User kaz - PaleoHacks.com

Allergic to exercise?

2011-03-21T04:57:16Z

I know, I know. I sound like a lazy bum.

But: I'm allergic to exercise. It has a fancy-pants name, called exercise-induced urticaria [ever-reputable wiki link: link text]. I find that some days, just walking across campus is enough for me to break out in hives and wanting to scratch my legs off. However, other days, I'm fine.

I've read that diet influences the allergic reaction, but I've been unable to pinpoint anything specific that's triggering these hives. I don't want to be dependent upon antihistamines either, just to leave my house.

I've broken out in hives in baggy shorts, snug jeans, flowy skirts, the works, so I don't think it's my clothes doing it. I find it happening less now that I'm Paleo, but I had a minor outbreak about two weeks ago, which reminded me of how obnoxious this condition is.

Has anyone ever heard of it? I'd love to learn how to manage it, and maybe learn how to prevent any further eruptions. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks! :)

Answer by Kaz for Acne friendly cheese(s)

2012-05-29T01:16:17Z

Sucks, doesn't it? I can't eat cow's dairy, either, or I break out in huge cysts all over my face. I find that all forms of goat dairy are easy on my skin and have been eating it consistently for over a year now without an acne flare-up. (I noted the duration because it usually takes up to two weeks for the cysts to develop after I consume cow's dairy products, but I realize everyone is different.) Goat yoghurt and goat cheese are also safe for my sensitive tummy, too. :)

Answer by Kaz for What is causing my disgusting indigestion tonight?

2012-05-03T05:47:49Z

Jicama tears my stomach up. It's absolutely delicious, but the inulin (a kind of soluble fiber and a FODMAP) in it destroys me. Maybe that's it?

Hopefully you're feeling better by now! A swig of cider vinegar may help with the indigestion, if you have it on hand. I like to mix it with bubbles (sparkling water) and it's actually a pretty tasty drink. :)

Answer by Kaz for Has anyone had PRE-menstrual syndrome turn into POST-menstrual syndrome on paleo?

2012-04-11T03:31:33Z

Dude, I totally googled this just now and found your post. Weird that I didn't see it when you first posted it a few days ago, but I'm relieved to see I'm not the only one experiencing this.

I'm much like you, though: 27, healthy weight, and when I was pre-Paleo, I had periods from hell and even had taken days off from school/work due to it.

My period ended a couple days ago, and I've felt bloated, loggy, fat, irritable, and overall icky ever since. My weight is up two-ish pounds and my fingers are swollen, and I've wanted nothing but sweets and chocolate since. Blah.

The thing is, I had none of my typical mid-cycle cramping or pain, and my period arrived without fanfare or edema or any of the typical markers of the curse'd symptoms of my monthly cycle. Like, I felt /great/ in the days leading up to my menses, and had a very easy period.

But yeah, now? Moody city (Speaker for the Dead has made me weep helplessly THRICE and I'm only 119 pages into it this go-around) and Lindt 85% is ambrosial. Hiss, boo!

I hope others can possibly chime in with answers, but until then, I'm gonna resume my googling and I'll report back if I learn anything. Hopefully, you're feeling better by now?

Why, exactly, does dairy cause acne?

2011-01-31T07:18:22Z

Hullo! :)

I'm a desperate woman. I miss yoghurt something fierce (and yes, I know it's not Paleo, but this is a recurrent craving that I'm having trouble ignoring as it has been nagging me for literally years), and I would love to figure out why I can't eat dairy. Whenever I do, I break out in epic, ginormous cysts. Other than the occasional taste (a lick of sour cream off my fingers, or a tiny bit of milk in some chocolate, but never more than that), I haven't had dairy in years. I attempted to eat a bite of organic cow's milk cheese the other day, and paid for it in stomach cramps and digestive upset. (It's too soon for me to tell if it will break me out, though, as the cysts arrive about 7-10 days after dairy consumption.)

My research has come up with two hypotheses:

1) Dairy causes a hormonal response, which triggers acne flare-ups.

2) Food intolerance (lactose/casein) triggers an inflammatory response, thus acne occurs.

