by Christina | Mar 9, 2017 | Wellness
Considering today is International Women’s Day, I could not be happier to feature the amazing woman I’m about to talk about. She is one of the most supportive, inspiring and amazing women I know. Amanda Farley. Where do I begin with her? If you’re not familiar with Amanda, she’s the fabulous lady behind AmandaFitLife on Instagram and the blog Amanda Fit Life. I won’t lie, the first thing that attracted me to Amanda was her killer taste, as in…TASTE BUDS. I stumbled across her Instagram account and was immediately obsessed with her snack plates and very Christina-esque dinners of salmon, perfectly crispy brussels sprouts, and loaded sweet potatoes. Her account made me drool, hard-core, but beyond that, I quickly fell in love with the words in her caption. The girl behind the food. I could immediately tell she was my kinda gal.
Then Instagram stories surfaced, and I was like, OK. This girl is my soulmate. Amanda puts a smile on my face every single day with her hilarious shenanigans, major real talk when it comes to self-love, food, and fitness, and overall positive personality. We quickly realized how much we had in common – from the deep stuff like our ED and overtraining pasts to the lighter issues in life like how annoying Nick is on the Bachelor and how desperate we are for Game of Thrones to return. Amanda is someone I know I can always turn to for support, love, and a fresh perspective. She is someone I can text or call and get DEEP with in 5 seconds – we don’t care about small talk. There’s nothing I appreciate more than this girl’s realness and sincerity. She is such a positive voice for women in this community, and such a source of inspiration and strength. She’s not afraid to address important issues that other people don’t want to talk about, and she has the ability to make you feel safe and not alone.
So, let’s get to know the girl behind the ‘gram, shall we? I mean, I could spend hours stalking her photos of perfectly chewy cacao chocolate chip almond butter cookies and beautifully swirled yogurt bowls, but there’s so much more to her than delicious food. She’s pretty damn special.
Introduce yourself to my readers! 🙂
Hi loves! Christina already said it, but I’m Amanda, the tall blonde gal behind AmandaFitLife on Instagram. Christina and I recently connected over the last few months due to our similar pasts with eating and exercise, which I’m so thankful for…it’s so comforting to know you’re not alone. Plus she loves GoT, being a grandma just like me, and sweets. Yup, if you know me, you know I have a massive sweet tooth. But here’s a bit more about me besides my deep love for chocolate…I was born, raised, and still am living in upstate New York. I’m currently a full time student in school pursuing a degree in business management and eventually nutrition and dietetics. When I’m not studying my buns off, I love running, perusing the aisles of Whole Foods, and spending time with my family, friends, and the love of my life, my golden retriever, Cooper.
When did you first get into healthy eating and fitness? What got you interested in it?
I first dove into health and fitness during my freshman year of high school. I, like every other girl during their teenage puberty years, wanted to lose a few pounds because it would A) make me look better (or so I thought) and B) make me happier (or so I also thought). As I’ve grown and gone through plenty of ups and downs with health and fitness, I can honestly say I’ve never been in a better place than I am now. I’m closer to finding that balance between health, fitness, and happiness. So, I’ve made it my mission to show others that healthy and happy is possible.
How did you first get into blogging?
I started reading blogs back in high school and as my interest grew, so did my motivation to start one. I eventually decided to when I wanted to have a place to share more than just photos of my food. I wanted to share my thoughts, as well, not just a pretty picture of peanut butter because, yes, while that’s nice, there’s so much more to me than just my food. I’m a person with a hell of a lot of feelings and thoughts. I decided to turn my blog into an open book and write it all down because I knew that if I were struggling with some of these things, there had to be others out there who were too, so maybe I could help in some way, even if it was in the slightest bit.
I know you’ve struggled with an ED in the past. Could you give a short version of what happened?
Yes, I did! Okie, so super quick run down of it…as I mentioned, freshman year, I wanted to “lose a few pounds,” but that spiraled into obsessive and restrictive orthorexic tendencies. I recovered from it, but still had some lingering issues. Fast forward to senior year of high school, I relapsed into a deeper ED because I was looking for some form of control with college quickly approaching. Now zoom forward to today…free of restriction, over exercise, etc…what you see is what you get with me, and that’s an ED-free, happy as can be Amanda (omg, I’m the next Dr. Seuss).
What do you think was the biggest factor in your recovery?
My mom. One hundred percent. While recovery is really a matter of the individual making conscious decisions every day to be stronger than their ED, my mom gave me even more strength than I thought I had. Her patience with me still amazes me to this day. Her willingness to do whatever it took to get me to a better place. I could go on and on. But ultimately, I decided that I not only wanted to recover for myself, but also for her. Her selfless love is what carried me through my darkest days and that is something that I will forever be grateful for, and she is the reason I am the young woman I am today – she taught me that happiness is a choice.
Why do you think EDs have become so prevalent?
I think EDs have always been around, but have become more apparent and have been made more aware to society because of social media. Think about it…young children are being handed iPhones, then they hop on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, whatever the site, and see all of these images of idealistic “healthy” bodies. And before you know it, they’re Googling ways to “lose 10 pounds fast” which eventually spirals into an unhealthy obsession. I say it like this because that’s exactly what happened to me and I fell into the trap. It is so easy to, it’s scary, which is why we need more beautiful and genuine individuals like Christina getting the message out there that health and fitness is not about eating the least amount of calories possible while working out for hours on end. Like I said before, healthy and happy is possible.
What advice would you give to someone who’s struggling?
I have a few things…one, as you’ve probably heard before, you are not alone. So many individuals, especially young women, struggle with finding a healthy relationship with food, exercise, and themselves. Yes, that too – we all need to work on our self-love. But, find comfort in knowing that others are going through the same thing as you. Don’t be afraid to speak up and ask for help or advice, especially on Instagram. There are so many accounts that are so willing to do so. But, the caveat is that you need to be willing to change. Others can do all that they can to help, support, and love you, but change comes from within. You have to be the change you want to see.
Second, when you get caught up picking out all that flaws you think you have and you’re beating yourself up because you’re a little extra bloated today, stop, take a step back, and think for a second. Your body is so much more than just looks. Think about all the things that are happening right now to keep you alive. All the reactions, processes, and so on that are keeping your heart beating…yeah, it’s pretty amazing. The body is amazing. And you only have one body. So, you better respect the hell out of it. You don’t get a second chance.
What’s your philosophy about food and fitness now?
I love this question so much because my food and fitness philosophy has changed so many times, but I’m finally on the way to figuring it all out. Hell no, I’m not perfect and every day I’m still learning, but two things I live by now are to 1.) eat real food and 2.) workout because I love my body and am able to, not because I hate it. I spent way too many years putting fake, low calorie crap in my body and running on end only because it would make me skinny. But now, I focus on eating real foods that give me energy, make me feel and look good, while also moving my body because God has given me the ability to do so. Having a healthy body is a privilege. So, before you go swearing off this and that because of some stupid reason and forcing yourself to do workouts you don’t enjoy, think about those who are less fortunate than you and don’t have the option to eat healthy or are incapable of moving their bodies. Hello wake up call.
Tell me about how your relationship with running has changed over time.
I also really love this question because my relationship with running has changed so much as well, especially in the last few months. All through high school, I played soccer, so I was always running. It’s funny though, I always dreaded conditioning or sprints during practice. However, after my senior year season ended, I felt like I needed something else to fill that void. So, I picked up running and fell in love. It started out innocently, just doing it because I truly did enjoy it, but then it turned into an obsession, something I had to do. I was stuck in that phase for a while. Yes, while I still did enjoy it at times, there were days where I really didn’t want to run but I forced myself to because I “had” to in order to “stay in shape,” “not get fat,” and blah blah blah.
However, this past summer and fall, something changed. A few injuries and a cold kept me from running consistently for a few weeks and it was then that I had this a-ha moment…that running doesn’t define me, and instead of making it something that must be done, it’s turned into something that I want to do. I’m honestly so grateful that I got sick in early fall because it showed me that running isn’t the end all, be all in my life and it saved me from losing my passion for it. I have lots of plans and goals for running, but this reignited passion and enjoyment I have for it now is something I wholeheartedly appreciate and will not take for granted again.
What’s your exercise routine like now?
I usually workout six days a week, Monday through Saturday. Obviously running is involved a few days of the week, usually four to five, with varying distances on weekdays and one long run on Saturday morning. Then I also incorporate weight training. I love the feeling I get from lifting heavy shit. It makes me feel like such a badass. Plus, being strong is so much better than being skinny. It’s so damn rewarding. I also set aside fifteen to twenty minutes every night to do a good amount of stretching, foam rolling, and some light yoga. Stretching is key y’all – I know it can be a pain in the buns, but don’t skip it. Also, just to note, I am a huge advocate for listening to my body now, and if that means I need to take an extra rest day, I do. Listen to your body; it’s smarter than you are.
What would your last meal be?
Alrighty, here’s the scoop. I’ve got to break it down into a three course meal because when it’s your last meal, you’ve got to go out with a bang. Course one…give me a huge hunk of salmon, a bowl full of crispy, roasted Brussels and carrots, and a tub of hummus. Course two includes roasted salty cinnamon Japanese sweet potatoes with a jar of Crazy Richard’s peanut butter nearby for dipping (and spooning). And last, but not least, a pint of chocolate coconut milk ice cream with more peanut butter and Eating Evolved dark chocolate crumbled up on top. I warned y’all…I like my sweets.
