Glycemic Load Update

Someone send me a message asking how the diet was going. Sorry I haven't updated or posted in a few weeks, I guess if you aren't on my personal facebook you won't know that on day 5 my whole family got that horrible, nasty stomach virus that is making the rounds. To say it has been a miserable few weeks is an understatement. It's a bad one and one of my friends ended up in the ER after having it because she got so dehydrated. It's not a 24 hour bug sadly, more like a week long one. Just when you think you are done it starts again. Then it takes a few more weeks to recover.

Of course having a 2 year old and a 4 year old with it was the hardest part. I would rather go through it three times myself that have to watch them.

The doctor's advise was a BRATTY diet Bananas, Rice, Apple Sauce, Toast, Tea and Yogurt. Well Bananas are out for me because just the smell can make me want to throw up (long story but my brother is involved!). And well Rice and Toast aren't really GL ideal items. I guess because tea and toast was always the cure for every aliment and problem growing up that I naturally went that directions plus lots of yummy yogurt. (I found this new yogurt at Target from Colorado and it's delicious but more about that later). I had to trade of GL diet for getting better.

So until about Thanksgiving all I was able to eat was tea, toast and yogurt. 

Thanksgiving dinner was so welcome, yummy turkey was just what my tummy needed. I did indulge a little with some roast potatoes, sweet potatoes and stuffing, but on the whole I behaved myself. 

Since then I've been so extremely busy that food has been way down on the list of things but I have tired to limit my starches. I'm not living a carb free life but I'm eating less than I used to. Like a friend that has the same condition and is on the same diet said sometimes you have to indulge a little. 

So in case anyone was wondering things haven't been going too well but probably picking my busiest time of the year was not the best idea. So it's baby steps. And I'm really excited that I have found a Beach Body coach that is local and super sweet. I've started my P90x again. At the end of the day it wasn't changing my diet that added the extra weight it was reducing my exercise. I have even stopped taking the Metformin and this time I think for good. It's so hard to take and honestly I don't see any improvement in the symptoms, I just add nausea to them. I'm not diabetic and after numerous letters from my health insurance company about good control of diabetes I want to go shout at them I AM NOT DIABETIC I have PCOS, which means I'm hormonally unstable (think about that one people, ha ha ha!). 

Yes diabetes is one of the long term effects of PCOS but so is heart disease and numerous other serious illness and with a bad history of heart disease in my family and little diabetes I'm thinking my heart rather than my blood sugar needs more attention. Plus my blood sugar, and insulin levels have always been perfect, especially during pregnancy when the PCOS makes you high risk for gestational diabetes.

I just want to be fit and healthy and it's going to be a process that takes time for me. Other people may not have the same struggles making changes, we all have our own battles and demons.

Anyhow I better sign off because tomorrow is my son's 5th birthday party and there are cookies and cupcakes to make. So let the powdered sugar flow because this Home Cooking Mama has to get baking, just not eating!!! Can't wait to post the pictures.

Happy Home Cooking!

Breakfast dilemma!

Breakfast! We have been told for generations that its the most important meal of the day. I have to say I've been good and bad over the years, however it has varied.

Recently I've been eating Weetabix cereal, it isn't easy to find here in the States. A little milk and a sprinkling of sugar, lots of yummy fiber. Alas no more! Weetabix is a cereal and cereals, with the exception of muesli and all bran, are on the no no list!

So what else can I have. I love some hot toast with Nutella spread. Problem - toast is bread. The thought of a spoon and the jar of Nutella crossed my mind but even though Nutella has a low glycemic load it has sugar, so I'm pretty sure eating the jar is not a good breakfast! I can still have sugar in extreme moderation, I emphasize EXTREME.

Another favorite in this house is cinnamon rolls, I'm particularly partial to the orange frosted ones. Yet again falls in the bread category.

Man our breakfasts are so not helpful to a low glycemic load lifestyle. Ok now what can I have that I have in my kitchen?

Well meat is ok so lets hit the bottom of the fridge where the bacon and sausage live. I have to admit I will never become Jewish because I have an incredible addiction to all things pork!!! So bacon and eggs here I come. My plate will feel empty, remember I grew up on good old fashioned Ulster Fries! If you have never had one you have never lived!!! Bacon, eggs, tomato, soda bread and mushrooms are your basic, depending on the chef. So my plate will be lacking bread. Like I said yesterday my brain is going to have reprogram itself.

Dr Thompson does have some yummy recipe ideas for breakfast that I will have I explore some more. But for this Sunday morning its sausage, bacon and scrambled eggs. I don't have any tomatoes otherwise I'd grill some. Then a few green grapes to fill me up. I have to say I didn't miss the toast as much as I though I would.

You know I think I could probably do with taking a walk today too. Dr Thompson's plan for exercise is basically 20 - 30 minutes walking every day which considering I used to walk everywhere and now don't, this could be a huge start!

Well that's the first breakfast over and I survived!!! A meal at time is how I'm going to have to take it. 

