My first guest post is written by my amazing Momma. Last week, in addition to working and getting my sister ready to hop on a plane to Canada, she made the time to write a few words about her experience going gluten-free. Thanks, Mom- love you!
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My journey to get to the bottom of Alison’s stomach issues has led me to now living gluten-free.
Alison had been complaining for a while that she had a lot of stomach pain so we started with a visit to her doctor, which unfortunately got us nowhere. At that point we decided to take matters into our own hands. I was seeing a pattern in Alison’s consistent complaints and related them to food in some way. So I spoke with Kristin about her personal experience, read The G-Free Diet and everything else I could get my hands on. Along with help from Kristin, Alison and I decided to embark on an elimination diet to see if we could detect the culprit. The prime suspect was gluten. We began in early February of this year. I planned a week of gluten free meals and Alison and I headed to the grocery store. We focused on whole foods and read every label we touched, that in itself was eye opening. Two hours later with a cart full of gluten free foods we were ready to begin.
I had decided to go g-free as well, to support Alison and honestly I didn’t want to have to prepare two dinners every night, so why not. We began by keeping a very detailed food journal, which I am still doing today. I was amazed at the results. After only one full gluten free day, I experienced the best night’s sleep I’d had in years. Within five days we both were feeling great. Alison had no more pain, and hadn’t since day one, she also noticed she was sleeping better and we both had a lot more energy. All very positive, not doubt.
So Alison and I have been gluten free since early February and it’s going very well. We’ve had our share of challenges, finding a variety of foods we enjoy wasn’t one of them, but eating out and at friends has been, but we are getting there. Kristin has been a great resource and I’m extremely grateful for all her help. I’ve also begun to enjoy cooking and discovering new delicious recipes, which may surprise my daughters. I plan our meals at the beginning of the week, prep what I can and we are eating a lot less processed food too. Our household is almost completely gluten free. We do allow my husband a few non gluten things he enjoys, but all of our dinners are gluten free and for the most part vegetarian, but that story is for another time. We are all feeling great and that’s what is important.
Note from Kristin: This made me so, so happy to hear. After struggling with stomach problems myself for years, I know how it feels to finally feel good. I’m so glad my sister- and my mom found that. Now a question for all of you: Have you ever made a change that had an unexpected (good) outcome?
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Great story! Makes me want to try to the g-free diet! I recently cut out meat from my diet, not on purpose, and started eating a lot more sources of plant protein. I feel fresh as strange as that my sound, and I don’t even crave meat anymore! It’s more of a special occassion thing for me now.
Such a lovely story, your whole family seems so supportive and loving! I’m not surprised
Mmmm what is that yummy meal pictured at the top?
It’s a vegan biryani from La Dolce Vegan!