Happy Memorial Day! And Happy Power Monday! I hope you have some fun in the sun planned for today 🙂 Get out there and enjoy yourself with your loved ones and the glorious welcoming of summer. Remember to pause and reflect on those who have served us to make this country great, safe, and strong! Today also marks the end of the 2014 Gluten-Free Challenge. I have really loved devoting these past few weeks to all things gluten-free and celiac. I hope you learned something and have a new appreciation for this disease and why being gluten-free is no joke for some people. And even though the challenge is over for you, the challenge is never over for those of us with Celiac. We must live everyday with vigilant eyes and compassion for out bodies. We must continue to explain, educate, and raise awareness for out disease which has no cure but to remain on a strict gluten-free diet for life.
However, that does not mean I hate having to be gluten-free or wish that I could eat anything with out a care as to what it contains, where it came from, how it was prepared, or if someone served it with flour on the hands. (Well it might be nice to not have to worry about that!) But I don't pity my disease.
I've said it before, and I will say it again, I am grateful for my Celiac Disease. Why? Well take this scenario that was a reality for me 5 years ago. I had my friend over at my house and we picked up pizza to eat for lunch. After eating my two slices I was okay...for a few minutes. We started watching a movie and just hang out. About 20 minutes later I thought I was going to die. Imagine a 13-year-old girl, with her friend next to her, suddenly over come with the worst stomach and intestinal pain and cramps ever. Should I run to the bathroom or try to sit there and act like nothing is wrong. Well the later option was not an option. I had to do the "O, I'll be right back" scenario and quickly book-it to the bathroom. But this didn't just end there. My friend wasn't due to leave for a few more hours, what the hell was I supposed to do. I had to find my mom and tell her I needed an out. So we made up a lie saying we needed to be somewhere in an hour and her mom would have to pick her up soon. In the meantime, I had to keep running to the bathroom ("I had just drank too much water"). Well after that horror was over and she left, my body was so done, so exhausted, and so sore and in pain. I remember just remember heading just up to my bad and sleeping for the rest of the day and night.
Celiac does not just affect the body, it affects your life too. That was the summer I realized I had a huge problem and I was only able to stomach Rice Chex and crunchy iceberg lettuce. I also starting being able to make connections back to other similar episodes throughout my life where I would be overcome with the worst stomach "hell", but not knowing why.
I am grateful for Celiac Disease because I no longer eat something and 20 minutes later be stuck in the bathroom the rest of the day, doubled over in cramps and pain. I no longer become so exhausted that my body just shuts down and needs to sleep off its own attack. I know now what I can eat and what serves my body well. What will keep it healthy and pain-free. I don't have to worry about being in the car coming home from a dinner at my grandparents on Easter, quietly keeping to myself but inside feeling like my intestines were being ripped out. I don't have to tell my dad to take the next exit so I can run into a store and find a bathroom.
I know what my body can handle. I know what my allergies/intolerences are. I know how to keep safe, thus I am able to live. And I am able to learn. Again, I have said this many times, but the about of information I have learned about food and cooking since my diagnosis is amazing. Quinoa, millet, kasha were something foreign to me, but now is just an everyday staple. I am so surprised when someone has never had it or has no idea what it is. Gluten-free pancakes? I didn't even know how to make normal pancakes. But look at me now, making pancakes every weekend, completely gluten-free...and vegan to boot!
Bring gluten-free has made me a health-conscious eater as well. It has introduced me to veganism and has allowed me to discover my other allergy to soy. Who needs "real" pizza (mind you, my stomach still does flip-flops when I go in to a pizzeria or see someone eating a slice), when you can make glorious gluten-free tortilla pizza's with real whole food ingredients. A health-pie if you will.
Having Celiac has brought on major cooking experimentation and fun times int he kitchen. my first homemade gluten-free dish was Thanksgiving stuffing. I went gluten-free November right before the holiday season. But did I let that stop me from enjoying life? Hell no! I have never let it stop me. I have embraced it and have made it an integral part of who I am. But I don't let it define or limit me negatively. I wear my gluten-free hot loud and proud. I don't let my disease rule me, I rule this disease and make it an inspiration, an ability, a way to honor, life, and enjoy my life.
So Celiac Disease, I am grateful for you. I am grateful for what you taught me and what you have allowed me to do. You have made me a Gluten-Free Warrior!
And now for the link-up! I want to read your week-long gluten-free experience, your thoughts, struggles, recipes, ideas, everything! Use the link up here, leave comments, or email me your story! I will feature these next week and also announce the random winner of the gluten-free goodie box I will put together! Until then, continue to raise Celiac awareness for the month of May and love and support those who have it! Be a Gluten-Free Warrior! (Click the Inlinkz button below to link-up!)
So tell me:
+ If you have Celiac Disease or some other food allergy, are you grateful? Why? What have you learned?
+ When you are faced with adversity, do you embrace it or do you let it embrace you?
