hi everyone! i have been diagnosed with celiac disease about a year ago and was wondering how everyone feels if they cheat? i am definitely celiac, however, there i times when i cheat and feel like crap! but other times i feel completely normal! i know it sounds funny but i wish i would always get some type of reaction so i would never cheat! anyone else feel the same??

I don't cheat. My life was so miserable pre-diagnosis that there is no way I would purposely eat gluten. Even if you don't get an outward reaction, you're still doing damage and setting yourself up for a major health issues down the road.

If I cheat, I get sick. I don't like getting sick, therefore I don't cheat.

I have not cheated once in 2 1/2 years....I was sick for over 20 years before being diagnosed, and it took probably 2 years before I began to feel "norml" again.

I wouldn't even consider it.

It's true that even if you don't feel any symptoms when you ingest gluten, you are incurring damage to your intestine every time.

Same here. Wayyyy too hellish an existence pre-gluten-free.
I plan on zero gluten for the rest of my life.

I know this is probably not the answer you are looking to hear but I don't cheat. I do not want to feel that miserble. Sorry.

I have only been gluten-free for a year now too. My son was diagnosed and that's why we all went through the testing. I of course was the only one who had it too and my stomach did have damage on the biopsy. That being said, I did not have major symptoms before going gluten-free. Now, I am a lot like you. If I am really tempted to cheat, sometimes I'm fine and other times I will sleep for 6 hours and have migranes. My son is 5 and great and he doesn't cheat and I'm trying to be better! I'm such a comfort eater and all my comforts have gluten so it is really hard for me. My big problem is trying to lose weight. I've gained 30 lbs since the diet and having a hard time losing. I just ran a 1/2 marathon so I exercise regularly, but absorption stinks!

annie-
Thanks! i felt so abnormal when everyone was saying they don't cheat. And i am not saying i do it often and at times i do it without even realizing it. but it is difficult when everyone you know ism not allergic to gluten. Gluten is everywhere and because i have only been diagnosed about 9 months ago, i'm still finding my ins and outs. congratulations about running the marathon! that is great. It is hard not to gain wain because a lot of the gluten-free food is very high in fat compared to foods containing gluten. but you know what...if you feel good and are much healthier that is what matters in the long run! keep going what your doing...as long as your healthy! i think a lot of people get physical effects as well as internal effects and depends on the person. if i got extremely sick from gluten then i don't think i would ever cheat as well, but i think because you and i don't always get sick we are more proned to cheat.

I have been gluten free(again) for 3 months, It was longer, but then I cheated, so it doesnt count. On that cheat, I went to taco bell, was totally craving a chalupa. Anyhow I ate it down in seconds, and regretted it for days...since then I have not "cheated" but have been glutened, and even still it is a pain I wouldn't wish on anyone. With that being said, I no longer cheat, I learned my lesson....

I do understand that is is totally tempting though, and there are times at bday partys, or nights out that I want a slice of cake, or a nice cold beer, but i hold off, and go home and eat something gluten free, and drink a red bridge(gluten-free beer) it doesnt taste as good, but I love it cuz I have no other choice.

I cheat too! In fact, I am online after having just finished a hot cocoa and Xmas cookies I had hidden in the back of the freezer. It is bittersweet. I have been transitioning to a gluten-free diet this month, and in doing so discovered that I also have a problem with dairy. I was so down about it this afternoon that I felt I needed a private moment with my cocoa and cookies before my son gets home from school.

The docs could not confirm celiac by blood test or biopsy, but the food challenge proves a definite intolerance I have been dealing with for years. So I will feel crummy the next 24 hours and wake up determined to try harder tomorrow. I guess this is where a few trips to the local gluten-free support group might come in handy.

I have been gluten free for 7 1/2 yrs and can honestly say I have never cheated, never even wanted too. I was so sick before going gluten free, that cheating has never been an option for me.

Sorry to say it, but in the 2.5 years since my diagnosis, I have never cheated, nor wanted to. If you keep eating gluten even though you know it will make you sick, I think it would be very helpful for you to reflect and figure out why. Here are some ideas for you to think about:

- Can't eat family favorites? Post some recipes and we'll help you convert them.

- Gluten-free is not as convenient? We can give you ideas for grab-and-go foods.

- Gluten-free food too expensive? We can give you ideas on how to get the costs down.

- Don't know how to cook tasty gluten-free foods? We can help you find easy, delicious recipes.

- It's hard to eat out? Tell us what you like to eat and we can help you get a safe meal at a safe restaurant.

