Happy Friday Friends!!!

You all ROCK! I mean seriously. Here I am, freaking out about writing about my own food/eating issues and you all made me feel like a million-trillion bucks. I {heart} you guys!

Dealing with IBS is going to be tough! I’m not looking forward to it. But I know with the help of all my amazing blog friends aka readers… yes I’m nerdy and think of all of you as my friends …I can do this and hopefully get back to a normal life. One that includes running and eating pizza once in a while.

Well… a girl can dream right?!

Dinner

Last night Max took me on a date night. We had Mexican food…. yep, I’m so unpredictable.

Because my numero uno umm…goal… is to just get myself back to a form of normal, I’m sticking to things I’m pretty sure wont aggravate my digestive tract. So… blackened shrimp tostada topped with lots and lots of spicy salsa.

I may (or may not) have eaten this entire basket of corn chips while Max was in the bathroom washing his hands… I plead the 5th!

But FYI… don’t ever threaten to take away my chips and salsa… I will (probably) cut you!

After dinner I felt pretty good. Yay for being symptom free! We saw Dark Shadows, which was pretty funny. I usually like the Jonny Depp & Tim Burton films but only to watch once or twice. They are so creative and intense.

Once we got home from the movie I had an unquenchable salty craving (females and their dumb hormones!!! gah!) so I ate the second half of my Dad’s heaping bowl of evoo popcorn. I’ll have to do a recipe post on that. Holy Delicious.

Fitness

The one thing that I now live by when it comes to sweating… if my stomach feels loopy don’t do it!

I’ve been experiencing my womanly time which can make IBS symptoms a billion and 4 times more intense. So I’ve skipped the gym the last two days. It’s hard, but definitely worth it.

Breakfast

I ate dessert…

before 8am…

I feel slight foodie shame…

I found, strawberry white chocolate coffee at Target last night!!! :

Please… tell me how you say “no” to that?!!

My Dad and I really like the Hershey’s Bliss dark chocolate squares and I knew that a square with a swallow of coffee would be pure magic on my tongue. IT WAS!

Tell me about you!!! I want to know…

are you more of a salty craving or sweet craving kind of person>
depends on the day… but lately it’s been salty all the way

what was your favorite band in jr. high school?
…backstreet boys!!!!

what is the longest road trip you’ve ever been on?
13 hours of driving in 1 day. That was from Portland, Oregon to Salinas, CA. But we drove from my house to eastern Utah one summer in 3 days…

Okay, so I need to figure out how to document what I’m eating, how I feel and things here on the blog. It’s feeling kinda impossible.

I guess I just need to dive on in…

Breakfast

This morning around 8am I had a medium blueberry vanilla creme coffee from 7eleven. I added a little normal sugar.

I felt good. No symptoms or pain.

I tried to upload all my pictures from this weekend to facebook and I was NOT successful. iPad to Facebook uploading is best left to the real computers…

This morning I also had a Bliss dark chocolate square, a (yes only 1) garlic triscuit… it was crazy strong, even for a garlic lover like me, and a lemonade vitamin water zero.

Lunch

I kept it really uneventful with all “safe” foods.

I had iced tea with a sugar packet added. I also had baked lays because fried food can really aggravate IBS symptoms. Baked chips are just as good as the normal ones… maybe even better.

Sweet Liberty Sandwich from Erik’s Deli. Whole grain bread, sprouts, tomato, sweet mustard sauce, and turkey. I ate the dill pickle too.

My intestines felt a little sad after eating this… But nothing unbearable.

Snack

I had a protein shake!! 12 oz of unsweetened rice dream and 1 scoop vanilla Spiru-tein protein powder.

I lived a little dangerously and drank a can of caffeine free diet coke… I’m feeling good so far.

Things I know about IBS and myself so far…

1) artificial sweeteners should be avoided at all costs!!!
2) gum should be avoided no matter what
3) the combination of caffeine, carbonation, and fake sugar es no bueno!
4) fried foods not good
5) no dairy

Hey guys!

I’ve had a lot going on this last month or so… and I’ve been really reluctant to write about it here on the blog. But I think it’s effecting how much I’m able to share and it’s kind of leading me down a new path in terms of eating/food, blogging, fitness, and overall healthy living so it’s time to face the music and share.

The back story

I never had any sort of stomach issues growing up. In fact I was a really healthy kid up until I went to college. My first year at the University I developed a pretty serious virus that really effected my liver. I almost went into liver failure in the summer of 2006.

