In a word, the answer to that question is NO!
But it’s always the first thing my clients want to know.
As a gluten-free Health Coach, I could certainly make it my job to crack the whip.
In reality, though, I prefer a gentler approach.
Besides, when you try to force things, chances are they will back-fire.
Don’t believe me?
Go ahead and try it!
Choose something – anything – and see how successful you are when your efforts feel forced and contrived, or worse yet, you constantly feel deprived.
Such a feat is rarely sustainable.
(That’s why diets so often fail).
Of course, here at Design a Healthy Life, the emphasis isn’t on weight loss.
Rather, it’s about learning to live with Celiac Disease and Food Sensitivities – so you can get past overwhelm and start making make smart, informed decisions about your diet and your health.
With that said, here are some of the most common myths about this so-called “Boot Camp Mentality.”
Do Everything MY Way – Or Else
Maybe you just want to learn how to eat gluten-free and that’s it.
That’s perfectly OK!
The goal of a coach, is to meet you where you’re at.
In other words, if your primary concern is mastering the gluten-free diet – and nothing more – then that’s exactly what we focus on.
Likewise, if addressing chemicals and such in your environment feels a little too scary right now – if not downright overwhelming – that’s fine, too.
We’ll cross that bridge, when and if, we even come to it.
You’ll Become a Slave to Your Kitchen
You probably thought you’d been liberated from the kitchen a long time ago.
In fact, as a woman of the 21st century, you can proudly choose to either cook as little as possible, or not at all – relying instead, on any number of readily available, processed foods.
Yes, it does seem like a luxury.
Yet, relying on processed foods that have been prepared by others – with little regard to your health – definitely has a down side.
Most importantly, it’s really hard to be gluten-free and NOT spend more time in the kitchen.
Does that mean you’ll literally be a slave to your kitchen?
Of course not!
The challenge I’m presenting to you here, is to seek out easy to prepare recipes, using fresh, simple ingredients – taking advantage this time of year of a wonderful selection of produce.
It’s the easiest, and most direct way I know to eat foods that are truly good for you, on a regular basis.
Diets Are About Deprivation
Put another way – this is like saying “My family gets to eat all the good stuff – while I starve”.
Of course, that isn’t really true.
But it’s easy to look at the dark side of things, and equate being gluten-free with deprivation – focusing on all the things you can no longer eat.
That’s a tough way to look at it.
Of course, if other family members aren’t fully on board, that doesn’t make it any easier.
However, there are tricks and tools for dealing with everything.
Besides, we really can’t control what other people are going to do, or how they will react to our special diet.
The only thing we CAN do, is work on our own thought process, and turn seemingly negative thoughts into positive ones.
Rather than focus on lack – or what’s missing from your life – you can focus instead on what’s great about it!
Such as:
- The wonderful, fresh and amazing foods that you CAN eat
- How much better you feel, without constant stomach pains and lethargy
- The feeling of being in control!
Now it’s your turn!
I’d love to know where you’re at on your journey.
What are your biggest challenges?
Do you have a ‘deprivation’ mindset?
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