World News, all day every day.

Today was so incredibly long that I was too tired to make myself dinner…so I drove to Wheatsville Coop and got my local on. My brain was tired from reading countless NYTimes articles and Economist articles and AlJazeera articles and Foreign Affairs articles… and you get it, right? Too many words. Too many words about economic sanctions and Syria and Iran and everyone’s opinions about everything.

And there was too much Arabic. I just wish we could go to class one day and speak it, talk about whatever we want, instead of doing homework for 3 hours, going to class, then doing more homework for another 3 hours.

Yet, these are the things I love. I love Arabic and reading world politics …but right now it’s thesis time and I just had to change my topic so it seems as though I am…oh, wait… I am DEFINITELY starting over from scratch because my advisor believed I would need a book deal if I was to continue on my former topic. Therefore, I trekked a good 3 miles to the law library today in order to pick up a well-known book on economic sanctions. I also don’t believe I had the adequate amount of protein today because I only had time to grab a smoothie… which was full of sugar and it slammed me 1 hour after consumption.

So there I was, sitting in the library, passing out while reading about South Africa. The chair was so comfy… I didn’t want to leave… but I did. Even though I was incredibly tired I still needed to move forward. And I did…. I went forward all the way home and relaxed. I watched an amazing film called, The Salt in the Sea, which shows a girl named Soraya return to Palestine. If only they have a right of return. She was an American-born Palestinian and was able to visit for 2 weeks. The film is full of emotion and the perfect depiction of life in occupied Palestine. On the one hand, it was enjoyable and I was able to understand a lot of the film even though it was in Arabic. On the other, I’m incredibly sad. My heart is always broken when I read about the Nabka and the massacres of the Palestinians. My heart is also stunned when I continue to read about the ongoing conflict. I get so incredibly upset that it’s hard for me to discuss in a well-mannered, unbiased conversation.

I want so badly for peace to come, for American interests to change… I think this is a huge reason why I study what I do and what makes me so passionate about getting my PhD. I want to understand every aspect of conflicts in order to have some effect on this world. Even if it’s the tiny speck of dust, I’ll take it. If I change just 1 persons life, I’ll be fine. But I’m going to shoot for the whole thing. If I fail, at least I tried. So even though it was a tiring day… it matters. Every moment I spend right now is helping me towards my future. I’ll take a few tiring days. They’re worth it.

Spring Break memories.

I just woke up to my sister dragging me down the hall to get coffee. Was it worth it? Our discussion was fantastic (as always) and I am now completely alert after 1 cup of Jo. Now I’m wide awake and able to delve into the world news for the first time in the past week. I’ve been on Spring Break and therefore family time has come before school time, which is a wonderful feeling for me.

I spent the past days in Phoenix, AZ, with my Aunt Nan and Uncle Randy, their 11-year-old daughter Mackenzie, and my cousin Michelle, her sister Lauren and her husband Jaime. Together, Lauren and Jaime have the cutest 3-year-old daughter, Olivia. She walks around in her princess dresses, repeating phrases she’s learned from her parents in funny voices. Her favorite movie is The Muppets, so she goes around singing, “Am I a man? Or am I a muppet?” Yeah, she’s awesome. When I took her to the bathroom at Ra Sushi I felt something on my hip as I was holding her…. all of the sudden she blurts out, “Hehe, I farted.” Imagine this cute little thing telling you that and try not to explode in fits of laughter:

Yeah, I know, she’s freaking ADORABLE. She also doesn’t like to wear jeans because she’s “a girl.” She’ll only eat all of her food with the ploy, “Princesses eat all of their Mac-N-Cheese.” High maintenance? Definitely. Love of my life? Oh yeah. I wish so badly that I could see her grow up every day.

Alas, I live in Texas. Yet, it does have it’s perks in that I get to come home to Houston every once and a while and visit my parents. Right now my sister Chelsy is getting her life together, post-Uni, and it’s amazing to watch. She’s working different jobs, has a successful blog, and is studying to get her Personal Training license. She’s so passionate about cooking – just as passionate as I am about soccer – which is wonderful for my Gluten-Free tummy… because she makes badace GF treats. She’s awesome and I love her. So morning coffee talks with her, one of my best friends in the entire world, really make me appreciate how lucky I am. She’s my confidant and provides so much laughter in my life. Even though I can come home and sleep in my own bed, I’d rather curl up with my sis and be her snuggle buddy. Yeah, I’m pretty much that lame.

