Danish lady is looking for friends - low- fodmap

maisid

Hi there,

this is my second attempt to use MFP on a daily basis. I started last year but "gave" up after traveling abroad for a while and also not noticing any change - I honestly got tired of putting so much effort into this and not seeing a change.

This time around is a little different, I have been eating based on the low-fodmap diet due to problems with my stomach and IBS and although I only started on Monday (today is Sunday) I have lost 4 Kg and I am feeling much better. The symptoms have drastically been reduced and it makes me want to continue on this path.

Although I am very thankful and happy for this low-fodmap diet, I am still in the phase of being overwhelmed with what I am allowed to eat, or actually, what I am not allowed to eat, the list is long!!!!

I am looking for friends who are living a low fodmap life, as well as people who will help me stay on the right track, and of course, I will do the same in return.

Hej hej

Mai-Britt

maisid

Still looking, and only for being doing low-fodmap

izzie_1983

Hi there!

Nice to know that I'm not the only one doing low FODMAP because of my IBS. Been following it for 2 weeks and already down by 5lbs (more or less 2.28 kg). Same for my symptoms! The change's been wonderful. I already feel a lot better. I'm a bit overwhelmed too, I know what you mean.. Please feel free to add me and we can beat this thing together!

Izzie

amakeeley

It seems like a long time since I've been here but I am doing low-fodmap as well. Kind of fell off the wagon for a while and symptoms are back so starting from square one again, well, almost. I know what my foods are for the most part. I'm so glad that I'm doing this diet now instead of like 10 or even 5 years ago. Can you imagine doing this without all the lactose and gluten sensitive products? Before I started this diet I was in the middle of learning to live from scratch. I started on low fodmap back in November and pretty much just used what was out there. Now I'm getting back to cooking from scratch. This will take a lot more trial and error than before though.
My biggies are Garlic and Onion. It's almost a guarantee I will have issues after eating those two things...in any amounts. That is what I find the hardest too. We used to use that in almost everything.
Anyway, nice to find others who are doing the same thing.
Angi

datdarndiva

Hi my name is Danyetta! Started my weight loss journey 3 months, so far, I've lost 20lbs. I joined mfp in April I think. I'm 341, my goal is 200lbs by next February. I'm also looking for friends who are motivational and encouraging!

maisid

I am so glad I am not the only one here doing this low fodmap thing.

I am now in week 3 but I feel great! I bought a danish book that explains the low fodmap diet and has a bunch of recipes. Although I eat only low fodmap I sometimes get those acid burns as well as light belly aches.
I got really sick after eating a low fodmap desert that had lactosefree cream, eggs, gelatine, sugar and lemon in it. I wrote it down and will try those ingredients individually to see if I cannot tolerate one of them.

I now cook meals every day and I bake my own bread, although Denmark is such a modern country, it lacks the food choices the US, England or Germany has. It is almost impossible finding gluten free or lactose free products!!!!! We do have a handful of lactose free products, but those contain wheat, so it is not possible to eat those) So everything I make / cook is from scratch, no premade anything anymore.
Life all of a sudden got very complicated and eating got very time consuming. Lol

izzie_1983

I know what you mean! Been on it for the last three weeks as well and believe me, it's not always easy. My triggers, so far, are anything containing wheat as well as garlic, onions, apples, pears, prunes, peaches, and all those cruciferous veggies. I'm fine with red peppers but can't stand green ones. I'm still in the "trial" mode and sometimes, I do cheat but since I end up paying for it, I'll try from now on to stay clear.

In Canada, you can find them but the price is pretty steep. I tried making my own bread and the flour is so overpriced and I'm an awful bread cooker that in the end, I ended up buying the GF version. Cost 4$ less and tasted a lot better.

I've suscribed to Strands of Life, if you want to check it out. Every now and then, the lady that keeps this blog posts new recipes and tips. She even put together a Low FODMAP book. She's in Australia or New Zealand I believe.

maisid

Thank you for the great tip, I have now subscribed the page and am hoping I get inspired when it comes to dinner recipes. My daughter is a little annoyed by "our" new diet.

Yesterday I went to the supermarket and saw they had spelt flour for only 2 €uros (for one kg), which is such a good price compared to the 4-5 € they normally charge for a kg. So i bought 4 kg and have now flour to bake bread as well as cakes. yaaayyyy

I also got some glutenfree pasta for only 2 € (normally it is up to 5 € for 500 g), but when I came home I realized it had chickpeaflour in it, so I won't be able to eat the pasta after all!

