The Journey to Wellness...

Three years ago went to visit my family in Texas, I did not have any idea how drastically my life would change.  There is no way to express how thankful I am for the help that my friends and family have provided me since the MD said "In order to find out what is wrong with you, you will need to start on an elimination diet immediately!"  Thankfully the elimination diet was only for 6 months and after that I was able to go to a strictly Gluten Free (GF) diet with some other minor modification.  It truly is Mind over Matter!  Looking back on the past three years I have accomplished so many things:

• Started Working Out:  This is part of my new life!  When I don't work out, I don't feel good, so I work out 4-5 times per week.  Whether I am in the gym, walking the neighborhood, going for a hike, or running, I try to find  away to be active! 
• Running:  This is an accomplishment in itself :)  For the girl who even in high school was held back by fear of everything, I never thought I could do this!  I may not do it as fast, or in the time that others do it, but I do it!  That is what matters!! I even run 5K's and a 4 miler for time on July 4th! 
• Made New Friends:  I have made friends in the most random places... restaurants when I have to ask for a GF menu, places that I shop because people have noticed the changes in me and more!
• Learned to Speak Up:  Someone said to me the other day, when he says he has Celiac people look at him like he has the plague.  Celiac is NOT contagious!  But, there are so many people who are curious.  Learn to educate them.  I learned to share my story and the resources that I have found along the way.  If I can help one person to feel better I have made a difference. 
• Just because it is Expensive DOES NOT make it taste better: Early in a diagnosis, most people (myself included) think everything GF has to be expensive.  This is not the case.  Fruits, veggies and lean means (nothing added) do not have to be expensive.  Buy what is on sale and shop smart.  When it comes to purchasing pastas and other products such as cereals and bagels, etc., shop around.  Buy a variety of items and try them.  Find which ones are your favorites.  If it happens to be an expensive one, then buy it, but that is not always the case. 
• Adapting:  I have learned to adapt in more ways than one.  I feel so good when I learn to adapt old recipes into something that I can eat and they actually taste good :) 
• Health:  Healthwise, I feel wonderful!  I have so much energy.  I do things three years ago I would have never even thought about doing!  I am so thankful that food is my biggest battle! 
• Best Accomplishment to Date: With all the changes that I have made, I have lost 90 pounds!  I never thought that this would happen.  Taking each day one day at a time and realizing that some days are good days and some are not as good in this battle to be healthy and maintain the weight loss are the most important parts of this... don't give up and keep going.  One.  Day.  At.  A.  Time!!

I want to say THANK YOU to everyone who has supported me the last three years!  Your kind words, prayers, encouraging thoughts, emails, messages, letters, and phone calls have been so much a part of helping me make it this far!  I am thankful to have each and everyone of you in my life!