I purchased myself some full-fat goat's milk yoghurt (Sierra Nevada brand, which claims to be a sustainable, small farm that does not use antibiotics or synthetic hormones in their production) tonight at my local health food store and enjoyed a tiny bowl of it for dessert this evening. It's my understanding that goat's milk has less of the Alpha-type of casein found in cow's milk that triggers a reaction, and is more easily digested than cow's milk.

When I searched this forum, I found many people noting link between dairy and acne, but I couldn't find any suggestions as to /why/ it happens. If it's the casein, perhaps I can enjoy dairy again? If it's hormonal, am I completely out of luck? I was also wondering if, perhaps, any of you who do react to dairy has fared better on goat/sheep/other-lactating-mammal dairy?

Thank you! :)

Answer by Kaz for do you track calories though you don't believe in calorie in/calorie out?

2012-03-05T05:01:27Z

I'm a former binge-eater, so yes, I track my numbers -- calories, protein, carbs, fat, the works.

I have tried not to, but every time I attempt to cease, my brain thinks, "Yay! Food free-for-all!" and I'll eat well beyond satiety. My hunger/fullness signals are completely wonky, but tracking allows me to see that yes, I have eaten a normal amount of food and allows for me to pause and wait for the "I'm quite satisfied now, thank you," message to be delivered to my brain.

I'm also monitoring my carbohydrates in order to repair my menstrual cycle, as I am now convinced that my excessive mittelschmerz (okay, I confess, I just wanted to use the word "mittelschmerz" in a sentence there) and other mid-cycle woes are related to my carbohydrate intake. Again, without tracking, my brain will be like, "Z0mg! Dark chocolate! Bananas! Must. Have. Moar!"

Also, whenever I /think/ I've overeaten, I panic, and will actually commence an overeating fest in response to that anxiety. It's silly and absurd, and I have no idea why (probably some deep-seated issues not unrelated to my former binge tendencies) so having a compilation of numbers that permit me to acknowledge that I did not overeat makes me feel "safe" and thus staves off any subsequent self-destructive binges.

Plus! Numbers are fun! Huzzah for nerdiness! :D

Answer by Kaz for Coming off the pill...

2012-02-29T18:43:42Z

Your experience sounds much like mine! I was on birth control for a similar eleven-year duration.

After stopping the pill, I had an immediate cycle (about 3-4 days after stopping, which lasted another 3-4 days), but then it took 37 days for me to get my first "true" period, and approximately 35-36 days for subsequent ones. Four months in, and it was only 30 days. I'm experiencing PMS right now (o hai thar, chocolate!) and if I start when I anticipate that I will, it would have been 30-31 days. Therefore, it took me about 3-4 months to regulate.

My face is calming down, as well. I had a nasty rash of acne on my forehead and chin immediately after, but it's down to just a couple spots now.

I also gained a few pounds as a result of birth control/cessation, and while it's since stabilized, it will take renewed effort to shed these unwanted pounds. Just a head's up on that; I'm not sure of other women have gained weight stopping contraception, but I did. (I was not eating in excess, either, as I am quite fastidious about tracking my intake.)

I'm also experiencing mid-cycle cramping during ovulation. Again, not sure how common that is, but that's just my experience.

On the upside, my libido is now like, "Yay! Sex!" and I'm feeling much more warmer and affectionate toward my mate. On the downside, the hormone fluctuations have triggered a spike in anxiety and carb cravings (probably linked!) which I have honored, in moderation. (Oh, hell, who am I kidding? I attacked and killed a jar of Nutella this morning and if it threatens me again, I will not hesitate to remind it who is in charge around here.)

Congrats on taking such an empowering step toward regaining your health! I hope your cycle sorts itself out soon. :)

Answer by Kaz for What is cacao butter good for?

2012-02-17T00:48:45Z

I just bought a tube of it online. I plan on using it as a lip balm*, I think, but I'm not sure yet; the price was too good to pass up and I love playing with new fats. (Yeesh, is that not the weirdest statement ever? Yes, I have hobbies: I love playing with fat. Thank you very much.)

*I typically use coconut oil for lip balm, but it's not very convenient to transport. This is in a nifty tube form, and yeah. I'm sorta obsessed with balms. That's my other hobby, evidently. Balming myself. There ya go.