- Don't know what to eat? We can help you learn to read labels.

- Don't know how seriously sick you can get from eating gluten? Let some of us that nearly died before diagnosis tell you how serious it can get.

- Don't have the will power? We can help you with that too.

Hope this helps.

CCM and CRUEL SHOES-well you know i think sometimes it just takes some time for people to get in the habit to eat gluten free. but if you find its hard to do it for yourself do it for those who love you because in a way (because we are all allergic to gluten) if we continue to eat it we are killing ourselves and we can't do that to the people who love us don't be so hard on yourself...you have to just find ways around it eating gluten. i have made quite delicious cookies that were gluten-free. for example just take the nestle chocolate chip morsels and on the back of the package make their cookies, but just substitue gluten-free with regular flour. no need to get fancy or make it difficult!
thank you for all your help cruel shoes! that is incredibly nice and that is one of the resons i joined this site! is to find people as nice as you and as helpful!

I wasnt tempted to cheat until I saw a test that said i have to also avoid rice, pork, most fish, almonds, peanuts, walnuts, coffee, hot peppers, onions, eggs ... . now i feel like giving up.

But when it was just gluten and dairy, that was pretty easy. I bought gluten and dairy free choc chips and made AWESOME choc chip cookies, i swear they were better than regular ones. I made pb cookies the kids loved. I made rice crispy bars w grated chocolate and almond butter in it, yum!! And almond milk is the yummiest, try chocolate almond milk warmed in the microwave!

Of course, I never liked bread, so that was easy for me. And I was about to work on my favorite banana bread recipe . . when i got that rice thing ... grrrr.

I have never cheated. Having said that does that mean I haven't been tempted? Of course not. I am surrounded by temptation. I have been able to find my will power through my kids. If they ever get dx with celiac I would like them to think of me as a positive role model. Oh, did I mention I get horrible sick from just slight cc? That helps stay on the straight and narrow as well.

Hez

I haven't cheated in more than 6 years, but I also understand that a fair percentage of people with celiac do at some point, whether because they can't resist something or they get trapped in a situation where that's all they have to eat. I have no idea how I would feel physically if I cheated. However, if you do break down and cheat, I wouldn't beat yourself up over it.

richard

I've made it over a year now without cheating once. I've briefly considered it, but not seriously. Wouldn't know where to begin. Too many things I miss.

best regards, lm

Feeling like crap is your body informing you that something is harming you. It is strange that other times gluten has no effect on you I would think it would be worse after some time on a gluten free diet, which it sounds like you are trying to do.

Just cross contamination is enough to take me out for about 3 days. Personally, I don't even consider cheating because gluten makes me physically sick and causes me major depression. Every time you consume gluten you are increasing your chances of developing some other celiac related complications.

I have been on the diet for over 5 years now. I was close to death before I was diagnosed and even a bit of CC will bring back my arthritis, my migraines, my muscle pain, take away my ability to think and walk and leave me depressed for a couple days and anxious for a couple weeks. At times I am a bit jealous of those who can even consider 'cheating just a little bit'. I have to be so careful of CC and even a small amount effects me so strongly that it just isn't worth it to me. Cheating and CC will keep the anitbodies active and on attack. It is hard at first but it is doable and the diet is a life saver for those of us who need it.

I'd like to say that you're normal for wanting to cheat... this diet is hard, especially at first. To be honest, if I didn't get so sick from CC, I might feel tempted sometimes, too.

But........ we just can't lose focus. Our health depends on it. It's too risky. I really have no desire to have intestinal cancer, thank you very much. Yes, I want a cheeseburger (with a big nasty bun!) so bad I could scream, but I want a million dollars, too, and that isn't going to happen either .

This may sound super weird, but it works for me. I smell my family's food. Put it right up next to my nose and take a good whiff. The smells of familiar comfort foods are almost as good as eating them... now, I did say almost... but it's the best I can do.

Good luck!

I went gluten-free shortly after my daughter was dx. I felt great after that first week. I remained gluten-free for several months, and then had one slip. Then another. Then another. Next thing I know... I'm eating gluteny garbage all the time. I started gaining weight, my stomach was bothering me - tremendously - but I kept dismissing it.

I won't make that mistake again.

I've now been completely gluten-free for a month, and I'm feeling so much better. I struggle, but I won't cheat again. Falling back into the *wrong* way of eating happened all too easily. I can't go back there again.

