Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Food Allergies: Now What?

Part two of my food allergy saga, okay not really a saga, but sometimes it feels like a cruel punishment for something I didn't do. If you missed it, here's part 1: finding out I have food allergies.


So I've just gotten the news that I have all of these allergies, boo. The doctor then tells me, sometimes the results may say you're allergic to something but your body might not react to it at all. So she wanted me to cut everything out that I was allergic to and then in a month start adding the foods back one at a time for 3 days to see if I had a reaction. I was hopeful.

This all happened before people really jumped on the gluten free, healthy band wagon, so there were not very many options out there for me to eat. Mr. and I went to the grocery store and walked up and down every isle reading food labels. So many food labels, and EVERYTHING has something it in that I'm allergic to. Two weeks into my cutting everything out I had already lost 10 pounds, and I was continuing to lose weight. Which wasn't a bad thing, but it wasn't great, because I was doing it the wrong way, I was starving myself. The things I could eat, like fruit and veggies, just didn't have enough calories in them, I would get full and probably only consume 100 or so calories. I just needed more calories so I started eating potato chips. Like bags of potato chips and I was still losing weight.

I think that first month I lost about 20 pounds, yikes! But I made it and was going to start adding stuff back in. I missed cheese/dairy the most so I added that first. I had stomach pains, no go. I waited 3 days, and tried some soy, no go...and on down the line of foods, each time I had stomach pains and each time my tiny dream that I wasn't really allergic to something was crushed.

I had a pity party, I cried a lot that first year. I would be okay and then I would just have a break down and just want to go somewhere quick to eat. Having these food allergies has changed our lifestyle. It was hard to be out and about and then say hey, we're hungry let's stop here for some food. Nope we had to go home and eat. Every outing revolved around food, so as to not be out when a meal came around. Mostly I brought something with me to eat.

The ONLY good thing about this whole food allergy thing? Okay maybe there are two good things.

1) It keeps my weight in check, especially when I was pregnant, not binging on whatever craving I had (with Baby Fox I craved a bagel and cream cheese for 5 months, it consumed my thoughts, I wanted one so bad, so bad in fact that Mr. who doesn't care for it, ate one because I talked about it so much). It has made us eat healthier and make better food for ourselves.

2) We have found some pretty great food. Food we never would have found had I not had the food allergies. So for that we're thankful.

Next I'll fill you in on some of our favorite go to foods, I know you're dying to know.

So anyone have any questions about food allergies?


4 comments:

  1. The whole thing sucks. Esp not being able to wing food. Grab a quick bite, order take out when you're tired. But, totally nice bonus that it keeps you healthy and you feel good.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I experienced the same thing with the weight loss. I was suddenly scared to eat everything plus cutting out all dairy for Ty's allergies. Funny about the potato chips bc they still are my go to snack lol

    ReplyDelete
  3. I feel so bad for you! I don't know how you do it! I'm curious to find our what you can eat :)

    http://www.kaciesklosetblog.com/

    ReplyDelete
  4. Way to find the good through the bad!! Love it.

    ReplyDelete