What day is it? What time is it? Where am I? So….. candida diet, medical conference, and family vacation creates the perfect storm when it comes to an elimination type diet. I did fairly well for the first several days then little by little things started sneaking back on to my plate that should not be there. And guess what? It just like I tell all of my clients. If you dont give this diet 100% things wont get better. I have noticed the following since cheating on the protocol. I’m hungry in the morning. Like freaking starving which makes staying true so hard. When I started the protocol I noticed that I was thirsty all of the time and my water intake went from adequate at best to optimal. Since falling off the wagon I have to think about drinking enough water. I don’t have that thirst drive anymore. Back to barely adequate water intake again. And I’m cranky, I ache, and constipated (TMI I know). This medical conference is about Cardiometabolic and Immune health. I’m learning tons and have decided to try a different food protocol. It fits the parameters of the candida protocol but it will decrease inflammation. Improved inflammation is always a goal for me with my rheumatoid arthritis. So medical food for 2-3wks which means I’ll me having just smoothies. This allows my gut to just chill for a bit. Then a vegetarian diet for 2-3wks which allows the gut to be reintroduced to foods slowly. Then back to the candida food list with a Paleo emphasis. I’ll keep you all posted.
Mandy
Still plugging away… Tammy is out of the office for a few weeks and we have time to do things that we DON’T have time for! 🙂 Alycia and I made a mistake on Monday… we were both craving tacos and so we figured, how bad can a taco salad be for us? Should be fine… We ordered from El Rodeo and it was delicious!! It has been so long since we have had rice and beans (not on our diet, but how bad can it be.. it’s not a candy bar)! It was a BAAAAADDDD IDEA!!! We both ate like we hadn’t in a while and we paid! I can’t quite describe how I felt afterwards, but it’s some combination of bloated, heavy, dizzy and just plain out of sorts. We both regretted it. But here, we were hating ourselves.. we really don’t know what it was that made us feel bad–rice, beans, fried flour tortilla (ugh, so dumb)? So, stick to the diet dummy (I’m the dummy) and introduce foods back one at a time to see what it is that my system doesn’t like.
Alycia
Don’t cheat!!! I know it’s hard but Mandy and I cheated on Monday and man did I regret it! The worst part is we cheated with beans, rice, and a fried flour tortilla. So now I know I definitely react poorly to one of those things but which one… It did give me motivation to get back on the straight and narrow. I did not want a repeat of the tired gross feeling I had after cheating. Plus the stomach issues after were NOT fun!! I won’t give you the details, lets just say it was bad! Eating good all week felt much better. My mom mentioned that I am definitely acting a lot more awake and energetic. Which is funny because I have had little to no caffeine. A few Zip Fizz’s here and there. I gained back two pounds but I’m not discouraged. Overall I’m still feeling pretty good!
Walnut-Crusted Fish
4 (4oz) Flounder Fillets (Sole works as well)
1/4 C Almond Milk
1 C Finely Chopped Walnuts
1/4 tea Salt
1/4 tea Ground Black Pepper
1 1/2 Tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice
1/4 C Chopped Fresh Parsley for Garnish
Rinse Fish in cold water and pat dry with a paper towel.
Place the almond milk in a shallow bowl.
Spread the chopped walnuts, salt, and pepper on a plate.
Dip the fish in the almond milk and then dredge in the walnut mixture, gently pressing the walnuts onto the fish to form the crust.
Heat a large skillet on medium heat. Add olive oil, and then the fish. Cook for 3-4 minutes each side, until the fish Is cooked through.
Squeeze lemon juice over the top, then sprinkle with parsley.
I made a mistake!! A plate of nachos died in a moment of weakness. Its hard to figure out what to eat when your tired and hungry. Heres hoping it wont cause any any issues. Next day….. I’m cranky and every muscle seems to be sore. Stupid nachos. Stupid candida diet. Obvioulsy its doing something good on my insides because one plate of nachos is kicking my but. Also, Surprise, when you take the supplements as recommend and not skip dose you feel better too. Complete week of “do as I say and not as I do”
Mandy
Annnnndddd acne. Yep, another side effect to a healthier me. This is only temporary as the toxins are leaving my body. I do feel better over all and am having more energy throughout the day. Do we smell weird? Another part of the toxins leaving our body? Alycia asked if she smells weird, “nope,” but she’s noticing something. I keep getting a weird wiff of something, do I smell weird? Alycia says, “no.” Tammy says she stinks… I don’t notice. So, apparently the toxins leaving our body is giving us a strange smell, but just to ourselves. No one else notices this–Thank heavens!! This “side effect” only lasted a few days. I visited my family out of town this weekend and it was no problem staying on the diet, luckily my family eats healthy too.
