Spring has sprung

Happy Easter Bank Holiday everyone!! Hope everyone is feeling equally gynormous as I am following lots of yummy food & chocolate with friends & family. 

I failed with my weekly update for you last Sunday & am only just getting round to doing this week's! FODMAP is going swimmingly, it seems to be really working. Hurray! I had a slip up last week where I had an episode, but after looking into what I had eaten the night before, I had eaten Fajita seasoning which contained Soy. 

Given.. The episode wasn't as bad as they have been in the past, but my tummy didn't like it. 

This week I have been really good bar Chocolate this weekend (it is Easter after all). My tummy hasn't particularly enjoyed it, but it hasn't had a massive effect, so I'm starting to think Lactose isn't a trigger. 

So far I am thinking Soy to be the culprit! Whether it's Soy Protein, Soy Beans or Soya... And thinking about it before I started FODMAP, I would have Soya Protein at every meal in Quorn.

Im also thoroughly enjoying the meals & im just feeling healthier in myself! Eating more heavily this weekend for Easter has just made me feel gross. I fully endorse this healthier way of living & it's giving me more energy too. At the start it was making me more sluggish but I'm all good, & living pretty much IBS free/reduced is a huge relief. 

Here's some examples of meals I've been having:

One of my faves & go-to as its super quick! Tofu & Zuchini fried in Sesame Oil & Sesame seeds, super tasty! 

Gluten-free pasta in fresh Pesto sauce with Courgetti, made using my spiraliser- again super yummy & simple. 

This was a Soy sauce stir fry with spiralised carrots & Zuchini as the noodles! 

A simple roast dinner with tofu on the side. 

If you suffer with IBS, I would definitely recommend you giving this a go. 

Saffron xoxo 

Weight: 6lbs lighter (this is post Easter eggs too!) added bonus!! 

A little lighter

One week into my FODMAP diet, I am feeling much better & as a bonus, I am also a few pounds lighter!

Anyone who doesn't know what FODMAP is... Take a look at my previous post. Otherwise, carry on reading. 

This time last week I was feeling a tad stressed about everything I needed to eliminate & was apprehensive as to whether it would actually make a change. 

I can safely say that this week I have had no IBS episodes, none what so ever which is a massive change from my 3-4 episodes a week. I'm not expecting things to carry on 100% the whole way through, but it's looking pretty promising so far. 

So what have I actually eaten? 

Example lunch: Quinoa with whole grain rice, salad, cherry tomatoes & feta cheese. I would follow this with 2 Gluten-free rice cakes with peanut butter. 

Example tea: marinated tofu, zucchini, mashed potato & carrots. 

Example tea 2: mashed carrots, steamed Birds Eye veg pack & tofu seasoned with Salt & Pepper 

Example snack/pudding: Gluten-free rice cakes made with Almond Butter & vegan cocoa butter- made ever so kindly by my sister! 

I am also able to eat out! This is a Wagamamas lunch with Katsu sweet potato curry, then I changed the rice for rice noodles as I'm allowed those! 

Gluten free tortillas at Las Iguanas!! Followed by 

Honey roasted vegetable & haloumi skewers & gluten free rice. 

Las iguanas is awesome for Veggies/Vegans/Gluten-free diets (which I am now mostly all 3!) fab date aren't I... 

But with a bit of planning & some alterations ahead for this week to make my tofu more interesting, I'm all set to see what week 2 will bring. 

Week 1: No episodes 

Weightloss: -4 lbs

Countdown: 1 down, 5 weeks to go!

I would just like to point out that weightloss isn't a goal of this diet plan, it seems to be an added bonus! My only goal is to eradicate my IBS or lessen it at least! 

... Although, looking less beached whale will be a bonus for Mexico in 7 weeks time!

Have a good one, 

Saffron xoxo

Gut feeling

Tomorrow I start my 6 week FODMAP diet. A week ago I had no clue what this was.. It's not a weightloss diet, it's a diet to hopefully make my gut more happy... A diet that will hopefully sort out my IBS (irritable bowel syndrome).

I have had IBS for a couple of years, but it has gradually got worse. Initially it was something I found embarrassing & didn't really talk about it until recently. Since then, I have found out it's pretty common & there's lots of things you can try to get rid of it/help manage it at least! It's taken me a while to buck up the courage to write about it, but hopefully this will help someone else out there. 

I've tried over the counter tablets like Buscopan, but I wanted something to prevent it! So I've tried Yakult drinks, probiotic tablets, various scans to see if it was something more sinister, peppermint tablets- everything. 

The doctor has now put me on the "FODMAP" diet for 6 weeks. Which is eliminating Fermentable Oligo-Di-Monosaccharides & Polyols. What?! In English, it's eliminating Fructose (fruits, honey etc), Lactose (Dairy), Fructans (Wheat, Rye, Gluten, Garlic etc), Galactans (beans, lentils, soybeans etc) and finally Polyols (sweeteners, avocado, nectarines, peaches etc). 

After the 6 weeks, you start reintroducing sections of the above and try to work out what it is setting the tummy off. This can be severe bloating or other symptoms that I won't go into but, 

WowZers....

Especially as a Vegetarian, this could be a challenge! So I spent most of Saturday morning planning my meals & creating a new a grocery shop & I'm all set! 

I will keep you posted on how I'm getting on & here goes for a Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-free diet! Fingers crossed this helps & makes me tummy smile & hopefully less beached whale for my Mexican holibobs! 

Saffron xoxo