Day 11-15

I know I'm way behind.  I'll do my best to remember the important things and be more focused- it's just been a crazy week!
Monday, day 11:
I didn't do a whole lot today other than look for jobs online.  I ate breakfast, lunch and dinner.  I eat a lot of the same things and have difficulty varying it up but its also nice to not have to guess right now.  I babysat again in the evening and that went well.  The older boy was more active so I was more hungry when I put him to bed.  He was so cute.  I was really nervous for when he goes to bed because I didn't want him to start to cry - he could have woke up his brother and then we would have had a problem.  He sat in my lap for a few minutes because he got fussy.  Then we headed upstairs - he got a little upset but we prayed before bed and he clasped his hands so tightly and his eyes were closed, put him in bed and he went to sleep- so cute!  I had brought a snack since I had eaten dinner.  I also got a call for a potential job with Youth Villages in Douglasville.  I have an interview tomorrow at 4pm, crossing fingers!

Tuesday, day 12:
Today was a busy day.  I med with my psychiatrist at 10am this morning to discuss my 'treatment'.  I told her about going off of the benzo and the reaction and she said that its normal and to continue to ween myself off as I get comfortable.  She doesn't want to change my meds and I don't have to see her until March!  She said I looked good, seemed more focused and was happy with my improvement. Great news!  Anyway, I had oats and fruit for breakfast.  For lunch, my mom and I went to whole foods for the lunch buffet.  It was really cold and rainy so they had a bunch of casserole options.  It was sooooo hard to pass by the squash casserole, pasta dishes, lasagna for my red quinoa (which tasted like it had soy sauce on it (not allowed to have) but I didn't have a lot, and fried chicken tenders.  They didn't have any baked chicken so I didn't have much.  I also had some strawberries.  Then I had therapy. We discussed the potential job, and the negative things that happened in my last job that lead me to becoming so sick.  I am apprehensive about leaving her if I get this job and move.  I really like her and hate changing therapists.  So, we drove to Douglasville for the job interview which lasted about an hour.  I felt like it went well and she asked me for a second interview Wednesday at 1:45.  I know there are other people going out for the position so I am trying to not get too excited about it.  For dinner, we went to Texas Steakhouse.  I had a side salad, large delicious steak with shrimp combo (awesome) apple sauce and I did have half of a roll- it smelled so good because it was fresh- I lost to temptation but it was so good.  It was a long drive home and I felt like I had to use the restroom so I pulled into a publix.  It felt like I had a UTI.  I was like, great.  This is not what I need right now- how did I get this- what am I doing wrong... etc.  I thought about it when I got home and remembered that I wasn't taking any fiber supplement.  I took some citricel hoping that maybe something is pushing up against my bladder.  We will see tomorrow.

Wednesday day 13:
I had a hearty breakfast, grabbed my brazilian nuts and a few rice cakes, some green tea, water and headed back to Douglasville.  The second interview went well.  2 hours later after meeting people, observing a consultation group (which I loved) and saw the girls, I left and headed for dinner with my sister in Smyrna.  I had a salad, 1 lb burger with cheese and a little bit of chili, half a tomato and a little pickle.  My sister was impressed at how much I ate and the fact that I eat like this all the time and not gaining but loosing weight.  I am not happy about how much weight I'm loosing.  As I drove home, I was thankful at how much progress I've made over the past 6 months.  When I first moved here I could barely leave the house.  I was broken in every way and couldn't see much of a future.  Now I am excited for tomorrow- even if I don't get the job.  I made it to bible study and it was good- I did have a bite of cake and it was so good but I felt a little guilty- I had a roll and a bit of cake...  Hopefully it doesn't mess me up too much.  Regarding the job, I feel at peace with whatever happens from here.

Thursday day 14:
It's my birthday! I had a big breakfast, lunch at red robin which was a big salad and ensenada chicken- two chicken breasts, avocado, and a few bites of an apple crisp.  (had syrup- not good)  So full!  We went home, watched karate kid (new one) I had an apple with almond butter for dinner.  All and all a good day.

Friday day 15:
I decided to sleep in, and when I woke up, the job had called.  I GOT THE JOB!!! I ate breakfast and got ready for the day, and ran out to get fingerprinted.  If it goes in, I start on the 7th.  For lunch we celebrated at Logans.  I had a steak and asparagus.  I did NOT have bread and did not get desert.  We ran a few errands, looked up hotels and apartments, and I taught a guitar lesson which my student is amazing (not just saying that).  For dinner we ate quinoa, kale with garlic and roast beef (not my fav meat but good).  I need to get regulated on taking citricel.  I'm about to eat an apple and butter in a bit with some chamomile tea.  Tomorrow going to scope out some neighborhoods!!  I am very excited and feeling pretty good.  Happy birthday to me!!! Hopefully I'll see my sister tomorrow.

Until tomorrow (I promise)...

Day 9 and 10

It has been an interesting few days.  I have really had to try to use this diet in real situations.

Saturday:  Things to mention that are of note... I forget what kind of meat I ate for lunch, but the greens we tried was a type of broccoli that was really bitter.  We cooked it with garlic and I put a little lemon on it but it was really difficult to eat because it was so pungent.  I think if we diced it up and mixed it with other greens or something else it would bring a lot of flavor to it.  I don't remember right now what the name of it was but I will get back to it.  I also babysat Saturday night and brought a bunch of a food with me, a burger patty, fruit, nuts, avocado (didn't eat it) but I found myself hungry after 4 hours.

Sunday.  I had breakfast of oats, blueberries and nuts.  We had a great worship service this morning- quite humbling.  I will be praying for Leslie tomorrow as her daughter has open heart surgery.  It definitely give me perspective on my health issues.  Lunch, we went to Red Robin.  I got a 'monster' (means extra patty) burger with no bun, swiss cheese and a side salad.  This was really difficult for me as I love their bottomless fries.  We had the bears football game today.  I had a bowl of fruit and some brazilian nuts and will eat some pulled pork roast with no sauce a little later.  I'm pretty bummed about the game but if they lost, they didn't deserve it.  I knew at lunch they weren't going to win- we always get so close and just can't pull it off.  I will be rooting for whoever plays against the packers for the super bowl. (rather jets win but don't really care.

I am hoping to incorporate carbs soon.  I feel like I am eating all the time but loosing weight.  It's interesting- I don't want chips or bad food anymore, I miss bread, corn, cheese and every now an then chocolate.  For a treat, we got some cherries and I have been enjoying those.  They taste so smooth.  I can't tell how things are still- my cycle is minimal but still present.