Alycia
Still losing weight! The acne and weird smells are a downside. I keep asking Mandy if I smell weird. She says No but it is still a concern. I cheated a little but have mostly stuck to the diet and I feel pretty great. I was getting a little sick of the same meals over and over again. So I have tried some other things on the list. Mostly eating as many veggies as possible. My husband has been super supportive and is eating what I eat. It has definitely been a great push for both of us to start clean eating.
Oven Roasted Vegetables
1 Cup Broccoli Florets
1 Cup Cauliflower Florets
1 Cup Asparagus
1 Cup Bell Peppers
1 Cup Onion
1/4 Cup Olive Oil
1 TBS Minced Garlic
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F while preparing vegetables. Chop veggies so that all pieces are the same size. This will ensure even cooking.
In a large roasting pan or cookie sheet, toss together all ingredients and spread in a single layer.
Roast approximately 25-30min until veggies are tender and slightly brown, stirring occasionally.
I’m constantly thirsty and cant quiet get enough to drink. Still in a good mood. I’ve complete cut the caffeine and no headache to speak of yet. I do miss the flavor and routine of my morning cup of coffee. The family is doing the diet with me mostly. I am preparing some carbs for the kids like quinoa or brown rice. I thought it might be a struggle but its amazing to watch their appetites actually increase!! I cant seem to make enough veggies to fill their bellies.
Mandy
Well, this is fun.. let the exorcism begin! The candida is beginning to leave my body–out of my armpits!! I now have a rad, itchy rash in my underarms and the tops of my hands. Using anti-fungal cream should take care of this, but I’m oddly happy its happening because it’s showing that it’s working, right?
Alycia
I’m feeling really good. It is great to have energy without caffeine. I am working out a little more. I’m consistently losing weight which is great! One downside is that I have acne everywhere I didn’t know you could get acne in your ear until now. I also was not sleeping well. I kept having odd dreams and nightmares. I finally figured out that I was not eating any sugar and that was making me weird. I have added more berries to my diet and feel much better.
Quick and Easy Smoothie!
Ice
1C Berries (Pick your favorites!)
1C Muscle Egg (I use vanilla)
A Splash of Unsweetened Almond Milk or coconut milk
Blend and Enjoy!!!
Southwest Breakfast Scramble
Chorizo Turkey Sausage
Eggs
Spinach
Fresh Red Peppers
Avocado
Brown some turkey sausage (we use the chorizo flavor), add diced red pepper, scramble eggs, then add spinach. I like guacamole or fresh avocado on top. This can be modified lots of different ways!
First week on prison rations… Just kidding. Its not as bad as I was thinking. Its hard to give up coffee and reading the fine print is very important. I thought I was being brilliant by switching to black tea but that is a no go as well. The struggle is real. But I’m super happy. Mandy and Alicia seem a bit grouchy and are p[possibly struggling with caffeine headaches but my mood is better then its been in a while. I hope its a side effect from this cleansing diet.
MANDY
The diet was really not a big deal, if you’ve done the HCG diet, this diet is a breeze. I kept the food list on the counter at all times so I could, 1) Reference it and 2) Keep me honest and not cheat. The big challenge for me was cutting caffeine out of my world. I had no idea what a slave to the brew I was!! I took it a little slow and tapered down for a few days until one day I tried it totally without. Ahhhh!!! Tired and a bit cranky and totally fatigued.. and not sure if this is worth it! I did it for 2 days and found out that I’m not as strong as my coworkers. I had a zipfizz to bring myself back to life and not let them find me face down on my keyboard!
ALYCIA
The food has not been to bad. Like anything new it took sometime to get use to. It’s a huge list so you get lots of options. For me it came down to pretty much carrying the food list with me at all times to make sure I was not cheating. I had major caffeine withdrawal symptoms! Headaches and fatigue galore. For that first week I felt so blessed to have Mandy and Tammy supporting me. My husband also made his morning coffee after I left for work. It’s the little things that keep me going in these kinds of diets. I love to cook and so does my husband so we spent time developing some new recipes I’ll put mine below. Tammy has since put a great spin on it which I will also include. Other side effects included extreme thirst so I’ve been non stop drinking water. Some dry patches around my mouth (more water and moisturizer). Best of all I lost about 5lbs. The caffeine withdrawal took about 5 days and then magically I was awake and energized without caffeine. I even exercised a few times. The weekend was a challenge I cheated multiple times but decided to stay away from caffeine and start strong Monday.
