By diet I don’t mean diet as in losing weight, I mean changing the nutritional content and fabric of my daily food intake. I have to say I’m always very skeptical about diets that remove items or restrict foods – like the Atkins diet etc. – but I’ve recently been reading a lot about food intolerance. As a scientist I have to say some of the data and reasoning is quite compelling. So I thought I’d give it a try. After speaking to my doctor about it she recommended trying the Virgin diet where you remove gluten, dairy, eggs, peanuts, soy, corn and sugar from your diet, then add each one back into the mix to see which, if any you react too. Our food can impact all sorts of things – obviously our physical health, but also our mood and energy levels. Even though it sounds a bit fadish I thought I’d give it a go – nothing ventured, nothing gained.
I’m quite lazy, though not terribly unhealthy, when it comes to food – a quick bowl of pasta for example. I lack inspiration. One of the unexpected positive effects of trying this diet is that I have to plan my meals in advance, meaning I am much more prepared at meal time, ultimately resulting in far more enjoyment from cooking and eating.
I’ve only been following the plan for 3 days and yesterday I was EXHAUSTED. I could barely keep my eyes open and I started to question the alleged benefits. Today, however, I feel AMAZING. I have so much energy and feel so alert – and that was at 7am this morning. I’m starting to believe there may be something to this food intolerance stuff.
For you nay sayers who claim it is boring – ok it’s only been 3 days – but I am really enjoying eating fabulous fresh fruits and veg and great lean meat, and I’m tasting all the flavor. I’m using Gwyneth Paltrow’s “It’s All Good“ (recommended by a friend – thanks S!) for inspiration. I can’t say enough great things about this book – I always think of Gwyneth as being a bit up herself and self-righteous – but in the book she comes across as a lovely, down to earth mom – dare I say just like us? All thanks to great editing and PR I’m sure – but still I am really enjoying this book.
I’d love to hear if any of you have tried eliminating certain foods from your diet. How did you feel? Did you stick with it? Do you think it’s a fad?
Another benefit is that I already feel less bloated – my clothes are a little looser already. Apparently it can also make your skin look years younger…we’ll see.
Trousers – Zara palazzo trousers (old) // Top – Zara long sleeved tee (old) // Shoes – Tory Burch Emmy sandals (old)
T-shirt – Asos (similar here) // Shorts – DvF TheOutnet.com (old) // Shoes – Marks & Spencer (old)
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I love the idea of this kind of healthy eating plan Joanna & whilst I try to eat healthy most of the week I’d really miss my little treats at the weekend! Look forward to seeing how you get on x
I’m sure it will get harder to stick to as temptations arise but I really do feel great again today – and the waistline keeps decreasing – it’s good motivation!
I started juicing a couple of months ago, and the affect on my skin has been amazing and the whites of my eyes are definitely whiter, I have more energy, and find I don’t crave sweet things as much as I did, I would highly recommend it. Is the whole family embracing the Gwyneth way? I regularly receive e mails from her goop website (sign up if you’re not a member), and love reading them. Looking great as Always.
Diane
I’m just encouraging the children as always to think about what they eat – I’ve always made great meals for them – but they love pasta so I can’t take that from them – it’s brown pasta though. I don’t want to restrict their diet at all or get hung up on what they eat – I think it can have awful repercussions – so I’m not even really discussing my choices with them – only that they are healthy choices. My OH lives off beets and spinach and oily fish – he is a health nut!:) Yes I started following Goop on Facebook too:)
Well done you – I have to say I did giggle when you said your clothes were looser and then you were wearing palazzo pants….did they used to be skinny jeans before you started your diet – boom, boom!! Ok – less of the crap jokes….keep up the good work! Ax
You know I thought about that when I took the photos lol – yes they were skin tight the other week:) Still feeling great – though you will be relieved to hear I had a glass of red last night with my steak! x
Hi
Try Arbonne’s Daily Essentials. Love the shakes, nutrition bars and fizz sticks oh and the caramel chews that help curb your appetite, plus the 7 body cleanse. In fact the whole Arbonne range of products!
Are they ‘diet’ products – do they contain gluten etc? I’ve actually really been enjoying snacking on fruit and nuts – I’m trying to avoid anything that comes in a wrapper:)
I haven’t the will power to be honest. And if food needs too much planning, I’m even more likely to not do it.
I’ll probably be kicking myself in a month’s time when you look 24 and with glowing skin and body of Miranda Kerr.
My friend is convinced she now looks like Gwyneth after following the program and she has even recently renamed her children Turnip and Rameses. I will be renaming mine Squash and Pontius once the desired effect is achieved:)
When I was 16 I had headaches, abdominal cramps, was very tired, couldn`t concentrate, slept almost all day long and my grades became worse and worse. My Mom thought that there is something wrong with me and went with me to see many doctors.
When I was 17 I was finally diagnosed with histamine intolerance. I stopped eating certain food and within 2 weeks all the random symptoms disappeared! Now I don`t follow this diet voluntarily, I just have to because otherwise I feel miserable but it definitely made my skin better(as I must not eat chocolate).
The hardest part is to stay balanced with my diet and eating habits. I know my case is quite extreme but really showed me that it`s important what we eat.
Wow- it is amazing isn’t it – yet so simple really – we are just chemistry labs and all these chemical reactions require the right input to deliver the right output! I’m so glad you identified the issue – imagine how many of us are living with symptoms and just accept that is how we function? I had headaches for the first couple of days of eliminating the items but now I feel such clarity!
I should try this one day .. especially the alcohol. But with my 40th fast approaching it’s hard! I shall be a good girl once my celebrations are out of the way.
I love the shorts/Bowie tshirt outfit
You’ll be pleased to hear that I had a glass of red last night – but I am determined to be better a moderation…not a word that is normally in my vocabulary!
I’ve tried lots of diets in search of a cure for my skin … gluten free, dairy free, processed free, caffeine free, salt free … you name it, I’ve probably done it. I now know that I should steer clear of dairy, caffeine and all processed foods. Easier said than done however, but when I do I certainly feel the benefits ie, I have tons more energy, feel much better and my skin, if not cleared, is certainly calmer!
I’m hoping it will help with the alopecia – I had more blood work done the other day and all is normal so it is definitely autoimmune rather than thyroid related. The gluten is supposed to be awful for autoimmune issues. I don’t miss bread right now but I am sure I will soon!
I probably need to so the Virgin diet. It sounds a lot like the Clean Cleanse, which I did for two of the three weeks it’s meant to be done. I did feel alive…and clean… and light when I was doing it, but I got sick with the flu on day 15 and quit. I need to get my act together, but until these kids are on a schedule I can’t think straight. Is that an excuse? They go back to school Tuesday… XX