Answer these few questions to find out if eating gluten free is right for you.
1. I feel so much older than I am - I make old lady noises!
2. I don’t remember the last time I had a really good poop - consitpation/diarrhea/both?
3. I am just SOOOO tired - I live on caffeine and I still can’t find the energy I need!
There may be some other things that irritate you from gluten.
moodiness
bloating
bad sleep
brain fog
And the list can go on.
But should you try the gluten free (GF) diet????
Yes, is the short answer. The fact that you clicked on this says yes. There is something that you are looking for or searching for. So yeah, you should try eating GF.
Where do you start? I have a 10 day video series that will walk you through the planning and how to’s to see if this way of eating is for you.
I have a simple plan that helps you test the theory if you should be eating gluten free. Learn my fork and knife method. I help you decide what to buy for groceries and what NOT to buy for the 10 days. Tips on how to eat out, eat with family and some pit falls that I fell into. It is a ten day trial - not a diet. And you get to eat gluten after the 10 days to see if it really IS for you.
What IF one small change could change everything?
Join my free group for access to the videos: www.Facebook.com/groups/Lifemadeeasiercleanerhealthier
You are about to feel a whole lot better.
Cheers,
Dawn
PS: Some other symptoms that gluten is not good for you are - bloating, diarrhea, constipation, irritability, fatigue, headaches, nausea or vomiting, joint aches and brain fog.
June - Books I Finished
The Andromeda Evolution - Michael Crichton
It Starts with Us - Colleen Hoover
Where the Crawdads Sing - Delia Owens
I read books for many different reasons. I found The Andromeda Evolution at a farmers market for $12. That is why I bought it - it was cheap. And I love spending money and supporting local vendors. I like to think that me spending money is helping some else decide it they can eat steak instead of hamburger.
I scanned what the book was about and I saw words like extraterrestrial microbe, evolving, until now, and epidemic. How do writers think of all this stuff!?
I loved it! So many twists and turns right to the end. When I was done I thought of the TV show the Jetsons. So many things on that show seemed unbelievable but we wondered how cool it would be. What if this is book is future casting like the Jetson’s?
I know so many people that read actual books. We are constantly sharing them. It Starts with Us is a shared book, I have no idea how many people have read this copy. My Step Daughter Paige has a friend group that shares books. And they have been on a Colleen Hoover kick for a while now. I am lucky enough to snag a couple of reads in with them.
This was the second book and it was just amazing as the first one. I find Colleen’s books are a quick easy read. There is great satisfaction is finishing a book. The book is real life and real life struggles. With hopefully no spoilers, there is always a good ending and I feel good reading it. I can get a little deep about this one too. It can help empathize as to what some people struggle with leaving an abusive relationship and how some can over come abuse from the past. We don’t have to live in where we came from - we can reinvent ourselves whenever we want or need to.
The last book was not a suggestion but a demand, lol. My cousin Jamie put a post on Facebook,”Best book ever!!! Buy it”. So of course I had to check it out. I have a library card so I have access to the LIBBY app; I borrow books and audio books from there. In my search for Where the Crawdads Sing there was an audio and a book but I had to be put on the wait list for both. The first one to come available was the audio. Then it is go time! Because I am on a timeline of 14 days and then my time is done with it. I think it was 14 hours which may sound like a long time but not really. I listen to it on my drive to work, while I am at work, and I will put in ear buds and do chores while listening. I will also listen while I work on puzzles. So it does go fast.
While I was listening I thought the story line was familiar. . . . . then I remembered that I watched the movie. Now this is was is great about me, I forget details and sometimes the whole ending, lol. I knew there was a huge twist but could remember. Perfect!
The book was definitely better than the movie. The pace of the book was calm and relaxed, they had to rush things in the movie because they only have 90 minutes. Definitely recommend to read it or listen. Listening the accents were amazing, very easy to know who was talking.
My hope it that I help you decide if you want to read one or all of the books. Maybe you put them on your list. Or give them to someone for a gift. Here are some links to make it easy for you. ENJOY! See you next month.
The Andromeda Evolution - Michael Crichton: https://amzn.to/3XRAlMA
It Starts with Us - Colleen Hoover: https://amzn.to/44rzCEl
Where the Crawdads Sing - Delia Owens: https://amzn.to/44rzCEl
Are you experiencing unusual digestive issues and are unsure of the cause?
Do you find yourself feeling fatigued, bloated, and anxious after eating certain foods?
If so, it’s possible that you may be gluten intolerant.
As a busy woman in her forties, it can be hard to keep up with your health needs.
Fortunately, understanding the symptoms of being gluten intolerant is easier than you think!
What is Gluten Intolerance?
Gluten intolerance is an inability to digest or process certain proteins found in wheat, rye, and barley. It's important to note that it’s different from celiac disease—an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten consumption—in which the body’s immune system attacks itself when exposed to gluten. In contrast, those with gluten intolerance have difficulty digesting and breaking down the proteins found in gluten-containing grains.