That is really all to report for now.  Until tomorrow.

Day 8

Yesterday: It was one week.  It was a good day - at breakfast of oatmeal, berries and almond slices, went to therapy which was really interesting.  I have very vivid dreams and had one the night before about going on a field trip with my history class and ended up at a hotel because where we were going.  I stayed on the 26th floor.  My sister was there... it was a really long dream.  My therapist is really good about helping me pick apart my dreams and what they could potentially mean.  After that I met up with a girl from church- Tori and had lunch at red robin.  Normally when I go there I have the fried chicken and fries with ranch and sweet tea.  I got the grilled chicken with a side salad.  The salad did have the tortilla slices but there were only like 5.  I also got avocado on the side with water with lemon.  I had some brazilian nuts for a snack and made a sausage, egg and tomato omelette with an avocado on the side.  I had two rice cakes and some cherries (real not from can) for desert.  I organized the refrigerator.  Things are looking a lot different in there.  The top two shelves are all greens and fruit.  I am sure to label nust and seeds to make sure they don't go bad.  Then watched a movie and went to bed.  I have been decreasing the benzo and it is doing a number on me.  You would think only a quarter of a pill difference wouldn't matter but for the past 3 days I have been light headed, head ache and dizzy.  This does get better over time but I have to do some breathing exercises sometimes because my heart is racing so fast.  I am really glad I'm coming off this medication.  It is highly addictive and I don't want to depend on medication to deal with panic, I know I have to fight through it.  I have a busy weekend ahead of me and hope it will be fun.

Today:
Today was ok... my stomach has not been happy with me lately.  However I think this is normal.  From what I read, my body will be eliminating things that don't belong in my system.  So be it.  I ate a large breakfast of oats, berries and nuts and I immediately had to use the restroom.  Thats the first time that has happened.  For lunch, we had baked tilapia with cherry tomatoes, lemon zest, garlic and parsley (I think).  For the side dish, we had cooked spinach  and brown rice.  For a treat we had some freshly sliced pineapple.  We got the  recipe from a 'clean magazine' similar to this one:

http://www.cleaneatingmag.com

I also tried the 'Dry Brushing Technique'.  When I was at whole foods last, I saw one of these brushes.  It is called a Tampico Skin Brush by Yerba Prima:
"Tampico Skin Brush bristles are made from tampico fiber- the unbleached stem of the agave plant.  Hard wood now improved with a protective natural coating.  The Tampico Skin Brush can be used-
1.  To aid the body's natural cleansing process, as part of a Yerba Prima Internal Cleansing System.
2.  To exercise and stimulate the skin.
3.  To gently exfoliate and deep clean the skin.
Directions for Dry Brushing:
1.  Brush entire surface of the skin, except the face, with long gentle strokes.
2.  Best if used daily, before bathing.
3.  The brush should be cleaned periodically with soap and water.

Here is a site that goes into further detail:

http://www.naturalhealthtechniques.com/healingtechniques/dry_brushing_technique.htm

"How to Dry Brush (Easy, Fast Instructions):

• Begin with your feet and brush vigorously in circular motions.
• Continue brushing up your legs.
• Proceed to your hands and arms.
• Brush your entire back and abdomen area, shoulders and neck.
• Use circular counter-clockwise strokes on the abdomen.
• Lightly brush the breasts.
• Brush upwards on the back and down from the neck. Better yet, have a friend, spouse or family member brush your back.

Need More Specific Instructions? Skip this section

Here are the verbose directions.      

(You will do most steps 7-14 times. Hang in there—it’s not as complicated as it sounds and doesn’t take as long as it seems once you get the flow of it.)

1. Using your right hand, gently slide the brush along your right jaw line starting from your earlobe to the underside of your chin 7 times.
2. Place the brush at the hairline on your neck and gently pull around the right side of your neck to the Adam's apple 7 times.
3. Hold the brush with your right hand at the bottom of your neck (where it joins the top of your back) and bring it around your neck to the right and down along your right collar bone and end up between your collar bones 7 times.
4. Stroke your breastbone in a circular fashion to stimulate the thymus gland 7 times.
5. Carefully brush the breast in a circular motion 7 times.
6. Repeat the above steps for your left side holding the brush with your left hand.
7. To stimulate the pituitary gland, hold the brush on the back of your head near the base of your neck and rock the brush up and down, then side to side, both sides 14 times.
8. Hold the brush in your left armpit with your right hand and rotate it counter clockwise 7 times, then clockwise 7 times.
9. Repeat on your right armpit with your left hand.
10. Brush upward 7 times from your upper right thigh to your right armpit.
11. Repeat process on your left side. Women may need to hold their breast out of the way with their free hand.
12. Brush back and forth over your belly button and around your waistline 14 times (like passing a basketball behind your back).
13. Brush in a circular motion over your belly-button, counter-clockwise 7 times then clockwise 7 times.
14. Finish brushing the front of your body in any direction starting at the bottom and brushing all the way up 14 times. Very little pressure needs to be applied to the genitals and women's breasts because the skin is sensitive and will redden if irritated.
15. Brush up and down your spine from the base of your neck and down as far as you can 14 times.
16. Finish your upper back by stroking it around toward your sides.
17. Brush your spine from tailbone up as high as you can reach 14 times, holding the brush with two hands or with the detachable wooden handle.
18. Finish your lower back by stroking it around toward your sides.
19. Brush up from right ankle to right knee and work all the way around your leg, brushing up towards your heart.
20. Hold the brush in the right groin with both hands and rotate it 7 times counter-clockwise, then 7 times clockwise.
21. Repeat with the left groin.
22. Brush from right knee to right hip 7 times.
23. Work all the way around your leg continuing to brush upwards (towards the heart).
24. Brush up from right ankle to right knee and work all the way around your leg, brushing up towards your heart.
25. Brush around your right ankle 7 times.
26. Brush back and forth over the top of your right foot from toes to ankle.
27. Brush across your right toes on top and underneath 7 times.
28. Brush the bottom of your right foot heel to toe 7 times.
29. Now do the same with for the left foot, leg and thigh.
30. Brush upward from right elbow to your armpit and shoulder 7 times.
31. Brush from your right wrist to the elbow in the same manner 7 times.
32. Repeat steps on your left arm.
33. Lightly brush the webbing (or junction) between your left thumb and index or pointer finger on the palm side 14 times, then on the non-palm side 14 times.
34. Brush your left palm from wrist to fingertips and back 7 times.
35. Brush the back of your left hand the same way 7 times.
36. Brush each left hand finger individually back and forth 7 times on the areas that have not been brushed yet.
37. Repeat the steps for your right hand.
    
