Today is Day 1 of my 14-day shift on the oil sands, and it is subsequently Day 1 of an experiment I have decided to try. That experiment involves FODMAPs.
FODMAP stands for a string of long, scientific-sounding words that basically just mean carbohydrates made mainly of sugar. Foods that are high FODMAPs have been shown to have negative effects on people with stomach and digestive problems. In fact, high FODMAP foods are theorized to be the real problem behind gluten intolerance, as gluten-containing foods also happen to be on the high FODMAP list.
It’s been suggested to me before that I should try a low FODMAP diet to see if it helps with my gut problems, but I never did it because it seems so daunting. You really have to pay a lot of attention to what you’re eating because, for instance, some fruits are fine and others are a big no-no. There are comprehensive lists that show what to eat and what to avoid, but in the past just looking at it made my head swim.
But today I’m going to begin a 14-day low FODMAP trial to see how I feel. Many of my digestive problems are seated in anxiety, but that anxiety arose as a result of physical problems, so I’m interested to see if this “diet” might actually help. Plus, my reasoning is that if I can manage to pull off a low FODMAP diet while stuck in a work camp with only the food options they give me, it should be a piece of cake to do it at home (without the piece of cake, of course).
So wish me luck, everyone, and I’ll let you know how it’s going as I move through the next two weeks. đŸ™‚
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Good luck! I’ll be curious to hear the results.
I wrote an update today. It’s not the best so far. lol
Good luck Tracy!!!!!
Thanks so much!
I live and work in a remote mining camp in the north west of Australia. I have managed well on my FODMAP diet since January this year. In fact I find it easier to manage at work as meals tend to be simpler. I do l find that I eat a lot of roast meats with veggies. Good luck with yours.
It’s great that you’ve been able to do well on your diet. I’m not doing TOO bad, but it’s a little difficult at this camp because the food is pretty terrible. I’m having a good day if there’s one meat option in the dining hall that isn’t breaded, and a lot of the veggie dishes are covered in sauces that I can’t confirm the ingredients of because it’s all shipped in. Everything is just labeled with “Possible Allergens” on it.
Anyway, thanks for the good luck! I hope you continue to do well on yours too!