What is it about carbs?

Crispy crunchy chips and crackers.
Crumbly cornbread.
Cookies and cakes.
Bagels.

It's funny how grain-based carbs can take over your life... it certainly is easy to allow them to fill more and more of the plate, squeezing out important things like proteins, fruits and veggies.  Plus they're so darned accessible. I mean, what's easier, grabbing a cookie, or peeling an orange?

Last week, while out-of-town, I over-did the carbs, especially wheat-based ones, and ended up in misery with 24-hour-four-alarm belly gas. Plus, I was starving all the time. As soon as I got home I did 2 grain-free days, but halfway through the second day the stomach irritation that makes me feel like I have eaten a
handful of rocks, returned...

I stayed up late Sunday night hatching a new plan.

I'm calling it bethsdiet.

Yesterday, I had possibly the best gut day in a long time. I ate a small portion of a whole grain with each meal...  I also included lots of fruits and veggies. And I had a generous serving of protein with each meal.

I had a similar success the day before...  I realize that it's only been 2 days, but I'm feeling like I'm on to something.   

I'm limiting grains to 3-4 small servings per day... i.e. 1/2 cup of oatmeal or rice, one rice cake... one corn tortilla...like that... Yesterday my satisfaction level was very high and I wasn't hungry between meals at all.

But then I hit the wall. I had 4 whole-wheat crackers with dinner... and I blew up like a balloon... in lower GI agony the rest of the evening. Verdict: small quantities of rice, oats, and corn are okay... but I guess not wheat.

As I have several times over the past year, I'm keeping a food journal to track symptoms, as I try to find the best food pattern for me.

For today... wheat free...

"Keep it simple."