Image Overload

I've been contemplating recently the ideology of BEING ENOUGH.  When we value ourselves enough to say, "you know what, I like me.  In fact, I LOVE me!"  

There is too much pressure to be more.  To be thinner, stronger, smarter, happier, better, faster....lining our self-worth up with these adjectives.  Social media does this the best, doesn't it?  Life is grand, here's a happy place, look at me....  I'm sure I've been guilty of this a few times, but I also know I try and keep things REAL, sometimes too much so.  Don't get me wrong, I love the sneak peek into people's lives.  It's when I hear, "I hate ______ because it just makes me feel like crap about myself" that I wonder how it is we get to a place where we allow our self-worth to be discounted merely by a picture or a few words.

I've been trying to teach this life lesson to one of my children recently - explaining that his/her self-worth does not come from the opinion someone else has of him/her, but the belief that he/she has value because of WHO he/she is as a person.  Yet how easy is it to feel "less" when we're treated as less, instead of standing tall and saying, "You know what, I like me, and I believe in me."

I take a workout class to become THAT much stronger, THAT much thinner, and THAT much healthier.  Confession time -  I still struggle with my own body image.  The stretch marks, the saggy skin, the cellulite; the belief that everyone stares at my birthmark, or that my face is too long, my chest is too small, my butt is too flat - when and where does it all stop?  I see images on social media of women's flat abs, sculpted arms, smooth skin (even AFTER having babies!) - real people, not air-brushed images.  And I, too, have to walk away from it all.

What I remind myself (on a DAILY basis) are these things:
1.  My stretch marks mean that my body has been through incredible feats to reach both ends of the spectrum
2.  My saggy skin means that I've spent many years on this earth with the hope of many more
3. My cellulite means that I've enjoyed sharing good food with great people whom I love
4. My birthmark is God's way of branding me special
5. My physical features are LOVED by my HUSBAND!!  I don't need affirmation from other people posting that I'm "hot" or "sexy" or "looking good".

Some may be thinking I'm being hypocritical because I sell a product that (I think) has the (unfortunate) name of Slim, that I market this product for the purpose of weight loss and having those great BEFORE/AFTER pictures.  Truth be told, I struggle with the name and the implication that it tells us "we are not enough - you must be THAT much thinner to be happy."  What if I were to say that it's caused me to not lose one pound? I've kept my stretch marks, saggy skin, cellulite, yet have achieved a level of health I haven't seen in a long time.  A healthier me at any size is better than a thinner me struggling with my health and image.  I've started repeating the above 5 lines of "mantra' when I feel like my belief in myself starts waning.

From the wise words of Saturday Night Live - "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and Dammit, people like me."

A Changing of the…..Seasons?

I love the change of the seasons…spring into summer is my favorite.  (I'm a 'hot weather' person).  The descending order of preference from there is summer into fall, winter into spring, and bringing up the rear is fall into winter.  I like to redecorate the house for each season, work in the yard and plant the season's best plants, flowers or veggies.  I like to go from coat to light jacket to tank tops and shorts.  I also like (yes - I am admitting this!!!) to go into the first sweater, fleece sweatshirt or flannel of the fall, walking in the crisp leaves and treasuring that wonderful October smell.  But do you know what my favorite part of each season change is????…….drum roll……………changing out the body scents!  You know - shower/bath gels, body sprays and body butters or moisturizers.

I know that specialty stores sell products for each season, but I have yet to find someone like me that switches them out.  Most people, I guess, just finish the product and don't really care that they may smell like a peppermint candy cane in April, or Lemon Zinger in January.  My type A personality doesn't get that.  If a company makes a scented product to correspond with a season, why on earth would you use it any other time?  I know - some of you are thinking - "Why on earth would you want to smell like food anyway?"  My reason - because I'm not a 'flower' person.  Those products are too perfumey and make me sneeze, so I would only think it would make others around me sneeze.  But food scents….now, who doesn't like food?  Especially SEASONAL food??  Here are the scents I am enjoying thus far into fall….

