Gratitude--What Good Things Has Celiac Brought To Your Life?

[BlessedMommy]

I like to try to focus on the good and I thought that it would be fun to have a thread where we share the things that we're thankful for, in regards to celiac/NCGI. 

 

1) I'm thankful that I can't eat cake and cookies at events anymore (unless I make or bring something of course). That is like an auto regulator on my sugar and calorie consumption.

 

2) I'm thankful that overall I eat healthier since going gluten-free. I've become a lot more focused on fresh fruit and veggies and whole unprocessed foods.

 

3) I'm learning to develop a thicker skin and not care as much about what other people think

 

 

 

Anybody have anything to add to those?

[bartfull]

I would add: The wonderful friends I have made on this forum!

[Adalaide]

I've always struggled with my weight. I realize now that it has probably been because of celiac. I would lose for seemingly no reason, and gain for seemingly no reason. When I was diagnosed I wasn't far from 250. When I went to the InstaCare last Saturday I was 212. All I'm doing is eating responsible portions and being as physically active as my CRPS allows (which isn't much ) and it's ever so slowly coming off. I even still indulge in baking and treats. I currently have three flavors of ice cream in my freezer, two nights ago I made dip and finished off my half (4 oz) with chips without realizing what I was doing (rare for me to oopsie like that) and we now have an every other week gelato date.

 

People with AI diseases are more susceptible to end up with CRPS, and I think that is how it got me. No, not grateful for that. I'm in "dear God someone shove me off a cliff" pain every day. But what I am grateful for is that although I have been left unable to work a traditional job my resolve has been solidified and I have truly learned the meaning of the values I grew up with. Last winter I got sick of sitting on my butt, I couldn't take it any more. Sure, I love video games and books but I needed to do something with my life. So I started a business. While I'm not yet what I would call "successful," I'm doing much better than many startups and am thrilled. I couldn't be happier to be working, sort of making money (even if it's just enough to sustain the business for now) and I'm making new friends at the farmers market on Saturdays and the experience has been unimaginably great.

 

And lastly, someone stoled my answer!!! I've made the best of friends here. People I never would have met otherwise and who I cherish greatly. It has been wonderful that when I thought I was losing so much, it turns out that instead I got a new family.

[Pauliewog]

I'm thankful that I have nothing more serious. I can't eat gluten. Yes, it is inconvenient but THAT IS IT. I have friends with breast cancer, MS, rhumatoid arthritis.... compared to what they are going through, I am so lucky!

[across]

For sure, your numbers 2 and 3, BlessedMommy! I actually find myself more grateful in general than I was previously. I'm so very thankful for my good (and continually improving) health, for the thicker skin that I've developed, for all the good things I DO get to eat, and for the fact that my diet is SOOO much better than it used to be! I'm also thankful with you, PaulieWog, that this is manageable by diet.

 

I'm also thankful that my taste buds have changed. I would have never thought it possible, but I now prefer veggies to junk food!!!

 

I was thinking today that I'm (strangely) thankful that I didn't find out about my celiac before now. I think that if I had learned earlier, I might not have been ready to live with the level of discipline that this requires, and might have only played around with the diet and never made the necessary changes. Getting a little older (and getting to the point of desperation!) made me ready for a full-on adoption of the diet with no looking back.

[cristiana]

I have found it such a relief at last to be able to attribute all the weird symptoms I have been having all these years to Celiac.  The diet has forced me to eat healthily and discover that healthy food isn't all that bad after all - in fact I rather like it, plus I don't have the dreadful cravings I used to have borne of years of eating what I liked just to make me feel better, because I used to be perpetually tired.  Also, as a lady once told me, who had also recently been diagnosed, although sometimes you feel a bit on the outside, it gives you a new empathy for people who are also 'different' through no fault of their own.  Great topic, BlessedMommy!

[LauraTX]

Celiac has turned me into an awesome cook!  I can make all kinds of things for myself now that I used to just go buy.  It also makes me really pay attention to what I put in my mouth, and has pushed me to eat healthier overall.

[1desperateladysaved]

I am glad that I am learning how to keep healthy.

 

It surprises me how people have been provided to help me when I need them.  Yesterday, I had a friend that is a pharmacist to help.  I get extra help from my healthcare providers, so many people want to see me succeed.

