Disneyland and Gluten Free

Just returned from our trip to Disneyland and Legoland and we had so much FUN! It was the perfect time for our little family to go, my kids ages were just perfect! I have to say I was REALLY worried about what the heck I was going to eat while we were there and gone away from home basically. I had pretty much just come to the idea that I was going to live off protein bars and shakes and fruit, which would have been fine, I could have done it, just not very much fun. About a week before we left I started googling "eating gluten free at disneyland" and was surprised at all the posts I found about how easy it was to eat GF at disneyland. I got as excited as a kid on Christmas morning. The first thing I did when we stepped inside the Disneyland gates was head to "City Hall" for a Happy Birthday Button for my son and a 5 page print out of resources for the Celiac at Disneyland. Me, being the frugal person I am, had bought enough "snacks" ahead of time so that we would only have to eat 1 meal in the park each day. So I looked over my options and had to choose what thing I wanted each day. I was just so happy to have some options. The town I live in is not a big town and I only have a few "gluten-free" options at restaurants so anytime somebody offers it and I don't have to talk to the waitress and chef about the specifics of what I can and can't have it is a real treat. Well, the first day I ate some mexican food. Half a chicken breast grilled with rice, beans, pico de gallo and guacamole on the side. It was ok, I was really hungry so anything would have been good. I am not a fan of chicken with skin on it so I had to remove all the skin and de-grease it, ha ha. I was just grateful to be able to eat something though without worrying how I was going to feel in an hour and the next few days. The second day there we were at California Adventure and I opted for a Hamburger with a GF bun and french fries. I don't remember the last time I had a hamburger ON a bun and french fries. I don't typically eat this way but I figured what the heck we are on vacation right?  It was OK, the bun was um, well just ok. I should have just taken the patty out and eaten it but I thought "I can eat this bun so dang it I am going too" pretty lame I know. Anyways, lastly, I ate a GF pizza. I walked into the Pizza Place and my list said I also could have had a couple of salads, and I thought I should since my veggies had been very few the whole trip, but I opted for pizza since I have not had a piece of pizza in over 6 months. It was actually pretty good, not the soft warm squishy crust I remember pizza to have but still good in its own way. So now, I can say I have had GF pizza and GF bun. I don't know that I will need them again for a LONG time but it was fun and glad I did it. I was so proud of myself and pleased that I was able to stay GF all weekend away from home UNTIL we were sitting in the airport Sunday morning waiting for our plane (we were pretty early) and I was cold and there was a Starbucks and I, against my better judgment, got a Spiced Caramel Apple Cider drink and oh boy was that a mistake. I payed for it the rest of the day and am still having lingering affects and its Thursday. Quite the bummer to end my great weekend that way but now I know to NEVER get one of those again. Live and Learn, right?

The Journey....

This is something I pasted on my family website for my aunts who have just started their gluten free life.

If there is one thing I have learned in this process is that it is exactly that, a PROCESS. It takes time and work and energy and thought and we do that all in faith that we feel better. I have been off gluten since June and there are so many subtleties that are better but it is such a gradual process that if you don't take notes of how you feel before, during and after that the changes are sometimes hard to see. It can be a very FRUSTRATING process as you are doing better, feeling better and eat something or do something that sets you back (sometimes even "gluten free" foods) and you feel like you are back to square one, when in reality it is just a speed bump and once you are over it you are back on the "road" again. I hear ya on being ready to feel good again Tammy, those that feel good and are in good health I think sometimes take it for granted and don't realize the blessing they have, but once you start having good days or even good moments it is so important to recognize them and express thanks and gratitude for each moment. Love you all, it is hard and a journey, not gonne lie, but if a'gluten' is something that is at the base of the problem then you will feel better. Sometimes I wish I had celiac and not just gluten intolerance cuz the people I know with celiac go off gluten and within weeks feel so much better. Maybe that is not the case, just has been with those that I know. Where as with me gluten has been reaking havoc all over my body in combination with nutrient deficiancies (most likely due to gluten) and causing all sorts of problems that don't go away so quickly such as reactive hypoglycemia, thryoid issues, severely low cholesterol and autoimmune disease. I have a long journey ahead of healing my body but am so looking forward to the day that I am whole again, I believe it can happen, I have the faith now I just have to put forth the work. Love you all.

First Time Eating out.....

Since I have started an elimination diet almost 4 wks. ago. Let me back up a little bit. I, instructed step by step by my doctor, started an elimination diet about 4 weeks back to eliminate ALMOST everything from my diet and slowly add things back in one at a time in order to see if and what else I am eating that I may be intolerant to or that just doesn't do well with my body. It started with eating only Turkey, Carrotts and Squash for 3 days straight. Yes, breakfast, lunch dinner and snacks! That was fun, let me tell you. Then I added in beef and sugar snap peas for the next 3 days, then Chicken and spinach, then my plant protein powder (thanks heavens for that). Slowly we have added things in one by one. I am still quite restricted and we haven't added in much of anything lately becasue of some bowel issues that need to get under control first. So I pretty much live on Chicken, Turkey, Fish, avacado, spinach, carrotts, squash and occasionally some beef. Oh and I have loved getting to add in almond milk with my protein shake and almond butter. I love that stuff! Well, now to present day. My hubby and I were headed out for a much needed date night and I was so incredibly sick of cooking for myself I was Okayed to eat out somewhere that offered a GF Menu and was able to order a grilled chicken breast (seasonings minimal) and steamed veggies and picked out the squash and carrrotts.  I chose to go to Uno"s Chicago Grill because they have a pretty good Gluten Free Menu and I had a coupon and it was close the movie theater. I was VERY impressed, as I have been in the past. They are very careful with your order and when your food is ready the Manager brings it out to you special with gloves on and the whole nine yards. I loved it and the Food was REALLY REALLY good. I ordered the Herb-Rubbed Chicken and a double side of steamed veggies. The Chicken was moist and tender and the veggies steamed to perfection, not to crunchy or mushy. Another bonus was no-one looked at me like I was an alien when I asked for their Gluten Free Menu and everyone treated me very nicely. Thank you Uno's for being so cautious with this widespread issue of Gluten Intolerance/Allergy and being very considerate! So there it is my 1st review of many to come!

Gluten Intolerant??? Now what

Well about 3 months ago I found out that I am SEVERLY intolerant to Gluten. After YEARS of not feeling well, I finally found a Dr. who would and could help. He will be known on this webpage as Dr. H. Long story short, I have suffered for many years with many problems and no-one seemed to know the what, why and how to help me. I have had blood tests, MRI's, Catscans, steroid injections, infertility, chronic headaches, chronic fatigue, and it goes on and on. I will not go into detail as to what I am "diagnosed" with and what that means but this page is meant more for my journaling of my journey back to health. I am on the long and winding road to regain my health (if I have ever really had it :)). I decided that I need to keep record of my journey to reflect on as time goes by, to remember the good and the blessings I recieve along the way. I am blessed with a loving supportive husband to help me along this journey and 3 beautiful children to remind me what is important in life. Anyone that is living Gluten Free or knows anyone that is knows that it is NOT easy but it is do-able. This blog hopefully will be able to capture both the hard and rewarding times as I walk the tightrope of living Gluten Free and the health benefits it will have on me and my family. Living without Gluten is not the only answer to getting me healthy but it is a huge part and I also know it is a wide-spread topic of concern for those diagnosed with Celiac Disease and other types of Gluten Sensitivity. So, that being said this blog will be my outlet for the struggles and joys I find along the way along with recipes, ideas and thoughts.