After that my immune system was very weak and I developed cold after sinus infection after flu after cold… it was endless. In this time I had moved home from school, finished all my GE at the local community college, played basketball (very well!! I could have kept playing) and started my new major courses at a new University close to my house in Santa Cruz.

I started classes in the Winter. I didn’t know at this time that I’m allergic to Acacia Trees, which my new campus was literally COVERED in!! Acacia tree allergies are pretty unique because wet weather really increases the allergens in the air. So when I started having symptoms (that were basically cold-like) I didn’t even think the two were related. I’d been so sick on and off I was tired of going to doctors so I figured I’d ride out my self-diagnosed cold and everything would be fine.

It was the wettest winter we’d had in quite a few years. I finally went to the doctor after being sick for about 2 months. I couldn’t hear at all out of my right ear, my sinuses were extremely inflamed, I couldn’t breathe without having a coughing fit and I felt like I had the flu. This started a 2 month stint of me going to my normal doctor and being told nothing was wrong with me. They did blood tests and chest x-rays but I didn’t have pneumonia or bronchitis. But I kept going back. They put me on a few low grade antibiotics and a round of steroids. But nothing helped. Finally they referred me to an ENT (ear nose throat doctor).

He determined that I had initially had a severe allergic reaction to the acacia trees that became a secondary ear & sinus infection. My sinuses were so inflamed that he thought I’d need sinus surgery to repair the damage shown in a sinus CT scan. He put me on one of the highest grade antibiotics for 14 days with a 4 day dose of steroids. I’d now been on medication almost non stop for 3 to 4 months.

The antibiotics worked and I was finally feeling better, although I didn’t lose my cough or regain my hearing for a few months.

What did it

Later that summer I was out running and an ankle injury I’d had in high school became inflamed. I had to have reconstructive ankle surgery to repair the damage I’d gotten playing basketball in high school. Right before I had surgery I had a bought of pretty severe intestine issues. My symptoms were present for 3 days. My mom and I thought I had E coli poisoning. We told my surgeon but he said it was nothing and put me on a round of post surgery antibiotics. This is very common since you are more prone to infection after.

24 hours after very invasive surgery I was living in the bathroom with extreme stomach cramps, diarrhea and intestine pain. I was told I had c diff which is when a bacteria that already lives in your intestines becomes overgrown and kills all the other intestinal bacteria. This happened because I had been on so many antibiotics before this.

After about 2 weeks of me frantically crutching to the bathroom while being high on double dose vicodin I was symptom free.

C Diff

Once a person has c diff symptoms they are always more prone to having it again, in fact it’s almost guaranteed that you will have it. I cannot go to a normal doctor anymore because I cant take antibiotics when I’m sick. Any antibiotic could bring back my symptoms. Since my stint with it in 2010 my digestive system has never been the same. My intestines literally shut off if I eat any dairy, we found this out after a food sensitivity blood test. And they still don’t function normally. I’m constantly dealing with intestine pain.

Now my intestines are very sensitive and after two years of dealing with pain and other yucky symptoms I’ve hit a wall. I can’t run any more because it inflames my already upset tummy. I can’t eat pizza any more because it’s covered in cheese.

IBS- irritable bowl syndrome

Now I’m classified as having IBS. In order for me to truly get my intestines in a happy place, where they function without pain, I have to embark down a new road in terms of food and fitness. I have to keep an extensive food/fitness journal starting NOW to try and figure out what really aggravates my digestive tract. Anything from a individual food, to a combination of foods, to the time I workout can effect my IBS.

It’s all pretty daunting.

I’ve gotten to the point where I’d rather not eat and feel hungry than put anything in my body. Which is uber not good! This is what is really lighting the fire under my bootay to figure out how to control my symptoms. My number 1 priority is to be healthy and not eating (whether it’s from fear or what ever is NOT GOOD!) I’m really cautious to try new things too. I never know what will set me off and what wont. I really like running but it’s not enjoyable anymore because it leaves my intestines miserable.

I think what is really hard to deal with is my frustration with doctors. Why couldn’t they listen to me when I told them I was sick? Why didn’t they give me more than 5 minutes and try to actually figure out what was wrong, rather than giving me steroids and antibiotics when they didn’t work the first time?

But I know you guys are great and will be with me through everything. I know IBS is really common amongst women so I’m sure some of you have some similar issues and probably some great advice.

Where the blog goes from here…

I guess this blog will become a food/fitness journal again. It’s a great way to get everything down so I can click back and see later.

