La Dolce Vita (The Sweet Life) - on a tiny budget.

Makingabobor2

Totally agree with what you say about gluten etc and this is something I have tried a bit before and then gone gone off track. Have been thinking of giving it a go again and starting to make my own GF bread maybe after Christmas. Think if I can stop the sugar thing, that will help no end.   You mentioned lentils., I find they upset my IBS, we used to eat them a lot until DH got diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, and I discovered they were bad for that as well. He says I was slowly poisoning him....lol.  Would love to eat them again for the protein, which I need to increase.  What ones do you use? Maybe if i blitzed them into soup they would be ok. 

Good news on your blood tests. 
We are just about to start on the last 6 episodes of the Crown. We also watched the Diplomat. Loved it, hope there will be a 2nd series. 

helensbiggestfan

MB.  I am afraid I cheat.  I buy lentils in tins, usually from Aldi. I don't eat them very often but I usually have a couple of tins on standby.  

 Shame they trigger your IBS.  Just goes to show it's all trial and error isn't it. There's no one size fits all solution.  I tend to find that I mustn't overdo things or eat the same thing too frequently.  I can tolerate some things in small doses but if I eat too much of the same thing then the intolerance thing sets in.  

Today I've eaten a low glycemic bread roll from Lidl for my lunch.  (They have a really good fresh bakery section) - not from the ordinary bread aisle with all the large scale commercial breads.  It was delicious. I feel fine although I can feel it  lying "a bit heavy" iyswim. I  won't eat any bread now for several days.  I probably have bread as a treat about 1 or 2 a week.    Any more and I'm in trouble. I bet the same would be the case for lentils.   

The only foods I can eat on a regular basis are meat, fish, eggs, vegetables........back to the Stone Age/elimination diet. It's what our ancestors ate and what our bodies are biologically adapted to eat.  Anything else is a relatively modern addition (in evolutionary terms) and not everyone's digestive system has fully adapted to dairy and grains, and certainly not to modern highly processed foods, loaded with additives and chemicals.  They are very much a late 20th century addition.  

Have you watched ever watched any of the Van Tullekan (Chris and Xander). twins programmes about diet and nutrition.  They are Dutch and are both doctors and they have done a lot of research into food.  Being genetically identical twins they are the perfect subjects for all sorts of food experiments and trials.  Their latest research has been into ultra processed foods.  I think it was Xander who put himself on an ultra processed foods only diet for a month,  the results were terrifying.  As he  pointed out, not only does a poor diet high in ultra processed foods affect us physically and make us very sick it also affects our brain chemistry, and it is particularly devastating to brain development in children. 

We are still learning and there is still much we don't fully understand.  

Going back to my blood tests........I only found out I had an issue because my gynaecologist requested blood tests.  I would have been blithely unaware there was an issue otherwise.  My blood tests also revealed a slightly low white T cell count, and borderline Vit d levels.  Now I have a base line to work from I can do something about these issues before they become problematic and make me really sick.  

It's such a pity that current medical practice isn't more proactive in functional medicine.  We all know that prevention is better than cure,  I am sure the NHS could save billions if they did more "well person" testing and evaluations. 

I had to pay for my initial blood test (the follow up was on the NHS) because my surgery wasn't interested when I voiced my concerns about my symptoms.  I am fortunate that I could afford it and that I can afford Vitamin supplements as required.  Not everyone can......what happens to them. 

Unfortunately, I can't see the situation improving any time soon.......  

Paspatur

Hi, I have been unable to eat bread for about 5 years. I go from slim to looking 6 months pregnant almost immediately. I have however found I can eat one slice of toast with my 2 eggs in the morning. It turns out toasting kills wheat germ agglutin which must be what I cannot tolerate. Also has to be with real butter not the spreadable stuff with rape seed or other oils. I am happy to have found a solution which does not involve a label like gluten free. Doesn't work with thick sliced bread as this can still be 'raw toast' to me.

helensbiggestfan

Paspatur.  