     

After brushing, take a hot shower with soap (about three minutes in duration), followed by a 10-20 second cold rinse. Repeat this procedure three times. If the hot/cold showers are too extreme, a warm shower can be used. Follow the shower with a rubdown with either a sponge or towel to remove dead skin."

So I tried it but skeptically.  I tried it on one leg and not the other and honestly my left leg, the one I used the technique on, at the end of the day is softer and looks and feels better.  

I have not eaten dinner yet, but I am thinking eggs again or maybe some quinoa and kale (yum).  My mom saw a cool trick a chef used on a cooking show- she took kale, salted it and baked it.  It came out like chips!  I will definitely be trying this soon because I really do miss chips.  

I still feel dizzy and had a headache for most of the day but after some advil, I felt a bit better.  I need to eat soon as the dizziness is coming back.  I'm thinking about almond butter and a granny smith sounds good right about now... 

Until tomorrow.

Day 7

I made it a week!!!
I will write my blog tomorrow :) all in celebration!
Thanks for everyones support!

Day 6

It is late and is difficult to write today.  I have had a pretty bad headache all day.  I keep wondering if I'm doing this right.  I got another website from my sister :

http://www.womentowomen.com/digestionandgihealth/Guidelinesforfollowingayeastfreediet.pdf

I'm going to print this and follow this one religiously.  It's interesting what new things I'm learning about food and how even with this diet I keep having to adjust and look more closely at the things I eat that I thought were ok!  Almond milk.  It has sugar.  On to the next... but it is really good.
Today I slept in and didn't eat breakfast.  I know! Horrible.  I made up for it at lunch with a Ted's Beef burger with swiss no bun and asparagus (which I didn't eat because it was grilled in bbq sauce) but I ate the tomato.  I had some blueberries for a snack, laid back down cause of my headache, went to bible study- which didn't help the headache... and came home shaky.  Today was not a good eating day.  I ate an egg and sausage (home made) with a little swiss and then checked my email to read that I really can't be eating cheese.  UGH.  Okay.  Tomorrow is a new day.
Update:  The rash that I had is almost gone.  I don't know if I mentioned it before but my genius sister told me to wash it with backing soda.  This rash itched like nobody's business and was severely uncomfortable. After using that and putting Aquafur on it, I did not itch AT ALL.  I had been using an anti fungal, anti itch cream that seemed to irritate that.  So yay!  I am confident it will finish healing when I am done with my cycle.  The 'angry lymph nodes'-  there were four marble sized lumps on my lower abdomen as I had explained before.  I only feel one and it has shrunk significantly and it is not painful to the touch.  AWESOME!  I don't know if the yeast is going away but (you may not want to read further) when I was on my period for the last 6 months, my blood literally itched inside and outside.  It would inflame everything and I would be miserable- NOTHING HELPED.  My blood does not itch.  It's crazy!  I can only take that as a good sign.
So even though I have made a few mistakes with the diet, I believe it has been working.  And it has also given me an appreciation for learning more about what foods are 'healthy'.  I always tried to eat foods that would make me feel full because I really didn't like eating.  I liked eating when I didn't have to make it, but during work, I would rather work hungry than full- I would get tired and try to have a red bull for a boost which would help for like 2 hours max- but then would crash and be starving again.  I don't really feel starving anymore- I feel weak and that's when I know I've gone too long without eating and I eat something.  Eating doesn't make me feel gross or heavy or tired- I don't need or want naps in the afternoon.  I never thought that would be possible- caffeine free, no carbs, no sugar = MORE ENERGY.
I saw my sister today and she looked at my face and told me she could see a difference.  I was really happy to see her today.
Tomorrow I have therapy, I'm going out to lunch with a girl from church which I'm excited about, going to try to get up early for 'coffee' (tea for me) with my ma and friend, and maybe a prayer group in the evening.  I need something like that right now because the bible study I attend, sigh.  It's complicated.
Tomorrow I will print out the pdf and will have it on the fridge and in my purse so I know exactly what to buy.
I also found 'clean food' on facebook and friended it- cool to check out.  It's the recipe book I was talking about.
I'm excited about tomorrow because it will be 1 WEEK!!!! Celebrate with cake??? haha... rice cake that is! laugh...
Until tomorrow...

Day 5

I am finally feeling more normal.  Yay!
Therapy went well.  I talked to her about my diet change and the frustration I had with the last doctor that I saw.  It feels good to be actively fighting this thing instead of just sitting in misery waiting for it to end.  I still have fear that it won't work but if I think that way it can't possible help.  She said that I seemed to have more energy.  I told her I still only take one Wellbutrin in the morning and have not taken a second dose in the afternoon.  They put me on this because I was lacking motivation for pretty much everything.  I would sleep most of the day and night. The second dose was supposed to help me not take naps but I haven't needed them so I'm excited about that.  I will be decreasing the dosage of the benzo tonight which is great because I have been anxious in the past about it but now it seems doable.  Anyway, the fun part was afterward we went to Harry's (whole foods).  We stocked up on nuts and got some unique greens.  I also got a body brush for the dry brushing technique which I will try before I shower tomorrow.  I will include that information in tomorrows blog.  The highlight was lunch.  Whole foods have lunch buffets and we decided to give it a try.  There were a lot of casserole dishes that I steered clear from.  I had some chicken- it did have some sauce on it but I took off most of the skin to tried to avoid it.  I got some asparagus (which I didn't eat but brought home) and the most amazing dish- I combined RED quinoa and sauteed kale with canola oil, salt and pepper, with walnuts.  So amazingly good.  I topped it off with some strawberries.  No soda for me either- just water.  Apparently even the sugarless calorie free sodas can mess with your pH.  For dinner, I had turkey and swiss omelette and an avocado.  I also looked at some testimonies that my sister sent me for encouragement.  Here's one:


"Since I was about 16 I have suffered from depression, constipation, bloating, wind, fatigue, headaches, irritability, stress, anxiety, feeling sick after eating very little, stomach cramps. I have seen doctor after doctor with the different symptoms and have had a variety of diagnoses ranging from IBS, depression, premenstrual tension, and a week immune system, as I catch anything going. When a colleague of mine asked if it could be Candidiasis like she suffers I looked it up, started immediately on the diet (as I mainly ate bread, pastas biscuits cakes chocolate, oats, potatoes etc) all the wrong foods. 3 weeks on already I have seen such a massive difference - I have loads more energy to chase my toddlers around, I'm not stressed and shouting at them anymore, I'm not obsessive, I don't get out of breath as easily, no more stomach pains or bloating, or wind, or headaches, and I have (sorry to divulge this) been number 2 every other day so far, rather than once a week. I feel great!! Admittedly for 2 days when I started the diet I thought I had the flu coming but I pushed past it and wow do I feel great!! I even eat more than ever and finish what's on my plate without feeling sick! Thank goodness there are sites like this to help people and let them know they are not alone!"


