14-Day Dairy Free Challenge

totoro · 14-Day Dairy Free Challenge

Hi everyone,

Anyone game for another dairy-free challenge? I have been feeling great lately on the VLC diet. I want to see if I would feel even better without dairy. Here are the issues I'm curious to see if it would help:

1. Sometimes I feel like I can't get enough air. When these "attacks" come on, it's difficult to take a full, deep breath. Could dairy be causing this?

2. Skin: I have always had acne-prone, uneven-toned, flaky skin on my face with a layer of very small bumps on it. For brief, small windows in my life, it has been smooth, but that's not the norm. It has improved greatly since VLC, but I still have the small bumps and flakiness. Perhaps dairy is the final culprit for this.

3. Tea: I drink tea that I decaffeinate myself, but I am still dependent on it in the mornings. I don't want to be. I like my tea with cream, so without cream I won't be drinking tea. I also wonder if tea is contributing to my skin problems.

I'm setting it for 14 days because that seems like a good amount of time to see if there are any improvements.

Also, this is a good way to get my number of posts up so I can start a journal!

Jaybird

The problems you describe could definitely stem from dairy. I'm off dairy, even my lovely raw dairy causes me problems...sinus issues, constipation, etc. Most likely skin stuff too. I've been off it a little over 2 weeks. But I was bad and had cream in coffee last night. I'm also doing a candida cleanse...dairy can feed the yeasties. Yeast can also cause the issues you describle. Good luck! I'm off dairy again as of today and I'm staying off for at least the 60 days I do this candida cleanse, and maybe longer. I suppose I can try it and test it out later. After being off it for 60 days, or even 14 days, you'd probably notice a reaction after taking a break and reintroducing..if you have a sensitivity.

totoro

Thanks for the info, Jaybird!

If things go well after 14 days, maybe I'll extend to 60 to really see.

totoro

I should add that I am officially starting this tomorrow, b/c I already had cream in my tea this morning before I decided to start this challenge.

Heather

I am dairy free. I tried some cream a couple weeks ago for a few days in a row and had really bad skin reaction. I don't think dairy agrees with me at all.

totoro

Heather, if you don't mind me asking, what kind of reaction did you have?

Heather

It was all acne on my face, it really surprised me.

totoro

Sorry to hear that! I hope it cleared up quickly.

Yesterday was day 1. It turns out I'm not ready to give up tea. Even though I decaffeinate it (by brewing for 30 seconds in a little water, discarding that, then pouring in new water over the tea bag to brew it again), I guess there is more caffeine left over than I thought. It's got to be just a trace, but still apparently enough to give a withdrawl headache. I'm not ready to go through that again right now. So, I had coconut milk in my tea.

So here was my menu (I had a random eating day--eating at odd times)

Breakfast: two mugs tea with 4 TB coconut milk (wasn't hungy and I had a work project to finish)

Mid-day: 3 raw egg yolks, 1TB coconut oil, pork rinds, leftover pork tenderloin

Late-day: 2 raw egg yolks, pork rinds, 1TB coconut oil

supplements: fish oil, magnesium, potassium, Vit C, Vit E

TidalPool

I'm in sinus misery again, ugh. Sad

Must be all the cream i've been drinking, cream cheese (small amounts though) i've been eating.

Begged husband to get me the REAL SINUS pills at the drug store. Real pseudoephedrine! Now i'm feeling VERY happy, but not happy about going no dairy again. Ah well.

I forgot how miserable I used to feel eating dairy every day. What a reminder!

I made a batch of egg salad last night, a batch of tuna salad, and scotch eggs. I'm drinking green tea today, and black coffee with a drop or two of that concentrated sweetzfree stuff.

Does anyone here have a "beef allergy" in that steak, ground beef, and any dairy makes you sick/feel bad/cause cravings/make you hungry? I was reading that woman's experience (Emma?) on "The Porker Diet" webpage, and she discovered that not only does any dairy bother her, but beef as well. Which would REALLY suck for me as I love steak and ground beef patties.