One of my favorite brands is Philosophy.  Somehow, that company can capture the essence of a food and put it into a plastic bottle.  My mouth actually waters each time I squeeze some onto my spongey thing.  The caramel apple and the marshmallow…..definitely reminds me of autumn weekends near a fire pit, sticky fingers and sticky faces.  The carrot cake is all the smell without the calories.  This time of year Trader Joe's brings on the pumpkin brigade, and I snatched some of the body butter up last year - I am STILL working through that tub - and the smell and feel are divine.  (I need to add my Oatmeal Cookie shower gel into that mix, but I keep forgetting to grab it from the cabinet before getting in the shower). 

And you know what - after Thanksgiving I will put these bottles back into the cabinet (if I haven't finished the marshmallow and caramel apple by then, but I'm pretty sure I will!) and bring out the winter/holiday scents - peppermint candy cane, hot cocoa (a personal favorite - I took notice one time last year that I tend to crave more chocolate on the days I use that set), snicker doodle cookie, oatmeal cookie, chocolate chip cookie (because, as you can guess, they are all good Christmas cookie smells!).  It's just what I do.  It adds a touch of joy to my morning routine, simple as that may be.  Sometimes the smells even get me in the kitchen to bake something similar in smell for my family.  It's comfort smells, something that prepares me mentally each morning for the day/season ahead.  

So go ahead and keep your strawberry scents well into the fall, or the hot cocoa in July….it's mass confusion for my brain, it doesn't provide that comfort feel in the off season because it merely becomes just a scent to use up - - -along with my flannels and fleeces, I'll bask in the smells of autumn.

Dancing in the Storm

Did you ever wonder why there seems to be a golden beam falling on some people and a dark cloud over others?  Do some people naturally draw the flicker of light or, like a leashed dog, pull the dark cloud behind them?  Some people think it's only one or the other, but the reality is that each one of us experiences the good and bad, the funny and freaky, the "you're so lucky" and "can one more thing happen?"  life has to offer.  How you react to each opportunity - for yes, it IS an opportunity to grow and learn as a person - sends messages to those around you, albeit family members or neighbors and friends.

We live in a time when social media spreads news as quickly as jam on toast (at least, the way I slap it on toast!).  What we choose to share  gives a glimpse through our window called life.  Me - I share life - from the lovely to the dull and things in-between - not EVERYTHING, but those things for which I'm willing to rub a clean spot on the window through which to peer.  Sometimes I try to be witty, other times I just lay it out there.  What people tend to remember, though, are the struggles, the junk, the "can one more thing happen" moments.

I recently shared about the torsion spring on our garage door breaking at 4:22 am, with a *BOOM* so loud that it rattled the walls of my room.  That came after sharing that my van broke down, and all the accompanying struggles that went with it.  I have people commenting about all of the atrocities we endure, or how they can't believe the weird things that happen to us.  Yet, if I go back through posts I made before the van breaking down, they are about birthdays, school days, running races I've been in, prayers I'm offering, Little League Championships, wisdom teeth extractions, and accomplishments of my kids.  My last dark cloud post since Sept? - - May 14th.  There are so many golden beam moments, so many positive statements, and yet - - I "should write a book" because of all of the freaky things that happen to us.  I laughed at this and thought, "What a good idea" - and it's actually the reason that I'm back to blogging.  But it also got me thinking that I don't think we, as a family,  encounter any more "freaky" things than most other people.  Is it that I'm more willing to share it with others, to laugh at adversity, because it brings with it a sense of "I'm not alone"?  Don't we all (no matter how much we try to convince ourselves otherwise) inwardly appreciate that someone else is having a hardship and thanking God that it's not us?  I'm not talking about illness or devastation, but the small stuff….(don't sweat the small stuff sweetie!)

I like to think that my small stuff helps others realize that there is always, and yes, I mean ALWAYS, someone else who the dark cloud is visiting that day.  It doesn't bother me that it's here, over my house, because I know that it ALWAYS moves on.  And just like the weather, it will always come back.  It's how you prepare and react to it that will draw people to your window to peer in…and fortunately, perhaps even more appropriately, the Fed Ex man just delivered my new rain boots….I think I'm ready to dance in the next storm!

