And we're back on (off?) the wagon

Before I became pregnant I'd reached a place where I felt I was closer than I'd ever been to mastering the art of moderation (much harder than french cooking, by the way) and I was really happy with my nutritional habits. After discovering I was pregnant the healthy eating didn't stop but I had to lose my diet mentality in favor of eating to maintain- and then to gain. I am very proud of the way I handled my pregnancy- working out with Sheilla and doing cardio consistently all the way through week 38, juicing most days and eating tons of lean protein and green vegetables, not to mention getting more than enough calcium and folic acid. But I also got used to eating bread and drinking milk while pregnant, as well as eating cake and slurping ice cream, four things which were verboten in my non pregnant life.

In July of 2007 I was diagnosed with Celiac disease, an immune deficiency that causes my body to negatively respond to the presence of gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. I could post for days about the symptoms that lead to my diagnosis, my disastrous nine weeks spent gluten free, and my perspective on the legitimacy of my diagnosis but I'll save that for another day. Your welcome. The bottom line is that the celiac diagnosis made me rethink my eating habits, as did a round of food allergy testing that indicated that I am also allergic to wheat and dairy, and to a lesser extent, shrimp and string beans. While going gluten free actually made me much sicker (NOTE: please don't email me about celiac disease, your story or why I'm wrong. I've read the books, I've seen the docs, I've lived the lifestyle, complete with sanitizing my kitchen and avoiding all processed foods, spices and marinades. Save the speech for someone who cares because I? Don't) I did have to admit, finally, that whether my celiac diagnosis is correct or is as severe as it is in other celiacs, the fact that I have been diagnosed as having both celiac disease AND wheat allergies is enough. I quit wheat. I still have pizza once a week or so, and I do continue to eat Ezekial breads (these do contain wheat but they are live grains which are not processed the same way by the body). I'm not strict about my wheat free living -I use flour for dusting and thickening, I use bread crumbs and soy sauce and I don't prepare my meals separately- but I have committed to making a change and I know it's an important one. I also know that I'm one of the lucky ones- my food allergies are mild and my system can tolerate a certain amount of gluten or wheat and still be symptom free. But the healthy thing to do is to avoid it, and I'm trying, really I am. Interestingly, I had no symptoms whatsoever while pregnant, not once, and I consumed the entire available whole grain and dairy containing world. Pregnancy does have it's up side.

Anyway, my renewed commitment to a wheat free lifestyle comes at a time when I'm also (as you well know) trying to reach some very lofty health goals. In an attempt to jump start my metabolism and weight loss, Sheilla The Trainer has started me on a seven day meal plan that looks like this:

Breakfast:
1/4 cup rolled oats with 1/2 cup rice milk
3 egg whites

Snack:
Protein Shake- I make mine with 3/4 cup fruit, 1/2 cup rice milk, 2 scoops protein powder, water and 2 tsp Benefiber (which is Gluten Free)

Lunch:
Fish or Chicken, spinach and a carb of my choice: I usually choose one serving of whole wheat pasta, brown rice, sweet potatoes or half a serving of quinoa (which I always avoided because of it's extremely high calorie content but which can be enjoyed in small servings).

Snack:
Rice cake with peanut butter (I add 1 tsp sugar free jam- don't tell)

Dinner:
Chicken or Fish with asparagus or green beans (I'm going to go with any green vegetable that strikes my fancy, thank you)

I'm also enjoying shallots, garlic, mushrooms and a shaving of fresh parm or fresh mozzarella here and there, or a bit of low sugar marinade or barbecue sauce. I need to enjoy my meals and I need meals to be interesting. I love food and I love to cook, and I won't settle for a meal plan that deprives me of things that make my life worthwhile. For example, I don't love egg whites, so to make them palatable I use salt, pepper, half a slice of low fat organic cheese and some ketchup or hot sauce. Maybe I'm not following the plan to the letter but it's close enough for me. Occasionally I make myself a spinach and mushroom omelet, as Sheilla does. Tomatoes and shallots and garlic also go a long way toward making almost any dish interesting. On Sunday we went to our favorite restaurant on the beach and I enjoyed an omelet with spinach, asparagus, crab meat, fresh mozzarella and sundried tomatoes. Wheat free really can be delicious- so can healthy.

On day 5 or 6 of the plan I get a "cheat" day where I follow the meal plan but add some wine or dessert or pizza. I'll probably make a thin whole wheat pizza crust and add my green veggies and chicken to that- a BBQ chicken pizza with mushrooms and bell peppers and a spinach salad, or a white pizza with asparagus and sundried tomatoes. As for alcohol, I haven't been drinking. No, really. I know you saw the Halloween party photos but I only had a splash of wine. Really. I've decided that I miss my skinny jeans more than I'll ever miss Pinot Grigio. Besides, wine will return eventually.

So that's the scoop. On day 8, or week two, I'll get some fat added to the plan, and on week 3 I'll get some carbs, hopefully fruit as that's the only thing I miss-blueberries on my oatmeal. So far, so good. Of course, this plan is easier for me than it might be for others because I'm home during the day and can cook my own meals.

So here it is, my seven day kick start plan. Place your bets here: will I make it? Will I drop the pounds? Give up in frustration? Take a hostage? Wait and see.