Happy Home Cooking!!!!

I didn't wait for Monday!

I spent today reading the book Glycemic Load Diet by Rob Thompson, M.D.

My husband had asked me the other day when I would start my diet and I told him Monday but after reading it all day I figure why not start today. Plus Dr Thompson has me completely convinced starches are toxic!

So tonight for dinner fried chicken. So chicken is good. My problem lies with the side dishes. After getting over my initial shock that I was frying EVERYTHING, the realization kicked in - fries are potatoes, my beloved potatoes. So no fries for mama!!! I have heard people substitute cauliflower for potatoes. I like cauliflower, that's very doable! Plus the glycemic load is 0!!!

So my first attempt at a potato alternative involved steaming some cauliflower florets then adding 2 ozs of finely grated La Gruyere cheese. Then using a fork I mashed them a little and mixed the cheese till it melted. The Gruyere just gave it that little extra something. It needs a little work but I think life after potatoes will not end up in another Irish Famine style disaster for me! I didn't even seek one of the boys French fries!!!

So time for a cup of tea!!

Happy Home Cooking!

A new journey!

It's a big day in Home Cooking Mama Land. I know I've mentioned it before but back on February 14th 2007 I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. It's a weird thing because I don't fully get how all the components come together but basically it's a hormonal imbalance with can lead to infertility and diabetes. Somehow the drug metformin, which is mainly used to treat diabetes, helps.

Well I'm not diabetic, and even during pregnancy was no where near gestational diabetes. But there is a family history, so I have to some serious work if I don't want to end up with it. However I do have a tough time with hormones and irregular periods.

Not a day goes by that I deal with PCOS that I don't thank God that the boys were conceived quickly and the pregnancies successful. I know too many sufferers that battle with this and one dear friend that I'm praying hard for right now. At 7 weeks with my first son they found blood in the sac which is a sign of miscarriage. Thank God (and I do give God all the glory) there were no further issues and he's now my wild man running around digging my yard up and about to turn 5.

I never really gave my body time to correct the PCOS because I was pregnant within 3 weeks of being diagnosed. I then breast fed him for 18 months and 3 months later I got pregnant with my second son. I nursed him until he was 22 months. Honestly as a mother breast feeding was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. To provide my boys with perfect milk for so long was a privilege.

Well it's been 10 months and now my body is returning to a normal state, well maybe a non pregnant/breast feeding state would be better because normal is not normal. I had to stop taking the metformin because it was tearing my stomach up and over the past month I've been getting back on it. My doctor had put me on a good birth control pill to regulate the hormones but it wasn't working. I would get horrible migraines the days I didn't take the hormones and the first week of a new pack I felt like a monster she-devil! I saw my endocrinologist and his suggestions weren't too exciting but switching to seasonique (the pill you take constantly for 3 months) seemed to be the best option. But I was also told the weight had to come down. Why is that always so much easier said than done?

I told him I had been trying to do the work out program P90x, and had actually lost 2.5 inches off my waist and hips but had gained 10lbs (muscle weighs more than fat). The only problem has been consistency, my life is crazy and finding the time has not been easy. Having a strong support network is so critical to these things and I just haven't set myself up well for that.

I adore my Ob/gyn doctor, he's such a nice man and I really take on board his advise. He told me to try the Glycemic Load diet. I had actually read about this in a PCOS book but until now have not really looked at it. I had followed a lot of the suggestions from that book like getting rid of processed food.

I have a friend that a few years ago cut all carbs and sugar completely from her diet. She has seen amazing results and looks amazing now but I don't have her level of discipline and the thought of never eating chocolate or potatoes again just seemed scary.

So after I saw my doctor Wednesday I order the book. It came Friday and I've been reading it non stop. After the first few chapters all the talk about starch toxins had me mourning the loss of my beloved potatoes, bread and pasta. In my head it all makes sense but I have to reprogram my brain.

The good news is that chocolate and coffee do not have to go. He actually encourages a piece or two of chocolate to help ease the starch cravings, and I know there will be many. And my beloved coffee is here to stay!!!

One thing that did stick out was exercise. PCOS is something you always have but doesn't necessarily manifest itself. Mine didn't until I moved the USA back in 2003. One of the main changes in my lifestyle was that I went from walking EVERYWHERE to not. South Louisiana is not conducive to walking, it's hotter than hot. Baton Rouge is a lot different to Belfast in that the city is very spread out. My inactivity has been my downfall. Plus to a certain extent, marriage has not helped. I used to just eat when I was hungry, now I cook to schedule. Trust me I've enjoyed every bite that added the pounds on. Nobody created this situation but me.  

So I'm going to give it a go and I want to invite you all along with me on this adventure. Home Cooking Mama is starting a new journey to a world where starch is for ironing shirts and I will take control of my health.

My New Years resolution for 2012 was to be healthier and happier and well as the calendar seems to pass quicker and quicker I have to say I didn't really succeed. But there is still hope and there is always 2013!

Happy Home Cooking!