We are what we eat.

Food for thought.  Yes a little off the subject from where we yesterday. It's came to me! For so long I have done well with eating.  Results, happier, healthier me!  Well, over this holiday season, break from school for th kids and now this nasty weather I have found myself finding comfort in food. Blah!

Today I experienced a migraine which I havent had in months! Also, after reading over time and time again of the affects of gluten and recognizing these symptoms in myself as mood swings, irritability, headaches, joint pain etc. I have decide it is back to the grind!

For years I had suffered from migraines, depression, and IBS symptoms.  Migraines were credited to heredity and hormones, depression the stresses of life and IBS.... well, as my dad would say "flash shit attacks" not accredited to anything.  This my friends is NOT Normal!  I recall looking back on my childhood and always having gas, bloating and a rock feeling in my stomach. When you dont know any differently you think its  normal until you feel amazing!

So my journey began back in April 2013.  I decided it was time to make a BIG life change.  It was time to loose weight and be healthy!  I was 5'3" and 169lbs.  Tired achey, miserable!  I felt like I was 60 and I was only 32!  

I contacted my friend... Joined her accountability group, started drinking Shakeology and also started eating healthy!  My friend suggested I try gluten free which my OBGYN suggested a year before.  So I tried it!  With in 2 weeks the changes were miraculous and I didn't care to even look at anything with wheat again! 

Did you know that sneaky bastard is in everything!  It's in our food... Pretty much anything processed, in our laundry soap, dish soap, lipstick, makeup, shampoo, and tooth paste!  

Top most difficult issues with being gluten free for me is:

- People's opinion- Drives Me Bonkers!!!  

I think they think that I am doing this for attention or something.  No I have NOT been diagnosed with an illness, yet under my physicians suggestions I have chosen this diet.  I have experienced life changing experiences so I have chosen to stick by this (yet I still slip and eat junk and then feel like crap afterwards!). Did I mention that is has helped me loose 35lbs too... Hmmmm

- Prepping meals and eating in a bind.  

I am a busy mother like most women my age.  It's difficult and expensive to eat this way.  When you can not make carbs a part of your meal for a growing family keeping them full is difficult.  

I now have to plan ahead and the best thing I have done is go through my cabinets and completely remove anything processed and most everything with gluten.  While my family still eats bread (homemade only) the temptation is really not that bad for me.  Cakes, and other wheat products are not very common around here and pasta we buy is all made from corn and rice products so making a meal is very easy for us. 

Our meals typically have the following: 2 vegetables, a protein, and a potato or rice. Very satisfying and appealing to everyone and not very different for when we have company over. Yet, there is NO gluten. Now, eating in a bind or out is difficult I will agree and I dislike doing it!  

When it comes to fast food I typically go with a burger, no bun and no sauces. Just cheese and pickle.  Mostly though I go with a salad and a vingarette.  

I ask questions though and look at labels if possible.  Gluten hides in the most mysterious places it can even be in our sauces and dressings!  

So my tip ask, ask, ask, and if they don't know then I am sorry to tell you that what you want most likely does have gluten in it so eat out as little as possible and do your research before you do. 

Family events or holidays-  it sucks to be quiet honest.  

People bringing items and visiting family.  It's everywhere and those traditional recipes you loved as a child only make you feel like a pile of dung the next day.  The only solution I have to this issues is host your holidays or take what you can if possible.  I'm greatful most holidays are at my home so this is typically very easy for me and if you want Rolls with your dinner.... Well, you better bring them.  Haha!

I am very greatful that my friend has turned me on to this new lifestyle.  I truly believe that she was mean to.  I no longs take migraine meds, or depression meds, my joint and body aches are gone, I have wonderful energy, and I lost all the weight I wanted to!  A Complete Win for me!  

30 seconds............

I haven't posted in a long while and a lot has changed!  My how it has changed!  Today after a pretty stressful day and the kids have been home for most of the week, I am exhausted!  Thank you Martin Luther King Jr. for your observance day and the stinky weather that my kids can not get on schedule! UGH!.  So with a pounding headache and a mind full of frustration I headed upstairs.  Had the older kids watch the littler ones and I was determined to take a bath! 

I ran the water and sat there.  I smelled the scent of urine! Ugh! I just cleaned that darn toilet! Ha! I heard nothing but screams and yells, giggles and bouncing balls....sweet joy on a normal day but not today.  I felt guilty for having those feelings.  Sad. I slipped underneath the water and enjoyed the peaceful silence for what felt like an eternity but was literally only 30 seconds.  Why in the world am I feeling this way?! So many go without the joy of having one child and I have been blessed with 6!  It is moments like these that I do reflect on how blessed I am and how much I have been through as a parent.  Its a tough stinking job! 
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While I completely enjoy the role of a "Stay at home Mother"  I get so completely frustrated.  My husband will come home and say " I've worked all day, I paid all the bills, yada yada yada yada!  BOO!  Well, you want to know what I did today??  While it may not have paid the bills or made any amount of money this is what I did!  I made your kids breakfast, made sure they were ready for school, dressed them, took them to school, made a second trip back to the school to take the forgotten lunch box in the car, I grocery shopped with a one- year old on very tight budget for 8 people, changed multiple pants, did 6 loads of laundry, cleaned your whiskers out of the sink and wiped the urine off of each toilet seat in the house because some boys find it unnecessary to lift it! I did breakfast dishes, and lunch dishes, prepped dinner and then did those dishes.  I swept the floors and mopped ( yes I mop pretty much everyday), I picked the kids up from school ran them to their activities, did homework, baths and dinner... No I did not get the 6 baskets of folded laundry put away but your just damn lucky its clean! 

I love my husband with all my heart but sometimes I just get a little damned irritated!  HA! 

While writing my frustrations makes me feel a whole lot better I also do a lot of praying. It helps me get through the days, keeps the devil at bay and keeps me focused on what I need to be doing.  I am not the best wife, mother, daughter, sister, or friend but I do try to be and with the Lords guidance I do a heck of a better job for sure.

So today's Blog is basically just letting you know that I am so grateful for what the Lord has blessed my husband and I with but I too get frustrated, tired, and I feel a bit unappreciated at times.  I am human!  I love my family with everything I am and have.. I just sometimes need a stinking dunk in the tub to reflect.  Just a few minutes of silence.  Just maybe, for my children to listen to me the first time I speak to them and for my husband to smile and say  to me "I love you even though you are in a bad mood."  Gosh it feels so great to write this down.  Makes me feel so much better!!  I am looking that tomorrow I will be in a better mood.  Its the weekend!  The kids will be home!!!  Yet, they will be at school tomorrow and I am determined to get my happy pants on and enjoy them!!  I am allowed to have one crabby day once in a while Right??