Answer by Kaz for Without a spoonful of sugar, what can I take to make the medicine go down?

2012-02-15T07:19:05Z

I wonder if making some thicker-set gelatin would help any? You can cut off a cube of the gelatin (perhaps pour it into a baking dish for ease of removal from the pan) and maybe pierce it with a knife, then slide the tablet in? I'm not sure the size of the pills to which you refer, but do be careful and have a water chaser nearby to facilitate swallowing, just in case. =P

Gummy supplements better than no supplements?

2011-08-17T07:46:41Z

Okay, so, this is a bit embarrassing, but: I really suck at remembering to take my Vitamin D. Every few days I wander into the kitchen, open the cabinet, and have an "Oh crap!" moment when I realize I haven't taken it in forever. I'll pop 5,000 IU (in one single pill) then forget about it again.

Tonight, while at the store, I picked up some of these D3 gummies. I'll be honest, they're pretty yummy. Two of them have 2,000 IU and two grams of sugar (from glucose syrup). I have no doubt that I'll have no difficulty remembering to take these.

My question is, is the trace sugar in a gummy supplement worth it to encourage me to take the Vitamin D every day, or is my sporadic usage of taking my typical 5,000 IUs in pill form more than adequate?

Also, I live in the Pacific Northwest. There is no sun here. I've looked for it, but I've since written it off as an urban legend meant to install awe in young children and lure innocents such as myself to the area. Plus, sunlight gives me cold sores, so I sadly have to avoid long exposure anyway.

Answer by Kaz for Does Anyone Else Cringe When They Hear the Word 'Cereal'?

2012-02-05T05:23:47Z

Actually, I love the word 'cereal' and find it particularly amusing when somebody with a refined, clipped accent refers to them as 'breakfast cereals', with emphasis on the plural. I also get a kick out the word 'lettuces' as well, again with the plural form of the word. If I could listen to somebody pontificate eloquently on the virtues of the terms 'breakfast cereals' and 'lettuces' all day long, I'd probably revel in it with the utmost delight. ;D

Answer by Kaz for Is an intolerance to pork "a thing"?

2012-01-12T07:08:05Z

I cannot eat it, either.

I'm not exactly sure why; I was a vegetarian for several years, but even before then, I rarely touched it (due emotional affection toward pigs, as well as a bad experiences with it when I was younger -- which may, in itself, explain my inability to consume it?). I hypothesize that my body never developed/lost the enzymes to digest it. I have no issues with poultry or ruminants, as far as I can tell.

A quick google search does reveal the possibility of a pork allergy (cross-reactive to milk), and some cursory skimming indicates that "abdominal symptoms" are a manifestation of it. Everything else, unfortunately, seems to be anecdotal.

I look forward to learning more about this, as I have suffered lately the delicious smells of slow-cooked pork shoulder and had nary a bite for fear of digestive upset. It's not my favorite thing to eat (due to aforementioned reasons), but dang. It was torture to smell it cooking all day and not even get a taste. >.<

Answer by Kaz for What are you going to improve for next year?

2011-12-29T06:58:09Z

I am going to fix my broken brain. I know that a life without OCD is possible, and I know diet plays an integral role in making this happen. I hope that through a combination of supplementation (including inositol) and reduced consumption of sugar (my major vice), I can banish the illness for good. :)

Answer by Kaz for What to do when you've just eaten half a box of chocolates :((

2011-12-28T02:11:15Z

The same just happened to me with some Queen Anne chocolate covered cherries. They're absolutely rubbish, and are so sweet it makes my teeth hurt and my throat tingle. Yet, they're the candy of my childhood, and every Christmas, we had a box under the tree. I miss my family terrible fierce right now, and eating those candies made me feel a little bit closer to home.

I have a vicious tummy ache and the shakes from the sugar spike as a result. Fortunately, there's some chicken broth in the fridge. I imagine that if my appetite does return after this little episode (which it may very well do; I have a remarkable penchant for being able to eat after indulging in otherwise cloying foods) I'll sip on some broth with some sriracha and ride it out. I imagine any "hunger" I do get after this will be a sugar crash anyway, so something stabilizing will help me feel better. If I am genuinely hungry later, I'll probably nosh on some protein and fat -- anything but more sugar!