I was actually thinking about doing a blog on my own, with recipes on either danish or german (or both), since I haven't found anything online that is actually helpful, a lot of recipes claim they are low fodmap, but they are actually not. Also, it is sometimes hard for me to cook by recipes from other countries, since they have such different foods that we have. And many countries have much more food that is gluenfree, lactose free and designed for people like us. Therefore it is sometimes impossible to use those recipes and I always have to change them to make them fit our foods.

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Why is this picture not showing??? :grumble:

GreatDepression

Jeg elsker Danmark!

izzie_1983

Today, this FODMAP thing really irritates me. I know it's bound to happen somehow, but I'm torn between knowing that indulging in high FODAMPs will lead to pain and regrets and being able to eat everything I used to love, live a big pizza or even a quesadilla with guacamole and sour cream... My colleagues will be leaving in a few minutes to a place we used to go every now and then and that has absolutely fantastic pizzas and pastas. And I know I can't go. Cause if I go, I won't be able to resist and I'll regret it for the rest of the day...

I know this post has absolutely no purpose but it sure felt good writing it!

Thanks for reading

maisid

I totally understand you, I was invited to a BBQ last weekend and I felt so stupid telling people why I wasn't eating anything. There just wasn't anything I was able to eat. I do not know my trigger foods yet, so I am staying away from all fodmaps. I tried to explain to people why I coudn't eat anything and I was told I should start looking for a different doctor, and it was probably all in my head!!!!

I felt a little like this allergy - weirdo ( you know those weird people everybody has a least one in their familiy of circle of friends? That one person who takes "allergies" to the next level? I know one person like that, and I realized I am becoming like her, heeelllpppppp).

Also, I bought a book with danish fodmap recipes, I just looked at the recipes and loved it, so does my daugher. A lot of yummy foods, from pizza to cookies and salsa dips. I am glad summer is on its way, time for me to do some relaxing and trying out those recipes.


P.s. write me a pm if you feel upset again, you know where to find me

APU1972

Hi,

Can i ask what FODMAP is?

I dont mean to sound dumb?

Andy

Yagisama

Hi,

Can i ask what FODMAP is?

I dont mean to sound dumb?

Andy

http://stanfordhospital.org/digestivehealth/nutrition/DH-Low-FODMAP-Diet-Handout.pdf

The Low FODMAP Diet

maisid

That is not a dumb question! I didn't know what it was until my doctor told me to try it out, since they couldn't find anything physically wrong with me. That was a few weeks ago!!!

If you have any questions feel free to ask

lexidear

I've got IBS and am mostly low FODMAP (except for a few sneaky things here and there) feel free to add me anyone

allychew2

Hi! I posted this, more or less, on another forum thread, but perhaps not the right one. Forgive if you're read this already...and feel free to add me as a friend; we can look at each other's food diaries and get new low-FODMAP ideas!

***

Recently I've been having lots of trouble with IBS symptoms... mostly "the morning rush" and then resorting to immodium which would tie me up for a couple of days and then it would start again. I'm sure part of it is stress, but food always plays a part. Anyway, I poked around the internet and discovered the low-FODMAP diet. I did lots of research, and thought I'd give it a try because you can have a balanced diet on it. I've been on it two weeks now, and except for some bloating after eating something thoughtlessly (sour cream and onion potato chips! Who knew that they have real onion?) I haven't taken any stomach meds. At the same time however, I decided to eliminate my daily Advil routine for knee pain which I'm sure was mucking up my stomach too. So the low-FODMAPS could be helping, or it could be the lack of Advil, or it (probably) is a combination of both.

I can give what little advice I have after only two weeks. One is that low-FODMAP doesn't mean NO FODMAP and you're working on finding what triggers you. If there is a "trace" of wheat, I'm not going to go crazy, but if it bothers me, then I'll know to avoid. Also, I'm from a Asian background, so when I looked over the low- & high-FODMAP lists, what jumped out at me is that as long as I can avoid the onions and garlic (and high fat foods), that Asian cooking is ideal, and I've gone to Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese/Thai/Cambodian restaurants with no problem. Wheat, dairy & beans are not common ingredients in the Asian diet. When I'm running around the mall shopping, and I need a lunch, instead of getting a hamburger or burrito and a soda I'll get a tray of sushi and a green tea. Rice noodles instead of wheat noodles. Bok choi instead of green cabbage. I don't want to buy all that expensive gluten-free stuff, so I use corn tortillas, rice cakes, and rice for my carbs.

