Garden work, good diet and brain scan to come

 I've been following the Fodmap diet for 5 or 6 days now, quite strictly, and have had no gut or bowel problems or indigestion at all in that time.  'They' say you shouldn't follow it by yourself, only with the guidance of a dietitian.  However, since I was under the dietitian when I initially did it years ago and have 2 up to date books on it, plus an app on my phone from the Monash University, an Australian uni which is the world leading research centre on the diet, I'm confident I can do it on my own.  The books and the app provide everything I need to know, including lists of banned and allowed foods, the 3 phases of the diet (Elimination, Reintroduction and Maintenance) and loads of recipes and meal plans.  Certainly the Elimination phase is strict, but it suits me and I'm finding it relatively easy to stick to.

It's very warm and sunny today, if there wasn't a breeze it would be almost too warm.  I've done an hour of work in the garden, weeding, trimming and deadheading and that's enough for me, I'm now hot and sweaty and my back and shoulder are painful.  There's still more to do in the garden and it's going to be even hotter tomorrow, so we'll have to get out there fairly early before it gets too hot.  Husband can take the heat but I can't.  

I posted the re-done LPA off this morning, I went through it with a fine tooth comb before sealing it in the envelope so am fairly confident it'll be ok this time.  (I hope that's not tempting fate!).

Husband's having southern fried chicken for dinner tonight, I expect he'll want chips with it.  I'm having a veggie burger with new potatoes and salad, which is pretty much normal eating for me anyway.  I've made a treat thing for dessert, it's a recipe direct from the Monash app, it's Peanut Butter Chocolate Crunch Bars.  Basically, it's a base made by mixing peanut butter and maple syrup (in measured amounts) with 5 crumbled plain rice cakes, I also added a dessertspoonful of pumpkin seeds.  Press into a suitable shallow dish or tin, then cover with (again a measured quantity) dark chocolate melted with 3 tsp coconut oil and poured over the top.  Put in the freezer for 30 mins to set, then cut into bars - the recipe said 5, but I've cut it into 8 portions, and quite generous ones at that.  Although it's definitely suitable for the elimination phase of the diet, it's also rather high in carbs and sugar, so as I'm diabetic I'm happier having a smaller portion of it.

Husband has his brain scan next week.  He wants to have fish and chips on the prom for our dinner that day, that's fine by me.  Whether or not I'll have the same remains to be seen.....although fish - and even, somewhat surprisingly, chips are actually ok in the elimination phase, provided the fish is in GF batter (which some chip shops do) and it's a small portion of chips, with no sauces, although malt vinegar is ok.  I could always cook a GF battered fish portion myself at home, I guess, wrap it in foil and take it with me, husband could have the chip shop fish and we'll share a portion of chips.  Sorted!