Grace in this Journey: The Do's

OK, so first things first.....

This beauty had her 22nd birthday yesterday,

and we celebrated on Wednesday 

because she worked a 12-hour shift on her birthday.

Which Sir Cuteness just didn't get AT ALL!!

"GRANDMA WHY IS SHE WORKING ON HER BIRTHDAY!!??!!!!???"

GASP!!!

Well, Sir Cuteness

because she is responsible like that.

She is just the best thing, this girl.

I love her to bits.

TO BITS!!

And she and her lovely sister,

are SO supportive of this new adventure of mine.

They are just the best girls I'm telling you.

They just want me to get better.

They both work in an exclusive orthopedic hospital,

so the wisdom they lend to me is priceless.

And all it costs me is love.

I've got loads and loads for these girls,

in fact, it never runs out.

I totally hijacked this pic from FB =)

but are they not THE most beautiful girls you have EVER seen?

I know Rebecca Jo,

You want to photograph them. 

Yep, I SO wish you could.

I would love to see their Scrabble words =)

anyway.....

I love these beauties!!

Ok, so onto the Do's.....

This is what you can eat on the Arthritis Diet.....

Fish: 3-4 Oz of fish twice a week

Salmon Tuna Herring Anchovies & Scallops

Nuts & Seeds: 1.5 Oz of nuts daily (one Oz is about a handful)

Walnuts, Pistachios & Almonds

Fruits & Veggies:  Aim for nine or more serving a day

Cherries, Onion Family, Broccoli, Spinach, Lettuce, Kale

Cabbage, Blueberries, Blackberries, Strawberries 

Olive Oil:  2-3 Tablespoons a day

Beans:  About one cup, twice a week or more

Red Beans, Red Kidney Beans, Pinto Beans, Black Beans,

Garbanzo Beans, Black-eyed Peas

Other:  

Green Tea, Turmeric, Ginger, Cinnamon, Holy Basil, Rosemary

So see, LOTS of really yummy things on the DO list.

(I don't know exactly what Holy Basil is

but I want to look this up and grow it

in my garden.  I consider all of the 

beautiful organic things we grow out there 

Holy, because God kisses them,

but I'm pretty sure this is a specific Basil.

If you know, oh do please tell).  

I am focusing on these things.

There are other things like honey and agave

to add, and a whole host of veggies not listed here.

This list is NOT exhaustive,

just a quick peek to help me stay on target

and helps if I get a little off target or confused.

Which happens with me.

a lot.

ahem.

SO there you have the Do list.

Now armed with the DO's and DON'Ts,

our fun can begin.

I will be posting recipes,

perhaps a video or two,

and updates.

And the first one I will be posting very soon, 

with how things are going and the differences I'm 

seeing in such a short time.

So, here we go.....

Oh and btw, THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME!!!

Grace in this Journey: The Don'ts

There are a list of do's and don'ts

associated with this diet.

Things that you should eat,

and should not eat.

And I set about making a list 

of both.

I keep a journal.

Well several really,

anyway.....

in this particular one

I wrote down one page of don'ts

and then facing it on opposite page

I wrote the do's.

I kept it simple.

It is great to reference these pages.

One thing that i wanted to do

was to not be focused on what I couldn't

eat, but to completely immerse myself 

in what I could eat.

It is much easier that way.

But for the sake of you knowing what to eat

and what not to eat,

I will share with you today the don'ts.

Just don't get hung up on them.

It seems like you can't eat anything.

NOT TRUE.

Its just different things,

that is all.

Still good.

Just different.

Don'ts:

1).  Fried and Processed Foods

(I know.  There went the typical American diet.

Right out the window.

Just kick it to the curb).

2).  Nothing cooked on a grill,

high heat,

fried or pasteurized.

(There went whatever was left of the American diet.

I'm telling you people,

the curb,

kick it)! 

3).  Sugars and refined carbs

4).  Dairy Products

5).  Alcohol and Tobacco

(No problem for me, since I am not a partaker of either).

6).  Salt and preservatives

(Really on the salt?  UGHHH!!!)

7).  Corn oil

8).  Night Shade family of veggies:

Potatoes, Tomatoes, Peppers & Eggplant

(Don't even get me started!)

9).  And Gluten.

I know this list seems quite exhaustive.

It isn't.

Just kinda read over it if you'd like to follow along with me on the diet,

just don't obsess over it.

Just be familiar with it.

Focus on the do's people.

The do's.

Which are coming up next!

Stay tuned.....

(The DO's post in two hours)
=)

Grace in this Journey: Beginning

For those of you that 

have known me here for a long time,

or who know me outside of

this beautiful blog world,

You know that I deal with chronic pain

brought on by arthritis 

I have had since I was a child.

It is rare.

Childhood arthritis.

My doctor said that he had never

seen knee surgery in such a young girl.

I was seven.

That is young.

And I underwent traction first.

Excruciating.

And then big needles in my knee.

Scary.

It turned orange 

and swelled to unreal heights.

That was cool.

And then it was determined that my knee

would have to be operated on

so I could straighten it out again.

It was locked.

I was seven.

And so it began.

The arthritis has now become much more systemic.

I deal with pain, stiffness and pain

on a daily basis.

This summer it has gotten much worse,

and I got sad.

And mad.

And did I mention there is pain involved?

So.....

I decided to do something about it.

I went to the doctor to get on 

Arthritis meds.

If you know me,

or have read my blog for very long,

you know that is a big step

as I DON'T LIKE MEDICINE.

But I went hoping for relief.

My doc ran tests and gave me some 

meds.

The meds work BTW.  

I don't like taking them,

but I like taking them.

I can at least sleep without being

woke up in pain every night.  

And they are not narcotic.

I like that too.

But the swelling has gotten crazy in my left knee,

and the pain has gotten more intense,

so the doc did some X-rays and 

it showed that there have been

changes in my knee.

Enthesopathic changes.

It involves the point at

which the ligaments meet

at the Patella.  

It kind of acts like tendonitis.

Yes indeed.

This knee is a hot mess!

So my doc suggested that I contact

Mayo Clinic and be seen by

my doctor there again.

The thought of that long drive,

and then possibly surgery again

and so forth,

I just couldn't hardly stomach it.

So, I got busy.

Well, google and I did.

And I started researching out

the Arthritis diet once again.

I have looked at it before,

but never wanted to do it

because it cuts out the entire nightshade

family of veggies.

I like them.

I have never wanted to give them up.

Until now.

If it will help,

I'm in.

And also as a part of this diet,

I am doing something I said I would

never do.

(Note to self: STOP SAYING THAT!)

I am going gluten free.

Yep.  At least for a month,

and then will evaluate how things are going.

People with arthritis can have a sensitivity

to gluten.

Not everybody does,

but if you have a lot of swelling in your joints,

and I do,

then it is suggested that you go gluten free as well.

So I am.

Gluten is in a lot of stuff.

I thought it was just bread.

Boy was I wrong.

I am learning.

A lot.

And not just about bread,

but also about Grace.

Grace in this journey through life.

I am a pilgrim ya know.

Just passing through.

Wanting to be pleasing to the Father

as i sojourn.

Even if that sojourning brings pain,

there is Grace.

And I am okay.

Holding the hand of my Father all the way.

So would you like to follow me on this journey of Grace?

If you would,

just pop over here for the next month.

I'll be sharing things that are helping.

Things that are not.

Recipes.

Funny anecdotes.

Grace.

And baby steps.

I love you so!!

And so it begins.....