I Am Not Your Role Model

Why I am doing things a little differently.

My guess is, the from the moment you found out you couldn't eat gluten any more, you hopped on google to figure out what you COULD eat. From there you probably started following gluten free influencers on Instagram, Facebook, even Twitter. I call this full immersion celiac. And I know this because I did the exact same back when I was first diagnosed.

Talk about overwhelmed.

I didn't see any gluten free influencers that were my size. Everyone was "super happy" about the crappy bread that didn't come close to touching King's Hawaiian Rolls (the #1 king of all bread). And why wouldn't anyone show me how to make a gluten free big mac? (Like one that ACTUALLY tasted like a real big mac.)

A lot of things have changed since I was diagnosed. The amount of gluten free food that is now offered in many stores is amazing. Influencers and dietitians are sharing the emotional ups and downs of being celiac in a very gluten-y world. But we've still got work to do.

What does this work look like?

1. I want to see more fat influencers share their experiences with celiac. We are underrepresented and have different challenges with the disease than others.

2. I want to hear other fat people's voices on how they got their diagnosis. We often face a longer road to answers than our underweight celiac buddies.

3. I want someone (not me) to figure out how to make soft bread. We've come a LONG way from the brick of bread in the freezer, but this fat queen doesn't want to eat a sponge. I want to be fooled into thinking I'm eating the real thing.

4. I want to see other people who are honest about their struggle with sticking to the gluten free diet.

On that last point....

Honestly people, I can't be the only one that sneaks a snack cake every now and again. Your girl is a recovering food addict with a gluten allergy and nearly all the "fun" processed food will hurt me.

And that is why I am not your role model.

I used to get so discouraged looking at the gluten free influencers online. They made it all look so glamorous and easy. The "lifestyle change" my doctor kept talking about would bring me into this gluten free world where no one seemed to look like me or share my experiences.

And that's why I started this blog to share my dirty honest struggle with this lifestyle. I don't feel like I fit here between the dietitians and the stick thin influencers, but I'm squeezing in and making a spot at the table for myself and others like me.

No more shame in fucking up. It's all a part of the process.

Cheers,

-Lo