Happy Wednesday, you delectable delights on my taste buds of happiness!
Look! A third treadmill desk. I think this might be addicting… This on is the discontinued Ikea Fredrick desk. It’s not as sturdy as the jerker, but it’s still a nice H-frame, perfect for standing or for treadmilling. If you have a treadmill, these desks are sugar-free amazing-sauce.
OK. Enough of my addiction to Ikea H-frame desks…
Really quickly, though, I want to talk about fiber allergies.
People tell you to do eat more fiber, right? As a healthy eater, you typically already ingest a goodly sum of the 20-35 grams of fiber you need each day to survive, including foods like: avocado (17 grams of fiber), artichokes (10 grams fiber), raspberries and blackberries (8 grams fiber), broccoli (6 grams fiber), and pears and apples (4 grams fiber).
You already ingest quite a bit from those sources, but now consider this: What are some of the foods that might make you feel a little off after consuming? How about inulin (100% fiber), psyllium husks (103.6 grams fiber), flax (39 grams fiber), oat fiber (100% fiber), and a few of the root vegetables (turnips, etc)?
Ever overdo any of those and feel pretty horrible afterwards? If so, you might be getting an excess of fiber. Remember, fruits and vegetables you’re consuming already contain fiber. You don’t need to, then, indulge often in those other carb-cancelling practices. If you see a product or a recipe that promises so much fiber so as to either end up as 0 carbohydrates or exceedingly low, pay attention to how you feel afterwards. It might not be a pretty sight–and a sign you should abstain.
Some signs of too much fiber or fiber allergy:
- bloating
- irritable bowel syndrome
- gas
- a feeling that there’s a rock in your gut
Some things you can do:
- Mind your flax, psyllium and oat fiber. So many recipes contain these three additives that it’s easy to overdo it. Add inulin in the form of chicory root, and you’re destined for possible stomach upset. Limit recipes and products containing these high-fiber foods.
- Get your fiber from natural sources like fruits and vegetables.
- Count your grams. More likely than not, you’re using a program to calculate your daily nutrition. Pay attention to the amount of fiber you’re ingesting. Is it too much? It very well could be.
Remember, some fiber is fantastic, but you don’t need to supplement if you’re already getting your daily totals for vegetables and healthy fruits. Put those high fiber needs to bed and rest easy knowing you’re already taken care of.
Now what I had yesterday… First of all, here’s the plan I’m following and here is the introduction post to the Mid-Year Resolution Challenge. While you look at what I’m doing, be sure to do your thing. I am thrilled to give some ideas, but I’m not the person you should necessarily look to for dieting advice (I’m not a paid nosh-a-titian). I am, however, here with you to cheer you on when you’re so skinny you will have to watch slipping through the cushions of your couch.
Be sure to subscribe for updates by adding your email right (in the sidebar) or through Feedburner in the title bar up top!
You can also click the tab up top that says Mid-Year Resolution for the daily play-by-play and to see what I’m doing. Whee!
Wednesday, October 17
I ate this:
Breakfast: Olives + pumpkin seeds + cheese + pepperoni
Snack: Roasted green beans and Baconnaise
Lunch: Skipped. I was busy and forgot to eat…
Dinner: Cottage cheese, olives, sunflower seeds and shredded Parmesan cheese
Exercise: Almost 2 hours at the treadmill desk, but I was tired from yesterday, so I was fine with it.
Notes: Honestly, I’ve been thirsty and not hungry today (I also think I’m still full from Monday)…
What I learned:
Too much fiber for me = badness.
So remember I said I wasn’t having any issues with the meal I enjoyed thoroughly at Red Robin? Oof. That meal stayed with me all day yesterday. As I wandered through the house getting various tasks accomplished, my tummy felt like there was a rock inside of it.
The last time I remember feeling like that was after eating low-carb products that are so pumped with fiber so as to remove any of the carbohydrate. Aha! Potatoes (root vegetable) and wheat on top of my already fiber-rich (fresh veggie and fruit) intake.