You’re the queen of the snack plate. Describe your ultimate snack plate.
Ultimate snack plate includes apple slices with peanut butter, preferable a honeycrisp or pink lady apple, lots of carrots and baby cukes, one or two kinds of hummus, Jilz Crackerz for some extra crunch, and a piece of dark chocolate to end with.
What’s a day in the life like?
Now that my spring semester classes are back in session, my weekdays start pretty early, around 5 o’clock AM. I’m awake and working out soon after (I’m a morning workout person…if it doesn’t happen first thing, it’s not happening at all), then I get cleaned up, make some breakfast, and am out the door (with snacks in tow). After classes, I might stay on campus to get some work done or hang out with some friends, then I make my way home, go straight to the kitchen for food first, and finish up any other assignments or things on my to-do list for that day. The days fly by though, it scares me sometimes. As for the weekends, things are a bit slower, but I still try to stay busy because I love it. I’m up early again, especially on Saturday for my run, then the rest of the day I’ll run errands, spend time with my family and Coop, and try to have some “me” time. One thing remains constant though; each day ends with a big bowl of sweets before bed. Lately it’s been roasted sweet potatoes with peanut butter, granola, and dark chocolate.
One thing that frustrates both of us is how people respond when bloggers show that they’re eating ice cream or other desserts. What do you say to people who ask you how you’re going to “compensate” for having something sweet?
Oh my gosh, it makes me want to scream haha. I still remember this one time I had my friend over and we made loaded bowls of ice cream and the backlash and messages I got (i.e. how many miles are you going to run tomorrow to burn that off?) were so upsetting and frustrating. First things first, this is my body. What I decide to put into it is my choice. If I want to load up on some ice cream, I’m gonna load up on some ice cream. Second, I’ve been there and done that with restriction and foods being “off limits” before, and it’s no fun. If I want something, I have it. Everything in moderation (but sometimes the whole pint is okay too). Three, if you’re working out solely for the purpose of burning calories, you need to take a step back and think about what you’re doing. It is miserable living a life like that all the time. So, let go of the stupid rules you make yourself follow and start doing what works for YOU. I’ll do me while you do you.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start living a healthier lifestyle but doesn’t know where to start?
The first thing I would do is just start making little swaps here and there. It doesn’t have to be an all or nothing situation, it can be gradual. But pay attention to what you’re putting in your body. Take a look at the ingredient list. Is there a bunch of junk in there that you don’t know what it is and can’t pronounce? Mmm then maybe it’s not the best idea to put it in your body because your body will have no idea what it is either. Continue to make tiny changes and eventually it’ll all come together. Also, READ. Educate yourself. Do research. You’d be amazed how much information is out there, you just have to start looking.
Do you have any tips for people who have a hard time juggling fitting healthy eating and fitness into their lives along with school, work, and a social life? A.K.A. time management tips?
If it’s important to you, you’ll make time for it. So, if you want to eat healthy, squeeze in a workout, and get all the other things on your to-do list done each day while still maintaining a social life, plan. I have a planner with all of my important dates, assignments, etc. written down to make sure I stay on top of things and don’t forget what’s going on each day. Also, meal prep. It seriously saves me so much time during the week. Being able to just open my fridge and throw a bunch of already prepared food into a bowl is so nice. Plus, it’s a lifesaver when I’m hangry. But in all honesty, eating healthy is not time consuming. I don’t buy that excuse one bit. Like I said, if it’s important to you, you’ll make time for it.
What’s an Instagram lie (or a few, if you want) that you wish more people knew the truth about?
There are a few, but one that probably annoys me the most is that Instagram doesn’t show everything. You could see someone post their “three” meals for the day and find yourself comparing to them and thinking, “Well, if they ate that little/much, then I should eat that little/much.” Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. No, Instagram does not show EVERYTHING. For me personally, I am literally eating all day long. I am such a hungry person and if I had to post everything I ate, wow, that would be obnoxious. But the point I’m trying to make is that keep in mind that you’re not seeing the entire person’s meal, or life for that matter. Instagram stories has made the “behind the scenes” of an Instagrammer’s life a bit more accessible, but still, a lot of times it’s only the “highs” and “good times.” Just keep that in mind.
What’s one random fact not many people know about you?
I’m actually part giraffe. Lol, kidding…kinda. I’m super tall – technically I stand at 5’11’’, but I always round up and say I’m 6’. I love being tall, too. It’s weird, I’ve always been asked if I resent being tall and I’m like, “Uhh no, it’s awesome!!” I’ve never been told I can’t ride a rollercoaster. I’ve never had trouble reaching items on the top shelf of the store. And yes, I still rock heels regardless of my height. You gotta own it.
What’s your favorite go-to, quick and easy meal?
I have a couple different ones lately…but usually it’s a mix of rice cakes (I’m pretty addicted), eggs or deli chicken, hummus (always), apple slices, and something sweet, like a piece of dark chocolate or a protein bar (Squarebar, RXBAR, and Perfect Bar are my top three).
You ALWAYS know how to brighten my day. You’re the queen of positivity. When you’re feeling down, how do you bring your spirits back up?
You are an ANGEL, that makes me smile so much, thank you. When I’m feeling down, I kind of let myself sit with it for a little while, have a pity party for X amount of time, and then I say, “Alright, let it go and move on.” I try to keep things in perspective and remember that there’s always a reason why something happened. Whether or not I see it in the moment, it will eventually show itself to me and I’ll understand why I had to go through the sadness, struggle, etc. Also, my mom…can you tell that I adore this woman? When I’m not able to pick myself up, she is always there and says exactly what I need to hear to feel comforted and snap out of it. Momma, I love you!!
What are your goals for the future??
Honestly, I’m still figuring it all out and a lot of times I get anxious and scared about what the future has in store for me, but I remind myself that it’s about the journey, not the destination. And more importantly, that everything will work out the way it’s supposed to. I do know that I want to earn my bachelor’s degree in business and possibly continue on to become a registered dietitian, but at the moment, I’m taking it day by day, which ironically is very difficult for me since I’m such a Type A, plan-crazy person. In the end, though, I want to help others somehow, some way. I guess my end goal is to combine my passion with a career, that way it will never feel like work. And, of course, my main goal in life is to be happy…genuinely, wholeheartedly happy. Happiness is a choice, remember?
Thank you so much to Amanda for this interview – she poured her heart and soul into it and I truly could not be more grateful. Hopefully this left you feeling inspired, less alone, and ready to kick ass today. If you’re not already, be sure to follow Amanda on Instagram (@amandafitlife) and check out her blog for all of her delicious recipes!
by Christina | Mar 7, 2017 | Recipes, Wellness
Now that I’m on “the protocol,” I’m trying to switch up my breakfasts as much as I can to keep things interesting. I’ve learned the hard way that my body doesn’t like having the same foods every single day, so it’s important to rotate my meals. I’m also trying to figure out ways to make myself forget that I can’t have heaps of vegetables with every meal now. It’s a real struggle.
The way this recipe was born is kind of weird. Also kind of funny. It all started with the name.
My roommates and I were sitting around enjoying some Coconut Chai soft serve from Yoga-Urt (my obsession) before I had to start the protocol, and Kailyn made a joke that I should name my child “Chai” since I adore chai so much. We all cracked up, but then I actually thought about it. “Chai” is kinda cute.
Don’t steal my future baby’s name! (Don’t worry, I would never actually do that…I don’t think.)
Anyways, a few days later I went to Disneyland with my friend Meghana (and yes, we had a fabulous time). I told her about Kailyn’s joke in passing, and Meghana made another joke that “chai” sounds like “chia.” She thought I should name my kid “Chia” instead. I explained to her that I could never name my child “Chia” because it’s not a cute name. “Chai” is pretty cute, though.
Then she said, “How about as a middle name? ‘Chai Chia Rice’?” To which I replied, “That sounds horrible as a name, but might be good as a pudding…” And then immediately I thought…I need to make chai chia rice pudding. So I did.
I’m very obsessed with this. I made it for two meals today and am dreaming about having another right now, but I will try to hold off until tomorrow. It’s basically a chia pudding loaded up, and way more satisfying. I kind of hate chia pudding because I’m honestly a total volume eater. I like having a BIG plate/bowl of food in front of me. Working on that. Regular chia pudding lasts for approximately 3 bites, which is oh-so-unsatisfying.
I also feel very incomplete if I don’t get veggies in at breakfast. That’s probably a good problem to have, but still. This is an excellent way to sneak veggies into your diet if you hate vegetables. You can’t taste the cauliflower at all, trust me.
It also reminds me of my cauliflower oatmeal recipe, but this is fluffier and chewier. It really is like a healthy rice pudding – perfect for breakfast, a snack, or a dessert! Think oatmeal replacement/porridge/warm chia pudding. This takes less than ten minutes to whip up, is super healthy, and will def keep ya full. We’ve got healthy fats from the coconut oil, coconut milk, toppings, and chia seeds. We’ve got protein from the Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides. (If you haven’t read about why I love collagen so much, click here.) We’ve got fiber from the cauliflower and chia seeds. In other words, you’re all set.
