If you are not sick of bloat talk read on...

I work from 8:30am - 5:00pm. I eat lunch around 12, 12:15ish and before working this lifestyle I would get the mid-day bloat beginning at about 3:30/4:00. By 5:00 I was wishing so bad that I could just snap my fingers and my sweatpants would be on because all of a sudden my pants were 2 sizes too small. Since I have been eating differently and staying active I have not had nearly as many problems but I still get the bloating from time to time. Sometimes I think my stomach has been permanently damaged but I don't see myself giving up anytime soon because I am a lot better than I was.

So my new thing: the after lunch walk. A group of ladies and I go for a 15-20 minute walk around the block after lunch. Now I know the excuses "I have too much work to do, I have to make a phone call, I don't have my walking shoes" but this has been a big help for me to cut down on the mid-day bloating.

I have accepted that sometimes my stomach will bloat and sometimes I may not understand why. I am ok with that. My first reaction now is to relax, then figure out what to do to not be in pain and uncomfortable. So yesterday, when I was feeling pain and all pregnanty after work I went for a walk for about 45 minutes. I came home, put the candles on and made dinner. I am reading that cayenne pepper is good for digestion and so I'm trying that out. I put about 2 tsps in a batch of pasta I made last night. Now 2 tsps is not for the faint of heart. My mouth was totally on fire. I followed up with lots of water, an apple and then my nice walk (in perfect 60 degree weather). I have been cooking with cayenne pepper a lot (but not nearly that large of an amount) so if you are not used to spicy foods try out just a sprinkle at first. Sometimes spicy food can irritate the stomach and digestive process (as many of you know) and I think black pepper and chili pepper does it for me so I stay away from that. So far no trouble with the cayenne pepper. Right now I am feeling great! It is only 1:23pm but I have a very good feeling about today.

Namaste everyone! The weather is warm :) At least where I am....

Cinnamon Pancakes

So delicious

Ingredients:
1 c. quinoa flour (or brown rice flour)
1 T baking powder
1 c. rice milk
1 t. Orgran egg replacer powder to 2 tbsp water
1 tbsp cinnamon
3 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt

Mix quinoa flour, baking powder, egg replacer powder, cinnamon and salt in a bowl and mix together and form a well. Slowly add oil, water and milk while mixing. Poor batter on electric skillet, heated to 325F. The size of the pancakes if up to you. Cook one side til golden brown then flip to the other side and cook until golden brown.