Return of the elf
Hiiiiii 😀 Guess ya’ll really want some chia seeds – Keep those comment and tweet entries coming!
My eats, much like my life, have been a little haphazard today 😉
I broke out my favorite elf plate, courtesy of my nana, who always pimps the blog with cute dishes
and covered his cute face with sliced banana, apple and cinnamon
I put some kombucha in a penguin mug
then went to the gym for a meeting, which was bueno.
After the meeting, I met my friend Ashley at the health food store for some goodies 😀 On the way, I snacked on this bar:
I picked up some fabulous things, including pizza crust, Mary’s crack, kombucha, bars, almond butter (!!!!), salmon bites and some cookies for Jeni and I 😀 I also bought some, err, *women’s health* tea so to speak, because of this whole situation. I’m hoping the tea will help my body stabilize the hormones a little more quickly… we shall see.
I’m also experimenting with more gluten-free items because lately at night, my stomach has been getting insanely bloated. I wear hoodies to hide it, but I’m wondering if it could be due to a gluten intolerance (or the fact that I eat a ridiculous amount of fruits and veggies?). So I’m going to eliminate gluten for the rest of the week and see if it helps. It should be fairly easy, since I unintentionally don’t eat very much gluten as it is. I’m also getting my bloodwork done next week… Jeni’s going with me to hold my hand 🙂
Anywho, after the health food store, we went to the juice bar –Ashley got a smoothie and I got a wheatgrass shot- then I came back to the casa.
Lonchi was a queen of all salad beasts:
Mixed greens, spinach, onion, grape tomatoes, bell pepper, raw goat cheese, Mary’s crack, balsamic, olive oil, sea salt and parsley. Ahhhhmazin.
Dessert was one of these face-rocking vegan cookies:
Some days, you just need a cookie 😀
Jeni and I hit up the gym for some legs:
| Elliptical | Warm up | 5 minutes |
| Bench leg lifts | Body weight | 3 sets of 12 |
| Side lunge and lift | Body weight | 3 sets of 10 on each side |
| Leg extension | 35 lbs | 3 sets of 12 |
| Adductor | 35 lbs | 3 sets of 10 |
| Prone hamstring curl | 35 lbs | 3 sets of 10 |
| Barbell deadlifts | 20 lbs | 3 sets of 12 |
| Single leg calf raise on a step | Body weight | 3 sets of 10 on each side |
| Elliptical | Hills program | 10 minutes |
| Total time: 1 hr |
I trained a client, and here I am 😀
Time to get ready for pilates (it’s Ashley’s first night teaching and I CAN’T WAIT) then Zumba.
Whew!
Enjoy the rest of your day <3
Gina
Today’s tip: If you have a favorite exercise move that you find yourself doing over and over, find a way to switch it up! Use a barbell instead of dumbbells, stand on a Bosu ball, use a kettleball for additional weight, throw some cardio moves (jumping jacks, squat jumps, mountain climbers) in between sets.. remember my motto “change creates change”. Do whatever you can to bring change into your current routine and your body will respond beautifully 😀
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love, love, love your blog! lots of great ideas, workouts, tunes!
My stomach has been super bloated lately too… and it wasn’t that way when I wasn’t eating gluten. Though I don’t know if that was because of being gluten-free, or because of the insane amounts of Pilates I was doing… let me know if it works for you!
So funny that you posted this, because I was thinking of doing the same thing!
Love the elf plate. I saw a bunch of Christmas themed plates at Target and thought of yours.
That elf plate is SO cute!
Aw, I love that plate. Too cute!
You seriously have the cutest dishware! 😀
Ahh, gluten-free – you know I know it well.
Perfect timing on that tip. I’m in a little bit of a gym rut and need to change my routine…especially on the treadmill!
I have read that if you are getting tested for Celiac disease then you shouldn’t eliminate gluten from your diet prior to the test. Can’t remember where I read that but you might want to investigate it if your blood work you mention is for Celiac disease. I don’t have gluten issues but am familiar with autoimmune diseases(curses!!).
