I finally took the GRE today and it feels fantastic to be done with that thing. My face, however, is not happy with me for it.
See, while there is a significant dietary/hormonal component to my acne, there is also a significant stress component too. My natural inclination is to hold stress in until whatever is stressing me out passes, after which I breathe a huge sigh of relief. Thing is, I rarely know how bad something is affecting me until after it's passed: in this case, the GRE must have really been doing a number on me because areas that have been clear for months (forehead, neck, shoulders) are now breaking out! I'm going to have to take soy (fermented and un-fermented) completely out of the picture again, and not to mention going out to eat and most desserts. I'll have to be more careful about the birth control too - I almost wonder if that could be contributing to my breakouts too. Maybe I should go back to writing a confession each time I so much as toe the line - I've not been terribly strict all summer about doing that. Perhaps its in my best interest.
Why must my body be so darn sensitive - seriously? It's driving me crazy. I don't know if I'm going to be able to reincorporate those ingredients I slashed in March after things re-clear up. Oi vey!
Showing posts with label Confession. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Confession. Show all posts
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Confession, Edition #4
We all make poor food choices and I am no exception, so I am sharing the occasions when I break my own diet. In doing so, I hope to keep myself accountable in adhering to the diet; bring attention to the difference in cost between AFF friendly food and not-so-AFF-friendly food; and show where to find AFF-friendly food outside the apartment kitchen.
I went a week and five days without writing a confession! I know my detractors would say that if I were serious about clearing acne and feeling better permanently, I wouldn't have to write confessions at all. While they may have a point, I would prefer to be as honest as possible about my gluten, soy, and dairy-free (and industrial-animal-product-and-synthetic-sweetener-free avoiding) adventures and misadventures. Should someone of influence come across this blog, I hope they will see the benefits of maintaining high food-quality standards and just how difficult maintaining these standards is in today's food market - and maybe do something about it.
So, confession from yesterday. A friend (and my new roommate!) and I went on a day trip so that she could meet a professor who teaches at a school to which she's considering applying for her doctoral program. I went along because the school is also in my hometown and I would get a chance to see my mom.
Before we left, we had to get our cashier's checks and money orders to pay the up-front fees for our new apartment and sign the lease. While dealing with the mess that is cashier's checks and money orders, I bought tall coffee with soy milk at Starbucks and sweetened it with white sugar (soy, non-organic, processed sugar, caffeine). In my defense, I also got a Berry Blast Naked Juice for later, bringing the day's total sins to $5.29.
Then, after we signed the lease and paid our money, we stopped and got some more Starbucks coffee for free. Our new apartment offers free, fresh brewed Starbucks coffee in it's main office. Unfortunately, they don't have any fresh, liquid, non-dairy, soy, gluten, or artificial sweetner-laiden creamer. I do like black coffee, but I didn't resist pouring some hazelnut-flavored powder creamer (gluten, soy, dairy, non-organic, artificial sweetener/processed sugar, caffeine) to celebrate a new, beautiful apartment with a new, awesome roommate.
So, we drove down and found where she needed to be, with a few minutes to spare. My mom came and we went to the Starbucks near the campus. We both got the non-organic black tea without sweetener (non-organic, caffeine). It was Mom's treat.
When my roommate's appointment was finished and my Mom went home, we had a misadventure trying to pick up something for my roommate's boss. We had had nothing to eat besides coffee (and, in my case, tea and Naked Juice) and ended up at Red Robin. I was so hungry I didn't even really want to think about a salad with fruit. I ordered the Burnin' Love Burger with a Garden Burger for the meat (gluten, dairy, soy) and had marinaded cheese sticks and fried jalepenos with marinara and ranch (dairy, gluten, fried food). That total was $15.75.
For dessert (because my roommate's meeting went very well), I ordered an iced boba chai tea at a local tea shop for $5.55.
The day's total: $26.59.
I still need to write another confession for a few nights ago. I bought an organic pizza (gluten, dairy, soy) and had a soy-based cheesecake (which actually was quite good). The total was $14.93.
So maybe it's been less than a week and five days since my last confession . . .
This confession's total: $41.52.
I went a week and five days without writing a confession! I know my detractors would say that if I were serious about clearing acne and feeling better permanently, I wouldn't have to write confessions at all. While they may have a point, I would prefer to be as honest as possible about my gluten, soy, and dairy-free (and industrial-animal-product-and-synthetic-sweetener-free avoiding) adventures and misadventures. Should someone of influence come across this blog, I hope they will see the benefits of maintaining high food-quality standards and just how difficult maintaining these standards is in today's food market - and maybe do something about it.
