Going Gluten Free – My Experience

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Taking The Leapwake boarding wipe out

After hearing about the “Gluten-Free benefits” for years, I finally took the leap after discussing the topic with Vitali-T. Needless to say I needed someone to sit me down, look me in the eyes, explain how they’ve benefited from a gluten-free diet and why. After Brandon Bahr (Vitali-T’s weight loss expert) explained the dangerous additives to grain-rich products, and the benefits he’s noticed from gluten-free, I agreed to give it a shot. 

Disclaimer: Everyone reacts differently to a gluten-free diet. Whis was my experience and reflects my opinions, not those of the Vitali-T staff.

 

Barrier To Entry

I love snacking on bread, cereal, pastries…all of that good stuff. Not sure what to expect, my biggest barrier to entry was that it seemed as though I didn’t have any snacking options. As an avid snacker, this posed a big barrier to entry, and I almost immediately failed Day #1 of my gluten-free attempt by mindlessly eating Cheerios. -Woops.

Slipping up is human. Don’t beat yourself up about it, just get back on the horse.

 

Be Prepared To Go Gluten Free:

The first 2-3 days are the hardest. You still crave wheat and grains at this point so it’s imperative to be prepared!

1. Clean out your kitchen / pantry of gluten so you don’t make the dreaded mindless “Cheerio-mistake”….idiot.

2. Have gluten-free snacks readily available. (Udis has great options for gluten-free snacking.)

3. Protein is your friend. Nuts, fish, lean meats and protein mixes are essential to helping you feel full on a gluten-free diet. 

4. Mix up your vegetable game. Sick of salad? That’s fine, make up some healthy stir fry, a vegi-omelette or a kale smoothie.

5. Love beer? Who doesn’t…but let me warn you, there are some incredible gluten-free beers… and some gag-worthy gluten-free beers. Try a few different gluten-free brews out to find one to your liking. 

6. Fruits are great in moderation. Perfect to curb a quick mid-day craving, just don’t over-do it on the natural sugar. -Your vegis and protein are what will help fill you up throughout the day.

 

$Pay To Eat Healthy Now, Versus Paying (in medical expenses) Later

 
There might be a slight increase in spending for your gluten-free diet at first. However, after you learn to navigate the waters, it’s more a matter of a preparation game. Gluten-free cooking and preparing tends to be more time-consuming but doesn’t have to break the bank. 

For some reasonably priced gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free protein bars I decided to make my ownBrit's-Protein-Bars

Those who know me are already cringing at this thought (I’m a terrible cook and wildly impatient in the kitchen). However, after browsing a few protein-bar recipes I got the general idea of what makes up a homemade *hopefully tasty* version. 

Purchased:

  • Corn meal
  • Protein powder
  • Coconut flakes
  • Udis vanilla granola mix
  • Butter
  • Eggs
  • Vanilla almond milk
  • Bananas
  • Dark chocolate chips (fine, mine weren’t 100% sugar-free bars…judge me.)

Mixing the ingredients together in a large bowl (I don’t measure but I’ll take a stab at the measurements on the full recipe here). I cooked them for about 15mins at 300 degrees. Cut them up, and threw them in the freezer to cool.

Mountains were moved that night and the bars turned out incredible!! -Perfect for a quick healthy snack when you need it.

 

Weight Loss

Gluten-free is a great way to lose weight (checkout: Wheat Belly by William Davis). After eating gluten-free for a few days I noticed my craving for bread, eating more, etc. dissipated almost completely. This is great for individuals trying to lose weight.

Sidenote: Individuals suffering from hormone imbalance will continue to have a hard time losing weight. By simply balancing your hormones, your body will function more efficiently. –This results in metabolizing food faster and easier. 

 

How To Maintain Your Weight On A Gluten-Free Diet:

For those of us not looking to lose weight (rather eat healthier & cleaner) I have some advice:

  • Increase your protein game.
  • Eat later at night (if you start losing weight enjoy a late-night steak every once in a while).
  • Healthy fats are a delicious easy add to meals: Avocados, nuts and olive oils (salad game-changers).
  • Utilize store-bought corn meal, almond meal, etc. to make your own pastries / breads.
  • Increase your natural sugar intake: Bananas, oranges, dried fruits and smoothies are a great way to do this.

 

Hopefully this helps persuade any indivuals on the fence about going Gluten-Free. Get past the first 3 days and you’re golden!

 

Have a Gluten-Free story? Please share it with us at info@vitalitmed.com!