This is paleo, gluten-free, can be made vegan if you don’t use the collagen peptides, soy-free, and sugar-free, of course! You can add maple syrup in as a sweetener if you want, especially if you want something extra sweet for dessert, but I prefer it without any added sweetener.
Note: traditional chai includes ginger as a spice. I am intolerant to ginger and am removing it from my diet for the next few months, so I left that out of the recipe. Don’t worry, it still tastes amazing.
If you’re into chai, this one’s for you. Welcome to warm, gooey, chai heaven.
Chai Chia “Rice” Pudding (Paleo w/ Vegan Option)
Time: 10 minutes
Serves: 1
Ingredients:
- 1-2 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 -2 cups riced cauliflower (can buy cauliflower rice or put in the food processor to break it down)
- 1 cup nut milk (I prefer coconut milk)
- 3 tbsp chia seeds
- Optional: 2 scoops Vital Proteins collagen (regular or Vanilla Coconut if you have it) or vanilla protein powder
- Chai Spices
- 1 tsp cardamom
- 1 tsp allspice
- 1 tsp cloves
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp vanilla (preferably powder, but you can also use extract)
- (If you’re really in a pinch, cut open a packet of chai tea and use what’s inside instead of the spices. But the spices are preferable.)
- Optional: 1 tbsp maple syrup
- Optional toppings: coconut flakes, slivered almonds, any other nuts, nut butter (cashew would be really good, but I used coconut butter), berries
Pumpkin Spice Chia “Rice” Pudding (Paleo w/ Vegan Option)
- 1-2 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 -2 cups riced cauliflower (can buy cauliflower rice or put in the food processor to break it down)
- 1 cup nut milk (I prefer coconut milk)
- 3 tbsp chia seeds
- Optional: 2 scoops Vital Proteins collagen (regular or Vanilla Coconut if you have it) or vanilla protein powder
- 1 tbsp Pumpkin Pie Spice (OR use the spices below)
- 1 tsp ginger
- 1 tsp cloves
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 2 tsp vanilla (preferably powder, but you can also use extract)
- Optional: 1 tbsp maple syrup
- Optional toppings: pumpkin seeds, slivered almonds, any other nuts, nut butter (I recommend cashew or almond), etc.
Instructions:
- Heat up your coconut oil in a small sauce pan.
- Add the riced cauliflower and allow it to cook on medium heat for 3-4 minutes, or until it starts to get soft.
- Add in the milk, spices, collagen/protein powder (if using), and chia seeds. (If you’re using sweetener, add it in at this time as well.) Stir everything together. Allow the mixture to sit and thicken, stirring occasionally.
- Once the mixture has thickened to your liking (most of the moisture will be soaked up, and it should look more like a pudding), pour the mixture into a bowl.
- Add toppings and enjoy!
If you make this, please tag me in your photos and let me know if you like it! What’s been your go-to breakfast recently?!
by Christina | Mar 4, 2017 | Wellness
**This post was written in 2017 (I used to write posts about my health protocols as I went through them, so those posts are more time-dependent), and since writing this, these health issues have been resolved. I am grateful for these experiences as they inspired me to become a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and health coach myself. Please remember that this post is not current – it was just a documentation of my experiences at the time.**
In Part 1 of this post, I explained a little bit about my health history, the symptoms I’ve been having recently, and the main problems I’m planning on addressing with the protocol I’m going to follow over the next six months. If you haven’t read Part 1, please do so by going here. It’ll get ya up to speed. And like I said in that post, it’s extremely important to me that you understand why I’m doing what I’m doing. The why is greater than the what.
Anyways, let’s get into the details of the protocol. Not all of it is new. A lot of it is a continuation of things I’ve already been doing for the past two years to heal my leaky gut and other related issues, but still gotta keep doin’ it.
I’m not going to list every single supplement that I currently take in this post. A lot of you have asked what supplements I take, so I will do a full post later on with all of those deets. I want to focus mainly on the food component because that’s the most complicated, and I’ll mention some of the newer, more relevant supplements I’m taking. However, I really don’t want someone to read this, go online to Amazon, and just blindly buy the same supplements I’m taking. My protocol was created for my body. Everyone is so unique. The probiotics I take could be detrimental to your gut flora, because I can guarantee we have very different gut flora. The same thing applies with other supplements.
First of all, I’m going to continue to support my overall digestive function with a number of supplements. I have switched brands of Hydrochloric Acid pills and will continue to take those with all of my meals, as well as a new brand of digestive enzymes. I take 7 HCL pills and 2 digestive enzymes with each meal. I’m hoping to get that HCL pill number lowered within the next few months. To support my liver and gallbladder, I’m taking a supplement called Beta Plus, which will be switched to another type of gallbladder support in a few weeks. I’m also taking something called Liver/G.I. Detox from my doctor. Additionally, I’ll be taking something called Spanish Black Radish as a drainage/elimination support, and something called Gymnema to increase my insulin receptor site sensitivity.
I’m also going to be working on healing my gut lining with a combination of different healing agents and building the microbiome with a few different types of probiotics. I’m starting off with Klaire Labs Therbiotic complete, and then slowly I’ll be adding in Megasporebiotic. Adding in the probiotics will be a very slow process, and by the end of the six months my NTP is hoping I will be able to take four of each type of probiotic every day. Right now, I’m just starting with one pill at a time to see how I react, and planning on adding one more pill in each week.
Now let’s get to the big ones – the yeast and the food sensitivities. Let’s start with the yeast, because that’s less complicated. I’m going on a standard Candida protocol, but every practitioner has a slightly different Candida protocol. They’re all based on the same idea, though. You take an anti-fungal, or a few, to get rid of the yeast, and you also follow a no-sugar diet. When I say a no-sugar diet, that includes fruits, starchy veggies, vinegars, and every other variation of sugar. This protocol is slightly different than the one I did previously, but similar overall, so I know what I’m in for. This time I’m taking a caprylic acid anti-fungal to get rid of the yeast.
In terms of diet for the Candida protocol, I have to eliminate all kinds of sugars, like I said. Thankfully, a lot of the things I can’t have on the Candida diet are things I don’t eat anyways. Foods that need to be avoided during this time are all refined and simple sugars, including maple syrup and chocolate (stevia and xylitol are allowed, though), milk, dairy, alcohol, foods high in yeast (peanuts, mushrooms, corn, cheese, dried fruit, etc.), vinegar-ferments (vinegar, soy sauce, vanilla extract, etc.), fruit, baked goods with yeast, processed meat and processed foods with artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives, condiments (ketchup, etc.), and grains, beans, and legumes.
Allowed foods include all animal proteins that are unprocessed, soaked nuts and seeds (except pistachios, peanuts, and cashews), non-starchy vegetables, raw cultured vegetables, raw apple cider vinegar, herbs, ghee and coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil, tomatoes, and avocados.
For me, that’s not too bad. It’s not too far off from how I eat on a regular basis. I will have to give up my weekly dessert adventures with friends, but it will be well worth it if I start to feel better. I will be following the Candida diet for 3 months.
Next, I’ll be eliminating the inflammatory foods that were identified in the MRT food sensitivity test. The MRT test is a food sensitivity test that can be done through your doctor or NTP. It’s not like the Pinner test where you can just order it online and do it yourself. Sorry. You get your blood drawn, the samples are sent to the lab, and the results are sent to the doc. The MRT tests for chemicals, fruits, vegetables, dairy, grains, seafood, flavor enhancers, meats & poultry, beans/nuts/legumes, and other miscellaneous foods.
When the results come back, there are three categories – green, yellow, and red. Green foods are non-reactive foods, yellow foods are moderately reactive, and red foods are the most reactive. Basically the foods that are yellow and red are the ones you have sensitivities to. The test also shows the level of each sensitivity. So instead of just saying reactive, moderately reactive, or non-reactive, it shows which foods were barely non-reactive or barely moderately reactive, so you can gauge even when you’re about to become sensitive to a food. I’m going to insert screenshots of parts of my MRT in a sec so you can visually see what I’m saying.
All practitioners have different guidelines for how to handle the MRT results. My NTP is aggressive, so these are her rules:
- I will eliminate all red foods (reactive) from my diet for 6 months.
- I will eliminate all yellow foods (moderately reactive) from my diet for at least four months. At four months, we will re-test and see if I need to conintue to keep these out of my diet.
- All “high greens” need to be rotated. A “high green” is a food that is green, but 3/4 of the way over to the yellow line. That means I eat them only twice a week. If it’s extremely close to the yellow line, I need to try to keep it out of my diet as much as I can.
- Green foods are fine to eat.
- If a food isn’t on the list, then I treat it like a “high green” and only eat it twice a week.
Let me be clear – the point of this is not to get rid of these foods forever! I would literally die if I had to do that (not literally, but you catch my drift). My body is reacting to these foods right now, so the idea is that I should be able to add most of them, if not all, back into my diet after eliminating them for a long enough amount of time. Basically, I need to give my body a break from these foods so my gut can heal and my body will stop engaging in an immune response because of them, and then I should be able to bring them back in. Foods that are still on my food sensitivity test after 6 months even after removing them are probably foods that I will react to longterm and will most likely not ever add back into my diet completely.
