FMT Results and looking at the future ahead

So I would like to say the FMT retreat was overall a good experience I learned a good amount about myself and made friends with an international couple who has now invited me to come to Bacelona when I get a chance! Thanks Paul and Nuria!

I was hoping that FMT would be my last step in healing...but I guess not :(

my case I guess is kind of complicated..and has been slowly unfolding...

Like I said earlier how I pretty much healed myself through nutrition and other health modalities but after speaking to my ND about when the constipation started we both realized that it was from the Pain meds/opiate drug from when I had my wisdom teeth taken out.... (since I refused to take the antibiotics and just used goldenseal during the procedure and oregano oil/salt rinse afterwards....)

Yup, man-made drugs did me in again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! Never again!

What happened is that the pain med/opiate drug created a very slow moving intestinal "Environment" with this "Environment" a particular flora that likes this type of slow moving environment formed .... which is why I now have constipation... WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously my body does not like man-made drugs....ugh...

SO.... FMT did not exactly work out because towards the last treatments (9th & 10th) he realized that I had impacted stool in my gut soooo... that could be a reason as to why FMT has not really been working...ugh.. its too bad that was figured out towards the end of the treatments :(

I only improved slightly with FMT= instead of having absolutely No Bowel Sounds in all 4 Quadrants of my intestines (in a time frame of a minute) I now have some movement 1-6 times per minute yeah! which mainly occur towards the duodenum and slowly become less towards the large intestine...

With this thought he has recommended that I get Colon Hydrotherapy with the hope that it will remove the impacted stool and potentially whatever amount of the FMT has colonized my gut to colonized the rest of it..

So yesterday was my first time getting colon hydrotherapy and it was fine...but hopefully today will be better since as the person who was doing it said that yea we use water force to help but we've all been trained to hold it in and use the toilet so the body is all like "what the heck!" So it was mainly mucus and lymph that came out rather than actual stool :/ little disappointing but hopefully today will be better!

-It was interesting though since she was all like do you feel that you are not completely able to express who you are as an individual?
-I can tell since you are not able to release...
-oh there goes some bile do you also hold some anger/resentment towards anyone?
-ME: ahhh ! She can read me through my crap... ugh..

Sidenote--My Pancreas
I also had ultrasound done which was a horrible experience...It was very painful them poking and prodding me for 2 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ugh... it was a  teaching clinic the first hour was two students and then they were all like you will probably be able to go but stay just in case... Ultrasound specialist comes in does another whole hour....the whole time I was trying not to cry from the pain...instead water was just flowing down the sides of my face...(I didn't know how sensitive my intestines were until they started pushing them..) I tried to get them to tell me what they were looking at but they wouldn't tell me...So within 24 hours they reported that the head portion of my pancreas is larger than most normal pancreas's but the MD clarified it as normal....

--I dont think so! The head portion of the pancreas is where the enzymes are formed for digestion which I have a very hard time digesting food.... I take pancreatic enzymes

--One of my friends who is becoming an ND also said it could be the sphincter that is too tight this sphincter is where both the pancreatic duct and bile duct come together so it would make sense because I have a really difficult time digesting fats as well...which could be from my body being under a constant state of stress... it makes sense if your stressed your body does not want to digest food--> it want's to get the heck out of there...I'm thinking this relates back to not being able to express myself completely since I feel that I am constantly being judged...so its good that I am on my own now..

The food served at FMT was amazing!
So for dessert I got to try 2 different gluten-free and one that is both gluten-free and vegan both were amazing!

Back to Eden (Gluten-free and Vegan)
--More dessert focused
--They also sell dairy free Ice cream but I never felt like having it...I would like to try it though!

I tried many things here since it was close and my friends and I all shared!
chocolate, lemon, almond cupcakes- all amazing
strawberry hazelnut cake- one of my favorites!
rose sugar cookie-great!
orange chocolate chip- great

-pretty much everything is good but the lavender honey cake was a bit strange taste a little like soap but if you love lavender it might be fine.

Tula Bakery (Gluten-free and some Vegan options)
--Dessert focused but also have more breakfast and lunch options
I didn't buy anything but tried other peoples
everything was good as well

oh Portland you are amazing!