Rough Drafts Only

What's my story?  If a book were to be written about my life to this point, what would it contain?  What are the chapters that would make the cut?  And where am I now in this story - at 42 years of age, am I still building the story up, am I at the apex?  Am I even writing this story?   I think it's good for us to be introspective of our own lives, though I admit that I don't take much time to do that about myself.

Our congregation has been asked this week to ponder that question - What is my story?  In the spiritual sense, I don't think my story could keep a captive audience.  I didn't grow up with "a mess."  I grew up knowing Jesus, even though by my age of about nine, my family no longer attended a church.  I drove myself to church once I got my driver's license at seventeen.  I've had no horrific life events to say that this or that changed me.  I grew up in a modest home, with a loving family (Ok, sisters fight, but otherwise...), extended family nearby, a great childhood, took music lessons, played sports.  Ho hum, ho hum, ho hum.  Have I lost you yet?

If you are bible reader, then you may know Ephesians 2:10 - For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  In other words, we are God's masterpiece,  and our story isn't finished if God is the author.  So where am I in my story?  I feel like I am still in the rough draft phase - let's write this out...no, erase that...let's edit a little bit here, change the story line a little bit there.  So what if my earlier life seemed a little bit mild in comparison to others.  Yes, my reviews would be different than other story's reviews.  But...to where has my story line brought me today?

This is where I really need to listen to what God is writing and where He is editing.  Remember - rough draft - and I mean exactly that.  I am nowhere near being a final copy ready to go to print.  I have a mess of pages that I would like to edit out - broken relationships, walls built up around my heart, what I see as failures in parenting, things I would like to do over, jealousy, resentment, quickness to anger....can anyone relate to THIS story yet?  Have I sucked you in?  I know God won't edit that out though, because those pages are a part of who I am.  Perhaps those chapters stay in my story because more people can relate and understand.  If I make myself out to LOOK "perfect", then not one person would continue reading to the end of story.

And yet, in all that mess, I still KNOW, feel and see God at work in my life.  I see some possibilities regarding what path the next few chapters COULD go.  I am not a believer of fate, but I AM a believer that God has put me in a place and time for exactly what He needs me to do.  I have opportunities ahead of me to hold the hand of a person I hardly know just because she is in need of it, to mentor a group of young moms, to encourage a few people around me on a new path to health, to lead my children by example, to help a few friends with organization, to counsel.  If I listen closely enough, not only will I hear God's whispers  and murmurs of what He is writing, but I'll also hear the bricks to my walls being dropped one at a time.  God and I work a lot alike - we clean up as we go.  As each chapter begins, the edits and messes of my previous chapters are cleaned up, gathered in His palm like eraser shavings, and brushed into the trash.

I'm a work in progress.  Some of you will relate, others won't.  I know that where God places me, there will be a chapter unfolding that will tell another part of my story.  And until the Author has decided He's finished, I'm up for the challenge.

The GI Follow-Up

Since publishing my last post regarding my Gluten Intolerant Story, I have had at least five people ask me to sit with them and talk about it.  The whats, ifs, thens, whys, hows.  I also have an aunt who went further and saw her doctor, who is convinced she has celiacs.  She is now gluten free and feeling better each week.  I am overwhelmed by the honor of quite possibly helping one person, if not more, on the road to feeling better.  The purpose of telling my story was exactly that - with the hopes that someone would relate, see themselves in my story, and begin to take control of their health.

I think the words Gluten Intolerance (GI) invoke fear in many people.  The word Celiac causes people to pity the person with the disease.  What these people don't see and understand is that being Gluten Free (GF) is not a death sentence.  It is actually the opposite - it is freedom.  It's freedom in food choices, freedom in health benefits, and freedom in overall well being.

GI or Celiac forces a person to eat whole foods again.  No more is the processed section of the grocery store a place to hang out.  Gone are the days of boxed cakes, high fat crackers, low fat pretzels, or even the "grab and go" snacks.  No longer are foods prepared with high sodium seasonings (many of which contain glutamate).  It's an automatic "South Beach" type diet - more vegetables and proteins, less breads and pastas.  (However, I will note that a GF diet is not a weight loss diet, unlike the South Beach Diet).  Freedom in food choices comes when the vegetable bin is stocked with greens, reds and oranges, and you feel good pulling out something colorful to eat.  Freedom in food choices comes with knowing what ingredients are in the cake that was just baked, or the snack that was prepared in advance for times that are hurried.  I love to know that, as a stay-at-home mom, I am giving my family a better way of eating and living, because of my GI, and the freedom is in the lack of worrying about their bodies and what is put into them.

