Tag Archives: good belly

Day 12 Food Reboot

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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.

Day 9 Food Reboot

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Unique Events for the Day:  Found out my pineapple went bad & got mold all around the back side.  I’ll have to remember to buy pineapple as I need it & not to store it in the corner of my kitchen.  I’m also finding that nuts digest for me whenever I chew thoroughly, have a handful (maybe 2 at the most), or have with other food.

Waking Up:  Went to bed at 11:30pm & got up at 6:05am with the right leg / buttock area of inflammation with shooting pains – however it’s getting better.  At this point I’ll assume the Metamucil will be fully digested & released today.

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

Morning Physical Symptom Check:  My normal stiff lower & less mid-back (less than moderate stiffness), turning my head all the way to the right I feel a tiny bit sore.  Shooting pains tend to happen whenever I get out of bed for an extended period of time or complete the Denny roll.  However, this pain goes away after about a minute of walking.

Smoothie Recipe (Banana Smoothie Recipe)

I’m still waiting on my papaya to ripen.  I think it’s 4 days & ends up being around 6 or 7.  Time to substitute…

•1 banana, peeled
•2 mangos, peeled and pitted
•2 Cups Dinosaur Kale, 1 Cup spinach
• Strawberries (handful)
• Almond Butter (1 Tbsp)
•3 to 4 ounces of filtered water
• Bee Pollen (1 Tbsp)

Synopsis of Smoothie:  I tend to find the berry & banana/mango/papaya mix quite well.  Next time I’ll try 1 mango as it’s a bit too sweet.  Made 2-2 1/2 glassfuls.

Good Belly Update:  The Good Belly that contains 20 Billion Probiotics per serving definitely tastes better (I am using the Pomegranate) than the Big Shot.  For me, I still want to get back right on the Big Shot as soon as I can.

Lunch Menu:  Fish with Mexican Salad (Tijuana Flats)
  • Rainbow Swiss Chard (1 Leaf) – I added
  • Romaine Lettuce
  • Pico De Gallo
  • Avocado / Guacamole
  • Pieces of Grouper
  • Black Olive
  • Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette (On the Side)
  • Red Onion
  • Walnuts (Handful) + Some Macadamia Nuts & Almonds
NOTE:  Heavily modified meal that took them 10 extra minutes to wrap their head around & prepare.  When you go to Tijuana Flats, ask them for a Fish Salad and tell them the ingredients I listed above.
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Dinner Menu: Tomato Soup (Cold) + Kale / Avocado Salad

Kale Salad

  • 2 cups kale
  • 1/2 avocado
  • 1/2 lime
  • 1 red bell pepper, sliced
  • 1 medium carrot, shredded
  • 2 Capri, sliced or other tomato
Directions:  Shred Kale & mix with avocado.  Then mix in the lime juice.  Add the pepper, carrot, and any other vegetable you want.

Spicy Red Pepper Soup (Blend all ingredients below for 30+ seconds)

  • 2 large red peppers
  • 4 Campari tomatoes
  • 1/2 clove garlic, minced
  • 1/2 large cucumber, peeled
  • 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1/2 mango, peeled and deseeded
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons chili powder (or cayenne to make it hot)
Synopsis of Meal:  The salad was pretty good, but I will add some fruit here, pepper and some dressing.  As for the soup, I have a real issue with cold soup – it’s not my thing.  This meal solidified my thought.  I have 1/2 of the soup left and I’ll reheat it to see how it tastes.

Evening inflammation check:  Right thigh & right buttocks area with shooting pains when I twist. Pain is less than yesterday (3-4 out of 10) with the continuation of shooting pain. Stiffness in lower back – not bad, but noticeable.
Digestion:  Gas and bloating are under control.  When it comes & goes, I can manage it better. 

 

Day 8 Food Reboot

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Until recently, I had no idea broccoli looked liked this in it’s natural form.  For those who don’t know, this is broccoli picked the same day from the farm.  I picked this one up today at Food & Thought in Naples.

Waking Up:  Went to bed at 11:30pm & got up at 6:20am with the right leg / buttock area of inflammation with shooting pains – it seems to have gotten worse.  Although the Metamucil has helped with the gas/bloating, I found out that it contains nasty ingredients like natural & artificial flavors, yellow 6 & aspartame (yikes!).  Switched to another fiber supplement today – Organic India’s Fiber Harmony Orange Flavor.  It contains psyllium, aloe vera, inulin, and organic orange flavor.  There are no sugars, artificial sweeteners (I think those flare me up but can’t prove it yet), colors or flavors.

Chiropractor: 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 (less than moderate stiffness), turning my head all the way to the left I feel a tiny bit sore.  I did get shooting pains from my right hip as I got out of bed.  But it subsided as I walked about a minuted. I took my Enbrel shot this morning (normally take 2X per week) & can feel congestion in my nose after I took it (quite mild, but noticeable).

Smoothie Recipe (Banana Smoothie Recipe)

•1 banana, peeled
•1 cup papaya, cubed (substituted Apple)
•1 mango, peeled and pitted
•1 tablespoon cacao powder
•3 cups Swiss chard, chopped (subbed 2 Cups Kale, 1 Cup spinach)
•1-2 small vine tomatoes
• Strawberries (handful)
•1 small to medium-sized carrot
•3 to 4 ounces of filtered water
• Bee Pollen (1 Tablespoon)

Synopsis of Smoothie:  While it tasted good, it makes 3 glassfuls!  Try removing the mango, apple, & strawberries.  Keep the veggies as-is.

Good Belly Crisis:  I’m currently out of the Good Belly Big Shot because the local distributor is out.  I went to 4 natural food stores and none of them had it.  I ended up finding the fruit-based Good Belly that contains 20 Billion Probiotics per serving.  I’ll use that as a backup as I’m now on the hunt for the Big Shot.

Lunch Menu:  Collard Green Lettuce Wraps & Fruit
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  • Tomato Sauce Leftovers of Cheezy Cannellonis (Refer Back to Day 5)
  • Collard Green Wraps (4) – Makes a “Sandwich” Effect
  • Garlic, Rosemary, Lime & Pepper
  • Sweet Pepper (2)
  • Sunflower Sprouts
  • Carrot (1)
  • Pineapple Slice
  • Black Sapote (dark brown fruit)
  • Dried Fruit (Few Pieces)
  • Walnuts (Handful)
  • Almonds (Handful)

Dinner Menu: Berries & Spinach Salad (Fresh Market)

  • Spinach (90% of the meal)
  • Blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries
  • Feta cheese (takes up 1% of the total meal + adds a savory flavor)
  • Walnuts
  • No dressing was added, but balsamic or lime w/ salt/pepper might be good

Gas & Bloating Issue 3rd Day Test:  I’ve had a few bloating issues today & the evening.

Evening inflammation check:  Right thigh & right buttocks area with shooting pains when I twist. Yesterday was around a 4 or 5 out of 10 pain scale.  It’s now up to 6-7 (especially when I’m on the Denny roll and get out of bed). Mild stiffness in lower back.
Digestion:  Some bloating & gas, but manageable.
Neck Issue Check (Evening):  Done.  Yes!