I definitely starting to feel a bit better.  I am also noticing my skin becoming more clear.  I use makeup to cover blackheads that I've had since high school.  They are SHRINKING!  It's nuts!  I've tried birth control, every kind of cleanser, and even pro-active.  Nothing was really working except for birth control which reduced heavy acne, but it never took those annoying blackheads away.  Also, the bags under my eyes which never go away no matter how much sleep I get are not as baggy and droopy... awesome!

A good resource for foods to eat can be found at the link below:
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/candida-diet-food-list.html

Here's what the basics are:
Foods to Eat on a Candida Diet

• Though cereals hinder the process of candida cleanse, yet there are some which can be eaten safely once in a while. These are quinoa, teff, millet and barley. Wild rice and basmati rice when taken with legumes are also safe to consume if consumed in limited amounts.
• After strictly following the candida diet food list for a month or so, you can include hot cereals that are free from wheat or corn in your diet.
• Try to prepare your food with pungent spices whenever possible, as it boosts the digestion.
• You can have sprouts but make sure that you sprout them yourself otherwise there are chances that you get some molds along with them.
• You can have some nuts such as hazel nuts and Brazil nuts.
• You can have fish like salmon, tuna, and other seafoods.
• Stay away from starchy vegetables such as carrot. Fresh green leafy vegetables like spinach is safe to take.
• Herbal teas, protein shakes and almond milk are perfectly fine to drink. Try to have ginger tea twice a day. It will be very helpful for digestion.
• Brown flour products
• Unprocessed meat
• Brown rice
• Soya milk
• Unprocessed fish
• Cold pressed oils
• Rice cakes and oat cakes
• Eggs
• Onions
• Nuts and seeds
• Lentils
• Beans
• Herbs and mild spices. You could read more on Vegetarian Candida Diet.
• Vegetables like naturally grown organic beans, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, radish, celery, parsley, peas, arugula spinach and tomatoes.
• Fish, chicken and eggs.
• Fruits like berries, grapefruit, papaya and pineapple.
• Unprocessed grain and cereals.
• Unsweetened and unyeasted baked products.
• Dried black-eyed and chickpeas and lentils.
• Unsweetened soy milk.
• Vegetable and meat broths without sweetener.

• Foods to Avoid on a Candida Diet:
• Processed foods.
• Flake cereals and sprouted grain cereals.
• Pasta.
• Cakes, pastries and processed baked food containing sugar.
• Processed legumes.
• Tofu.
• Nuts and seeds.
• Sweetened dairy products.
• Dried fruit.
• Alcohol.
• Condiments.
• Sauces and pickles.
• Meat products with added antibiotics and hormones.
• Smoked meats.
• Vegetables like mushrooms and the skins of beetroot, tomato, carrot, potato and cucumber.
• Candida diet food list excludes anything that is pre-made or is not home made. You should strictly avoid buffet food, TV dinners, ketchup, dressing for salad, etc. In case you have to eat in a restaurant, then prefer going to the one which can cook the food for you the way you want it to be. However, you can eat stevia and xylitol in place of sugar.
• Try to avoid anything that is sweet. Stay away from any type of sugar such as honey, fructose, maltose, molasses, syrup, chocolate, and even fruits and dry fruits. In fact, coffee and tea are also prohibited, when you are on candida cleanse diet.
• Fake foods such as egg beaters and margarine are a strict no, no.
• Till the time you are on candida cleanse, do not drink milk at all, especially pasteurized milk.
• Avoid using corn and peanut oil in your foods.
• Do not eat anything that leads you to constipation.
• Avoid canned beans such as plague, as they usually contain some sugar.
• Do not eat yeast products such as bread, pizza, buns, gravy mix, etc. Read more on candida yeast diet.
• Cheese cream, cured and smoked products such as bacons, kippers and meat.
• Fermented products such as vinegar, sauces, pickles, alcohol, etc.
• Refined grains
• Prepared breakfast cereals excluding shredded wheat
• Mushroom
• Malted products
• Foods with citric acid
• Peanuts and its related products
• Also:

• Beet Sugar
• Maple Sugar
• Date Sugar
• Organic Cane Syrup
• Organic Cane Juice
• Organic Cane Sugar
• Dextrose
• Maltose
• Lactose
• Maltodextrin
• Fructose
• High Fructose Corn Syrup
• Brown Sugar
• Powdered Sugar
• Honey
• Molasses
• Alcohol

• Benefits of Following Candida Diet Food List

• Detoxification of all the toxic products produced by candida in your body.
• Reduction in the population of candida and bringing it back to the safe limit.
• The foods listed in the candida diet food list provide you with probiotics (good bacteria), which in turn boosts your immune system.
• In case, you are taking yeast infection supplements, following a diet based on the candida diet food list, will fasten the process of killing of the candida.
• By following an anti-candida diet, you will derive several other benefits as well. The foodstuffs present in the candida diet food list will bring back the digestive system and the immune system to their normal functioning.