Aw, the little elf is adorable!
I’ve been getting SUPER bloated lately too. Wonder what it could be?
What a cute plate!!
I tried g-free for a while and it was so hard for me because I am used to eating so much gluten. But I did feel better!!
xo
K
If you are bloated. DRINK MORE WATER! I know it seems counter-intuitive but it really works. You may not realize but some fruits and vegetables are natural diuretics, which causes water lose. Also, if you have increased your fruit & veggies intake, you need more water in order for the increased fiber to move through your system.
I don’t eat gluten because my husband is celiac. Having a GF kitchen makes my life a lot less stressful. Anyway, I don’t miss it at all. There are so many flours and grains to explore. I hope it works for you!
I don’t think birth control itself takes that long to get out of your system. I do however think it could take a couple of cycles to “get regular” so to speak. I suggest taking your temperature every morning and tracking how many days between cycles. It’s great knowledge for TTC-ing later!
water. hummph. i should have thought of that! EXCELLENT idea!
i have been tracking my cycle and taking my temperature every day.. everything is a little all over the place right now though
I was seriously wondering the same exact thing last night!! My belly has been a little perky for no known reason. I tried telling myself it was because of all the fruits and veggies I ate. Let me know how your gluten experiment or lack-of gluten works out.
Argh, I have the “hormone situation” as well. It’s horrible. I ALSO have the bloating thing several nights a week. I may have to start an elimination diet at some point. I was taking a fibre supplement for ages out of paranoia I wasn’t getting enough but then I checked my stats on dailyplate and I was getting *more* than my fair share so cut it out. It’s frustrating when eating something random makes you blow up like a balloon!
I’m really curious about your gluten situation. We went gluten free when Lulu was a baby because she got so sick after eating anything with wheat in it. I was breastfeeding, so I had to cut it out too. I really didn’t notice a difference in how I felt. I bet you’d miss your Ezekiel the most. And most oats are NOT gluten free. I really hope it turns out to be nothing!
I love the festive plates and mugs!! I’m curious to your gluten experiment too. As you know I eat A TON of veggies but I also drink A LOT of water that I thought may help things. I’ve been getting the preggers belly a lot lately but I just tell myself it’s due to all the fiber I eat. Good luck experimenting!
Good luck with the bloated tummy/gluten/who knows what issue. Hopefully the blood work with give you some real results!
Ok so I love, love, love Mary’s Crack (especially the curry flavored sticks and twigs), but why have I never been so genus as to crumble them on top of salad? It’s a good thing you have a blog, otherwise my meals would be much, much sadder.
You go girl- pilates and ZUMBA!
Oh and ps- what kind of pizza dough did you pick up? Is it gluten free?
If you are getting blood drawn to check for a possible gluten intolerance, don’t eliminate it from your diet before the test because then there won’t be any antibodies present in your blood and your test results might not show anything. Sorry if you already know, my little brother is a celiac so I kind of know too much about gluten 🙂
Hope your tummy starts feeling better!
wow, i didn’t know that- thanks for telling me!
I hadn’t been eating gluten for 6 months before I got tested for Celiac, but the allergist said it wouldn’t matter… I had read that too and asked. It might depend on the test? Or my allergist was wrong, because I’ve read that you shouldn’t cut it out of your diet beforehand in multiple places…
I love the elf plate!
And that’s a good fitness tip! I think I need to follow that one 🙂
I understand the bloating problem–I’ve been dealing with it for over a year now. I was diagnosed with IBS but I’m considering persuing testing further to make sure it isn’t celiac disease. For the most part I eat gluten-free anyway (better safe than sorry.) I started my blog to document my trial-and-error process of getting my digestive system under controal (theirritableeater.blogspot.com). It can be really frustrating when you don’t know what’s causing it. Good luck!
love the snowman plate!
jenna
How many hours a day would you say that you spend at the gym? How do you know if it’s too much? Teaching classes, taking classes, and weight lifting all in one day.
hey elena,
i’m at the gym 2-3 hours a day, but the main reason is because it’s my job and i get paid for it. on days i don’t teach, i work out 1 hr, which is more than enough. i recommend 45-60 min a day to clients 😀
Cute plate!
