cheater, cheater, gluten eater!!

I went for a walk today with my GG( good girlfriend) who also has celiac. In fact, she got her diagnosis a year and half ago so a bit before my Payson and I've known her for about 3 years.She lives just up the road, is our Bishops wife and the only other celiac my little one knows. She lent me every book in her GF library and gave us many samples of foods and shares bread and goodies with us. Every Sunday she brings a piece of GF waffle wrapped in purple cellophane to use as Sacrament bread for Payson as well as herself. She has been a great blessing. We met for a walk today and I was telling her that I'm trying to make exercise a habit and that since about May of last year I've lost 15 pounds. She asked how I had lost the weight and I said " well I guess by going GF, at least at home, myself." We pretty much eat GF at all of our family meals. The only thing we don't eat GF is for sandwiches at lunch, but we don't eat them very often. But, I mentioned since doing that I am definitely more sensitive to gluten when I eat it outside of the house. I admit it, I am a cheater! When we go on dates I end up eating the bread sticks at Olive Garden. There was a ward pizza party last week and I had some and was sick for nearly 2 days. I can't help myself! So, I know Payson got celiac from my side of the tree. I've had Tummy issues since I was teen. eating GF makes the issues go away, so I don't feel like I need a Dr's diagnosis to tell me I have celiac I'll just not eat it anymore. Yeah right. I wish I had the will power my little one has. He never cheats, nor does he even want to. I can't seem to give up my morning pop tart no matter how hard I try! So I asked him how mommy can work on not cheating. Here is what he told me.

1. Remember how awful you feel and really try to remember exactly how bad it was.
2. Think of something you need to do or are going to go do that is fun. If you eat gluten then you might have diarreah and not get to go.
3. Remember no one takes care of you if you cheat. ( If Payson cheated he knows he would get no sympathy. No rice bags, tummy rubs, cartoons on the couch, and no complaining. you did it you deal with it Harsh I know but so far it has worked).
4. If people are your friend they will try to help you not to cheat.
5. The less you eat it the sicker it makes you. ( I need to take his advice that was my advice. The longer you go without gluten the more it bothers you when you inroduce it into your body.

I have also tried really hard to not be the gluten police. If he sees a cookie at the store and says I want a cookie or is says it looks good I don't say " you can't eat that remember" I say " I know bud. If you really want it you can have it but I think you know why you shouldn't have it. " He always tells me " are you crazy that thing is poison for my body. I said it looked good not that it would feel good to eat" and I try to remove situations that might tempt him. He brings GF equivalent items to bday parties, playdates, etc.. I know that it is a gluten filled world out there but you wouldn't send an alcoholic to a New Years party where there's going to be a toast without some sparkling cider. So try to remove temptation. and also talk about it. Alot. Ask why he wanted to cheat or did cheat. There is always a motivation, if you can find an alternative or role play the situations your child feels like cheating in it will empower them and maybe help cut down on the cheating itself. Now I'm going to go and take my own advice!!