Back to Eden-->Cupcakes

Day 5 FMT Self Discovery

Day 5

Today was an interesting and self discovering day in so many different ways...

Well before FMT my roomates and I had a bit of a talent show with the other patient giving his Irish jig (hes originally from Ireland) and then me with my Hula hoop ;) It was really fun I was actually able to let go in front of them (a bit) which I have never been able to do before yea!

So  about an hour after FMT today, I went bike riding with my roomates to New Seasons Market to check it out and also so that I could get some more face wash and coconut milk. I didn't think I wasn't going to be able to since I kept feeling I needed to use the bathroom after FMT but what was great is that riding the bike actually helped relieve the urge; awesomeness! ;)

So on the ride back the bag's handle ripped...but as if the universe knew this would happen; there was a piece of rope on the ground directly in front of me that I used to wrap the bag of grocery's on the back of my bike! Thank you Universe!

When I got back for Acupuncture I had a re-self discovery moment in which I asked about my scar on my head and what significance it could have on my meridians since I remember her talking about how scars can really have an effect on the body. Well whats fascinating about it is that it lies on the portion of what is considered the blueprint of my true self or another way of saying it is who I am suppose to be down to the core.

 Well after she had stuck me with needles and left to go speak with someone I was thinking about my life overall and how yes having IBD of course has an influence on my life but I feel that I have done a good amount in my life and maybe even more than most people who didn't grow up with a chronic disease. So in a way, I feel that I would have done the same amount of things in my life or even less if I didn't have this disease since with this disease has made me want to push my boundaries. With this thought if I had a normal functioning body all these years I might have taken it for granted and not had done as much or might have even abused it like I have seen so many people do: alcohol, drugs, etc... 

So in a way growing up with this disease could be seen as a blessing since it has helped push myself to live life and seek out my limits; so far my limits are much greater than I could have ever imagined... :D

What does this all mean then? I gained the perspective that this scar symbolizes that no matter how much I dont want the scar to be a part of me as an individual it is a part of who I am; if I like it or not (this scar is the starting point of when I developed IBD from the antibiotic treatment I received at 4 yrs old).

 This past year I had developed some pretty strong negative feelings towards my scar and IBD which I have never had before and just recently I realized it was coming from my mother who would automatically think I couldn't do this or that because of my IBD... I just hate how she would pretty much use it an excuse or even a crutch in a way for me not to do things..(I didn't listen most of the time but after a while of hearing it so often it eventually gets in your head..) I feel that I could have been much more productive this past year without her saying that I can't do this or that...(and happier). Being here at the FMT retreat has really helped me re-gain perspective on my life again and that I just need to take one step at a time to reach my goals.

After acupuncture I went to a Vinyasa yoga class and following it a Tea Ceremony and Meditation class at Sun Gate Studio (they have a special in which you can pay $20 for a week of unlimited yoga! or its $12/class I have one week left so I picked the $20 deal its perfect!) It was an amazing experience... I'm not the greatest at yoga but I gained from it is that I need to the possibilities within myself more since at first I didn't want to do the headstand since it has been so long since I have done one but after just trying it I was able to do it pretty easily...which in my mind I thought I wouldn't so it was a nice surprise .the same thing with the backbend bridge but the instructor told me I think you can do it you are pretty flexible (that right there was nicest never in this life thought I would hear compliment) and she was right! I felt that I was actually able to do it better than I did in the past when I was in gymnastics...I think it might be from the craniosacral that has helped with this now that I think about it....

After the yoga, was the Tea and Meditation Ceremony, during the tea ceremony I felt my heart open up and then with the addition of the next tea the rest of my body opened up which was perfect before going into meditation. Being in meditation it helped bring awareness to myself.. and how essentially I am individual who in the end makes my own decisions...to go deeper into this thought; I thought about the saying, "Dont act like you are the center of the universe" but if you think about it each individual could potentially be the center of the universe even if it was for a split second since everyone plays a part of the universe its just up to you how much of an impact you want to put on to the universe for you to become the center.

http://www.gutinstinctnutrition.net/

My travels to Oregon, Day 1-3 of FMT retreat overview and how Flow needs to be a bigger part in my life

Hello all! I know I am behind but I'm gonna try to combine some of the days so that I can hopefully keep up now...

