So I finally bought another copy of the DANDR book since I couldn't find my old battered copy and began reading a chapter randomly...the chapter on Yeast Infections and Candida. Everything in it was ringing true. Mostly for Hunny, but also some of it for me. I had her read it as well and she looked at me and it was like a lightbulb went on over her head. "Of course! No wonder I'm having trouble losing and feel so crappy!"

She's been under incredible amounts of stress, has had several bacterial infections over the past 4 years (been on antibiotics at least 3-4 times each year), had to use a steroid cream for a while recently, has been eating lots of cheese even before we started Atkins, and the list goes on and on. All her symptoms fit, and with the amount and type of food she's eating she should be losing at least 1-2 pounds a week but we're both stalling and she's gained 5 pounds.

Yesterday, through no planning, she had no dairy products and this morning her 5 pound gain had dropped, just like that. We did the spit test and sure enough, she's positive.

So this weekend we're starting something new. We're cutting out dairy (bye bye cream in my coffee), we're cutting out mushrooms, we're cutting out fermented items (bye bye seared tuna steaks with soysauce and wasabi) and we're going to start taking Goldenseal more often, eat a lot more garlic, and add clove and oregano oil to as much as we can. I'm going to see about buying some black walnut husk powder and some pau d' arco from my herb suppliers and see what I can do for a tea for us.

I just hope this helps. I'm not overly worried about myself, but it can't hurt to try to keep my candida production down to normal levels. I'm more hopeful that this will help her get her energy and enthusiam back. Any help is good help, right? I figure we'll give it 2 weeks and see how we feel...if we feel better we'll give it 2 more weeks and do that once every other month for a week or 2.

I'll keep you all posted. Promise