Let’s start with fruits – the least problematic. Nothing big here. Every test I take shows that I’m intolerant to watermelon and honeydew melon, so I’m pretty sure I’m actually longterm intolerant to those. I never eat them anyways, though, because I’ve hated the taste since I was a kid. No biggie. The only fruits I really like are strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries, but I won’t be having those during the Candida diet, anyways. The only thing that is slightly problematic is the avocados. I just have to try to stop eating them every single day so that I don’t become intolerant to them, because they are 3/4 of the way over on the list. I’m going to try to only eat them every other day during this time, but I’m not too concerned about it.
In terms of proteins, this is very do-able. I think it’s very interesting to me that these results are basically the opposite of my food sensitivity results last time, which makes total sense. Last time, the foods that I was intolerant to were salmon, tuna, chicken, and eggs. After that, I started eating a ton of turkey and beef since I had to take the others out of my diet for a few months, and I never went back to eating them as much as I did before. This time, it makes sense that the proteins I eat most often – turkey and beef – have shown up again. Beef includes ground beef, veal, bison, and buffalo. I’m sad, but this is extremely do-able. Thank god I’m still good with salmon. Cod and sole also always show up on my tests as reactive foods, so those are probably real intolerances, too. I don’t really care about those, either, though. I’ll probably be eating more eggs in the next few months, so I’m excited to get back to some of my favorite scrambles.
Okay, baker’s yeast… couldn’t care less about it. I never eat anything with baker’s yeast in it. The flavor enhancers made me sad, I won’t lie. Black pepper?! Ugh. Black pepper is in everything. Ginger made me really sad as well, because I love to put it on so many things, and I adore ginger tea. Sesame was like a huge stab in my heart – I FREAKIN’ LOVE TAHINI. Ugh. The garlic I was not surprised about at all, but I was still unhappy about it. I love the taste of garlic, but it literally rips my stomach to shreds.
But then we have the high greens. Basically cayenne pepper, parsley, mustard, cane sugar, dill, turmeric, cumin, and cocoa can only be consumed twice a week. However, I will probably just not include these in my diet purposefully at all unless I need to for some reason, just to be safe. Cocoa and cumin were BARELY not reactive, so I consider them to be yellow. I was pretty sad about the cocoa and turmeric. I’m a huge chocoholic, but I also always notice that it gives me symptoms. Also, with no black pepper, ginger, or turmeric, I can say goodbye to golden milk and turmeric lattes in the next few months.
The thing is, all of these make sense to me. A lot of these are supposed to be healing foods and digestive aids, so I try to include them in my diet because I think they’ll help me. However, I always feel like crap when I consume them. I try to just ignore it because I tell myself, “Oh, this is supposed to help digestion! Maybe you just need to adjust.” But no. I have actually mentioned every single one of those spices specifically as something I thought was giving me symptoms in the past few months. I made my therapist and friends guess which spices I was reacting to, and they literally guessed the exact list based on my previous complaints.
The good news is, there’s only one thing to take out of my diet from this section. Who cares about lima beans?! The bad news is, it’s CASHEWS. Ummm. Cashews are a very important nut. Probably the most versatile. I live for cashew butter. I like to make cashew milk, cashew sour cream, cashew cheese, and use cashews as the base for a ton of other recipes. Anyone who does GF/dairy-free cooking knows how important cashews are! Also, most of the restaurants I like to eat at in L.A. happen to be vegan, and almost every vegan dish I like involves cashews in some way. I don’t even want to think about the fact that Yoga-urt’s froyo is made from an almond-cashew base. I realize I would have to take them out of my diet anyways for the Candida protocol, but since they’re red-zoned, I have to take them out for six months. I’m freaking out a little bit over the potential that they might need to be permanently removed since they are one of my highest reactivities, but let’s just think positively. Cashews are the nut I eat the most, so these results make sense.
The only high-green I eat is hazelnuts, but I only eat those on rare occasions since I don’t usually buy them myself, so no inconvenience there. Luckily, my favorite nuts are totally safe – pecans and walnuts!
Lastly, and most upsetting to me, are the vegetables. Okay, this could be worse, but this takes a lot of explanation. First of all, you have to understand that I eat a lot of vegetables every day. A LOT. It’s the bulk of my meals. I don’t care about string beans – I never eat them. Also don’t care about white potato – they’ve bothered me for as long as I can remember so I don’t eat those either. All of the other yellows, I’m pretty sad about. Carrots and sweet potatoes won’t be that difficult for me to remove because I’ve gone long amounts of time without them before, but they are two of my favorite foods. Anyone who knows me knows how obsessed I am with sweet taters. However, this makes me feel like less of a crazy person for feeling like I want to die from the pain after almost every time I eat one.
The most upsetting things to me are the lettuce and the spinach. Lettuce includes romaine, butter, leaf, red, and iceberg. Honestly, I could kind of feel the spinach coming. I get stabbing pains in my stomach whenever I eat it, and I eat a lot of it every day. Like, I go through at least one bin every single day. I eat a lot of salads, so this is going to be inconvenient for me. I was planning on leaning on salads as a way for me to eat out at restaurants during this time, but that’s pretty much a no-go now. Almost every restaurant uses a lettuce or spinach as the base of their salads. If a guy asks me on a date, I’m screwed!
Now, let’s talk about how many high-greens there are. Yellow squash and celery are basically yellow. I eat celery every day. Ugh. Beets, broccoli, zucchini, and cauliflower need to be rotated – so I can have them twice a week. Unfortunately, those last three are things I also eat every day, so limiting them to twice a week is going to be a major adjustment for me.
The vegetables I can eat freely during this time are eggplant, cucumber, green pepper, asparagus, and tomato. Does anyone else think it’s funny that three of those are nightshades? I tend to avoid nightshades because they are such big triggers for people with autoimmune diseases, but I guess I’m not avoiding them anymore! I can’t have mushrooms during the Candida diet, but I will gladly add them in after these first 3 months. Onions give me horrible stomach pains, so I doubt I’ll be eating those.
This might not seem like a nightmare to most people, but for me…it led to a total panic attack. The number of vegetables I can eat just drastically reduced, and most of my favorites have to be limited in some way. It’s now turned into a numbers game, and I have to figure out how to fit everything into my diet most effectively.
Because of my low thyroid numbers, both my NTP and my doctor want me to limit the amount of cruciferous vegetables I eat. That’s going to be quite a task for me, because I’m kind of addicted to cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts, etc. They initially told me I could have no more than one cup of cruciferous veggies at a meal. Then I had a major freakout and they said I can have two cups at a meal if I absolutely need to, but that I might have to go on more supplements for my thyroid if I do that and that I might have to take the cruciferous veggies out more strictly after the whole protocol is done. Weighing my options.
Also, in case you don’t know much about me or need some more context, I eat a paleo diet, so obviously I will be continuing that. That means I don’t eat grains, legumes, dairy, soy, etc. in general, anyways, which is why diet is mainly meat, veggies, and healthy fats.
After hearing all of these limitations, I started to freak out. How am I going to build a plate? I’m going to have to eat way less veggies. How will I only eat my favorite foods twice a week? How will I bulk up my green smoothies?! Is that even enough vegetables for a week? I can never eat a salad!
Wow. Salads and green smoothies. Major #girlproblems.
In terms of greens, I can still have chard, collard greens, kale, arugula, parsley, bok choy, watercress, dandelion greens, mustard greens, and endives. However, the majority of those are cruciferous. Collard greens, kale, arugula, and bok choy, for example, are all cruciferous veggies, so I can only have one cup at a meal. I’m bitter about the other ones because they’re harder to find and they don’t come pre-chopped, and I’m lazy. I admit it.
The other problem is that I apparently am eating way too many vegetables in general. That is a very uncommon thing so please don’t freak out and think this applies to you. I eat a ridiculous amount of vegetables, and it’s actually causing me problems. Vegetables are hard to digest. Also, because I eat so many vegetables every day, I’m eating all vegetables too often without rotation, causing my body to basically react to everything. My NTP has limited me to no more than 3 cups of vegetables at every meal, which is a very low amount for me. I am literally always so hungry due to my malabsorption that I eat pounds of veggies every day (amongst other things, obviously). Can’t do that anymore…
The problem here is that if I can only have 3 cups of veggies a day, and only one can be cruciferous, but the greens I can eat are cruciferous, I can’t really make a salad. Also, for my smoothies, I don’t want to use up my cauliflower or zucchini or avocado for the week blended into something! If I can only have each of those twice a week, I’m eating them as real food.
It might seem dramatic to others, but receiving all of this information and these limitations in one day made me very very depressed, because I realized how much my life will have to shift in the next six months.
Food is a big part of my life. I love it. And I don’t like to overthink it or think about it like a puzzle. I feel like that’s not good for me, or for anyone. I do have to puzzle it out though, to make sure I keep in line with all of my limits.
How am I handling this? By being very organized. I have a list on my phone of potential meal ideas, a new grocery shopping list, and a list of what I can and can’t eat. I have a vegetable tally where I mark off how many times I eat a veggie each week. I emailed some restaurants to see if there was anything on the menu I’d be able to eat if I had to eat out, and that was a no-go, unfortunately. My first week in has already been confusing. I bough too many of my “need to be rotated” foods, and not enough of the safe greens. Habit.
