Keto Pizza & Updates

Hello!  I should have never started a blog, since I obviously cannot keep up with it, but I do enjoy being able to share certain recipes and experiences with the masses, and I know strangers out there may read this and get help from my experiences, so here it goes!

First, I’m no longer on the paleo diet.  I’ve been on the keto diet for about three weeks now.  So, what is keto?  Basically, your body normally burns carbs and sugar for fuel.  However, when you greatly reduce the amount of carbs and sugar you consume and increase your intake of fat, your body goes into ketosis.  When your body is in ketosis, it then switches over to burning fat for fuel, instead of sugar and carbs.  Many people follow this diet to help with seizure disorders, and many people also follow it to lose weight (which is not my motivation, but a happy side effect).  My hope is that this diet will also help me with my MS.

I know, the thought of never having any carbs or sugar is quite depressing.  Pasta?  Bread? Sweet Potatoes? Sigh.  I actually had carb flu for five days when I started.  FIVE. DAYS.  Headaches, nausea, tummy issues, muscle cramps, irritability…you name the carb flu side effect, I had it.  Then, I started taking potassium during the day and magnesium at night, and felt heaps better.  Also, I can eat CHEESE on this diet.  And fat.  This really changes the game, people.  When you can eat dairy, it opens up a whole new world!  It’s easier to eat out at restaurants and people’s houses, easier to snack, and easier to feel like you’re “indulging”, even when you’re “dieting”.

Now, three weeks in, I have noticeably more energy.  I suffer from fatigue and have to take medication throughout the day to help me stay awake and focused.  I never ever ever wake up feeling “rested”.  However, I have woken up feeling great a few times over the last two weeks.  I’ve also come home after work and not felt completely depleted and tired.  Some days, I have even forgotten to take my energy medicine because I’m feeling that good.  If keto addresses my fatigue and nothing else, it will be worth it to stay on it. I’ve also lost a few pounds and in general I’m just feeling lighter and healthier.

That being said, if you’re so interested in trying an amazing keto-friendly meal, then you need to make this pizza!  It’s quite fattening, which may not be the best for you if you aren’t on this diet, but it’s so good, I had to share the recipe anyway.

Fat Head Pizza

Servings: 2

Ingredients:

• 1.5 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 3 tbsp of cream cheese
• 2/3 cup almond meal
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil

Toppings:

• Marinara sauce (low carb, no sugar added)
• Mozzarella cheese, shredded
• Goat cheese
• Basil
• Roasted garlic*
• Pepperoni

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Combine 1.5 cups of mozzarella with 3 tbsp of cream cheese in a medium bowl.  Microwave for about a minute, then stir to combine with a fork. If needed, microwave for a few seconds longer so it’s easier to mix together.  Add the egg, almond meal, oregano and dried basil. If needed, you can microwave the mixture more, but don’t overdue it or you’ll cook the egg.

Place the ball of dough on a piece of oiled parchment paper.  Place another piece of oiled parchment paper on top of the ball and press it down with your hands.  Then, using a rolling pin, roll out the dough into a thin personalized pizza, which is about a 10″-12″ round. Using a fork, poke holes all over the dough.

Bake the dough without the piece of parchment on top for 8-10 minutes, or until the crust is nicely browned.  If needed, poke more holes in the dough if it’s rising in some areas. Then, taking the other oiled piece of parchment (or a new piece if that one is too messy) flip the crust over and put it back in the oven with just a piece of parchment beneath it, nothing on top.  Bake it for another 2-4 minutes until that side of the pizza crust is also browned.

Then, add some of your marinara sauce, the mozzarella, goat cheese pieces, fresh basil, roasted garlic and pepperoni.  Bake for another 4-5 minutes.  That’s it!

*To roast garlic, place peeled cloves with a little olive oil in tinfoil and wrap it up into a ball.  Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes.

Bon Apetit! 🙂

Source: Anna Vocino

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life-Changing Paleo Buffalo Wings

I’m almost hesitant to write this post because I fear that I may never post anything as delicious on this blog ever again.

