What can you do when you get sick every time you eat?  When what you are “allergic” to changes every time you are tested? When you have headaches, migraines, pain, bloating, rashes and exhaustion? When you are in so much pain that light and clothes hurt and you can’t walk without agony? Fibromyalgia? Vitamin Deficient?

The answer surprised me: you change the way you eat. It turns out that you can eat all the organic food you want, but if you have damaged your system – you will always be hungry. You can’t get the nutrition from good food either.

I have worked very hard to learn what my limits are, to do healthful things for myself such as taking vitamins, exercising, spending time with positive people and surrounding myself with the people and things I find add value to my life.

Eight weeks into this experiment of slowly eliminating foods that could be bothering me and discovering what really is “good” for me to eat, I find myself having poached eggs on gluten-free toast for breakfast, a snack of organic strawberries, lunch of sauteed kale with quinoa pilaf in a miso broth, an afternoon snack of bacon and apples and a variety of stir fries, curries and delicious dinners. Veggies, fruits, limited grains and carefully chosen local meats.

I brew delicious ginger tea and eat pure chocolate, gritty and chewy as it is – it is a wonderful treat that is actually good for me. I have eliminated gluten, lactose, tomato, soy, corn, nuts, seeds (except for occasional sunflower butter, because, yum!), alcohol, sugar (as much as possible),  potato (except what we have grown and canned ourselves), and anything packaged or processed. I’m not perfect with this, but it is getting easier. Gluten isn’t an issue – I’ve been gluten-free for more than 6 months. Lactose has been similar – I have had things on occasion and regretted it. It causes an overall pain and headaches, so dairy is not worth it. Aged cheeses don’t bother me as much, and it’s possible that if I stay away from these triggers for a couple/few  months, I will be able to have them in small amounts. Variety is the key for me. Small amounts of many different foods so I don’t build up an intolerance to anything during this healing time. I have cut coffee down to a cup or two in the morning rather than the intravenous, non-stop stream it used to be.

Also addressed during this time are the stressors in my life. Everyone has stress, but there are ways to eliminate some things. I have been spending  time each day eliminating the clutter in my life, spending more time reading and learning, and spending more time with family and friends. I also have been giving where I can and working on my “list” of personal goals. All of these contributions help with the healing process because stress is a huge factor in the breakdown of the digestive system.

I’ve lost almost 30 pounds since I stopped eating gluten – and even though there are more pounds to lose, this is not my goal. My goal is to heal – mentally, physically, and continue to listen to my body and what it is communicating to me.

My eyes are a little clearer, as well as my thinking, and I have many moments of rest – real rest, and moments of clarity where I am present and happy and without stomach, head or back pain…

Now that I have glimpsed this future – I am very, very hopeful and have set my feet firmly on this path that will lead to a new place…    and to the next adventure!

~M.