And yet, as I sit here and type, my other snuggle buddy is sprawled out across my lap in an insane way. She’s 5.5 lbs and ferocious as can be. My dad likes to call her a short-tailed, mini Rhodesian ridgeback. Her favorite place to sleep is on my chest but sometimes she prefers my laptop keyboard. She’ll jump up from the ground and plant herself in front of me, flopping over onto her bag in hopes of a tummy rub. The only thing she could possibly love more than rubs are kisses … and chicken treats. Here she is this morning:

My life is full of cuteness.

Anyways, this semester is about to reconvene. Today, Sunday, is the day I must return to Austin. This means that the Arabic homework I’ve neglected all Spring Break must be completed… and all of the Egyptian and African politics readings need to be addressed… preferably before class on Tuesday. Yet I won’t be doing any of that today. I’d rather spend the morning skimming Al Jazeera and snuggling with my puppy Prin (see picture above) as I watch some EPL soccer. My drive back to the Texas capitol will be slow and full of thoughts of this past week. I’ve made some wonderful memories with my cousins in Phoenix. Shelly and I drove to Sedona, counting 26 different states on license plates, and enjoying the emotional melodies of Taylor Swift. We played countless games of Train and Phase 10 with Kenz and I snuggled with Livy as we played, “Nap time,” in her fort. I had many wonderful meals of fish tacos and (GF) Pasta that my cousin Lauren so graciously made for me, allergy-free. She went out of her way the entire break to think of my stomach, which is something I will never forget. She, as well as my family here, who I have spent the last 2 days with, will be missed dearly. All of the studying in the world won’t be able to tear me away from the people I love most in this world, but I do have to follow my dreams of getting a PhD… so back to UT I go.

Until then… I’ll be laying here. Eating Trio bars (which I bought from CostCo – go get them) and cuddling with my ferocious pup who smothers me with her love.

Lee

Little Gluten-Free Cousins.

Most of the time being Celiac means being alone. You’re sitting at a table with all of your friends as they munch on their ‘normal’ food. You, however, are eating your chicken that doesn’t have a gluten-free sauce… or your burger without the bun… or questioning whether or not those corn chips are actually really corn chips. You’re always asking ingredients and having to tell people that you have an “allergy.” It’s a weight that you have to carry around, but I’ve come to find that the more I meet others that understand my pain, the more that weight is easier to bear.

Thus the Gluten-Free community that I’ve come to find, on Twitter, blogs, or Facebook, has been an immense comfort. Never did I imagine that someone out there would understand what it feels like to constantly alter food when having to go out and – wait for it- enjoy a meal that isn’t at home. Yet, they’re there. Jules Gluten Free posts great recipes and John Forberger’s Gluten-Free Daily is a wonderful community. I also love to follow @GlutenFreeATX because she has this amazing blog which lists all of the Gluten-Free restaurants in Austin. It’s magical.

YET I have recently come to discover that I have little cousins who share my disease and/or intolerance. A few months back my little cousins Kota and Kyra moved to Austin. I’ve been babysitting them for a while now and I love spending time with them. I make them gluten-free peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and Kota HAS to have Soy Milk and Kyra loves her Rice Milk. They eat vegetables and gluten-free lollipops and cannot wait to have their LaraBar of the day. Kota’s favorite is Cashew Cookie. Kyra has yet to inform me of hers.

AND THEN there’s my little cousin Isabella, who had so much trouble with her tummy at school that teachers complained to her mother that she was missing classes. She’d have to keep a spare “package” with her just in case she had an accident. No one knew what was wrong – that is – until she went to the doctor and was put on a Gluten-Free diet. Yet, she is brand new to this, like I was two years ago. So, to make her feel better, I gave her a Gluten-Free package of goodies for her 9th birthday this past weekend. Using my knowledge of what K2 love…and what I love… I gave her this:

 

1. Be Kind Gluten-Free Granola – kids love this stuff – any flavor besides the chunks because that one is too crunchy for them to eat with their teeny little mouths. I gave Izzy the Blueberry – because I’m biased. I also love the peanut butter.