So... the traveling portion... ugh...it was fine for the trip up to San Fran but the way to Oregon oh gosh....bleh...

The only reason the trip from the O.C. to San Fran was easier was not because of the blockage that occurred on the 5 Freeway because of snow... --instead of taking 8hrs. it took 11hrs--.(Sarcasm-- just in case you didn't catch it lol). It was because I got to drive with an Awesome Person named Sean Humphrie! Woot Woot! thanks so much for making the drive so much more enjoyable!

We had awesome conversational topics some of which were:

• How robots are slowly taking over the world (including the pocket robot in most people's pockets/purses)
• How the world came to be
• His potential book idea
• Nutrition which I was very impressed of his knowledge
• How I should really write a book on how I healed my Gut through Nutrition and my experience with FMT which is occurring right now!

I'm so glad I got to meet Sean Humphrie since he helped me gain perspective on myself and the world around me :) Thanks Jen for letting me borrow him to give directions!

On the way to San Fran we stopped to pick up sausages at Dittmers for the German Sparkle Party :P

This German shop was so much nicer than the Old World German shop I have down in the O.C. they had a huge selection of different foods and I was actually able to find some foods I could eat! 

I bought- 

Smoked liverwurst- I seriously wish I bought more since I pretty much ate all of it in one sitting :S

Teewurst- I had never tried before but they said it taste like spreadable salami so I thought its gotta be good then! It kind of tasted like it but was definitely saltier and stronger tasting so I don't recommend eating it alone like the liverwurst pair it with some vegetables and other meats

Chocolate covered Marzipan (Dairy-Free!)- the name of the brand was Schluckwerder Chocolate Covered Marzipan This was an amazing experience--I was so happy they sold one that contained NO milk! yeah! 

The next day we went to Mariposa in Oakland before my drive to Portland where I bought:

Rosemary Rolls (Gluten-free & Vegan)- OMG these were so light and fluffy they put the right amount of the gluten-free starches! The first day I bought these I cut one in half and place pretty much all the smoked liverwurst I bought and warmed them up...It was heavenly good :P yum.. the light fluffiness of the bread with the hint of rosemary paired so well with the smokiness of the liverwurst mmmm...

Whoopie Pie(Gluten-free & Vegan)- This totally reminded me of an Oreo cookie but to the max! The cake portion was very moist  and totally tasted like the chocolate portion of an oreo cookie and the icing inside was nice as well

Penguino(Gluten-free & Vegan)- I bought one but I have not tried it yet (I'm hoping that freezing it is ok since I'm trying to stay away from sweets during FMT)

I wasn't able to go the German Sparkle Party :'( my doc said it would be best that I would get there saturday so I could fast on Sun and since it takes 11 hours to drive from San fran to Portland I pretty much ate my amazing brunch of liverwurst with the rosemary bread packed up and left around 12pm so on the drive there I blasted the music while going (80-90mph sometimes 100mph-->only at night though) on the 5 HWY.

I almost made it there but I couldn't make the last 2 hours I was too tired... So I pulled over at a rest stop and slept in my car. Thats where my sleeping bag and robe came in handy since it got really cold in my car...I even put my hat on since it was so cold.. eventually I was able to fully fall asleep but at first I kept waking up from being so cold..(just like camping the first night is always about figuring out how many layers you need to put on lol)

Ill have to put a pic of the inside of my Scion camper ;)

So before leaving I got some free hot water at the rest stop, place a tea bag, drank some before leaving since I was still pretty groggy and went (I had to get there before 2pm since the doc wanted to meet me and the other person before the procedure the next day). I got there in time (11am) but I was tired and hungry from all the traveling...so it kind of sucked having to fast that day since all I could think about was food since traveling does not always allow the best eating habits..but of course I survived...I pretty much drank tons of coconut milk with chocolate stevia to give me some energy from the fat and sugar.

