Wheat Belly

As I mentioned in my "About Me"....I have many passions. I definitely feel there are not enough hours in the day to pursue all the things I would like, but at the same time, it keeps me happy and always having something to look forward to. Besides my goal to work from home full time and devouring everything I can about network marketing, I love to read anything I can get my hands on that has to do with holistic health and spirituality. I mean, if you really want to accomplish your goals in life, you really need to have your health and your mind/soul working together in a positive way.

Over the past year, I have not felt my best. Being a 48 year old woman, I know that my body is going through some inevitable changes, which I openly embrace. But, not feeling so great is not something I embrace. So, being the voracious reader that I am, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I am not a big fan of having to take drugs for every little symptom or pain. I have watched my own mom have to go down that path, and used her own experiences as motivation for me.

I follow many blogs written by holisitc doctors, one of which is Dr. Mark Hyman. He practices functional medicine, which is what our ancestors (especially mine, as I am 50% Native American) did on a daily basis. What is functional medicine you ask? Using food as our medicine. Finding out the root causes of what may be causing pain or illness, and working with them, instead of just getting 10 prescriptions and taking drugs to cover the wound.

So, I was having back pain from a fall, joint pain, erratic mood swings, weight gain and feeling quite lethargic. Happy Happy, Joy, Joy (NOT!) Coming from someone who used to roller blade for 4 hours a night, and enjoyed running and going to the gym, this was very very out of character for me. Granted, that lifestyle has taken a bit of a back seat since I became a mom and work full time, but still. To feel that badly all the time.....can really take it's toll on the quality of your life, not to mention the kind of influence I want to be on my young daughter.

So, I first decided to practice a way of eating that encompassed a low sugar life style. Jorge Cruise, who wrote the Belly Fat Cure, talks about only eating 15 grams of sugar a day and 6 carb servings, preferably low glycemic carbs. Now, 15 grams a sugar a day is really not that hard, but you must start reading labels. You will be astonished to see how much sugar everything contains. Maybe why losing weight has become an issue for many people who are trying so HARD. A banana has 15 grams of sugar. My beloved banana.....I could eat one every day, but I did not want to use up my 15 grams of sugar right off the bat. So, those are for special occasions now (did I mention that diabetes is in my family? That fact was/is an extra motivation for me).

Well, not much was happening in the way of weight loss, and those low moods were still there. I've done tons of spiritual work (using EFT, or meridian tapping) to help release trapped emotions that everyone has, and I really felt that I should be feeling better by now. To no avail. So, I chalked it up to hormones, but refused to believe that I could not go one day without having a period of sadness. I am being brutally honest here. Not easy to admit, but there is a catch.....

I decided finally, after reading Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis, to give up the wheat/gluten. Dr. Hyman and many other doctors talk about eliminating this from our diets. I was reluctant, and who wouldn't be. I was already living low carb, but not having a beer once in awhile, the beloved baguette with butter with my organic eggs, my husbands delicious french tarts....was not a very easy decision to make. But I did. Wheat has been so genetically modified since the days of our grandparent. "They" are pushing eating whole grains every day, since many people are giving up the "white foods" (flour, processed foods). So, the athlete who is holding onto weight because he is eating whole wheat pasta for dinner, or the whole grain sandwich for lunch is really not making a healthy choice after all.

At the end of September, I took the plunge. I think humans really only make choices like that when they really have to..i.e. failing health. I knew I was feeling so bad, that the choice became easy.

Well, I am thrilled to report that those weepy low moods vanished!!!! Immediately. Of course, I wish I had really known this sooner, but I just wasn't ready. I lost 4 inches off my waist, and my joint pain has gone away. The once active woman who was suffering from lethargy.....is now bursting with energy, even without coffee! I have to make myself sit down sometimes.....just to rest, LOL. I have mental clarity that was missing before (and something that I need, being a 48 year old mom of a very active 7 year old girl!!) :)

I am now adopting this gluten/wheat free life. I do have a little rice once in awhile, and have found some great gluten free replacements, but am still keeping it low carb. I really don't want to go back to feeling the way I did. I am too young to feel so old. Yes, that means giving up many things, but it is worth it to me. I am not even tempted by a beer or a whole grain sandwich. Maybe the fact that I was already choosing healthy, organic whole foods made the transition easier for me. But, if I want to accomplish my dreams...I need to feel my best in every way.

So, I hope this blog might help one person make a healthy decision for their life.

If you click on the title of this blog, that will take you to Dr. Davis' blog. Interesting stuff!!

Here's to a long, healthy and happy life!!!