Taste Life Blog

No. Not. Me. July 12^th. “D Day.” I arrived home from a super relaxing Timberman Triathlon weekend at the Mullaney Cabin to a life changing email. My Enterolab test result for gluten sensitivity was positive. My first thought was my number is “not that high” so maybe I really don’t “have it.” My smart RD sister, Laurie Meyer, informed me that any number over the threshold was indeed positive for gluten sensitivity. The first week I didn’t care and “sort-of” forgot about it. I was NOT doing that horrible diet. And so it went…I ate bread, crackers with Gram Ady’s jam, and even drank a beer with Julie and Tim Thoma while boating on Lake Minnetonka. How could an ex-Pabst brewery worker from Milwaukee, Wisconsin not drink beer? Guilt. More guilt. I knew I was creating inflammation in my body and didn’t care – or did I?

Since Gary’s retirement on July 1^st, I have watched him have a ton of fun while accomplishing a lot. In July, he biked 800 miles and completed two big projects – under-the-cabinet lighting in our kitchen and sealed coating the driveway. His big atlas is his constant companion as are his many maps for planning his trips. His first trip will be hiking the Black Hills. Jealous. Very, very jealous! I want to be Gary. But, how can I be guaranteed a future, healthy retirement if I am constantly creating inflammation in my body? So I decided. I woke up on July 20^th and decided NO MORE GLUTEN!

A decision is a belief.

It is a declaration. It is a commitment to where you are standing and there is no turning back. Example: I decided I will retire healthfully and happily with Gary.

A goal is an action and is measurable.

Goals are where you want to be. Example: I will follow a gluten free diet.

Goals are great but the power is in your decision. Once you make a committed decision you can set goals along the way to support your decision. But you HAVE to make the decision. The decision comes first. You are not going to make a change unless you decide. You get what you decide.

How do you get from a decision to a goal? With small manageable preparation steps. My preparation steps were to buy Trader Joe’s rice crackers and give away my gluten-filled noodles and breads.

The most difficult gluten free weekend was the Bork family cabin weekend complete with Amish toast, Special K Bars, and my “heaven on earth” Uncle Mike’s Pecan Kringle. But I decided before I hopped in the car that I want to retire healthfully and happily with Gary.

The secret about going on a new diet is to dump the willpower theory. After you decide, you create your environment to support who you want to become. My wellness coaching clients memorize, “My environment is stronger than my will.” It is not about will power. I call that worry power. Can anyone have a glass cookie jar on their counter with their favorite cookies in it and not eat them? I have not met them yet. Can I have yummy looking gluten-filled cinnamon bread on my counter and not eat it?

Goals are great. But until you really, really decide that you truly WANT to be happier and healthier and start new behaviors, nothing will change. Nothing.

The unexpected bonus from the gluten free diet is that my joints don’t ache anymore, my temperature is normal, and I am mentally more focused.

Remember, if you have not consciously made a decision to be amazing, happier and healthier, you have unconsciously made the decision to be average, unhappy and unhealthy.

We would love to hear your decisions and how you created your environment to support them.