Day 14 Food Reboot

Unique Events for the Day:  4 days of USDA organic food bought tonight for week #3 of the diet.  Week 3 is said to be the hardest week and based on all the veggies I bought tonight, it’s going to be interesting…

 

Waking Up:  Went to bed at 10:30 & got up at 5:00am with the right leg / buttock area of inflammation with moderate shooting pains.  Back stiffness was prevalent throughout entire back plus the feeling of body aches all over.  I’ve had this feeling before and this could be as simple as changing my office chair back pillow with the foam support I used from the chiropractor yesterday.  I will be using the pillow on the backside of my chair today.  Tried to go to bed at 5:30am with a cold pack on my mid-side & shoulder areas which seems to have helped.  I will apply a heating pad on the neck today.  Got up & out of bed around 6:45am battling the shooting pains down the right leg / buttock area.

Chiropractor: Head weights 2X per day (10 min. morning & evening) + Denny roll 2X in morning & evening (20 min.)

Morning Physical Symptom Check:  My normal stiff lower & less mid-back (moderate stiffness).

Smoothie Recipe (Banana, Mango, Papaya & Strawberry Smoothie Recipe)
•1 banana
•1 carrot
•2 slices of pineapple (makes around 1 1/2 cups)
•1 Cup of sunflower sprouts
•1 Cup Spinach
•2 Cups of Rainbow Swiss Chard
•Almond Butter 1 Tablespoon
•Bee Pollen (1 Tablespoon)
•3 to 4 ounces of filtered water
Synopsis of Smoothie:  Smoothie was at a good amount of thickness.  Although you can taste the pineapple & acidity, it doesn’t overpower the drink due to the peanut butter.  I couldn’t taste any berries, carrot, or the other 4 cups of vegetables.   Makes less than 2 1/2 glassfuls.
Mid-morning Snack:  Handful of almonds, walnuts, craisins, 4 dried figs, and a Brasil nut
Lunch Menu:  Tomato Soup + 2 Collard Wraps & Pineapple
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Collard Green Wraps (2) Includes:

Collard Green Roll-up Directions: To roll the collard green, remove the bottom stem by making a “V” cut & start to roll from the “V” cut end.
Synopsis of Lunch: Everything tasted OK, but it’s a start to much better tasting collard green wraps.

 

 

 

Dinner Menu:  Salad, Shrimp Curry & Eggplant w/ Veggies (Whole Foods)

  • Salad – Snow Peas, broccoli, romaine lettuce, radishes shredded, shredded carrots, carrot dressing
  • Shrimp Curry – Can’t remember, but didn’t have any starches
  • Eggplant w/ Veggies – Eggplant, jalapeno, peppers, squash
  • 2 hours later I had handful of sunflower seeds, almonds, 1 dried fig & macadamia nuts

Synopsis of Meal:  The eggplant had a kick and it was a nice change of pace with the curry.  Salad was a standard raw meal.

Evening inflammation check:  Feeling tired mainly throughout the day.  My A.S. was acting up & got progressively better as the day progressed.  It took me 2 naps to get things going better.  The main issue is the body aches & some shooting pains.  I hope to get a better sleep tonight.  I’m also hoping to see more out of my body in week #3.

Gas / Bloating Check:  Better today than yesterday, but still prevalent.  Using fennel helps a lot when it acts up.

Day 13 Food Reboot

Unique Events for the Day:  Last day for the chiropractor and found a No Starch Diet (NSD) version of hummus.  Today was also a pure vegan day (soup was heated, not cooked).

Waking Up:  Went to bed at 11:30 & got up at 6:20am with the moderate right leg / below buttock area of inflammation with moderate shooting pains.  Back stiffness was quite moderate.

Chiropractor: Today is the last day at my Chiropractor’s office until mid-April.  I will continue home rehab + exercises.  Refer to My Daily Routine for more details.  Head alignment machine, Pettibon / Wobble Chair, neck & lower back / spine adjusted, neck alignment for 12 minutes, Head weights 2X per day (10 min. morning & evening) + Denny roll 1X in evening (20 min.)

Morning Physical Symptom Check:  My normal stiff lower & less mid-back (moderate stiffness).

Smoothie Recipe (Banana, Mango, Papaya & Strawberry Smoothie Recipe)
•1 frozen bananas
•2 1/2 cups papaya (half of papaya)
•1 Cup blueberries
•3 Cups Dinosaur kale
•1 Cup of Rainbow Swiss Chard & Spinach
•Almond Butter 1 Tablespoon (Optional)
•Bee Pollen (1 Tablespoon)
•3 to 4 ounces of filtered water
Synopsis of Smoothie:  Back on the Omni, the overall taste was flat.  Adding the almond butter made it creamier but still more subtle in the tastes. Makes less than 2 1/2 glassfuls.
Mid-morning Snack:  Handful of almonds, walnuts, craisins, 4 dried figs, and a Brasil nut
Lunch Menu:  Salad & Tomato Soup with Broccoli
  • Salad – spinach, 1/2 avocado, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, blueberries, Himalayan salt, crushed pepper
  • Tomato Soup with Broccoli – Salad & Tomato Soup
  • 1 cup water
  • 4 Campari tomatoes, chopped
  • 3/4 cup dried sun-dried tomatoes
  • 1 large red pepper, chopped
  • 1 mango, peeled and pitted
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon dulse flakes
  • 2 teaspoons dried basil (or use chopped, fresh basil)
Directions on Soup:  Blend everything for 35+ seconds in blender. Then heat up on stove (try not to get above 118 degrees) with raw broccoli.
Synopsis of Lunch: Typical raw food average lunch.  Eventually I want the tomato soup to be the base & then add more ingredients later.