I felt guilt, remorse, and I felt like a failure for my daughter.... who needs to see how important it is to remain on the gluten-free diet. No cakes, cookies, or other tasty treat is worth compromising her health... or mine. Those things can all be made without wheat and the other gluten grains. Sure, it takes longer and it's less convenient, but she's worth it. And, so am I.

thank you everyone for your input! i appreciate all your comment

if it makes you feel any better, you're actually quite normal for cheating. studies suggest that more than half of celiacs do cheat - this board isn't quite representative as we've got a bunch of people here being proactive about keeping themselves informed and healthy.

but cheating, even as infrequently as once a month, keeps your body from healing, and you might as well not be on the diet at that point.

find alternatives, find your coping mechanisms, find your support. you can do it! but it takes time to learn how.

A question comes to mind.

For those who have cheated....even tho no outwards signs of discomfort..........what are your ages? I'm only guessing but bet maybe your younger than most of us who have not cheated.

I've been gluten-free for over 2 1/2 years with MANY other food intolerances........and am 66 and went un-dxd for 20 years and spent those years SO SICK. Sure I went to expert doctors but they just didn't know about it then.

If your in you teens or early 20's I can sure understand how very hard that must be socially. I only wish that I'd known back then and I sure wouldn't be still suffering the effects of eating gluten and other foods for so many years. I can't get those years back.

A dear friend ..........also un dx'd for 20 years even after persisitant doctoring.........has beat lymphoma once only to find it came back the day before this Thanksgiving. The oncologist said it was the result of untreated celiac. Her chemo will run until Christmas 2008.

Judy

Never have cheated. I do not plan on ever consuming gluten voluntarily again. So not worth it.

Never cheated. I'm 45. I don't want to die young. Well, okay, some would say that ship has already sailed. But I don't want to die at fifty. There is way too much I want to do with my life to check out that early. My life depends on this diet, and I value life in a way I never have before. I don't know, maybe you do have to be closer to the end than the beginning to treasure every extra day you get.

Violet

Since I never really had a FORMAL and OFFICIAL via a positive test - at first I duped myself into thinking that the Capn Crunch and Rice Krispies I was eating once per day, weren't "enough" to worry about. I had terrible awful DH, and no "reportable" stomach symptoms at the time. People on this forum chided me and told me that I could be doing damage even without a dx and symptoms. When my DH nearly killed me my Dr told me to go 100% "no-cheat" gluten free and see what happens. I did, with the help of this forum, and it's wonderful, helpful people. And the DH disappeared completely, except for when I accidentally get Glutened (which DOES happen when you travel, eat a restaurants that you don't choose, and get a "glucose free diabetic meal" instead of a "gluten-free meal" on a plane (14 hr flight) and HAVE to try to pick at the most innocent looking items (and then you get Glutened anyway!).
I DO NOT CHEAT.
When I get glutened accidentally, now I get the big D and gas for about 1 - 2 days!
(IHOP scrambled eggs REALLY got me, they didn't tell me they pre-mix pancake batter in the eggs to make them fluffier).

BUT, JUST TODAY, my primary care Dr (not the allergist that finally dx me as "gluten intolerant") told me that my "ketones" were high in my blood and he thinks that my gluten-free diet is harming me in some way, but did NOT think I should really try to go back - but thought that maybe I should challenge the diet and see if my KETONES go down......
Hmmmm. He recommended that I got to a homeopath (odd for a medical dr. to support a homeopath!!) and maybe a nutritionist. Usually ketones are up when you eat no carbs and too much protein! That's not my diet! I eat Dark Snickers and Dark Milkey Way and Reese's as comfort foods! (AND it shows on my hips now too)!

