The GF diet

[Tessa]

It is difficult. But who said it would be easy?
I know I have to start the diet as soon as possible. I have no results yet, but I need to feel better.
Another problem to add is that I am nothungry...

The list of GF products in Spain is given (better if I say: sold) by the Association FACE. They control gluten contents in products and certify the products they check with their stamp... But you have to be a member in order to get access to this list. (Members pay a yearly fee)... Once I have the results, if positive, I will become a member, but in the meantime... How can I know the products to eat and/or avoid?

It is difficult. But who said it would be easy?

Our health is the most important thing and I am prepared to start a GF diet. Ok. Lets start with it...
Please, can you help me? What do I have to do first?

Thank you for your support and help.
Love,
Tessa.

[tex]

Hi Tessa,

If you haven't already read it, look at the information in the "Information on Diet" forum. Karen, Polly, and Jean have already posted a lot of good information there, and there are lists of food items that should be avioded. You can print them out, and take them with you to the store.

Love,
Wayne

[Jean]

Hi Tessa,

I would definitely pay for an organization that certified items that are gluten free!!! What a great service.

I just posted some articles on the Diet page that may help. One is a list of ingredients that contain gluten. You will find that some things are different in your country, but many will be the same.

The first thing that I did, before I started the diet, was to go through my cabinets and label each food either "Yes", "No" or "?". That helped me get an idea of what I could eat. The next thing I did was find some foods that I really liked that were gluten free. M&M's were my saviors. I kept a bag around and when I felt like cheating or giving up, I grabbed a handful of them. When you are starting the GF diet, it is not the time to worry about calories or healthy foods, IMHO.

I also think it's easiest to start with a basic, fresh diet. Get some meat, veggies and fruit that you like. Prepare it yourself so you know it's safe. There is much to learn on this diet. It takes time! I cried a lot in the grocery store.

The best of luck to you!!! Keep asking questions and we'll keep answering.

Love, Jean

[moremuscle]

Hi Tessa

Congratulations on making the decision to go gluten free - it is a wonderful choice and one I believe you will thank yourself for making in the very near future. It often doesn't take more than a few days of being GF before you notice a difference in your symptoms.

I am another one who cried in the grocery store when I started the GF diet. In some ways I felt it was an adventure - I read food labels like crazy and spent hours perusing the aisles and checking ingredients. But in many other ways it was very depressing because I just couldn't help feeling sorry for myself as I had to put most of the products back on the shelf; not into my shopping cart.

Jean has made an excellent entry in the Diet Info Room - I just read it and I am in awe. Jean, you've done a super job with the list and all the accompanying information - it is excellent. Tessa, if you print Jean's list and her advice on how to handle starting the GF diet you will be off to a good start.

It's a good idea to mark the items in your pantry/cabinets with a thick magic marker; I used to write GF with big letters on the ones that were gf. Later you will give away all the unsafe items and have only safe ones left in your closet - or you can continue to mark your GF products in case your husband or kids still keep gluten containing products in your kitchen.

All change takes time - but soon you will know a lot more about GF foods and GF living than you do today. You just have to plunge in.

Keep us posted on how you are doing and keep asking questions.

Love,
Karen

[Polly]

Hi Tessa!

Congratulations on your decision! It is scary, isn't it? I remember so well when I first decided to try the diet. Don't worry, you will do fine! There is a large learning curve involved when first starting the diet, but before long it will become much easier. Be sure to rant and rave all you want if you are feeling frustrated or deprived or depressed. We know EXACTLY how you feel!

Did you have a chance to check out the "Information on Diet" Forum as Wayne suggested? In my article "So you're thinking of trying the GF diet", there are two things that might be particularly helpful. One is the book "Against the Grain" by Jax Peters Lowell. I wonder it it is available in Spanish? I would be very happy to send you a copy in English if you' d like. Just let me know.

The other are the websites listed for GF resources - www.celiac.com - and the delphiforums website (check out the asterisk at the bottom of that article to find out how to navigate that website to get to the lists of safe and forbidden foods).

Jean and Karen have provided lots of great info in that Forum, too, on the GF diet.

Please keep us posted on your progress. YOU CAN DO IT!!

Love,

Polly

[Lucy]

Hi Tessa,

Congratulations on your decision!

I was just wondering how much processed foods are used in your part of the world. We've got a little Russian store not to far from us that I browse in occasionally. They sell many things from all over eastern Europe, mostly, but they seem to list LOTS of ingredients (can't read those languages to know what they are). For instance, I used to get these little candy bars from Poland before getting diagnosed, and one day, happened to read on the package that Kraft Foods was the parent company of the Polish company. This made me wonder if the same thing's not going on in the western part of Europe -- more processed foods being used, that is?