My boyfriend and I LOVE chicken wings.  We could probably eat them everyday and live a happy life.  Therefore, the hunt for paleo-friendly chicken wings started as soon as I got on paleo.  I wasn’t surprised to find a plethora of wing recipes, but honestly, none of them really sounded that great to me…until I found this one.   People.  You must make this recipe.  It’s. so. darn. good.  We loved it so much that I actually made it two nights in a row.  We had no leftovers and that was absolutely unacceptable!  The only downside of this recipe is that it takes about 3 hours to make.  Luckily, the steps are very simple, but of course, that’s a bit time consuming.  However, the fact that it takes a while to make may prevent us from eating this everyday, which is good since we need to reach our daily 6-9 cup veggie quota!   I can’t wait to be invited to a football party, these will be our contribution . Mmmm.  I hope you enjoy this  recipe as much as we did.

Ingredients:

• 24 chicken wings (12 wings, 12 drumsticks)
• 8 tbsp hot sauce (I used Cholula since it has no sugar and the perfect amount of heat)
• 6 tbsp of coconut oil (or ghee/healthy non-dairy fat)
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 2 tsp paprika
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Directions:

Defrost the wings.  If you buy them in large quantities from places like Costco, you can take the wings you want to cook out, put them in a microwaveable safe bowl, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and defrost them in the microwave.  Check on the wings about halfway through and toss them in the bowl so that they are evenly defrosted (It would be best to defrost them in the fridge, but I know that’s not always an option).

Next, you need to steam the wings.  To do this, I put about one inch of water in a large pot and brought it to a boil.  Once boiling, I placed a metal colander on top of the pot with the wings inside. Reduce the heat a little, but not too much, it should still be a rolling simmer.  Place a lid on top of the colander (this will not be airtight, but is sufficient).  Steam the wings for 20 minutes, tossing them halfway through to make sure everything is cooked evenly.

Once steamed, place the wings on an oven-safe wire rack on top of a baking sheet.  Make sure the wings are evenly spread apart and not touching.  Place the sheet in the refrigerator for one hour to chill.  This allows the wings to get crispy later.

Preheat the oven to 450. Place the chilled wings in the oven and bake for 40 minutes, turning over with tongs halfway through baking.

While the wings are cooking, create the sauces.  For the wing sauce, whisk the hot sauce, coconut oil, lemon juice, vinegar, paprika, and garlic powder together in a large tupperware.   I did not find it necessary to add salt or pepper, but feel free to do so if you wish.  Once the wings are cooked, place them in the tupperware, put the lid on, and toss the sauce so the wings are evenly coated. When plating the wings, pour the remaining sauce over the top of them.

Serve the wings with some celery, carrots, and of course, paleo ranch which can be found here.  For the ranch, please note that you can adjust the consistency to your liking (more coconut milk/cream, spices, etc.).  I like to make the ranch thicker for this recipe since it’s better for dipping.  If you aren’t a ranch fan, these are also excellent on their own.

Yum!

Source: Primal Bites

Paleo Butter Chicken!

As promised, here is a main course to sop up with your paleo naan!

I looooove Indian food. Love. I’m pretty sure Indian would be at the top of my list of last meals.  What I love about this paleo diet is that you can easily alter traditional Indian meals to be gluten and dairy free.  I personally find it easiest to stick to a diet when you don’t actually feel like you’re going without or “dieting”, so this recipe makes me oh so happy!

This butter chicken was seriously mouthwateringly good.  I swear it tastes as good or better than a restaurant, plus your house will smell amazing while you’re cooking it!  Pair this with some garlic naan and cauliflower rice and you’ll be thanking me later!

Ingredients:

• 2 onions, finely chopped
• 1 tomato, pureed
• 1 tbsp of tomato paste
• 1 tbsp of ghee
• 1 tsp of garlic, minced
• 1 tsp of ginger, minced/grated
• 2 tsp of coriander powder
• 1 tsp of  Kashmiri chilli powder (or regular chili powder if that’s all you have)
• 1 tsp of garam masala
• 1 large pinch of kasuri methi / dried fenugreek leaves
• 1 cup of coconut milk
• 3 tbsp of coconut cream (or coconut milk refrigerated over night)
• 1-2 tsp salt to taste
• 1/4 tsp of turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp of cilantro, chopped

Directions:

Finely chop the onion, purée the tomato in a blender or food processor, mince the garlic and ginger, and cube the chicken.

Sauté the onion in the ghee on medium/medium high heat until the onions are translucent and browned. Add the garlic, ginger, coriander, chili powder, turmeric, and salt. Sauté for another minute or so until the spices are fragrant. Next, add the puréed tomato and tomato paste and simmer for about three minutes until everything is incorporated.

