Do You Journal?

[chocolatelover]

I'm wondering if people journal their food intake, physical and mental reactions, etc. after eating gluten...I haven't been very good at doing it, even though I know it would probably help me diagnose the problem. I'm wondering how people know exactly what's related to gluten and what's not, what might be other factors (not enough sleep, eating too much, vegetables causing the gas, not necessarily the gluten, etc).

Just curious if people keep track of these things, or did when they were trying to figure out what's going on with them.

Thanks!

[Corkdarrr]

I have been an on/off food journaler for years. Even before I found out about my intolerances it helped just to physically write down what I was eating every day.

Anyways, after I found out about the whole gluten thing I became REALLY anal about it. I wrote down EVERYthing. What I ate. Alcohol. Caffeine. What time my headaches started. How much OTC meds I took every day. Stomach issues. Joint pain. Really, ANYthing that I felt that hurt, I wrote down. Plus exercise, walks with the dogs, even how much water I drank at one point!

I did an elimination/detox diet and followed the same thing to try and figure out what was bothering me when I started adding stuff back in.

It's tough to keep up with, but can be extremely helpful. I took a break because I was starting to get OCD about it and I needed to let my mind relax for a bit. I need to start again. It's especially helpful when you go to the doctor and you can look back and tell them exactly WHEN your stomach hurt and where and how, etc...

Courtney

[chocolatelover]

Hi Courtney...just realized you are from WI. Where? I'm from the Milwaukee area originally...haven't lived there in 22 years, but my parents still do, so I go back to see them. I'm also struggling with the prospect of living without cheese (and ice cream and Kopp's custard, etc.)!

Thanks for the journaling thoughts. I know I should be doing it, especially now as I'm preparing for the endoscopy and eatin lots of gluten. Had pasta for dinner and am feeling really weird right now--lightheaded, foggy, my stomach hurts. Am just waiting for the need to go to the bathroom.

Think I'll start journaling right now. I definitely can see how it would be easy to become a little OCD about it though...

[Corkdarrr]

I grew up in Milwaukee/Wauwatosa and moved down here to SC about four and a half years ago.

I know what you mean about ice cream - I am DYING for some chocolate custard right now. Ahh, frozen custard.

I really need to start up again with the journaling. It started way back when with just trying to control how much I ate. I LOVE food, but didn't realize just how much I ate until I started writing it down. It's a lot harder to rationalize the ink staring back at you from the page.

But food journaling became really useful once the whole food allergy thing hit. It started with tracking normal things, but then I just became so hyper-obsessed with figuring out what was wrong with me. I'm suprised I didn't write down which days I flossed!

I was trying so desperately to be proactive with my health, but had little to no guidance and direction. Now that I've found a doctor and nutritional specialist to work with, I have some more clear cut guidelines.

Good luck with your gluten challenge...eat some good stuff in honor of the rest of us!

Courtney

[tarnalberry]

I have in the past, though I don't right now. It's been useful at times, and sometimes not so useful. It's always been a fair amount of work.

[hathor]

I journal, but not as anally as Corkdarr No offense meant. Last year, when I was trying to lose weight, I just listed what I ate (no quantities or counting of anything), the exercise I did, and my weight. Since I went gluten-free a few weeks ago, I started keeping track of my, uh, food output, because that is my primary symptom.

I think it would be useful to keep track of any symptoms you experience. It will help you identify anything else you are sensitive to and also helps keep you on track. I know I successfully lost what I wanted to lose because I knew that I would have to write any pigout down and leave the exercise line blank if I was a coach potato.A