Candida Diet Baked Chicken and Pesto
Tomatoes
Chicken Breasts (Sliced in half lengthwise)
Pesto
Garlic
Italian Seasoning
Fresh Mozzarella
You can add or substitute a lot of the ingredients to your taste. Sundried Tomatoes are a great substitution. Fresh red peppers are a great addition. Add or take away seasonings. Dried red pepper adds a little spice.
Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, garlic, and Italian seasonings. Bake until cooked (about 375 degrees for 20-30min). Then spread pesto over cooked chicken, place a slice of fresh mozzarella and tomato on top, put it back in the hot oven until the cheese has melted. That is it!! Tip: The thinner the piece of chicken the better. Chicken Thighs work great!!
After we got our scores the choice was clear it was time to start the Candida Diet!! Lets start by cleaning up what we put in. We are going to follow the following recommended food list. Our biggest challenges I think is going to be coffee and wine. We decided as a group to not put any limits on our portions. We knew either way we would more than likely lose weight. Going from Holiday food to clean eating is usually a plan for success. So here we go!
At the start of the New Year we decided as a team to see where our guts stood in regards to candida. We all had a few or all of the symptoms associated with this imbalance. We completed a simple questionnaire that assess the probability of having “yeast syndrome.” Check out our scores below!
Candida, is a yeast‐like fungus. It is
a normal part of our bodies. Its growth is usually limited by our immune system
and by the other microorganisms in our digestive tract, including a large
number of health‐promoting bacteria.
If Candida is allowed to grow due to a
weakened immune system, hormone changes, or disease such as diabetes, the balance
between the Candida and the “good” microorganisms in the digestive tract is
upset, resulting in intestinal candidiasis (also known as “yeast syndrome”).
This imbalance can cause problems such
as
Vaginal
infections
Chronic
sinusitis
Fatigue
Bloating
Gas
Diarrhea
and/or constipation
Recurring
bladder infections
Menstrual
irregularities
Food
sensitivities
Allergies
Chemical
sensitivities
Depression
What increases the risk of Candida
overgrowth?
Repeated use of
antibiotics, oral contraceptives, and/or steroids like prednisone
Our bodies are amazing machines with detoxing abilities. Unfortunately, with the modern toxic load of day to day life it’s good to take some time and help your body detox. After many articles, google searches, podcasts, and my own experience this is a list of detox options most available to us all at a low price.
Tip #1. Water is our first line of defense when it comes to detoxing. Try and drink half your bodyweight in ounces. If you weigh 130lbs, you should be drinking 130 divided by 2 = 65 oz. of water a day.
Tip #2. another way to detox each month form heavy metals is by drinking a liter of FIGI water once a day for a week. FIGI water has ionized silica in it that helps gather heavy metals and eliminate them through your urine.
Tip #3. To add to the benefit of water add a lemon, fresh, food grade lemon oil or precut frozen will all assist in the detoxification of your lymphatic system.
Tip #4. Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth is a silica product that has many health benefits and can go into any liquid r over food it has little to no taste and is great at getting rid of toxins. If you’re experiencing digestive distress due to a sickness or bad food, using Diatomaceous Earth every 3 hours will help to eliminate the issue.
Tip #5. Dry brushing is something women did years ago and the technique was passed on from mother to daughter. We’re bringing it back as a great way to detox your lymphatic system, bring life back to skin and maybe even help smooth cellulite.
Tip #6. Add a new regimen to your morning. Squeeze fresh lemon juice with Cheyanne pepper, and honey (optional) hot or cold your choice. This concoction can help with detox and light up your metabolism for the day.
Tip #7. Add a new regimen to you morning. Squeeze fresh lemon juice with Cheyanne pepper, and honey (optional) hot or cold your choice. This concoction can help with detox and light up your metabolism for the day.
Tip#8 In a half hour of our day we can fight depression, osteoporosis, diseases, and toxicity, by simply exercising. Blood coursing through our bodies produces Nitric Oxide our bodies own natural medicine. We are also, building bone and muscle, elevating mood, and detoxing our bodies. So get moving.
Tip #9 I know many of us survive on coffee. Green tea has many antioxidants to help with oxidative stress from our environment. Even if we substitute one of our coffees a day for green tea it would greatly benefit the toxic load on our bodies.
Tip #10. Many people buy organic fruits and vegetables. However, meat has by far more toxins in it than fruits and vegetables could ever have. Livestock store their toxins in their fat. If you want nontoxic food for your family start buying organic meat and to make it more affordable make an organic vegetarian meal once or twice a week.
