Whole30 - 31 Days in

Well yesterday was the 30th day of doing this 'Whole30' way of eating.  Do I feel any different?  NO Have my energy levels increased? NO    Have my pain levels decreased? NO  Have I lost weight? Marginally, although this wasn't a goal, just a nice bonus.

Well either most people who embark on this must be on REALLY BAD diets to begin with or I am just immune to the effects.  I have read of people having such amazing results, it has really been disappointing not to really experience any.

There wasn't a huge change in the way I eat, just the complete elimination of some foods that I had already dramatically decreased in my diet years ago.

My energy levels are still at an all time low with lack of enthusiasm to boot.  Not so bad if it is a sunny day, but as most of winter is grey, that is somehow reflected in how I feel, no matter what I try to improve it.

I guess if I REALLY think about it, I have had less severe headaches and also of far less frequently during the course of the last month. That is a GOOD thing.  As for the rest of my pain, I haven't noticed a difference...perhaps a very small one, but I could be just imagining that as it isn't significant enough to think wow, look at the difference in my body pain chart that I coloured in 'before' and 'after'.

In fact today after vacuuming just one room, my levels are as high as they ever have been, the burning sensation all down my right side and to be honest I am feeling very despondent with it. I am just so fed up with hurting all the time.  This is my only place to really have a good 'moan' about the pain so this is where it has to be.

I was so hopeful.  Seems it doesn't really matter what I try to do, I am destined to have pain and I guess with that comes the lack of energy and enthusiasm for doing things.

This week is the re-introduction of some of the key foods eliminated.  I will go through with this as that is the whole point of the programme.

Legumes are first - I only really eat peas out of this food group so I don't think they probably have much effect, but I will go through each stage to just be sure.

Day 4 - Non gluten grains are re-introduced

Day 7 - Gluten or Dairy

Day 10 - Dairy or Gluten.

The days in between you return to the Whole30

It will be interesting to see if any of the above bring on the headaches as I have seen a general reduction in those so that is one good thing.

It has been suggested with chronic inflammatory pain conditions that all soy and nightshades also need to be eliminated.  I haven't had any soy during the last 30 days, but perhaps at some stage I will also try eliminating the nightshades as well for several months.  It will have to be after my trip to NZ now.

Just so this post isn't completely picture free I thought I would post some photos of my whimsical Wentworth Wooden puzzles.

Kitchen Cupboard

Books shelf

Five on Friday - on Saturday!

Yes a day late to join in  with Amy's  'Five on Friday' 

I have had a pretty rough week health wise coming down with the dreaded lurgy.  Generally I never get ill, and yet this is the second time in four months!  Not good.  Anyway I think I am on the mend now so hopefully can get back to my 'plan' of things to get done before my trip home to New Zealand to visit my parents and family.

1:  Knitting

My week has been spent either in bed, or sitting in the lounge with a blanket round me while knitting and watching Netflix!  What have I been knitting?  Dolls clothes!

2:  The Garden

The little Blue Tits were very active the other morning and I caught this one while sitting in the lounge - not the best of pictures as taken through our very dirty patio window.  

The NZ Magnolia has buds on it.

3: Books

I finished another book.  I really enjoyed this.  Written in a time where children could really be children, all the bells and whistles and hoops and 'health and safety' rigmarole was not yet in force this couple offered holidays on their farmlet for young children.  They say it how it is and as such it is quite a laugh.  I understand a TV programme was produced lightly based on it.  I have never seen the TV programme and don't think I would want to as I would imagine the BBC or whoever would produce it would 'PC' it.   I picked this one up in a charity shop.  Toying with whether to get any more in the series or just lave it with having read this one.

I'm currently reading this book:

I had to venture out today to get some groceries.  Our supermarket has a second hand book rack and they ask that you donate £1 per book you choose for a local charity.  Sometimes I am able to pick up a book or two that looks interesting. I haven't seen any for a while, but I did pick up two today.

