Fast Food Nightmare...

I've finished reading The Plan by Lyn-Genet.  In doing so, I've noticed a few things about the foods I'm eating.  I've begun to create an "Unfriendly" list for myself.

A few days ago, I went to my favorite Italian restaurant with my girlfriends.  My meal was delicious, and something I'd never tried before.  It was Chicken Florentino--a cheesy, lemony creation with spinach and penne pasta.  I've suspected for a while now that pasta and I aren't exactly on friendly terms.  On multiple occasions, I have scarfed down a delicious pasta dish only to wake up in the middle of the night with sever intestinal cramps.  If I stick to reasonable portions, it's not a problem, but if I binge...Well, things get ugly.  The Chicken Florentino caused a similar reaction, and sadly, I added it to my "Unfriendly" list.  

***DISCLAIMER***  This is the point where guys may want to turn away, because I'm going to talk about "girl time."

I've always had problems with my period.  It never lasted the 3-5 days everyone tells you it's supposed to.  Oh, no.  Not for me.  On top of having digestion issues and intense cramping, I also got saddled with periods that would last 7-14 days.  That was if I was lucky.  Recently, I had a period that lasted 14 days, but I spotted for a solid 8 weeks after that.

A year and a half ago, I was in the emergency room with abdominal pain so bad every doctor I saw that day was certain it was appendicitis.  When they did my CAT scan, however, they found multiple cysts on each of my ovaries.  Then, it was onto a pelvic exam that confirmed a total of 13 cysts.  Oy.

In The Plan, Lyn-Genet cites examples of women who have trouble with infertility, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and severe PMS.  Each of these women were able to overcome their issues by following The Plan.  

The concept that a food may have a direct impact on certain health issues made stop and think.  If these women were able to sort out their health concerns, it might be beneficial for me to try it.  After all, their problems were with their reproductive system, and so it mine.  

The day after the Chicken Florentino disaster, I went to Taco Bell, because it was close, quick and cheap.  I ordered the Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes (a personal favorite) and one Taco Supreme.  BIGGEST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE!  I don't eat there all that often to begin with, and I probably won't eat there again.    

I immediately felt discomfort in my digestive track.  I always thought it took up to 8 hours for a meal to fully digest; but if the food is reactive for you you could feel the effects as soon as your digestive juices go to work.  

45 minutes after eating my meal from Taco Bell, I began to have pain in my ovaries.  Coincidence?  I'm leaning toward no.  

I started out the day with a flat belly, but 1.5 hours after eating the meal from hell, I was uncomfortably bloated with a distended belly.  o.O  Trust me when I say I will never do that to myself again.

I haven't started The Plan yet, but it's definitely made me aware of what I'm eating.  

I think I'll stick to splurging on shoes...

I've been very good about eating organic, eating fruits and veggies, and staying away from processed sugar.  In fact, the last time I had a fast food meal was Normal Medieval Faire!  So, I decided to splurge, because it couldn't hurt, right?  Um.  Wrong.  So very wrong.

Yesterday was nuts.  Work was crazy.  After work, I took the Terror to her anger management class (dog obedience), I did a Zumba medium intensity mid-length class, went hunting for hat supplies, and went to Wholefoods with the roomie.  By the time we got done at Wholefoods, it was 8:00, and I didn't feel like going home, making a meal and eating at 9:00 or 9:30, so we stopped at Long John Silver's.  I was really looking forward to the greasy chicken-y goodness that is LJS chicken planks.  I substituted corn on the cob for fries and ignored my coleslaw as though it were the plague in the hopes of making the meal a little less horrific nutritionally.

When we got home, it was just wonderful as I imagined it would be.  However, 45 minutes later, I was hating myself.  I had intestinal cramps for the first time in recent memory.  I felt horrible all evening.  For me, it just hit home how much I don't need that crap in my body.  I'm good with the foods I've been eating.  I have more energy, and I'm in a better mindset.  I think I'll just stick with it and not splurge anymore.