What Gluten-Free Is To Me.

My journey toward gluten-free started years ago when I was in high-school. Through most of my life, I remember being sick. Things got worse in high-school when I could barely walk up the stairs, and even fell down the stairs on occasions because I was so weak. I would fall asleep in classes that took place after lunch, not because I was lazy, but because I was sick. Needless to say, it resulted in poor grades. 

I went to several Dr.'s and no one could figure out what was wrong with me. 

Fast forward to when I was 21. I found myself in a constant state of inflammation, I always had hot flashes, weakness, tiredness, stomach upset, and the worlds worst heartburn! I ate Tums like candy. Still Dr.'s dismissed me. Things continued to get worse over the next couple of years. Even worse when I got "healthy", I started eating whole foods, among those was ....whole wheat products.

This is where everything took a turn for the worse.
I could not make it through the day on less than 14 hours of sleep, dizzyness, insomnia ( sounds weird for someone who slept so much), major stomach pain & other issues ( we'll skip the gory details), and a pesky rash that kept spreading up my back...and itched like a mosquito bite....I dealt with this and more every day.

The final breaking point was when I would go to bed at night, and feel like my ribs were breaking underneath me when I laid down. I was too weak to lift a laundry basket of clothes ( even though I worked out 5 days a week!). I kept losing weight (down to 89 lbs.) and was losing hair. Not to mention, every time I ate I thought I was going to hurl. I couldn't finish a meal, but I was constantly famished.

Thanksgiving 2009, I went gluten free. My life has changed dramatically. All the symptoms above...GONE. My body has healed itself & continues to get stronger all the time. I now have energy for my daily tasks and my workouts, 3-5 times a week!

I eat whole foods, but without the wheat, barley, rye, and oats! I have never felt better!

Only thing is, I also have to be dairy free, casein (a protein which is found in milk) reacts in my body the same way as gluten. In addition to that, I cannot touch anything with gluten or casein in it, or use any body products with it. Otherwise I get that pesky rash which takes months to go away...and I dare not use shampoo with these ingredients or my hair will fall out again.

People say they cannot believe what I go through.....to me, it's no big deal. I like my new life without allergens- I am healthy! And there are so many amazing gluten free products to choose from!

Are you gluten free? What's your story? Do you know someone who is gluten free?

♥

Lolli