gluten-free breakfast ideas

I started trying to keep a semi gluten-free lifestyle since June. When I fall off the wagon, I can tell. Like last night I was at my friend's reception (she was a beautiful bride!!), and there were so many yummy things in miniature size that I dove right in. Today? Bloated, bloated, and a little cramped.

The worst is that's how I've been eating here lately. Letting small amounts of gluten in has never been a big deal. When it comes to breads and pastas - forget it, but other things that have gluten like baked goods, I've nibbled on....fine. More than nibbled. I can tell a big difference in how I feel and how I look. Did you know your digestive system does play a role in acne? Yep. Back when I was having massive stomach issues I would have tons of acne on my chin and on the sides. Turns out that part of your face is due to hydration and  digestive. Since I've been a gluten eater, my chin (along with my stomach) has taken a blow.

I went to the Holy Grail aka Pinterest and wanted to start looking for ideas. Boy, did I find TONS! But who would expect less? You can find anything on that site. Here are some breakfast ideas I plan on trying over the next couple weeks to spice up my lovely oatmeal (oats do not bother me, but they do bother some who have gluten intolerance) and turkey bacon breakfast.

Are you a g-free eater? How do you mix up your breakfast? Feel free to post links or even recipes in the comments. I'd love to hear your ideas!

Source: realfoodfreaks.com via Amber on Pinterest

Source: heythattastesgood.com via Amber on Pinterest

Source: udisglutenfree.com via Amber on Pinterest

Source: eatingwell.com via Amber on Pinterest

Source: udisglutenfree.com via Amber on Pinterest

Weight Loss Sucks - 15 POUNDS DOWN!

Sooo I haven't did a monthly update on my weight loss since March mainly cause the last two months of school killed me. I started out at the beginning of the year at 195 then went up to 197 and kinda yo-yo around the 189 for a while and maintaining it for a couple months. I've been fighting some bad stomach issues for a year (as of the beginning of June). I've had just about every test you can think of done, and then started doing things for myself like cutting out a massive part of gluten from my eating. While I still have some bad days, I have more good than normal and a lot of issues are fading away. Since carbs were a huge part of my diet (I'm the head baker at my work for crying out loud!), I've dropped a little more weight which brings me to the grand total as of two days ago to.....

182 pounds!

That means I have lost 15 pounds!!! 

Because of all my stomach crud I had went into my old doctor's a few weeks back to get put on a new medication. I hadn't been there in two years and she told me since my last visit I've lost 21 pounds! Looking back at photos I can definitely see a difference with my body which I plan on posting on the next month's update. I know going semi-gluten free isn't going to necessarily help me loose ton of weight since most gluten free products do have a higher calorie count, but since I don't have a lot of products available in my area, I am making healthier decisions on what I eat. Tons of fruits, veggies, and leaner meats! And water is like my favorite thing now which is so odd to say, but since it's about a billion degrees outside (PLEASE GOD LET IT RAIN!) I am sucking that down like I'm a friggin' plant. 

Today is my first day of Hip Hop Abs. Oh, this is gonna be fun. (<-- I'm using my sarcasm font in case you didn't catch it.)

Going Gluten-Free - HELP!

Over the past week I've had a few tests and one procedure done to start ruling out what all could be causing me to have such bad stomach problems for the past year. I was diagnosed with IBS or what I like to call DIMB (Demon In Mah Belly). That wasn't new news. I got that when I was a teen, but it had always just went in small phases. The constant feeling like crap is having me at my wit's end not to mention embarrassing at times. I have to cancel going out with friends or even going to the movies is sometimes a challenge.

I've been ruled out of colon polyps, cancerous colon options (THANK GOD!), Chrone's Disease, and Celiac's Disease. I still haven't gotten all my biopsy results back, but the more I researched, the more I convinced myself that going gluten free might be a good idea. I'm on Day 8 of being pretty much G-Free and I've noticed a BIG difference with how I've felt. I'm also taking a fiber supplement and having to buy that at the store made me feel like I'm 70 instead of 27.

The fallback to going G-Free is that it's kind of a pain in the butt especially for someone who lives in a very small town where one little section of the grocery store has about 20 items. I'm heading to Springfield in a few days with a cooler in my backseat just so I can go to Hy-Vee and stock up on grocery items. That's a 60 mile drive mind you, but if it makes me feel better than I am all for it. I also ordered a couple cookbooks from Amazon to help me adapt to this new lifestyle. It's crazy to think for the past 2 months my symptoms were a constant me wanting to curl in a ball and die and out of the 8 days, the past 3 of them I have felt normal again.

Here's where I'm reaching out to the interwebs and anyone who happens to read this half-arse blog of mine. Any recommendations on some good brand products to check out? I know some of that stuff taste like cardboard crap, and I do have a budget to maintain and this stuff ain't cheap. Or do you have some awesome websites that show some good recipes? I know quick and easy isn't going to be the best option. Since sometimes I always feel like I'm in a hurry having to spend more than 10 minutes in the kitchen is going to take some time getting used to. Not to mention the fact that I LOVE BREAD AND I CAN LONGER EAT IT!! So far most gluten-free bread taste like well...crap.

Any suggestions, advice, or whatever you can throw my way into getting into the new lifestyle would be GREATLY appreciated!