Anyone Cheat?

[jenvan]

I do cheat. I don't eat a bowl of pasta or a slice of pizza but if there is terryaki ribs in front of me I will have one. Only one. I don't react like most of you do. I get diarreha once, after that, back to normal. If I take Revitalx right after, I usually don't have any side effects. No pains or anything. I, on average, cheat maybe twice a month.

Do you have diagnosed Celiac Disease? Or gluten intolerance? If it is the later...I won't speak to that...but if it is Celiac, I want to remind that reactions are at times irrelevant when it comes to internal/organ system damage. Doing a cleanse will not prevent you from suffering internal damage, and side effects can not be relied on as an accurate means of measuring damage. The history of my own symptoms is proof of that. Twice a month may mean a host of things--lack of healing, a continued elevated risk for premature death and lymphomas that are nearly always fatal. Not trying to start a conflict...everyone makes their own decisions, but I would hate someone riding the fence to read a post here and decide to engage in behavior that may be harmful to themselves.

[tarnalberry]

I think the divide between getting symptoms and not cheating, and not getting symptoms and cheating, is interesting.

Though I don't get much in the way of symptoms - certainly nothing definitive that I was glutened, I've read enough about the damage to my system that I won't risk it and never cheat. I'd probably be in the 'never cheat because it hurts too much' camp if I got symptoms, but instead I'm in the 'not worth the long term risk to my health that occurs regardless of symptoms' camp.

[Guest stef 4 dogs]

I think the divide between getting symptoms and not cheating, and not getting symptoms and cheating, is interesting.

Though I don't get much in the way of symptoms - certainly nothing definitive that I was glutened, I've read enough about the damage to my system that I won't risk it and never cheat. I'd probably be in the 'never cheat because it hurts too much' camp if I got symptoms, but instead I'm in the 'not worth the long term risk to my health that occurs regardless of symptoms' camp.

Hi, Although I'm fairly new to this, I must confess I think of cheating at every single meal. I miss bread and cereal and pizza and candy and everything bad for me. I cry when I have to go grocery shopping. I hate family meals because I feel left out and I know boo hoo for me.... I have been accidently glutened and felt awful and don't want to cheat, but I am so in mourning and sad about this I think I may cheat someday because this sucks. And for those of you wondering, sometimes I truly don't care if it kills me. I'm not someone who can suck it up and I know there are worse things in the world than having to eat healthy to survive, but I LOVE FOOD!!!! It feels like a bad punishment! Remember when we were kids and you couldn't wait to be able to make your own choices about anything? Well this feels like regression! There I said it out loud and I'm not unhappy I did! Can we say a little bitter folks?!!! I know I 'm having a pitty party today, sorry for b%$@#ing but I can't do it at home they don't really understand!

stef 4 dogs

[VydorScope]

I think the divide between getting symptoms and not cheating, and not getting symptoms and cheating, is interesting.

Reminds me of palov's dogs.

[francelajoie]

Do you have diagnosed Celiac Disease? Or gluten intolerance? If it is the later...I won't speak to that...but if it is Celiac, I want to remind that reactions are at times irrelevant when it comes to internal/organ system damage. Doing a cleanse will not prevent you from suffering internal damage, and side effects can not be relied on as an accurate means of measuring damage. The history of my own symptoms is proof of that. Twice a month may mean a host of things--lack of healing, a continued elevated risk for premature death and lymphomas that are nearly always fatal. Not trying to start a conflict...everyone makes their own decisions, but I would hate someone riding the fence to read a post here and decide to engage in behavior that may be harmful to themselves.

Gluten Intolorance is a form of Celiac disease. Cheating once in a while is a personal decision. I do read what people write in these forums but I must admitt, I think I am old enough to make my own decisions. If it kills me, so be it. I will have died happy and on a full stomach.

If people decide to engage in behavior that may harm them because of what I write, I think that is their own choice.