GI or Celiac forces a person back to full health.  One must eat as if wheat, barley and rye were a poison (as they are to the Celiac) and avoid those at all costs.  So again, the GF way of life not only encourages one to eat healthier, but eating healthier in turn reverses the affects the disease had on the body.  There is freedom in going out to eat and knowing that the salad for dinner will not only keep the stomach calm (remember to use a balsamic and vinegar dressing), but that it is also the healthier option on the menu.  Freedom in health, to me, means that I have full reign in knowing that what I put into my body will benefit all the various systems.

Once a person begins to eat whole foods and regains his or her health, the next logical freedom is in  the overall well being of that person, physically, emotionally, and mentally.  No longer are there questions like "Why do I feel this way?", "Where is the closest bathroom?", "Why can't I control________ emotion with my family?", "What did you say?" or "What's wrong with me?"  It's like all of a sudden, you wake up one day and realize that you have your life back.  You never really saw it gradually slipping away until some of the above questions (and more) went through your head.  It's the freedom in knowing that you will never go back to being in a down mental or emotional state.

GF is not a fad diet.  While in the grocery store one day, I saw a family shopping for their college age daughter.  This daughter was comparing the Rice Krispies labeled Gluten Free with those not labeled as such.  The comment that came out of her mouth was, "It's all a marketing ploy.  Gluten Free is a fad diet that everyone is jumping on."  I admit that I was angered, and I almost went up to her to start my dissertation on Gluten Intolerance.  But I withheld.  What I realized is that there will ALWAYS be the one or few people that are ignorant to any way of life different from their own, and that's OK.  Until I was forced into the GF way of life, I didn't know much about it either.  With enough education and curiosity, I taught myself that this is not a fad.  With trial and error, I learned that it must be a way of life for me.

Curiosity got the best of me, and I too, read the labels of both Rice Krispies (after that family left, of course).  The difference??? - GF Rice Krispies are made with brown rice, "regular" Rice Krispies with white rice.  A marketing ploy on the part of Kellogg's - I'd have to say yes.  Rice Krispies is one of the cereals I can eat, regardless of whether it's labeled GF or not on the front.  Is Lady Gaga really GI or a Celiac?  No, I think not.  She's eating this way to lose weight, thus adding to the list of Hollywood Stars who have said Yes to the Gluten Free way of life.  I can see where people think it's a wagon on which to jump.  I'm just happy this chic is willing to sit up front and drive.

My Gluten Intolerant Story

How to even know when my symptoms began - - I lived so many years fuzzy-headed that I feel like I am spending a lot of my time catching up on life.  Let's just say that I spent a LOT of years getting through life instead of living life.  No one should think that way of living is "normal".

I know that as far back as 2001, is when I first felt sick.  I was pregnant with my third child and had "morning sickness" morning, noon and night.  I was tired on the couch all evening, and missed out on a lot of playing with my husband and my then 4 and 2 year olds.  I chalked it up to the pregnancy - after all, each pregnancy is different, right?

It wasn't until about a year or two later that I began taking notice of some symptoms.  I was bloated, crampy and ill feeling every time I ate pizza or ice cream.  I thought my third pregnancy had caused me to become lactose intolerant, so I stayed away from dairy MOST of the time.  Once I discovered Lactaid pills, I thought I was living a grande life, except for the fact that I was still bloated and had abdominal pain.  I think I was taking up to 7 pills per slice of pizza or scoop of ice cream when I finally decided that those foods were not worth the pain.  So I tried to stay away as much as possible.  Funny though - I could eat yogurt and frozen yogurt, so I did indeed enjoy those over the years.

Within the next 2 or 3 years, I was diagnosed with thyroid disease (mid 2000's).  All of those symptoms I had explanations for: cold? Yes, I live in central PA.  Tired? Yes, I have three young children.  Low Libido?  Yes, I have three young children.  You get the idea.  So there I was, beginning medication for my hypothyroidism, something that has been passed down from my grandmother to my mother to me.  I began to feel better, but never quite got back to how I felt a decade earlier.