Jessica

TidalPool

Heather

It is so hard to pin point these food issues. I just avoid dairy as much as possible, some people say they have no problems with cheese and cream, I don't know why this happens.

I have only been eating beef, chicken, eggs, tabasco, drinking coffee and water. These are the only things I have eaten this week. I feel great. I will stick with this as much as possible, especially before my race I don't want to be messing with my body and having weird reactions.

In the past I used to have sinus infections what seemed like every month and horrible acne, skin rashes like eczema on my hands that would never go away. That may have been candida related, but now I have no skin or sinus problems at all.

totoro

It is difficult to pinpoint these things!

Jessica, I haven't had a problem with beef (not that I know of, anyway).

I don't get the sinus reactions or stuffiness with dairy. That makes me wonder if I really do have a sensitivity or not. But I do know that when I eat cheese or add cream to things that I feel a little "off"--it's a wierd, unsatisfied feeling. I also have the issue with not being able to take a full breath, which is very unpleasant, and the skin issues. I'm still not sure if it's related to dairy, but I hope to find out.

Yesterday was Day 2:

Breakfast: 3 mugs decaf tea with 6 TB coconut milk and 1TB coconut oil

Lunch: 3 raw egg yolks, 1TB coconut oil

Snack: 12 pork rinds

Dinner: Moroccan Stewed Chicken (chicken thighs stewed in spices and chicken broth. Also contains 1 TB of tomato paste for the entire recipe--4 servings). 1TB coconut oil

supplements: fish oil, potassium, mag, Vit E, Vit C

jl53563

ReddyMcMeaty · Re: 14-Day Dairy Free Challenge

Carolyn

Jessica,
what is the link for "The Porker Diet" webpage?

TidalPool

ReddyMcMeaty

I haven't looked yet but the titles of thsoe links made me laugh

TidalPool

totoro

Hi everyone!

Tues. was Day 3 and Wed. was Day 4. I have still not consumed any dairy. It seems too early to see results, but my skin is getting smoother, and my not-getting-enough-air issue has subsided.

It hasn't been too difficult to not eat dairy so far, which is surprising because I love my cream and cheese.

TidalPool

ReddyMcMeaty

Day 3 for me Cool

The longest I've ever lasted dairyless was like 5-7 days and I was going insane trying to find substitutes and eating all kinds of other crap. So far so good!! I'll admit this morning I popped a caffeine pill Embarassed

with some ice water and just left the house to avoid mulling over the no coffee or tea aspect of being dairyfree (no point to either without it). Stocked up on dried sausage in case I get munchy.

33zin

Thank you, Tidalpool.... I just spent an enjoyable hour reading all of Emma Davie's trials and tribulations in the "Porker" series. I also read the link about Fat Fast and may use that some time in the future to interrupt a stall or plateau. I'm going camping for a few days and can't believe the difference in food packing from a year ago. Then, it was crackers, chips, snacks and sweets. Now it is meat, cheese, butter, cream and nuts.

TidalPool

Jaybird

totoro

That is interesting! We've got two people now who have experienced the breathing thing. For me, it's not a wheezing or congestion problem--it just feels like I need to yawn, and I can't breathe deeply enough to do it.

totoro

TidalPool

I'm doing really well giving up the dairy! The sinus infection disappeared sometime today... which is really fast. Used to get them, and have them for like 3-4 weeks! Grin

This gives me even more resolve not to get dairy. Went grocery shopping tonight and told husband "don't buy any cream for me!"

I don't miss coffee at all! I thought I would! (I cannot drink it without cream, even if I add sweetener). I realized I only loved it with cream AND sweetener. I've been drinking lipton tea and decaf green tea with a few drops of sweetzfree.

We even "went out for a coffee" this week and I happily chose hot tea (they had 20 different kinds!)

