Hello and Happy What I Ate Wednesday to you, brought to you by the always fab Jenn at Peas & Crayons, this is my first gluten-free edition!
Okay, I need some help from you guys, if you will. You’ve probably heard me complaining about ht extreme bloating I get (all the time) that makes me look pregnant. I tried probiotics, which definitely helped for a few months, but over the past 4-6 weeks I feel like they don’t work anymore and I’m bummed.
I spoke with my doctor and he thinks it due to some sort of food allergy or sensitivity. I’ve been doing some research and have decided to try going gluten free. While I really don’t think this is the source of my problem, I just want to be able to rule it out. I don’t have a lot of the issues that someone with a gluten intolerance has and I know I do not have an allergy to gluten, but my thoughts are maybe I just have a very slight intolerance just enough to give me this bloating but no more severe symptoms. I know a lot of you lead gluten free lifestyles and I was hoping you could take a minute and give me your opinion. For all I know, I could be way off base here. My main point is why not just give it a shot then I know for sure. I already probably eat gluten free a lot since I started eating clean because I cut so much of that stuff out. I’m commiting to eating gluten free for 30 days and hoping that’s long enough to give me a definitive answer. I’m going to make some mistakes since there is a lot I do not know about the lifestyle so any tips or advice would be much appreciated!
M1 – So, I have put my Ezekiel bread in the freezer and will try to get some gluten free bread this week. In the meantime I will not be having any cinnamon toast. Tear. But, I did make some super yum chocolate protein oats this morning with my GNC chocolate egg protein!
M2 – 2 Cinnamon swirl protein muffins (modified from Jamie Eason’s recipe) and 1/2 cup of Fage greek yogurt with True Raspberry Lemonade in it. I also had a tbsp on almond butter.
M3 – We went out to lunch at work and had I had a great salad and the most fabulous artichoke soup!!
M4 - I had a doctor’s appt today and it totally screwed up my eating. M3 was really late today and stayed pretty full from lunch so M4 never really happened. Gasp!!
M5 – Salad with salsa chicken and 1/2 an avocado and a few black beans. Yes, again.
M6 – 1/2 c. nonfat cottage cheese with cherries, my new fav!
Cross your fingers for me please that I’m able to stick to this commitment that I made and if gluten is not the culprit then I guess I’ll just have to continue to try and cut things out of my diet until I’m able to figure out what is!!
Your gluten-free meals look really really good! It seems like you already ate pretty clean and in tune with your body, so the gluten is most likely the culprit. It definitely has worked wonders for me. Anytime I have it now, I get “Gluten Gut” and puffy.
Thank you! Yes, I do and I feel that I am. Unfortunately I’m not sure that it is the culprit, but I must admit, I’m hoping it is. Just to have some answers. I’m so glad going GF has worked so well for you, thanks for your comment!
Hey Kristin,
I follow you on Instagram and saw you were trialing gluten free. I get bloated ALL the time. Usually, in the morning i’m flatter than a pancake, but by 3 pm I look like I’m about 4 months pregnant. I’ve never been pregnant!
I’ve seen a GI multiple times and had a colonoscopy and blood work done for Celiac. No sign of an actual allergy, but definitely intolerant. The only way to “treat” a gluten intolerance is to eat that diet. It’s hard in the beginning, but after you know what works for you, it becomes easier. I also went dairy free too, which is horribly difficult! I see everyone’s posts for yogurt and tear up! I miss my greek yogurt!
Have you tried taking a digestive enzyme before you eat? i still get some bloat and cramping from my unmanaged IBS, and i’ve noticed that taking an enzyme with alpha-galactosidase helps! But just beware of “beano” if you’re gluten intolerant it has gluten in it!
Oh yay! Love IG! Yes, I thought I’d give it a month. I’m glad you figured out your issue. And I’m sorry about the dairy too, ugh. It’s very possible that I’m wrong, but I thought those who were lactose intolerant were usually okay with greek yogurt, that the lactose is removed through the straining process? I have not tried the digestive enzyme but that is definitely on my list after this GF trial! Thanks so much for the tips!!
Hi Kristin,
I have alot of the same stomach issues with bloating and probitics helped me for a while and then quit too. I’ve found switching probiotics helps. I’m not sure if our bodies get used to a specific one but it helped and going gluten free has been the best thing I’ve ever done.
Its made a world of difference with the bloating,gas, feeling full and retaining water and overall more energy.
Good luck.
Okay, I will try a new one when my bottle is empty (they are too expensive to waste lol). I’m so glad to hear how much better you’re doing! I’m not seeing any miraculous changes. I’m actually pretty bummed. I thought that after 3 days I should notice maybe. Thanks for writing & reading!
Hope something works, always message me if you have any questions about gluten free. Being celiac I have become a pro.
Thanks, Alex, yes, I might just take you up on that!
Oh hon, I know exactly how you feel! The same thing used to happen to me all the time. I’d wake up and be fine in the mornings but somewhere between 3 and 5pm, my stomach would swell like a balloon! I never did any elimination diets, but I did try noting what I was eating throughout the days when the pain and swelling came on. In the end…I figured it was certain vegetables (mostly cruciferous) that was causing my problem. Don’t laugh….but the top of that list? Broccoli! I know…total travesty! I took some advice from a friend and bought some Beano. I’ll chomp down on a couple of those just before a dig into one of my massive salads, and it REALLY does help (even though it’s a bit embarrassing to buy! LOL) but I still haven’t tried to eat broccoli just yet…I’m still a little scared! I hope you’re able to figure out what it is that’s causing your trouble. And I really hope it’s not gluten…if anything because gluten-free bread is just so flippin expensive (and tiny)!
The artichoke soup looks so good! And I love restaurants that serve their drinks in Mason jars!
Heather!!! Sorry to hear that you feel my pain!! I will take that advice, thank you! Ditto on the mason jars, and the soup was soooo soooo good!! xo
Just be sure to read labels closely. I’ve found it hiding many times in seasonings and cheap cheese. Be sure your protein powder is GF too. I felt amazing the 2 else I went GF. About to start it back actually. Good luck!
Great advice, thank you so much!