Summer Hybernation

That’s not really what I’ve been doing. Rather, I’ve been protesting my ass off. Then recovering.

XIV – XVI How Northern Pass Will Affect Howling Hill

I made the videos but apparently I forgot to post them here. Oops.

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GAPS Diet

So the naturopath I’m seeing has recommended the GAPS Diet for me. I was reading through the site and a few things caught my attention.

First, the naturopath has “prescribed” aloe for me to drink every day. I put two tablespoons into some juice because that’s the only way I can tolerate it (the taste is just *awful*) but aloe is in the things to avoid column.

Second, cooking oil is another thing to avoid. I’m not sure what that means. Does that mean I should avoid foods cooked in any oil? Wolf uses a lot of olive oil to cook our meals and occasionally vegetable oil. If I’m to avoid them, I’m not sure what I’ll be eating each day since most meals require a small amount of oil for cooking. I do eat pork lard which Wolf renders but if I eat too much my GERD flourishes and is very difficult to get under control again.

I was going to buy the book but it’s too expensive so I’m really at a loss as to what this diet is, what to eat, what to avoid, and recipes. Basically, I’m at a loss and don’t know where to start.

Soli gave me a couple blogs to read so that’s a start.

As for how I’m doing with my elimination diet, I’ve settled into a life without bread or cheese. Yes, I have had them a few times since January but now I eat each with moderation. If I eat Americanized bread and cheese — pizza for instance — I feel like total crap after so I’ve been avoiding these foods unless it’s all that’s available. This happened a few times when I was in Chicago for the #noNATO events.

I’m still trying to figure out what foods are triggering the GERD and diarrhea. When I take the aloe in combination with acidophilus the diarrhea is eased but, of late, I’ve been feeling as if a yeast infection is coming on so I haven’t been taking the acidophilus. I have an appointment with the natropath next week to discuss all this with her.

So far I’ve lost 40 pounds. My moontime is forthcoming so I’ll have a better idea of how much weight has sloughed off once she passes. I gain a lot of water weight from my inability to resist salt cravings during my PMS time so I can’t really tell how much I weigh. Today I weighed myself at 160 so I’m probably under that by a few pounds anyway.

I’ve lost a cup size in my breasts and went down 4ish inches in the band. I’ve gone from wearing a size 20 pant to (I think) a 16. I just ordered a new pair of jeans and waiting for them to come in. I’m hoping I’ve chosen the right size. Regardless, I’ve lost at least four inches from my hips. Wolf and I recently added walking to our routine. We try to go every night when he gets home from work and to take a hike every other weekend or so. I’ve been running a smidge in the mornings but haven’t been consistent with it. Working on adding it to my daily routine.

It’s all very frustrating to say the least. I feel like I’m chasing my tail trying to figure out what foods trigger the GERD and the runs. I’ve been making and drinking some kombucha almost every day as a way to add fermented foods to my diet but still I have the runs. I tried kimchi but it was way, way to spicy for me. I ate just a small amount yet for three days the GERD was out of control. Sauerkraut is next to try on my list. Kefir and fermented milk products are out since I’m not eating dairy.

If you have any suggestions, please indulge me.

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XII How Northern Pass Will Affect Howling Hill Onion Edition

And regarding the onions, here’s what I found when I pulled them.

Laws of Probability

Recently I was in Chicago for the progressive activities of OccupyChi, Healthcare Not Warfare, Robin Hood Tax, and #noNATO. There are lots of things I want to write about as my experiences were broad. I’ll start first with the laws of probability.

I’ve been participating in protests around the country for the last 20 years. And at every single one, regardless of the size, the same thing happens over and over and over again. I have no way of explaining why it reoccurs. But it does.

Invariably, I will run into the same people time and again. It doesn’t matter if I know them or not, our paths will continuously cross. Yet others I won’t see the entire time, even when I know they are there.

So you math people out there: why does this happen?

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And PS