Kokova Magazine

If you have been following my resolution to change my diet and lifestyle through out 2014 you will know that after starting the year dairy- and gluten-free, I had lost 7lbs and began to see many of my intolerance symptoms disappear, along with my brain fog, tiredness and generally feeling run down.

Yet throughout March I didn't just slip - I fell headlong off the wagon! And like many people fell into the trap of thinking I had conquered my resolutions so deserved the odd treat. And when the odd treat contains dairy, for me, it is sure to mean disaster. Add to this a dip into gluten because it was easier to eat the bread we had and, if you have an intolerance, you will know where this is headed.

Sleepless nights, joint pain, lethargy and the consumption of Rennie on an almost hourly basis. Knowing the symptoms that will follow, what makes me self-harm in this way and what is it about the things we can't have that makes us want them more?

Thankfully Sarah, our Food Editor, has helped to point out that instead of looking for free-from foods I should start to look for more 'naturally without' foods; choosing produce that never had gluten or dairy in them in the first place over foods that have had them removed. In the last week or so this has helped me to look at what is naturally available and stopped me craving so many of the naughty treats I felt I was missing out on.

We have also taken over a small allotment at the end of our IT managers garden, swapping our evenings in front of the TV for a digging and clearing session ready to plant our own fruit, vegetables and flowers.

The 7lb I lost went back on in March but disappeared again towards the start of this month through a rethink of what I was eating and a doubling of the effort it takes to make a lifestyle change. The yoga classes are still working well and add to the exercise we get from gardening. It is not easy but I am back to taking baby steps and moving one day at a time - but when I am tempted to dip into the treat box now I simply grab the dogs and hike off for a walk to our allotment and do an hours digging.

Let's hope May brings a bit of magic with it and we will start to reap the rewards of our group effort in the garden - and I will see some more light at the end of of a twisting tunnel in my journey to feeling fabulous.

Previous articles include: -
Just into January on our Fabulous for February Plan
Half Way There to a Fabulous February
Getting Fabulous for February One Day at a Time
Feeling Fabulous For February and Marvellous for March
Are We Marvellous for March Yet?

Bookmark my blog for an update next month - https://kokovamagazine.com/blog