Are you Struggling with Going Gluten Free? (It’s Time to Thrive)

Are you facing the challenge of going on a gluten free diet? If you have your reasons, and you do, for going gluten free, it’s not as hard as you think it is.Yes, there are pitfalls and struggles along the way…and you can do it…even if you might be feeling panicked right now.

Pitfalls of a gluten free diet

• Family who don’t believe that it is necessary (they say, try this, a little won’t hurt you). Actually, it will, so don’t do it.
• Cross contamination when you are the only one gluten free in your home
• Cross contamination when you go out to eat
• Finding a variety of foods that seem “normal” to you
• The added expense of gluten free prepared foods, if you need to buy them ready prepared instead of making them yourself

Step # 1  You are Important

Realizing that you are important and that you need to take care of your own health is key to successfully going gluten free. When you know, deep down inside, that you are worth it, you will take whatever steps are necessary to take care of yourself.

Step #2  Educate Yourself about the Gluten Free Diet

Be vigilant with reading everything you can get your hands on about gluten intolerance and celiac disease. Scour the internet for resources (yes, there are a lot of them, find them, bookmark them, read them). There are tons of books out there, in paperback, hardcover, and ebook format that provide so much valuable information.  It’s your body, know how a gluten free diet can benefit you and what you should be eating or not eating.

Step #3 It’s Time to Make Gluten Free part of your Budget

Budget your food money wisely. There will be times when you will want to just buy cookies or bread instead of making them, especially in the beginning when you are learning about the ins and outs of baking gluten free. Allow for the added expense and be realistic. If you need to have a food storage container in your pantry that is for you only, do it! Put a sign on it. “Keep out! This is for (your name)”. Hey, do what you have to do!

Step #4  Is that Food Really Gluten Free?

If in doubt, don’t eat it. When we first started on the gluten free diet, one of my girls was regularly eating couscous because the server told her it was gluten free. If you don’t know that a certain ingredient or food staple is gluten free, err on the side of caution. Don’t eat it! Check it out, you can always go back and get it another time! If you are at someone else’s house for dinner, remember step 1, you are important! Be kind and say no, anyway.

Step #5  Time Heals all Wounds

Give yourself time. Symptoms can get worse for some people in the beginning of following a gluten free diet.There can be a detox process that happens and yes, you can feel worse. Not all people, just some people. I was one of the lucky ones who had detox symptoms and it lasted for a while. I felt like I had the flu all of the time, muscle aches, etc.

Most people feel better within two weeks and love the feelings of clarity in thinking and lack of intestinal issues. The gut takes a long time to really heal…the number that I have heard and seen is up to two years, after going completely gluten free.

Going gluten free can have pitfalls and if you are prepared and are willing to set boundaries, you will succeed, really. It gets easier with time and with the implementation of new habits and new strategies…just like that.

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Sherie

Sherie writes about relationships, relationship anxiety and eating gluten free. She has been gluten free for more than 10 years. Connect with Sherie on Google+

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