Hey! Sorry for no updates or recent blog posts, my feet haven’t touched the ground! Here’s a few things I’ve been busy with:
– Baby Piglet of course! She’s 4.5 months now and is rolling over and giggling like a champion! She’s just started with the nanny so when I’m not working I’m dedicating all my time to her.
– Work! After nearly a year off (I worked very very part time) I’m back at work and loving every second of it! My return to work coincides with new directions and I’m pretty much investing all my baby free time there at the moment.
– Ankylosing spondylitis: Since giving birth, I have had major complications and problem after problem and have been diagnosed with Ankylosing spondylitis. Rather than manage it with anti-inflammatories. I have decided to go on an anti-inflammatory diet. No gluten, dairy or sugar. For a girl that practically lived on ice-creams and pasta before giving birth this is one hard task as I hadn’t a clue what to eat and all my habits needed changing!
So, that’s what’s what in the Piglet household these days. Do drop me your news in a comment below or link to any important news on your blogs so I can catch up.
Keep well!
Hi Piglet, sorry to hear you’ve contracted Ankylosing spondylitis. I looked it up and it looks a bugger. Your diet sounds like a revolution, I’d have no idea what to eat either!
No major news this end that I can think of, just trying to hold things together comme d’hab.
Thanks Sarah :) A week on and I’m getting to grips on the diet and can actually say I’m enjoying it! My joints are already feeling less inflamed so I’m as happy as can be!
Congrats on being back at work, and feel better soon!
thank you!
Hey, welcome back! I missed you!
:)
I’m very sorry to hear about all of the health challenges you are dealing with and will continue to deal with it sounds like from what I read on line. My mother was allergic to gluten so I am very aware of what is available gluten-free and the good news is that there is lots more available now including some very good quality gluten-free pasta. So no need to give it up.
Thanks Michel. I didn’t realise you could get gluten-free pasta, I’ve now found some in a health food shop and also online, I’m over the moon!
Oh bless your heart ! I am sorry to hear about the health issues still dogging you.
Yes ! gluten free pasta ! after that initial period of adjustment, you will stop craving things you used to eat.
I haven’t eaten red meat in 40 years :)
I am glad to see your post, I check each day hoping you and the family and your new home are all doing well. Enjoy being back at work .. besos ! C
Hi Candice! Thanks so much for continuing to stop by even though I’ve not been a very good blog buddy recently. We’re enjoying the new home and baby Piglet is just fantastic. She is so happy and smiley all the time, a truly contented baby.
I cannot imagine not eating red meat at all, I love a nice steak or bolognaise sauce!
I’ve been on the diet for about 10 days now and am feeling fab I’m pleased to say :)
Good to read that you are still here!! New work sounds exciting, tell us more! And how on earth do you live on that kind of diet? I am sure it’s much healthier than everything else, and also that there are no pregnancy pounds left, if there were any in the first place, but…. how??!!
xx
I had pregnancy pounds and more! All the sitting & laying around after birth whilst breastfeeding made me eat more and more so I piled on the pounds! Gah!
The diet is easier than I thought it would be, except I really miss some of the stuff from before like French cheeses, bread and bacon. I’m adjusting and already feeling great. Maybe I’ll blog on what I eat a bit as well.
New work: yes! So excited! I will blog on that too once my new website is launched as I’m currently overhauling everything and setting up a new side to the existing business. Definitely keeping me busy as a bee :)
Hulllooooo! :) I finally made it to this post to comment after a busy weekend last weekend and then a busier week as I headed back into babysitting, housecleaning, and English tutoring. The weekend is here, and now I have a little time to read about the stuff you posted some about on Facebook.
Welcome to the club of the gluten, dairy, and sugar-free. :) It’s not easy at all, but it *does* get better and better the longer you do it. In fact, while I have solidly been able to stay gluten and dairy-free for over 2.5 years, that beastie sugar and I continue to battle it out. I’m swelling up like a ripe pumpkin, though, and know that I need to cut the sugar out again. Anyway — I’m with Sarah, I had to look up AS and wow — what a challenge. You know what, though? I am super glad that you have a diagnosis and a focus to place your thoughts of wellness. I hope that makes sense. What I mean is that I am glad that you know what it is you are dealing with so that you can take the necessary steps to find wellness. It’s an important part of the healing process.
I’m also glad that you found out where there are g-free pastas. La Vie Claire is a France-wide health food store I know that carries a lot of g-free items. I shop at Naturalia here in Paris and also one of the BioCoop chains nearby on occasion. There are more and more g-free items in stores. Be careful with them, though, when it comes to an anti-inflammatory diet, which is what I try to be on, too. Some g-free products are full of sugars and other items that can exacerbate inflammation. I, for example, have found that the corn and rice in many g-free products, make me swell up. I have to use even more alternative flours, such as sorghum, almond, and chestnut. Just keep an eye on yourself with the g-free goodies and you should be okay.
Good thoughts to you & your wee family, and I hope that you continue to experience health, wellness and prosperity in your life! :)
xx
Karin
hey Karin! Tell me about the sugar! I’m managing dairy and gluten free but sugar is a problem. I’m now trying to be careful which type of sugar I eat, the least processed the better. Generally I’m feeling much better so it must be working. Thanks for stopping by and sorry it took me so long to reply x
Aha…..
There is life in Pigletsville!
Desperately trying to find an award for this….
All the best
Keith
P.S. Your illness…. You do know (and I’m being serious for a change), that Pig’s Trotter Sandwiches are locally well known as a cure?
ah yes! There still is life and I’ve just blogged again… the creepy crawlies haven’t got me yet!
For what it’s worth, Carrefour of all places do a reasonable range of GF pasta/bread/etc – it’s a bit more expensive than normal pasta, but it’s not as expensive as in health food shops and might be easier for you to find.
Good luck – I managed to do several months of gluten, dairy and nut free eating (which has since fallen apart, but I’m working on starting over…) It’s definitely possible, even if it feels a bit like there’s nothing you can eat, to start with! (At least, it did for me; you might be a more balanced person!) That does improve, though, as your eating habits change – I ended up losing so much weight and becoming so much healthier overall, it was almost unbelievable.
Thank’s for the tips Nicole. I’ve been to our local Carrefour and am very impressed! Intermarche is pretty useless so I’d given up on the supermarches so thanks! I’ve saved loads!
I already feel a lot better and the weight is falling off without any effort, it’s wonderful.
Hello Piglet (lost) in France,
Hope you’re ok and that the diet is going strong and making you feel better.
Deborah xx
Thanks! Feeling a lot better and finally have a spring in my step :)
Hi Piglet,
I am dismayed to realise that the existence of your blog slipped off my radar. I am making up for lost time by reading yor previous posts. Congrats on the baby!
Mark
Thanks Mark!
I admire you so much for going on that diet instead of taking medication. It will be way better for your body–and cutting out those things will make you healthier, too! Way too many people just take the doctor’s meds without even thinking about it. But then again, I’m from America…
Thanks Rai! You should see how much medication we get given in France. I’ll remember to take a picture of my prescription next time I visit the Dr’s for something simple. Even a simple cold will guarantee you at least 5 different types of medicine to take. I don’t go anymore unless I don’t get better after my own treatment.
The diet’s going great and I’m feeling much better. I’ve since found a Dr in France that helps treat my illness though diet so I’m feeling more confident in my choices too!