It goes to show that one can be sensitive to fiber. Who knew?
Interesting. The symptoms you describe for excess fiber intake are exactly what I get from eating gluten.
YES!! That is what my research showed me. Gluten unrest is exquisitely similar to fiber excess.
If you are feeling your food is sitting like a rock in your stomach, go to a vititamin store and purchase HCL with pepsin. Take one… works like a champ and you will feel better in minutes. Another tip. Eat a pickle.
Thank you! I will definitely do that next time. All we had were Tums… and those are pretty carby…
I agree with you on the fiber. If I ear too much coconut flour my stomach feels exactly like you said. Bloated and gassy and like a rock is in there. Good post.
Inulin and chicory root get me every time. An excess of flax will, too.
Thanks for the info. I feel the same way, but had not figured what causes it. I know potatoes do.. awful! The pain in my stomach and the bloating.. all the way to my feet… causes me to stay away from the villains. !! Blessings to you.
I find that the more I notice foods attack my immune system the more my immune system can’t help me in the ways I need help. If my body is fighting off intolerances, how can it also keep me well? Something has to give.
A question.. How do you keep your balance while working on the treadmill desk? I am afraid that I would totally fall off if I tried to walk and type at the same time. 🙂
I am able to place my wrists in front of me to type. This helps me keep account of where I am in my space and also keeps me balanced. It really makes a difference.
Interesting about the fiber. I used to try to get my husband to eat whole grain bread and pasta instead of white and he always said it gave him IBS. I thought he was making excuses. Maybe not. Maybe he’s fiber sensitive. Doesn’t matter now that he’s mostly wheat free. Yay! He tried it for a month and is a convert.
I just discovered the most amazing winter-time breakfast! You know I’m the smoothie queen. I’m doing Low Carb High Fat and believe that I need to keep my calories high (esp. since I’m breastfeeding), so I’m always trying to eat lots of fat. Today, I took 3/4 c. cream, 3/4 c. water, about 1/2 c. NOW 100% pure protein powder, 2 pkts Ideal, a scoop of cocoa powder, some vanilla and cinnamon and put them in my Blendtec on the Soup setting. Voila! A thermos full of creamy, frothy, chocolately deliciousness that I can sip on all morning.
Yummy! I love that, Amberly. It sounds like a perfect breakfast. The soup setting sounds like one I need to try.
I know you talk about only eating when you’re hungry. Can you send us a picture of your plate some time when you are having your “Cottage cheese, olives, sunflower seeds and shredded Parmesan cheese?” I’d like to get an idea of how that goes together–seems like a different combination! You’re great and I LOVE your website and all you share with us! Thanks!
Ermagersh! I typically don’t measure. I use a small bowl to keep my eyes in league with my stomach! I would say 3/4 cup cottage cheese-1 cup, 1/4 cup nuts, 1/8 cup sunflower seeds, 10 green olives and maybe 1/8 cup shredded Parmesan cheese? It’s enough of a variation of flavors and textures and is fatty/protein-y enough that it fills me up. I don’t count calories, and I guesstimate the carbs right now, but I’d say it’s probably around 15? 10 for the CC and 5 for everything else…
This is an odd thought, but I sometimes WISH I had some sort of food allergy/intolerance to stop me from eating carby muffins, cereals & potatoes. I am an aspartame reactor and I KNOW not to touch the stuff anymore…..why can’t sweets do that to me? I’d run away from them, getting skinnier as I go 😀 But of course I kid, I don’t wish for my body to be anything but healthy. It is just an easy way to want to stay away from those things.
Would you get someone to take a pic of you on your desk-treadmill. How did you adjust to your height?
Hi, Donna! I can grab the height measurement for you. I am 5’5″ and the desk’s surface is 46″ from the floor, and 39 1’2″ from the top of the treadmill. The nice thing about the Jerker desks is that you can adjust their heights for taller or shorter users, but it’s not easy! Thankfully, my husband is only 5’10”, so he likes the height of the desk surface, too. I’d hate to have to walk on stilts to use it.