Nearing 2006 or 2007, I was also diagnosed as an asthmatic.  Odd, as I never had allergies growing up, though doctors told me I would be prone to them.  I was tested as an adult for allergies again and nothing showed up elevated on the graph.  Every fall for many years, I had developed such severe wheezing (even to the point of developing costochondritis - an inflammation of the lining between my ribs - feels much like a broken rib or pneumonia), that I was eventually put on steroids, as the inhalers were just not working.  So for at least two years, I was on prednisone by the time December rolled around.  If you need to take prednisone, December is the best time do take it - I was up half the nights wrapping presents, making candy and enjoying quiet time by the lit tree!  The prednisone was also to help my sinusitis, which was also progressively getting worse as I had 2-3 sinus infections each year.  Beginning in the summer of 2008, I lost all sense of taste and smell, and had constant nasal drainage.  By the winter of 2009, after two more doses of prednisone, I was seeking opinions from various ENT's about options for sinus surgery.  I was on prednisone two more times before August 2009, when I finally had sinus/septoplasty surgery.

The wheezing did not go away.  The Lactose Intolerant symptoms seemed to be getting worse.  Even though my thyroid levels were within the normal range, I did not feel myself - I was still tired all of the time, I was weak and I was irritable.

In the spring of 2010, I started participating in early morning workouts called "Bootcamp".  The wheezing was bad when I ran, but otherwise, I found myself in pretty good shape when my paid sessions were over.  So of course, I signed up again in the spring of 2011.  However, I had a much different outcome.  I participated in 15 weeks of intense, military style workouts.  By the end of those 15 weeks, I could do no more than 5 pushups, my wheezing and chest tightness were bad after each run (so much so, that the instructors were kind enough to tell me that that particular day was a running day, so I should do my inhaler before we took off), then I would nap for about 2 hours each afternoon.  Each evening, I was so bloated that I looked about 4 months pregnant (and not with the first child - you know ladies, how you "pop" out earlier with each consecutive child!).  I knew - I mean just FELT - that something was wrong with me.  I would tell my husband that several times a week, but my bloodwork all seemed normal.  But this was NOT normal, this was not how I used to feel and not how I wanted to feel.  No matter what meds I was on, what ailment I was being treated for, I felt worse and worse.

When I look at the below list of symptoms, it was a check sheet for me - dental problems (for me, bleeding and swollen gums - did I forget to mention that I had surgery on my gums too?), I was forgetful, I was fighting depression, I would get acne (more so than when I was a teenager!!), I bruised (and still do) easily, and many mornings I woke up hypoglycemic.  I had abdominal distention, pain and cramping, I was borderline anemic, alternating bouts of diarrhea and constipation, fatigue, joint pain, and lactose intolerance.  And this is only what I can remember!!  I don't know the day to day aches/pains or symptoms that I passed off as being a mother of three.

I say all of this because I have now completed a full year of living Gluten Free, and I am on the fast-track to health and well-being!  I can't say that I feel the best that I've ever felt, but it sure is a HUGE step from where I was, and I feel better and better with each passing day.  The only reason I decided to try this way of life is because of a dear aunt who knew about the gluten free life and asked me to give it a try.  Within nine days of starting to eat this way, the pain and abdominal bloating was gone (I distinctly remember going to bed, and saying to my husband, "This is the first time in a LONG time that I don't have a stomach ache!").  In about a month and a half, my energy levels came back up.  I actually tried to lay down for my afternoon nap and couldn't fall asleep!  My muscle tone was also returning, (during this same timeframe I also joined a gym).  Within six months, my thyroid level had dropped, even though I was on the same dosage.  Also at six months I stopped the asthma medication.  At nine months I stopped the daily corticosteroid inhaler.  At one year, my thyroid levels plunged again, still on the same dosage.  Without knowing timeframes, my gums healed, the acne stopped, the joint pain dissipated, I am enjoying dairy again, the naps got shorter (Ok - I am STILL a mother of 3 busy children...my naps are good for ALL of us.  They are more like 20 minutes instead of 2 hours), and there are less and less days that I feel hypoglycemic in the mornings.  I still fight seasonal depression, and I still bruise easily, but perhaps given more time of gluten free living will take care of those as well.

