The Gluten Challenge Weeks 5-6

Ladies + gentleman, we are in the final countdown! As I sit and write this post, I have just one weekend left in the Gluten Challenge before it’s officially done-zo. I almost can’t believe it.

I know in my last gluten challenge update, I was worried about how I was going to make it through the final few weeks. But now that they’re here, I’m actually a little bit shocked. I’m grateful that this challenge is almost over, but I’m surprised at how quickly it’s come about.

In the spirit of true transparency, I’ve actually really enjoyed these last few days. Mainly because I spent most of them eating croissants and pain au chocolat at the foot of Mount Blanc in France. And let me tell you, it’s hard to care about bloated bellies + achy knees when you have a crusty, warm baguette staring you down at breakfast.

And on that note…

What I’m Eating on the Gluten Challenge

The Usuals – If you’ve read any of my other update, you’ve seen the infamous barley bowl. And just as before, this baby has been the star of my breakfast show. I’ve been cooking up my gluten-y barley flakes and covering them in all of the toppings for a satisfying (and yummy) breakfast. I really will miss this sweet bowl of goodness next week once she’s gone… Good thing I’ve got a few more days to say goodbye.

For lunches and dinners, I’ve been keeping it really basic. I’ve had a lot of fried eggs on crusty bread, many late night bowls of cereal to up my intake, and quite a few dinners made with bulgar wheat + veggies. I’m really not going to miss savoury gluten that much. It’s been okay while it lasted, but I’m ready to shift my carbohydrate focus back on my OG’s like sweet potato and squash.

The Gluten Special- This last week has been something else, and not just because of the food. On March 25, my husband and I celebrated our second wedding anniversary. And much the same as I feel about this challenge, I have no idea where all of that time has gone! How have we been married for two years already!? As a sweet surprise to me, he dreamed up this amazing plan to sweep me away to France for a few days. And on our actual anniversary? We took a day trip to Italy, to eat real pasta, which is something I’ve dreamed of doing my entire life.

This last week of gluten eating was absolutely full of the REAL DEAL French and Italian food. It wasn’t exactly the traditional, “Jessica” style of eating, but let me tell you, it was worth every bit of the hype. We had:

• buttery croissants slathered in bonne maman strawberry jam
• flaky pain au chocolate served with hot espresso
• crusty baguettes topped with fried eggs and avocado
• french onion soup full of broth soaked bread and slathered in melted gruyere cheese
• soft, pillowy gnocchi with sausage and leeks
• handmade spaghetti with rich bolognese sauce
• warm focaccia with rosemary and sea salt
• the BEST DANG cannoli I’ve ever tasted stuffed with the sweetest, creamiest cheese and chocolate chip filling
• silky gelato studded with chunks of Italian cookies

And I don’t regret a single bite.

How I’m Feeling on the Gluten Challenge

Going into week 5, I was feeling really nervous. Weeks 3 + 4 weren’t great, and I was geared up for the spiral to continue downward. But, it didn’t really. My belly still protested. I still took a few naps in the afternoons, and my knees still felt like they were 90. But overall, these two weeks have been a blessed relief. I was expecting serious trouble, but was really only a little bit annoyed by my physical side effects.

Mentally, however, it’s been a much bigger struggle. I’ve just been more down than normal. Some days, I spontaneously burst into tears on the couch. Others, I’m low + lethargic. It’s taken much more of a conscious effort to try to engage + be joyful. I’ve also noticed that my anxiety seems to spike out of nowhere. Lying in bed at night, trying to sleep, my heart will just start racing + my chest will tighten. On our way home from France, I was so paralysed by anxiety that I couldn’t choose a meal at the airport. It is absolutely bizarre. And while I can’t directly state that my gluten intake has caused my depressive emotions or my anxiety, these weren’t symptoms I was experiencing before starting this challenge. I’m hoping they won’t continue once I stop.

Because the gut is such an essential element to nearly all of the body’s functions, it would be a bit naive to imagine that tearing it to shreds with food wouldn’t have some sort of knock-on effect on how I’m feeling, especially mentally. And while the overall research is still a bit tenuous, there is a belief that both Celiac Disease + Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity may increase the risk of struggling with both depression and/or anxiety. In fact, a Danish study encompassing 91,637 patients with mood disorders showed that having an autoimmune disorder increased the risk of developing a mood disorder by a surprising 45%, and having celiac disease increased the risk of developing a mood disorder by 91%.”

I think that those numbers are pretty shocking. 91%?! Whether or not I have actual Celiac’s Disease or just a sensitivity, the mental symptoms on their own are enough to reassure me that my life is better without gluten in it.

What’s Next

I’ve got 5 more days of gluten-filled eating – a few more slices of bread, a few more bowls of barley + maybe a plate of pasta or two before it’s all done. On Monday morning, I will walk down the street to my local hospital where they will draw some vials of my blood. They’ll test those vials to see if any inflammatory signals, like antibodies, are present. If they are, we move forward with more confirmatory testing. If there aren’t, we cross Celiac’s off of the list and move onto something else.

Once my blood is drawn, I am officially back on the g-free eating train. The recovery plan officially starts with a Whole30 mid April (which may turn into a Whole60 or Whole90 depending on how my body responds.) Anyone want to join me!?

But, before I can jump into my Whole30 with both feet, I’m actually travelling back to America for my younger brother’s wedding. And while I know that getting my diet back on point ASAP is going to be essential to recovering as quickly as possible, I really believe that the stress of trying to maintain a perfect Whole30 during two weeks of travelling and visiting with family and friends will be more detrimental to my health than a few undesirable foods.

So, as of Monday, I will be back to my standard, Paleo-style of eating with no grains and no dairy. But, I’m not going to worry about a bit of sugar or some vegetable oil for the time being. I just want to be better, not perfect.

I’m not sure if the recovery portion of this journey will be a two week, two month or year long thing. However, my health is a life-long deal, so I know that I don’t need a quick fix. I’m ready to do the real work, and I will absolutely take you along for the ride with me.

I’m so grateful to all of you for walking this road with me. Your strength + encouragement have ushered me along when I felt like I couldn’t do it any more!

You guys are the best. And we’re almost there!

P.S. If you’re curious to know what happens next, check out my other Gluten Challenge Updates for weeks 1-2 and weeks 3-4 and , plus the final results!

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