Now add the kasuri methi, coconut milk and cubed chicken and lower the heat to a rolling simmer. Cover the chicken, cook for 8-10 minutes or until the chicken is soft, stirring occasionally. Then, cook the chicken uncovered for another 2 minutes. Finally, lower the heat and add the coconut cream and garam masala. Stir well, top with cilantro, and serve immediately.  Easy and delish!

How to be a Fashionista…with a Drop Foot and WalkAide

This post isn’t about paleo, but related to my MS and may be helpful to others who have a drop foot and wear a WalkAide as well.  For those of you that don’t know about the WalkAide, you can read about it here.

I feel a little silly that I care what I look like while wearing my WalkAide, but I like fashion and dressing cute, so wearing it regularly has been a little bit of an adjustment for me.  Especially because when I do wear it openly, I get lots of questions and comments from strangers.  “You hurt your leg, huh!”, “Why are you wearing that?”, “What did you do to your leg?”  I understand why people are asking, they are curious and mostly polite, but it does get tiresome when people are either staring (I’d rather you just ask!) or I have to explain myself multiple times.

For those of you that are also fashion conscious WalkAide wearers, I have some solutions for you!

•  Straight, boot cut, & boyfriend cut jeans and pants – These are a great option for those of us that are vertically challenged and have a badunkadunk.  I can’t wear wide leg pants.  I look like a fat hobbit.  Therefore, wearing jeans and pants that are more fitted on the thigh and butt, but a little looser below the knee, really hide that sucker!  Also, there are capri length options for when it’s warmer out.  If you can wear wide leg pants, they are totally in style again and there are lots of cute options – go for it!

• Skinny jeans – I was actually told straight up that I wouldn’t be able to wear skinny jeans.  This is false!  You CAN wear skinny jeans, they just need to have some stretch in them.  They stretch right over the WalkAide and as long as they also give enough to allow you to walk freely, you’re in business.  You can still see the WalkAide under there, it definitely bulges under the pant leg, but its much more discreet than usual.
•  Maxi dresses and skirts – This is probably an obvious one, but I want to mention it because I also typically do not look good in maxi length outfits. However, after trying on about 100 of them (no joke), I have found in my research that there are A LOT of different styles and options.  There are a-line cut, fitted, empire, voluminous, with slit and without, etc.  Keep trying them all on until you find a style that work for you. A maxi or two is good to have for lots of situations where you may want to hide the WalkAide, for both formal occasions and casual.

• Midi dresses and skirts – I had never heard of “midi” length until very recently, but this is perfect for the WalkAide.  Midi length typically lands somewhere around the top of your calf, below your knee.  Depending on the midi, it may completely cover the WalkAide or at least cover it halfway to make it a little more discreet.

• Tights – I love when its chilly out and I can wear tights, boots/flats, and a skirt.  My plan is to continue to do that, with the tights over the WalkAide.  Yes, it will bulge.  But again, a tiny bit less obvious to have a black bulge than a gray and blue one.  Know what I’m saying?

I don’t plan on hiding my WalkAide everyday, some days I’m going to want to wear a mini skirt, short dress, or shorts.  It can be hot or I can just like those outfits!  I’d rather wear something I love and show it, rather than be in something I’m less excited about and hide it.  However, on those days where you just want to be more discreet, these options work really well.

In addition to adjusting my clothing for the WalkAide, I’ve also had to change my shoes quite a bit. I had been wearing heels almost everyday for a few years.  I wore them to work, on dates, out on weekends, etc.  I loved them! I really felt that they elevated (wink wink) whatever I was wearing, so I hate to say goodbye to some of my most favorite shoes.  Maybe I should have a shoe funeral and give my precious heels away to friends…sigh.

That being said, I’ve found a few styles and brands that are both cute and work well with my drop foot!

•  Straps, straps, straps.  Almost all of my shoes need straps now.  If I’m wearing sandals, they need an ankle strap, and they also need straps to hold my toes in really well (more than just a single strap typically).  Gone are the days of flip flops! Welcome, gladiator sandals!  Also, if you want some beach sandals that have at least a t-strap, these Havaianas are my go to style.