4: Snacks!

While on the Whole30 way of eating my husband has been bemoaning the fact that he has been missing crisps (potato chips) and so I made him some - the healthy way.  

Very simply done in the microwave they turned out surprisingly good.

I also made some sweet potato crisps as well.  Needless to say they soon disappeared.

5: Dinner

Finally I decided to cook something a little different tonight:

Cod with citrus-ginger glaze

Grilled Asparagus with lemon zest

Baked sweet potato

Glazed carrots & parsnips

Broccoli - to add some green!

Okay so I am not so good on the 'display' part of the meal, but it tasted pretty good.

Cakes, Decorations, Health

Gosh only another couple of days before Christmas!  I know this is a worn comment, but it really does seem to approach far too quickly.

My husband and I did our food shopping at 7.30 am this morning to avoid the crowds and rush, and I have to say it was great, hardly anyone in the store.  

Each Christmas I cook the Christmas dinner for us, usually the boys, my Mother in Law and her partner and then my Aunt and Uncle come round in the late afternoon/early evening for a light tea.  This year our older son and his fiancee can't join us as they are on their ship.  This year is the first year we will have woken up Christmas morning without one of the boys here.  Will seem rather strange.  Our younger son is coming for dinner this year which will be nice. 

A few 

A couple of Christmas cushions.

This lovely friend was made by an Australian blog friend of mine a few years ago now when I used to actively craft and take part in swaps.  It comes out every year and is very special.

Looking at the two trees one morning.

The teddies have their little Nativity Scene.

The Christmas sleigh came round the other evening so I took a couple of photos of it.

I love watching it go past as it plays Christmas songs and collect for Charity.

It was our Wedding Anniversary yesterday.  We had a lovely quiet day and enjoyed a lunch out at one of the local Cafes.  We then had a wander round the Vintage Shop nearby.  Popped over to a garden centre as we had some vouchers to spend and we bought our yearly Christmas decoration for the tree.  Each year we buy a decoration for the tree.  (I forgot to take a photo, so will have to show that tomorrow)

After Christmas I am going to try something else to try and combat the continual 24 hours a day pain I have.  I figure it is worth at try after having read lots of reviews and viewing several you tube videos from various people who have tried this approach with some amazing success.  I figure what have I got to lose (apart from the cost of the books) and hopefully will have something to gain.  I have to do something as the pain although not intense is constant - some days more intense than others of course. but it has spread and really is quite wearing!

Will obviously report back in due course.

Today I baked four cakes, two Lemon Drizzle cakes and two Fruit Cakes.  

These two cakes I took up to my lovely elderly friends for Christmas.  Elizabeth likes the Lemon Cake and Ray likes the Fruit Cake.

Tomorrow is tidying day!  

Pain

I have been walking everyday for over six weeks now, sometimes twice a day, especially now we have the puppy as well. You would think the walking would be getting easier!

Instead, I am getting sorer and sorer it seems...  I am a little bit worried about how much the pain is intensifying over the whole of my back area.  My left leg feels 'funny' when I walk too far as well, it started the other day when we overdid it a bit over at Ashridge Estate, but it hasn't eased up at all and starts to feel 'heavy' after a while during the walk.    But it is the back pain that is bothering me the most.

I wake up in the morning with what feels like sore muscles all across my neck and shoulders which eases up slightly but then gets worse again during the day.  My lower back aches by the time I get back from my walk, and bending down to take the dogs leads off is uncomfortable, and by the end of the day the whole back is in 'screaming' mode.

Even the spa doesn't seem to be helping much.  I have started back on the Magnesium yesterday and am hoping that it might help.

Hence why not a lot of blogging has been happening.

Pain.

I have been walking everyday for over six weeks now, sometimes twice a day, especially now we have the puppy as well. You would think the walking would be getting easier!

