SS&GF: Simply Sugar and Gluten Free

Fabulous food made healthier!

  • Home
  • About
    • About Amy
    • Before & After Pics
  • Cookbook
    • About
  • Events
  • Media
    • Bio
    • Press Kit
    • Articles
  • Recipes
    • Ingredients
    • Substitutions
    • Recipe Box
    • Shopping List
  • Slightly Indulgent

Get Your SS&GF Fix:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • RSS
  • Email
  • Pinterest
  • Google Plus
  • Allergy-Free
    • Corn-Free
    • Dairy-Free
    • Egg-Free
    • Grain-Free
    • Nut-Free
    • Soy-Free
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
    • Xanthan/Guar Gum-Free
  • Beverages
    • Juices
    • Other Drinks
    • Smoothies
  • Breads
    • Quick
    • Yeast
  • Breakfast
    • Coffee Cakes
    • Entrees
    • Fruit Dishes
    • Muffins
    • Special
  • Desserts
    • Cakes
    • Cookies & Bars
    • Cupcakes
    • Frosting & Sauces
    • Frozen
    • Fruit Desserts
    • Holiday
    • Other Desserts
    • Pies, Tarts, & Crusts
    • Puddings
  • Entrees
    • Chicken
    • CrockPot/Pressure Cooker
    • Fish
    • Holiday
    • Make-Ahead
    • Pasta Entrees
    • Pork
    • Spice Mixes
    • Turkey
    • Vegetarian/Vegan
  • How To
  • Salads/Sides
    • Beans
    • Dresssings
    • Holiday
    • Other Sides
    • Pasta Sides
    • Salad
    • Salad Dresssings
    • Vegetables
    • Whole Grains
  • Starters
    • Dips
    • Snacks
    • Spreads
    • Starters
  • Soups
    • Meaty Soups
    • Stock
    • Vegetable
    • Vegetarian/Vegan

The Allergy & the Solution, part 4

Posted on July 29, 2009
Tweet

Thanks for stopping by! Make sure to subscribe to my monthly newsletter for content not on my blog. And, don't forget to get my recipes in your inbox!

Christmas, 2007

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4

Webster’s defines “allergy” as an “altered bodily reactivity (as hypersensitivity) to an antigen in response to afirst exposure.” My body most definitely has an altered response. When I eat flour or sugar, my body starts to crave more and more. In fact, no amount of flour and sugar was ever enough. This is why I failed at every diet I’ve ever tried. I couldn’t eat flour or sugar without having the cravings and the cravings always resulted in too much food. So the only option was to let go of the flour and sugar and find another way to eat.

With some help, I gained awareness about my food patterns, realizing that I ate all day long. I learned how to plan my food and started eating 3 meals and 2 snacks a day with nothing in between. At first I thought I might starve to death between breakfast and lunch. It hasn’t happened yet.

I also learned how to order food in restaurants, how to ask questions about how food is prepared, and how to participate in celebrations and get-togethers and taking care of myself.

I didn’t eliminate sugar and gluten from my diet to lose weight. I did it to try and get some peace in my life.  But one day, I was getting ready for work and my clothes were loose. I smiled, grateful that I was fully aware of what had caused the change.

It took a lot of prayer, patience, and determination to live a better life. Some days it still does. People always ask how I “live like this” as if it’s a step down. The honest truth is that it’s a step up. For me, there is no bigger prison than living in a body I hated and not being able to get out.

Our Honeymoon, Nov. 2008

My weight has been constant for almost 6 years, about 110 pounds give or take a 5 pounds or so. Food no longer rules my life. I have a freedom that brings joy and peace. I am healthy and happy with who I am and how I show up in the world today.

In the spring of 2009, I was diagnosed with a mild form of early-onset osteoarthritis.  It affects mostly my right hand and my knees.  Occasionally I have trouble with my feet and ankles.  My doctor recommended some supplements which have, thankfully, eliminated nearly all the pain & stiffness.  My hand gets a little achy when I do a lot of typing, but I’m not dropping things anymore.  Aside from taking supplements, the other ways to manage this are keeping my weight as is to mimimize joint stress and regular, low-impact exercise.  Thank goodness I can do that today.

I know that there are other people like me out there. I want them to know that there’s a better way to live.

It’s completely possible and within your grasp. Anyone can do it if I did.

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4

  • delicious Bookmark on Delicious
  • facebook Recommend on Facebook
  • pinterest Pin it on pinterest
  • reddit share via Reddit
  • stumble Share with Stumblers
  • twitter Tweet about it
  • email Tell a friend
121 Comments
  • Book cover
    AmazonBarnes and Noble



  • Portrait of Amy

    About Amy

    Living free of refined sugars and gluten since 2004 has allowed me to live a fulfilled, healthy life. My food cravings, migraines, and depression vanished and was able to maintain a 60+ pound weight loss. Today I live with enormous freedom. Join me as I create healthier food that's SS&GF and delicious. I hope to help you do the same. Read more about my story here.

    Contact Meet Amy

  • Recent Comments

    • Tonya on Raw Lemon Cheesecake Bars: I LOVE these! Easy to make, good for you, and oh so yummy! I substituted Almond...
    • Angela on Slightly Indulgent Tuesday; 05/28/13: Hi, Amy! I am sharing a dressing I made for Easter, but never got...
    • Heather @Gluten-Free Cat on Slightly Indulgent Tuesday; 05/28/13: Hi Amy! Hope you had a nice Memorial Day. I spent...
    • Lauren on Slightly Indulgent Tuesday; 05/28/13: Thanks for hosting Amy! I hope you’re having a lovely Memorial...
    • Sandi @ Sandi'sAllergyFreeRecipes on Slightly Indulgent Tuesday; 05/28/13: Hi Amy! Happy Memorial Day to you! This...
  • Recent Posts

    • Slightly Indulgent Tuesday; 05/28/13

    • Weekend Cooking & Pinterest Finds {May 25, 2013}

    • Memorial Day Recipes

    • Slightly Indulgent Tuesday; 05/21/13

    • Raw Lemon Cheesecake Bars

  • Green_Banner_SIR086

  • Blog design by Lion Face Studio
  • I use my VitaMix every day. If you're going to buy one, consider supporting SS&GF and buying it through the link above.
  • SS&GF Favs:

  • + Get code for this badge- Hide code for this badge


    <a href="http://simplysugarandglutenfree.com" target="_blank" ><img class="aligncenter" src="http://simplysugarandglutenfree.com/wp-content/themes/ssgf/images/badge.png" ></a>
  • + Get code for this badge- Hide code for this badge


    <a href="http://simplysugarandglutenfree.com" target="_blank" ><img class="aligncenter" src="http://www.simplysugarandglutenfree.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/slightly_indulgent_tue.JPG" ></a>
  • Web Analytics

  • Home
  • Articles
  • Before & After Pics
  • Recipes
  • Ingredients & Resources
  • Slightly Indulgent
  • Meet Amy

© 2008-2011 Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free. Owned by Amy Green Consulting, LLC. All rights reserved.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free Disclosure Policy Website powered by Wordpress. Website Designed & Coded by Lion Face Studio.
Disclaimer: Information on this web site was obtained from a variety of resources, including medical and nutritional publications and is provided for informational purposes only. The information on this site is not medical advice and is not intended to replace the advice or attention of health care professionals. Consult your practitioner before beginning or making changes to your diet, supplements, exercise program, diagnosis or treatment of illness or injuries and for advice regarding medications. Statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.

Featuring Recent Posts Wordpress Widget development by YD