Tag Archives: gluten-free

Women’s Gluten-Free Health Summit

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I remember for the longest time, I couldn’t understand what it REALLY meant to be sensitive to gluten. There was (and still is) so much conflicting information on the web… much of it in terms and words that didn’t mean anything to me and effectively left me in the dark.

Looking back, I wish that I had some way of short cutting the process and understanding gluten sensitivity in terms that made sense and gave me the confidence to talk about it to friends, family or even my health practitioners.

My friend Jennifer Fugo, the founder of Gluten Free School, is hosting an amazing online event starting September 8 called the Women’s Gluten-Free Health Summit that I know you’ll love!

CLICK HERE to check it out…

Twenty-three health experts who lecture internationally on health, autoimmunity, gluten sensitivity and cooking will dish on the latest and most valuable (and useful) information. AND they’ll show you how to actually understand and integrate it into your busy life!

Forget the “doctor speak” and science jargon that makes your head spin. Get a clear understanding not just of gluten sensitivity, but of all its major ramifications that you probably don’t often hear about, but are actually critical to your health.

Each of the thirty-minute interviews is super focused so that you get the answers you need without wasting your entire day. I know you’re busy which is why I believe this condensed format makes the most sense.

The entire Summit is online so you don’t even need to leave your home, take off from work or dealing with the kids and pay for travel.

AND… The entire event is completely free for you to attend!

It’s a total win-win for a busy woman living with gluten sensitivity who’s ready to feel confident and informed, feel empowered to advocate for herself (and her family) and be inspired to make simple, meaningful changes.

Join me at the Women’s Gluten-Free Health Summit and get the answers you need and want!

CLICK HERE to grab your free access pass!

No matter if you’re new to eating gluten-free or been at it for twenty years, there’s so many pearls of wisdom that you can gain by listening in to the Summit.

Plus I know that you’ll love the many free gifts and chances to win various prize packs just for registering for the Summit!

CLICK HERE to register now… it takes less than 30 seconds!

See you there!

Women’s Gluten-Free Health Summit

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Here’s one series I am sure not going to miss – The Women’s Gluten-Free Health Summit starting, September 8-12, 2014. This FREE ONLINE event brings over 18 gluten-free health experts who will offer the most up-to-date information on thriving with gluten sensitivity. They will take  the complexity of gluten sensitivity and break it parts to give you clear information and easy steps to feel better.
Women's Gluten-Free Health Summit

Every day, new speakers’ topics will be available. You literally can attend all the events from the comfort of your own home or even on the go at the times that work for you.
Register for the summit now!

Slow But Steady

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It’s been slow but I continue on my low carb weight loss. I’ve lost 11 lbs. I’ve stuck with it even when I feel like I’m not getting anywhere. Fortunately, I do not get cravings or feel like I’m deprived. When I look at a bowl of chocolate (my biggest downfall) I think how I will look once I start eating it again. It’s better looking in the bowl.

There have been setbacks along the way. I’ve had problems with acid reflux. I’m having an endoscopy and a colonoscopy tomorrow. My gastroenterologist thinks there could be another reason for my symptoms. Rather than having GERD, I may have Celiac disease. He will take a stomach biopsy to make a definitive diagnosis. I have felt better since I removed wheat and much of the gluten from my diet. It may be that I have to avoid all gluten. Either way, it’s better to know than not.

I’ve tried as best I can to eat low carb and stick to the regimen. Try as I might it is to follow the program, it’s really difficult to get 12-15 grams of carbohydrates from vegetables! It may be the one reason I think I’m not losing as quickly as others. Eating a chef salad the size of a basketball for lunch and having several other vegetables during the day still doesn’t always get me to the goal of 12-15 grams.  But I keep trying.

No matter what the medical tests say, I will continue to work on this low carb diet until I get where I want to be. Twenty more pounds to go. If I make it there, I will post a before and after picture of myself. I don’t want the before picture on the web without the after! I’m not that secure yet.

If you’re my age and you haven’t had a colonoscopy, I urge you to do so. The toughest part is the preparation. But it might save your life!

Gluten-Free Sites

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One of the best thing about One Dish Cuisine, the local gluten-free restaurant, is that the owner tries to help people with allergies eat right. She provides a list of sites that are provide gluten-free information and apps that help find gluten-free restaurants.

The best thing about eating gluten-free is how the body processes the food so much better. ‘Nuff said. I can really feel the difference when I don’t eat gluten-free. Food sits heavy on my stomach. Sometimes if I eat wheat, I feel like there’s a lead weight in my stomach. My energy seems to lag and I generally feel lethargic.

I’m not saying that eating gluten-free will be the cure for everyone. But if you feel poorly after eating any type of processed food, grains that have been stripped of their nutrients (like regular white bread), then you should try just two weeks gluten-free. Clear your system of all gluten products – you’ll be surprised how many there are. Then eat gluten-free for the trial period. See if you don’t feel better, even if it’s just the intestinal relief.

I’m fortunate enough not to be Celiac but if you don’t know if you are, ask your doctor to test you. It’s just a blood test but it’s worth knowing to help yourself feel better. Food is such an important part of our lives. We have to eat to survive so we might as well enjoy it.

Now my challenge is to balance my enjoyment of food (because I love to eat) with the reality that I need to eat less and exercise more.

We’re Committed to a Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Paleo Diet

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We made the commitment to go all the way – three meals a day – with a gluten-free, dairy-free, Paleo diet. Both my husband and I are making the change to CustomFit Meals. It only makes sense if one of us is going to make a change we both should to support each other.

Out of the house goes the chips, krispies treats, and anything else that is going to distract us from healthy eating and get that weight down. My husband is the salty snacker. He loves the chips and crackers. I’m the sweet snacker. Give me chocolate, ice cream, and anything sweet. If we don’t have the food here to tempt us, then we are more likely to succeed.