 I've found this site to be comforting:

http://www.womentowomen.com/digestionandgihealth/candida.aspx

Anyway, I spent most of the afternoon catching up on some Bible study stuff.  I did not do yoga today... will try tomorrow.  I'm about to walk the dogs though so I've got some exercise down.  All in all, a pretty good day!  5 days- craving sweets and bread less and less :)

Day 4

Well, my appetite has gone way down due to getting my period.  I thought today would be eventful but everything on my list fell through.  No wal-mart, no guitar lesson and no babysitting.  I think that's ok though because I was not feeling well.  I remembered why I started taking birth control.  However, I remember when I was running regularly with soccer in high school and in college that they were not that rough.   I do believe that exercising regularly helps decrease pain during that time of the month.  I will force myself to do yoga tomorrow.
This morning for breakfast I had oat meal with cinnamon, blueberries, strawberries and walnuts.  I am not a huge walnut fan but I am trying to be open minded.  It wasn't bad and I felt full.  I had 1 cup of Almond milk which is so good to me.  It does have sugar in it- not sure if that is ok, but I don't drink a lot of it.  I wasn't hungry again until about 4 (I ate at 11:30 because I didn't have an appetite).  For dinner we had burgers with no bun, a little swiss cheese, a tomato slice (pinch of salt) and an avocado sliced (lightly salted).  My mom also made sauteed zucchini circles that were yum.  She said she did to them what she normally does with potatoes and made them extra crispy.  Delish.  I had a little bit of a granny smith with organic peanut butter as a snack.  I eat everything that is on my plate which is something that I rarely did when I would eat carbs.  My parent are doing this as well (at least when they are home).  They had mexican food for lunch so I'm sure they ate carbs, sugar etc.
I am really sick of this 'disease'.  I can tell its still present because my period isn't quite normal.  I keep wondering when my life will get back on track again.  I have cut out caffeine, alcohol, other stimulants, negative influences, going to therapy... I want to do more- to be motivated to explore and try new things.  I feel so handicapped because of this.  It's distracting, irritating, painful, nauseating, and impacting my life negatively.  I hope every day that things will get better but after 6 months, I am tired of keeping my hopes up.  What if I'm unable to have children someday because of this?  I know that may seem like an over reaction to a lot of people because I'm not even married yet, but I can't help but wonder.
Tomorrow I have therapy.  I haven't been for a week because of the snow 'storm'.  Last time I was there I was in tears because it had gotten so bad and I had no answers.  It surprising how much I talk about this in therapy.  I keep thinking it's in my head, that I'm creating this problem for myself somehow but there is physical evidence that keeps me from going nuts.
I really want a gooey bagel with cream cheese.  I thought I ate pretty well before this.  I think half of it was carbs and sugar.  I almost lost it yesterday.  I was headed to the pantry for a chocolate square but I kept thinking- this will hurt you if you eat it now.
On a positive note, meditating and reading the Bible has been helpful during cravings.  I have been thinking a lot about the potential children's minister position at church.  I've always like program development and wonder if I could work on some stuff and give it to Gary to review- even if I don't apply or get the position, it might help for them to have some ideas.  I like the music ministry but I want to do more- especially if its a paid position.
Tomorrow I have therapy like I said and it's right next to a whole foods.  I'm going to stop in there and see what else is out there to eat!
Until tomorrow...

Day 3

The big day has arrived.  Church was really great.  I didn't really 'feel' like singing, but I wanted to do things as normally as possible and was really blessed by the worship and message.  Then the pizza arrived. I ran and got my leftover lunch of quinoa, brussels sprouts and chicken and ate that.  I had a few pepperonis which were amazing.  After church, watches the Bears win.  Ate a rice cake w/'organic' peanut butter on it and some strawberries.  For dinner, we had breakfast sausage and eggs with swiss cheese and ham.  I liked the eggs but think I over ate them.  I then went to church again to help with the youth group.  I continued to have a headache and at lunch, I had a diet caffeine sugar free coke.  It tasted so good.  2 hours later I wanted brownies.  That fake sugar did what it was supposed to do- make me crave real sugar that much more.  Feeling glad that I left home and didn't eat sugar, we relaxed to watch a movie.  I had to use the bathroom when - bam- I have my period a week early.  I just came off the pill so I'm not looking forward to how long it will last.  Here's hoping not long.  I continue to feel hungry often but try hard to ignore it.  My fear is that I'm loosing weight.  I need to purchase a scale to make sure this is going to be healthy.  I have some major things to do tomorrow; guitar lesson, wal-mart, baby-sit (which I'm glad to do because my mom make sugary treats for their bible study group so it will be good for me not to be there).  Not feeling very introspective right now, just tired and crampy.  Hopefully tomorrow will be a more entertaining day.

