting up now. :blush:
But thanks for the motivation. 🙂
Interesting post, Beth. I’ve been experiencing something similar. I wonder if it is a food allergy. Hmm…
Very interesting, Beth – so happy you’re recognizing the triggers and getting it under control.
I had a six month diabetes check yesterday and was pleased that my weight was exactly the same as it was six months ago. I should say “somewhat” pleased, as I have at least 40 pounds to lose – I was just happy that I hadn’t gained anything, as I was certain that I was up at least 5 pounds. Needless to say my Dr. wasn’t as pleased as I was. I’m determined to have something showing in the loss column next check up!
Samantha ~ Glad to have you join us. It’s good to be doing this together!
Jordan ~ Yep, girl, go to the allergist and get tested. You’d be surprised how many symptoms went away after I stopped eating wheat and soy. Some of them too embarrassing to mention here. 😳
Laurie ~ That’s great news! I know exactly how you feel – I wish I could say I didn’t gain weight between check ups. I just went for my physical two weeks ago and she was like “what the hell happened?” 25 pounds in one year. Ugh.
Hi Samantha, Welcome to the Slim Camp!! And no worries on the book writing, we like that sort of thing around here. 😉
Jordan, It’s definitely something to look into!Laurie, I’m like you. Losing would be great, but sometimes I’m just thrilled to not gain. Especially if I actually feel better.
Beth, You rock!
I didn’t check in last week because I was on vacation. Let’s not discuss how much I ate or what.
Beth, I have food allergies, as well as medical conditions that cause me issues if I eat the wrong things. It was a tough road to learn what foods simply didn’t work fo me. Well, the allergies made that easy, but the other was tough lessons learned.
Fascinating post, Beth, thanks for sharing. Lots and lots of luck, I’m cheering you on!
I too have food allergies, wheat as well as some fruits, and dairy makes me feel cr@p (as well as diabetes and PCOS, the list is endless LOL) Like you I’ve learnt a lot, but it does make losing weight even tougher. Lots of veggies is helping here, (like Amie last week, the wok is my pal! 🙂 I can get away with organic oats for breakfast, then make sure I have nothing processed in meals, ie lots of home cooking, raman, beans and pulses with spices to make it zing. 🙂 Just wish it wasn’t so slow coming off. I’ll be thin by the time I’m ninety 😆 😆
Sasha, your recipe sounded just perfect!
Beth, you mention a book, can you share the title?
Tess ~ Yep, those tough lessons are the ones we remember the most. Oh yeah.
Saskia ~ Wow, we sound like we have a lot of the same issues too. It’s tough but know I’m across the big pond feeling the sisterhood!
The cook book is called The Allergy Self-Help Cookbook: Over 350 Natural Foods Recipes, Free of All Common Food Allergens: wheat-free, milk-free, egg-free, corn-free, sugar-free, yeast-free . It even has tips for eating out, what to look and ask for in restaurants and stuff.
Sasha ~ thank you for holding the SC, it’s wonderful to get us together and bond over a battle we fight daily. :love:
Thanks, Beth! I’ll check out the book. Sounds great. :great:
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(((Saskia))) I had a roomie who had PCOS and it was no fun at all!
Beth fabulous post sweetie. I know it’s daunting to completely change your way of life but it can be done–right?! RIGHT! I will say, to anyone who’s at the beginning, that it does get easier. And I’m so picking up that book–i’m convinced my son has wheat allergies.
Tess I can’t drink milk. It’s just scary but I’ve known for years. It took the lifechange to make me finally give up ice cream though. I”m determined to find a way to make homemade with almond milk though 🙂
Another thought–if one brand of something doesn’t work for you, try another! This is a huge dugh for me. I had this happen with Silk soy milk (UGH). I thought ALL soy milk tasted that bad until I tried 8th continent. Same goes for almond milk–I was using Pacific brand and had some uncomfortable side affects so switched to another brand and I’m fine!
Sasha…one day at a time on that soda. BOb would want you to :puh:
Thanks for hugs, Amie! 🙂 Thankfully the food choices are helping that side of things too.
And BIG thanks to Sasha for doing this here. Sharing tips and experiences is really helpful. I’m away next week but will be checking in on the chatter as soon as i get back. 😉 Stay strong!
Ha Ha Amie. Yes, bob would want me to quit. :inlove:
Have a good time out Saskia, We’ll be here when you get back!
:sporty: Slowly but surely I’m learning to eat better and by eat better I mean not eat out every single day. I only ate out once this past week (which is a miracle in its self) and I went to the grocery store. I friend walked me through that nightmare and helped me pick out things I could even cook.
So I’m trying. Slowly (very slowly) but surely. Good luck all!
YAY Emma!!
Thats wonderful. Eating out is a huge thing, and limiting thast should really help you out!