Am

Since I never really had a FORMAL and OFFICIAL DX via a positive test - at first I duped myself into thinking that the Capn Crunch and Rice Krispies I was eating once per day, weren't "enough" to worry about. I had terrible awful DH, and no "reportable" stomach symptoms at the time. People on this forum chided me and told me that I could be doing damage even without a dx and symptoms.
When my DH nearly killed me my Dr told me to go 100% "no-cheat" gluten free and see what happens. I did, with the help of this forum, and it's wonderful, helpful people. And the DH disappeared completely, except for when I accidentally get Glutened (which DOES happen when you travel, eat a restaurants that you don't choose, and get a "glucose free diabetic meal" instead of a "gluten-free meal" on a plane (14 hr flight) and HAVE to try to pick at the most innocent looking items (and then you get Glutened anyway!).I DO NOT CHEAT. When I get glutened accidentally, now I get the big D and gas for about 1 - 2 days! (IHOP scrambled eggs REALLY got me, they didn't tell me they pre-mix pancake batter in the eggs to make them fluffier).
BUT, JUST TODAY, my primary care Dr (not the allergist that finally dx me as "gluten intolerant") told me that my "ketones" were high in my blood and he thinks that my gluten-free diet is harming me in some way, but did NOT think I should really try to go back - but thought that maybe I should challenge the diet and see if my KETONES go down...... Hmmmm. He recommended that I go to a homeopath (odd for a medical dr. to support a homeopath!!) and maybe a nutritionist. Usually ketones are up when you eat no carbs and too much protein! That's not my diet! I eat Dark Snickers and Dark Milkey Way and Reese's as comfort foods! (AND it shows on my hips now too)!
But I often really crave Dunkin Doughnuts, Waffles, Pancakes, and Angel Food Cake!!!!
And Sara Lee Walnut Coffee Ring, and cheescake WITH the crust, and CHINESE FOOD (real stuff like Wonton Soup, egg roll, Lo Mein.....) and Hostess Cupcakes, and German Spaetzel, and more............But never enough to get even close to eating it.

Judy-i am soon to be 21 years old and began a gluten free diet about march of last year. I think I was not clear as to what cheating is, considering the responses. Yes, of course if I got symptoms as bad as some people do then I don't think I would EVER cheat (which is probably about once every two months if not less). And when I do cheat, I don't have a donut or bagel, I will have something such as french fries (CC). Regarding your story, I completley understand because the same thing happened with my mother. She had thyroid Cancer and has an autoimmune disorder where much of the inside of her body is scaring over now, after being on the gluten free diet. Do you think if damage has been done for so long that one will be fighting for their whole life to get healthy? It seems that many people who have been under diagnosed for many many years have so many health issues that their body will have a hard time being 'normal' again. Do you think this is true? Do you think the extraordinary damage that celiac disease has on one's body can be reversed after a certain amount of time?

I was diagnosed 3 years ago...I cheated for quite awhile. However, what I found was that every time I cheated, the reaction got worse. I dont cheat anymore and actually I cannot tolerate many things that I used to be able to in the beginning...kind of screwed myself!
Paula

I'm 36. My 6 year old is much smarter, she'd never consider "cheating." I hope her attitude carries with her throughout her school years and beyond.

I'm so glad you wrote. I had a feeling you were younger

I know my mom had un-dx'd celiac. She died 4 months after i got my dx and i didn't know about the gene's and heredity factors etc. Was a real newbie..........I could do a long list of the symptoms she had looking back....esp......GERD and precocious anemia and the dreaded 'BIG D'.
My thyroid was nuked when i was in 3rd grade........who know which came first the thyroid or the celaic........i sure don't know. Your mom's scaring all over i guess in many organs or just the digestive track? Oh, Maybe you mean healing..........right.....guess i miss read.


This is such a great question.
Do you think if damage has been done for so long that one will be fighting for their whole life to get healthy? It seems that many people who have been under diagnosed for many many years have so many health issues that their body will have a hard time being 'normal' again. Do you think this is true? Do you think the extraordinary damage that celiac disease has on one's body can be reversed after a certain amount of time?[

It scares me to think that I'm not healing............I'm sure not sick like I was but am still seeking answers as to why more intolerances kept coming up. I'll learned so much from this forum in finding my way to feeling better. There is a good thread on Oxalates on here that you might find interesting reading.
Bless you at 21 for adhering so closely to this life of eating gluten-free. I'm glad to hear your terms on 'cheating' I'm sure with this definition your being really careful and cc in FF is like taking a chance........but sure not like making the decision to eat the bagel.

Good luck to you. How is your mom doing by the way?

Judy, I have only cheated the one time for some taco bell.well wait that too is a lie, i think i had a bud light on new years..i miss beer. so 2 times i have cheated, the rest has been CC, i am working on getting CCd less and its working. but you are right I am 23...just turned in november...It is very hard, i went to chucky cheeses for a bday party(friends daughter) and was so tempted to have some pizza, but sat there and enjoyed my wonderful caramel flavored cardboard.