Day 2

This morning was rough.  I went to bed feeling hungry and I woke up hungry with a migraine.  I can't believe how much food has sugar and carbs in it.  I felt like I wanted to scratch somebody's face off and that normally isn't me.
A few things I forgot to mention yesterday.  I have been drinking a ton of water.  This gets hard in the afternoon when I usually have some tea/soda/juice to tide me over until dinner.  Probably why I was so hungry by dinner.  I have also been taking citracel tablets to make sure my body processes 'stuff'.  I usually take two at lunch and at dinner.
9:30 am: I ate a bowl of steal cut oatmeal with blueberries.  I added some cinnamon spice to add a little flavor and it was a bit better than yesterday.  Im realizing that I will have to experiment with spices.  I drank a cup of tea with no sugar and a large glass of water.  I took some advil because I couldn't take it along with my meds, vitamin C and probiotic.  My sister texted me saying something about a migraine.  I thought she had talked to my mom who knew I had one but she had guessed.  This is kind of like when I went off of caffeine.  I did not do much in the morning because of the headache.  I was feeling really depressed and upset that this has been going on for so long.  How long will I have to do this?  This is only the second day- what am I going to do?  My parents came back home from wal-mart and my mom had found noodles that I can eat!
I hate eating left overs but I know that is going to have to change.  So for lunch I had a hamburger patty with a slice of Muenster cheese.  I would have used swiss but we did not have any.  Most of it came off of the burger anyway and was left of the wax paper it was heated up on.  I cut up a half of a cucumber in to long slices.  It took a long time to eat but it was pretty tasty.  My mom had also bought some nuts- brazilian nuts, walnuts and we still have pecans.  I found some old jam jars and put the nuts in it and put them on the other side of the kitchen- to stay away from the sugar pantry.  It was helpful.  The brazilian nuts were pretty good- take a long time to chew and feel a bit like chips.  I haven't tried the walnuts yet.  I also found lemons in the kitchen so I cut them up and used it in my water and it was a pretty big difference.  I was less hungry and had a better attitude.  My headache was dull still so I thought I would try some of the other suggestions my sister had.
I tried the 'sweat bath'.  I got the water in the tub as hot as I could stand it, got in and stayed in there until I sweat out 'toxins' for about 20 minutes.  I notices I was getting pretty light headed so I would rotate sitting and laying down.  I have pretty low blood pressure so this would be something to watch out for- don't want to pass out in the shower!  I also put some baking soda in the bath water.
I was a bit nervous about this.  When I had the huge panic attack, I had just gotten out of the shower.  If you have had a panic attack, you know you tend to avoid the thing you were doing when you had one.  I relaxed and enjoyed it.
After the bath, I saw how much dead skin was in the water and was totally grossed out.  I will be trying a technique called a 'dry brush' soon and I'm sure if I had done that before then it would have been a lot worse.  I SLOWLY stood up as to not have blood rush out of my head and proceeded with my shower.  I do not use antibacterial soap because it can mess with the 'ecosystem'- or so the OB/GYN told me.  I haven't noticed a change but have a ton of dove soap so I'll be using that for a while.  I washed really well, did a rinse on the rash with baking soda, and tried another technique that is supposed to stimulate your nervous system.  This technique is called the contrast shower.  I was not looking forward to this as you shower from hot water to cold water and repeat 3 times.  Some articles said that you stand under them for 30 min and switch to 15, but I don't like spending a ton of time in the shower.  I did 3 rotations for 30 seconds each.  It was interesting.  I'll have to do it again to make a decision of whether I liked it or not.  Really don't like cold showers.  When I was done, I made sure I lotion that had a lot of vitamins.  I will try baby oil next time.  My skin was really craving replenishment afterwards.  I felt pretty relaxed and thought that the whole process would be great after some yoga.
I went to my room (after I put aquafer on the rash) and looked at my bed.  I decided I needed to 'cleanse' everything.  I pulled my bed apart, flipped the mattress and washed all the linens as well as towels and other laundry.
Dinner time I was hungry.  I filled out a few job applications online in the afternoon and felt really weak and tired.  I believe this is just my body adjusting.  I would eat nuts or a few blueberries if I felt nibbley so I knew I wasn't depriving myself.  I rested for a few minutes by the fire and that seemed to help.
For dinner we ate brown rice, steak, and brussels sprouts with cherry tomatoes.   I only had two tomatoes  because I wasn't sure if they were okay to eat.  It takes a lot longer to eat without condiments.  Can't use ketchup or soy sauce or anything like that so you really taste flavors you normally don't taste.
For desert I had some strawberries and blueberries which is my favorite part of the day.  I also took citracel as I am feeling a bit const.
As this day closed, I still feel hungry and slightly deprived.  I still have yeast but as I was thinking in the tub today, this feels like a 'fasting'.  On 3/3/03 a few of my friends fasted for 24 hours and could only have juice.  I am going to try treating it as such and hopefully will grow stronger spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically.  I already started using some meditation skills I learned in a yoga camp I went to.  I am hoping this keeps my mind focused on the goal and improve my temperament.
I have my first major test tomorrow.  Our church has a meeting after services with my biggest temptation present... papa johns pizza.  I already have lunch prepared to take with me but it will take a lot for me not to just have a piece.  My mom had a cup of coffee today and it about drove me nuts- I think my sense of smell has heightened too,
Our neighbor let us borrow a cookbook called 'Clean Start' (a second one called 'Clean Food') which had a lot of recipes I look forward to trying.  She uses no sugar and no wheat.  All of her sugar comes from maple syrup (she has a brownie recipe with no sugar or flour!)  I am hoping I can make them for my birthday.  I will miss frosting and cake this year.
Thus concludes day two.  

Day 1

I have had a problem for the past 6 months.  I had a urinary tract infection which led to antibiotics which lead to a yeast infection which led to a very bad doctor telling me to douche and use a 7 day insertable treatment.  I have been on antibiotics for a month.  I have been on 6 different insertable treatments.  I have taken the pill that is supposed to illuminate yeast infections.  I have even done homeopathic inserts.  Four doctors, one nut job in Chicago, a family practitioner, a OB/GYN and one gyno 'specialist', all could give me no answers.
Around the same time as the initial UTI happened, I had a severe panic attack and spiraled into depression and heard every train of thought going through my head at the same time with the volume turned all the way up.  I couldn't eat- I wasn't hungry.  I would feel panic around food.  I decided to move home and get help.
I am currently on the generic brand of Zoloft, Wellbutrin, and am weening off of a benzo for panic.  I have been on birth control for 4 years- Tri-Sprintec.
I owe a little over 3,000 in medical bills as I also had an ultrasound and a transvaginal ultrasound, resulting in finding a small uterine fibroid (probably why my periods are bad).
I had a rash from having to wear pads all the time which I researched and most are toxic to our system because they use the chemical dioxin to create them.
I was using an antifungal/yeast gel that the gyno specialist told me to use but it wasn't helping the rash or the yeast.
Then I felt lumps in my lower abdomen (where the leg connects to the front part of your body) and they hurt to touch.  (Only to find out they were 'angry lymph nodes' and would eventually go away- thanks Dr.- I'll be sure to follow those directions perfectly.)
I broke down.
I called my mom and then called my older sister.  She's only two years older than me but she knows how to find information!  This is what she found:


 "So i've been awakened....and it's to the disease of candidiasis!! do you have a yeast overgrowth in your body? and i'm not talking about women's "yeast infections" although that can be a symptom...i'm talking about a total systemic, body invasion of yeast. do you CRAVE sugar?? you are feeding the yeast in your body!! here's a list of symptoms that may be letting you know if you have yeast overgrowth in your body...

depression
irritability
anxiety
panic attacks
recurring obsessive thoughts
personality changes and mood swings (irrational rage or crying for no reason -
fear of talking to people, any kind of confrontation, isolation)
paranoia
abdominal gas and bloating
headaches
migraines
excessive fatigue
cravings for alcohol
menstrual difficulties
male impotence
male and female infertility
anxiety
vaginitis
rectal itching
cravings for sweets
inability to think clearly or concentrate
hyperactivity
mood swings
diarrhea
constipation
hyperactivity
itching
acne
eczema
depression
sinus inflammation
pre-menstrual syndrome
dizziness
poor memory
persistent cough
earaches
low sex drive
muscle weakness
irritability
learning difficulties
sensitivity to fragrances and/or other chemicals
cognitive impairment
thrush
athlete's foot
sore throat
indigestion
acid reflux
chronic pain 

scared now?? it's true...just google "candida symptoms" and you'll see thousands of websites talking about the scary health detriment. i don't know why doctors seem to be so prone to prescribing medications that can be eliminated by your DIET. what you eat means everything!! if your doctor doesn't talk about what you eat every day....run away!! read this:
"One of the most well known forms of yeast is the vaginal yeast infection.However, it may play a role in just about any mental health condition or chronic illness you can think of. Yeast overgrowth is considered to be a leading contributor in alcoholism, anxiety disorders, asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, addisons disease, mcs - multiple chemical sensitivities, crohns, autism, cfs - chronic fatigue syndrome, leaky gut syndrome, pms, endometriosis,fms - fibromyalgia syndrome, prostatitis, attention deficit disorder, multiple sclerosis, asthma, food allergies, muscle and joint pain, clinical depression, repeated urinary tract infections, hormonal imbalances, migraines, digestive disturbances, difficult menopause psoriasis, lupus, chronic pain, tourette's, vulvodynia, rheumatoid arthritis and many more. "