That's interesting about the toast.  Good that you found a way round the problem.  I had no idea about how toasting bread could make a difference like that.  I'm totally with you on the real butter.  Can't stand that spreadable stuff.  Lol. 

Had a lovely evening, a simple supper of baked Camembert and salad leaves, a nap and then a lovely quirky little film called "Still Time" about a workaholic who "loses" a year every few hours. 

A timely reminder to slow down and live simply so that you make the most of every day, not to get hung up on possessions and the quest for "more". I also saw it as not dwelling too much on the past, or fretting about the future,  but just to really live in the present.  Something I've been thinking about a lot lately.  

I "lost" well over a decade to grief and sorrow.  At the same time I was fearful about the future.  Silly really because we can't change the past nor can we predict what the future may hold.  Worrying about what may happen won't change a thing.  I wouldn't say I was clinically depressed as such, but it certainly felt like a cloud was hanging over me at times.  

My "sabbatical" has been really good for me, because apart from the physical changes I've made such as getting my teeth fixed, sorting out my postural issues and finally quitting sugar, wahoo💃. (still feeling chuffed to bits about that). I've enjoyed having some "thinking time".  

It definitely feels like I'm finally getting my mojo back.  I'm starting to really look forward to 2024.  

Onward and upwards.  

Some of the gifts I ordered have arrived today.  It's my DILs birthday next week too. I always feel a bit sorry for people who have birthdays near Christmas, so often they end up with their birthdays taking second billing.  So I always take extra care to make sure I buy something really nice and personal for her birthday.  She's a very girly girl and loves anything feminine or glamourous.  This year I found a beautiful pure silk scarf.  It's so nice I might have to order one for myself 🤣.....different colours of course. 

Good night all, a cup of tea and then bedtime.  💕

helensbiggestfan

Wonderful Weekend. 

Good Morning Lovely Ladies 

it's glorious sunshine and blue skies here. A nice change from the gloomy grey skies we have been having lately.  So definitely going to go for a nice walk today. But first I need to get down to some serious cleaning.  I like to give my home a pre Christmas blitz.  I've got a busy week next week so this weekend it's cleaning and present wrapping, 

I have ordered a couple of pieces of fashion jewellery, nothing expensive.    My husband always used to buy me jewellery at Christmas......I continue the tradition in his memory.  😁. 

Have a wonderful weekend everyone. 💕

Wednesday2000

Interesting discussion about gluten. It seems a lot of people have trouble with gluten these days. I do feel better when I cut down on bread, but I love it so much. I did do a York allergy test this year and it showed I was slightly intolerant to wheat or gluten, I can't remember which one.

That is good news about the blood tests Helen. I take a vitamin D gummy every day in the winter months.

I just got the results of my blood test and I have to have a phone appointment with a GP. It is after xmas so I assumed it is nothing serious. I did look online at the results and I think it must be my thyroid that she wants to talk about. I'm on levothyroxine already, but maybe I need it adjusted, I was wondering if that is why I have gained weight. Maybe wishful thinking, haha.

I am going to watch the new series of Reacher today! It is on Amazon Prime, but I think only the first three episodes.

Crazycatlady2

Ooh yay another reacher fan, I love it 

ladybird1106

Ditto.
Love 🐞

helensbiggestfan

Super Sunday. 

I have got 14 days left to fulfill my New Year Resolutions for 2023. 

How do you rate my chances.......😂🤣

never mind.......as Del Boy and Rodders would say....

"This time next year"...........😉

have a Super Sunday 💕.  

Wednesday2000

Reacher season two review – addictively watchable, F bomb-packed fun | Television & radio | The Guardian

Reacher is really good, like the first season. They have only brought out 3 episodes so far. He has bulked up a lot. He is gigantic!

I have already thought of some 2024 NY resolutions.

1. Lose weight. At least a stone.

2. Buy (and use) a walking treadmill at home for when it is raining and I don't get my steps in.

3. Listen to some new music, as I listen to Taylor Swift and The Weeknd almost exclusively!