Epiphany on pain
I just typed out the list of where the pain hits me when I eat the wrong foods - left hand, neck, knees (moreso the left than the right) and feet - especially the right.
I had rheumatoid arthritis when I was 4 - triggered by an insect bite (I know suspect that it was Lyme disease). Growing up, I often heard my mother describe the route that the arthritis took in my body - right ankle, left knee, left wrist, neck.
I only remember the neck - I was stuck with my head tilted down to the left - with my chin almost touching my collarbone; and I had to do exercises to relax and lengthen the muscles.
When I looked at the list I had typed about where the pain caused by the eating of sugar and wheat products strikes me, I suddenly recalled that list of symptoms from half a century ago.
I do not think I have a gluten sensitivity, as such. I think that carbohydrates induce inflammation that causes the pain. For one thing, the worst offender is NOT wheat or bakery products, but rice. I love rice, it's my comfort food. But less rice causes more pain than anything else. Potatoes, otoh, don't cause me any problems, nor does corn (chips).
The reduction of symptoms since I've reduced my carbohydrate consumption has been dramatic. Not only that, but I dropped 20 pounds, my weight no longer seesaws up and down 10 lbs, and I've pretty much kept that weight off - 2 years now.
With the Fitbit, I'm now making a serious effort to reduce further, I'd like to get down another 5 or ten pounds, that would take me out the obese category, although I'll still be over-weight.
I had rheumatoid arthritis when I was 4 - triggered by an insect bite (I know suspect that it was Lyme disease). Growing up, I often heard my mother describe the route that the arthritis took in my body - right ankle, left knee, left wrist, neck.
I only remember the neck - I was stuck with my head tilted down to the left - with my chin almost touching my collarbone; and I had to do exercises to relax and lengthen the muscles.
When I looked at the list I had typed about where the pain caused by the eating of sugar and wheat products strikes me, I suddenly recalled that list of symptoms from half a century ago.
I do not think I have a gluten sensitivity, as such. I think that carbohydrates induce inflammation that causes the pain. For one thing, the worst offender is NOT wheat or bakery products, but rice. I love rice, it's my comfort food. But less rice causes more pain than anything else. Potatoes, otoh, don't cause me any problems, nor does corn (chips).
The reduction of symptoms since I've reduced my carbohydrate consumption has been dramatic. Not only that, but I dropped 20 pounds, my weight no longer seesaws up and down 10 lbs, and I've pretty much kept that weight off - 2 years now.
With the Fitbit, I'm now making a serious effort to reduce further, I'd like to get down another 5 or ten pounds, that would take me out the obese category, although I'll still be over-weight.