why am i so passioned about this? because i believe i had this!! my gut was completely out of whack and i was nauseous for 8+months. my doctor wanted to prescribe me anti-anxiety/anti-depressants, and did manage to send me home with at least 5 acid reducers and intestinal cramping blockers. none which worked. after my own research, i found this troubling problem of candida overgrowth and sure enough...there's my symptoms. after only a month i couldn't believe how much better i felt. there IS something to eating your vegetables people! and avoiding processed JUNK!! what are you doing to yourself?? it can even cause infertility!! why is our default drugs instead of diet?!?

the best place to start informing yourself is here http://www.thecandidadiet.com/

do this at-home test:
Spittle Test

Here's a simple test you can do at home to determine whether you have Candida.
1. When you get up in the morning, and before you brush your teeth, eat or drink anything, fill a 
glass with bottled water at room temperature. 
2. Spit some saliva gently into the glass.
3. Come back every 20 minutes for the next hour and check for some of these tell-tale signs of Candida:

- 'Strings' coming down through the water from the saliva at the top
- Cloudy saliva sitting at the bottom of the glass
- Opaque specks of saliva suspended in the water

If you see any of these signs, go speak to your doctor and get tested!

I also wrote this list of foods to follow in the candida diet that can be a helpful reference...
Foods to Eliminate
*********************

Sugar in all forms, including honey, except occasional whole fresh fruit.
Fungus, molds, and yeast in all forms, including vitamins and minerals.
Most B vitamins (unless label states otherwise).
breads and commercial baked goods.
All alcoholic beverages.
Mushrooms.
Vinegar and all foods containing vinegar, including salad dressing,
sauerkraut, green olives, pickled vegetables, and relishes.
Some crackers (read labels carefully for yeast ingredients).
Fermented products including soy sauce (tamari) and tofu.
Dry roasted nuts.
Barbecued potato chips.
Most commercial soups.
Apple cider and natural root beer.
White flour.
Bacon and other pork, which often contain molds.
Wheat, oats, rye and barley, which contain gluten and can feed Candida.
Fruit and diluted fruit juices, high in fructose (fruit sugar). 
A small amount of Swiss or Mozzarella cheese can be reintroduced in Stage 2"
white flour or white flour foods like cakes, cookies, pasta. Vinegar is made using yeast culture. Vinegar-containing foods include: pickles, pickled foods, relishes, mayonnaise, salad dressing, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, mustard, horseradish, chili sauce, to name but a few
Dairy foods to be avoided typically include: cow's milk, (whole, skim, 2% fat) and dry powdered milk. 



Reduce
*************
Whole grains and starchy vegetables until symptoms lessen.
Fruit and diluted fruit juices, which may cause yeast to grow.
Nuts and seeds (small amounts). NOT DRY ROASTED
Beans and other legumes (small amounts).
some websites say berries and green apples ok, i'd wait a few weeks to add this back in!!
Fruits are greatly restricted on any candida cleanse protocol since they're high
in natural sugars which feeds the yeast. While on the yeast elimination diet choose
only low-sugar fruits such as Granny Smith apples, oranges, grapefruit,
lemons, limes, cranberries, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries (all berries in general.)Avoid all fruit juices since these are very high in sugar. Although it’s natural sugar, candida doesn’t know the difference.


Emphasize
*************
Eggs, fish, chicken, turkey, seafood, lamb, and veal.
Vegetables except corn and potatoes.
Vegetables that inhibit the growth of Candida: raw garlic, onions,cabbage, broccoli, turnip, kale. 
The best vegetables to focus on during a candida detox are 
green leafy vegetables, peppers, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, 
broccoli, cucumbers, onions, eggplant, tomato, squashes, 
carrots (raw carrots only since cooking raises the glycemic value) and celery.
Eggs, fish, chicken, turkey, seafood, lamb, or veal, sauteed in a littl butter or safflower oil or baked with vegetables.
Steamed, sauteed, or baked vegetables, especially onions, garlic,cabbage, broccoli, turnips, and kale. All vegetables are fine except potatoes and corn, which are high in carbohydrates. Sauteed vegetables with eggs on rice cakes, or a vegetable omelet.
Salads seasoned with safflower oil and a little fresh lemon juice.
Gazpacho, tomato-based fish chowder, begetable soup, chicken or lamb stew.
Small quantities of rice and millet. A cold rice salad with steamed vegetables, seasoned with oil and lemon juice; sauteed rice with shrimp, chicken, and vegetables, or simply steamed vegetables with either grain are a few ideas that will work on this program. Rice cakes, found in some supermarkets and health food stores, can be used instead of bread. Vegetable sticks with guacamole dip (avocado, fresh tomatoes, onions, lemon juice, and a little salt) for a snack. NOT PREPACKAGED
Buckwheat
Millet
Amaranth
Oats
Quinoa
Wild and brown rice
Grains contain a high amount of fiber, excellent for keeping the colon clear
so Candida doesn't get a chance to multiply.
Grains also act like a pipecleaner in your intestine, grabbing nasty toxins like pollutants,chemicals, pesticides and heavy metals on their way through. 
cottage chs, low sugar, ok

TOP TEN!!
1. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a potent Candida killer, and one of the most potent antifungals there is. It contains Lauric acid and Caprylic acid, which both help prevent Candida overgrowth and strengthen your immune system. 
Coconut oil is very heat stable, so it's an ideal oil to use for frying and cooking. 
It is also cheap to buy and has a much longer shelf life than other oils, so there's no excuse!
You can 2-3 tablespoons per day. 


2. Garlic
Garlic has powerful antifungal properties to attack Candida, while also preserving and boosting the good bacteria in your digestive system. Garlic stimulates the liver and colon, giving it a potent detoxifying effect on the body. 
If you love garlic, then use it liberally to flavor your food. 
You can also drink 2-4 cloves per day, crushed and mixed with water as an anti-Candida tonic. Avoid taking it on an completely empty stomach, and try it with a tablespoon of coconut oil to cut down on the stomach burn.

