Well, I made a new discovery – I apparently have a similar problem with casein as I do with gluten. When I went gluten-free last summer, I thought I was good to go ahead and fill the void with more full-fat cheese and dairy products. But as I added more and more dairy into my diet, I discovered that I was starting to feel the same way I did before giving up the wheat. Not good.

So, a month ago I cleaned out all of the dairy products from my fridge – all the cheese I had stored in there was unbelievable. I was especially concerned since my family does not eat most of the cheese. My son doesn’t even like cheese unless it’s macaroni and cheese or on a pepperoni pizza. I swear I threw out seven different kinds of cheese – SEVEN!! That’s a heck of a lot of cheese for just me. Which really just proved my case against cheese and decision to go casein free.

It’s been a rollercoaster ride of emotions with the loss of my beloved cheese, but it hasn’t been too terrible. I’m basically being forced to eat healthier foods, which has done wonders for my body. I have to admit, the change came pretty quickly when I removed dairy from my daily diet. It only took a couple of days for me to get back to good. I felt like a new person – for the second time – in just a few days. Stupid cheese.

I have to say, I never thought I would be one of the people who have so many issues with food. I never thought I’d be one of those who make a big deal at restaurants or at get-togethers with friends. “Oh, I don’t eat that anymore.” I just want to make fun of myself for ending up being one of those people after the things I used to think. I used to think those people – me – were just being overly dramatic and probably hyper-sensitive. They were all hypochondriacs in my world. But that was all before.

It’s strange to be where I am in this life and think and feel the way I do. Something happens to you when you get to the 40-year mark, I think. Or at least get close…maybe it happens somewhere in your 30s. Your views start to shift – you start to think of other things than just yourself. I’ve come to think about global issues and center my whole thinking on sustainability. And that works with food, too.

Strangely, I’m totally okay with the fact that I’m nothing like I thought I would be. In fact, I may even be a much better person than I ever imagined I would be.