I met Dr. Marks team- two cooks, an acupuncturist  one who does craniosacral and abdominal massage, and the person who prepares the FMT

If you can't go to the Oregon location for FMT

Wow...just to let you know they are all very talented in what they do! 
From the 3 days I have been here..

• A-mazingly delicious, healthy foods- They are both very experienced cooks who really know what they are doing they start slow with the fiber and each day it increases :D
• FMT - has been really easily received, Dr. Mark is really in tuned to your needs, and lets you know what is happening in the process. What I think is most important in this whole process is that he makes sure that the delivery does not hurt and he does ask throughout the process if you are ok and if it does hurt to let him know. The great part of this is that all 3 FMT's delivery's have not hurt at all! yeah!!!
• Acupuncture has been really mind opening in the first session and in the second session I felt more of the immediate results...She discovered that I have low Chi (low life force) which I totally agree since I feel that I have so many cross roads to figure out that could determine my future: what will my health outcome will be from FMT?, what should I do in my life?, Should I move back into my parents home?--I dont think I should since they really mess with my Chi... for many reasons that I wont get into...Should I write a book? etc...
• Craniosacral has been really helpful since not only is she helping release some of the damage I have had in many of my neck injuries (dog ripping off scalp when 4yrs old, landing on head in gymnastics, 3 consecutive cars accidents all 1 year after another) but whats really cool is that she was able to see who I was down literally to the bones...0_0 she said that my bones have a way of wanting to flow like a dancer she gave the example of when she was slowly stretching my jaw she said it kept on going and she eventually ran out of fingers but my jaw wanted to be stretched further so she had to move her fingers up and it had a beautiful finish like a dancer. That was amazing since I really felt as if she had seen me who I am down deep well she did down to the bones...I am definitely a person of flow... I love the moments in which I am completely consumed by flow... in those moments I discover beauty, happiness, new ideas, abilities  and new creations :)

 An example of flow could be from the other day-- I was hooping in the room I am staying at and there was a beautiful moment in which I was so in tuned with my hoop (which was bliss in itself) that I somehow was able to hoop from my back left shoulder across my back to the front of my chest and back to my back that is when I woke up from my almost trance and brought me back to reality..not only was I trying to re-create this move again in a more conscious state but whats more important is that it showed me if I just let go I can discover the possibilities within what life has to offer but to have this happen I have to be the one in control of my life and find my own bliss.

http://www.gutinstinctnutrition.net/

Double the Anthocyanins Pancakes--Blueberry Blue Cornmeal Pancakes (Gluten-Free and Vegan)

Hello! sooo....I would have written this blog the day it happened but it was too much of a crazy day... figuring out what to pack for my trip up to Oregon to get FMT...I wrote a list and printed it out which I have never done before but I'm so glad I did! I dont think I forgot anything so far and I'm glad I brought some items that I wasn't sure if I should of brought: an extra thick blanket, my sleeping bag, etc... (Ill explain in a later blog :P) so yeah I was able to squeeze in making this recipe before leaving ;)

Double the Anthocyanins Pancakes!-Blueberry Blue Cornmeal Pancakes

looks good right?...

How about now? :P

Well if one of the above photos has caught your interest then keep on scrollin' to get the recipe for these--Gluten-Free and Vegan Anthocyanin Rich Pancakes ;)

Double the Anthocyanins Pancakes-Blueberry Blue Cornmeal Pancakes (Gluten-Free and Vegan)

Ingredients:

• 1 1/3 cup Organic Bue Corn Meal
• 1 TBS Sweet Rice Flour
• 1 TBS Baking pwd
• 1/4 tsp Baking soda
• 1 TBS Brown Rice Syrup
• 10 drops vanilla stevia
• 1 Cup Coconut milk from a Carton (I used so delicious brand)
• 1/2 cup (Still Partially) Frozen Blueberries 
• (add cinnamon if you so please)

These turned out really good!!!

Surprisingly better than the ones sold at Mothers Market...