Over the next few months, I’m going to eat more protein than I’m used to, and I’ll also increase my fat intake even more. I eat a very high fat diet already, but I’ll probably need even more during this time. Since my body has a hard time digesting fats, I can definitely afford all of the healthy fats I can get. Thankfully, coconut isn’t problematic for me. Coconut meat, coconut butter, and coconut milk are going to save me.
Honestly, all of these food restrictions have been very emotionally challenging for me, on a number of levels. First of all, I’ve had to give up a few things I was really looking forward to, and I’m bitter about it. I can’t really participate in any Expo West events, I cancelled my trip to New York, and I cancelled my graduation trip. Just in general, this is going to be hard for me socially. People go out to eat and to socialize. My friends and I love to grab dinner, dessert, etc. For work, grabbing lunch or dinner is a common thing. I can’t really eat out for the next six months, which honestly sucks. My birthday and graduation are coming up, which are both things I want to celebrate… with food.
I hate that this is going to inconvenience the people around me. I feel like I am disappointing my friends because I’m always the person everyone goes out to eat with. It’s my thing. I also feel like I’m disappointing all of my friends who are visiting for Expo West. I feel like I let down the people I was planning to visit after I graduate, but it’s not worth the money for me to go on a trip but not be able to eat out anywhere. I know my family is upset with me because I’ll have these limitations during graduation. Honestly, I’m really sad I can’t have spinach for at least 4 months, and it doesn’t make me feel any better when people tell me they can’t do anything fun now that I can’t eat dessert. That’s the flip side. It’s honestly ridiculous for people to say that. I’m already very stressed about this, and I don’t need anyone else trying to make me feel worse. I would not choose to do this unless my stomach was literally in shambles and I saw no other way.
The thing is, this isn’t something you just kind of half-ass. I have to do this and be consistent and strict, or it won’t work. This is my third time doing a protocol like this, and I’m honestly so tired of it. I don’t want to do it again. So I’d rather do it full out and never have to take so many foods out of my diet for so many months ever again. The key to that will be that when I add foods back into my diet, I have to actually continue to rotate them. No more eating the same thing every single day, even though that’s what’s easiest for me.
Am I ever going to cheat? Yes. I am. I’m going to cheat at dinner on my birthday. Other than that, I don’t plan on cheating. If something comes up and I have to eat something I’m supposed to remove, then fine. But that can’t be a pattern, and I’m not going to plan on that happening. In case of emergencies. I’m hoping it doesn’t have to happen at all. I really want to give this my all.
What does this mean for the blog? I will post some recipes that involve ingredients I can’t eat during this time, because they are recipes I already created and photographed and had lined up for future content. But, as always, these are recipes I would usually eat, if I wasn’t on the protocol. And I’ll eat them when I get off of it!
I’ll also probably have some more protocol-friendly recipes, which could be helpful for anyone who has to do something similar! In general, I’m going to try to share as much of this journey as possible. I can use all of the support I can get!
I wish I could say I took this like a champ, but I didn’t. I cried and felt sorry for myself. I complained nonstop to my friends and have probably been super annoying, but I’m still trying to process everything and figure out how I’m going to handle the next six months without feeling like eating is overly complicated, and without feeling like I’m a burden to everyone around me. I feel like I have a much better handle on everything now, though, and I have a ton of recipes that I’m looking forward to making. So I’m in a relatively good place now, and I’m ready to tackle this. Bring it. To all of my friends who listened to me bitch and complain – I’m sorry, thank you, and I love you.
Please let me know if there is anything specific you would like more details about, and I will happily write a post. I’m thinking of doing update posts of how things are going, so let me know if those are of interest to you. Thank you again to everybody who has already been so kind and supportive – it truly means the world to me.
by Christina | Mar 3, 2017 | Wellness
Photography by Danika Miller
**This post was written in 2017 (I used to write posts about my health protocols as I went through them, so those posts are more time-dependent), and since writing this, these health issues have been resolved. I am grateful for these experiences as they inspired me to become a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and health coach myself. Please remember that this post is not current – it was just a documentation of my experiences at the time.**
As many of you know, the past week has been very stressful for me in terms of my health. So much went on that I don’t even know what to cover first. I think a little background information is where I’ll start, though.
Also, if you’re not comfortable talking about digestion or with me being totally blunt and candid, this post is probably not for you. (Honestly, I’m probably not for you…)
Almost exactly a year ago, I went through treatment for SIBO, a number of food intolerances, and a number of bacterial overgrowths in my gut. Long story short, it was a rough road, but about a month after my treatment, I felt amazing for the first time…ever. I wasn’t bloated, my bowel movements were regular, I had amazing energy, I didn’t have stabbing pains in my stomach, I wasn’t fainting from carbohydrates, and so on. I thought, WOW. Is this what regular people feel like?!
There I was, feeling fabulous and happy as a clam for a few months. Slowly, though, problems started to arise again.
Let me start off by explaining that I’m very aware of my body. I know when my body is telling me that something is off. For those of us with gut issues, a passion for healthy living, or who are highly sensitive people in general, it’s pretty common to have this hyper-awareness when it comes to the way our bodies should be working.
Let’s talk symptoms. First of all, my bloating came back. This really bothered me because it made me so physically uncomfortable, and it was the main thing that tipped me off. And it’s not regular bloating. It’s beyond pregnant bloating, with pain attached. Jeans are a torture device to me. Then, my digestion got screwed up. I basically stopped having bowel movements unless I had a reaction to something. IBS-C, I do not like you. I also started to have strong reactions to carbs again. Whenever I ate fruit, I would get stabbing pains in my stomach and intense cramps that literally made me cry sometimes. A similar thing would happen to me with starchy carbs. I would curl up in a ball after eating a sweet potato because it felt like a knife was inside of my intestines. There were times when I ate carbohydrates and became dizzy and nauseous, which scared the crap out of me. I used to faint anytime I ate carbs, and I was so afraid that was going to start happening to me again. When it came to sugar… don’t even get me started. It was a shit show. Literally.
Then, my sugar cravings came back. This was a huge sign for me. When I crave sugar that intensely, I know something is wrong. It’s not a normal craving. It’s an obsession and a ravenous, out-of-control, fake hunger. I started to feel sluggish, and my skin started to break out. The skin breaking out is another big sign that something is wrong with my gut – I’m talking about those deep, painful cysts. Not regular old zits that go away in a day or two. I also started getting rashes on my body whenever I ate anything that wasn’t plain protein or a non-starchy veggie. I would get nauseous and break out whenever I added spices to my food.
Something else that I have struggled with for about a year is that I’m generally in a constant state of hunger. My friends and I joke that my stomach is a bottomless pit, but it’s really true. I’ve always had a big appetite, but recently it’s been getting worse and worse, and my doctor agreed with my thought that it was probably because I’m not absorbing/digesting my food properly. This is what we call.. MALABSORPTION. My hunger/fullness signals are practically nonexistent. When I say I’m starving all the time, I really mean it. I have never met someone who can eat more than I can, truly. I honestly can’t keep up with how much food it takes to somewhat satiate me, and even then, I’m still hungry. I am a poor college student and I can’t afford to go through a jar of coconut butter a day. Sorry.
Additionally, eating the obscene amount of food I need to eat every day in order to be remotely satisfied is really not easy on my gut, and it just makes my digestive issues worse. I cannot function if I feel hungry, so I tend to just eat a ton of food and grimace through the digestive pain.
I have also been having other health issues that are concerning me. Mainly, I haven’t gotten my period back since going off of the birth control pill. I have a lot to say about the pill and how strongly I am against it, but I’ll save that for another post. While my doctor isn’t too concerned about my period, I am very concerned and want to get to the root of the problem.
That being said, recently my gut issues have honestly felt completely unbearable to me, and I started to feel really desperate. Because I now know what it feels like to feel “normal” after those few glorious months last summer, I’m very motivated to get back to that place. I know that nutrition is a key factor in all of this, and unfortunately my doctor doesn’t fully understand that aspect of it. He recommended I reach out to someone who had “healed” one of his patients with carbohydrate intolerance, which I apparently have, even after my doctor tried everything he could think of.
Fast forward, and I found a new NTP (Nutritional Therapy Practitioner) with an amazing track record. I heard stories about her helping people heal when no one else could, and I also agree with all of her nutritional philosophies and am very much on the same page as her. There are not many people who I trust when it comes to nutrition advice, but I feel like if anyone can help me, she can. Actually, I kind of feel like she’s the only person who can help me.
The past few months I underwent a whole other “round of testing,” as I like to call it. I’ve done this many times before, but I don’t always do it all at once. That usually only happens about once a year. But I did the whole shebang again, and I really suspected that my SIBO was back or that I had Candida again. I also was worried about my hormones – my thyroid, my cortisol, etc.
I also took another food sensitivity test, the MRT. My doctor doesn’t use the MRT. My NTP, however, is a big believer in the MRT, and she only uses the results in the context of the results from other lab tests. I had mixed feelings about the MRT based on my own reading about it, but I fully trust in my NTP, so I decided to just do whatever she said and trust in the process. What I did last time obviously didn’t work longterm. After having taken the MRT test now and after having done a lot more research, I am now a believer in it. Obviously I will need to wait until the end of this whole process to really say that, but I realized that most of what was written about the MRT isn’t very true, and the success stories I’ve heard with it have really impressed me. (However, every food sensitivity test needs to be taken with a grain of salt! There is no test that is 100% accurate.)