Tomorrow, I'll resume normal eating. Restricting after overeating simply sets me up for overeating again, so I'm forgiving myself and moving on.

I hope you feel better soon, too. :)

Answer by Kaz for hack my constipation. i beg of you.

2011-12-18T05:48:28Z

It sounds like your problem might be related to peristalsis.

When I eat certain foods, I cannot produce a bowel movement either -- and when I am finally able to go, the stool seems otherwise healthy and formed. In other words, it's not dry or pebbly or anything of the sort, but I simply cannot go and despite lower abdominal pain and discomfort, the necessary muscle contractions to produce a bowel movement do not occur.

However, for me, coconut is a major problem, as it completely paralyzes my peristaltic muscles. I think it's an irritant for me or something (no idea why), but I have to avoid that and other certain foods that trigger constipation in me. I also have to avoid pork products and grains completely, too, or it prevents peristaltic contractions and I am unable to use the restroom the following day.

Whenever my IBS acts up, I cannot even leave the house due to the pain. I can only imagine how dreadful you must feel. Good luck; I hope you're able to sort your problems out soon!

Thermoregulation? Or, is it cold in here, or just me?

2011-03-24T23:26:51Z

As I understand it, our Paleo ancestors lived in much chillier times. I simply cannot fathom one of my predecessors sitting, huddled under a Wooly Mammoth pelt by the fire, cold-feeting anybody who tries to share the heat with him.

However, here I am: wearing a thermal undershirt, a long-sleeved overshirt, and a heavy sweater, under a fleece blanket, sipping hot peppermint tea...and it's something like 45 degrees out and raining, but not exactly an ice age out there.

Are you a cold person, or do you burn hot? Has your body's ability to regulate and adjust its core temperature gotten better or worse now that you're Paleo, or has it stayed about the same? What has been your experience with weather extremes and your own personal comfort level?

Cyclical palatability?

2011-02-23T00:18:57Z

Last week, I was craving chocolate like it was nobody's business. I think I went through a couple hundred grams in a week, and it tasted downright ambrosial. Near the end of the week, I was noshing on unsweetened baker's cocoa just to get my fix.

I had a bit of it leftover this week, and have attempted to consume it twice, and both times I put it back. It tasted sour, cloying, almost too sickly-sweet and rich.

I've noticed this before with other foods, as well. For a couple weeks last month, I was on a complete steak kick. I wanted red meat with every meal. I partook generously, and haven't really craved it since. (I'm currently hankering for dark-meat poultry and fish -- specifically salmon and sardines -- right now, and have had it several times this week.)

I don't think I burned myself out on these foods, since I still think chocolate is perfectly delightful (in concept, that is; but I've never really been a chocolate fiend, which makes my craving all the more curious). It just doesn't taste very good at the moment. I doubt that the chocolate spree was menstrual, either, since I was nowhere near PMS last week. (As a matter of fact, my cycle had ended the weekend before.) I also eat plenty of fat, and a fair share of vegetables with my meals. I had lamb the other day and enjoyed it thoroughly, and I could go for another, but if you put a dead cow in front of me, I'd consume it and possibly enjoy it, but I don't think the fireworks would be there.

Oh, and I cannot get enough eggs! I roll out of bed fantasizing about the omelette I'm going to make for myself, and I never used to like eggs!

Has anyone ever noticed that foods taste better/worse at certain times? Or, ever get struck by a craving and that food tasted absolutely divine, then suddenly it doesn't taste good anymore and the craving ceases? Is this the body's way of notifying us that we're missing something from our diets, or something else altogether?

Answer by Kaz for How often do you eat the following?