• Ballet flats.  I’m hit or miss with flats, but sometimes they are either snug and comfortable enough to stay on my foot, or the style comes up high enough on the top of the foot that they don’t slip off when I walk.  I’ve invested in a pair of Tory Burch Reva’s to have “dressier” flats that look nice with dresses, pants, etc. Also, you may want to purchase some heel grips that help the flats stay on your foot as well.

• Wedges.  I can wear a teeny wedge if it has an ankle strap.  This helps me feel like I’m in a “heel” of sorts and there are dressier options in this style as well.  My new favorite brand is Seychelles.  They aren’t cheap, but they are excellent quality, comfortable, and have lots of pretty styles.

• Boots.  These are great because you can put inserts inside them that help with walking, plus there are so many flat and low heel styles available in different shaft heights, colors, etc.

• Sneakers.  This is obvious and the best for your foot.  I usually wear sneakers if I’m going to be walking longer distances.  I have also invested in some cuter “sneakers” for days where I’d like to wear a foot insert and want a little more support, but I don’t want to necessarily wear athletic shoes.

Some may eye roll at this post (“You’re walking, who cares what you look like!”), but honestly, adjusting my fashion for the WalkAide and my drop foot was important to me, so I figured it may be important to others.  I want to feel and look as normal as possible, and these tips and tricks have helped me, so hopefully they can help someone else as well.

Happy shopping!

3 Ingredient Paleo Naan – Yeah baby!

Well, it’s been almost  a month since I have started Wahl’s Paleo – hooray!  I haven’t felt too many drastic differences yet, although in general I do feel lighter and healthier, and my skin does seem way better as well (which is a nice side effect!).  I have to say I think I’ve done a really good job of eliminating what I shouldn’t be eating, however it’s been hard to add at least 6 cups of vegetables a day (as well as all the other items Dr. Wahls recommends, like eating seaweed and fermented foods daily).  I honestly am just too full!  I’m trying to work more veggies in with smoothies and salads everyday.  It’s definitely been a challenge, but hopefully it will become second nature over time.

That being said, being the bread addict that I am (and I’d say most people are), I was really excited to try this paleo naan recipe I found on My Heart Beets.  This blog is full of amazing gluten and dairy free recipes that I can’t wait to try.  If you’re craving bread or just need something to sop up your curry, this is your recipe!  I love how easy, versatile, and delicious this naan is.  This completely fulfilled my craving to have bread and made eating healthy curry that much more enjoyable (especially since the naan was always one of my favorite parts of eating Indian food!).   I really hope you enjoy it and check back super soon for some main dishes to eat this with!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup coconut flour
• 1/2 cup tapioca flour
• 1 cup coconut milk, canned and full fat (room temperature, not refrigerated)
• 1/2-1 tsp salt
• 3 cloves garlic, minced (optional)

Directions:

Mix the flours and milk together using a whisk until there are no longer any lumps. If adding garlic to make garlic naan, also mix in the garlic at this time.  The batter will be similar to a pancake batter consistency.

Using a large nonstick pan*, drop about 1/4 cup of the batter into the pan and cook medium high heat*.  Watch to make sure its not burning and lower the heat if necessary.  Once the naan fluffs up and bubbles, and the bottom of the naan is cooked well enough, flip the naan over with a spatula and cook the other side. Be patient, this can take a couple of minutes to get the proper browning.  If needed, continue flipping in order to get the desired brownness.  Place the finished pieces of naan on a wire rack while you finish cooking the remaining batter.  This technique has completely worked for me, but if you find that your naan is still a little doughy in the middle or if you want it to be crispier, you can put it in a 400 degree oven for 10-15 minutes.

*If you do not have a nonstick pan, use some oil/ghee to cook the batter in your pan.  I’d use the fat very sparingly so it doesn’t make the naan greasy.

*You can also pour more batter into the pan to make a large piece of naan as well, just keep in mind you’ll only have 2-3 pieces at the end so you may want to double the recipe.

Although I haven’t tried it yet, you can also make this naan into a dessert crepe. All you have to do is spread the batter very thinly in the pan, and I would also add some type of sweetener, such as honey, to make it taste more dessert-like.  Yum!

Source: My Heart Beets

Smoked Salmon & Arugula Salad with Paleo Ranch Dressing!