I would imagine that you're more used to eating things made from fresh produce, etc., rather than
the processed versions. Is that the case. If so, you should adapt well. Do you have a longer afternoon break to eat than we do here in America, or is that becoming a thing of the past?
If you have long enough to go home to eat or even prepare your meal, that would be really helpful.

Here, working people often are rushed at lunch time, and will pick up a "fast food" from one of the chain restaurants, and these are very processed, and hazardous in terms of all the additives to try to put back the taste that's lost from processing. Many of these additives come from gluten containing foods and other common allergens.

Best wishes. I know you'll do well. Can't wait to see the new articles!! Going there now.

Yours, Luce

[Sally]

Hi, Tessa!! I, too, congratulate you on your decision. I am not on the diet, but I understand that any decision about how to treat this disease is a very personal one and I hope being GF is everything you hope it will be. Yes, it's hard. But everything about MC is hard.

Lots of love,

Sally

[Tessa]

Thank you for your support and positiviness. IT has been of great help, because I was feeling a little down trying to organize my following days without gluten.

Thank you for your suggestion, Tex. I did not notice there was information about a GF diet. (I usually get into the main message board withouth checking the rest... I know I should not be doing it that way, but I love your messages and cannot wait to read them everyday...) I will take a look to all the information you mention. Knowing how they are, I am sure that Karen, Polly and Jean have done a real hard work.

Jean it is a great idea to use labels to identify food... I am sure many products will be totally different here in Spain, but that will help until my store is full of ONLY GF products.

Karen, I am afraid to be a bit quicker... I would say I have already cried before even getting to the grocery... I have been checking some spanish groceries (Internet). There is something positive and something negative (as always). Negative: prices and products I was used to... with gluten... Positive: we have a grocery selling GF products with much better prices...

Yes, I am happy to know that there is FACE where I will be able to get the list of GF products... I was worried about the time I will have to cope without this list...

Oh, yes, it has been proved... You understand how I am feeling. Thanks for sharing my feelings... Polly, thank you for your "congratulations"... You have given access to a lot of information... I will start with it as soon as possible... It is all welcome!

Hi, Lucy... Well, Russia is totally different to Spain. We have different language, habits, food, groceries... But you are true when you said I am more used to eating things made from fresh produce, rather than
the processed versions. Even though, I feel I have to check everything... And that is the most difficult task.

As you said, life is totally different in Spain. Even though, many new families are changing their lives into a new system which includes eating quickly, even fast food. Children are starting to get into the habit of eating very processed products and our Mediterranean diet is starting to be a theory. But, do not panic... Even though I work, I have plenty of time to cook... We usually eat fresh foods above all, meat, fish, vegetables and fruits, but also some processed foods...

Yes, Sally, nothing is simple...

My husband wants to start the diet with me, so I do not think we will have problems at home with one diet with gluten and another without...
I will start reading all your info and try to sort it out as best as I can... with your help it is much easier... We will keep in touch...
Love,
Tessa.

[Sally]

Tessa!! Tell your husband he is our HERO!!!!

Lots of love,

Sally

[Tessa]

Thank you... I will...
I am sure he will feel happy with your congratulations...
With my ilness, he has suffered a lot too and has always be there to support and help me... In fact, he was the first to say I could try a GF diet and counted with his support...

I am a lucky one.


Love,
Tessa.

[MaggieRedwings]

Tessa,

Congratulations on your decision and we both have 2 great husbands. I no longer make food with gluten and my husband is the one who decided that I should not have to shop for 2 people. I do buy him regular bread though.

I am one who cried in the food stores but more often it was in the restaurants. I have pretty much given up eating out unless it is just a baked potato or French Fries.

It is a tough road to hoe at first but it does become much easier. I seems like just yesterday I started the diet but it has now been over 3 years - my how time flies when one is GF.

Try all the information everyone else gave and come to us for support - we have all been at the beginning of the road like you are now.

Love, Maggie

[starfire]

Tessa,
Your husband is really a rare gem - I don't know many (perhaps none) who would go on a GF diet with their wives. How fantastic!!

Love, Shirley

[Tessa]

Hi, Maggie and Shirley

Of course, even though he has opted to join my GF diet, I will continue cooking some products with gluten specially for him. .. And bread with gluten, as we have a breadmaker now, he is going to make his own bread. But yes, for the rest he will do the GF diet with me... In fact, he said that gluten was not important and can perfectly live without it... He is a great support....

You too, what would I do without your experience and patience?
Thank you for being there.
Love,
Tessa.

[harvest_table]

Hi Tessa,

Let me offer my encouragment along with all the others as you embark on the GF diet. It is challenging for sure, but you can do it. This is the first thread I recall reading by a member mentioning that their spouse was willing to tackle dieting at the same time. That's terrific! I wish my husband and daughter would get on board with me, but it hasn't happened yet.

There is so much IMPORTANT information here to help you. Also, more importantly lot's of love and support from a great group of people.

Love,
Joanna