Thursday, September 2, 2010

Going Dairy-Free

I've made a decision and next week I'm finally going to do it. Beginning Monday I will not have any dairy for one week. At the end of the week, I'll evaluate how I'm feeling and keep going if I feel it's the best thing to do.

You may remember reading that I've been eating a lot less meat lately - like once a week, if that - and might think this is the next step in becoming a vegetarian. But that's not why. It's actually because I've read a lot over the past year explaining how dairy can mess with digestion and cause all sorts of 'problems' on various levels of intensity. This is really an experiment for my health. I don't feel like getting into the details, but I want to see if going dairy free will help me feel better. Not that I'm feeling sick, but I just think it might make me feel stronger and 'cleaner' on a daily basis and I want to try it out. I won't know if I don't take this step.

Being a mid-western girl who loves her yogurt (as is evidenced from the second part of this post), cheese and ice cream, this will likely be difficult, but if it improves my quality of life, then I can find a way to deal with it. Soy ice cream isn't all that bad! Next week I'll have to try out different things for breakfast since I often have a yogurt mess, which also means I'll probably be enjoying overnight oats more often. Like this one I'm having right now
1/2cup combo of rolled and Irish oats, 3/4cup water, 1tsp chia seeds, 1tsp wheat bran, cinnamon, 2tsp crunch almond butter, 1tbs raisins

Okay, so, now for the reason why you're here.... the Chobani Greek Yogurt Giveaway, week 2!

Just answer this week's question before 12am midnight, EST and check back tomorrow to see if you've won!

Week 2 Chobani Giveaway Question of the Week:

If you could go on an all-expenses paid volunteer trip anywhere around the world, where would you go and how would you help?

The prize: two of these!


The rules: only one entry per person, per week. You must answer the question(s) posed the day of the entry. Because the coupons don't specify they are only allowed in the US, anyone can enter (as long as you know they'll be accepted in your country). You must be willing to provide me with your address so I can send them to you and you must be willing to try Greek yogurt!

Good luck!
************
workout stats -
10mile bike
3x12 cable pull twists
3x10 weighted side bends
3x10 lateral side arm raises
3x10 upright row
ankle strengthening exercises
stretching

10 comments:

Silly Girl Running said...

Wow! Dairy free? I love cheese too much (hey, I'm Dutch: all we eat is cheese and potatoes) to stop eating dairy... You're a brave girl!

misszippy said...

I don't think I could go dairy free! As to your question--I'd definitely go to Africa. As to what I'd do--whatever was needed.

Julie said...

Funny - I was just reading about "voluntourism" and I LOVE the idea. Sounds like a great way to really live a new culture and help out, rather than just briefly observing as a tourist. Maybe in a few years I'll be able to go provide preventative and medical care for kids...possibly in south america or some of the more rural villages in Alaska.

gene said...

the typical problems that arise from diary are from the lactose. in making yogurt, the lactose is consumed by the bacteria...so...no lactose in yogurt! YUM! i can do yogurt and most cheese, but not milk or 'real' ice cream. soft serve is fine!

ok, so, volunteer...
I would volunteer to clean up the discarded oxygen bottles at Everest Base Camp, and help out in the medical tent (I am an RN). that would ROCK!

J said...

Good luck with going dairy Free!! I have thought about trying that and have decreased my intake of dairy but I don't know if I could give it up all together! Its almost as hard as giving up gluten!

Tricia said...

good luck with the dairy free!

JC said...

Probably south Asia where I can offer some knowledge in medical or so.

Molly said...

Good luck with the dairy experiment...I would go somewhere that needed help in bringing food and vaccine to children.

Lindsay said...

Hmm should I press my luck and enter again? :) Got the coupons -- thankyou ! Can't wait to try out my first Greek yogurt.

I have wondered about going dairy-free. I avoided it for the most part when I was younger because I was told I had a dairy allergy. Now I read about how it is one of the "inflammatory" foods and wonder if I should cut back/cut it out. I have a number of health blahs myself, nothing serious/deathly but enough to where I just don't feel good/normal. Anyway good luck! Don't know if I could go withou cheese and smoothies :)

Robyn @ Wannabe Writer Runner said...

Definitely looking forward to how you feel when the week is up. I've briefly thought of giving up dairy but I love cheese and eat yogurt a fair amount. My friend gave it up though and her skin completely cleared!