You eats always look so yummy! Do you buy your raw goat’s cheese at Wholefoods? I really want to try some as I am slowly adding dairy back into my eating plan. Also, I know for me the nuts/seeds (if i dont want my serving sizes) cause a bloated belly. Or maybe it is all part of your hormones readjusting.
Take care!
The first two months after i got off the pill, i was getting incredibly bloated at night, no matter what i ate. So maybe that’s something to look into, though cutting on gluten can’t hurt either 😉
Hi Gina,
I’ve been a lurker here for a VERY long time.I absolutely love your blog!
I decided to comment on your post because I have lots of stomach issues.Eating gluten free definitely eased my stomach pains.I was tested for Celiacs Disease,had blood work done, I even an had endoscopy.Everything came back negative.
Keep in mind:you can be sensitive to gluten.Your tests will come back negative.That just means you should listen to your body and see if it helps eliminating gluten from your diet.
As others have said it ,you should not stop eating gluten before your test.
On another note, I had stopped BCP a 1.5 ago.I’ve been going through hell ever since.I started getting acne (I escaped my teenage years without as much as a pimple), my periods came late every months, AND I get extremely, painfully bloated at times.I’ve been getting acupuncture which has helped regulating my periods, but I still suffer from breakouts.
Your recent bloating can be just one of the side effects of stopping BCP.Not to scare you, but it may take months for you to feel better…Hang in there.
You’re not alone:)
All of the things I was going to say about your desire to cut out gluten have already been said. 🙂 So, listen to your body, no matter what the tests say.
Hope you start feeling better!
Heeeey G-$$$,
A little after the fact, but I just wanted to say that it’s so great you’ve started dance again! I had to learn a tap segment when I was in Annie (children’s summer theater? what? past lifetime?) and every once in awhile I’ll bust out a time step. As to the bloat, I suspect the fruits and veggies are the culprits. When I was home over T-giving, I kept thinking to myself wow, I’m not bloated (….i’m pretty much perma-bloated, TMI, sorry), and then I realized that it was probably because I wasn’t eating an entire bag of spinach in one sitting when I make my salads, etc. It’s kidna funny in that I ate stuff over T-Giving that I wouldn’t normally, and usually it’s the unhealthy things that will make people bloat, but nope…all relative I suppose.
I need to go to the health food store too, finally. I don’t know what the Kombucha stuff is though. I get bloated almost always from some beans and broccoli.
I love those dishes! So festive and I’m alllll about the Christmas right now!
Someday I will eat as well as you and work out as much as you.. Or not lol You rock with all those veggies!
And Mary’s Crackers thank you for getting me hooked onthose. They are truly crack in a box!
Hope you feel better, the hormones will settle down. If you need any help with gluten free just let me know! Everyday I feel like eating a cookie : )
Hey Gina, email me if you want to chat but I have been GF for about 4-5 yrs. BEST thing I ever did. Hands down. I am not kidding. Raw, vegan, dairy and soy free, those are all nice. But going GF was the BEST thing for me.
I experienced everything from headaches to GI upset to emotional stuff and going GF helped. Just to let you know, 2 weeks is kinda the minimum it will take to feel the first “wave” of relief and then things will keep getting better and better in time. I have spent years researching this stuff & if I could give you any pointers,foods that contain hidden gluten, etc..just LMK 🙂
I hope you feel better soon. Just thought I would share that it took my body 6 months to have a period after going off the pill! I was on it for 5 years. So, not to scare you, but just know that some times it takes a while for your body to get back on track. We are all so different!
LOVING the elf plate!!!!! 😀 AND PENGUIN MUG!!!!!
I’m a sucker for penguins & snowmens at Christmastime! 🙂
Good luck with the woman thang! I also read that book when I stopped taking the pill last year and couldn’t say more good things about it!!
