Re: More Beginning Questions: my experiences

[Guest guest]

I have been on the diet for two years and eight months. Here's my

experiences:

General overall - When I was diagnosed, I weighed over 160 pounds

which is a lot for a female five foot one. I was so shocked to hear

that I had Crohn's. I started the diet with small portions and over

a six month period, I lost to 141 then 121. It made a big difference

also, that I started walking two miles each day at lunch. This was

to help my stress level which the doctor had said must be controlled

or the disease would be much worse. It took about four to five

months for my stomach to stop the constant aching and begin to feel

better. I didn't stop the SCD diet because I kept hoping it would

work even though at three months I was not seeing a lot of results.

I am so glad that I kept going!

The doctor was happy with the first weight loss to 141 and then

concerned when it dropped to 121. Then at the next visit I was 115.

He was NOT happy. He was very afraid that I would have a flare up

and lose more weight and he said that I didn't have any weight left

to lose. But I was ecstatic. I knew, at the end of one year on the

SCD diet, that I was the healthiest I had been in a very long time.

I felt great. Sometimes you have to listen to your own body and

ignore the opinions of those around you. I have maintained a

consistent weight of 117 to 119 for about a year and a half. Most of

the time I feel great. I have not had any major flare up in all this

time.

In the past two years, lots of cookbooks have come out that are SCD

and they are wonderful. It makes staying on this eating plan much

easier and very tasty! If you'd like a list of the cookbooks that I

have, just ask. I'll give you the list.

Now to some of your specific questions.

Question 3 farmer's cheese

I buy farmer's cheese, 8 or 9 at a time and freeze it. I keep two in

the refrigerator at a time.

Breakfast: I eat 1/4 to 1/3 of a package every day with my yogurt at

breakfast and I love it. This is what I do.

In a bowl, I place 1/4 to 1/3 of a package of Friendship farmer's

cheese. I add a good shaking of Vietnamese cinnamon purchased from

Whole Foods (lots of antioxidants). Then I add a small amount of

honey. I love Tupelo honey the best and order it online. It has the

most delicious delicate flavor and doesn't color the taste of the

food. I mix this together really well. Then I add about 3/4 cup of

yogurt and mix with the spoon. It's a bit like eating cheesecake.

Just don't add too much honey. Sometimes, when my stomach can handle

it, I add a third of a very ripe banana. When I'm really feeling

well, I add a few strawberries, a bit of orange slices, or some

blueberries. But I can't eat the fruit every day.

Other uses -

I add a bit of the farmer's cheese to scrambled eggs. Don't cook it

too long though or the heat will separate it and lots of watery juice

will run out. Also, there are quite a few casserole recipes that

include farmer's cheese and they are wonderful. I have added it to

butternut squash and to spinach. It's delicious.

Question 4 stamina

I have to say that since I have been on the SCD diet, I am more tired

than before. I have no idea whether it's the diet, the disease, or

my age. But I retired this past year (I'm 54) and joined a four day

a week exercise program at a facility one mile from the house. My

husband and I walk the mile there and then I walk the mile home after

the exercise class. I don't feel tired exercising. Just daily

stamina is less.

Question 6 - I waited several days before adding new foods. Add a

food and see how you feel. Then if that goes well, after four days

or so, I added another food. Just my opinion. This worked for me.

Ginger Caro

Crohn's 2.8 years

SCD 2.8 years

>

> Hi!

>

> First I want to thank everyone for their feedback, it is soo

helpful

> and I really appreciate it!

>

> I do have some more questions though (There are a lot, so if you

> could even address one, I'd appreciate it!):

>

> 1). Tea-I am a HUGE tea drinker, and the book says that 2 cups of

> green tea and weak black tea are acceptable. What ingredients in

tea

> are not legal? Does anyone know of any reipes for a more flavored

> tea then just plain black? Or have you found any herbal teas that

are

> legal..ginger perhaps?

>

> 2). I have been having semi-solid BM in the mornings, but they

have

> been changing colors since I started (darker, etc.) but the last 2

> days it was bright orange..is this unusual or is that supposed to

> happen? I started onto phase 1, but have still been eating a lot

of

> carrots, so I'm hoping that this is the reason for the color? I

just

> am a little freaked out by this, I've never seen it like this

before?

>

> 3). Do you eat the farmer's cheese plain, I havn't tried it, I

will

> tomorrow, but it looks awful just by itself. Are there any recipes

> or things I can do/cook with it in the beginning stages? I also

have

> been off of dairy for over a year and am a little hesitant to try

> this, how much do you suggest for just beginning, and how do I know

> if it works for me or not? I also made my first batch of yogurt

and

> the book says to moisten the cheese with the yogurt, but if I

> introduce both together and it doesn't go well, how do I know which

> one caused the problems?

>

> 4). I am a runner, was an avid runner before all this happened

> actually, and have just begun to start up again. I am wondering if

> anyone else has been on this diet and been able to sustain physical

> activities/sports? I have always eaten soo much pasta/bread and

now

> I am wondering if I will be able to get enough in to feed my

caloric

> needs necessary for running? (I am also underweight too, so trying

> to gain the last few pounds left-currently at 114, from 96 at

lowest-

> I'm 5'7 " ). I have just been soo exhausted since starting this diet

> that I cannot imagine trying to run, I am hoping my energy levels

> will soon get back to normal?

>

> 5). Iron-people have posted about this and I do not eat red meat,

> thus no liver for me. Any other sources, since Elaine says no to

> supplements? I had been taking a liquid iron prior to starting SCD.

>

> 6). How many days a part do you introduce new foods and how are

you

> sure they " went through " ok. My BM's (like I mentioned earlier)

have

> gotten a little more solid since starting the diet, but still are

not

> formed. Is this due to inflammation still, or maybe if I add more

> fiber? How long do people with UC take to have " trophies "

usually?

> I've added avocado, which I am usually able to tolerate, so

hopefully

> this will help?

>

> Thanks again, I know it's a lot, but I thought I'd ask all at once

to

> get it out there. Any help/advice is appreciated!

>

> na

>

> problems 2 year

> UC diagnosis July '07

> SCD week 1 (5 days)!

>