Tonight, I had the Chicken Taco Bowl. Lots of shredded chicken with tangy salsa over red rice and crunchy cabbage. I’m a person who doesn’t eat spicy food. This has a bite to it, but not too much. If I felt I was getting too much heat, I scraped off the salsa. The chicken and cabbage we delicious. I wanted to heat up the chicken but not the cabbage so I lightly heated the chicken just to remove the coldness. But I really liked the cabbage cold with the chicken. It had a nice contrast.

I did hit the treadmill. I had the uphill climb tonight. It really kicked my butt. Walking uphill is hard enough. Walking uphill on a treadmill that changes speed is harder and a bit tricky. I did have to hold on to the arm rails when I was at the peak of the pitch but I completed the distance.

I need to change-up my iFit routine with Jillian Michaels. I really believe she must be the toughest trainer around. I can feel the “burn” just doing these workouts on the treadmill.

Looking forward to tomorrow’s gluten-free, dairy-free, Paleo diet meal that is going to help me lose this weight.

If you want to try CustomFit Meals, use discount code "angelaatkins" for 10% off your first order.

CustomFit Meals – Discount Code Included

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I found it. The food that I have been looking for to help me win my battle with weight. It’s CustomFit Meals. I have tried it and meets the criteria – has to taste good and be good to eat. I have my husband to thank for this great find. The gym where he works out is associated with CustomFit Meals. I thought the food was just for weight lifters or hard body types. Was I ever wrong!

Today, I had the “Spaghetti & Meatballs” – sweet potato “noodles” never tasted so good. Honestly, I am not a sweet potato fan but I really enjoyed this combination. The meatballs were real beef. No fat or greasy drippings in the food. Just a great flavor combined in tomato sauce. Wow, I’m starting to sound like a commercial.

I was so impressed with the food that I contacted CustomFit and asked them about their philosophy. All of their food is gluten-free. That’s the first big plus for me. They’re also dairy-free. That’s a big plus for anyone who has allergies. They follow the paleo diet (eat like a caveman philosophy). Healthy food that tastes good – check!

What I was more than pleased about is CustomFit Meals offered any reader who orders through this site – use my name (“angelaatkins“) in the discount code box – a 10% discount on the first order. How’s that for a company who believes in their food. I can’t wait to see how much weight I lose just eating their food.

The best part of their food is that it’s fresh. Chefs make it twice a week and ship to the local CrossFit gym locations. Pick up is so easy. Prepay and all you have to do is swing by and pick it up on your way home from work or stop by in the morning and have it for lunch that day. We pick up on Mondays and Thursdays.

I’ll be totally honest about what I like and how it works. Now let’s see if the weight comes off…

And the weight loss is…

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A half a pound. That’s right. Not even a full pound. All I can think is I am an older woman (as much as I hate to believe it), my metabolism is slower, my hormones are what they used to be and the body doesn’t work as well as it did in my 20’s or 30’s. But this is ridiculous.

So I’m trying a detox diet to get rid of all of the toxins built up in my system. I’m going totally gluten free, no processed sugars, no whole grains, and no red meat. I’ve ordered gluten free oatmeal, coconut milk, chia seeds, and coconut oil. I’m going to try two weeks of this detox to see if I can kick start the weight loss. No eggs or coffee for breakfast. Lean protein – chicken or fish – for main meals. No processed sugar of any kind. Protein bars are a joke for someone like me. They are for real athletes who need large amounts of carbs to keep them moving.

I will share recipes when I find good ones. They have to taste good – that’s the first criteria. If I won’t eat them, then I won’t recommend them to anyone else. Plus I need to satisfy my sweet tooth in one way or another. I did find a one ingredient “soft ice cream” recipe that is really good. I had never tried this before but some friends recommended it.

Peel a banana, cut it into rings, and freeze for a couple of hours. Place the frozen banana rings in a blender or food processor and blend the heck out of them. When they are the consistency of soft ice cream, you’ve got dessert. The first time I tried it I was surprised. The consistency was right and if you like bananas, and I do, it’s a great substitute for soft ice cream.

Detox starts in a day, more to come.

First Day of Weights Workout

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There are muscles that I just didn’t know would hurt that hurt. I started the first day of dumbbell workouts. Starting with my shoulders and then moved down my body. It took me a lot longer than I thought it would. I feel that I be able to get faster with the exercises once I commit them to memory.

My shoulders were already a bit weary but I managed to get through it. What I didn’t expect was the feeling of muscle strain in my stomach. I don’t think I have used those muscles in years (I guess I’ve only used them to eat). I can feel the muscles that were stretched across my rib area. I only hope that it gets easier with time.

My plan is now to alternate workouts. One day on the treadmill, one day of weights. I’ve got to kick start this weight loss. I feel that I haven’t lost any weight but I’m hoping that I’m building muscle underneath the soft stuff. I have to hang onto that until I see the numbers move on the scale.

I still have to figure out what the best food is to eat. I am getting conflicting information. I’ve been eating a gluten-free diet for a while now. I don’t have Celiac disease but I do have a wheat allergy. So I’m not putting too much weight in the sources that say that whole grains are part of a healthy diet. Processed grains are terrible. Whole grains make me feel like there is a brick in my stomach. Since I have been eating a gluten-free diet I have felt better. But there are many prepared gluten-free foods that are higher in calories. And it’s all about calories in, calories out.

It’s time that I step up the treadmill workout too. I’m going to check out a new Jillian Michaels workout on the iFit program. I’m not ready for running, I know that but I need to push myself past my comfort zone.

Can I push myself harder???