2. Glutino’s Gluten-Free Pretzels – these things are perfectly salty and a great carb for runners/snack for kids.

3. LaraBars – Peanut Butter is Izzy’s favorite. We all know that kids are REALLY picky about what’s in them – so I’d stay away from anything with Coconut in it. I’ve gotten some weird faces.

4. BettyLous Gluten Free Fruit Bars – My mom actually discovered these at Erma’s Nutrition (a great health food store in Nassau Bay, Texas). The taste like NutriGrain bars… BUT THEY’RE GLUTEN-FREE. I almost cried when I had one… I had missed NutriGrain bars, a lot.

5. Gluten-Free Chocolate – you can get this anywhere but my FAVORITE are the little packages of Endangered Species. I’ll get the dark and it’s a perfect little piece. You don’t go overboard and the kids get enough sugar.

If I could have, I’d adopt Izzy into my life and help her eat Gluten-Free all the time just to save her from all of the little kids at her school who give her weird faces when she has to eat Gluten-Free. Yet, I had to settle for a simple gift. Apparently, she loved it. Any attempt at making her feel like she’s part of a community is the least I could do. It’s helped me, what about you?

 

Lee

 

Back to a new beginning.

This morning I woke up and turned over onto my side. The sun was beaming through the windows and I felt completely rested, warm and safe. I was incredibly happy… or, actually, more than happy. This immense feeling of happiness is the kind that could only be described by a song or a poem, maybe perfect lyrics or an ideal moment between two lovers in a movie or a book. It’s indescribable. Later that day, this feeling was enforced by a run along the Shoal Creek trail. 7 miles of a quiet path, interrupted only by fidgety squirrels and my fellow runners. The sun was out but the cold wind had won the battle … I had absolutely no complaints as the cold air whipped across my cheeks. Towards the middle of my run, I met a few pups with their owners. They had wide smiling faces and I couldn’t help but stop and give some loving. Throughout the entire adventure, I came across three bridges – two which were man made, but the third of stone – I hoped across the latter and looked down at the dried up creek bank. It was untouched yet peaceful in all of its loneliness. Here, I couldn’t help but think of what this place looked like 30 years ago. Was the creek moving then? Was it dried up from a warm winter or frozen from a freezing one? It made me think of how much life changes and then I realized again – my life has changed so much in the past 4 months. People have come and gone, experiences have been had, and choices were made and plans pursued. Life is now beautiful. Throughout this year I’ve decided that I’m going to share as much as I can with anyone who would like to listen – or read, for that matter. Whether it’s about my running, college, adventures in Gluten-Free living or me gushing about my new puppy – it’ll be here. Until then.

Au Revoir

Lee

Body and Mind

Today is my third official day of Paleo. I ate some eggs & fruit for breakfast, went on a run, and then geared up for my massage with Rachael at my local gym (Castle Hill Fitness).

This wasn’t a relaxing, I-deserve-a-treat-because-I’m-so-freaking-awesome kind of massage. It was a sports massage. I have had injuries in the past from my years of soccer and running – mostly just my right knee and my right hip – and so my IT Band has been bothering me a bit.

However… my massage turned out to be more than I had anticipated. While getting my “kinks” worked out, I began to talk to Rachael about my Celiac. She in turn told me that she had a wheat allergy and that she had been dairy-free for about 25 years! She then went on to explain to me how stomach issues caused by food intolerances and allergies, such as gluten, soy, or dairy, can mess with your soaz and stomach muscles. These muscles, in turn, are connected to your hips and are therefore detrimental to your running and exercise. Just as well, hormonal problems with your ovaries can also affect your leg muscles. She stated how young women who play soccer have more knee injuries than boys in the sport not only because of their wide, growing hips, but because of their changing hormones.

Rachael used a lot of fancy words, but the brunt of her talk brought my own theory to light: Everything in our bodies is interconnected. - Your hips can affect your knees, your back with your legs… your hormones and your joints… your hamstrings affect your knees and your quads and all of your other muscles, etc, etc, and so on.

Therefore, whatever we put in our bodies not only affects our weight, mental well-being, and physical health, but it also affects our muscles and joints. It is not only their strength but their mechanics. What we put into us can also affect how our muscles work.