Instead, I am getting sorer and sorer it seems...  I am a little bit worried about how much the pain is intensifying over the whole of my back area.  My left leg feels 'funny' when I walk too far as well, it started the other day when we overdid it a bit over at Ashridge Estate, but it hasn't eased up at all and starts to feel 'heavy' after a while during the walk.    But it is the back pain that is bothering me the most.

I wake up in the morning with what feels like sore muscles all across my neck and shoulders which eases up slightly but then gets worse again during the day.  My lower back aches by the time I get back from my walk, and bending down to take the dogs leads off is uncomfortable, and by the end of the day the whole back is in 'screaming' mode.

Even the spa doesn't seem to be helping much.  I have started back on the Magnesium yesterday and am hoping that it might help.

Hence why not a lot of blogging has been happening.

Five on Friday

Well I guess I was a little optimistic yesterday having had such a good day...the pressure dropped dramatically late last night and the head pain hit with a vengeance! Which was of course followed by more pain - or perhaps I caused the flare up by doing more yesterday as I felt so good...sigh...as a result I haven't felt up to doing much today as I woke not only with the headache but more pain than usual,  AND nausea....I thought that particular issue had stopped - seems not.  

I did manage to take five photos though..so here is 'Five on Friday'  

I just love the colours of these flowers - it is good to remind myself of the beauty that surrounds me.

A change of appliance!

Feeling completely tired and lethargic most of the time on top of the usual pain issues I have been telling myself I need to start juicing again...and I make the odd attempt but then the thought of having to wash up all the bits involved in juicing and then blending to make a smoothie just becomes overwhelming.   Having heard a lot about the Nutribullet and not sure whether to believe the hype or not, I have been unsure whether to get one.  However, wanting to sleep all the time isn't doing me any favours either, and after coming home from choir yet again yesterday morning in lots of pain I decided to take a step of faith and give it a go.  Who knew ordering from John Lewis could be so quick and easy! Ordered yesterday afternoon, collected from a local Waitrose this afternoon!

So replacing these:

My juicer - which has seven parts to clean.....

and this....which has five parts to clean  - I now just have this 

on the side - which has two parts to clean - and they just rinse under water!

Added benefit - much more space on my work surface as well.

With this in mind I plan to make a drink every morning - possibly twice a day and hope I will start to feel brighter again.

Possibly the blender could have done what this does, although I had attempted I was not entirely sure it was successful.

The box...

It does come with other size cups and things, although I probably won't use these unless I am making drinks for other people as well.

It also came with three books with lots of information - and of course some advertising hype/testimonials.

I am looking forward to getting back into 'juicing' albeit in a different way again.

I have also been back to see Simon - I used to see him once a year while he was in the UK before he returned to Australia - and he managed to help some of the pain issues then.  He is now back here permanently - or at least for the foreseeable future so I am looking forward to a series of treatments from him in the hope that he will be able to help my pain issues.

I figure it is worth a shot.

He currently has me on two weeks of iodine treatment - he believes a lack of iodine may be part of the problems I am having with the extreme tiredness and nausea in the mornings.

So I will report back to see how it goes.

Word for the Year - Joy.

Pain - a particularly frustrating flare making it harder to bear than usual has been getting me a bit down recently so haven't felt much like blogging or anything else for that matter....plus worrying about my parents and then my Mother in Law being seriously ill has added to the whole feeling of apathy about things.

So I just thought I would revisit a post I started writing about a few weeks ago but didn't get round to finishing.

So my theme for this year is going to be Joy - finding Joy.  Asking myself the question....Does it give me joy?  when pertaining to trying to make some semblance of order and various other themes on this word.

During my clearing and sorting in preparation for hopefully a move in the future (although this is one of the things I am feeling like is going to be increasingly unlikely with the recent ill health of my MIL - how can I expect my husband to leave her?) Anyway back on topic... I am looking at each item and thinking ''Does this bring me Joy? If it doesn't out it goes!  It is so easy to accumulate 'stuff' and if we look at it too hard we either forget it is there, or talk ourselves into keeping it, only for it to be forgotten about, so I want to go on my immediate feeling.  Part of this thought process came about by reading the book mentioned in my blog post here that I wrote back in February.