3. Onions
Onions have strong anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic properties. 
They also help to flush excess fluids out the body - this is useful because many
Candida sufferers experience water retention. Onions along with garlic can give you breath issues, so a handy tip is to eat them with a bit of parsley to counter the smell.

4. Seaweed
Seaweed is a nutrient-dense healing food that will help the body in the fight against Candida. It is rich in Iodine to help balance your thyroid gland - Candida sufferers often experience hypothyroidism and its many symptoms. Seaweed flushes toxic pollutants and heavy metals from the body, cleanses the intestinal tract and helps eliminate acid from the body to balance your PH levels. 
Kelp extract supplements are one of the most potent sources of Iodine, but you should also try eating lots of different types of seaweed.

5. Almonds: raw from whole foods!! soooo good for you
Almonds can be your best friend - a healthy portable snack that will help with your Candida diet. Keep them handy to counter any temptation when you are on the go and starving. Research has actually shown that almonds have prebiotic properties that promote beneficial bacteria in the gut. Unlike other nuts and animal products, they are an excellent source of alkaline protein. Some people have problems digesting almonds, so soak them first if you have any issues. Just leave them in water overnight or for around 8 hours. 

6. Ginger
Ginger has a detoxing on the body by increasing circulation and detoxifying the liver, in addition to stimulating the immune system. It has a positive effect on the digestive system and helps reduce intestinal gas. It also has a soothing effect on any inflammation that the Candida overgrowth may cause in your intestinal tract. 
Ginger tea is incredibly easy to make - here's how you do it: 
Ingredients:
1 square inch piece of fresh Ginger root
Squeeze of lemon
2 cup of water

Cut off the outside of the ginger root, then grate it and add to boiling water. 
Boil for 20 minutes. Strain and serve with a slice of lemon.

7. Olive Oil
Olive oil contains a plant chemical named Oleuropein, which is found in both 
olive oil and olive leaf extract. It contains powerful anti-fungal properties and stimulates your immune system response to Candida. It has also been shown to help stabilize blood sugar levels -this is important for Candida sufferers because elevated blood sugar levels can feed your yeast overgrowth. 
*some people i read drink about 3 T a day!!*

8. Lemon and Lime Juice
Lemon and lime juice promote a more alkaline pH level in your body, which helps prevent and reduce Candida overgrowth. They also stimulate the peristaltic action of your colon, increasing the efficiency of your digestive system. Both lemons and limes are great options for seasoning your vegetable, fish and meat dishes.

9. Pumpkin Seeds~ raw from whole foods!!
Pumpkin Seeds are high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which have anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-parasitic properties.'Omega-3's also help combat depression and symptoms of Candida inflammation such as pain and skin conditions. 
It is a well established fact that most of us do not get enough Omega-3 oils in our diet to maintain optimum thyroid health. Deficiencies in this fatty acid have been linked to lower thyroid hormone levels. For an easy Omega-3 boost, add these pumpkin seeds to cereal, smoothies, salads or even use them as a portable snack.

10. Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper gives natural support to your digestive system and immune system. 
It helps to digest food and reduces constipation by cleansing the bowel of Candida and other toxins. Cayenne also increases metabolism and circulation, which will help to reduce one of the most common Candida symptoms, fatigue. Use cayenne pepper liberally to spice up your favorite foods.



HERBAL TEAS~ antifungal
Cinnamon Tea
Clove Tea
Chamomile Tea
Pau D'arco Tea
Peppermint Tea
Ginger Tea
Licorice Tea
Lemongrass Tea

Supplements for Candida Diet 
*****************************
Take for one month after symptoms stop.

Yeast-free multi-vitamin/mineral
1000 milligrams vitamin C, two times a day
Lactobacilus acidophilus tablets to increase intestinal bacteria"


As I read through the list of behavioral, emotional and physical symptoms compared to the symptoms I was experiencing, my jaw about hit the floor.  
How in the world can this be?
You mean to tell me that through diet things will finally change?
I'm a bit of a skeptic but I don't have any other choice but to try it.  Through this blog over the next month-2 months (may have to go longer if yeast is still presenting itself) I will be STARVING this yeast out of my body through diet.  I will incorporate yoga 2 times a week for the first week, then 3 - 4 times a week for the following weeks.


DAY ONE:
I came into it pretty positive.  It was finally some hope after feeling so hopeless and miserable.  I would have good days and then I would have really bad weeks. (10am)  For breakfast I had oatmeal- not the kind from the package, but plain old oats.  I put a few blueberries in there.  I'm not a huge breakfast person but I had been eating a bowl of frosted mini wheats and lactaid milk on a daily basis.  Felt pretty good.  I took my medications (which includes a pro-biotic) with a full glass of water and went on my way.  I stopped my birth control which I was using to help with pain during periods and skin issues.  I worked organizing the basement of my parents house for about 3 hours and then couldn't take it anymore- I was starving.  I ate a full plate of spinach and romaine salad with cucumbers with carrots with a EVOO/lemon juice/salt/pepper glaze although I used too much on my salad which was not the most pleasant experience but I ate it anyway.  I had about 7 small pieces of imitation crab meat (not sure if this is ok but didn't have any meat prepared).  Usually for lunch I have a peanut butter and banana sandwich with wheat or white bread (honestly whichever is softer in the pantry) and some chips.  For snacks I had roasted pecans, some strawberries and blueberries.  Usually I have chocolate or a canada dry.  For dinner I ate 3/4 of a piece of grilled chicken, quinoa and broccoli.  For desert I had a few blueberries and strawberries.  Later that night I had half of a green apple with peanut butter because I was starving- usually have some kind of ice cream, cake or cookies.  Needless to say I cherish my berries and did ok until the evening.  I noticed I became more irritable than normal.  Already though, I noticed that the lymph nodes don't hurt and seem to be shrinking.  I still have yeast coming out, but I take this as a good sign because before it would just come out in glops sometimes when I went number 2.  I took 2 citricel tablets at lunch and two at dinner.  I also began taking Azo yeast at night and 1000 mg of vitamin C.  I am almost out and will be going shopping tomorrow for some more supplies and hopefully more food ideas.  Snacks are the hardest part.  No sugar, no dairy, no carbs (even rice cakes have carbs- but I am determined to find some that don't), no corn- this is huge.  CORN IS IN EVERYTHING.  Ugh.  I know I'm full but I don't quite 'feel' full.  My sister said thats the yeast screaming at me.  Well that's to bad yeast.  I'm putting up a fight and I will win.