This was a brilliant lesson for my 3rd day of Paleo. Not only do I feel freaking fantastic now that I’m off dairy, but there’s more to this experiment in the long-run. I’m filling my body with the nutrition that it needs, not the sugars or unnatural substances that it wants. While talking of my wheat/gluten allergies, Rachael also mentioned to me how High Fructose Corn Syrup and MSG can go by other labels. She also shared her knowledge of the “organic ploy” …meaning that things only have to be a certain percentage of organic to be labeled as such. (The same goes with things that are 0% Fat or Sodium-Free, etc.) It’s as though nothing can truly be trusted but the natural nutrition that our body needs: fresh fruits, veggies, grass-fed meats, and natural fats.

Rachaels lesson brought me one step closer to further understanding the Paleo diet. It was unexpected and I wouldn’t of spent my 3rd day of Paleo any other way.

Lee

Bulk foods LOVE

So, on my second day of Paleo, I decided that I really needed to go to the grocery store to buy some more Paleo-friendly foods. After my wonderful 4 mile run + target toning class, I drove down the block to Whole Foods where I went bulk-food section CRAZY. I freaking LOVE this section. Where else can you get what you want, the amount you want, at the price you want?! ONLY IN THE BULK FOODS SECTION! It’s amazing, awesome, splendid! Plus, Whole Foods has everything that you could imagine. Figs, different types of nut butters, trail mix, flours, cereals, even candy! You can also fill up your own amount of agave nectar or olive oil and choose from at least 40 different spices and 100s of grains. I swear they’re not paying me – they’re just brilliant.

Naturally, I went absolutely insane….and I bought almond flour, coconut flakes, almonds (ON SALE FOR 4.99 lbs!), cashew butter (which I’ve never tried), and crunchy almond butter (which is absolutely freaking fabulous). Needless to say, I needed to invest in more healthy fats in my diet. Outside of the bulk foods section, I bought cage-free eggs, almond milk, tons of delicious fruit, and a few assorted veggies that I needed. All in all, I have begun the day feeling extremely prepared to continue on with my Paleo adventure!

In other news, I have challenged my sister to come up with a Paleo-friendly muffin recipe. She always makes me delicious gluten-free treats, her most recent being gluten-free fig newtons (which can be found today on her blog – http://chelsniccuisine.blogspot.com/ ). She has accepted the challenge and I am very VERY excited to see what she pulls up!

Au Revoir Mon Amis!

Lee

30 Days of Paleo

Hello Blogosphere!

Today, July 26th, is the first day of my experiment with the Paleo Diet. As many are not familiar with such a “diet” or rather, “lifestyle,” I am going to give you a quick overview. Most of the information listed here has come from this website: http://whole9life.com/2011/06/whole-30-v4/

The guidelines are as follows:

1. No added sugars of any kind, real or artificial.

2. No processed foods.

3. No alcohol AT ALL.

4. No grains or what the Whole 30 calls, “pseudo grains,” such as quinoa. This also includes corn.

5. No legumes (this includes wheat-free tamari, soy, and peanut butter).

6. No dairy (No yogurt )

7. No white potatoes

The biggest struggle for me is going to be NOT waking up in the morning, popping a lactaid pill, and going to town on a bowl of greek yogurt with fruit. It has always been my favorite thing to eat in the morning even though it leaves me feeling bloated. Quite frankly, it’s delicious, and it took a lot of will power this morning to not do that. Instead, I ate a cup of fruit with almond milk, cinnamon, and almonds, with some scrambled eggs and salsa. Not surprisingly, this breakfast got me through my 4.5 mile run with great ease. I was able to run about 15-20 minutes after the consumption and I didn’t feel sick, tired, or experience any stomach upsets.

Other struggles will be giving up quinoa and processed gluten-free cereals. I trashed my 5-grain GF cereal yesterday (bag almost empty) with great sadness. However, I know that this experimentation will be worth it. I’ve been reading up on the Paleo diet for some time, and I have gone over the many struggles that people experience with adapting to it as well as the many benefits.

