Name that Baby:

In no particular order. Remember my nieces and nephews (biological and extended):

Gluten Freed

Well, I figured I'd start processing a little about my new found food plan. I think I should back up just a bit though. I've had colon and GI issues for several years now. It seems to get worse with stress, and I seemed to brush it off that, stress, must be the cause (which I'm still not denying that it contributes). In the last 5 years, I've had one sigmoidoscopy and 3 colonoscopies. For those of you that don't know, the general preventative recommendation for the public is to get 1 colonoscopy every 10 years, after the age of 50 (unless you have other indications or risk factors). SO, I feel I've had my fair share of the Go-HEAVY JUG-O-FUN (those of you who have prepped for that 24hrs of fun, know what I'm talking about). I've always wondered how the little old lady that's 70, survives that prep and doesn't break a hip, literally RUNNING to the commode! When I recommend a colonoscopy to patients, I have to hold back my own grimace, knowing what they will go through. But obviously, it's do-able. I've survived 3 and 1/2 (the prep for a sigmoid is simple). ANYWAYS, through all that testing, it was basically determined that I have an inflamed colon, but no definitive diagnosis was made (the way things usually go). Biopsies were inconclusive, but the best diagnosis was that I may have Ulcerative Colitis (which if you google that isn't something fun to have). At one point, I was tested for celiac, and was told the testing was negative.

Now fast forward to 2011. I still have "bowel issues," and I know it's not quite normal, but, what am I going to do about it? Well, I've feel I've been learning more and more about how the systems in our body really are connected. In school, we are taught about the different body systems. It's the best way we've figured to categorize and learn about this complex body God has created: We learn about the Respiratory, Cardiovascular, Gastrointestinal, Neurological, etc, etc, systems. What we seem to forget is how intricately all those systems are connected! Anyways, I have been learning more and more about Celiac Disease, how prominent it is becoming in the population, and how poor the testing is that we have. Basically the blood test can have a lot of false negatives. So, call it a hunch, but I looked back at the lab work from 2008. Looking a bit more carefully, there was one marker (of about 6) that was weakly positive. Now, the doctor I saw, made the correct call on saying that likely I didn't have celiac. Because that's what the test showed. But from the reading I've been doing, is that one can "convert" and later test positive for celiac. So I decided, why not test again? I really didn't think it would be any different, but I just wanted to confirm so. So one day the lab order, next am the lab draw, and just a few days later: A MAJOR LIFE CHANGE.

As you guessed, my blood test came back so positive about celiac, there really is no question. My immune system literally ATTACKS gluten, like it's a virus or bacterial infection. And the immune system is so good it NEVER forgets. And thus, why, I must forever be gluten free (as much as that is possible).

Thus: New Gluten Free Me

It's been just over one week, and I've already worked on trying new things. Trying to compile recipes etc. I still CAN eat a lot of things: veggies, fruit, dairy, meat, beans, corn, nuts, etc, etc. So I'm focusing on that! And there is so much support, information, recipes, etc., it's almost overwhelming. But what I did, was just start. Start with one meal, and then work for the next. Really, it hasn't been that big of a deal at all. And it helps me be more self-controlled when there are muffins, donuts, cake, etc, in the break room. Now I CAN'T eat it. Somehow, it's easier for my mind to deal with that than before, when I knew I shouldn't....but just a little would be good. Funny, how our minds and self-control do or don't work.

I thought I'd post a few gluten free creations I've made. By the way, I'm NOT starving. So don't you worry! In just review, I've eaten:

1. Rice, Taco Meat, Zucchini Lunch

2. Gluten Free Pizza

3. Bisquits and Gravy

Gluten Free Bisquits, they tasted really good!

4. Egg scramble

5. Homemade granola

6. Yummy Green Smoothies

7. Enchiladas (corn tortillas of course)

8. Tomato Soup and Gluten free bread

The Gluten free bread I made. Pretty good.

Looks kind of like chocolate, but is nice and hearty!

9. Fish, Rice, and Salad

10. Cobb Salad and Stuffed Mushrooms

11. Egg, Sausage English Muffin (should have taken a photo of that creation my hubby made, it was one BIG PLATE-O-PROTEIN)!

As you can see, there are lots of options, and I know I'll do fine. I think it will be harder during the Holidays, or on vacation, staying at friends' house, etc. I'll make it though.

What I really wanted to share, was what my kitchen looked like last Sunday, when I baked a few of these things:

Why doesn't any blog share this part???