Told husband he'll have to eat up the butter in the fridge... lol! I'm using bacon fat, coconut oil, meat fats for cooking now.

sallie828

Hooray for the disappearance of the sinus infection!! Clap

I normally get bad ones about 3x a year. I blame it on this good ole Looziana weather. Before eating this way, I never touched dairy cuz it was so bad for you (along with red meat, fat, etc Roll Eyes

)

Good job on giving up coffee, too! Yup

totoro

Thursday was Day 5 no dairy.

I'm tracking in Fitday, and without dairy, my percentages are averaging 75% fat, 1% carb, and and 24% protein. Calories are about 1,400-1,500.

Are those good percentages?

One thing I have noticed is that I have been getting low blood-sugar symptoms--hunger pangs and weakness/brain-fogginess. I wonder if I'm not getting enough calories. I haven't ventured into making my own tallow or suet, but maybe I should to try to get my calories up. (I do eat 3 TB of coconut oil a day.) I have also been lifting weights once a week and doing Kundalini Yoga 3-4 times a week.

totoro

Friday was Day 6 no dairy.

But on Saturday (yesterday), I had some dairy in the form of whey protein powder.

I had decided to try to up my fat and calories because I have been feeling a bit run down. (I'm going to make tallow/suet, but I have to wait until Monday for the grocery store to collect the fat for me.) I ate a lot, including some things with probably too much sodium: scotch eggs with store-bought sausage (delicious, though!), and some all-beef, no additive beef frankfurters. I was pretty ravenous all day, and ended up eating an Atkins Chocolate Chip "granola" bar, and two servings of Reddy's "PMS Pancakes", which contained the whey protein powder. (They were great, BTW!) I had some raw eggs, steak, tea, and coconut oil in there too. I pretty much ate all day.

Fitday said it added up to 2,336 calories and 36 grams of carbs. (I counted all of the Atkins bar carbs instead of subtracting the ones that "don't count". I also did not subtract fiber). The percntages were 72% fat, 5% carbs, and 23% protein.

This morning I woke up feeling bloated, headachy, and tired even after 8 hours of good sleep. I was also up 1.5 pounds since yesterday. I'm surprised I had such as extreme reaction--several months ago that would have been considered a pretty good low-carb day!

So, I'm struggling a bit trying to get that energetic, fully fed and satisfied feeling back. I keep thinking that the dairy provided me with easy fat that I'm not getting now.

TidalPool

totoro

Sunday would have been Day 8 with no diary, but I'm going to count it as Day 7 because I had the whey protein powder on Saturday. I've decided not to start all over, but to just keep counting from here. Evil

Thanks for the info, Tidalpool. It's good to know what others have experienced. It's interesting, because I've gone through this induction flu thing already with regular low-carb. I guess there is another layer we have to go through with VLC to get to "keto adaption".

javens

I have this same breathing problem myself. I never associated it with dairy, but it makes sense. I've been off cheese for about three weeks and have not had any breathing episodes. This is good to know. Thanks.

Jack

totoro

Hi everyone! Sorry I have been away for so long. The past several weeks have been pretty bad diet-wise (and work-wise, but that's another story). I think the dairy restriction was too much for me, because I ended up eating all kinds of things I shouldn't, such as sugar and starchy carbs. I got on cycle of doing it every other day or so. (Interestingly enough, I didn't end up eating any fruits or veggies, though!) Luckily, I only gained 2 pounds, which I should be able to lose quickly. But I feel terrible physically, and am looking forward to how good I will feel now that I am getting this under control again.

BTW regarding the breathing and skin problems. I have been having dairy again (along with way too many carbs), and the breathing problem hasn't been happening lately. I wonder what the real cause is? My skin definitely looked better before this 3-week transgression. Don't know if dairy is the cause, though, because I have also been indulging in carbs, which I know wreak havoc on my skin.

Anyway, thanks everyone for your support while I attempted to give up dairy. Some day I still aspire to have a dairy-free diet. For now, I'll focus on VLC, allowing some cream and cheese occassionally.

14-Day Dairy Free Challenge

Re: 14-Day Dairy Free Challenge