So, confession from yesterday. A friend (and my new roommate!) and I went on a day trip so that she could meet a professor who teaches at a school to which she's considering applying for her doctoral program. I went along because the school is also in my hometown and I would get a chance to see my mom.
Before we left, we had to get our cashier's checks and money orders to pay the up-front fees for our new apartment and sign the lease. While dealing with the mess that is cashier's checks and money orders, I bought tall coffee with soy milk at Starbucks and sweetened it with white sugar (soy, non-organic, processed sugar, caffeine). In my defense, I also got a Berry Blast Naked Juice for later, bringing the day's total sins to $5.29.
Then, after we signed the lease and paid our money, we stopped and got some more Starbucks coffee for free. Our new apartment offers free, fresh brewed Starbucks coffee in it's main office. Unfortunately, they don't have any fresh, liquid, non-dairy, soy, gluten, or artificial sweetner-laiden creamer. I do like black coffee, but I didn't resist pouring some hazelnut-flavored powder creamer (gluten, soy, dairy, non-organic, artificial sweetener/processed sugar, caffeine) to celebrate a new, beautiful apartment with a new, awesome roommate.
So, we drove down and found where she needed to be, with a few minutes to spare. My mom came and we went to the Starbucks near the campus. We both got the non-organic black tea without sweetener (non-organic, caffeine). It was Mom's treat.
When my roommate's appointment was finished and my Mom went home, we had a misadventure trying to pick up something for my roommate's boss. We had had nothing to eat besides coffee (and, in my case, tea and Naked Juice) and ended up at Red Robin. I was so hungry I didn't even really want to think about a salad with fruit. I ordered the Burnin' Love Burger with a Garden Burger for the meat (gluten, dairy, soy) and had marinaded cheese sticks and fried jalepenos with marinara and ranch (dairy, gluten, fried food). That total was $15.75.
For dessert (because my roommate's meeting went very well), I ordered an iced boba chai tea at a local tea shop for $5.55.
The day's total: $26.59.
I still need to write another confession for a few nights ago. I bought an organic pizza (gluten, dairy, soy) and had a soy-based cheesecake (which actually was quite good). The total was $14.93.
So maybe it's been less than a week and five days since my last confession . . .
This confession's total: $41.52.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Confession, Edition #3
We all make poor food choices and I am no exception, so I am sharing the occasions when I break my own diet. In doing so, I hope to keep myself accountable in adhering to the diet; bring attention to the difference in cost between AFF friendly food and not-so-AFF-friendly food; and show where to find AFF-friendly food outside the apartment kitchen.
I’m on vacation until Saturday, but I also want to stay current. I've been fortunate to have access to my boyfriend's kitchen, so this confession isn't nearly as long as it could be.
On Sunday, I had been driving 2 1/2 hours and I needed protein. I stopped at the Barnes and Noble coffee shop and ordered a Turkey Chipotle Panini (gluten, dairy, non-organic, industrial meat, probably soy in there too) and a Tall Starbucks Drip Coffee (non-organic, dairy).
The Bill: Free (gift card)
I could have ordered the vegetarian soup to avoid the industrial meat (at the least), but that wouldn't have given me the protein I needed.
Yesterday, I broke the diet twice. For lunch, I met a friend at Pei Wei because he's moving cross-country today. I knew I'd be breaking the diet on my undergraduate alma mater's off-campus restaurant row, but I could have faired better. I got the Kung Pao Chicken (gluten, soy, dairy) and an organic green tea (nothing).
The Bill: approximately $10
For dinner, I met with boyfriend and his mom at a favorite local Greek food place. They serve complementary pita and hummus (gluten, dairy, non-organic). We got the pita and fried Saganaki (gluten, dairy, non-organic) and I got the Organic House Salad (nothing!) and the Lemon Chicken with Rice Soup (dairy, industrial meat, non-organic).
The Bill: Free (boyfriend's mom's treat)
Today, my boyfriend and I ate the cheesecake slice (non-organic, gluten, and dairy) he ordered at the Greek place.
I’m on vacation until Saturday, but I also want to stay current. I've been fortunate to have access to my boyfriend's kitchen, so this confession isn't nearly as long as it could be.
On Sunday, I had been driving 2 1/2 hours and I needed protein. I stopped at the Barnes and Noble coffee shop and ordered a Turkey Chipotle Panini (gluten, dairy, non-organic, industrial meat, probably soy in there too) and a Tall Starbucks Drip Coffee (non-organic, dairy).
