Recap: Week 1 on Autoimmune Protocol Diet

I may not look sick but it still feels like someone ran over me with a dump truck

The first week of the Autoimmune Protocol is up, and I think the hardest part is behind me. Thank god. I’m not going to lie, the last week was tough. I’ve had all sorts of withdrawals, my moods have been all over the place, and there were days where I couldn’t move off the couch. … Read more

52 in 52: weekly round up week 2

52 things in 52 weeks

Newly Completed Do a jigsaw puzzle Newly Underway Cook a new recipe once a month (just realised this one has been completed for January, since I've been trying new recipes as part of the Autoimmune protocol) Weekly updates of the 52 in 52 list (also underway, evidenced by last week's post and this one) Aim … Read more

Zucchini, pumpkin and coconut cream – oh my!

Sweet potato chips (baked in oven)

Sweet potato chips (baked in oven)

Tomorrow marks the last day of my holidays before returning to work after the weekend – boo. Hopefully the rain stays away so that I can do something a bit special for it!

This week I’ve spent a lot of time indoors, partially due to the rain, partially due to being super fatigued (I expect related to adjusting to my new diet). It’s been productive, in that I finished a jigsaw puzzle (hooray – 52 completed), but also a fair bit of cooking.

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52 in 52: Do a jigsaw puzzle

Jigsaw puzzle

The puzzle

Let me tell you, when I selected this one I had images of relaxing with a cuppa, and it would be over within an hour.

How wrong I was!

We had just gotten back from our camping trip, when I found under the bed an old puzzle that Mario had been given, but not put together. It’s a combination of the popular Top Gear character, the Stig, and a Where’s Wally puzzle (see a copy of the puzzle online here). There’s 1000 pieces, and is 79cm x 49cm.

When I first started putting it together I'd put it on a mirror that we have, but quickly realised that would be too small. I didn't want to put it on the kitchen table since it would take up room where we eat every night, and we didn't have any other suitable surfaces. The floor it was. I also didn't want to put it on the floor upstairs in the spare room, since that meant I'd be spending considerable time upstairs, being antisocial. So, the floor in the main area it was.

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Why I’m doing the Autoimmune Protocol diet

I may not look sick but it still feels like someone ran over me with a dump truck

I may not look sick but it still feels like someone ran over me with a dump truck

If you’re not familiar with the Autoimmune Protocol diet, it’s a diet that is designed to reduce inflammation and provide a wholesome diet for those suffering from Autoimmune Diseases – Crohn’s Disease etc.

To be clear, I have not been diagnosed with any of those.

However, for the last 6 months or so I have been suffering from a long list of symptoms, which we initially thought could have been Coeliac, but a blood test has since proven that to be negative. The symptoms I’ve had include:

  • Fatigue (even to the point that leaving the house for a couple of hours meant I needed to lay down when we got home)
  • Bloating (I looked pregnant at some points)
  • Varying bowel movements
  • Headaches
  • Stomach cramps (including around my belly button, which I can only explain it feels like someone is trying to rip my belly button out – it hurts)
  • Extreme sugar cravings
  • Diagnosis of Leaky Gut by a naturopath
  • Irritability (just ask Mario – he’ll vouch for this one)
  • Itchy ears

And that’s not even going into the private ones 🙂

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