[Linda352]

Hi, Although I'm fairly new to this, I must confess I think of cheating at every single meal. I miss bread and cereal and pizza and candy and everything bad for me. I cry when I have to go grocery shopping. I hate family meals because I feel left out and I know boo hoo for me.... I have been accidently glutened and felt awful and don't want to cheat, but I am so in mourning and sad about this I think I may cheat someday because this sucks. And for those of you wondering, sometimes I truly don't care if it kills me. I'm not someone who can suck it up and I know there are worse things in the world than having to eat healthy to survive, but I LOVE FOOD!!!! It feels like a bad punishment! Remember when we were kids and you couldn't wait to be able to make your own choices about anything? Well this feels like regression! There I said it out loud and I'm not unhappy I did! Can we say a little bitter folks?!!! I know I 'm having a pitty party today, sorry for b%$@#ing but I can't do it at home they don't really understand!

stef 4 dogs

Steph...Count me on on your pity party I miss the breads and all the other good .. I mean bad stuff. I've done pretty well staying away from bread since summer when I had to eliminate it while doing the South Beach Diet. This is what got me thinking about the gluten factor giving me a problem as I felt much better when I didn't eat this back then. I have been missing pizza and found a recipe using non gluten flour for the crust. It came out pretty good and will do this when my pizza craving comes on. I've just ordered a couple of gluten free cookbooks so I can get around this problem and still enjoy and cook decent meals for the family. I, too, am a newbie at this so you are not alone by any means in this. Hang in there

Linda/NJ

[penguin]

Gluten Intolorance is a form of Celiac disease. Cheating once in a while is a personal decision. I do read what people write in these forums but I must admitt, I think I am old enough to make my own decisions. If it kills me, so be it. I will have died happy and on a full stomach.

If people decide to engage in behavior that may harm them because of what I write, I think that is their own choice.

Well, smokers continue to smoke until it kills them. Drinkers continue to drink until it kills them. Drug addicts continue to do drugs until it it kills them. How many of the people that said, "I don't care if it kills me" grasp at straws wishing to go back in time and take back all of those years of addiction on their death bed?

Like any other addiction, one has to realize they have a problem before they can let it go.

If you want to take the chance to die a slow, painful death with a colostomy bag, more power to you.

BTW: Celiac disease is a form of gluten intolerance, not the other way around.

[cgilsing]

I totally agree with Vincents earlier comments! I never ever cheat and I'm angry if I find out that I accidentally was glutened.....but then I get very very ill if I have even a small amount. The thought of eating a bite of cake or a cookie is very similar to my thoughts about eating chicken that has been sitting at room temp. for 2 days! I have to admit though that if my reaction to gluten was much less severe......I would probably be more likely to cheat. I find that I'm more careless if I'm starving hungry and haven't had an accidental glutening in a long time. I start to forget how bad it is.

[Guest stef 4 dogs]

Steph...Count me on on your pity party I miss the breads and all the other good .. I mean bad stuff. I've done pretty well staying away from bread since summer when I had to eliminate it while doing the South Beach Diet. This is what got me thinking about the gluten factor giving me a problem as I felt much better when I didn't eat this back then. I have been missing pizza and found a recipe using non gluten flour for the crust. It came out pretty good and will do this when my pizza craving comes on. I've just ordered a couple of gluten free cookbooks so I can get around this problem and still enjoy and cook decent meals for the family. I, too, am a newbie at this so you are not alone by any means in this. Hang in there

Linda/NJ

Thanks Linda, I'm glad I'm not alone! Sometimes I just get sick of sucking up the smells of everyone's food and not being able to eat it! Okay I admit, a little weight loss won't be a bad thing, but by my choice would be better than force! I'm just having a crappy day! Thanks for being a shoulder to lean on!

stef

[francelajoie]

Well, smokers continue to smoke until it kills them. Drinkers continue to drink until it kills them. Drug addicts continue to do drugs until it it kills them. How many of the people that said, "I don't care if it kills me" grasp at straws wishing to go back in time and take back all of those years of addiction on their death bed?

Like any other addiction, one has to realize they have a problem before they can let it go.

If you want to take the chance to die a slow, painful death with a colostomy bag, more power to you.

BTW: Celiac disease is a form of gluten intolerance, not the other way around.

Yes Doctor

[elye]

I think a much bigger question is this: How many of you (us!) who experience no symptoms when glutened knowingly cheat? That would be me, and the only time I have cheated in six months was when I had to have sugar immediately (type one diabetic) and grabbed the one sugar source that was there--a vending machine chocolate bar. No symptoms after...and I'm sure we silent celiacs have a much tougher time not cheating than those who DO suffer.