The entire idea behind Paleo is a ‘primal lifestyle’ where, as Robb Wolf states, you are “living the life of our Paleolithic ancestors,” by eating “lean proteins, fruits, veggies and good fats.” In doing so, we “remove the foods that are at odds with our health (grains, legumes, and dairy) but also increase our intake of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.”

My goal with the Paleo diet is to NOT lose weight, but to gain toned muscle and healthier eating habits. I believe that cutting out processed foods and only eating lean meats, veggies, fruits, and good fats (such as nuts, healthy oils, and seeds) will greatly improve my quality of life.

Over the next few weeks I will be documenting how I feel and the change in my health. I know switching to Paleo isn’t going to be as a huge change for me than it would someone else. Consideringg that I am a celiac and I already cannot digest most processed foods, dairy, or gluten, it can be argued that this won’t be a challenge. I beg to differ!  I will most likely still experience a sugar withdrawal from the gluten-free carbohydrates that I usually consume as well as the greek yogurt I eat everyday. I will have to greatly increase my intake of meats as well as fats, which are the hardest foods for me to consume because of personal preferences. It will definitely be a mental challenge to choose the paleo foods over the typical, every day, “healthy foods.”

So far, today has been splendid, with a post-workout smoothie of a banana, cinnamon, coconut flakes, spirulina, almond milk, and fish oil! I also just finished a huge salad for lunch with red bell peppers, mushrooms, lean turkey breast, and a hummus made from sesame seeds instead of chickpeas. It was delicious! I’m very excited for what the next day will bring, until then, Au revoir!

Les

Sisterly! (Plus other awesomeness)

Hello again!

A few awesome gluten-free things have happened since I’ve last written.

 

Number 1: I’ve discovered my love of the @WholeFoodsATX smoothie & juice bar. Combine an “Energize Me” with a banana and cinnamon and you really won’t be disappointed. Everything is gluten-free (minus the whey protein powder). It’s the perfect re-fuel after a long run and is also the best mid-afternoon It’s-so-damn-hot-in-Texas snack. It hasn’t rained in months. Drink up people!

Number 2: Abel’s On the Lake has a new Gluten-Free menu! Other places I like to go in Austin with GF menus are Z! Tejas, Guero’s, and Maudies. It’s hard to eat out as a Celiac so when new restaurants add GF Menus, I’m all for it.

Number 3: I went home to see my sister and she made me GF Strawberry Cupcakes. I haven’t mentioned my sister yet, but let’s just dedicate the rest of this blog to her and her talent. She’s an amazing chef/baker/creator of all things right-out-of-her-head and onto the plate. She will throw something together in moments and it’ll taste absolutely fabulous. She used to make this Ricotta-Cream Cheese mixture with brown sugar and cinnamon that it yummy! (But not for those with Lactose-Intolerance). My favorite thing that she makes is her GF Lemon Bars. She has experimented a lot with almond flour the past year and most of her baking has been GF-friendly. How does one get these wonderful recipes? She has a blog

 

Everyone please check out Chelsy’s blog @ http://chelsniccuisine.blogspot.com

Number 4: Lastly, I discovered Wheatsville Coop here in Austin. They carry my favorite bread (which only WFs carries but not HEB or CM) – Rudi’s GF Multigrain. It’s delicious and doesn’t contain any tapioca or corn starch, which is something I really try to avoid putting into my body. I like to keep my food as natural as possible, but this bread is great as toast right before a workout. I also lived off of it for a good 4 days last time I was sick.

 

 

Love,

 

Lee

Happy July!

Alright everyone, we are half way through the summer. That means half of my freedom has been wasted away by two summer classes which, although mildly interesting, have completely sucked out my soul. Intellectually, I’m numb. I no longer want to read anything pertaining to school work – that means no more anthropology or archaeology. All of my time spent reading will go into the few novels I have set on my book shelves to conquer this summer. Hopefully I will have some downtime at work today so that I can finish Amos Oz’s A Perfect Peace.

Oz’s novel is just one of the many works of Hebrew Literature that I have picked up this summer. He tells a great story of different generational struggles on an Israeli Kibbutz. Like many of us, his characters don’t lead perfect lives. Although the novel’s setting is after the 6-day-war, it isn’t about the clash of Palestinians and Israelis. Rather, it focuses on the internal battles of every day life. There’s beauty in the novel because it’s all something we can relate to.

