Even though I have been gluten free (as well as soy free, dairy free, and msg free) for years (and feel so much better for it), every once in a while I am still struck by how hard it is. It can all of a sudden hit me right in the feels.

This week was one of those weeks.

I am pregnant with my third child, my friend is pregnant with her second, and we were discussing baby showers, and how neither of us had the time to arrange something before their arrival.

I told her I was planning on having a ‘meet the baby’ after she is born, invite people to come over, meet the baby, maybe fold some laundry while they’re here (joking but totally not joking).

She mentioned that she might invite people over for something similar, but invite people to bring a freezer meal to ease some of that burden of feeding the family just after babies arrival.

Its such a fantastic idea! One that’ll be super practical… and also one that I could never have.

Since my house is gluten free there are too many questions when someone is preparing food. Factor in the other food restrictions and there is just no way that I could trust something brought in. Even if someone is the most well intentioned. Good intentions can still hurt unintentionally.

Do the ingredients contain gluten? Was there chance for cross contamination during the making of the food? With so many questions, it doesn’t ease any stress. It just creates a new one.

At first, I’m not going to lie, I was kinda jealous of this idea. It sounds awesome. I was also sad that this isn’t an option that I could take advantage of.

But then I got to thinking more, about how we ‘choose our hard’

Could I choose to eat everything? I could… I would be in absolute medical turmoil, be feeling like garbage all the time, and I can’t even begin to think of what horrible health turns my life would have taken. I sincerely doubt that I would have my two precious boys and a beautiful little girl on the way.

I suspect that I would be on multiple medications for chronic pain, and medical conditions.

That’s a hard that I wouldn’t want.

It sounds extreme, but there are people that choose this hard daily (either knowingly, or unknowingly). People who would feel much better eliminating some food from their diet. People who choose to eat whatever and as a result ignore their bodies call for help.

The body calls for help through chronic pain, digestive issues, through development of various autoimmune illnesses. Your body wants to heal. You have to help it. (This was my mantra for years, as I processed through the hard)

Before I addressed my own diet, and pursued an understanding of holistic health, I felt horrible. Every time I addressed one health issue a new one sprang up in its place. I felt like someone trying to plug a bunch of holes in a dam that was always at risk of just collapsing. It was painful, and exhausting.

So I chose my hard. I chose the hard journey of elimination diets, self observation, healing, and have felt so much better as a result.

Does that mean its easy? No. But I choose the hard that comes with health instead of the hard that comes with living hell… because thats the best way I could describe the way I was living before.

This hard has been worth it. I don’t regret my choice, even when its hard. Everyone chooses their hard sometime.

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Does any of this sound familiar?

If you are just starting your healing journey, know that you are taking a hard road, and a road that is well worth it in the end. Food can be medicine. If you’d like to read a little motivation and check out someone’s story, can I recommend Danielle Walker? Her cookbooks absolutely made my transition easier as I discovered the healing power of diet (this one is my favourite, though I have the whole collection and use them all). She also has an autobiography about her own powerful journey: Food Saved Me.

If IBS is an issue, do research on SIBO. Some studies suggest that 70%-80% of diagnosed IBS may be curable. Yes. Odds are your IBS is curable! How incredible would that be? As a Canadian, I did have to see a naturopath for testing and treating as this was not understood or supported by my family doctor. Your experience may be different. It still amazes me how many people diagnosed with IBS have never been given the option to explore whether or not there is an option for curing.

If you’re not sure where to start, and you suspect that gut health may be at the root of your issues, I always recommend speaking with a naturopathic doctor (or functional medicine if its available in your area). I haven’t found many doctors to be helpful in the area of holistic healing or digestive health… and if you’d rather get to the root cause rather than take a pill then a naturopath is a great place to start. Ask friends for recommendations if they have seen someone they have found helpful.

Consider yoga! Yoga can help stabilize your central nervous system. There is something healing about gentle physical activity, breathing, movement, and it doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. I recommend Yoga With Adriene on YouTube. Its free. If you’re a person who likes to have a schedule to spare yourself the hassle of making decisions, she has a monthly calendar to print or save here.

Lastly, I am not a doctor. I’m not here to offer medical advice. Don’t forego medical advice from your doctor. But know that you also have to be your own advocate. If you find yourself hitting a wall, stagnant, and have no where to go, I hope that these suggestions might offer help and assurances that you make the ultimate decisions in your healing journey.

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I do understand the overwhelm that comes with change in diet. I also understand the benefits far outweigh the alternative. You’re never alone, and there are so many resources to support you. You have found one here. Bookmark this page to access weekly gluten free (or gluten free, dairy free) meal planning. Or choose to have easy gluten free recipes delivered to your inbox weekly.