"diet" is not a bad word

Definition of "diet": the usual food and drink consumed by an organism (person or animal)

or a prescribed selection of foods

I started my new diet, or rather my new eating lifestyle, on November 1.  To spare you details, I'll just tell you that my stomach is doing great.  I have felt better the last two weeks than I have in the last 3½ years.  I'm still on Prednisone- should be dropping to 5mg today after seeing the lung doc, and then I'll be coming off of them completely in two or three weeks, praise the Lord! 

As an added bonus to the enormous health benefits of my diet, I have lost 5 pounds.  Yay!

Anyway, it's easier to specify what I'm NOT eating rather than what I DO eat, so here goes the no-longer-eating list:

Sugar

High fructose corn syrup

White flour

"White" pasta

White rice

Artificial Sweeteners

Artificial flavors/colors

Preservatives (eliminates most bagged, boxed and canned items)

Hydrogenated oils (like margarine, etc)

Sodas

Pork

Shellfish

Fried food (duh)

Cow's milk (except cottage cheese, plain yogurt, and real butter)

Anything that contains any of the above items in any amount

I eat a ton of fresh fruits and vegatables.  I snack on almonds a lot.  We eat chicken and a variety of fish, but we are going to start adding lamb and possibly goat meat to our diet if I can find some.  Beef is acceptable, but it is a little hard on my stomach, so we minimize that.  I also discovered that white potatoes aggrevate me, so we're dropping those too for the most part.  I'm also supposed to be buying everything organic so that I'm not consuming pesticides and other chemicals.  All meat is supposed to be grass-fed or range or cage-free, etc.

I have a new love for goat's milk.  It's expensive (~$4 per half gallon), but it's really good and easy on the stomach!  I also like the Ezekiel 4:9 bread made by Food for Life.  I like it better than "normal" bread - you should try it.  It's in the freezer section.  So much healthier than the bread you find on the shelf.  Also, I use Sweetleaf (Stevia leaves) instead of sugar.  It's not an artifical sweetener.

Kroger has many of the things I need to eat, but my new favorite place is Whole Foods.  I could spend all day in there.  Of course I've always loved grocery shopping....

Anyway, my GI doc is going to check inflammation levels, I assume with bloodwork, on Jan 11 at my visit. If the inflammation is under control, then we agreed that I don't have to start Cimzia injections.

I have prayed for healing for a long time and I believe with all my heart that the Lord is going to heal me. Perhaps he already has. :) Regardless, I will no longer abuse my body with food because it is God's temple and I am to take good care of it.