I cheat. I can’t get away with a sandwich or cookie. But I will eat contaminated foods that aren't overtly wheat based. Like rice krispies. And although it doesn't knock me down for loop like a cookie would I get exhausted and nauseous. Also since it can take a day or two sometimes with small amounts of different foods I think I got way with something and then I feel like I got hit by a truck and I don't screw up at all for a long time. So thats how it works for me. Or doesn't really. I have only been on the diet for a year as well and haven't been official diagnosed so that plays into it as well. I am 28 incase that makes a difference too.

paula-
yes that is what it seems like! theless u cheat the more you find you can't!!! it sucks but its only better for you in the long run and everyone is always searching for a 'healthier' lifestyle and unfortunately this is what our healthy lifestyle is!

Judy-
It is unfortuanate the heredity has a big role in this whole thing because i do not want to pass this down to my child one day! Do you have any children, and if so do they have celiac disease? I am sorry about your mom...do u know if it had anyhting to do with celiac disease and being undiagnosed? My mom is 46 and was diagnosed last january so she still has a long recovery period to go...she is doing ok...but because of the celiac disease she has the autoimmune disorder called "lychanplanus"...iam not sure how to spell it. But basically all of her mucus membranes, prior to diagnosis, were extremely inflamed and red and sore, but now all of that is scaring over and causing a lot of problems. Considering celiac disease goes undiagnosed all too often, many doctors do not know how to fix this. We are extremely blessed to have found an amzing doctor out of NYC who is willing to work with her the whole way...but as you can imagine it is going to be a long journey. Thank you for being so concerned...How are you doing with the gluten free diet? Do you know anyone else in your family that has it currently?


It scares me to think that I'm not healing............I'm sure not sick like I was but am still seeking answers as to why more intolerances kept coming up. I'll learned so much from this forum in finding my way to feeling better. There is a good thread on Oxalates on here that you might find interesting reading.
Bless you at 21 for adhering so closely to this life of eating gluten-free. I'm glad to hear your terms on 'cheating' I'm sure with this definition your being really careful and cc in FF is like taking a chance........but sure not like making the decision to eat the bagel.

Good luck to you. How is your mom doing by the way?
[/quote]

Judy-
It is unfortuanate the heredity has a big role in this whole thing because i do not want to pass this down to my child one day! Do you have any children, and if so do they have celiac disease? I am sorry about your mom...do u know if it had anyhting to do with celiac disease and being undiagnosed? My mom is 46 and was diagnosed last january so she still has a long recovery period to go...she is doing ok...but because of the celiac disease she has the autoimmune disorder called "lychanplanus"...iam not sure how to spell it. But basically all of her mucus membranes, prior to diagnosis, were extremely inflamed and red and sore, but now all of that is scaring over and causing a lot of problems. Considering celiac disease goes undiagnosed all too often, many doctors do not know how to fix this. We are extremely blessed to have found an amzing doctor out of NYC who is willing to work with her the whole way...but as you can imagine it is going to be a long journey. Thank you for being so concerned...How are you doing with the gluten free diet? Do you know anyone else in your family that has it currently?

well it's nice to see other people cheat a little..it is always nice when someone is similar anyhow

Judy-
It is unfortuanate the heredity has a big role in this whole thing because i do not want to pass this down to my child one day! Do you have any children, and if so do they have celiac disease? I am sorry about your mom...do u know if it had anyhting to do with celiac disease and being undiagnosed? My mom is 46 and was diagnosed last january so she still has a long recovery period to go...she is doing ok...but because of the celiac disease she has the autoimmune disorder called "lychanplanus"...iam not sure how to spell it. But basically all of her mucus membranes, prior to diagnosis, were extremely inflamed and red and sore, but now all of that is scaring over and causing a lot of problems. Considering celiac disease goes undiagnosed all too often, many doctors do not know how to fix this. We are extremely blessed to have found an amzing doctor out of NYC who is willing to work with her the whole way...but as you can imagine it is going to be a long journey. Thank you for being so concerned...How are you doing with the gluten free diet? Do you know anyone else in your family that has it currently?

Thanks for the positive feedback! I'm really trying with the weight thing. It is crazy, sometimes if I have purposely cheated I don't get sick. Or other times, like yesterday, I was in bed all day, head fog etc..... and I have been really good the past 2-3 months. So go figure.

yeah well there you go...i hope your cheat was worth it at least!

sorry for the delayed responce.
we had FiOS installed for 2 days thus no computer.

