30 Day Yeast Free Recap

This recap is way over due! The 30 day yeast free challenge was definitely an eye opening experience. Here are a few things I learned...

1. It's not cheap eating clean!

The first trip to the grocery store to stock up on most of everything I would need drained my wallet. While the next few trips didn't add up to as much it was still more than I was used to spending on just myself. Also, I was visiting the grocery store at least twice a week.

2. Food prep will save your life!



R to L: Roasted Chickpeas, Salsa Chicken, Spaghetti Squash, Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

The first week I was not as prepared as I thought. I had breakfast and lunch prepped for the week, but didn't take time to make dinners. So each night was spent making something in the kitchen instead of relaxing after a long day at work. The next few weeks I got better and did prep some dinners on Sunday night.

3. I love Fruit!



Pumpkin pancakes with pureed raspberries

Blueberry Almond/Oat flour pancakes

Cutting out fruit for the first two weeks was extremely difficult. Yes I craved bread, pasta and rice, but since those were forbidden during the whole challenge I didn't think about them too much. But fruit? I was two weeks away from being able to eat it and that's all I could focus on. That first strawberry I put in my mouth tasted so sweet that I probably could have eaten a whole carton of them.

4. Exhausted!

My energy levels dropped significantly at first. I was coming home and taking naps! And working out? Forget about it. I don't think I went to the gym until the last week (granted the diet isn't the only this to blame since I was fighting/still fighting a knee injury).

5. Dessert!

Since no sugar was allowed, I had to get creative in order to satisfy my sweet tooth. Luckily a co-worker of mine told me about these things called Chocolate Delights that she is allowed to eat on her very strict diet. I don't have a picture of them, but they are on my Instagram account with the recipe. I also discovered a fudge recipe from PurelyTwins that fit the yeast free guidelines (pictured above). It takes coconut oil, cocoa powder, a little bit of stevia and water. Both desserts tasted more on the bitter side...like extremely dark chocolate, but they definitely hit the spot.

Overall, the diet didn't help much with my stomach issues, but I did end up losing about 8 pounds with half of that in the first week. Since ending the diet, I've tried to continue eating clean 80% of the time. I also, finally, went to the witch doctor who congratulated me for accomplishing the diet, but said that yeast was not my problem. He has me on a no starch diet (no bread, pasta, rice or white potatoes) and lots and lots of supplements. With taking the supplements and trying my best to stick to the diet he set out for me, my stomach issues have slowly been getting better!!

Daily supplements from the "witch" doctor...Morning on the left...Night on the right