2011-11-24T04:41:16Z

Nuts/nut butter: Daily, 2-3 oz per day

Dark chocolate: Daily, about 2 oz per day

Grain-fed meat: Almost never, unless I'm dining out, which is very rare. Oh, and jerky occasionally

Chicken/turkey: Daily, 1-2 meals a day probably

High sugar fruits (e.g. mangoes, bananas): Bananas daily, apples and pears 2-3x a week

Nightshades: Sriracha daily, others rarely

Safe starches (e.g. white rice, sweet potatoes): Winter squash, 1-2x per week

Alcohol: Almost never

Full-fat dairy: Almost never, but looking to re-introduce goat's milk yoghurt and cheese

Answer by Kaz for Paleo Guest for Thanksgiving

2011-11-22T22:13:48Z

My friend is incredibly kind and wonderful and has graciously extended her family's celebration to myself and my partner. She and her family knows about my delicate stomach, but I imagine that most foods at the table will probably be things that I find that I can eat anyway, including mashers, turkey or ham, and vegetables. (I have not been so bold as to inquire what the feast entails, but I'm confident that I'll maneuver it seamlessly.)

I plan on enjoying those items thoroughly and have no intention of calling attention to the things that I am not eating, as I feel that would be rude and unnecessary. I will lavish praise upon the yummy things that I do eat, though, and thank them exuberantly for inviting me. In other words, I plan on focusing on the pleasant aspects of this get-together, and make my own dietary sensitivities a non-issue unless somebody asks.

I also plan on bringing some sort of dessert, such as my grainless choccy chippers or a flourless pumpkin spice cake. I love baking, so this will be fun for me.

I'm looking forward to spending time with my friend and her family. While I know the food will be delicious, the day is not about what I am or am not eating, but fellowship with the lovely people whom I adore. :)

Answer by Kaz for Food and Stress Response -- Ideas?

2011-11-20T00:10:40Z

I'm in the same boat, though I'm just an undergrad. Three more weeks, then finals. Home stretch!

I'm also on campus for approximately twelve hours each day. I make sure my lunch is appetizing and convenient for me to eat. I tend to 'reward' myself with food (which works for me but may not be best for everyone), and punctuate my study breaks with nibbles of my favorite things to eat.

I should also preface this by stating that I am a higher-carb Paleo, and eat about 150-175g a day with no ill effect.

First off, I have to bribe myself to get out of bed. That typically consists of a high-protein/fat meal with a banana with almond butter for "dessert". Yes, I look forward to my daily banana, and I do use it as motivation to throw off the covers and start yet another dreadfully stressful day.

Currently, I'm able to cram about 1000-1200 calories into a handful of food, which is easiest for me. It's delicious, high-fat, and very filling. Currently, my backpack is stuffed with: a Larabar (cashew cookie is my favorite), an ounce and a half of cashews (what? I like cashews!), four squares of 85% dark chocolate, some low-sugar beef jerky or a sachet of tuna or salmon (the no-drain kind), and if I'm in the mood for it, a couple of small plums or an apple or something.

I devour the Larabar in my Stats class (the sugar helps keep me awake, honestly) and after math, I move into the library to study for a couple hours before my next class. The food is easily consumed in the library (unless I pack fish, then clearly I take that outside) and because I enjoy it so much, I'm both physically and emotionally satisfied by it.

Because I get home so late, dinner is typically a dish of veggies and some protein, and yes, more dark chocolate.

I'm not arguing that this is terribly healthy, but it's much better than bingeing on cookies or ice cream (which I am wont to do when I'm anxious, overwhelmed, and famished) and I don't feel the urge to devour copious amounts of unhealthful things, either, because I'm eating exactly what I want. I also keep lots of my favorite teas around to sip on to keep my mouth busy when I do get the urge to stuff my face when no longer hungry. I'm currently sipping some Candy Cane Lane, which I adore.

Anyway. I rambled here. Sorry!

TL;DR: I eat yummy, high-fat things when under duress and it keeps me from bingeing on things that make me sick.

Good luck, Caleb, with the end of the semester! You're almost there. You can do this! :D

Answer by Kaz for Paleo ladies: What do you do on the PMS days where you feel like a bottomless pit of hunger?

2011-11-18T06:03:05Z

It's funny, but this is my second menstrual cycle (off the pill) while paleo, and I've had insane cravings for large bowls of steamed veggies and roasted chicken thighs. I've also easily polished off 100+g of 85% dark chocolate these past couple days.

I also can't stop thinking about slow-roasted winter squash with cinnamon and almond butter. Mmmm. I'll have some of that tomorrow, most likely. It's sweet, delicious, and high-volume so I can stuff myself with minimal damage.

