To say a lot has happened since I last wrote a blog post would be an understatement! For time's sake, I'll summarize what I've been up to with my LEAP program the past few weeks first, and then I'll save my "personal drama" for last, which means you don't have to spend your precious personal time reading about my fiasco unless if you want to!
In my previous post, I summarized my improved MRT food sensitivity test results and how this has significantly improved my IBS. I also mentioned I would be using my recent test results to personally go through the LEAP (Lifestyle, Eating, and Performance) process again to help me design the programs I create for my clients to enhance their results (experience is the best teacher). The past few weeks, I have enjoyed creating different concoctions with the 25 different foods I selected for my ImmunoCalm Phase (days #1-14).
Each person's ImmunoCalm food list is unique based on his/her personal symptoms, MRT food sensitivity test results, and individual food preferences.
The purpose of the initial ImmunoCalm phase of LEAP is to give the immune system a break from being regularly exposed to its food and food chemical sensitivities so it can calm down, leading to a significant reduction in adverse symptoms (such as IBS) in just 2 weeks! I intentionally came up with a limited food list for the initial ImmunoCalm Phase because I wanted to challenge myself to see how many different food combinations I could come up with, despite my limited number of ingredients. Typically, the more symptoms a person has, the more limited food choices the first two weeks (typically 20-30 different foods) for the quickest and greatest reduction in symptoms.
A small sample of what I've been eating the past 2 weeks...
I've enjoyed creating different easy food combinations so I could share with YOU to try yourself! They're so simple, they can be made even if you're on crutches 😉 (minor assistance required for the 2nd recipe). Here are a few of my top picks:
Refreshing Green Slushy
Ingredients:
2. Blend grapes and chilled water until well mixed and enjoy! This is very refreshing and perfect for a treat during the hot days ahead.
- 1 cup chilled water
- 1 cup frozen green grapes
- 2 ice cubes (optional)
2. Blend grapes and chilled water until well mixed and enjoy! This is very refreshing and perfect for a treat during the hot days ahead.
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Simple Potato Salad
Ingredients:
2. After potatoes have cooled, dice into bite-sized pieces.
3. Add potatoes, cucumbers, yellow squash into large serving bowl and add vinegar, oil, turmeric, mustard powder, and sea salt and stir with serving spoon.
This potato salad can be served warm or chilled! Note: if eaten chilled, the potatoes will be a source of resistant starch, which can influence gut motility for some people.
- Cooked potatoes
- Diced cucumbers and yellow squash
- Distilled white vinegar
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Turmeric, yellow mustard powder, and sea salt to taste (optional: paprika and garlic powder)
- Hard boiled eggs, optional (I did not use in this recipe)
2. After potatoes have cooled, dice into bite-sized pieces.
3. Add potatoes, cucumbers, yellow squash into large serving bowl and add vinegar, oil, turmeric, mustard powder, and sea salt and stir with serving spoon.
This potato salad can be served warm or chilled! Note: if eaten chilled, the potatoes will be a source of resistant starch, which can influence gut motility for some people.
Tart And Savory Quick Pick-Me-Up
Beverage ingredients:
2. Drain chickpeas from can and microwave until warm. Drain olives from can or jar and serve on top of chickpeas. I prefer the 365 brand of canned olives from Whole Foods because they are free of preservatives.
This is a perfect combination of tart and salty, while supplying fiber and healthy fat for a satisfying snack!
- 4 fluid ounces pure water
- 4 fluid ounces 100% orange juice
- 1 Tablespoon 100% lemon juice
- 1/3 cup whole pitted black olives
- 1/2 cup canned chickpeas, drained
2. Drain chickpeas from can and microwave until warm. Drain olives from can or jar and serve on top of chickpeas. I prefer the 365 brand of canned olives from Whole Foods because they are free of preservatives.
This is a perfect combination of tart and salty, while supplying fiber and healthy fat for a satisfying snack!
Buckwheat Egg Breakfast
I've posted about the nutritional benefits of buckwheat in the past. Here is another simple way to prepare it...
Hot cereal ingredients:
Scrambled egg ingredients:
2. Add eggs and water and scramble over medium heat. When eggs are halfway finished cooking, add desired spices and leftover veggies from last night's dinner. For seasoning, I used turmeric. Black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, mustard powder, and cumin are other ideas for spices.
I find that when I get in some protein and fat at my meals, my appetite is better sustained.
This is one of my new favorite breakfast concoctions!
Hot cereal ingredients:
- 1/4 cup uncooked buckwheat
- 2/3 cup sliced green grapes
- Dash sea salt
- 1 cup water
- Cinnamon and pure vanilla extract (optional)
Scrambled egg ingredients:
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 3/4 cup egg whites (can use whole eggs, if desired)
- 2 Tbsp water (this makes the eggs fluffy)
- 3/4 cup pre-cooked veggies of choices (I used yellow squash, zucchini, and green beans)
- Seasonings of choice (I used turmeric)
2. Add eggs and water and scramble over medium heat. When eggs are halfway finished cooking, add desired spices and leftover veggies from last night's dinner. For seasoning, I used turmeric. Black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, mustard powder, and cumin are other ideas for spices.
I find that when I get in some protein and fat at my meals, my appetite is better sustained.
This is one of my new favorite breakfast concoctions!
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Ok, so now about my personal life... Sorry to jump ship so quickly, but here's your notice so you can stop reading if you're primarily looking for nutrition insight. Life certainly brings unexpected surprises at times. Two weeks ago, I managed to tear two ligaments in my right ankle. No, I wasn't on an epic trail expedition, unfortunately. It happened after my foot had fallen asleep while crossing my leg during a phone consultation with a client. I was completely immersed in the conversation and I stood up (while talking on the phone) to get something out of the kitchen. Well, my numb foot rolled on the 1" divider that separates our dining room from the kitchen, which resulted in intense pain! After having X-rays done at the ER, I found out that I didn't break any bones (fortunately!), but I will be on crutches again for at least a month, which means more of this:
 RICE = Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevate |  If it wasn't for the arm bike, I'd be pulling my hair out!! |
I was on crutches for 12 weeks from November 2015 through February 2016 for a tibial stress fracture, which I was diagnosed with 5 days before Richmond Half Marathon, the race I had been prepping for most of 2015. After getting off crutches, I spent 2+ months doing PT and building functional strength in my lower legs so I would have an injury-free return to running. Well, the freak accident occurred literally the day before I planned on returning to running! Needless to say, I was an emotional roller coaster for about a week after the accident. "Why would God allow this to happen?" "Will I have enough time to get in shape for Richmond Half Marathon this fall - the race that has eluded me for the past 4 consecutive years?" My ankle has turned just about every color of the rainbow the past 2 weeks (I'll spare you from having to see photos), so the exact amount of time until I'll be back on my feet again is uncertain.
I don't know about you, but difficult times in life cause me to take a "time out" and reassess deep questions like my purpose in life and how I can learn from my experiences. Although the past 6 years have been filled with many physical setbacks, I can emphatically say that my spiritual, psychological, and digestive health have never been better! And let's face it, physical fitness is just one aspect of total health. So instead of dwelling on what I cannot (temporarily) do, I am focusing on what I am able to accomplish through God's strength each day. And that, my friend, is quite empowering! 💪
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