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fruitaliniyogi
I can totally relate to this...I don't know if I have Celiac's but I have many food sensitivities and gluten is definitely one. I am so happy and grateful for the way I live my life and the way I eat that it most definitely doesn't bother me. Someone recently told me that it sucked that I couldn't eat "normal"...I told him I totally disagree...it doesn't suck at all. It rocks. It might take some getting used to at first, but you barely remember that adjustment period after a year or less!
Strength and Sunshine
That is exactly how I feel! Whenever someone says, 😮 that sucks" I always come back with no, no it doesn't. Your diet must suck because you are stuck in your old conventional boring food patterns. Having allergies and celiac forces you to get innovative and try new things all the time!
Miss Angie
It's awesome that you're so positive!
Strength and Sunshine
Well thank you friend! 🙂
Probably Rachel
I've been nodding along with you on some of your thoughts about celiac. I have type 1 diabetes and it's almost freeing to know what my body can handle and motivating to eat healthier.
Strength and Sunshine
Yes! Embrace what life has given you and learn to make it into something positive. We don't have to let our illnesses take over, we can learn and be motivated by them 🙂
paulinasmiles16
I do not have to eaten gluten free, but I started by choice this past month and I have noticed so many different things taste so much better. So I would be happy too if I could only eat gluten free all the time.
Strength and Sunshine
Well I am glad you are trying out new foods! Just because it IS gluten-free doesn't mean you shouldn't try it!
paulinasmiles16
That is what I have said to my family! They have nervous to try a lot. So I have just been making two a week that are gluten free
Megan
I am always thankful that I do not need to be gluten free because it would mean I would need to give up so many of the things I love. This post makes me realize that I would still be able to live my life still if I were to be diagnosed with it. I’m lactose intolerant, but I just allow myself to suffer through the discomfort since I don’t want to give up the things I love. You may have inspired me to try out a dairy free diet for a week or so to see how different I feel.
Strength and Sunshine
There are many substations and you really never give up what you love. If you lactose intolerant have you tried taking Lactaid?
Nichole Josey
I have loved reading all of your posts on this. Your passion for sharing it with everyone is inspiring. Also, your outlook on it is incredible. Thank you for taking the time to help us all understand better!
Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Nicole! I am so glad you loved reading them 🙂 I really enjoyed writing all of these posts!
kristenk
Great post! That's such a good way to look at it - without that diagnosis you'd probably still be worried about "random" stomach pain all the time. It looks like you've come a long way so props to that!
Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Kristen. Going those last finally months before going glutenfree, we horrible so it was a miricle to finally feel like myself again after we figured out the problem!
Julie
Those pancakes look to die for!
Strength and Sunshine
They are my Ultimate Banana Pancakes form the blog last week! http://strengthandsunshine.wordpress.com/2014/05/14/the-ultimate-banana-pancakes/
Hailey
This was such a great post! I'm so glad you're able to embrace having celiac disease rather than dwell on how much it sucks. I think overcoming different circumstances and obstacles shows a lot about a person. I try to embrace being faced with adversity most of the time. I think everyone has their moments, but it's how we deal with those moments.
Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Hailey! It does tell you a lot about someone by how they handle their situation. If they let it overcome them, or if they overcome their situation!
Katie Surly
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I've been researching this a lot lately. Have you tried Arbonne the Arbonne nutrition line? We are certified gluten-free company (and vegan)... all our skin care products, nutrition, cosmetics, etc! It's worth a try! This is my first time participating in not a mom blogger fbook group.. I'm looking forward to following along!
Strength and Sunshine
Welcome to the blog Katie! I have heard of Arbonne and have actually talked to a rep, but had a really bad experience with her so I never ended up being able to try the products they promised they would send!
nourishbymelissa
I love how you see your celiac as a blessing! Way to turn a negative into a positive 🙂 🙂
Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Melissa! I truly believe it is and can be for anyone. Why would we want to live in pain and poor health when we can embrace our disease and live happy and free!
Tina Muir
Awww love this Rebecca! I am grateful for all the challenges I have come across in my life. I see it more from a running point of view....all my injuries, as much as they sucked during, I was glad they happened as it makes you grateful. I think this is a wonderful post, and we should celebrate you 🙂
Strength and Sunshine
Thank you! That is the most important thing. To learn and grow from the challenges that face us and learn to appreciate what they truly tell us about ourselves and what we can handle 🙂
cottercrunch
yes, i am so grateful! i have been through a lot but learned so much about my personal health and journey. It allows us to help others too! so thank you
Strength and Sunshine
It does! I love being able to help others on their journey. To love and support each other, we are all in this together and should make the best of it!
jillconyers
I embrace adversity. Adversity is going to happen and our only choices are to embrace it or let it bring us down. Love "I'm a gluten free warrior!" What started as a challenge for me in Jan has turned out to be so much more leading up to blood tests this month. Sharing more soon!
Strength and Sunshine
Embracing it only makes us stronger and the best we can be! That is what life is about 🙂
I am so happy that you were able to go gluten-free and find out that you really had a problem with it! You will only get better, stronger, and healthier now 🙂 XOXO