Who here doesn’t face everyday challenges? Whether they are psychological, social, physical, or work-related? It’s the very essence of being human.

As a Celiac, there are often times that I feel these challenges are compounded by the very task of having an allergen. I’ve recently become great friends with my future roommate. She’s a lovely lady, one of those truly beautiful people inside and out. Better yet, she cooks! (Imagine me  Yet, a lot of the wonderful food she creates is inedible by me. She’s graciously gone out and bought a gluten-free cookbook, but the I’m still at that stage in my gluten-free-ness that I am somewhat ashamed for people to have to go out of their way to accommodate me.

It’s somewhat stressful, especially when I go out to the movies and she offers me delicious candy. I can’t have the delicious honeycomb covered in milk chocolate. I sigh and have to turn down her niceties. With friends, it always takes a while for them to get used to me and my allergy. I always wonder: if I wasn’t burdened with this, would my friendships be different? Would not having celiac bring me closer to those that don’t in the same way that me having celiac brings me closer to those that do?

It’s a predicament. It’s hard not to constantly over-think myself on an issue that comes up so frequently. Yesterday, as I was walking through Whole Foods, I grabbed a bag of cereal that I thought was Gluten-Free. My hand began to itch profusely, and I sat it back down onto the shelf, easily reminded that I there will always be something that I cannot have.

Nonetheless, I must move forward. Like the characters in Oz’s novel, I have to overcome the psychological battles in life, especially those that are accentuated by my Celiac.

The Wedding Dilemma.

I’m coming up on my one-year anniversary of being Gluten-Free. To some, a year may be a long time. Yet, to me, the memories of wretched stomach aches and frustrating doctor’s visits are all too vivid. I’m still growing accustomed to being a “Celiac.” I still don’t like to mention my food preferences to a table of friends at a restaurant and I cringe at the thought of explaining why I can’t have that piece of bread. I feel that the ease in which other “Celiacs” operate will come with time, or maybe it wont’. I hope that one day I’ll be able to bypass the shyness and insecurity that I hold when having to explain my “condition.” I’m almost one year in and I’m still averse to my allergy.

A few days ago, something happened which reminded me of my adversity and marked my newness to being gluten-free. My beautiful sister was MOH to her best friend at a wedding in Huntsville, Texas. Throughout the day, I was preparing for the wedding with my mother and wasn’t able to get enough to eat. I realized this while in the car to the wedding at 5pm. We were running dreadfully late and needed to be there by 7pm. We didn’t have time to stop for food – only to get to Huntsville, get to the hotel, and get to the wedding. My splitting headache and growling stomach began to take a toll on my body. As soon as we got to the hotel, I searched, hopefully, for a vending machine. In all of my naivety I realized that there was only one kind of food I could actually consume without getting dreadfully ill: a pack of gum.

And so I continued on to the wedding, ravenous for a meal. My 4 mile run this morning wasn’t helping to calm my hunger pains. I sat through the ceremony, oblivious to such pains. By the time everyone had gone inside and was ready to eat, I couldn’t wait to join in. To my dismay, the grilled chicken was coated in a cream sauce. The pork was sauteed in a BBQ-style marinade, the mashed potatoes were mixed in with sour cream and the rolls were, well, bread rolls. I had a small plate of green beans. They were delicious yet extremely light – unable to fill me up or satisfy me.

On the verge of tears, I had no other choice but to drive the 5 miles into town. I got in the car, took a deep breath, and left the wedding. All the way back into town – I found a Kroger . In my cocktail dress and high heels, I searched the aisles and I was able to find 1 kind of LaraBar, packed chicken, and some yogurt. I didn’t even bother going down the potato chip aisle – I wasn’t in the mood to read labels.

Once I had food in me I was fine, but I was instantly aware of the trouble I had to go through to get what I needed. I realized that in my future this situation could frequently occur if I wasn’t more careful. As I get older, there will be hundreds of more weddings and special occasions where it won’t be easy to find something celiac-friendly. I was once again reminded that not everyone has allergies or is aware of the trials of Celiac Disease. One year later, I am just coming to this realization. Life won’t get any easier with my allergies unless I make it so.

Case and point: Always bring snacks.