Gluten what?

Dear Reader, 

I was not aware that my body does not tolerate gluten until late 2014. Back then, I wanted to lose some weight so I decided to take Oat for my dinner. Ironically, my body rejected oats. I felt a huge discomfort on my stomach plus I started feeling dizzy. Also, it makes me feel nauseous and uneasy for few hours and in the end, I vomited. I felt a huge relief and normal after I vomited. 

During that time, I was not aware that I could not tolerate gluten and I thought it was just my body behaving strangely at that time. It did not occurred to me that oat was the culprit. 

The very next day, I ate oat again. And again, I went through that horror which ended up with me throwing up the oat. It was then I started feeling strange and confused as I was perfectly fine the whole day up until I consumed oat. 

Then I started doing some research and come across articles on Gluten Intolerant. Based on the contents, I analysed and matched the symptoms stated to the symptoms which I suffered. It matched! 

Then it hits me that, there is a huge possibility that I am gluten intolerant. I tried going on a diet a couple of times, by just eating whole meal bread for lunch and dinner but to my dismay, losing weight is the last thing that happened to me. 

Also, I have been complaining to my friends that I always suffered from constipation despite taking many fruits and vegetables. 

That time I wasn't sure if I was really gluten intolerant. So then I started going on a gluten-free diet for a week. Lo and behold, in that one week, I felt big changes in my life. 

1. I no longer felt tired or sleepy easily. 
2. I no longer suffered from constipation. 
3. I do not have indigestion. 
4. My mood improve and I was less lightly to be irritated. 

It then occurred to me that my body could not digest gluten hence, the indigestion. The indigestion caused my mood to swing as a result I behave like a bipolar bitch. Also, my digestive system was working so hard to digest the gluten but it just couldn't. That is why I felt extremely tired. 

Well, my lifestyle does improve and and my digestive is happy after I go on a gluten-free diet but unfortunately, my mind wasn't. I was feeling very unhappy when I know that I could not consume bread on a daily basis. Bread/pastry is my favorite food. I can go days without rice but not bread. 

I don't know if it was the gluten which turns me so dramatic or what but I literally cried when I set my mind to go gluten-free. 

That means NO BREAD, PASTRY, BURGERS, CAKE, SPAGHETTI, SCONES, SANDWICHES, COOKIES, BISCUITS, CRACKERS, SHORTBREAD, MUFFINS, PIZZA, ROTI CANAI, ROTI BOM, PARATHA, CUPCAKES, DONUTS, MORE BURGERS  whatever form of wheat based food for me.  

I was so unhappy that I am gluten intolerant and silly me, I have a little moment of self-pity (which I shouldn't have) and felt so alone in this world. It is like everyone is so happy with their significant other: Burgers whereas I am alone without a burger. Dramatic much?

It wasn't easy going gluten-free. I tried my very best to resist the temptation to eat all of my favorite food. I tried but sometimes I failed. One day, I went to a buffet and could not resist the eat-all-you-want cakes. I gave in to temptation and consumed them. When I went home, I felt a huge pain in my stomach, to the extent that I need to squat down while holding my tummy. 

That was then I made up my mind to ban any hint of gluten in my food. I went on a gluten-free diet starting from late 2014 until today. 

I was very strict at first, probably did not consume any gluten product for months and then slowly once in a blue moon I consumed a little bit of gluten, like a piece of cake or burger but just for one meal. 

I am glad that I no longer suffered from any stomachache after consuming gluten and my body can kinda tolerate gluten better than last time but not entirely. Today, I still go on a strict gluten-free diet but occasionally I do treat myself to gluten.