Choose Your Hard, Or Just Live Easy

Choose your hard, or just live easy…

I used to think living in pain and discomfort was normal. Because it was normal for me, for years. As long as I can remember. Being in pain and discomfort really plays a big part in how someone also feels emotionally.

If you know my journey, you know of my health struggle, challenges and ultimately growth.

My husband and I were talking about how at times we have felt extremely challenged. We have big, beautiful dreams for our family and our home and at times we had found ourselves talking about how “hard” it was. We are still amongst renovations, albeit different kinds than we have ever done before, yes, it has been very challenging at times. But you know what looking back it’s been 1000 times strengthening, empowering, motivating for us individually and as a couple and family. I am so proud of us!

I’ve experienced a recent health challenge and when it was suggested to me to do an elimination diet to figure out what my triggers are, I was a bit of a blubbering mess! I am so thankful for my supportive husband. He gave me great advice, the best actually, because his words completely changed my perspective.

I made the decision. I jumped in the next day and told myself I would learn as I went. Which is exactly what I did. I prepared a list of foods I could and couldn’t have – the couldn’t have would list would eventually begin testing and the ones on the list were ones I actually ate. I have been on the FODMAP elimination diet for almost 3 weeks. 2 1/2 of those weeks eating exactly by the diet (grab the Monarsh FODMAP Diet app it’s worth every penny!). I began testing foods I love… garlic, onions. So far so good thankfully, I have to continue testing. This past weekend I tested wheat.

When I began this diet I straight up told my husband wheat won’t be an issue, I love bread.

I was also in pain/discomfort of some level 90% of the time. Because I legit thought that how I was feeling was normal.

Until I stopped eating the trigger foods. My gosh I feel fantastic!

This weekend however, I did not. I still powered through like I normally did and it sucked.

This weekend I tested wheat and here is what I noticed. It tasted really good. It also made me feel awful! I was so bloated, feeling blah, major discomfort. The biggest thing I noticed… I had zero “full” feeling. Zero! I could have ate every piece of bread in the house. I didn’t thankfully, but I could have! I was honestly shocked. I tested that feeling again on Sunday… same thing. At the time I didn’t realize though I was testing that feeling. It was Monday, after lunch. I ate a wrap, and experienced a similar feeling. I then realized I had began on Friday, with a late lunch with wheat. Then sandwiches on Saturday and Sunday.

Could it have been in excess, maybe. What I realized on Monday though is this isn’t how I want to feel, ever. I’ve invested in myself to live my best life. So after feeling good for an entire 2.5 weeks… I now know what feeling good, actually means!

What’s interesting is I am not upset. Yes it’s going to take some learning, thinking outside of the “normal” box. The old me would be beyond stressed. I would be so hard on myself. I didn’t love or respect my body. Until now.

It feels so good, to feel good!!!

This has reinforced even more for me… life CAN feel easy. When you feel good. I know myself when I feel good, life flows, I naturally feel so happy and appreciative. Grateful for all I have been blessed with.

Another shift in life, resulting with increased happiness. Like a new journey, slightly unknown to explore. I’m ready for it. I’m really ready to always feel good! To choose to be healthy. Choose to put me first. No longer shy back and away, not wanting to inconvenience or worry about the cost. Everyone has something in their life to deal with. What is “hard” for someone may not be the same for someone else. When I honor how I feel, focus on how I want to feel, that’s what brings true happiness.

I do not want to feel like that anymore! Tonight, as I realized the pasta my husband and I had picked out, thinking it would be ok for me, wasn’t. I wasn’t even upset. Because I was also making something I love… Chicken Parmesan! Home made, with corn flakes vs bread crumbs and a custom spice mixture after an almond flour and flax seed mix and then egg dunk with 1 drop of Basil! The “old me” would devour an entire piece and most likely some of the kids left overs too… as well as a pile of pasta. Tonight… I had 1/2 the chicken breast, some quinoa with yellow pepper and ceasar salad! Full and oh so satisfied!!! Such an awesome feeling! The over full feeling is so old!

Best part, my husband and kids have been SO supportive! I am so lucky to have them. I am so lucky they have been open to experiencing new things.

Today I googled over eating and wheat… apparently it’s a thing 🤯! Gluten for some people can cause them to overeat. Thinking back over the years, bread has always been my “comfort food”. When I was pregnant both times I lived on pizza and bread… Gluten can also cause blood sugar spikes, and then crashes. Ahhhh 💡 makes sense even more… the mid afternoon crash after lunch! Here is your sign… after the previous signs 😉!

Life isn’t hard, that’s a limiting belief that needs to be cleared. Yup we all hit roadblocks and experience challenges… when you have truly experienced your own challenges and embraced what you could positively take out of it (growth) you truly learn a new way of living and also loving others. Your compassion deepens.

Allow life to flow with ease.

Get in touch with you, whoever “you” truly is!

I’m excited for this “new” version of me. The version of what my soul was meant to live 🥰!

Live easy ✌