Dinner Menu: Stuffed Red Peppers (SOURCE)
  • 2 red bell peppers (cut into sections)

Filling (Blend altogether until thick & smooth)

  • 1 cup soaked sunflower seeds (subbed soaked walnuts)
  • 1/2 pint cherry tomatoes (mixed capri tomatoes with cherry tomatoes)
  • 1 stick of celery
  • 1 small carrot (Not in recipe, I added)
  • 1/2 tsp. each of cayenne powder (subbed chili pepper), paprika (didn’t have it), basil, oregano, and garlic.
  • 1/2 small onion (chopped)
  • 2 tbs. lemon juice
  • 1 tbs. olive oil
  • Sea salt to taste
  • Topped with Avocado (added lemon, salt & pepper directly to it)
  • (1) Kiwi fruit
  • Ended with a piece of Dark Chocolate (over 80%)

Synopsis of Meal:  The chili pepper has a kick, but it wasn’t too strong for me.  A good combination of crunch & creamy.  To break it up, you could add diced zucchini, carrots, and/or celery.  The pate-like filling can be reused for many other quick meals or added to various vegetables (similar to what you would do with hummus).  The filling is basically my No Starch Diet (NSD) equivalent to hummus.

Evening inflammation check:  Throughout the day I had my back right thigh acting up more than usual and I’m also more tired than usual.  However, this might be due to fixing things around the house & all the driving I did over the weekend.  Since inflammation is most prevalent after the Denny Roll, I’m going to report on that from now on.  As usual, inflammation below the right-buttock area & shooting pains in the right hip.  Continued stiffness in back, but mostly tired.  It’s around 10pm and I’m headed off to bed.  I’m hoping for 8 hours this time.

Gas / Bloating Check:  Over the last 2 days I’ve reduced my psyllium intake to 3/4 teaspoon 2X / day.  I’ve noticed an increase in gas / bloating this afternoon & evening.  I’ll go back to my normal dosage tomorrow.

Day 12 Food Reboot

Unique Events for the Day:  Got my “Big Shot” from Good Belly in the evening time at the Whole Foods in Naples.  Whole Foods seems to be the only place to carry “The Big Shot” from Good Belly.  I’ve checked 8 stores now and no one else has it.

Also doing research for natural / organic stores in Sarasota & Venice, FL.  Starting next weekend I’ll be staying up there for a few months.  I checked out Richard’s Food Emporium and two Earth Origins natural stores in the Sarasota area.  The biggest one of the bunch was the Earth Origins on Stickney Point Road (41) next to Carrabas (bought the fennel there).  Richard’s Food Emporium carries longer-perishable items but I didn’t see any produce.  Future areas to check out in Venice, FL:  Choices Natural Market, and (restaurant) sunflower organic cafe | MAP

Lastly, I did not take my pre-dinner fiber supplement & substituted fennel for it.  Seems to have worked well.  A good alternative should I forget to take the fiber supplement.

Waking Up:  Went to bed at 11:30 & got up at 6:30am with the moderate right leg / buttock area of inflammation with moderate shooting pains.  Back stiffness was quite prevalent (more mid-back than lower) as I was sleeping in my parent’s house (I have a sleep number queen bed that I use there & a king bed at my house).

Chiropractor: Head weights 2X per day (10 min. morning & evening) + Denny roll 2X in morning & evening (20 min.)

Morning Physical Symptom Check:  My normal stiff lower & less mid-back (moderate stiffness).

Smoothie Recipe (Banana, Mango, Papaya & Strawberry Smoothie Recipe)
I used what my parents had left in the house.
•2 smaller bananas
•2 handfuls of strawberries
•1/2 Cup blueberries
•3 Handfuls Spinach
•3 to 4 ounces of filtered water
Synopsis of Smoothie:  Instead of the Omni blender, I used my parents NuWave blender (similar to a Ninja blender).  The smoothie was less frothy, but you could taste the bits of spinach.  I remember that my Ninja would have a difficult time fully grinding harder leaves like Kale.  The taste was good & my mother even enjoyed it (she does not eat vegan / raw food diet.  Her diet is based on Weight Watchers).  Makes less than 2 glassfuls.
Lunch Menu:  Salad, Soup & Coconut Water (Earth Origins Market)
Artichoke with Tofu + Peppers & Tomato – 1/2 Hour Later (Earth Origins Market)

  • Salad – beets, spinach, romaine, carrots & artichoke hearts w/ Vinaigrette
  • Soup – Turkey, carrots, squash, tomatoes
  • Coconut Water
  • Tofu & Artichoke
  • Peppers, tomatoes, tomato sauce, capers and olives
  • Piece of 85% Chocolate Bar
Synopsis of Lunch:  I ate at two Earth Origins Markets.  The salad was standard, the soup was ok (definitely not like mom’s chicken soup) & the coconut water is never the same as the real thing.  The 2nd “meal” for lunch were both tasted good and were good combinations of each other.  I also bought some fennel (refer to yesterday for explanation) to help indigestion / bad breath and it works quite well.  I’ll try it some more & let you know if it’s consistently good.
Dinner Menu: Shrimp Salad
  • shrimp (small cup)
  • sweet peppers
  • cherry tomatoes
  • spinach
  • romaine lettuce
  • cauliflower
  • balsamic vinaigrette
Synopsis of Meal:  Take the salad from yesterday & substitute shrimp (my parents made this).

Evening inflammation check:  Since inflammation is most prevalent after the Denny Roll, I’m going to report on that from now on.  Inflammation below the right-buttock area & shooting pains in the right hip.  Stiffness in the lower to mid back continues due to the driving and moving materials today & yesterday.