Okay, let’s talk about the plan. Basically the plan was to get all of the test results back and then put me on a strict “protocol” to get my health back in check. I’ve done “protocols” before, so I felt like I could handle it. When I say protocol, it means that my doctors tell me exactly what to do for X amount of time, and I have to be very diligent about it. No cheating, no half-assing. We hit the issues hard and intensely.
A few things showed up on my labs that need to be addressed, but overall they weren’t that bad. They were much better than any labs I’ve ever had before, which is good news. There were definitely issues in the gut department, though.
Basically, we are focusing on healing my gut, and then hoping that some of the other things will fall back into balance. My NTP thinks that healing my gut could bring my period back naturally and might naturally balance out my thyroid as well. Plus, healing my gut will hopefully get rid of the main symptoms that are really physically bothering me right now.
Touching on the thyroid, I’ve had low thyroid numbers for as long as I can remember. I was once diagnosed with hypothyroidism and put on thyroid medication that I should not have been on, and it completely destroyed my health. Long story. Anyways, every time I get bloodwork done, I’m told that something is weird with my thyroid, but that they need to “keep an eye on it” to figure out exactly what’s going on. Basically, wondering if I actually do have hypothyroidism? I don’t think I do, but still need to keep an eye on that.
They’re also wondering if I have PCOS, which is polycystic ovarian syndrome. Even if I have it, though, I already do everything I would need to do to manage it. Sooooo that’s also at the bottom of the list of things to worry about.
There are also some relatively uninteresting, random things that I’m addressing – carnitine deficiency, amino acid balance, DHEA levels, MTHFR defect, etc. Well, they’re interesting to me, but probably not to most people reading this. Sometimes I feel like these tests tell me too much about my body. Moving on.
Another big issue, of course, is my cortisol. My cortisol levels are pretty damn high, as usual. Honestly, though, my stomach issues are a big player in that, and so is being in school. I’m hoping that graduating and working on my gut issues will lower those cortisol levels. However, high cortisol levels also cause gut issues. It’s a chicken and egg type situation. I really have too much to deal with right now, though, so I’m just trying to focus on one thing at a time. Right now, that’s my gut. In the meantime, I’m taking a few supplements that my doctor thinks will “calm me down,” since I have refused his suggestion of medical marijuana.
What exactly is wrong with my gut? Here are the important takeaways…
First, my liver and gallbladder need support, because I’m not digesting my fats properly. I eat a lot of fat, but my body isn’t using it properly or efficiently. This is also at the root of my malabsorption issues, and therefore my constant state of hunger. We need to get my body to digest and use those healthy fats in the right way, so I’ll be taking a number of supplements to do so.
Second, I have extremely low stomach acid. I have battled with this for a very long time, and I’m a little worried because my supplements should have had an effect awhile ago. I take 7 hydrochloric acid pills with every meal to give my stomach the acid it needs to digest foods properly, and I’ve been doing so for over a year and a half. My body should be making its own stomach acid by now. I recently switched HCL brands and I’m hoping that in a few months, my stomach acid levels will start to increase.
Third, my microbiome is very unbalanced. There’s a lot of bad bacteria, and low to no growth of key beneficial bacteria. I have stayed away from probiotics for a long time because of my SIBO, but now that it’s definitely gone, I can safely add probiotics into my routine. I have to do this very systematically because I have such extreme reactions to probiotics – slow and steady wins the race. And with the RIGHT strains.
As I mentioned, my SIBO is NOT back, thankfully. However, the labs do show that I have an overgrowth of yeast. We aren’t sure exactly what strain of yeast, but it doesn’t really matter. My NTP is putting me on a Candida protocol to address this. I’ve been on a Candida protocol before, so I’m not worried about it at all, really. If you don’t know what a Candida protocol typically looks like, I will explain it in my next post. The worst part about treating Candida is usually the detox reaction, but since I’ve had it before and don’t eat a diet high in sugar now, I don’t think I’ll get that strong of a reaction this time.
Lastly, my gut immunity is elevated. This shows that it’s actively engaged in something, but doesn’t tell us exactly what. My doctor and NTP explained that it’s most likely all of my food sensitivities combined with the yeast. My body thinks it’s under attack. Not good.
So, yes, the MRT came back with quite a few food intolerances… to foods I eat a lot of every single day. Honestly, it all makes sense to me now. I’m going to explain exactly what I’m sensitive to and how I’m going to address it, as well as everything else mentioned above, in my next post. THE PROTOCOL, as I’ve come to call it, definitely requires a full post of its own.
I know most of you just want to know what the protocol is, but I want to make sure you understand why I’m doing what I’m doing for the next six months. I explain in passing what’s going on with my health all the time, but I’ve never laid it out quite so clearly and bluntly as I am right now, and as I will continue to do moving forward. This isn’t meant for you to start freaking out and feeling like you need to diagnose yourself or be paranoid that things are wrong with you. I have been struggling for some time, and I need to get to the root of it so that I can start living my life a bit more normally. Gotta do what’s right for ME, no one else. 🙂 Hopefully, if you have similar struggles, this can help you in some way.
For Part 2, click here!
by Christina | Mar 2, 2017 | Wellness
I cannot believe it’s already been a over week since my trip to Portland! Time flies when you have 8 million things to do. When people found out I was going to Portland, they just kept saying… “Why are you going there?,” with a quizzical look. “Just for fun!” Is it that weird to go on a trip just for fun? If I told you I was going to Vegas, pretty sure no one would confusedly ask me, “Why are you going there?”
Anyways, I went to Portland with my friend Alison and her sister Kelly, and we went for a number of reasons. 1. We needed a vacation. 2. It was a three-day weekend. 3. Portland is super close and an easy flight. 4. We love to eat.
Let me repeat.
We love to eat.
Sometimes trips and even regular meals out are frustrating for me because most of my friends can’t keep up with my stomach. I have a big appetite! Thankfully, Alison, Kelly, and I are always on the same page. #TrueFriendship
My friends gotta like to EAT.
We literally planned our trip around food, which is how I plan most trips. Most people who follow my blog are also foodies, so I’m sure you feel me on that. There is nothing that brings me greater joy than spending endless hours on Yelp looking at restaurants and food photos, or passing an obscene amount of time falling into the Instagram hole while stalking delicious eats.
I honestly had no idea that Portland was such a great foodie spot until Alison and Kelly explained it to me, and then I started doing research. Portland is foodie heaven. Part of me thinks it might have better options than L.A. Like…whoa. Anyways, we actually made a Google Excel sheet with each of our desired restaurants, then we prioritized the list according to what overlapped, and then we came up with a final itinerary of where we would eat for each meal of our 3 day excursion. Organization, people.
Thank god they’re as serious about food as I am. When we weren’t eating, we planned on just walking around and exploring. Doing whatever. Very relaxing and chill.
I never really go on vacation, but doing so is really good for me. I feel like a different person when I’m away from work. I obviously still use my phone, check emails, and try to get a few things done, but I definitely feel much less attached and less obligated to be on top of everything. It’s freeing. Plus, Alison is really good at cracking backs. That combined with the food and escaping L.A. was everything I needed, especially with how overwhelming things have been lately.
It definitely was a complete escape from L.A. I wasn’t sure what to expect from Portland, but I quickly fell in love with the city. I had no idea how cute it was, and obviously I was extra impressed with the food. I love how Portland feels so homey and welcoming. People are actually nice, which can be rare in a big city. It’s a totally different culture, and I literally felt like I was on the set of a movie.
In Portland, no one cares about what you’re wearing or if you haven’t washed your hair in 7 days (whoops). People are just friendly to you if you’re friendly to them. Simple as that.
Beyond that, I was super into the architecture and the overall look of the city. I felt like it was a mix of Boston and Seattle, but much calmer. Also, there are so many twinkly lights, which makes my heart skip a beat. You know how I am with the twinkly lights…
The fairy lights, light rain, gray skies, and endless coffee shops made me feel like I was in a winter wonderland. It was so calming and seriously made me SO HAPPY. Weird as it sounds, after that weekend, I felt like I could see myself living there one day. I love L.A., but it can be a bit much. Sometimes I want to just get away from everybody, you know? I’m an introvert, and I recharge with my alone time. Sometimes I feel like I just can’t get alone time here, no matter how hard I try.
Speaking of that, though, I was genuinely confused about where all of the people were in Portland. We got up, got breakfast, walked around, and it felt like a ghost town. Is it just way less populated than L.A. or does everyone sleep all day?! We were surprised to hear from our Uber driver that Portland is a huge drinking city. Makes sense, though, because no one seemed to wake up before 11 A.M.
I was also really excited because I got to meet so many of my “Instagram” friends IN REAL LIFE. I can’t tell you how many of my closest friends I found through Instagram. Even when you haven’t met in person, it still feels like you have, so when you do finally meet, it doesn’t even feel like you’re meeting. Does that make sense? More on that later.