LA is so hot right now. Growing up in Florida, you’d think I’d be immune to an LA “heat wave”, but I have no central AC in my apartment and I’m constantly spoiled by perfect Southern California weather! I didn’t sign up for this!  Come on, Fall!

So in the heat yesterday, I attempted to cook some naan on the stove, and the little gas flame paired with the dead hot air in my kitchen was making me sweat bullets! It was then that I realized that I could’nt be bothered to cook something hot for dinner, which led to me making up this delicious salad recipe! I highly recommend it if you’re in the mood for an easy summer salad that’s somehow light and hearty. Yum!

Salad Ingredients:

• Wild smoked salmon, shredded into small pieces by hand
• Arugula
• Avocado, chopped
• Heirloom cherry tomatoes, halved
• Cucumber with skin, chopped
• Red onion, thinly sliced

Paleo Ranch Dressing Ingredients:

• 1 can of coconut milk or cream, refrigerated overnight
• 1 tbsp chives, chopped
• 1-2 cloves of garlic
• 1 tbsp plus 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 1/2 tbsp fresh parsley
• 1 tsp salt
• Pepper to taste

Directions:

For the dressing, place the creamed portion of the coconut milk/cream in a blender. Reserve the remaining coconut liquid in the can. Add the remaining ingredients to the blender and blend on high. Add more coconut liquid as needed until you reach the desired consistency.  Refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to combine. (Note: You can also keep the consistency thicker to be more of a veggie dip)

For the salad, wash and prepare the vegetables and combine with the arugula and smoked salmon. Add the avocado last (to prevent browning).  I didn’t put amounts for the vegetables because this is completely up to your discretion! Once everything is combined, eat this amazing salad with the delicious paleo ranch dressing! Enjoy!

Dressing Source: The Nilsen Pantry

Pesto Zucchini Noodles with Shrimp!

Well, today is my fifth day easing into the Wahl’s Paleo diet.  I’m still reading the book (which has so much information!), but hope to finally finish it this weekend.  I’m really making an effort to fully start Dr. Wahl’s version of Paleo next week (fingers crossed!).

Truth be told, this diet is a little overwhelming.  I understand why people feel the need to ease in.  Besides no gluten and dairy (and gluten seems to sneak into many unsuspecting things), you also have to eat 9 cups of a vegetables a day, eat seaweed daily, eat at least 9oz of animal protein a day (meat/fish), and also eat organ meats at least once a week.  There are all sorts of other nuances as well, which I’m still learning about.  My head has been spinning a bit trying to keep up with it all, but approaching this diet as medication/treatment, is really helping me stay motivated.  I want to feel better!

That being said, yesterday was the first time I adventured into making zucchini noodles!  I’ve seen tons of recipes on blogs and Pinterest that use zucchini noodles, and have always thought they looked so pretty and colorful. I’m someone that really loves pasta though, so I was skeptical about the taste honestly.  In order to ensure the dish wouldn’t be too bland, I decided to make the zoodles with my favorite spinach/basil pesto recipe (cutting out the parmesan).  I also cut up some cherry tomatoes and threw in some shrimp as well.

The result was a surprisingly tasty and satisfying 30 minute meal.  I didn’t miss the parmesan at all either! My boyfriend said they were as good as any pasta dish he’s ever had, which I think is a wee bit of an exaggeration, but hey, I’ll take the compliment. Personally, I think its a really good substitute for pasta, especially with the pesto and being able to twirl it on your fork, but nothing is going to be exactly the same as the real thing.  Just setting expectations here!  However, for the fact that you’re eating a big plate of nutritious veggies, its pretty darn good.

Also, there are plenty of options of how to make zoodles.  You can use a handheld spiral slicer, get something like a Spiralizer (which is what I purchased), or even buy them pre-made at Whole Foods.  I imagine if you’re on a Paleo diet though, you may want to invest in something like the Spiralizer or Paderno, just to make your life easier.  There’s so much prep to do already on Paleo, so I like to keep things as simple as possible (and I don’t live that close to a Whole Foods).

So, without further adieu, the recipe!

Ingredients:

• Basil 1.5 cups
• Spinach 3/4 cup
• Toasted pine nuts 1/2 cup
• Large garlic cloves 4-5
• Kosher salt 3/4 tsp
• Black pepper 1/2 tsp
• Fresh lemon juice 1 tbs
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1/2 cup
• Shrimp 1 pound (I used frozen and precooked to make it faster)
• Grape tomatoes, halved 16 oz
• Zucchinis 4

Directions:

First, if using frozen shrimp, put the shrimp in a colander and run cold water over them to defrost while you make the pesto and prepare the tomatoes and zucchini.

