Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Forgoing the Wheat, Dairy and Sugar

A few months ago, I went to Soho to see a local act, and while listening to Mike Dawson, the warm up act sing about an x-girlfriend who was a Milpas Street hooker, I chatted with my friend and local rocker Antara. A friend of Antara's came to the table who looked vaguely familiar. She was slight, fit, with a fabulous hair cut and well dressed. Well, ends up I DID know her--she had just changed everything about her outer look, which translated into a more confident, striking woman.

The last time I saw her, she was a pudgy, round cheeked chef, with pale skin and a air of weariness about her. Now she was thin, energetic even. Without wanting to sound inconsiderate, I tried to find out what had happened. She went on a diet. A diet, I asked? Which one?

After being diagnosed with candida (I believe), she read up on it, and found a book called "The Yeast Syndrome." The book explains how yeast can wreak absolute havoc on our bodies--on both men and women, and can be associated with skin problems, weight problems, low energy levels, etc. She put herself on the diet and several months later emerged as a leaner, and subsequently happier version of herself. My big question though, is, can you trust a thin chef? Yes!

Thank you oh chef for sharing your story with me! You look fabulous.

For the last two weeks, I've been trying the no wheat, no dairy and no sugar diet, and it is very very challenging. You can't eat fruit! And sugar is in everything it seems. Bread is a staple in so many meals, and dairy is the other half. So what do I eat?

Lots of vegetables, soy products, tempeh, rice, polenta, corn, beans and lots of veggie juice and water. Meat is fine in the diet, as is plain yogurt. But I'm not much of a meat eater. Besides an occasional slip of my spoon into Ezra's applesauce, so far so good!

Results? Almost down to my high school weight (a good thing) and more energetic and focused.

2 comments:

Chryss said...

I've been on a version of this diet, too. Love the energy! There are a lot of slight variations, so you may want to double-check about corn (lots of natural sugar) and also tempeh... most seem to discourage any kind of fermented food (inc. tempeh and soy sauce and vinegar, with the happy happy exception of kombucha!)

Of course, coffee should be off my list too, but the mug on my desk feels differently...

Good for you, Noelle!

Kristin Anderson said...

Thanks for the comments W. YOU are another example of how well this diet works. I'll add you to the fabulous list. Diet to me has a negative connotation. A "change in food choices" sounds better.

Anyway, I skimmed the book, so I'm doing my own version as well. No Corn??? Darn!