At any rate, good luck. I'm hoping my luck continues, and I can keep on avoiding unnecessary meds!

maisid

Seems like you have made some great choices in regards to cutting out fodmaps and you are giving me great ideas on how to avoid fodmaps when grocery shopping, but again I realize that it is much easier living outside of Denmark when dealing with a low fodmap diet.

I now have to pack my own snacks if I am going to town for a longer period of time or when I am going to my university.
Unless I want to eat plain iceberg salad with a few tomatoes and cucumbers, it is not possible to find food that is free of fodmaps.

Even the glutenfree products contain fodmaps, i spent 30 minutes the other day going through all glutenfree products at the supermarket (it had about 20 products, that's all they offer here) and non of them were low fodmap friendly.

Most lactosefree products also contain fodmaps, so using both glutenfree and lactosefree products is very tricky. I have so far only found 3 products that are lactosefree and without any further fodmaps, milk, cream and a certain kind of yoghurt.


But enough of me being upset about living here and having to buy the same 10 products every time I go grocery shopping, what I am really interested in knowing is HOW DO YOU GIVE YOUR FOOD FLAVOR? I feel that ever since I cannot use bouillon anymore my food tastes so unappealing, just so... meh!
I try putting the allowed spices in there, but nothing seems to satisfy my taste-buds.Please come with suggestions, I would really appreciate it.

allychew2

Well, I find things like ginger, soy sauce, cooking wine (or any sake or wine thrown in) are good. You can use the tops (green parts) of spring/green onions and dried chives are okay too. Peppers of all stripes seem to be okay as well, and I get a lot of mileage and flavor out of chopped red & green peppers, and dried pepper seasoning.

While it's probably personal to me only, I seem to have little problems with a bit of non-salt seasoning mixes (dried), curry powder, or jarred curry/thai sauces. I have to cook for my entire family, so like I said, if there are traces of FODMAPS in something, I don't go crazy. I am low-FODMAP not no-FODMAP, since sometimes it's impossible to avoid. I also suspect that my IBS problem is not as bad as many others I have read about lately.

For lunch I often have a tuna salad made from canned tuna, mayonnaise (I like horseradish mayonnaise), chopped cucumbers & pickles, served with rice cakes or rice crackers, or wrapped in a corn tortilla. My currently favorite dinner is based on bibimbap, a Korean dish which is great for leftovers. I cook up some ground meat with ginger & soy sauce, and steam some bean sprouts. Chop up some lettuce and dice some cucumbers. Then I put in a bowl some cooked rice, some of the meat, sprouts, lettuce, cucumbers, sprinkle some soy sauce all over, and then put on top some Korean (if you can get it) hot sauce. Stir & enjoy. It's like having your salad and your main dish all at once, and there is no lacking in flavor.

chareisma1

hi may i ask wats FODMAP?? im new to this site

mercurysfire

so frustrated and yet hopeful that low fodmap is the answer we're looking for. my husband has been suffering with digestive problems for years now and no one seems to have an answer. i accidentally stumbled upon fodmaps the other day and so many things fit. we tried gluten free for a year and half with mixed results, lactose doesn't really seem to bother him, but sweetened yogurt and avocados totally lay him out. apples and black beans make him nauseated but pinto beans and hummus are fine. avocados are a definite no, pears i don't know about, and he was heartbroken about watermelon although i'm not sure if that's on the no list either. i just don't even know what to feed him anymore. he's diabetic to boot so he already sees food as an enemy.

can anyone give me a little guidance on what to start with? i'm just so frustrated and at a loss.

kaseynorris1

I started on a low-fodmap diet a year ago for severe IBS. I learned my triggers and what to avoid/how to match foods. After the 6-8 week elimination, I started adding back in. It's been a huge learning experience. Not always easy. Reading labels became 2nd nature, after the initial freak out phase at the store. There is a fantastic explanation and food list if you do a search for Stanford and Low FODMAP diet. Brings up a PDF. My doctor was able to provide me a copy. I think the list of "triggers" is very personal and varies on a case by case basis. I can always tell when I'm overdoing it, as I get "the bloat" and the cramping. I found that I am gluten INTOLERANT - not ALLERGIC!!! There is a huge difference. Someone with celiac disease would need a gluten free diet. Everyone else, not so much. I watch how much I have just because it makes me swell and become very crampy. I would suggest talking to a nutritionist and gastroenterologist to be on the safe side.