My GF Journey

I definitely learned how to live the gluten-free life the hard way. And, as a result, I had the desire to develop a blog so that no one else would have to travel the same long, bumpy road to recovery as I did. Most people with celiac disease, or any chronic illness, have a story to tell. My hope is that in reading mine, and the posts that follow, you will be able to begin your journey to a healthier body and a better self without all the aches and pains I endured for far too long.

My first attempt to eliminate gluten from my diet, which was based on an allergy test, was a complete "belly-flop." While I did an excellent job removing all the foods which I was told I could no longer consume because they weren't healthy for me - even though they were actually full of healthy nutrients for those without celiac disease - I was nearly completely clueless as to how to replace them. Trips to the grocery store were so overwhelming that I typically ended up checking out in tears with just a few purchases from the produce section. Living in a state of constant hunger soon led to hypoglycemic reactions and a drastic weight loss. Therefore, I was told to put gluten-containing foods back into my diet. Not a good solution.

It wasn't until I came under care of my wonderful chiropractic neurologist that I was told not only the importance of removing gluten from my diet and the medical reasons why; but also was informed about a variety of foods and grains I could eat. This was great news!! With my physician's assistance, I deepened my knowledge of where gluten is found and how I could most effectively avoid it. And I learned where to shop for gluten-free alternatives to my former favorite foods. I cannot say that the change was easy as it took some time for my taste buds to adjust to the different textures and tastes. And there were countless items that were thrown in the trash with just one bite for they were down-right nasty. But with a little trial-and-error, along with a lot of commitment, it wasn't long before I was preparing nutritious and delicious foods that even my children loved.

While eating foods that are actually fun to eat is a gigantic plus, the best part of living gluten-free is being free from all the aches and pains that overwhelmed me for years. I had forgot what it was like to have a good day and I never knew feeling good could mean feeling so good! Migraines are nearly a thing of the past as are the muscle and joint aches and pains. And my belly is now my friend. These are things I could only pray could someday miraculously disappear. Now I can say I haven't felt this good in my life. And since I've started living gluten-free, I now have the strength and endurance to manage my ever-increasingly busy life as a wife and mom of five.

Come to find out, I am really 1 in 133 people who benefit from going GF as a result of having celiac disease. People suffering froma wide range of diseases - from autism to osteoporosis, from diabetes to fibromyalgia - can often benefit from this change in diet as well. So whatever your motivation for going GF - whether you have celiac or a gluten intolderance or a choronic illness or a brain imbalance - this blog will hopefully serve as an easy-to-follow surivial guide to living without gluten and loving it. I will define gluten and teach you how to spot it in even the most unliely places. I will do my best to instruct you in the art of reading both food and beauty product lables. It's my desire to equip you with all the information you will need to get through life without gluten yet feel free and able to live life to the fullest.