However, the real random thing is that I just somehow just managed to decimate half a jar of pickles. I mean, I like pickles as much as the next guy, but a half a jar? Yikes. No idea where that one came from, but ouch, that one's going to hurt later. >.<

Answer by Kaz for Would you eat road-kill while pregnant?

2011-11-12T03:53:12Z

When I was in elementary, my bus driver hit a deer on the way to school. My brother jumped out of the bus, ran the mile up the hill to alert our nearest neighbors, and within minutes they had removed the carcass and we continued on our way to class.

Later that day, those neighbors stopped by the house with a generous portion of venison, and later that week, jerky. It was delicious. :)

Answer by Kaz for Eggs vs. Meat - which is better? Is meat more satisfying to you?

2011-11-05T05:09:59Z

Eggs leave me starving in an hour, no matter how many I eat. Meat FTW. :D

Answer by Kaz for Green and Firm? or Brown and Mushy?

2011-10-18T03:46:34Z

I find that the browner they get, the blander they get. It's almost like they get too sweet, and that's all you can taste is the sugar. I like them with just a hint of green, almost no spots if possible. It gives them that rich, slightly-tangy banana flavor that I love, too, and a firm texture is a must. Mushy bananas are off-putting to me. Ick.

Answer by Kaz for Anybody see that Shape magazine has a Paleo blogger in their list of "Best Healthy Eating Blogs"?

2011-10-12T06:47:14Z

I absolutely voted for her. I'm vaguely familiar with some of the other blogs, and they simply do not compare. Good luck, Jan!

Answer by Kaz for [Meta] Why anonymity, paleohacks?

2011-10-10T05:45:24Z

I'm shy.

Seriously shy.

Plus, if I'm going to google-stalk my peers, I should probably be braced for them to google-stalk me.

I'm a very private person, really, and it would disturb me to know that a complete stranger could walk up to me and go, "Oh, hey, you're Kaz, and I read all about your poop online!" Now, if I initiated a conversation with said stranger about poo, that's fine. But, I don't want them to automatically know that bit of minutae about me. (Of course, you can sub out any topic that I've discussed on here in place of poop, but I really don't want strangers/no-so-strangers to know about my history of ED, or any of the other things I've shared with you guys and be able to pin it to my name or face.)

Also, like Olivia said, I don't want to be off-putting to future employers, and I don't want old acquaintances looking me up, and I don't want my exes to know what I'm up to. I'd be mortified if my high school friends (or enemies! c'mon, we all have them) knew all of this stuff about me.

You do your own thing, though, Nala. If you don't mind anyone knowing your dietary habits, feel free to keep your name/image up. You're loads braver than I, though. :)

Did I mention that I'm shy, too? Seriously? I'm really shy.

Answer by Kaz for Higher Carb Paleos - Is this what you eat?

2011-10-10T02:18:37Z

No, I don't use the preset settings. I guess I didn't even know they existed!

Since I started tracking in early August, I'm averaging 96.6g protein, 186.6g carbs, and 102.9g of fat per day. I'm averaging 1981.2 calories per day. I'm not sure the percents, though, because it doesn't offer me a piechart for my total averages. (I tried multiplying my carbs/protein by four and my fat by nine, but that gave me an inaccurate total number of calories.)

It varies, really, day by day. I have days where I'll happily put away 130+g of fat and hardly any protein (why, hello there, PMS!) or days where I can't get enough of the dead animal and tuck into 150-200g of protein.

I really like Cron-o-Meter, though. It soothes my OCD and allows for my number-crunching nerd to come out of hiding. :D

Answer by Kaz for Stubborn Body Fat? (picture)

2011-10-06T06:57:01Z

Like the others have said, it's skin, not fat.

Skin is surprisingly resilient and elastic, especially when you're younger (which you appear to be). I lost a considerable amount of weight, too, and had the same issue. It gradually went away, so I'm pretty sure yours will, too. :)

Answer by Kaz for Inka Chips - thoughts on this snack?

2011-09-27T23:38:13Z

I think they're delicious. They also do sweet potato chips, too. Yum.