Like I said, Portland was all about the food. They have a ton of gluten-free options. A ton of Paleo options. A ton of vegan options. You get the idea. The thing is, we didn’t have a bad meal. That’s the beauty of planning everything out ahead of time – you won’t accidentally eat bad food. I would highly recommend every restaurant we went to! The good news is, there are still plenty of places we didn’t get to go, so now I have a reason to go back!
Basically, I’m just going to take you through each restaurant we went to, tell you what we got, and let you look at the 5 million photos I took. I mean, you’re probably just here for the photos, anyways.
Our first stop was Bamboo Sushi. One thing we noticed about Portland is that the best restaurants have a ton of locations, and none of them are very far from each other. I WISH that was the case in L.A.
We all love sushi, so thankfully this was a no-brainer. Bamboo is amazing because it’s the first certified sustainable sushi restaurant in the world. Everything is incredibly fresh, and they have a huge selection of sushi and sashimi to choose from. Plus, it tells you the “status” of every fish on the list, which I really appreciate.
Since I don’t eat rolls, I went with a salad and sashimi, featuring a few different types of salmon. I was drooling over all of the different salmons they had – very overwhelming. The waiter gave me a 10 minute spiel about each of them… which did not make it any easier for an indecisive girl like me.
What I was looking forward to most were some QUAIL EGGS, because I saw them while stalking Bamboo on Yelp. Pictured above ^^ is the most amazing thing ever. Best combo of flavor and textures. Don’t be afraid of quail eggs! They’re so good for you.
Alison and Kelly got a bunch of rolls, and their eyes were literally rolling to the back of their heads in pleasure. Bamboo has a ton of really unique, delicious sushi rolls, and they had a hard time picking just a few. If we weren’t in the restaurant they would’ve licked their plates to get the leftover sauce. The standout roll seemed to be the Green Machine, which can be made gluten-free! Look at that sauce…
After Bamboo we went to Eb & Bean, which I think we were all most excited about. Eb & Bean is a frozen yogurt shop with both dairy and non-dairy flavors, and gluten-free options, as well. The froyo is organic and filled with probiotics! YAAAS.
We became frequent flyers at Eb & Bean, to say the least. I’m embarrassed to tell you how many times we got froyo there during our 3 days in Portland. They rotate their flavors every few weeks, and the 3 non-dairy flavors were Chocolate Hazelnut Pudding, Palm Sugar Peanut, and Marionberry Pomegranate Som. Oddly enough, I feel like these flavors looked way better than the dairy flavors, anyways. We’re all dairy-free, so we rotated through those choices.
First of all, I love the texture of this froyo. It’s light and fluffy, smooth and rich, and doesn’t make you feel gross. All of the flavors were insanely delicious.
The first one I got was the Chocolate Hazelnut Pudding, and I topped it with the Newtella hard shell, caramel sauce, roasted hazelnuts, and cacao nibs. No joke, this tasted like a giant Ferrero Rocher. It was insane.
That brings me to the other very important thing about Eb & Bean — it has an INSANE toppings bar. Especially if you don’t eat gluten or dairy. First of all, they have both chocolate hard shell and NEWTELLA hard shell – the Newtella really does taste like nutella. They also have a GF/DF caramel sauce, honey, coconut whipped cream, and marionberry compote. One location even has Honey Mama’s… I die. They have all the classics – toasted coconut, cacao nibs, chocolate chips, almonds, pecans, etc., but they also have some delicious, less common suspects – almond toffee crumble, GF/DF cookie dough, cookie pieces, oat streusel, roasted hazelnuts…the works.
We didn’t leave without buying a pint, though. You know… just in case we needed a snack in the room. We went with the Roasted Banana Caramel.. I think it was called that? It was banana something, for sure. And it was heavenly.
We kicked off our Saturday with a trip to Canteen, which is an adorable breakfast/lunch spot that was very L.A. -esque. They had a ton of delicious looking bowls, juices, and seasonal cheesecakes. The entire menu was gluten-free and vegan… familiar.
There wasn’t a lot on the menu for me, because being grain-free tends to be tricky at most vegan restaurants. Luckily, the one thing I wanted fit the bill perfectly! I went Christina-style and had lunch for breakfast. I got the walnut taco salad, and it was everything I could have hoped for. Super refreshing, filling, and very flavorful.
Alison and Kelly both got the oatmeal, and that bowl was LOADED UP. You can’t get oatmeal at a restaurant unless it’s really freakin’ dolled up, ya know? They both said this was the best oatmeal they’ve ever had. It had goji berries, walnuts, hazelnuts, cacao nibs, fruit, coconut milk, maple syrup… I mean.. could you say no?
After breakfast, we walked around a bit, got our nails done, and went into a few really cute shops. I bought some candles that smell DELICIOUS, because I can’t turn down candles. We also really lucked out with the weather. It was storming in L.A. but magically dry in Portland.
I’m not a coffee person, but Kelly and Alison are big-time coffee lovers, so visiting coffee shops was a must. Plus, it’s Portland. You can’t go to Portland and not visit the coffee shops!
For lunch, we went to Kure Juice Bar. If you want the bowls (which I did), then you have to go to the one on 12th Street for the full menu! Their smoothies look amazing and delicious, but I wanted a MEAL. They have salads, smoothies, soups, warm drinks, acai bowls, juices, tonic shots, and more.
I got a seriously amazing bowl with greens, cauliflower, carrots, beets, hemp seeds, almonds, and an epic garlic tahini sauce. Anything with tahini, I’m game. I also got the BEST latte I have ever had in my life – I kid you not. It’s called the Golden Mushroom Elixir, and it has almond milk, reishi, turmeric, coconut manna, and ashwagandha in it. It warmed my body and soul.
Alison and Kelly each got a taco-style bowl – very similar to what I had for breakfast. They both agreed it was bomb. The sauce looked VERY promising.
After lunch we stopped by a shop called Cacao, and it was every chocolate lover’s dream. They had every type of chocolate you could imagine, and they let you sample any bar you wanted. You could go for a classic, like 100% pure cacao, or something unique, like PB&J. Some of it literally looked too perfect to eat. I mean, they hid half of it behind a glass window!
I got my roommates some organic, clean-ingredient fancy drinking chocolate that came in a bunch of different flavors, and I also bought myself a nice bar of 100% pure cacao. That stuff is hard to find. It was so delicious, and completely clean ingredients! We didn’t order any, but Cacao also served different types of chocolate shots, as well as a number of other chocolate drinks. I definitely want to go back next time and get some 100% dark drinking chocolate on a chilly winter day.
I walked around for a bit and finally met up with my friend Valerie from LetsRegale.com. It was our first time meeting in person, but I felt like I had had already met her a million times before. That’s the beauty of Instagram stories!
Funny enough, we’re actually from the same part of the Bay Area, and it’s very rare for me to meet someone from my part of the Bay. She went to high school down the street and around the corner from me, so it was fate for us to connect on IG!
Valerie is like a giant ray of sunshine, and she is so incredibly sweet. Her positivity and happiness light up a room. If you haven’t checked out her site, please do! She posts incredible, quick, healthy recipes that anyone will love. She’s one of the few people on the Internet who posts recipes and meals that I will actually make – delicious, easy, realistic, and very allergy-friendly!
I always see her visit Tea Bar in her Instagram stories, and it makes me insanely jealous, so I asked if we could meet up there so I could try it out! It’s such a cute place – very modern and white and blogger-esque. We both got hot matcha lattes, because I die for a good matcha. Definitely one of the best matcha lattes I’ve had. They also have a ton of other options, including a Golden Milk Latte that I had my eye on. Most of the people in there were drinking boba, and they also had some really good-looking baked goods.
The entire place was bursting with the aroma of freshly baked donuts because there was a Bigwig popup inside. They were literally making donut holes on the spot, and they were gluten-free, vegan, and organic. Ummm… L.A. doesn’t even have that.
For dinner we went to Harlow, which was one of the places I was most excited about. Can we just talk about this drink list, for a moment? Pay special attention to the Harlow Chai, Harlow Latte, Moondrop Mocha, Red Velvet Cocoa, and Turmeric Toddy. I’m really into the hazelnut milk.
Harlow is a vegetarian/vegan restaurant with lots of healthy, organic options. They have a ton of gluten-free, vegan baked goods, kombucha on tap, and a whole section of healthy snacks. The menu is huge, and everything looks incredible. Their bowls are just… yes. I started off with the Turmeric Toddy, and Alison got a Turmeric latte.
For dinner, I got the Bhakti Pasta, which is a zucchini noodle pasta with a sun dried tomato and basil pesto with carrots and spinach, topped with hazelnut ricotta. You guys know how I feel about zoodles. I feel like this dish was invented for me personally.
Alison got the Chipotle Chili Bowl, which we late heard from our Uber driver is one of the best things on the menu.
Kelly got the Hawthorne Mac. Is there anything more comforting than Mac & Cheese?
After din, we headed off to Petunia’s Pies and Pastries. Petunia’s is an entirely gluten-free, vegan bakery, which we were all very excited about. It’s all pink and white – very old school, classic bakery style. Loved it. Want it to be my Instagram theme.
Even though this place is gluten-free and vegan, it’s definitely not healthy, though. Just warning you. Everything was delicious, but we had massive stomachaches after.