Tip #11. The best way you can detox on a cellular level is by fasting 48-72 hours a month, quarterly or every 6 months. Your fast should be a water only and active fast. No sitting on the couch. The first day is tough but as you go you will begin to feel more and more alive. When we give or our bodies a food break we reset our immune system, our old and mutated cells die off and our bodies generate stem cells. This is not a weight loss solution as it can create eating disorders. This is a chance to reconnect with your body and feel better. Please make sure you speak to a medical professional before fasting. Be on the lookout for more in-depth information coming soon about fasting.
Benefits of Green cleaning is so beneficial in so many ways through out our home and lives. There out 2 products that I use in my home daily that I find the best and most helpful and fulfilling in more ways than just cleaning and they happen to be doTerra products, Melaleuca and On guard.
Melaleuca, my favorite, also known as “Tea Tee, is best known for its purifying properties. It has 92 different compounds and limitless applications. Its been used in countries for centuries, especially by the aborigines of Australia.
Renowned for its cleansing and rejuvenating effect on skin
Promotes healthy function when used internally
Ingest to protect against environmental and seasonal threats
On guard is a powerful blend that supports health immune functions and contains cleansing properties, when used internally. It protects also against environmental threats and seasonal threats with essential oils known for their positive effects on the immune system.
Both of these amazing oils can be used together with sense of your choice to create the perfect cleansers for your home, for the season, for your friends for your mood. The great think about doing green cleaning is its safe for your kids, grandchildren, pets and yourself. I encourage everyone to look into these ways and can even be cheaper ways of keeping our home clean. If anyone has any questions please call me I enjoy cleaning and would love to help you get GREEN, and CLEAN….
We had a wonderful event on March 29th. A gather of 25 + women and we discussed the ins and outs of spring cleaning and how it will affect your home and health. The following is my lecture outline that I presented at the event. Its a mis-match of Pinterest posts, literature searches, and personal experiences. I hope you find it helpful.
Spring Cleaning
Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful
~ William Morris textile designer 1800’s
Declutter
Pick a spot to start
Start with the flat surfaces
EVERYTHING: MUST HAVE A HOME
MUST HAVE A PURPOSE
MUST BE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER
MUST HAVE A LABEL
Everything must have a home
Box for “other room”
Toys must fit in assigned baskets
Not every drawer or cupboards need to have anything in it
Sunday basket “the biggest mess in out house is paper”
Deal with it / File it
Keep One Yearyou don’t have to save monthly and quarterly statements once the year-end statement has arrived.
Keep Three Years
Credit Card Statements
Medical Bills (in case of insurance disputes)
Utility Records
Expired Insurance Policies
Keep Six Years
Supporting Documents For Tax Returns
Accident Reports and Claims
Tax related medical bills
Property Records / Improvement Receipts
Sales Receipts
Tax-Related Bills
Keep Permanently
CPA Audit Reports
Legal Records
Important Correspondence
Income Tax Returns
Income Tax Payment Checks
Investment Trade Confirmations
Retirement and Pension Records
Yearend mutual funds and IRA Contributions
Special CircumstancesCar Records (keep until the car is sold)
Credit Card Receipts (keep until verified on your statement)
Insurance Policies (keep for the life of the policy)
Mortgages / Deeds / Leases (keep 6 years beyond the agreement)
Pay Stubs (keep until reconciled with your W-2)
Property Records / improvement receipts (keep until property sold)
Sales Receipts (keep for life of the warranty)
Stock and Bond Records (keep for 6 years beyond selling)
Warranties and Instructions (keep for the life of the product)
Other Bills (keep until payment is verified on the next bill)
Decrease paper
Cut down on mail
org
Electronic bills
thedma.org
National do not mail directmail.com
Everything must have a purpose
Don’t save it for later, maybe, or what if’s
Why do you need 4 loaf pans?
Everything must be in good working order
If it can’t be fixed get rid of it
Everything must have a label
You need to know what it is, how it works, and where it goes.
Outdated, expired
Prepare you mind
Prepare your family
Prepare your schedule
Prepare your supplies
What do you need to stay organized / picked up
Prepare your space
Plan your day
Chunking
Plan ahead
Wake up time
Get moving/stretch/work out
Avoid black hole of technology/screen time
Procrastination thus appears to be a self-defeating behavior pattern marked by short-term benefits and long-term costs Dianne M Tice, Roy F. Baumeister
If it need to go, get it out FAST
Consider before and after pictures
Know where you are going to take it
Goodwill
Consign/hand-me-downs
I seal up the
I don’t share the boxes with the kids
I kept a tally of how many boxes I have gotten rid of
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