Turbana also makes some pretty delicious plantain chips, as well, if you choose their "plain" ones (their seasoned ones have "natural flavors" in it; plain has only plantains, palm oil, and salt).

I'm watching my carbs right now, so I can't partake, so please enjoy some for me, okay? :D

Answer by Kaz for Is there a trick to Cron O Meter?

2011-09-27T13:35:50Z

Cron-o-meter gives you the raw materials. You can plug them in to make the rest.

For instance, if you want guacamole, you go to the recipe builder (under the "Food" tab) and plug in the ingredients for guacamole, then log it. :)

Comment by Kaz

2012-06-15T18:26:13Z

Thank you so much for sharing your notes with me, CaveMan_Mike! I'm going to pore over them now. I skirted around the idea that it might be a histamine intolerance due to other factors triggering me in the past, but for some reason, I didn't pursue it further after that. I found recently (past couple months) that certain fruits and veggies trash my body and thus subsequently stopped eating them, and I realize now in retrospect? My hives haven't returned! I definitely appreciate your input here and will explore it further! :)

Comment by Kaz

2012-06-15T18:19:06Z

Wow, that sounds really dreadful, Ireande. Your hypothesis is interesting and definitely worth looking further into. Thank you for posting! I hope you're able to find relief.

Comment by Kaz

2012-06-15T18:15:36Z

Yikes, I'm sorry that you have to deal with this, too. I appreciate you sharing your experience with me, though!

Comment by Kaz

2012-05-29T11:16:00Z

I know, right, Shawn? It wasn't until I ran out of milk and didn't have the money to buy more/kept forgetting to buy more did my skin clear up. Was your cystic acne more adult/teen onset, as well? I recall drinking milk as a kid (but switched to skim as a teen because it was "healthier") and had pretty good skin as a child. I wonder what triggered it? (Also, I find that the lower the fat content in the milk, the quicker and worse the damage to my face. What's up with that? o.O)

Comment by Kaz

2012-04-29T17:54:12Z

I'm with Bree on this one. I have no desire to watch the video. What has been seen: it cannot be unseen. I do not need Kruse's broadcast image permanently emblazoned into my memory, tyvm.

Comment by Kaz

2012-04-20T02:55:22Z

I'm glad to hear that, Mzrdnan! =)

Comment by Kaz

2012-03-28T03:51:50Z

Very well said, Jen.

Comment by Kaz

2012-03-02T01:11:33Z

Oh, and I dropped my calories to 1800 to expedite the weight loss process. I realize how controversial that calorie counting is, but it works for me. :)

Comment by Kaz

2012-03-02T01:10:24Z

Well, I'm actually in the process of lowering my carbs temporarily to fix the issues that I had experienced after the cessation of my birth control. I eat about 150g carbs now (down from 200g), about 80-100g of fat (depending on moods) and the protein to fill in the gaps. I'm not sure my body fat, though. Sorry! G'luck with your goals. :)

Comment by Kaz

2012-02-29T22:42:44Z

Then, of course, stopped all hormonal contraceptive altogether.

Comment by Kaz

2012-02-29T22:40:01Z

Dunno. That's why I said somebody with a more educated background ought to chime in. For the record, I was on a high-estrogen birth control and switched to a progestin-based pill.

Comment by Kaz

2012-02-29T19:51:09Z

Not sure, really. I mean, if one believes that certain hormones drive fat storage (such as insulin), then it's not implausible to think that perhaps elevated female hormones such as estrogen can trigger a body's desire to store fat, maybe for some reproductive purpose? Or maybe the two are linked somehow? I wish I knew the science behind it! Maybe somebody else with a more educated background can chime in? :)

Comment by Kaz

2012-02-25T21:47:16Z

As far as I know, it's true. For me, at least. :)

Comment by Kaz

2012-02-14T18:41:42Z

Meeps, I think winter squash do it to me, too, which is a shame because they taste so yummy. D: I'm starting to wonder if it's acid reflux, related to a food intolerance of some sort?

Comment by Kaz

2012-02-13T17:02:36Z

You ask a good question, Robin. I nom the heck out of them when I eat them, so I don't think that's an issue with me, but that's a very good point, and I'm not sure what the answer is. Thanks for the input. :)