I know I haven't done a food diary specific update in ages. With so many changes to my diet I have honestly found it difficult to have any interest in food. By no means am I eating healthily but I am following the low fodmap diet, So I figured even though it wouldn't do anyone who doesn't suffer from IBS any help but for those on this diet I thought that outlining what I have been eating might help others to recognize triggers and I have some helpful tips as well to get us through this! Being into fitness and eating clean is horrible for anyone suffering from IBS obviously we can keep exercising but whether our hard work will actually show is another story.

I am a creature of habit, meaning I basically eat the same thing everyday, which to some people is bizarre but I actually don't get bored of eating the same thing I am just thankful that I like it and that it suits the fodmap diet. So outlining just one day will probably give a good enough idea of how the rest of my week follows.

Breakfast:

Is always tea and toast #boring
However for other tea lovers out there like myself, it has to be decaffeinated tea! Caffeine doesn't sit well with our tummies. Something I didn't know before visiting the dietitian. I drink an unnecessary amount of tea but I was just relieved I didn't have a coffee addiction I was going to have to try get rid of! It does affect you for a couple of days I suffered from headaches from the change, but once those few days pass you won't even realzse that it is decaf tea!

Lunch:

At the moment is usually a ham toastie, with brown bread and no cheese. With decaf tea and a bag of salt and vinegar taytos. Before this diet I had totally exiled taytos and chocolate from my diet Monday - Friday. Being advised to have taytos and chocolate was honestly stressful I didn't want to fall back into bad habits, but I have to try and remind myself this is to manage my IBS symptoms. I am going to enjoy it as much as I can! Have those taytos without feeling guilty!

Snack:

Decaf tea and malteasers or a crunchie bar. My dietitian advised me to bring the 'fun size' versions of these with me to college to snack on. So that's what I have been doing :)

Dinner:

This meal has been torture, and not for me for my poor mom, I still live at home and she makes me my dinner, she has honestly been so supportive and helpful. My relationship with food has been bad since I was a child I think it is only now that I am realizing how tough it was for her to feed me my mom knows I am trying and shes been helping me by making me plain Jane dinners. Which has mainly consisted of plain chicken and oven chips. #tasty

Takeaways:

No Chinese allowed! Chips from the chipper or Mc Donalds surprisingly are the best takeaways to have if your having one. Something interesting that I learned also from my visit to the dietitian was athletes after a meet or competition would eat Mc Donalds afterwards as it is the most unlikely food to upset their stomach. I didn't think it made much sense but when my symptoms started a couple of months ago, the only actual meal (doesn't include toast) I didn't feel ill after was Mc Donalds.

By eating like this my symptoms have definitely decreased, however so have my energy levels! But I would take eating like this over feeling sick any day!

Tips:

• Drink loads of water.
• Nothing spicy, think Plain Jane!
• Onion and garlic are not your friends! I was a huge Hunky Dory (cheese and onion) lover, but I had to substitute them for salt and vinegar and I'm only allowed the tayto brand. 
• Exercise has definitely helped! I felt nauseous before crossfit today and after the workout I was an entirely new person!
• Stress! Stay away from it. My mom always says pressure is for tyres, don't let stress in it only activates the symptoms. I've a few assignments building up now and I can feel the stress impacting my body already, it is so important to recognize this, your body is telling you to take a break! Listen to it!
• For anyone into protein bars, I used to love the fulfill cookies and creme, haven't been physically able to actually eat one without feeling sick in ages, don't know why but I am going to bring it up with my dietitian in my next appointment just out of curiosity. I found them handy to have in my bag when I craved a chocolate bar- not that that necessarily matters anymore! haha! 
• Oh and don't look up your symptoms online or this diet it will give you details of a diet that is gluten free and all that. My dietitian assured me that I didn't have to follow those guidelines. 

If your reading this and think you may have IBS, go to your doctor they will diagnose you and probably refer you to a dietitian, I didn't even think I had IBS, to be honest I didn't leave it into my mindset because I used to find it embarrassing. I am not quite over it yet but I'll get there. I know it is annoying but in the long run you will feel much better! Also remember everyone is different what I can't eat others might be able to, it is all about finding what works for you and what makes you feel good :)

Hope this shined a light on the diet I am following I will do an update post again after my next trip to the dietitian!