Bonnie’s Story – I Wake Up Every Day With a Smile

My story starts back in 2008 when I was dealing with chronic pain to the point where I wasn’t even able to roll over in bed at night or close my hands into fists. Since rheumatoid arthritis runs in my family, I assumed that is what I was dealing with. But when I went to the doctor, my blood tests revealed nothing. I was frustrated and at my breaking point.

Making the Connection to Gluten Intolerance

As fate would have it, on my way up north I heard an episode of Dishing Up Nutrition on the radio. In this particular episode, the nutritionists were talking about gluten intolerance and all of the symptoms were exactly what I was experiencing. When I got up north, I decided that I would make an appointment with a nutritionist when I got home.

At that first meeting with my nutritionist, when she went over my health history we discovered that my family likely has a history of gluten intolerance. Once I started on a gluten-free diet and added key supplements like L-glutamine and Bifido Balance, everything changed. I cried because she gave me my life back. I couldn’t understand why traditional doctors didn’t know this.

Getting Back on Track

Although I did well with my new gluten-free diet and lost weight, over time, I gained it back after I started eating out more. What started with “I’ll just have one onion ring” eventually got me way off track. I knew not to eat gluten because it would cause indigestion and bloating. My mistake was eating out and eating large quantities of foods that were not healthy for me. I continued to feel more and more uncomfortable in my body, to the point where I struggled to comfortably put my socks on last winter.

I reached a point where I was sick of not feeling good. I was uncomfortable and had low energy. So, after hearing about the Nutrition 4 Weight Loss series in the newsletter, I called my daughter who was also struggling with her weight. We decided to enroll together since we were both in a place where we were ready to commit to our health.

I Feel Good About Myself Again

After starting the program, my husband fell while he was out for a walk and my daughter ended up staying at our house for a month to help take care of him. This really helped us to work together, prepare meals together and hold each other accountable. She has lost 28 pounds, and I have lost 23 pounds. “Why would we not keep doing this? We feel good about ourselves again.”

The Online Format was Perfect for Me

Because of COVID-19 precautions, we took the class online. I really liked this format because I didn’t have to drive anywhere and add one more thing to my schedule. I also loved that I could stop a class if I needed to listen again or take a picture of the screen to take notes. I still keep going back. Since I am an introvert, I like to be able to sit with information before I ask questions. This format has been ideal for me. I was able to take a lot of notes before I met with my nutritionist for my one-on-one phone counseling appointment where we discovered that a few things had changed since my last appointment in 2008. I love how my nutritionist helps me adapt and tweak recipes to my liking since there are certain veggies I just can’t tolerate.

One of the biggest habits I have changed since taking the class is staying on the clock for when I need to eat. I set an alarm so if I am in the middle of something or on the road I will be prepared with a snack. If I miss when I am supposed to eat, I get crabby and can’t maintain my energy so I feel lethargic. For breakfast, I typically have the breakfast sausages with scrambled eggs, mushrooms and tomatoes. For lunch, I usually have leftovers from dinner the night before. Snacks are typically nitrate-free turkey roll-ups with almonds and ½ cup of fruit.  Despite my distaste for veggies, I found out that I love the broccoli salad recipe and often have that for dinner with grilled chicken. I always keep chicken salad prepared in the fridge so it’s ready to go for a snack or lunch if I don’t have leftovers.

I am so thankful for this class and what I have learned. I have so many go-to recipes now that I can make so I always have my fridge stocked with real food and can easily implement the real food message I learned from class in my everyday life. My family has always loved to cook, but we weren’t cooking the right things. Now, I feel like a resource for my family and can help them figure out the source of their own cravings. “I wake up with a smile on my face saying, thank you, God!”

Create Your Own Success Story with Nutrition Education

Bonnie was able to get control of her chronic pain and lose weight with the power of nutrition education and personal support. Sign up for the Nutrition 4 Weight Loss program today and be on your way to improved health. The 12-week program is available in-person, virtually or online and includes a two-hour consultation with a licensed nutritionist or dietician.

Find more tips and advice on managing chronic pain in these additional articles and podcasts and be on your way to getting rid of sugar cravings for good!

Natural Ways to Manage Chronic Pain
Joint Pain & Inflammation - Are Your Food Choices to Blame?
Going Gluten Free the Healthy Way
How Nutrition Helped My Health