[jenvan]

Gluten Intolorance is a form of Celiac disease. Cheating once in a while is a personal decision. I do read what people write in these forums but I must admitt, I think I am old enough to make my own decisions. If it kills me, so be it. I will have died happy and on a full stomach.

If people decide to engage in behavior that may harm them because of what I write, I think that is their own choice.

France-

I totally agree with you about people making their own decisions, as I said in my first post. We all choose whom to trust and what path to take etc etc. Also, although I ended up calling you out with a question, so to speak, I did mention my concern with this thread leading someone astray. My contention with your earlier statement is that you mentioned the cleanse and your lack of serious symptoms, seemingly as a justification or qualification for cheating. As a person who cares about the general population here, my hope is people make the best decisions for their health/well-being. However, it isn't my responsibilty to make others' decisions as you stated. My issue was that if you say you cheat, then say it, don't qualify or justify it.

[Guest BERNESES]

I'm sure we silent celiacs have a much tougher time not cheating than those who DO suffer.

I think you're probably right about that. I was saying to my husband how difficult it must be to not feel sick and wake up one day and have someone say, "OK, no pizza, pasta, bread, etc for the rest of your life." When I stopped eating gluten it was because I felt like I was dying and would have given ANYTHING to stop how sick I felt.

And Stef, everyone is allowed to have pity parties. It's NOT easy, especially when people in your life don't understand.

I won't lecture you but I would hate to see you get to the point where you actually do feel like you're dying (or you are dying) because it hurts like Hell and I watched my mom die from a GI cancer. It's not pretty and it's not over in 2 seconds. (And yes- you can be mad at me for saying that. I just wouldn't want anyone to think that dying on a full stomach with cancer is an option- you basically starve to death).

Hang in there, Beverly

[sparkles]

I don't cheat on purpose but I think there is a lot of hidden gluten out there. Like eating food that is supposedly gluten-free only to find out that the conveyor belts are dusted with flour or that there is the possibility of CC in plants even though the foods are gluten-free. I remember all too vividly how ill I was for about 15 years and in no way want to go back to that! I suffered from migraines, joint aches, depression, gastro problems, the BIG D, colon cancer, etc. It is not worth the risk.

[tarnalberry]

...I know there are worse things in the world than having to eat healthy to survive, but I LOVE FOOD!!!! It feels like a bad punishment! Remember when we were kids and you couldn't wait to be able to make your own choices about anything? Well this feels like regression! There I said it out loud and I'm not unhappy I did! Can we say a little bitter folks?!!! I know I 'm having a pitty party today, sorry for b%$@#ing but I can't do it at home they don't really understand!

while I don't discount the desire for gluten containing foods, eating healthy doesn't deprive you of food, good food, tasty food, or decadent food. I entertain all the time, and only cook Gluten-free Casein-free, and out of the 24 people who have eated at our house in the past five months, all of them have loved and asked for recipes for the food I've made - and there's been virtually no repeats in all those meals (~10). so I don't understand feeling like 'there's nothing good left to eat' on the diet.

on the other hand, I DO understand how it feels like regression to have some of those options taken away from you. all the more so because you used to have those options. (you're probably not bitter over the fact that you can't sprinkle a little rat poison on your food or add a little flavorful mercury to your tea, because those never were options.) and even more so because other people still have those options as well. in that sense, it is regression. and it sucks. taking away options and being 'forced' to say no, even if you don't 'want' to, sucks. knowing that we can adapt around it just fine doesn't actually give us back what we feel was taken away from us, so, yeah, it's only a small comfort. yeah, that bit sucks. and I'm sorry all of us have that bit. 'cause it sucks. :-P

[Guest BERNESES]

Yep- no two ways around it. It does suck, but maybe as people become more aware it will get better. Yesterday I walked into the office and everyone was eating this big gooey chocolate cake and asked me if I wanted a slice. I said that I couldn't eat anything with wheat, rye, barley or oats. They were all aghast. Then I threw out at them that I eat flourless chocolate cake which is even better because there's no air and it's PURE CHOCOLATE LOVE.

But there are days where I DO feel like there is nothing to eat on this diet.

[IronedOut]

I think a much bigger question is this: How many of you (us!) who experience no symptoms when glutened knowingly cheat? That would be me, and the only time I have cheated in six months was when I had to have sugar immediately (type one diabetic) and grabbed the one sugar source that was there--a vending machine chocolate bar. No symptoms after...and I'm sure we silent celiacs have a much tougher time not cheating than those who DO suffer.