I really hope as I start to get a handle on all this I can be more of the crazy-upbeat-does weird stuff blogger that I used to be and everyone seems to enjoy so much. But it’s kinda hard when something like this is running around in the background.

All in all you guys are awesome and I really hope y’all will stick with me through all the food journaling…

Food is fun… right?!?!

Hey guys! Is it actually Wednesday?!?! Seriously?!?!

Gosh I feel like this week is flying by.

Breakfast

So lately I’ve kinda been obsessed with my 7eleven coffee. I know. I know you’re thinking gross! But my 7eleven has pretty good coffee. It’s smooth, always hot, and it never tastes burnt which is my number one pet peeve about coffee.

It’s true, I skip my 7eleven coffee sometimes for good ole Starbucks… yesterday the baked goods snared me with all their cinnamon…

Morning bun!!

Anyways… what makes 7eleven coffee so desirable???

They have blueberry creme coffee!!!

I mix a medium cup with 2/3 blueberry creme and 1/3 french vanilla. Add a little sugar and OMG it’s better than plain old colombian roast, that’s for sure.

Fitness

I’m on a roll this week!

Monday: I hit the gym at 3:45pm for 55 minutes on the elliptical at 17 level resistance. Then I did the May Bikini Body Countdown Circuit x2.

Tuesday: I hit the gym at 3:30 for 52 minutes on the elliptical at 15 level resistance. I like to change it up. Then I did a Tae Bo DVD for about 45 minutes. (last night I was tir-ed! and I was seriously falling asleep at 8:30)

Planned for Wednesday: Hitting the gym after work for 55 minutes on the elliptical then doing the bikini circuit x2

Tell me about you!!! I want to know…

what is your favorite flavor of coffee and where can I get it?

what veggie makes you go crazy in a good way?
broccoli

what did you eat for breakfast this morning?

My Friday is feeling like the never ending list day. Holy Toledo, my to-do list seems to be only getting longer and I haven’t even started it yet. It’s so defeating.

Lunch, BBQ Friday!!

It wouldn’t be a complete week without a little BBQ

I had brisket and potato salad.

Good ole iced tea on the side. Gotta keep it traditional.

And a new part of BBQ Friday tradition is to stop at Peninsula Bakery for cookies. You know I can’t say no to cookies.

Chocolate Chewy Cookie. A flourless cookie with cocoa and nuts.

To-Do List from H-E-double hockey sticks!!

So I’m going on a little road trip tomorrow. I’ll be doing a blogger meet up in San Francisco for lunch and I’m working a run in the East Bay for a special organization I’m associated with. I promise a full post on all that fun-ness coming later this weekend.

Tomorrow I’ll be leaving my house bright and early… 4:45am!!!

So I have a lot of stuff to get done this afternoon before my epic day of blogging/fitness joy tomorrow.

decide if changing clothes for meet-up (if so pack them up for easy changing in a ‘Bucks bathroom

yep… the to-do list from hell. I just keep adding stuff without crossing anything off! Gah!

Hi friends!! Happy Friday!

This coffee is blueberry creme. I see this flavor at 7eleven and I’m always too scared to try it. Blueberry in my coffee… from a convenient store… that might be pushin’ it. But today I mixed it with a little french vanilla and OMG it’s bomb (dot) com!

There was Murder at the Manor

Guess what I did last night…….

I went to Murder Mystery Dinner Theater!

My brother is quite the thespian. He played the part of Barti. He wasn’t the brightest star in the sky… he stabbed the guy who was murdered after he was already dead to save his love Lori. He really thought he did it.

They were pretty darn good because I was so confused the entire time. I wasn’t even sure who killed the guy once it was over. I had to have my brother explain the story to me again….

Blondes definitely can’t be sleuths.

So it was dinner theater so where’s all the food?!?!

Holy onto your horses, it’s coming

As the mystery started we were served drinks. We could choose a glass of wine, a pint of beer or soda. Water was given. Max and I chose to try the Big Sur Lager they had on tap. It was really tasty. Not too hoppy just like I like it.

My Mom ordered a glass of merlot for us to share because we knew it would go with our entree.

First course was salad. It was a simple romain salad with diced tomato and cucumber. I had italian dressing.

For my entree I had the braised short ribs in a merlot reduction sauce. It was served on a bed of chunky mashed potatoes (everything is better chunky, except smoothies… ) with carrots, celery, onion, and mushroom.

With the glass of merlot it was so delicious. I licked my plate. I saved it for when the lights went out so no one would see me… sneaky!!!