These pancakes are-lighter, fluffier, and overall taste better

notes:

next time I would try not using the brown rice syrup since there is already sugar in the coconut milk and if your gonna use maple syrup yeah... to lessen the amount of sugar, but seriously its not like they were super sweet its just that I am always trying to find ways to lessen sugar content and with the help of stevia it can be done ;)

A Small lesson on Bioactive/Phytonutrients and Anthocyanins!!

According to the Bioactive Compounds Class I took at Bastyr (this was a masters level class I took for fun)

• First of all for all Bioactives/Phytonutrients there is not much research on actual human cases or "in vivo" most of the studies are done "in vitro" a portion of the human body tested in a lab: a portion of human-skin, blood vessels, etc.

In vitro studies should not be thought as a direct way that the body will utilize whatever you are testing since the human body is much more complex than that and one of the reasons is based on bioavailability.

Bioavailability- How easy is it for a substance to reach its target tissue?

Bioavailability Acronymn--> LADME

L = Liberation, processes involved in the release of a compound from

its matrix.

A = Absorption, the diffusion or transport of a compound from the

site of administration into the systemic circulation (blood)

D = Distribution, the diffusion or transportation of a compound from

the intravascular (systemic circulation) to the extra-vascular space

(body tissues).

M = Metabolism, the biochemical conversion or biotransformation of

a compound.

E = Excretion, the elimination of a compound, or its metabolite, from

the body via renal-, biliary- or pulmonary processes.

As you can see there are many steps that come to just absorbing anything and potentially utilizing it...

My Cliff-Cliff notes on Anthocyanins ;) 

• Not much is known on how anthocyanins work in the human body since most of the anthocyanins are not absorbed and if they are they are excreted rapidly.
• The anthocyanins might work on a synergistic level with the nutrients in foods that contain anthocyanins or it could be just the high nutrient content in foods that contain anthocyanins its difficult to say according to the amount of research for in vivo studies.
• Foods that contain anthocyanins help prevent chronic diseases, but as I said in the above bullet point its not known how exactly this is done.

Food Energetic's Level of Anthocyanins

On a food energetic level the deep purple hue helps protect foods that contain anthocyanins from UV damage so if you look at it this way: foods that are high in anthocyanins are high in antioxidants since they have to produce a high amount to protect them from the sun (Vitamin C & E, and Manganese). If you apply this thought to how these food will have an effect on your body it will help protect your body from:

Daily stresses on your body, UV damage, and inflammation which relate to chronic diseases. 

If you found this interesting, would like to make a comment, or have any questions please leave a comment below!

http://www.gutinstinctnutrition.net/ 

The Rice Ball from the Sea!

-Slowly but surely I'm gettin' into the groove of posting!

I would have posted last night but I was too tired after meeting up at my nieces gymnastics to discuss with my sister-in-law the plans for me going up to San Francisco with them on Friday and then the rest of the way up to Portland for my FMT.

But I need to figure out if I want to leave Saturday or stay for the Saturday Party Extravaganza!!!

There will be about 3 partys going on that day (that I can remember...lol)

1. My Niece Klara's Chuck-E-Cheese B-day party

2. A Sort of Baby shower BBQ  party

3. A German Sparkle Party ;)--This one I want to go to the most but its at night :S

Why its a German Sparkle Party?

Is because the couple who is having the party are Moving to Germany for the husband to receive his education soooo...

there going to exit out in Sparkles! 

-My Sister-in-law said its going to be about 100 people in a small little loft so its gonna get crazy and probably a lot of fun :D 

-I just need to figure out if I can go and if I do should I drive a portion of the way that night to Oregon or should I sleep and then get up and go (its about 10.5-11 hour drive from san fran)? hmmmmm... ugh... decisions decisions.... 

ok back to what I made last night....I dont really know what to call it or the name of the version I had at the Japanese restaurant called it....which had flaked salmon, salmon eggs, Hijik seaweed

I wanted to try to re-create it since it was sooo good but I couldn't find all the ingredients...

Dont know what to call it...so Ill call it.... 

The Rice Ball from the Sea!

(Flaked Salmon, Seaweed, Coconut Aminos, Fish Eggs/Caviar)

So funny thing about this recipe....