Wow-one hour legs and pilates and zumba! Isn’t that overboard??
for most people: yes
for me: nope
i’ve been active like this my entire life (even when i was overweight) and even though i get paid for it, i do it for fun! my good friend ashley started teaching tonight and i really wanted to try her class on top of my usual zumba and legs day.
i just make sure to fuel myself properly 😀
I think it is something that women just go through no matter the diet. We have so much to do and worry about. Good luck!
ahh…elf plate is back!
i need to get myself a Christmas plate…
The elf plate is just too cute for words! I wonder if our malls here have themed plates this season. You’re right about adding or tweaking our exercise routine so it doesn’t get boring. I have a very bloated stomach so I try to do sit ups. Then there are days that I just want to dance these fats away. LOL.
– Kaith
I need that plate!!
I have been doing pilates for about three months and I am absolutely obsessed! I go for a mat class every single day, or as often as I humanly can!
such a cute plate!! thanks for the workout tips, I always tell my clients if they get bored there are TONS of way to change up their workouts that are so simple! just change your grip or incline and there ya go! 🙂
How cute is that elf plate?! I looove your Christmas dishware, Gina. Makes me wanna go out and buy some. How did your friend do in her pilates class? So nice of you to show your support:)
she did SO WELL- i loved it! my abs are super sore today 😉
yay for elves! =]
Why am I always late to comment?
Sweets, bloating could be a TON of things. Gluten, sure, but many other factors could be playing a role. I’m not saying it’s not a gluten issue, but I do find that many people self-diagnose food allergies (even through elimination diets), only to find out much later that they aren’t suffering from the allergies they thought they had.
And as for working out, to each his own! If you’re thriving with your workout schedule, then you’re thriving. I think it’s awesome and love your energy.
Hey Gina~
I have gone Paleo for 2.5 weeks which is zero dairy, gluten and sugar/alcohol. I’m pretty sure i had a gluten issue because almost ALL of my stomach issues have gone away and i feel so much better.
Certainly much less bloated:)
Love your energy and I often workout hours per day. Makes me feel alive! you go girl!
B
Love the elf plate and the penguin mug!! So cute and festive!
That salad sounds delicious! My dad’s house is totally gluten-free because of my sister’s autism. It was a struggle at first with three kids and two adults, but they do fine now. If it turns out you do have a gluten intolerance, there are a lot of great resources available.
Hey chicka just wanted to add my 2 cents as well. I would have to agree that bloating could be caused by sooooo many things. I obviously don’t know you, but my intuition tells me it’s hormonal w/ what your body is currently going thru since your stopping your BC. Gluten is an easy target but there are SO many factors to consider. It’s amazing how fiber can bloat too- it wouldn’t hurt to throw in some less fiberous foods for a bit and up the water. Hope it resolves itself soon! xo
A random question about the bloating – do you chew a lot of gum? I used to chew a ton of sugarfree gum when I was bored at work and stuff, and was getting bad bloating/stomach hurting. I read something online about the gym maybe causing it, so I stopped chewing it, and voila – stomach problems gone!
Just a thought, it may not be relevant for you at all 🙂
hey girl,
i USED to chew gum all day but have stopped in the past 6 months. you’re totally right though, it causes mayjah bloating
If you want more info on testing for gluten intolerance, go to http://www.enterolab.com. It’s the best lab in the country for this. My doctor tested me because of my anemia, and sure enough, it was the gluten (I had NO other symptoms). You don’t need a doctor, but order the $99 kit online, mail in the stool test, and will get the results via email within 3 weeks. Easy peasy 🙂 Blood tests aren’t nearly as reliable.
Also, a good book to read “Dangerous Grains” — very eye opening for me to all the health problems associated with gluten. I got it from my local library.
You can eat oats, just make sure they are certified GF (although some people find they can’t tolerate them at all). Oats are GF, but they are highly contaminated with wheat due to how they are grown.
Hope this helps you — I’ve been GF for almost a year — I look at it as a blessing now.