Symptoms of Gluten Intolerance
The most common symptoms associated with being gluten intolerant include:
- abdominal pain
- bloating
- gas
- brain fog
- fatigue
- depression
- diarrhea and/or constipation
It's also important to note that sensitive individuals may experience these symptoms soon after eating foods containing wheat or other grains containing gluten - for me I am sensitive it can be as soon as 20 minutes. However, some people may not experience any symptoms until hours later. This can make it difficult for someone to identify what food item caused their discomfort because they don't always develop immediately after eating something containing gluten.
Seek Help
If you suspect that you may be suffering from a sensitivity or intolerance to gluten-containing foods such as wheat or barley products, your first step should be to speak with a healthcare provider or nutritionist who specializes in digestive health issues. You might be celiac and that is serious.
Living with a food sensitivity isn't easy but it doesn't have to be overwhelming either! While many people attributed digestive issues like bloating and fatigue to something else—like stress—it’s possible that one could suffer from a hidden food intolerance such as being gluten intolerant without even realizing it! If you think this might be the cause of your digestive woes then speaking with a healthcare professional about it is definitely recommended.
I love sharing my journey to help others. I have tips, tricks and things I learned the hardware, lol. Join my free group for more stories and I have a series of videos that takes you through a 10 days of living gluten free.
Here is a link to my free group:
Are you sick and tired of feeling sick and tired - 10 days can change your life. It did for me!
See you soon!
Dawn
We all want to drink more water – and I needed an easier way
I have read a fabulous book called Atomic Habits by James Clear. One of the things is to make new habits easy.
How much water should we be drinking?
I found an easy formula to figure out how much water to drink in a day. Take your current weight in pounds divide it by 2 and that is the number of ounces you should drink. If you don’t weigh yourself then just guesstimate it.
Here is some easy math for you: 180 pounds / 2 = 90 / 8 ounces = 11 glass
That is almost 3 litres.
Here are my easy ways to drink more water:
- My water jugs are never empty
- Use my jugs to measure my water
- Leave it all in easy access place
My water jugs are never empty. Drinking more water is easy if my glass is always full. If I empty my Britta jug, I fill it up immediately. If I empty my glass, I fill it up immediately. This way the water is easy to get to.
I really hit the jackpot when I found my water jug! It came from Tupperware (not sure if they still make it) and IT IS 3 litres and has a nifty handle on it for me to carry it back and forth to work. My Britta jug is 1 litre so I need to drink 3 of them.
Easy!
Sorry neat freaks but I leave ALL of this on the kitchen counter. Yup, on the counter. I have a special spot but it is always accessible and always visible – this way it is hard to forget to drink it.
I hope this helps you reach your goals.
If you want to join my free group here is the link:
Join our FB Group: www.Facebook.com/groups/Lifemadeeasiercleanerhealthier
The book Atomic Habits is amazing you want a copy here is a link for it too:
My niece,Caitlyn, just turned 18; she is the youngest of my nieces and nephews so the thought of ALL of them now being adults hit me hard. This birthday was special for me as it was the first birthday party I attended for her. It may sound strange but her birthday is January 1. Obviously it is a busy day for everyone to celebrate. When she was young it was always a family fun day and then as she grew up it was sleep overs with friends AND THIS year all her extended family came to celebrate her!
So giving her the perfect gift for being a new adult was my goal. But what did she need being a new adult? Voting is important to me and my first thought was to give her the book, Indian in the Cabinet: Speaking Truth to Power by Jody Wilson-Raybould. It was a powerful book that I had read and was impacted about how I vote. BUT I couldn’t! Why, because Caitlyn is so passionate and righteous. There is so much information about systemic racism that I wanted her stay innocent for just little bit longer. But a very good book!
Here is a link for the book; https://amzn.to/3ijkCW8
So what was I suppose to give her to help her move into the next stage of life as a responsible adult?
This is what I came up with:
1. Reusable shopping bag - be good to the earth
2. Bouquet of flowers - remember to look at the beauty
3. Multi tip screwdriver - you need the right tool to solve the puzzle
4. Flashlight - your safety is important - the light protects and the handle can be used as a weapon
5. Duct Tape - sometimes a temporary fix is all you need
6. Tire Pressure gauge - you can look after yourself but you can let other help as well
7. Skip-Bo game - remember to play and laugh
8. Mike & Ike candies- at anytime you can be a kid
After I got home I thought about the gifts and the meaning and I thought I missed one. I missed the Arts - I should have also included a book or a music CD. This would have been the reminder to enjoy the arts.
I think we all need a reminder once in awhile about what we need to be an adult.
* be good to the earth
* remember to enjoy beauty and arts
* use the right tool even it is just duct tape
* you can do it yourself but letting other help is good too
* keep yourself sage
* laugh and play as a child
PS: She loved it :)
