How do I love thee..Let me count the ways…My love/hate relationship with wheat!

You are about to read my very sad tale about my recent realization about wheat and my body. It appears wheat is causing me more than issues with just my waistline; however the truth is I would never have known this had I not eliminated wheat from my diet as I recently have.

My story is not new and I’m certain my story will not surprise many of you that read it. I, like many others, have been having very serious issue’s with today’s wheat( I say today’s wheat, as it has been modified, yes-yes it has).

Eight weeks or so ago I began a new journey towards increasing my own health as well as my family‘s health. When I began my walk towards this anticipated change in lifestyle I had hoped for a blend of two worlds. The world that I have always known, and the world that would ultimately bring added health to myself and my family. I had many reasons for knowing I had to change my eating such as regular issues I experienced with bloating, gas, stomach pain and mostly just being plain uncomfortable. I soon began to fear what my reactions would be to any meal I ate, even a bagel would cause me issues such as watching my belly expand by inches and inches becoming hard as a drum in minutes, there was no way this was normal, it had to be something!

I heard about wheat belly, felt like something I might be experiencing.

So yes I committed to a plan, a plan to change my ways and the ways of my family, after-all we are all in this together.

Week 1 we all did the “raw food” thingy. I encouraged my children to complete one day of juicing and raw foods, while I continued on like a hero for a full four days of raw food eating.

Well just three words to describe my experience!!!!! I was starving………..!!! ARGGGGGGGGGGG

Between the caffeine withdrawals, headaches, intense sugar cravings, constipation, tiredness, brain fog, plus more, I still cant believe I managed for four full days of a raw food diet .

I DID IT…NO IT WAS NOT EASY!

My “then plan” was to keep wheat and caffeine from my diet for most of the week, only indulging on the weekends.

I mean who could give up their favourite food completely..like pizza, not I 😦 !!

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As I have mentioned before, I grew up on the east coast. In other words we were meat and potato eaters primarily, and of course bread lovers, the staple food of each and every East coast family “home-made bread” (and bologna..aka..newfie steak).

The mass produced bread we called “bakers bread” was a crime to have in your house, as the young were taught to make bread as a part of our traditional culture and upbringing.

Now I am not saying that I have committed my life to making “home-made bread“….but I have often made it just as my mom did when I was growing up. That aroma of yummy smelling delicious bread, buns, rolls, dumplings cannot be replaced. My mind always fnds me with that image of an old bugs bunny cartoon of a cartoon dog floating towards some yummy smell that was filling the air, eyes closed, body sauntering on air, floating directly to the yummy smell…lol .

That’s how I feel when I smell home-made bread.

I can also attest that there is nothing yummier or more comforting then the taste or smell of home, and that is what the smell of home-made bread brings me back too, home.

So now you know why it is all that much harder for me to contemplate giving up “breads/wheat” forever.

Miss you mummy!

So lets fast forward to week 3. Everything still going good, feeling good, even noticing some other subtle changes in my body and mood that were different than before. I’m no longer noticing those crazed sugar cravings and I’m feeling confidant and happy about cutting out the wheat during the week days, and the coffee too. Heck I’ve even lost a few pounds and that’s not something I’m going to complain about.

The biggest issue for the kids is not finding any “food” in the house, hmmmm, that certainly might bring the image of an empty fridge , but I assure you, that was never the case. There simply were no more processed foods..and yes a bag of rice may not look like food…but it can be :).

I have not been totally cruel to the children, I have bought bread for them four out of seven days a week, its only three days or so they have to manage wheat free. I go longer plus I make sure there are plenty of rice crackers in the house.

Now to week 5 , I’m much more comfortable with my new eating plan. I find myself wondering what to prepare for dinner, its a weekend and I have no time to cook as its late , so we order out. Yes wheat was involved, this time BAMMMO, a clear message was sent to my body within an hour after eating. I immediately started getting heart palpitations, a stabbing headache in my right eye, and of course the always expected gas and bloating. It scared me!

About three years ago when I first began getting heart palpitations I had been trying to reach my six minute mile, running. I was almost there..that’s when the palpitations first began. Of course I went to the cardiologist and did all the tests. There was nothing wrong except of course that my heart was skipping up to 3000 beats a day, which the smug Dr told me was perfectly fine… commenting that I should come back when I really have a problem???? hmmm..some Doctor!

Anyhow I soon became accustomed to that feeling of my heart fluttering and skipping , hoping the Doctor was right. I never once thought this too could be caused by foods I was consuming….well it seems I may have figured it out ..eat wheat, have heart palpitations, each and every time!

At first I was sure it was a coincidence, really hoped and prayed it was as I looked forward to my weekends enjoying “normal” life and eating as I pleased. Then I noticed it again, and again, and again..a direct reaction that occurred only with “wheat”,

I’m heartbroken really :(.

So its true, wheat is not my friend any more, it’s no ones friend really.

So I kinda sorta knew this I suppose. I have been in mourning now since this knowing has come to me. Wheat truly causes me health issues. I have mixed emotions to say the least.

I’ve pretty much removed it completely since, but with a heavy heart. Yes I know there are alternatives such as gluten free. I’m on my way, yet I cant help but feel as though I have lost my best friend.