It's not a fad diet for many of us.  It's not a quick way to lose weight.  It's a lifestyle change, and one that's a MUST, for those of us with gluten intolerance or celiac's disease.  I have GI - I was tested for Celiacs, which came back normal.  I've copied and pasted some informative stuff regarding symptoms and what to watch for...when I read this list, I checked off about 90% of the symptoms.  It's interesting to see, in hindsight, what all ailed me and the reasons for it.  There are so many good resources on the internet for one to read.  If, after reading this, you feel as though you can relate to my symptoms (no one will have the same story!), take some time to sift through the tons of pages out there.  And drop me a line - I'd love to talk GF with you!

Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity share some of the same symptoms. Although the actual damage occurs in the gastrointestinal tract, specifically in the small intestine, the symptoms manifest in many different ways and often show up throughout your entire body.

Gluten sensitivity and celiac disease have hundreds of symptoms; the following lists don’t contain them all, but are a good sampling:

• Gastrointestinal symptoms: These are some of the “classic” — although not the most common — symptoms of celiac disease:
  • Abdominal pain and distension
  • Acid reflux
  • Bloating
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Gas and flatulence
  • Greasy, foul-smelling, floating stools
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Weight loss or weight gain
• Nongastrointestinal symptoms: Interestingly, although gluten sensitivity and celiac disease affect the gut, most people’s symptoms are not gastrointestinal in nature. This partial list includes just some of the more than 250 symptoms not centered in the digestive tract.
  • Fatigue and weakness (due to iron-deficiency anemia)
  • Vitamin and/or mineral deficiencies
  • Headaches (including migraines)
  • Joint/bone pain
  • Depression, irritability, listlessness, and mood disorders
  • “Fuzzy brain” or an inability to concentrate
  • Infertility
  • Abnormal menstrual cycles
  • Dental enamel deficiencies and irregularities
  • Seizures
  • Clumsiness (ataxia)
  • Nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy)
  • Respiratory problems
  • Canker sores (apthus ulcers)
  • Lactose intolerance
  • Eczema/psoriasis
  • Rosacea (a skin disorder)
  • Acne
  • Hashimoto’s disease, Sjögren’s syndrome, lupus erythematosus, and other autoimmune disorders
  • Early onset osteoporosis
  • Hair loss (alopecia)
  • Bruising easily
  • Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
  • Muscle cramping
  • Nosebleeds
  • Swelling and inflammation
  • Night blindness

Frequent Infections are symptoms of gluten intolerance

Frequent infections that seem completely unrelated to the digestive tract are common in gluten sensitivity; however, they are very much related. Gluten sensitivity causes extensivedamage to the lining of the small intestine which houses up to 70% of the body’s immune system. Some of the immune system tissue that becomes damaged in gluten sensitivity is the tissues that produce antibodies called Secretory IgA. Secretory IgA is one of the most abundant antibodies in the human body and is extremely important for killing pathogens that come into contact with mucosal tissue such as the:

• Sinuses
• Eyes
• Mouth
• Vagina
• Respiratory tract
• Digestive tract
• Urinary tract

And since these areas of the body are actually in direct contact to the outside world, it’s

EXTREMELY important that these areas stay well protected. But if the tissues that produce Secretory IgA are destroyed, then not enough IgA antibodies are available to help keep pathogens in check!

The result?

• Colds

• Flu

• Sinus infections

• Eye infections/Conjunctivitis

• Vaginal infections

• Urinary tract infections

• Gut infections such as giardia and H pylori.

Autoimmune Diseases are sometimes only

symptoms of gluten intolerance

Another seemingly unrelated concept is the idea that autoimmune diseases could besymptoms of gluten intolerance. But this is exactly the case that I am making.Gluten intolerance and Celiac Disease ARE autoimmune disorders. In autoimmune disorders, the body’s own immune system attacks its own organs or tissues. Most people are familiar with Rheumatoid Arthritis attacking the joints of the body making them red and swollen. Celiac disease and gluten intolerance, as well as attacking the lining of the small intestine which causes a condition called Leaky Gut Syndrome, ALSO destroys the secretory IgA immune tissues that we mentioned above. This destruction of immune tissue sets the body up for other immune system problems. And some of these other problems are complete immune system dysfunction and massive inflammation, as in autoimmune disorders.

