Didn't I just say that avoiding corn wasn't a problem for me? Well, yesterday I waited too long to eat lunch/dinner. So I went to a new mexican restaurant, the menu was good, I ordered steak with onions and avocados, it came rice and pinto beans which I shared with my A baby (he loves beans!). I didn't know it was also going to include chips and salsa. On the way home (I got it to go) I was so hungry and the chips were right there, so I thought, "I'll just have one, with lots of salsa" I ended up only having two, but it was two too many. I've never noticed an immediate reaction to corn, I thought it just made me gain weight over time, but this time I noticed that it made my fuzzy-headed and a little confused, and my eyelid twitched a few times. Reminded me of how a felt a few years ago when I was feeling really dumpy in college and had the most annoying and constant twitching eyelid. (Which really acted up during Organic Chemistry exams. I think that may explain my reaction to corn-derived citric acid and a few other food additives.

Wow! I don't need further evidence to know that this Blood Type Diet science is true, but this was further evidence.

I'm also starting to suspect that dairy is what causes my eczema to flare up. Add that to the congestion problems it gives me, and that piece of cheese doesn't look so appetizing anymore.

I found some rice cheese at the health food store, unfortunately it had nonnie avoids in it...bummer. I've got some rice pizza crusts in the freezer and don't know what to do with them. Who needs cheese, some nice beef or turkey sausage, red sauce, and roasted green peppers should be tasty even without it.

I found this recipe online, modified it, and tried it, I had originally substituted almond extract for vanilla 1 to 1...not a good idea, almond extract is much stronger than vanilla, so I reduced it from 2 tsp, to 1/2 tsp. In response to Maya's question about O-nonnie dessert ideas, I thought I'd post this one. It may be an acquired taste, but I acquired it without much problem, and it satisfied my sweet tooth. The energy bars in recipeBase are good too, just use all prunes instead of prunes and dates, then make a bunch ahead of time, and freeze them. They taste best straight out of the freezer.

Teffioca Pudding

Ingredients

2 cups water

½ cup teff (cooks at a 4:1 ratio with water)

2 large rip bananas

2 tablespoons molasses

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

3 Tbs. cocoa.

Construction plan

In small pot bring water and teff to boil, then simmer over very low heat and cover for 15-20 minutes or until water is absorbed. Stir occasionally. Let cool to room temperature. In a blender or food processor blend cooked teff and remaining ingredients until smooth and light. Add additional water if too thick.

Pour into serving bowl, chill and serve. Tastes best good and chilled.

(The above recipe can be found in the cook book, "Vegetarian Tastes of Toronto", pages 13 and 119. Recipes courtesy of Bernie Thimian, submitted in care of the Mississauga Vegetarian Association.)

It seems that lately I haven’t been the good dietary example I’d like to be. Under pressure, my weaknesses really show through. I know what I need to be doing and eating, but sometimes I bend to my old bad habits. Dairy, sweeteners, colas…these bad habits all come back. I’ve been compliant enough to avoid getting my digestive problems back, or my eczema. Yet, I haven’t been compliant enough to feel really energetic or at my best. Didn’t I go jogging a month or so ago? Seems like a distant dream now. I have been walking, at least. My son goes nuts without a walk (or two) everyday, so it’s a good arrangement all the way around. It can be a pretty decent workout, pushing a stroller up a hill.

What I don’t have trouble avoiding is wheat. Not hard, when something makes you as sick as it makes me. It seems so weird now to think that I ever ate the stuff, or to remember how long it took me to realize that it was wrecking my health. Sure, it still can be tempting, especially when everybody else is eating it, but the temptation doesn’t get to me anymore. It’s amazing the range of reactions I have to it. Every time I accidentally ingest some, I’m surprised by a new reaction or combination of reactions that I never noticed before.

I’ve done pretty well at avoiding corn, too. That did my diet in completely a year ago, when I ‘fell away’. It doesn’t make me gain weight as fast as wheat would (if I could still digest wheat), but it does build up over time. Mexican food is a favorite of mine, or corn wouldn’t even be a temptation. Lately though, I just order steak fajitas with no cheese, no sour cream, and no tortillas. It’s still very satisfying, with salsa. Ah, at least I can eat salsa, it’s nice to have something that some other types can’t. It seems like O nonnies have to give up so much more than many other types. I often suffer from blood-type envy. But it's better to be healthy and envious, than unhealthy.

The new health food store nearby finally opened. It exceeded all my hopes. They have free-range antibiotic-free sliced deli meats, and fresh (not frozen) free-range antibiotic-free beef. Not to mention lots of good stuff for the As in my family. And for the first time, I was able to find everything on my grocery list all at one store. The prices were good too. This was a major boost to my dieting efforts!

I can do this...I can get and stay on track.

I've noticed something funny, when I'm compliant on the diet I smell better. I'm able to downgrade from something 'strong enough for a man' to an all natural tea tree oil deodorant that I really like. I prefer to not use any perfumes anywhere, especially on myself, so this is a nice little side effect.

What a month! I finally got caught up with everything, phew! I've skipped a lot of meals and haven't been cooking. I lost weight from the skipped meals, but I'm afraid I may gain it back since I didn't lose it the right way. Last week I had strep throat, my whole family did, but it hit me like a ton of bricks...I was miserable. I'm sure stress had something to do with how hard it hit me. It felt like a defeat to have to take antibiotics again after at least 3 antibiotic-free years, but I didn't want to mess around with this bug...just eradicate it!

Now it's time to recover and rebuild. I actually cooked dinner last night...rosemary lamb chops. I'm getting back on track.

My willpower is still lower, but I've actually had some good luck with meals that has helped me become more compliant. I went out for Thai food and forgot to order the egg flower soup that most likely has corn starch in it. I ordered beef with vegetables instead, it was quite good and much more compliant. Then I ordered mango with sweet rice, which I love, but it has sugar and coconut milk. They were out of it that night! I wasn't totally disappointed, once I realized I'd just eaten a good, compliant meal.

When I ate at relatives, it was pretty easy to be compliant as well.

That's always nice when it's easy! I craved a chocolate milkshake afterwards, but didn't give in.

I WILL get back on, but for the last few days I've fallen off the wagon. I'm paying the price for it too. My compliance has probably dropped below 50%, which isn't acceptable for my body. My eczema has come back, my stomach is upset, headaches, etc. etc.

I will take control back! It won't be that hard, I just need to get organized again. I'll keep you posted.