This month went by in the blink of an eye.

I'm glad I decided to commit to a Gluten Free diet in the month of September and not the month of October. September is a transition month where we say goodbye to summer and hello to fall. October brings with it apple picking, pumpkin picking, pumpkin spice everything, Halloween candy, and...dare I say it...apple cider donuts. I think I would have struggled a little more if I made the commitment in October (forget November and December). This goes along with what I was saying in Week 2, plan ahead and be methodical about when you decide to test a diet. Only do it when it is right for you and when you feel you will have the most success.

Here is my overall review of going Gluten Free. If you have a positive support system and are prepped with GF snacks and meals, this lifestyle is not so difficult. Let me clarify...if you are prepped, have great support, are mentally "all in", AND do not live with Celiac Disease- where contamination would be an obstacle- then this lifestyle is not so difficult. I must state that this was MY experience and these are MY thoughts- everyone is different of course. The 2 biggest changes I noticed in my body (almost immediately) was less bloating and smoother skin.

The true test will be when I put Gluten back into my diet. I'm a little nervous to start eating gluten again since I've gone 4 weeks without it. Will my body recognize it? How will I feel?

#lookmomnogluten

Meg

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Woohoo, another week down!

If I had a dollar for every strange look I get when I tell people eating gluten free is not as difficult as I thought it was going to be...I'd be rich! I spent a lot of time this week wondering why this was so "easy" for me. I made excuses like "my diet is already mostly GF", "grocery stores carry a variety of GF products today", "I'm prepared with snacks at all times", etc. I came to the realization this experiment would be a lot more difficult if I had an actual allergy to gluten- known as celiac disease. I know how lucky I am to not have to worry about food contamination and getting sick if I eat gluten accidentally.  I imagine my stress level would be much greater if my immediate gut health depended on it. If I (or someone else) makes a mistake, I won't be paying for it for the rest of the day. To my knowledge, nothing I've eaten has been contaminated and I've been feeling great!

Another reason why I believe this diet has been "easy" for me is because I started it when I was ready to. I was motivated, determined, and prepared from the start. In my opinion, this is why a lot of New Year's resolutions fail (one of the reasons). People are make a lifestyle change based off of a holiday and not when they themselves are totally ready to make a change.
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For this reason, I choose to health coach people who are already committed and open to making positive changes. I can't want this for you, you have to want it for yourself (and your family). 

"Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself." - Jalaluddin Rumi

#bethechangeyouwishtoseeintheworld
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Meg


Any failed New Year's Resolutions? Why did they fail? Leave them in the comments below.

Since committing to a Gluten Free diet during the month of September, I've continued to notice the positive changes in my skin and inflammation (less bloating). I've been keeping up with the recommendations given in Week 1 which continues to help me stay focused. I did, however, forget to mention 1 major factor in helping me stay on track and it played a noticeable role in week 2- my support system. 

A few weeks before the start of September I had my mind made up that this is what I was going to do. This left me plenty of time to plan ahead and get my mind in the game. During this time, I also made my friends, family, and co-workers aware of what I had planned to do. I mentioned it in casual conversation, not expecting anything from them. Wouldn't you know that week 2 brought some heavy temptation...get togethers with friends and family and a staff meeting (need I say more?). At each of these gatherings, everyone made accommodations for me without hesitation and without me asking. I never felt deprived of yummy food thanks to my support system. More importantly, no one ever made me feel like I was a burden or rolled their eyes thinking they were also going to have to jump on the band-wagon with me. It was fun sharing my GF treats with everyone and seeing their reaction to the "surprisingly good taste".
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I realize how fortunate I am to have this wonderful support system and I'm writing this not to brag, but to emphasize how important it is to let your surrounding social circle know about dietary changes such as this one. Their support gave me the confidence and the extra push to follow through with my goal. Also, you never know who is cheering you on :)

#goteamgf

​Meg