Well Nourished

Over the past 6 years, since my celiac diagnosis and the elimination of gluten from my diet, I’m actually gaining weight. Celiac Disease affects the lining of the small intestine and causes it to destroy itself by reacting to any ingested food containing gluten. The small hairs and uneven surface of the small intestine were made to further break down and absorb nutrients and Celiac Disease prevents that vital function from functioning. The villi are flattened and the lining becomes inflamed and that prevents nutrients from finding their way into a slowly starving body.

For the first time in years my body is healthy enough to absorb what I eat. Add to that, a slowing metabolism and a study schedule that ties me to my laptop and you have a recipe for accumulating calories.

My daughter gave me a book called, French Women Don’t Get Fat. The author grew up in France and includes references to places I’ve been or would like to visit. She includes great recipes and best of all, ideas that strike a chord. Her approach is common sense living; moderate exercise and good, simple food.

One of my old habits was to weigh myself every morning, that is until my mechanical scale broke a year or so ago. I bought a fancy electronic scale from Costco but it never did work properly. My daughter laughed when I decided to return it because the reading was too high. She had a point so I made my husband do the dirty work. Now I am scale-less and happily checking my progress based on how my clothes fit. What a concept!

I finally have the motivation to do something about these few extra pounds and midlife softness. Watching what I eat and increasing my activity is a small price to pay for the gift of being well nourished. It’s great to feel well!