I got the Caviar for Free!

-How could I get something that has the stigma as being known only to pass the lips of rich snobby people for

Free?

Well you say...

"Have you tried this?" To a Sprouts Market Employee

Employee says, "Would you like to try it?"

Me--.......Yea I would like to try it.. (looks all confused of why he is scribbling all over the bar code then hands it to me)

Employee- Here you go!

Me-- What? You are just going to give me the whole thing for free?

Employee- Yeah I dont think anyone else in the store would like to try it anyway so yeah you get the whole thing

Me--....

Employee-- Its our store policy you can try anything in the store!

Me-- Wow well thank you! (still in disbelief and feel like I need to buy something in the store now lol)

So...Yeah... I got Caviar for Free at Sprouts Market!

Thank You Spouts Ill have to come to your store more now that I know I can do this ;)

So yeah that is the back story of the Caviar ;)

The Rice Ball from The Sea 

Ingredients

• Pre-cooked Brown Rice (I made mine a little more soft by cooking it with an extra cup of water then it asked for)
• Dried seaweed (I would have preferred hijik but I had dulse)
• Canned Wild Salmon
• Coconut Aminos (Tastes sweet and salty--> soy and wheat free)
• Fish eggs (would have preferred Salmon eggs but hey I can't complain with Free Caviar right?)

Directions

1. Re-warm your brown rice in a pan
2. cook up your dried seaweed according to the package directions (this one was cook in boiling water for 2 min)
3. Add cooked seaweed to brown rice
4. Drain water from canned wild salmon then flake with fork 
5. Add flaked salmon to brown rice
6. add coconut aminos to taste to the brown rice, Salmon, and seaweed mixture
7. Cook until everything is up to the temperature you prefer 
8. place in bowls and eat as is or form a ball with your spoon (to make it fancy looking lol)
9. Top with fish eggs and Enjoy the Mineral rich salty goodness from the Sea! ;)

With a German Sparkle Party going on in the background

Enjoy!

http://www.gutinstinctnutrition.net/

Literally Instant Pudding-->Faster than Jello’s Instant Pudding also its healthier!-->Paleo and Allergy-Free

So I just made this by accident.... but I dont mind ;)

Sprinkled cinnamon on top ;)

(I also added more vanilla stevia, maple syrup, and sea salt later on to make it more dessert like)

I was just making one of the protein shake recipes that I had given you guys in the previous post from this one (Ive been switching up meals, these last two days, I've eaten dinner-like meals for breakast-today I had duck curry ;) while for dinner I have had my protein shakes) but today the shake turned out to be pudding LOL. What I did different was instead of using water I wanted to use some of my vanilla tea that I had just made.. well.... it was still kind of warm... and I guess it dissolved the gelatin.. since when I placed the ice cubes in it resulted in this: (picture below)

A big block of gelatin... so what do you do with a block of gelatin?

--You Re-blend it!!! to make Pudding! :P

This is the Amazing-Light-Fluffy-Mousse-Like-Protein-Packed-Faster-Than-Jello Pudding!

How do I know its faster than Jello's Pudding?

-Well I looked it up of course!

The Jello brand takes 5min for it to set while This Recipe is ready in Seconds!!

Recipe for Literally Instant Pudding

Ingredients:

• Use the same ingredients for my Protein-Packed-Allergy-Friendly Shake recipe which is in my previous post from this one just to let you know if the link doesn't work ;) (you can modify the recipe but just make sure you have the gelatin in there ;) )
• Hot-Warm water

Directions:

1. Put all ingredients as when making the shake but this time replace water with Hot-Warm water then blend
2. After liquid and dry ingredients are blended then add 6 Big Ice cubes blend untill smooth and creamy
3. If you wait a couple of seconds it forms the gelain block
4. If this does not happen you may need more Ice if it does form the block of gelatin proceed
5. Re-blend to fluff it up and make it into pudding!
6. Take out of blender fast since it may want to re-form again..
7. Enjoy your protein packed gut friendly pudding! ;)

-Susan Hamori, Wholistic Health Coach & Nutritionist
http://gutinstinctnutrition.net/