Reading Labels

As of a day and a half, I am now officially gluten-free, dairy free, and caffeine free. I know it sounds crazy, especially for those of you that know me and know how much I love food.

After about 2 years of battling Ulcerative Colitis and going the medical route, which has been beneficial, (until recently), I am now seeing a nutritionist. The doctors have been amazing when trying to find a proper diagnosis, and then treating the problem with the appropriate meds so that I could go on living as a mother and wife, friend, sister, daughter, all that good stuff. I've had prayer for my condition a couple of times, and by God's grace and miraculous power, He has eased my symptoms and given me an indescribable peace about the whole situation. Such a blessing!

By nature, I can easily accept my condition and just say, "it's alright, I'm used to it, I'll just always be this way". How stupid of me. Can't believe I even thought that! Once we get too comfortable is when life starts taking it's toll, we come the devil's dartboard, and the true meaning in life is gone.

In the wise words of Switchfoot, "This is your life, are you who you want to be? This is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be? When the world was younger and you had everything to lose" ... I hear that song playing in my head and I'm thinking, "NO! This isn't who I want to be. I don't want to be that loner lady who stays at home and has no fun because she can't control her bowels. NO! I don't want to be that mom that ditches her shopping cart in Target and grabs her kids and runs to the bathroom in hopes to make it before she craps her pants. NO! I don't want to be tired and grumpy all the time. NO! I don't want to be sticking medicated enemas up my butt every night." :-)

So, I met with an amazing nutritionist who after a 2.5 hour consultation has narrowed down my symptoms to a highly possible food allergy, and has given me herbal anti-inflammatories, herbal digestive supports, a diet guide, and weekly consultation so that we can get me back to health! And THAT is why I am now gluten free, dairy free, and caffeine free. It's going to be tough at first, but once I start seeing a difference, it will be worth every minute!!!

And now, I read food labels. I never thought I'd be that person. Normally my response would be, "Donuts? Bring 'em on! Burgers and Fries? But of course! Deep Fried Snickers Bars? Why not!!!" Ha. Not anymore. God knew I loved to read. So he's given me another area to research and read up on. I love the irony of life. Growing up, I used to always joke about poop and rewrite books and put the word poop in every sentence and read them to my sisters to make them laugh. And now, I get to deal with poop on a regular basis. God has a sense of humor, that's for sure.

Anyways, I've been praying that God would change me from the inside out, and now it begins. A whole new diet, a whole new attitude, a whole new life! Can't wait to see the difference!