 

I am glad that my family see my example of discipline and dying to self.  Also my family is unlikely to miss the symptoms in themselves for 30 years.

 

My family learned to pitch in when they were young.  If I had, had the energy, I would have done it all and they wouldn't learn.

[GottaSki]

Friends.

 

Profoundly grateful for those I have met and filled with sorrow for the eight I have lost to this disease.

 

I remain...thankful every day

[GF Lover]

Friends and Health!

 

Colleen

[sweetsailing]

So grateful that I feel better and want to do more and have the energy to do it.

 

Grateful for the feeling I have after a great weekly workout (haven't been able to exercise for at least 3 - 4 years).

 

Grateful for the satisfaction that I get from cooking a great tasting and nutritious meal

 

Grateful for this unspoken bond that I now seem to have with my body.  If I take care of it, it will take care of me. 

[nvsmom]

Improved health. I didn't realize feeling poorly wasn't normal.  LOL

 

I also have an appreciation for other people's food requirements and issues.  I thought I was understanding before, but I think I was not as understanding as I should have  been.

[beth01]

My celiac diagnosis at 37 led to my daughter being diagnosed at age 11 so she hopefully won't have to go through all the crap I have been through.

[icelandgirl]

What a great topic!

Although I already knew he was great, the hard times and diagnosis proved yet again how lucky I am to be married to my husband. He supported me through everything, always encouraged me and immediately decided to go gluten free with me.

I'm thankful to be eating healthier than ever.

I'm thankful for the support I've found on this board...it's really gotten me through.

[BlessedMommy]

Oh another thing that I thought of, is that since being gluten-free has forced me to read all labels, I've started being more conscious of what is in products.

[Georgia-guy]

This thread should be pinned like the "newbies" thread is so the the newbies can see the upside from the start!

But my addition to the list:

-I actually feel like doing things because I'm not exhausted all the time

-As someone else listed, I'm finally able to workout and not feel even worse

-As a result of being able to workout, it is my goal to run a 5k within a year (as in run all, not walk most)

-MY HAIR ISNT FALLING OUT AS MUCH ANYMORE!!!! And hopefully it will soon stop falling out, after it grows back from shaving it all off (long story, but put a big smile on a kid's face)

That's all I can think of on my list that hasn't been mentioned yet.

[Dianaw]

I'm grateful that I'm no longer asked if I'm pregnant on a daily basis.

[Georgia-guy]

I'm grateful that I'm no longer asked if I'm pregnant on a daily basis.

I've never had that issue.

[Serielda]

Things in a positive light that this diagnosis has done for me.

It is slowly building character.

There are lots of worse things out there to have, when looking at those cases it's not so bad. 

I am finally learning how to eat the proper way and not living out of boxes.

Want to get strong self discipline, this thing will make you obtain it.

I know I am not nuts there was the whole time something causing my daily nightmare(s) and that I am not a hypochondriac. 

Saving money from not eating out and getting What the flip on a plate that looks nothing like the pictures depicted, and it has started to kind of help me with losing some weight.

[luvs2eat]

I swear that since I've been diagnosed (more than 10 years ago), I've had VERY few colds and any other illnesses. I work around lots of kids and never get their germ factory illnesses (knock on wood).

[beth01]

Generally more normal poop.

[Georgia-guy]

Generally more normal poop.

And there went my appetite. Lol.

[C-Girl]

I'm thankful that celiac disease has given me a new appreciation for food. I had gotten into a rut with cooking and my restaurant choices. Now I am far more creative, and eat better quality food.

[w8in4dave]

I an thankful for the weight loss, over 40 lbs!! Whoot! Thankful of course for the the knowledge. OMG I have learned so much here, have meet some very smart and friendly people here. Also thankful that I have friends that stick by me and don't try and get me to eat Gluten. I am thankful my allergies are not half as bad this year as they were before Dx'd. Thankful my husband is very understanding of all my diet needs. Thankful that it was Celiac and not something worse. Only a diet change This is a very nice thread!  

[cap6]

What a great topic!   Grateful for so many things:

I finally learned to cook - from scratch!

Learned how to cook and eat healthy

(and to borrow from, beth101) normal poop!!!

don't have to eat cake and pie.  Funny, but never have really liked it but would eat it at parties just cause it was expected and now I have an "excuse" not to!