The Bill: Free (gift card)
I could have ordered the vegetarian soup to avoid the industrial meat (at the least), but that wouldn't have given me the protein I needed.
Yesterday, I broke the diet twice. For lunch, I met a friend at Pei Wei because he's moving cross-country today. I knew I'd be breaking the diet on my undergraduate alma mater's off-campus restaurant row, but I could have faired better. I got the Kung Pao Chicken (gluten, soy, dairy) and an organic green tea (nothing).
The Bill: approximately $10
For dinner, I met with boyfriend and his mom at a favorite local Greek food place. They serve complementary pita and hummus (gluten, dairy, non-organic). We got the pita and fried Saganaki (gluten, dairy, non-organic) and I got the Organic House Salad (nothing!) and the Lemon Chicken with Rice Soup (dairy, industrial meat, non-organic).
The Bill: Free (boyfriend's mom's treat)
Today, my boyfriend and I ate the cheesecake slice (non-organic, gluten, and dairy) he ordered at the Greek place.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Confession, Edition #2
We all make poor food choices and I am no exception, so I am sharing the occasions when I break my own diet. In doing so, I hope to keep myself accountable in adhering to the diet; bring attention to the difference in cost between AFF friendly food and not-so-friendly AFF food; and show where to find AFF friendly food outside the apartment kitchen.
My future roommate and I went out to dinner/dessert at the Wildflower Bread Company to discuss apartment searching stuff. Not wanting to modify the Emerald Spinach Salad yet again, I tried the Vegetarian Black Bean Soup, and it was good, filling, and cheap. It's not organic, unfortunately, but there is only one partially organic restaurant in my area, and it's a bit pricey. Not a bad deal for compromising.
The Bill: $5.18
We got dessert at the Barnes and Noble Coffee Shop. I broke the diet (again) with a coffee with soymilk and a lemon bundt cake. It didn't cost me anything because I still have a Barnes and Noble gift card from Christmas. I still could have just a had tea and honey though.
My future roommate and I went out to dinner/dessert at the Wildflower Bread Company to discuss apartment searching stuff. Not wanting to modify the Emerald Spinach Salad yet again, I tried the Vegetarian Black Bean Soup, and it was good, filling, and cheap. It's not organic, unfortunately, but there is only one partially organic restaurant in my area, and it's a bit pricey. Not a bad deal for compromising.
The Bill: $5.18
We got dessert at the Barnes and Noble Coffee Shop. I broke the diet (again) with a coffee with soymilk and a lemon bundt cake. It didn't cost me anything because I still have a Barnes and Noble gift card from Christmas. I still could have just a had tea and honey though.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Confession, Edition #1
We all make poor food choices and I am no exception, so I am sharing the occasions when I break my own diet. In doing so, I hope to keep myself accountable in adhering to the diet; bring attention to the difference in cost between AFF friendly food and not-so-friendly AFF food; and show where to find AFF friendly food outside the apartment kitchen.
Local Mexican Restaurant: Bean and Cheese Tostadas on corn tortillas: dairy, non-organic
Bill: $3.48
Starbucks
-Soy Chai Latte: soy, non-organic
-Blueberry oatmeal bar: gluten, dairy, non-organic
Bill: $5.96
Total Bill: $9.44
I went out with a friend tonight and we had quite a good time. There is only one restaurant in my area that has organic food besides the natural food grocery store, so I have had to give up on non-organic foods when I eat out. I could have avoided the cheese in the tostadas, but I honestly forgot to have the food prep folks at the restaurant hold the cheese. The Starbucks order was just plain blowing off the diet, although I did manage to avoid obvious dairy with the soy milk. No excuses though – I could have just gotten good old hot tea.
Local Mexican Restaurant: Bean and Cheese Tostadas on corn tortillas: dairy, non-organic
Bill: $3.48
Starbucks
-Soy Chai Latte: soy, non-organic
-Blueberry oatmeal bar: gluten, dairy, non-organic
Bill: $5.96
Total Bill: $9.44
I went out with a friend tonight and we had quite a good time. There is only one restaurant in my area that has organic food besides the natural food grocery store, so I have had to give up on non-organic foods when I eat out. I could have avoided the cheese in the tostadas, but I honestly forgot to have the food prep folks at the restaurant hold the cheese. The Starbucks order was just plain blowing off the diet, although I did manage to avoid obvious dairy with the soy milk. No excuses though – I could have just gotten good old hot tea.
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