Yes i have on son who is 33. I'm not sure but GI wants him tested and we discussed it over christmas.
he doesn't have symptoms now. but as he said............" mom you didn't have symptoms at my age."
so think he's thinking about getting tested.
Not sure about my mom but my thoughts are YES probably somewhat related.
glad you mom has a good NYC dr. I haven't heard of her disease.
I think my brother has it...........but won't think about testing for it. He and i have fought our weight issues for years and since the 2 1/2 years gluten-free and other foods I've lost 70 #'s so for me this dx was the answer for me to lose weight.........i could have 'd' for 5 weeks and not eat do to nausea and gain 16 #'s. Iknow strange.........but............my illnesses have driven doctors nuts for years.

the gluten-free diet is fine for me now......it's the dairy, casein, and the other esp oxalates and nightshades....which i was using since going gluten-free..........so
guess i got all the questions answered.
thanks for caring.
Judy

I don't cheat, simple as that it isn't worth it

Hi,

Just to add my 2 cents....

I'm a recently-diagnosed Celiac (blood test only so far, endoscopy/biopsy on Tuesday), and have been on a gluten-free diet for less than a week (the GI said it wouldn't make any difference that quickly). Initially I thought I would find it difficult to give up the carb foods I really like, such as bread (usually w/w or multi), bagels, pasta, noodles, etc. However, so far I'm quite pleased to say I haven't really been tempted. However, just to play my own devil's advocate, it may be because I haven't been at it for very long.

I know for a fact that I have been glutened once... but it was my fault. I bought some candy (my only vice), and proceeded to start eating it without first reading the ingredients list. Well, sure enough I looked while part-way through, and it had maltodextrin... EEK! I may also have been inadvertently glutened at a Thai restaurant on Friday night, but I'm not entirely sure. As I said, I have yet to feel any positive effects, and thus don't feel the reverse either. It's a real learning process, I'll say that much.

And regarding the age factor, I just turned 30. My intent is to stick with the gluten-free diet. I currently live alone, so it's a bit easier to control what I consume that way.

Cheers!

-Geoff.

Hi Geoff,
You're doing so well!!
Maltodextrin in the USA is ok - Gluten Free.
But there are other ingredients in different candies to look for. Usually Wheat-based so they might state it in an allergen statement or bold it in the ingredients list, or just list it as is. It is "Malt FLAVORING" that is a no-no - since it is derived from Barley and they don't have to list Barley as an allergen.
Also got to watch "glucose syrup" since it can be corn or wheat based!! Mostly they list it as "corn syrup" if it is corn-based.
Good luck and I hope you stay not-missing the carbs. I finally started making my own bread just to have some complex carbs in the AM.
Franceen

Oops. Just noticed you are in Canada. I'm not sure if maltodextrin is safe in Canada! Clan Thompson says that the FDA labeling law forces them to say if it comes from wheat or barley - but that's FDA in USA!!! Best to check with Canadian counterpart for labeling laws there.

Maltodextrin in Canada is safe.

Although I would never deliberately cheat (knowing now what I do about what happens when the tiniest bit of gluten gets into my system), I can understand the desire to.

I think, however, it's all about perspective. You (I) have a disease/intolerance/whatever you want to label it, that you can manage. You have control (bearing in mind that there are still so many out there who are still struggling to identify precisely what food/toxin is affecting them...). For those of us who can influence how our gut/bowels/skin/neurological system reacts - well, it is a wonderous thing that we can. I spent years wondering about the cause of my stomach troubles - being shifted around from med prac to med prac. Now that I know how to prevent it, I'm just so relieved - so incredibly grateful - to be able to do so.

That is not intended to evoke any sense of guilt, at craving certain foods. Of course, that is understandable - particularly when we are surrounded by culinary "delights" we can no longer eat. If we make a conscious effort to alter our attitude towards "it" (without sounding copiously self-help preacher-like!) I do think our physical responses/cravings will inevitably begin to change as well...

xxoo

I don't cheat. I have been CC'd but I have never intentionally consumed gluten since I started the diet.

I did have a goodbye gluten meal (pizza and brownie cheesecake) the day before I started the diet- but if I knew then what I know now about celiac I certainly would not have done it.

When I got my diagnosis I read everything I could get my hands on about the disease. It scared me straight.

I feel blessed to have found this out when I did....hopefully before I caused too much damage.

I was never sick. My only symptom of celiac was DH. If I were to order a pizza tonight from Papa Johns and eat the whole thing I would probably in itchy agony in a few days.....at least thats what I think will happen. But a gluten free life is a pain in the backside and the rash certainly is not enough of a motivation to keep going forever. The knowledge of the internal damage and my dead grandma who never got a proper diagnosis is what motivates me.

Mere