Amen to that.

[bknutson]

I cheat, I guess it is because I get so dang frustrated and I get to thinking it is all bull. A few years ago my husband and I were told we had lymes disease and were sent all over and spent thousands of dollars and it was bull. So once in a while I get feeling that way. So I test it, I guess. Then I pay for it Really bad. You would think I would learn but I am really stupid. My hair will fall out as soon as I do it. My stomach hurts. I know it isnt bull because I have felt so much better but I am just a stupid old lady.

[Guest BERNESES]

I cheat, I guess it is because I get so dang frustrated and I get to thinking it is all bull. A few years ago my husband and I were told we had lymes disease and were sent all over and spent thousands of dollars and it was bull. So once in a while I get feeling that way. So I test it, I guess.

You're not a stupid old lady- you're human!

[Guest Viola]

You're not a stupid old lady- you're human!

I agree! There's nothing wrong with being human. Don't be so hard on yourself1

[CMCM]

I think you just have to make peace with it. I suppose the hardest is for the person with NO symptoms at all...it would just be hard to accept that the condition actually exists. If you get really really sick, I would think it's easier. Then for the group in the middle, there's perhaps a bit of struggle. I do find it's getting easier for me. I don't really crave anything in particular, but my frustration arises when I find something to eat and then can't. For example, today I found a can of Amy's gluten free cream of squash soup. But it has milk in it, so it's out for me. My reactions these days seem more extreme than in years past, and my recent cheat with Sara Lee was really painful, so that's a good reminder for me and gives me extra motivation to stay completely gluten free. And the whole thing is getting more routine, so that's good.

[Rusla]

I believe for people who have no symptoms it is much harder for them than, for us who do suffer. It is also more difficult fo those who are trying to cook dinners with gluten for some of their family and for those who can't have gluten. They are getting glutened by accident while making food for them and it is hard on them, it is like having an alcoholic work in a distillery.

I personally would not cheat because that is me and I don't enjoy pain as I said before. However, I do not believe any adult has a right to tell another adult what they can do, eat, read or watch. The exceptions to that is committing crimes, child pornography, bestiality and anything related to those things.

What a person eats, wears, reads, is no businesss of mine. I do not wish to control everyone and make them eat what I do because I can't have what they can. On the same token if they have this disease and the wish to cheat so be it, they are not harming me, they are harming themselves. I do understand that they are having a tough time staying gluten-free and they have to make peace with that on their own accord. It is none of my business if a person wishes to harm themselves with liquor, food, cigarettes or whatever. The only time I would intervene is if it was to personally affect me or those I love.A person has to do what they have to do and deal with their issues on their own terms.

[paw]

I think about it sometimes -- when there is nothing safe to eat and it has been all day since I had food. Everyone around me is able to just "grab something quick" and go on with their day. I wish I could do that too. When there is nothing safe to eat, I don't eat.

I am afraid of D, stomach pain, headache and all that. Even when I am really hungry I can't pick up that wheaty thing. I am not doing it because I am such a great person with will power. I just don't want to lie around barfing with a monster migraine for a few bites of junk food.

[RiceCake]

I used to cheat, in the beginning. Since I was never properly diagnosed, I went through a long period of thinking I was "just a little intolerant to wheat" or that "my symptoms aren't so bad", or "how can one little bit of cookie hurt me?" It was especially hard when I was at work late and starving and had nothing to eat. Through many incidents and accidents, I have finally come to terms with this condition.

Now, I will never, ever purposely put anything with gluten in it in my mouth. I even get nervous being around flour. It has sickened me too much, too many times. I still have occasional accidents that just serve to remind me that this is not going away. My sensitivity seems to have increased as well, since now just a little bit of CC in a restaurant will make my throat itch and sinuses congest - well before any other symptoms. Then it's a good 2 weeks before I feel close to normal again, and who knows how long until I feel "good". Denial is a strong habit though, even now when I get the throat itch, sometimes I will convince myself its just dry or maybe I am coming down with a cold. "My sauceless stir-fried rice couldn't possibly have gluten it." Just so I can stay in the restaurant and eat like a normal person. I always pay later.

[mopsie]

It's bad enough getting gluten accidently so, no, I don't cheat, but I do like to sniff hubby's bread once in a while and it smells soo good!