A gluten-free science experiment

A couple days ago, I sent out a quick tweet...

Toying with the idea of cutting out all gluten for a while.  It's a little overwhelming.  

Anyone out there with tips on how to get started?

I was SHOCKED by the response that I got.  Apparently this is a very hot topic with a lot of people. 

I received so many tips, ideas, and practical advice.  So much more than I expected.  But what fascinated me most were the reasons each person had for making the choice to go gluten or grain free.  Some were doing it for fertility reasons.  Others because horrible migraines.  And some due to tummy issues, like me.  But what is most interesting is that their paths to their decision were not straight forward at all. 

For me, I have been toying with the idea of giving up gluten for about a year now.  Tummy troubles and lack of energy have been plaguing me ever since Little B was born.  It seems like once I popped out a kiddo, my body came with completely different operating instructions.  And someone forgot to give me the manual.

Ice cream would have me clutching my stomach for days.  I would be exhausted after a full night of sleep.  Weird headaches.  I was kind of down all the time.  I was just OFF.  There is no better to explain it than that.  At first I thought it just went with the territory of raising a rambunctious child.  But while all my other mama friends seemed to bounce back mentally and physically, I did not.  I thought maybe my iron levels were low.  I was checked out by my doctor and they found nothing. Then I hypothesized that maybe dairy and I could no longer friends.  So I cut all dairy.  I made sure that I ate really healthy.  I got enough sleep.  I took my vitamins.  I worked out.  But nothing seemed to be helping.

Then this past fall, all my symptoms became a lot more intense.  I am sure the stress of the move did not help anything.  But it has been getting to the point where I dread eating because I know my stomach will hurt afterwards.  I hate feeling this way.

So enough is enough.  I don't know for sure that gluten is causing any of my discomfort, but I do know that I need to do something.  And after talking with many, many people, gluten could be a likely culprit.  

So on that note, the gluten-free science experiment begins this week.  I am very hopefully as my tummy is already not as feisty as it has been.  I am committed to this for a minimum of a month, but would like to do it for 3 months.  We will see how it goes.

I am very inspired by some of the friends that have already reached out to me.  You can just tell in their voice and in their words that they feel so good and that gluten-free was a great life-changing decision for them.

I would love to hear from any of you out there that are already gluten free or are even just considering it.  To know your stories and any helpful suggestions that you have for a newbie would be like gluten-free gold.

So leave me a comment or shoot me email offline.  I seriously would LOVE to hear from you.