If you’re familiar with Salt & Straw, then you’re probably more familiar with Petunia’s than you realize! You know how Salt & Straw always has that one vegan/gluten-free flavor?! It’s a collab with Petunia’s! THIS PETUNIA. For example, right now they have Petunia’s Cookies & Cream with Raspberry Swirl at Salt & Straw, and they’re also serving it at Petunia’s Bakery.
Petunia’s was really really really overwhelming. When I’m out at vegan/gluten-free dessert shops, I always want to get something that I couldn’t usually get anywhere else. That was everything on Petunia’s menu. They had a Bruleed Banana Split that literally looked insane, but I wanted to get a baked good since I can get ice cream lots of other places.
Petunia’s has an amazing selection of cupcakes, pies, cakes, cheesecakes, breads, and cookies. The only problem was, by the time we got there at night, they were basically sold out of almost everything. In the end, that was a good thing, because I had a hard enough time deciding between what was there. In the end I went with the Raspberry Chocolate Cheesecake. Kelly started off with a birthday cake cupcake.
Alison went with a scoop of the seasonal ice cream and a slice of the berry pie. I was really impressed with Petunia’s pies, because it’s very difficult to find real vegan, gluten-free pie anywhere. And this was BIG PIE. Everything was very rich, dense, and perfectly plated.
After my cheesecake, I got a Millionaire’s bar because I had my eye on it and couldn’t stop thinking about it. I liked this way better than the cheesecake, which was a little too chocolate-y for me. The Millionaire’s bar had a bunch of nuts, coconut, and I don’t even know what else in it. But it was damn good. And I paired it with my Eb & Bean Banana froyo we got the night before – unreal combo.
Kelly also got a scoop of Petunia’s ice cream with a side of the cookie dough for all of us to try. The one thing we agreed on was that no one would know that Petunia’s was gluten-free or vegan unless they looked at the website or asked. It tastes exactly like plain old dairy-filled, gluten-filled baked goods. Very dense, thick, and sweet. It was delicious, butttt we all felt like crap afterward.
The next morning, we could barely get out of bed from our sugar coma, but I was highly motivated by the fact that I was going to meet up with Nat from Blonde Gone Clean. (If you haven’t read my interview with Nat, you can read it here!)
We met up at Harlow for breakfast, which I was very excited about because I couldn’t get enough of that place. Yup, it’s that good. (Plus, with that drink menu, how could I not go twice?) Nat and I both got the Arcadian Scramble, which makes sense considering we are practically the same person. It was delicious – I highly recommend. The Farmers Vegetable Scramble and Pesto Garden Scramble also looked amazing!
Again, even though it was our first time actually meeting in person, it felt like I had known Nat forever. When you Snapchat someone and watch their stories, it’s easy to forget you haven’t met in person. Plus, Nat is someone who I vent to on the reg, so we are way past any casual small talk. Catching up with her and talking nutrition, workouts, stress, school, college life, work, and everything in between totally rejuvenated me and reminded me how lucky I am to have such amazing people in my life.
After basically crying because I didn’t want to leave Nat, I met up with my friends at another coffee shop. Then I was off to Townshend’s Tea Company to meet up with another one of my favorite humans, Nicole Christensen!
Nicole is my Beautycounter mentor, and it was so exciting to finally meet her in person. Again, I honestly forgot I hadn’t. Beyond being an amazing mentor for Beautycounter, she is an incredible support for me in all aspects of my life, and I can talk to her about anything. She is truly one of the kindest people I’ve ever met, and she always makes me feel better about everything. I feel like she’s the more mature, wiser version of me. So she’s amazing.
Townshend’s is a tea lover’s dream. If you love tea, you will die over their BOOKLET of a menu. The shop itself is adorable. Old-school, Harry Potter library-esque. I bought a few of the loose leaf teas to bring home, because I had such a hard time choosing off of the menu. They have about twenty different types of chai lattes, which all looked incredible, and that’s what Nicole got. I got a mix of peppermint tea and vanilla black tea — insane combo. Highly recommend! They can make it as a latte, as well.
I also ran into Dana from Minimalist Baker while I was there, and it was a major fangirl moment. She is so sweet!
After Townshend’s, I met up with Alison and Kelly again at Broth Bar. OH. MY. GOD. This might have been my favorite place we went. I am dying for them to open one in L.A. As I’ve talked about before, I’m obsessed with bone broth. I’ve used it for about two years to help heal my gut, but I personally think everyone should make bone broth a part of their diet because of all of its amazing benefits.
The only problem with bone broth is that it takes forever to make, so I practically keel over in joy when I find a high-quality bone broth that I can buy. Broth bar has basically every type of bone broth you could ever want. You can choose one of their suggested combos (see above), or you can come up with a combo yourself. I went with the turmeric, scallions, smoked salt, and chili oil beef bone broth and added the braised beef tongue and kelp noodles. I was deciding between that and the rosemary salt, juiced ginger, and scallions bone broth with the chicken hearts. Next time.
Alison and Kelly both got the black cumin seed oil, turmeric, ghee and coconut butter bomb, and black garlic salt bone broth with an added kimchi pickled egg. (I love how they always order the same thing.) At first I think they thought I was a weirdo for how obsessed I was with this place, but after tasting it, they were sold. I was honestly dying over how delicious my bone broth combo was, and it was perfect for the cold weather outside!
They also sell a ton of bone broth that you can buy there and take home – pork, lamb, chicken, turkey, bison, alpaca, and more. If I lived in Portland, I would def be stocking up.
For dinner we headed off to Dick’s Kitchen, which was one of the places I was most excited for. My NTP actually recommended it to me, and it was the most “Christina” style restaurant we went to. Grass-fed beef, paleo-style meals…the works. I had a very hard time deciding what I wanted, per usual.
They have a ton of different burgers to pick from – the classic (100% grass-fed beef), turkey burger, buffalo burger, veggie berger, salmon burger, etc., and everything can be made “naked” – a.k.a wrapped in lettuce instead of a bun! They have fries that are actually on the healthy side – sweet potato or regular potato fries that are air-baked with no added sugar.
I was seriously torn over what to get. I wanted the Caesar Turkey Bowl, the Paleo Plate, and the Naked Buffalo Burger with some veggie sides, so I kind of cheated and got everything I wanted on one plate. I got the Paleo Plate and subbed out the classic patty for the buffalo burger, and then I got their vegan caesar dressing on my side salad. The Paleo Plate came with their special greens, which was braised kale and cabbage. So. Delicious. That burger gave me life.
Kelly got a naked salmon burger with the regular potato fries, and Alison got a naked classic burger with potato fries, too! Dick’s also had a very tempting selection of desserts, including a flourless chocolate torte, paleo carrot cake, and vegan milkshakes. We passed, though, because we had big dessert plans for later that night.
After walking around Alphabet District for a bit, we also stopped by the OG Salt & Straw. Alison is Salt & Straw obsessed, so she was dying to see the original. We didn’t get anything, but we had to look. This place was poppin’. Even moreso than in L.A., which is to be expected, since it is the original. I also think the food always tests better at original locations. Maybe it’s just me.
Then we ventured off to the bakery I was most excited about – Back to Eden Bakery! Back to Eden is a 100% plant-based, vegan, gluten-free bakery!
It was overwhelming, in a good way. Cookies, brownies, a number of cupcakes, pies, donuts, and more! I was especially impressed with the pies. I’ve never seen a GF/vegan cherry pie, ANYWHERE! I have a lot of fond memories that relate to cherry pies, so it got me all sentimental. They also seem to be famous for their chocolate cream pie, which isn’t my thing, but I can appreciate its uniqueness.
They usually have cinnamon rolls, which was honestly the #1 reason I wanted to go, but they were out when we went. They also had some amaaaazing sundaes and milkshakes. A milkshake sounded SO good, but I can get that at a lot of places, so I had to go with some baked goods. Also, their soft serve is made from a soy-base, so I wouldn’t recommend it. You can pay extra for them to use Coconut Bliss ice cream instead for the sundaes and milkshakes, and I would definitely go with that option if I were to order it.
We got a few things to try, including this divine Rosewater Chai Cupcake! I loved how unique that combo was, and the flavors paired together perfectly. I also usually hate frosting, but this was the perfect amount of sweetness and the perfect texture! Didn’t make me feel gross like most frosting does.
We also got a snickerdoodle and a toasted almond cookie. Both were delicious, but I especially loved the Snickerdoodle! I’d definitely go for that one again.
We had to end the trip with a bang, so we headed back to Eb & Bean. I discovered the Palm Sugar Peanut/Chocolate Hazelnut Pudding SWIRL… and my life changed. I usually hate peanut-flavored things, but I was really into this combination. I topped it with some caramel sauce, toffee, and crumbled Snickerdoodle. Game changer.
Yes, we went back for multiple rounds. We even went to a different location for our third round so the workers wouldn’t judge us. Go big or go home, right? For my last round, I got the Marionberry Pomegranate Som with the marionberry compote, coconut flakes, and Honey Mama’s. Alison and Kelly got the Marionberry Pomegranate Som with Newtella and chocolate every single time. Creatures of habit. Honestly, I don’t even know what marionberry is. It was the perfect way to end the trip, though.
I truly fell in love with Portland and I cannot wait to go back! I have more places on my list that we didn’t get to, so if you need any more recommendations, send me a message and I will happily share my full list!
