The Thanksgiving Diet

In honor of today, I have decided to share my secret to my 5-month 70lb weight loss. The name comes from the central foods in this diet - TURKEY, CRANBERRY, and POTATOES. I can't take credit for the IDEA, however, as it's based on Dr. Sears' Total Elimination Diet, the crazy, yet effective means to eliminate colic and gas, as well as determine food allergies and sensitivities in a breastfeeding baby. http://www.askdrsears.com/html/4/T041200.asp

Not surprising to me, doing the TED (as it's fondly called by those on it) is actually better than switching to formula, although the mother makes the ultimate sacrifice. Basically, you eat the least allergenic foods to clear out the baby's symptoms and then slowly add things back in, all the while watching for a reaction (for my dear daughter, it was green poop, reflux, and gas...). The last items added back in are the BIG 7 - wheat, soy, dairy, tree nuts, peanuts, corn, and eggs.

Now, if I were living in a cultural mecca, eating in this manner would be painful, but made less so with the presence of a WHOLE FOODS MARKET. BUT, trying to find "allergen" free foods in Columbus, MS is nearly impossible. AND, my daughter happened to react to everything ON the damn diet, so I was left with my own version, fondly coined by my good friend TMT as "The Thanksgiving Diet."

My main staple diet included the following: Cranberries, sugar <--pure cane, potatoes (regular and sweet), turkey, grapes, spinach, water, organic grape juice, and perrier. Oh, and LOTS of olive oil - lots.

Later I was able to add in the rice products, garlic, green beans <-- oh heavenly, and chicken.

Diet Benefits: Rapid weightloss in a reasonably safe manner; eat in LARGE quantities (okay, so it's the same 5 things, but still, eat, eat, and eat); no worrying about what to cook for yourself for breakfast, lunch, or dinner; you learn about all the crap that is in the food we eat; you rid yourself of ALL toxins - don't get sick - and could possibly shrink a cyst on your back (a small thing I had on my back totally disappeared...); it's reasonably inexpensive, unless you do the lamb thing; other than being a bit gaunt IMO, your skin will look great! Oh, and absolutely NO exercise is involved.

Diet Pitfalls: You eat the same thing for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (for the most part); you can eat NOTHING processed; you can't eat out; you crave everything GOOD; you have to make meals for you and your family; you get a modified eating disorder when it's all over; you cry at least 2-3x a week in self-pity.

Diet Plan WITH RICE:

First, let me thank the food gods who created EVERYTHING out of rice. Pasta, ice cream, milk, cereal, bread... you name it, they've made it. Let me remind you that for 2 months, I could eat NO rice - it's a sad day when you pray for the ability to eat rice milk.

Breakfast: Rice milk, rice puffs with craisins; Hot rice cereal with rice milk and craisins. (eat at least 2-3 bowls of each)

Snack: Craisins, potatoes, Cranberry sauce, turkey patties, rice crackers

Lunch: Ground turkey, potatoes, spinach, rice noodles or rice- fry in pan with olive oil. Top with cranberry sauce. (eat at least 2-3 servings).

Snack: See above

Dinner: See lunch. For variety, make turkey patties or safe turkey sausage (safe being NO allergens AT ALL). Or, turkey breast cutlets or a whole "Thanksgivingesque" turkey breast.

Drinks: Water, Organic grape juice (add some perrier for a special treat).

And, there you have it. For almost a year, I did it. For two months, I could not eat rice products, therefore eliminating breakfast. It's really tough eating the same meal 3x a day. BUT, I survived and on my daughter's first birthday, something healed over in her tummy (it actually happens to all babes - not just mine) and she is fine. It was hard - but it was worth it.

Motherhood does that to you. Makes you do things you think you never could (or would). Anyone who knows me knows this: I LOVE FOOD. I LOVE TO EAT.

Be prepared for at least 2-3 weeks of total gorging post diet, in which you could potentially gain ALL your weight back.

So, on this day of Thanks, gorge yourselves my friends, as you know I will be doing so. AND, surprisingly enough, I can still eat turkey, cranberry, and potatoes, even after eating it 3x a day for 200 + days.

Comments

[Jeanette Simon]

Ooh sugar and craisins, yum! I'm on day 9 on the TED and my 14 week old DD has made a big improvement, but her reflux (and now what looks like possible constipation) is still there. I have lost 7 lbs already which has been a bright spot in all of this! I've been wondering if she's reacting to something on this diet. Maybe it's all the rice and rice products I've been eating. I've also heard some babies react to millet, and I'm even unsure about the potatoes and the turkey. Ah!! So confusing. How did you go about figuring it out?

[McMama]

Rice, eh? How long did you try the non-modified diet before you realized she was reacting to the rice? I started this about 4 days ago for the same reasons (gas, reflux, green poop) and some days are better, some not so much. I'm wondering if the allergens are just not out of my system yet, or if he's having a reaction. Also, CRAISINS?? SUGAR??? Those would be a godsend right now (especially the craisins, GOD I NEED A SNACK!)... How did you go about figuring out what she wouldn't react to? I'm currently eating turkey, potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, rice, (millet - bought but not yet consumed), and rice milk and only salt & pepper for seasoning. Did you use any seasonings? I'm dying without garlic here. Sorry to bombard you with questions 3 years later, but OMG someone I "know" who's gone through this hell.

[Melissa]

Wow! I was on the same diet. It seemed to be the only thing that worked. I went off b/c I was hungry and missing all the evils (my favorites). Since, we've tried acid reflux medicine, regular and hypoallergenic formula, pumping BM and feeding by bottle. Kudos to you for doing it soooo long. Maybe I should suck it up, and go back on the diet because I can say it was the only thing that offered relief. When did your child suffer from her symptoms? My daughter's happens at night, when all others are sleeping. The daytime is fine, which is another reason I'm hesitant to go back to "the diet". I'd love to here from you via e-mail.

[Tara]

Wow, I am SO there right now! My first daughter was allergic to eggs, soy and dairy. My latest addition (2 months today) is so far allergic corn, soy, dairy, and wheat (and I suspect food dyes, salicylates, iron and citric acid). I was eating just turkey, brown rice, green beans, pears and sweet potatoes until I could add fish (tilapia) and then chicken. Well I switched brands of fish and chicken (that's what happens when you ask your husband to stop and pick up meat for you - he had good intentions). Apparently the chicken or fish was fed corn cause the past two nights I've had my babe in the Moby wrap, bouncing on the edge of our guest bed for 6 hours straight to get her to sleep - oh and this is AFTER dosing the poor screeching in pain child with Tylenol w/Codeine and Hyoscyamine drops. So now I not only have to watch what I eat, but I have to watch what what I am about to eat has eaten, got that? Glad to know you made it through to the other side! Gives me a ray of hope :)

[fat losing exercise]

it is really a thanksgiving diet!

[Weight Healthy]

that's a ot of food to eat!! God Graceous!!!

[karyn]

Dude - potatoes, turkey & cranberries? Seriously? Not...like..cranberry SAUCE, but cranberries??? I might be able to do this. It's better than Atkins, on which I lasted 2 whole days, and faster than weight watchers which I did for 10 months and lost 42 lbs. 70 lbs in 5 months??? Bring it on!!!!!!!!

[Kim Hill]

I was on this diet for 3 years due to DS #1 food allergies. It was not the best thing in the world, but I survived and my son was so much better for it.

[Hill]

Oh quit your bitching, you skinny, childbearing bitch!! =)

I'll probably weigh four HUNDRED pounds when and IF I ever reproduce!!

Glad you're back on regular people eats, though, as inviting you guys to dinner was TOUGH!! ;)