Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Gluten Free?

So!  How many of you guys are Gluten Free?  I always wondered if that was primarily a dietary need based on allergies, or if there are some health benefits to being gluten free.

Anyhoo!  I was contacted by Bakery on Main, and they graciously sent me some fabulous goodies to try out.  I have to say, I was pretty damn impressed!


Please forgive the super uber crappy iPhone picture.  :D

So!  I got some really delicious granola (excellent on yogurt or ice cream) and the granola bars were chewy and yummy.  I'm not a big fan of granola bars if they're super crunchy, so it was really a nice surprise that these were chewy ones.  Overall - I'm not super familiar with gluten free food, but even as someone without that particular dietary requirement, their stuff is quite enjoyable!  Dan even enjoyed the bars as well!


You can check out their website here. :)

In other news - I'm awaiting a phone call from my Bodybugg coach.  I got the new Bodybugg for Christmas from my parents, and I got it all set up.  Now, just a matter of learning how to use it and being diligent about entering / tracking all my calories.  

I'm a little (read: lot) nervous about the eating plan they made for me - it's around 45% carbohydrates, which is way more than I consume.  I have a feeling I'm still going to try to cull back the amount of carbs I'm taking in, and focusing on veggies, greens and lean meats.  I'll keep you guys posted with my experience, and hopefully it helps me get closer to my goal weight.  

Right now it's giving a basis of food intake / calories based solely on my current weight and my activity level.  I will be curious to see what it says once I plug in the Bodybugg after I've been wearing it for a few hours - if it'll adjust it based on my BMR or not.  I'll let you guys know! 

~Jenn

15 comments:

Chubby McGee said...

I hope it goes well for you! Do keep us posted. Good luck!

kimert said...

I have not gone gluten free but have friends that have done so for a wide variety of reasons and they have seen great success, mostly in how they feel overall.

As far as the meal plan being 45% carbs, I was worried about that too when I met with a dietitian and she did the same to me. However, she told me with my activity level it just had to be done. I've lost 10 lbs since adding the carbs and fat she suggested. I wish you the best of luck!

Happy New Year!

Unknown said...

Yea I'd be curious to know more about gluten free as well. As far as I know it's for health reasons. My cousins are both allergic to it and that's why they had gluten free cakes at their weddings.

-molly marie
www.mollymariegetshealthy.com

Amanda said...

I'm supposed to be GF because I'm intolerant, but I'm a bit naughty :)

45% carbs seems a lot! Looking forward to reading more about it.

Runnergirl said...

Those are the ones they have on Biggest Loser, right? Let us know how it goes, as I am sorely tempted, given that I can't figure out my metabolic rate at all!

Fat Bottomed Girl said...

I`m gluten free, but only becasue I have Celiac Disease and I have to be, otherwise there is no way in HELL I would stop eating everything delicious!

A. said...

I'm not sure, specifically, what the health benefits are of being gluten free, but my uncle was diagnosed with ALS back in March 2010, and apparently there was some sort of correlation between eating things with gluten in it, and being gluten-free. I'd have to do my research to see what, exactly, gluten does to a person with ALS, but... all I know is, he didn't want to eat anything with it. =/

Crysi said...

My daughters are gluten free because my oldest has celiac. I eat a very low gluten diet because almost everything in our house is gluten free. I cook and bake without gluten. I actually prefer gluten free cakes, cookies and pancakes now. When I eat the "regular" kind, they taste tough.

I wouldn't do it unless medically necessary. You eat so few carbs anyway that I honestly wouldn't see the point. I am curious about the granola though. My daughters have never had granola. I've seen some in the store, but never bought it.

Geeta said...

My mom's gluten-free because she's seriously allergic. It's heredity so I tried it for a while as well. For me, it was extra healthy because looking for things sans gluten just eliminated a lot of junk... but now that there are so many options to make the gluten-free diet "easier" - not so much! I could buy all the cookies and brownies I wanted, just like I did before.

I'm not on the diet anymore, but my mom has become amazing at cooking and baking gluten-free things. This season we couldn't even tell which pies were which!

P.S. Bakery on Main started out in my town :)

Jordan E said...

My understanding is that gluten is a protein in wheat ingredients, so most gluten foods that are unhealthy are not so because of the gluten, but because of sugars or some other ingredients. I don't believe gluten free is all that healthy, unless you are allergic, of course. However, there are plenty of yummy and healthy things that are naturally gluten-free! Those snacks look yummy.

Josie @Skinny Way Of Life said...

I'm not gluten free but I did try it once by making gluten free brownies, huge disaster. 45% carbs hhhhmm interesting, keep us posted on that!

Nissa Nicole said...

Jen - I just read the Book the Paleo Solution and have since decided to go from being vegetarian to becoming Paleo. I HIGHLY suggest you read it if you haven't already, though I know that you're doing a pretty low carb/no sugar diet already.

I was in TEARS reading about digestion and how terrible gluten/refined carbs are for our digestion. I was a HARDCORE VEGETARIAN and now feel pissed at all of the misinformation out there about how our bodies work. Additionally the book discusses how lack of exercise, lack of sleep, and overstress causes TERRIBLE problems. Learn about insulin resistance (NOT just diabetics) and cortisol levels. SCARY.

I haven't eaten meat for 5 years and fake meats (soy) and pasta/bread have been a big part of my diet. I lost about 30 lbs just adding exercise and watching food but didn't see the results I wanted, so I went out in search of something else. Read the 4 Hour Body first and then read this. CANNOT RECOMMEND EITHER ENOUGH.

Also yes - you NEED to start exercising. It's the other part of the puzzle and you won't get to where you want to without it. You also aren't going to get fit without it.

I have the Go Wear Fit, which is like the bodybugg (I think bodybugg is the more expensive version from Body Media, same company), I LOVE it. Really pay attention to how much sleep you are getting. I haven't used the calorie input system as much because I was on WW and not really counting calories, so you don't HAVE to follow their plan. Rules are meant to be broken. :)

Sorry for the long comment but I had lots to say :D

Unknown said...

I'm currently following a wheat free diet (so still eating some gluten in the form of oats and occasionally barley). I've done this purely as an attempt to stop excess bloating/ IBS-type symptoms. So far it seems to be working.

Although I am frequently and pleasantly surprised that the GF foods I've been choosing are better tasting than the gluten-filled products they're replacing.

Non Sequitur Chica said...

I got the bodybugg for Christmas and so far I am loving it! It makes me want to work out b/c I get a sense of satisfaction when I plug it in and see that I have hit my calorie burn for the day. Putting in your meals helps to make sure that you are getting your calorie deficit for the day.

sass said...

I'm gluten free due to an allergy (rash, not stomach upset though). I know a lot of folks who are not allergic but gluten free b/c it makes them feel better. My naturopath doesn't advise a low carb diet. Instead, she has me on a lifestyle 'diet'. Eat every two hours, include a greens and protein in every small meal, and dinner plate must be 75% greens, 20% protein and 5% carbs but only good carbs like brown rice. Its amazing how the weight falls off on this lifestyle of eating!