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Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Trifecta removal: 2nd Edition - adventures in going egg, dairy & gluten free!


After my last post on my new food sensitivity testing results I received a phenomenal amount of feedback via email talking about how many of you have received similar results (or how you physically notice physical issues arise when you eat certain foods) but you haven’t changed your diet because you don’t know how or you are afraid. First off: thanks so much for your support and excitement about all the new recipes I'm sure to develop. Second: the goal of writing this special blog series is to show you that it's possible to make changes in your life to try and get healthier - even if they are challenging. I'm hoping to help encourage you to take the steps you need to make the changes in your life that you need to feel healthy-whatever those steps may be!

So a recap: It’s been two weeks since I bid adieu to eggs and dairy and the only thing I can think to compare it to is breaking up with a bad boyfriend. You know the one I’m talking about – the one that doesn’t call when he says he will, gives you knots in your stomach (for good and bad reasons) and brings you ultimate pleasure but also serious anguish. He is this major part of your life – you wake up thinking about him and throughout the day thoughts of him pop up repeatedly - but everyone tells you he’s bad news. You know you have to cut him out of your life and so you reluctantly break up. And all at once, he’s gone! At first you wonder if you made a mistake. You experience withdrawal – constant (almost obsessive) thoughts about him, moments of sadness and anger. You wonder how you’re going to find some level of normalcy without him in your life. But still you trudge forward with faith that everyone is right and ditching the bad news guy will make your life better.  You're just not sure how.

Well....my bad boyfriend was eggs and dairy. The break up was rough. Really rough. But like any other break-up, time heals all wounds and you press on and find new ways to function on a daily basis. I know what you’re thinking: ‘Is this girl insane? Was she really that attached to eggs?’ My answer: YES. When I was tired from a long day at work and didn’t want to cook, an omelette was always there for me. When I craved something sweet my 3 minute flourless chocolatecake or whey-protein based frozen protein treat was there in an instant. They were healthy. They were convenient. They were a happy place. Now those creature comforts that I loved were gone and I was left scrambling (no pun intended) for how to still find the same feelings of convenience and enjoyment with food without eating things that have been flagged as agitating my body.
The first few days were the hardest but I have to say, things have gotten significantly better. It reminds me a lot of when I cut out gluten – but with an exponentially more widespread effect on my life because of how the trifecta of eggs, dairy and gluten permeate our food world. That being said, I have to say that I am feeling fantastic and every day continues to get better. I know that I’m making a good choice for me for this moment in time, and the physical changes I’ve experienced far outweigh the additional thinking and time that this new diet is going to take to learn.  Stayed tuned tomorrow to find out exactly what challenges I’m encountering but also the improvements I’m feeling almost daily to my physical and mental health.....au revoir to my very own bad boyfriend! Good riddance! 

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