I am going to complete re-evaluate what I do and why as well - also along the theme of 'Does this bring me joy?   

One of the things I need to give serious thought to is my cello playing and how I REALLY feel about it.  I started in the hope that it would be something I could do without too much pain, but this isn't really happening plus I am not making the progress I know that I am really capable of if I were to put my mind to it - and IF it was a pain free process which it isn't.  Having not played for the last couple of months due to being away, I find that I haven't actually missed it at all, and I almost feel a reluctance to start practising again....I shouldn't feel like this...and it makes me feel a bit guilty that I do, as music is something I love and so is the cello....or is it?  Is it possible to love something but to no longer get joy from that very thing.  So what I am going to try to do is put in some serious effort for the next month - two weeks before I have a lesson and for the two weeks after, and reassess then how I feel, asking myself that question.  Perhaps it is time to move on and concentrate on other things.  I haven't touched the cello (or the clarinet for that matter) since before I went to New Zealand in February.  This must surely tell me something?!

Singing is another thing I feel I am needing to re-evaluate, particularly choir on Sundays as I just am in so much pain by the end of the service I wonder why  I am doing it as it is taking away my enjoyment in the music.

As for my clarinet, I still feel like crying when I think of it...

One thing that IS giving me joy is the discovery of art, and this is something I would like to pursue and put more effort into.  At least I have something tangible to see after the event, unlike with music, once played it is gone, albeit still in your memory. 

My colour for the year - or at least for the Spring and Summer is going to be orange!  Yes I have re-discovered this fun colour while in New Zealand when I bought a lovely fun top and have since added a skirt and a cardigan in this colour scheme.  

Meeting up with a friend in Kerikeri

Yellow is another colour I love.  I was delighted to be able to hire the same yellow car I hired in 2010 when in New Zealand - you just can't help but smile when you saw it.  Yellow is such a cheerful sunshiny colour.  

My husband has embraced my love of this colour as well buying me yellow roses the first couple of weeks I was home from New Zealand.  Love them!

As a reflection of my embracing these sunshine colours...I will be updating my summer wardrobe - that is if we get a summer...I am still wearing jeans, long sleeve shirts and jumpers (sweater) and a coat when going out!

I bought three tops and a skirt while in New Zealand - all from op shops - in fact the skirt was free!

This fun orange top was shown above with me wearing it.  I am hoping that we will get weather warm enough here for me to wear this.

A loose fitting but comfortable top for keeping cool - with butterflies on!

My free skirt.

Pretty blue top - another colour I love.

I've also seen a several items in the charity shops down the road that I have bought.

Stripy orange cardigan

Orange linen shirt

Yellow top

Lovely soft blue cotton cardigan.

Blue top.

Of course this means that I really do have to continue sorting out the clothes I have and deciding which ones 'bring me joy' and thus are ones I keep and which ones are to go.

In the kitchen:  I am a fan of pyrex - I use bowls to mix things in when baking, preparing salads and for cooking casseroles.  I am gradually building up a collection of pyrex dishes that I use regularly and enjoy using.

I recently saw this serving dish which I thought would be ideal for serving various meals, whether hot or cold 

A good price as well at 99p!

I have been eating healthily since I have been home and exercising regularly, walking every day and also going on the eliptical trainer, although have missed the last week as just been in too much pain.  According to my husband's special Body Composition Moniter scanner I have a body of a 22 year old!  Why the heck doesn't it feel like one then?  I am fit and healthy, I just hurt!  ALL THE TIME!  Doesn't seem fair when I am doing everything else right.

I have started trying to juice more regularly as well and these are a couple I have enjoyed this week.

Lovely to see tadpoles in our pond...although not so pleased to see the mosquito grubs!

So trying to find Joy....