About Coach Omi

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 What is the simplest way to understand gluten?

Gluten is like glue in some foods. 

It’s something inside wheat, barley, or rye; like bread, cookies, and pasta. 

Gluten helps the food stick together and be stretchy-kind of like playdough. 

But many people’s bodies can’t handle gluten and have to avoid it to stay feeling good.

I have been a big advocate for gluten-free living since early 2013. I found out that I had a gluten intolerance, thankfully not Celiac Disease while living in Washington D.C. My blood, small intestine, and other organs couldn't metabolize it anymore and I was having serious symptoms from eating it.

The symptoms were very disruptive, along the lines of; immediate headaches, stomach pains, digestion issues, consistent rashes, hives, gas, unforgivable belching, constipation, bloating, eventually vomiting, and the list went on. Before the diagnosis, I had no idea, nor did my family, but after learning about this food allergy I was experiencing, I finally noticed the disruptive behaviors I had with it. 

I was choosing to be in denial about it harming me, because let’s keep it real…I was addicted and didn't want to or know how to rid it out of my diet effectively, even with all the symptoms I was dealing with! I literally had no idea how to eliminate it from my diet for the long haul and for some reason was scared to. I had a caring doctor who was telling me what to do for my diet, but the minute she was out of sight, I struggled alone.

Later in 2013, I had the opportunity to live in Panama, Central America, working on a farm. Once I got there I was able to fight the addiction better because of my easy access to consistent whole organic plant foods. Unfortunately, I realized it was more difficult to stop the cravings for glutenous foods while living in the USA, because foods you would never assume have gluten in them have it. I had to really put into practice reading everything on packaged foods, not just the ingredients, but asterisks, front labels, may contain, disclaimers, nutritional content, any and everything on the packages before I purchased, drank, or ate it. Eventually, I chose to cut down on packaged foods entirely and focused on a whole foods diet.

The other thing is being gluten-free has nothing to do with a Vegan or Vegetarian Lifestyle, gluten is derived from specific grains and is in a lot of “Plant-Based Meals”, so it is very easy to forget when someone offers a snack or meal (especially when hunger strikes) and they say “it’s vegan” or “you’re vegetarian right?”, I would automatically say yes, and open my mouth to eat the considerate treat, and regret to realize I didn't ask if it was gluten-free too(most of the time it isn’t). It was an absolute headache on its own in the beginning to get the conversations right to avoid unnecessary ailments or offers.

The How: What I Chose to Do

I went through multiple methods of therapy to help me fight the gluten addiction like; hypnotherapy, energy work like Polarity and Cranial therapy, Reiki, Acupuncture, Auriculotherapy, group and private Counseling. Anything to find any way to get emotional and spiritual relief to fight the mental and physical issues I was dealing with. My symptoms were getting worse year after year of not staying fully committed to the gluten-free diet. I knew it was a mindset issue, and it was wearing me out, I finally realized how bad it truly was. It was the hardest thing I ever had to shift around in my life.

After many attempts and years of failing to eliminate gluten from my diet, I finally felt like I started to get a hold of it from all the attention I was actually giving it. I then had so many new behaviors under my belt that I had to get used to, to keep up with the diet in regards to my social life.

It felt taxing honestly. Asking waiters countless questions about the menu, asking to see Nutritional Guides at restaurants, remembering to ask what flour was being used, or just remembering to tell the waitress I wanted the GF options. I sent countless meals back because of my lack of effective communication, the waiters lack of listening, or complete forgetfulness. But I couldn't give up!

The What: Speaking Reality into My Future Self

...And one optimistic day after a beautiful therapy session that brought me to tears with insight and inspiration, I finally heard myself have an epiphany. I remember thinking these words to myself and really taking a good look at what i was doing to health.

"This allergy is a blessing, not a curse, it's giving me the ability to really look deep into why this food has so much control over me. Why can't I stop eating it, even though it's making me sick every time I eat it?"

This is when things started to shift for me, that's when everything started making sense. I went into Auto-Pilot and never looked back. I started to write in my journal and create more affirmations like:

"My body is a Temple and I should only put foods in my body that agree with my blood and digestive system."

"I'm not like everyone else, I have a special system that I have to be more mindful of to avoid ailment."

"This is a gift to be aware of, not a setback to be ashamed of."

"God is forcing me to eat mindfully for the sake of living whole-fully."

I had to reprogram my mindset, and psyche myself to realize it's all worth it to pay better attention to the foods I'm consuming versus the latter; I truly felt and still feel like my life depends on this kept mindset. I am so very grateful for this allergy; it made me take my diet into my own hands, and it forced me to cook more often and more mindfully for myself.

It's also ignited a beautiful creative side in me; though I've been cooking for as long as I could see over the kitchen counter, adding the layer of gluten-free to my homemade meals has elevated my capabilities to find ways to make an easy, delicious flavor palette of options daily.

The Knowing: Dedication to Self is Key

I went back to school and got my degree in nutrition after I was diagnosed, and I learned so much more about food that I was ignorant of. I discovered foods that I never paid attention to before, whether Gluten-Free or not, but this journey has made me much more aware of what I can eat and has even opened me up to more cultural influences in my meal ideas and ways of living around this lifestyle diet.

So now I dedicate my time and work to helping those who are struggling with gluten issues and transitioning them as well, whether that is the intolerance of it, full-blown Celiac Disease, or just being aware that gluten isn't a sustainable food as it may have once been before for our bodies to digest properly.

If you are or know anyone struggling with these conditions, and my story resonated with you, please find your help. It really is no joke and should not be taken lightly. I wish you well on your path and I hope you stick to it. Eliminating gluten from your diet is worth it, and you will be grateful you took it seriously when you did. The willingness can be a stubborn thing but you will overcome it as long as you stick to the process.