Curse thee, protein powder!

I know, I know, I haven’t posted anything for a number of days. It isn’t because I’m slacking off, nope, that’s not it. I was so, so, so sick over the weekend, too sick to sit in front of a computer (I am opposed to taking a laptop into the bathroom with me).

At first I thought I had a cold or flu. Then I realized that other than an extremely upset stomach, I didn’t have any other symptoms that would point to a cold or flu. So, on Sunday night I decided it would be smart for me to analyze some of the changes I’ve been making (specifically with my eating habits). Overall, I’m not eating anything that is out-of-the-ordinary or unusual, all of the foods I am eating now are foods that I have eaten in the past. However, there is one exception: the berry smoothie. Sure, sure, I’ve had smoothies before, but not with all of the ingredients that I’m using now, namely a scoop of flaxseed, and a scoop of protein powder.

After two days and nights of excruciating pain, countless visits to the bathroom, and a belly that was so bloated I thought it might actually explode, I decided that I needed to find out what is in this magical ‘protein powder’. Know what? It’s full of lactose! Know what else? I am only able to handle about a cup of milk in my system at a time, more than that and my lactose intolerance wreaks havoc on my digestive system.

Apparently, I can buy lactose-free protein powder. I didn’t realize there were different types of powders, and will invest in a suitable one on my next payday. In the meantime, I’m going to skip the protein powder in the smoothie and eat some almonds with it instead.

Why almonds with my smoothie, you ask? Well, almonds have a lot of protein in them, and my nutritionist says that protein should be consumed with carbohydrates. Protein aids in slowing the digestive process. This in turn, does two things:  it makes my blood sugar levels rise slower and spike later, and it postpones of the sense of hunger.

You know what else my nutritionist says?! She wants me to eat my breakfast within the first half hour of waking up.
“WHAT?!” says I, “Normally, my breakfast is consumed at least an hour after I wake up—Ivan and I have a routine, and breakfast is the second-last thing I do before leaving the house.”
But, no, that won’t do. “Breakfast should be eaten within the first thirty minutes of getting up,” says my nutritionist.
“Why… really, why?” says I, in disbelief.
“It kick-starts your metabolism in the morning,” says my nutritionist, and upon sensing my opposition to her suggestion, adds, “That is my challenge you, Grace. This week, breakfast within a half hour of getting up.”
“Ugh, oooohhhh-kay,” says I, suddenly feeling like Ivan when I’m trying to get him to clean his room, “I’ll do it.” (My nutritionist smiles at me and I force out a smile in return.)

Although it was a bit of a struggle, I am pleased to report that breakfast was the second thing I did today (after a brief, normal, visit to the bathroom), within 30 minutes of waking up.