Often, people with other autoimmune disorders can have their disease go completely into remission if they begin a Gluten Intolerance Diet. Sometimes the improvement in 2 to 6 months on a Gluten Free Diet is remarkable!

Nutrient Deficiencies

Nutrient Deficiencies are frequently overlooked symptoms of gluten intolerance. However, they are often MAJOR clues that the intestinal damage is causing poor absorption. Even single nutrient deficiencies should clue doctors in to an absorption problem. Individually:

• Unexplained Anemia or Macrocytic Anemia
• Magnesium Deficiency
• Vitamin B12 Deficiency
• Vitamin D Deficiency
• Low Blood Calcium Levels

Have all been 'Presenting Symptoms' of Gluten Intolerance that SHOULD be taken seriously and pursued as malabsorption- and many of these nutrient deficiencies are often the Cause of Peripheral Neuropathy and Mental Changes from B12 Deficiency.

Osteoporosis is a huge indicator of celiac disease that is overlooked nearly 100% of the time as being caused by gluten, especially when no gastrointestinal symptoms are present. Many unnecessary trips to the doctor and dangerous drugs like Fosamax could be avoided if more doctors were aware that nutrient deficiencies are simply symptoms of gluten intolerance.

A Snapshot in Time

For many years now, I have wanted to immortalize my snapshots in time...that is, I have wanted to scan my pictures into our computer and digitize them for life. How much easier life would be with all of those pictures at hand! Teachers could request pictures of their pupil (aka - my child), and I wouldn't have to go through years worth of photo albums to find one from his/her toddler years, or another one in the sport of choice. For the "Star of the Week" event, I could simply email in the four or five pictures, and not have albums lying on my dining room table for the weeks to follow. This was all before I actually spent time beginning this process.
I just spent two entire days scanning and downloading pictures, rotating and cropping them, labeling them, then uploading them to a newly created album. I began the process where common sense dictates - the wedding albums. That is where this life, this family began. And this is where memory lane began.
We were a young couple. I had to laugh at our youthful appearances, not to mention the hair and the outfits. (I have yet to allow my children to look through these albums; I don't think I can handle their laughter quite yet). There were many pictures of people who are mere memories now. There are pictures of couples who are no longer couples, children who are no longer children, friends who are parents, parents who are grandparents. There are pictures of people who have moved in and out of my life, whose faces I hold next to my heart, and others who I struggle to remember their names.
I struggled with how to label these pictures. I kept thinking of the future generations who might one day look at them. Do I label me as "Autumn" or "me"? Do I label my grandparents by their given names, or by "Grandpa" or "Grandma", so that the ghosts of the future know their relation to me? Do I label relatives by their relation, or by their name, so that years from now someone knows how we were all connected? Does any of this really matter; will anyone really care?
I started feeling a little sad at the idea that, try as I might to preserve my life's memories, my future generations will not know me or know the times in which I lived, much the same way I look at old black and whites trying to figure out the place and time of those distant relatives. And I thought, why do we try and preserve this life? What is it that we wish to hold onto or send forth? By the time my great great great grandchild laughs her way through the photos, I will be celebrating my eternity in heaven. I can't explain the background of the snapshot, or who was standing by my side. It's just a thing, an object that remains behind for someone else to clean up.
Or is it? How much have we garnered by looking into the details of a photograph? How much history was learned simply by studying the trends, the inventions, or the people of the times? How connected does a person feel by the knowledge that (s)he resembles a relative of generations ago? How much of today has been changed by the mistakes of the past?
I'll continue to work my way through the many many photo albums that we've built over the years, all in the effort of preserving the life of today for the lives of the future. It will take me days, weeks or even months to scan all of the memories we've put to paper. But I'll do it with a lighter spirit, and label them in a way that makes sense to my future blood, giving them a snapshot of my time.