Healing, Inside and Out
My one-year gluten-free anniversary is this month and it's gotten me thinking about all the changes I've undergone in the past year. I thought I'd write my thoughts here so when I feel like I haven't gotten anywhere I can remind myself of how far I've come.
The changes my body has gone through since living gluten free are huge. My IBS is pretty much gone. The only time I seem to have any issues is when I expose myself to gluten or I'm really stressed out. That's pretty awesome considering it was a daily struggle for me there for a while.
I sleep much, MUCH better now than I ever have. EVER. And I do mean EVER. I still struggle with bouts of insomnia, but even when it's bad it's nothing like it used to be. Not even close.
Many of my acid reflux problems are gone. Just like with the IBS, I only seem to have issues with acid when I'm really stressed out or I come into contact with certain foods or medications. It's no longer a daily battle.
My anxiety is pretty much gone. Just like my other issues, it rears its ugly head when I'm stressed, but other than that, it's gone.
I've lost 6lbs steadily over the past year. I guess that's half a pound a month. I struggled to keep between 116 and 117 for probably two-three years and now I find myself working half as hard and I'm at 110lbs, which is where I was when I graduated high school. I'm not a very fit 110, and in fact my thighs are bigger at 110 then they were at 117 when I returned from Europe, but all things in time. I'll enjoy this mile-stone for a while.
I haven't bee diagnosed with Celiac, but I have a good friend that has and I've read MANY blogs of people who had it, and let me just say that if I don't have it, I have a fierce gluten intolerance. My experience is very similar, and sometimes identical, to those who have Celiac and go gluten-free.
I am no longer on a "gluten-free diet". I am gluten free. This is how I eat. This is how I HAVE to eat and this is just a part of my lifestyle. Lucky for me, my husband is easy going and is all about what's healthy, so he doesn't mind at all the lack of grain in the house. These days he prefers it. Yes, he is my perfect match. I'm also lucky that my friends, and now my family, are so supportive. It's easy to feel like a pain in the ass when you have knock out so many things people eat regularly, but everyone is so understanding; It's been awesome.
Onto another topic: My emotional healing is coming along splendidly. I don't want to get into too much detail, but I will say that my breaking the 20-year-old codependency habits is actually going to be much easier than I anticipated. Having the support of my councilor, husband, friends and extended family has really, really helped and every day I feel a little stronger and freer. I literally feel lighter. I can't help people that can't help themselves, and I can't keep banking on the fact that loving them more than I love myself will make their lives better. I can love them more by loving me, and I'm kinda liking learning how to love me. I can even stand to spend time with myself. It's pretty cool to be my own friend. =)
My friendships now seem stronger than they have ever been. I feel so, so fortunate to be surrounded by people that I love, and that love me. It's been wonderful.
I've grown a lot in this past year. I've spent some time in depths of my soul feeling lost, confused, angry and tied up. I've gone to hell and back with my back and my body trying to figure out what it is I CAN do instead of focusing in what I CANT do. Now, sitting here on my couch, one year after I started making some of these life changing decisions, I know I'm on my way to being a more fulfilled, happier person. I'm already so much happier than I've ever been. I'm ready to get back into school. I'm ready to move on in my career and in my life, but I'm okay. In fact, I'm good. I'm going to "live big and love better," and that my dear ones, THAT is what it is all about.
The changes my body has gone through since living gluten free are huge. My IBS is pretty much gone. The only time I seem to have any issues is when I expose myself to gluten or I'm really stressed out. That's pretty awesome considering it was a daily struggle for me there for a while.
I sleep much, MUCH better now than I ever have. EVER. And I do mean EVER. I still struggle with bouts of insomnia, but even when it's bad it's nothing like it used to be. Not even close.
Many of my acid reflux problems are gone. Just like with the IBS, I only seem to have issues with acid when I'm really stressed out or I come into contact with certain foods or medications. It's no longer a daily battle.
My anxiety is pretty much gone. Just like my other issues, it rears its ugly head when I'm stressed, but other than that, it's gone.
I've lost 6lbs steadily over the past year. I guess that's half a pound a month. I struggled to keep between 116 and 117 for probably two-three years and now I find myself working half as hard and I'm at 110lbs, which is where I was when I graduated high school. I'm not a very fit 110, and in fact my thighs are bigger at 110 then they were at 117 when I returned from Europe, but all things in time. I'll enjoy this mile-stone for a while.
I haven't bee diagnosed with Celiac, but I have a good friend that has and I've read MANY blogs of people who had it, and let me just say that if I don't have it, I have a fierce gluten intolerance. My experience is very similar, and sometimes identical, to those who have Celiac and go gluten-free.
I am no longer on a "gluten-free diet". I am gluten free. This is how I eat. This is how I HAVE to eat and this is just a part of my lifestyle. Lucky for me, my husband is easy going and is all about what's healthy, so he doesn't mind at all the lack of grain in the house. These days he prefers it. Yes, he is my perfect match. I'm also lucky that my friends, and now my family, are so supportive. It's easy to feel like a pain in the ass when you have knock out so many things people eat regularly, but everyone is so understanding; It's been awesome.
Onto another topic: My emotional healing is coming along splendidly. I don't want to get into too much detail, but I will say that my breaking the 20-year-old codependency habits is actually going to be much easier than I anticipated. Having the support of my councilor, husband, friends and extended family has really, really helped and every day I feel a little stronger and freer. I literally feel lighter. I can't help people that can't help themselves, and I can't keep banking on the fact that loving them more than I love myself will make their lives better. I can love them more by loving me, and I'm kinda liking learning how to love me. I can even stand to spend time with myself. It's pretty cool to be my own friend. =)
My friendships now seem stronger than they have ever been. I feel so, so fortunate to be surrounded by people that I love, and that love me. It's been wonderful.
I've grown a lot in this past year. I've spent some time in depths of my soul feeling lost, confused, angry and tied up. I've gone to hell and back with my back and my body trying to figure out what it is I CAN do instead of focusing in what I CANT do. Now, sitting here on my couch, one year after I started making some of these life changing decisions, I know I'm on my way to being a more fulfilled, happier person. I'm already so much happier than I've ever been. I'm ready to get back into school. I'm ready to move on in my career and in my life, but I'm okay. In fact, I'm good. I'm going to "live big and love better," and that my dear ones, THAT is what it is all about.