Next, in a food processor or blender, mix together the basil, spinach, pine nuts, garlic, salt, pepper, and lemon juice until smooth.  Use a rubber spatula to scrape the sides of the container to make sure everything is evenly incorporated.  Once smooth, add the olive oil slowly until mixed in thoroughly.  Taste the pesto for flavor and add more salt, pepper, and lemon juice as needed.  This ratio typically comes out perfectly for my palette.

Then, prepare the zucchini with your chosen zoodle method.  Set aside.

After that, slice up all the cherry tomatoes in half (so you don’t bite into little cherry bombs!), and put them in a nonstick skillet to cook.  I don’t cook them long, just so they are slightly charred and soft, perhaps for about 2-3 minutes.  Then, since tomatoes can release quite a bit of juice, I drain the pan of that juice before adding the zucchini noodles.  Cook the zoodles and tomatoes for about 5 minutes on medium or medium high heat with the tomatoes, until they are soft and pasta-like.

Finally, add the pesto and shrimp to the pan and toss everything together with tongs so all the ingredients are mixed together evenly.  Continue cooking (ensuring the zoodles are soft) and until the pesto and shrimp are heated.  Serve immediately.

Bon apetit! 🙂

Source: Spinach Basil Pesto Recipe adapted from All Recipes

Why Hello There!

Hello!  Where can I start? My name is Michelle, I’m a 32 year old Cuban-American originally from South Florida, but have been loving life in Los Angeles for five years.  I work in television, have an amazing boyfriend, and I’ve had Multiple Sclerosis for over 13 years now.

So why am I writing this blog?  Well, my boyfriend recently stumbled upon an amazing book called The Wahls Protocol.  If you are unfamiliar with it, just as I was, it’s about Dr. Terry Wahls, who was diagnosed with MS and then three years later her diseased progressed to a point that she was in a wheelchair.  Very scary. Dr. Wahls started doing tons of research to find ways that she could potentially better her life, or halt the disease from making her bedridden.  She started taking vitamins in order to get the nutrients needed to make her brain and cells work optimally (hence the name of the blog).  She then eventually progressed to eating her nutrients with a specific Paleo style diet.  This was life changing for her and resulted in her going from a wheelchair, to a cane, to walking in only six months.  Only six months!  She continued on to do an 18 mile bike ride, and still bikes five miles a day to work.  You can watch her Tedx talk here.  Her story is especially inspiring because although MS is “treatable”, and will hopefully respond to medication that can slow down the chronic nature of the disease, there is no cure for MS.  And as of now, there isn’t anything available to reverse any damage that has already been done to your body.  But Dr. Wahls story and other stories of those who have followed her protocol, gives me hope.

Here’s a little background on my MS.  When I was 19 years old, I had some shooting pain in my right foot and my right leg was also numb.  My doctor and I both originally thought it was a pinched nerve and I was told to rest and put heat on my back, which only made my symptoms worse.  After more exams, MRIs, and a spinal tap, the diagnosis came rolling in two weeks after my very first symptom – Multiple Sclerosis.  So many thoughts went through my head, “What is that?”, “I know they have a walk for it.”, “Will I still be able to have children?”, “Will I be able to live a normal life?”.  Looking back, I was probably too young to grasp the full nature of the diagnosis, which I’m sure was for the best.  Although, even though I was young, I’m grateful for the fact that I was given a healthy perspective on life at an early-ish age.  I remember hearing the diagnosis and then thinking, “Everything I have ever stressed about, doesn’t matter.”  I try to live my days remembering what matters and what doesn’t, and even though I can’t always do that, I think it’s a healthy and happy way to approach life.

Over the last 13 years, I’ve had many specialists, doctor appointments, clinical trials, physical therapy, injections, infusions, hospital visits, massages, acupuncture, diets, and more medication than anybody should ever have to take under the age of 65.  MS affects me every single day. A day where I wake up feeling well rested is extremely rare.  I can sleep eight, 10, or 15 hours and typically feel the same – exhausted.  I have a sensitivity to heat and humidity, which makes me even more fatigued, makes it more difficult to walk, and gives me a pins and needles sensation over my legs and body.  The heat is also the reason I can’t move back to South Florida, and it also presents challenges on planning summer vacations. I also have weakness in my hands sometimes, tingling on my face, random vision issues, and too many other weird twitches, symptoms, and side effects to name.