Tell me about you!!! I want to know…

have you ever been to dinner theater?

would you choose red meat or fish or chicken when eating?

are you good at solving mysteries?

what is the most unusual flavor of coffee you’ve ever had and was it good?

Yay Thursday. I never really know how I feel about Thursdays because it’s like the weekend is so close, yet so far. Gah, it’s like a full 24 hours of dilemma.

Loving the hot weather we’re having… I’m (borderline) having too much fun.

I always feel like driving with the top down should be illegal… my heart skips a beat every time I pass a cop.

I had the usual coffee for breakfast… so boring.

Photo-a-day May Recap

Day 1: Peace

Day 2: skyline (i stole it because the salinas skyline is not pretty!)

Day 3: something I wore today (yellow nail polish)

Day 4: fun! mug shot!!!

Day 5: bird

Day 6: you, me!!

Day 7: someone that inspires you… Dragons

Day 8: a smell you adore

Day 9: something you do every day (eat 2 pound bags of licorice)

Day 10: a favorite word (the word is jeep…. just so everyone knows )

Hi guys!

I’m so excited because our trade show booth is finally done! Now work will go back to normal. Wheew.

I knew today was going to be a whopper of a day. And by whopper I’m of course referring to the candy… So I had a protein shake for breakfast.

Boy did I need it because I was very very very hungry by noon when it was time for all of this…

Dad smoked a tri-tip so we had sandwiches. I had Pringles with mine.

It’s not possible to eat Pringles without doing one of these.

Come on! I know you’ve done it.

The Pringle duck face is a classic.

This is where I live yo!!! Famous 17 mile drive in Pacific Grove. Pretty sweet huh?!

I had to drive the 30 minutes over to PG (aka pacific grove) to get some last minute shipping supplies for the trade show booth.

I treated myself to one of these (iced black tea) on the way home.

Have you tried the Skinny Girl Cosmo??? It’s white cranberry flavor and it’s the best of the Skinny Girl cocktails. Now I’ve tried all the ones my grocery store has and COSMO is definitely the best.

I’ll still love ya if the classic Margarita is your favorite.

Dinner!

It’s in the oven right now and the hunger pangs are panging me!!!

Didn’t feel like going to the gym after work today so I’m dressed and ready to fly out the door when the mood strikes.

wanna be my groupie???

I was at home… then I said…

OMG!!! I need licorice, right now!

So Max and I flew to the drug store for Twizzlers.

Is it normal to find so much instant joy over strawberry licorice?

I should say that I chose to get the 2 pound bag over a little package and I didn’t even think twice.

After we got home, I gave Max a show where I played the part of Mr. Fritz, a very pompous man who has a large mustache and works at a bank.

And how he fell in love with Mrs. Fleur, a woman with very large spectacles and a countless number of cats…

After eating so much sugar, I literally went to town on this 2 pound bag and I weighed it and now there is only 1.33 pounds left…

I went to the gym and rocked the cybed for 30 minutes. It’s not my usual but I haven’t felt the greatest the last few days, plus work is really intense so I think I’m physically beat. This might be why I’m craving massive amounts of sugar in strawberry licorice form at all hours of the evening.

tell me about you!!! i want to know…

what was the last candy you craved?

have you ever weighed your bag of candy to see how much you ate?

what is the best flavor of licorice?

have you ever ridden in a small boat (ie a paddle boat, row boat, canoe…)

Work is kicking my bootay! I can’t believe I didn’t get a post in yesterday… lame!

Yesterday was sort of lame and it put me into a little bit of a grumpy mood, but do you know what always put’s me in a good mood?

Riding in the Jeep with top off!!! We’re having wonderful 75+ degree weather all week here so I HAD to take it off.

Yesterday I spent the entire day sweating like a iced tea on the 4th of July in the back of our office painting fire retardant sealant on all the wood for the trade show booth. It was rough work and it left me BAKED!

It was fun though. I’d rather play outside on a sunny day then sit at a desk.

I might be slightly crispy today… so I decided to wear long sleeves, jeans and long socks with my shoes.

americano for breakfast.

I skipped the gym since I was sunburnt yesterday… It’s making me feel like today is Monday but after I get my fitness in this afternoon I’m sure I’ll be back on the right track.

I was so hungry by lunch time I HAD to have a burrito… Any excuse for a burrito, right?!

It was so good and the best kind because it was too messy to eat like a burrito. I had to attack it with my fork. Messy things always taste better!

Tell me about you!! I want to know…

when was the last time you were sunburnt?

whats something that always makes your grumpy mood turn into a good mood?

Did you play outside yesterday when you should have been working?