My 19 Hour Day

[amazon]

Well my day started out at 5am. By 630 I was on a bus for a 4 hour trip. Breakfast was at home so it was GF. Luch I had a choice of Mc D's, KFC, or taco bell. Probably got glutened their. Once we got to the convention center we were served a buffet full of gluten. I had no car and the food was prepared and brought in. I woulnd up eating salsa and chips. I spent all the next day throwing up everything I drank or tried to eat. It was miserable.
Tommarow is payday so Im off to buy a cooler and some ice pack you can refreeze. I can't stand thais anymore. I feel like such a dork carrying around food. Its ironic becuase I was always annoyed by picky eaters. Now I am forced to be one. I got home at 1am and was bloated and crampy. The throwing up didn't start til noon the next day. I was so miserable. My speech was slurred and my head felt like it would explode.

I hate this.

[aklap]

Gosh 'zon - that sounds terrible! My heart goes out to you.

This is not an easy lifestyle to adjust to. It will take some time for you to figure this stuff out. Luckily we can help - we've been in your shoes - walking the same path.

I think getting a cooler will allow you to feel much better and perform your best! Being in sales, I suspect you need to be firing on all cylinders. Hey, if bringing your own food allows you to be at the top of your game - so be it! I too pooh-poohed picky eaters and food issues before - how quickly things can turn about. Karmic justice I s'pose.

You might check out hormel - they have lots GF shelf stable products. Some of this would fit nicely in a brief case, backpack, etc...
http://www.hormel.com/faq/faqList.asp?catitemid=41

Good luck! Feel free to come here to rant, rave, jump for joy [it may not feel it now, but this will happen in time], whatever you need to do.
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[mrsppmrxky]

I am glad that you are taking a step toward healing!

I am sorry that you have been so sick. Just think, just about anything that you put in that cooler to eat will be healthier than fast food.

I do not consider this to be a picky eater.............This is for health reasons, not just because you don't like the look or texture.

I am just so thankful that we now have more options that our predocessors did with the GF food items that are available. I am so thankful to all of you that have helped me with recipes for tasty food. I am hoping to finally make Peg's graham crackers this weekend.

It just takes a little more planning, but Amazon, we are here to help where we can!
_________________

[The Edifying Conscience]

[cruelshoes]

Every work day, I am away from the house for 10 hours. I eat 2 meals and 2 snacks outside the house. I only eat out about once a quarter. With a cooler, the options are varied. If you have access to a microwave, your possibilities are even greater.

Many things are shelf-stable like Trader Joe's or Thai Kitchen noodle bowls, Dinty Moore beef stew or Hormel Chili (some varieties) in the microwave cup, Bumble Bars, Lara Bars, etc. What kind of food do you like? We can help you find solutions.

I am a dork, and I don't care who thinks so. Better to be thought a dork than to be sick, I think. Also, it has been my experience that the less of a big deal I make it that I am bringing my own food, the less of a big deal it is to others. I do not consider being on a medically restricted diet being a "picky eater." I think of a picky eater as having food preferences, not food requirements. Picky eaters ARE annoying.

Until recently, I had a Hong Kong Phooey lunch box. If you want something that looks professional and not much like a lunchbox at all, you might look at some of the Thermos offerings or even a Mr. Bento.
_________________
-Colleen
Dx 8/05 via bloodwork/biopsy
9-YO son Dx 11/05 via bloodwork/biopsy
Daughters have negative bloodwork - so far!

A woman is like a tea bag-you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water. - Eleanor Roosevelt

[ostrich]

1. Why exactly do you have such long days? If it's due to kids, somebody's going to have to drop a few extra activities. If it's due to work, you might need to have a long chat with your boss (or consider another job). It's causing you undue stress, which is affecting your health.

