I’m starting month 3 of the Restore 3 program and it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster. I knew it would be since prior experience with a gut health cleanse was the same. This time, I’ve had headaches, muscle aches, continued sinus congestion, and days of severe balance issues. I don’t know if the balance issues are related to the bacteria build-up or not, however, since this has been an ongoing issue for more than 6 years. I’m finding that caffeine from coffee seems to affect me more than it used to, even if it’s half decaf. Maybe it’s the coffee and not the caffeine? I buy Simpático brand ground coffee (shade grown, organic, low acid coffee) from small growers in Mexico and Beaniac coffee pods which are also organic, low acid.
Changes in body chemistry
Perhaps my body chemistry has changed over the past two years. I’ve been on a serious weight loss, healthful diet since January of 2022. I know my body chemistry has altered to some degree since I no longer tolerate some foods as I used to. I also don’t tolerate alcohol much either. I have to make sure I drink lots of water and have something to eat while having a glass of bourbon or wine. Otherwise, I may end the evening with a racing pulse or the world spinning around me as it did after less than one drink.
Where I used to do fine eating only three meals a day, I’m now making an effort to eat a little protein and fruit or vegetable every 3 hours. My body seems to prefer that now. I’m also following the FODMAP diet (you can download the PDF file). This basically means no dairy except eggs, legumes (garbanzo, red, pinto, black beans, or peas), no sugar (I use pure stevia only), limited to no grains (except oatmeal and brown rice occasionally), no artichokes, asparagus, onions or garlic, and no shade grown vegetables like eggplant, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, etc. Apples, cherries, pears, apricots, and peaches are also off the list. And that’s a shame since we have an apricot, a cherry, and a plum tree in full fruit right now. We are madly picking cherries and apricots and giving them away to the neighbors.
Do I break over? Sure. It’s hard not to eat the delicious fruit. For me it’s also difficult to cook without onions and garlic. Those are wonderful flavor enhancers. Fortunately, I can use plenty of fresh and dried herbs, and other spices like cinnamon, cumin, coriander, ginger, black pepper, and salt.
Basically, this will be my diet for the rest of my life. It’s heavy on vegetables and learn, organic protein of mostly eggs, wild caught fish and chicken. I snack on peanuts, almonds and walnuts and fruit in between breakfast, lunch and dinner. Desserts are mainly berries or an orange, and sometimes a few apricots and cherries. Fresh from our trees, they are so good!
Month 3 seems to be starting out better
My body seems to be adjusting to the new diet regime. I think I’m past the starve off phase that occurred in month 1 of the Restore 3 program. Hopefully, I’m beginning to rebuild my gut health and will start taking a probiotic again as well. I did not take more than the 2 enzyme tablets each morning and I continue to follow that process.
I don’t have as much muscle weakness as before. That does still come and go, especially if I’ve been sitting too long. I find doing 40-60 minutes of aerobic exercise (stationary bike and walking) daily and not sitting for more than an hour without getting up, really helps. My neck is stiff and hurts to turn my head from side to side, but that’s because of degeneration in the C-1 and C-2 areas of my spine. My low back has some osteoporosis, too, but the stretches, walking and bike riding really help with that.
That’s my update for now.