On December 31, 2009 I had quite a big flare up of my MS.  I was laying on the couch watching the ball drop, and when I got up off the couch I suddenly couldn’t walk.  I was incredibly fatigued and my legs would simply not work.  That flare up turned into 5 days in the hospital getting intense IV steroids, and thankfully my mobility came back and the other symptoms I was experiencing subsided.  Once that attack happened though, as with most MS attacks, I felt a little bit of my mobility was chipped away.  After that, whenever I was heated or tired, my foot started dragging a tiny bit.  This was a rare occurrence, so I didn’t really pay too much attention to it. I’m used to ignoring symptoms.  I used to live by Runyon Canyon in LA, and would hike there frequently.  A couple of years after doing this, my foot started dragging early into the hike.  This was concerning, and my doctor at the time pretty much told me it was par for the course, without giving me any other recommendations or tools to help.  I was most likely just feeling “too hot”.

I eventually switched doctors, and when I told the new doc about my foot, she also wasn’t too concerned because I was still able to wear heels.  At this time, my foot issue would just come and go randomly, it wasn’t constant.  Then over the course of the last year and a half, it started happening if I walked a mile or further.  Then, half a mile. Then, a quarter mile.  Then, pretty much all the time.  My brain tells my foot to walk (lift off the ground), but due to nerve damage from the disease, the signal doesn’t reach my foot, so my foot doesn’t lift up all the way.  This is called a drop foot.

Now I take medication twice daily to help the nerve signal reach my foot and I also have two braces.  One is a very sexy metal type brace that just physically keeps my foot up the entire time, I can’t bend it down if I wanted to.  This brace requires me to wear sneakers, and if used regularly, will make the muscles in your foot atrophy from lack of use.  No bueno.  The other “brace” is a WalkAide.  Basically, this contraption sits on top of the nerves that reach my foot, and shocks the nerve that makes my foot lift up.  It’s a bit uncomfortable at first, but you get used to it quickly.  It works great and helps stimulate the damaged nerves, but does provide some fashion challenges if you want to cover it (think maxis and wide leg pants, which both do nothing for my body type).

So this is where I am today.  I have challenges walking everywhere, all the time. Whenever I park somewhere, I’m gauging the amount I have to walk before I need to rest.  The mall is stressful.  A theme park is a nightmare.  Taking a stroll after a date will require rest time and a little planning.  I use the WalkAide regularly when I’m out running errands and doing everyday things.  Although I’ve always had a good and positive attitude about my MS, this life change has been really challenging for me, as I’m sure it would be for anyone.  I used to be extremely active, loved playing sports, and loved being outside.  You don’t realize the things that you take for granted when you have them.  Before I’d be frustrated I couldn’t go on a difficult hike because of my MS, now I’d be grateful to walk around at a concert or work without having to worry or think about it.

I’ve tried a diet to treat my MS before, for about eight years.  This diet was extremely low fat, and I went many years without having red meat, cheese, or chocolate.  When I first moved to LA, my then new doctor infamously said, “Your diet is worse than your disease.” I had pizza for the first time in eight years that night. Since then, being the foodie that I am, I haven’t looked back and it’s been amazing. I have eaten amazing foods in Bali, France, London, LA, Miami and everywhere else I can go.  I’ll try anything once and I love cooking too!  Food is actually a big part of my life.  I talk about it quite a bit and love any excuse to try a new recipe, host a party, or bring a baked good to the office.

That’s why I’m starting this blog.  I’m starting this new diet, which is going to present a lot of challenges.  I won’t be able to just eat anywhere without planning ahead of time.  I also won’t be able to eat a lot of the things I love, like pasta and cheese. But, being able to write about my experience here, share recipes that I find or invent, will hopefully help me to stick to it for the long run.  I hope it will help give me purpose and if it works, it will help me get the word out to people who suffer from MS or from other illnesses.

So this is my story thus far in a nutshell.  Today is Day 1 of Paleo, soon to transition into the full Wahls Paleo once I finish the book.  Wish me luck and check back soon for updates!