2. IMHO you need to start looking at this in a positive light. You're not skipping out on the foods you like. You're still getting all sorts of food, just slightly modified. You're avoid all the trash McD's/Wendys/BK/whatever sells. You're making your body happier and healthier. You just need to be able to adjust to the changes. They won't happen overnight, but they'll happen, as long as you have the strength to make them happen.
_________________
Ostrich :>--O==={

I lie below, you float above
In the pretty white ships that I am dreaming of

[amazon]

Yes it my job but thankfully it dosn't happen everyday. I have busy spells and slow ones. It's funny becuase I would rather eat healthy. My 12 yr old daughter orders salads and cottage cheese when available. She eats brussel sprouts for goodness sakes. At home its easy. When "someone" else controls my choices it gets hard. So far my boss isn't very understanding. He knew I was sick Wed from the day before yet on Fri was talking about ordering pizza. Thanks alot. I guess I'll just watch everyone else eat.
If I wasn't so darn hungry all the time it would be easier to resist.

[krisiw]

I went on a road trip with friends this weekend and took some Lara bars along that saved me from going hungry when we stopped at gas stations and fast food joints. Granted it's not enough for everyday but in a pinch, it takes the edge off your hunger so you can function. I know at first it feels really weird and obnoxious to go into a restaurant carrying your own food or to take stuff with you to work but you get used to it after a while and the less fuss you make about it, the less people notice. I am at the point where I do not begrudge other people their own food. When I look at gluten food or junk food, I just see junk or poison. It doesn't look or smell good to me. I think it takes a while to get to that point though. And after a while you get to the point where you can't imagine leaving the house without your own snack--it becomes natural.

[aklap]

Very well said Krisi!

Much of handling this is attitude. Once you wrap your brain around what has to be done and you accept it - it does get a whole lot easier.

Dwelling on things you can't have, will only make matters worse.

Yes, it does take time to get to that point. I really feel there is a grieving process that you have to go thru. You are saying good bye to your old ways, your old foods, your old lifestyle, your old sick & tired body. This does not come without emotional costs. In time, you will replace just about every favorite food that you've said goodbye to.

Keep pushin', keep pushin on...
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[Mom2BoyzOnly]

Total agreement with Al! Once you make up your mind to go totally GF, every day does become easier. That's not to say, however, that there aren't days when you wanna cry b/c you look around you at the mass amount of food in front of you, and there is absolutely nothing for you. I have had this happen in a hospital cafeteria, of all places, and it did bring me to tears.
_________________
Robin
Diagnosed approx 13 yrs ago
Seriously GF past 4 yrs

[nancw]

Healthy dork = Happy dork

Dorkiness is all relative, and the fact that you are taking care of yourself means that there is no dorkiness involved. If people ask why you have to bring your own food, just tell them the truth - I can't eat many mainstream products/dishes for medical reasons. If they press or insist on making you feel bad, then you can either:
1. Make them listen to your explanation of gluten intolerance/Celiac Disease until their eyes glaze over
2. Make them listen to your explanation and see their eyes light up because they either recognize themselves or someone they know/are related to
3. Ask them if they want to try a bite of your food
4. Agree to try some of their yummy glutenous food, but with the requirement that they spend the next 24 - 72 hours with you.

NEVER feel bad or weird or dorky about eating the way you must eat. Your health is paramount and you are learning quickly that it's not worth it to take any shortcuts in your eating. It's hard but YOU CAN DO THIS!
_________________
Nance

gluten, dairy, soy, rice, corn, yeast and 99% grain-free

[aklap]

Can I get an Amen for Sister Nance?

AMEN!!


_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[nancw]

LOL! Right-o Al. I'm all kinds of fired up!
I was fortunate enough to have two victims of my GF speechmaking this past weekend at my brother's wedding - one whose Mom is diagnosed w/ CD so she is getting tested this month, and another whose best friend is most assuredly gluten intolerant. It helped that we were trapped on a coastal New England island so they couldn't get away from me.
Anything to pass on the good word of gluten-freedom.
_________________
Nance

gluten, dairy, soy, rice, corn, yeast and 99% grain-free

[krisiw]

lol. I love the idea of making a person spend the next 24-72 hours with you if you try their glutenous food. Yeah, that would teach anybody.

[aklap]

Better yet...said non believer should be handcuffed to said gluten intolerant
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa