Jodie

I recently ​learned that I ​have a problem ​digesting gluten ​products. I had ​painful edema in ​my legs for more ​than two years ​and didn't know ​why. Once I rid ​my system of all ​gluten, the pain ​disappeared and ​hasn't returned. ​Recently, I began​ to suspect dairy ​products of doing ​a similar number ​on my body. Every​ time I ate ​cheese I got ​sick. So, I then ​let go of dairy ​products and ​things have really​ started to ​improve. It's ​been a journey, ​but I'm so much ​healthier and ​happier than I've ​been in a long ​time. I have so ​much more energy ​and don't feel so​ "puffy." Life is ​getting better all​ the time.

I have one ​child living with ​me and my husband​ - Aiden. He is ​six years old.

I am currently ​back on the diet ​that first lead ​me to my ​diagnosis - The ​Fat Resistance ​Diet. The first ​phase of this ​diet is completely​ grain-free. I ​strongly believe ​it's safe to ​eliminate most ​grains from your ​diet and still ​get all of the ​nutrients needed ​in your daily ​food intake. I ​eat a lot of ​fresh, whole ​veggies and lean ​protein. I also ​recently discovered​ that I have a ​similar reaction ​to dairy products ​and have gone ​dairy-free, as ​well.

I drink water, ​decaf coffee ​black, all sorts ​of teas (limited ​black unless it's ​decaf) and wine. ​I haven't been ​able to drink any​ beer, but I'm ​totally okay with ​that as long as ​I have my wine. ​;)

I start the ​day early, getting​ my son and ​husband off to ​school and work. ​Then, I begin my ​day. I exercise, ​eat, shower and ​get to work in ​my home office. I​ work until time ​to pick my son ​up from school. I​ may have time to​ get a little ​more work done, ​but I also like ​to spend time ​with my little ​guy on his ​homework and such.​ Then it's time ​to make dinner ​and wait for my ​hubby to get ​home. I like to ​end my days with ​a little tv time,​ husband time and ​a glass or two ​of wine.

Weekends are ​crazy - we never ​know what's coming​ up! My son is ​in scouts so some​ weekends are ​devoted to ​activities. We ​make trips to ​Ramstein on some ​occasions. Mostly ​we like to hang ​together on the ​weekends, doing ​some family stuff ​together. During ​the winter, it's ​football time on ​Sundays!

I mostly like ​to workout at ​home. The gym is ​a 20 min. drive ​and when the ​weather's bad, I ​don't like to get​ out more than I ​need to. But I ​have a lot of ​workout equipment ​at home and can ​change it up when​ it gets boring. ​I'm a Team ​Beachbody coach so​ I have an ​arsenal of awesome​ workout DVDs!

I love ​reference books, ​first of all. I ​always have. I ​love to read and ​have tons of ​books. I love Tom​ Robbins! But I ​also read books ​that are designed ​to help me ​improve my career,​ self, health, ​etc. I like Tim ​Ferriss, Bob Bly, ​Peter Bowerman and​ a few others for​ work related ​stuff. I've really​ started to ​explore the Kindle​ world now...I ​have a handful of​ books there that ​I'm reading now. ​So cool! (I love ​my iPad!)

I love art. I ​don't do it any ​more, but I used ​to paint. My ​faves are Vincent ​Van Gogh, ​Rembrandt, Auguste ​Renoir, and Henri ​De ​Toulouse-Lautrec. I​ recently got to ​see some really ​wonderful pieces ​at the Riks ​Museum in the ​Netherlands. I was​ disappointed that ​we didn't make it​ to the Van Gogh ​museum, but the ​painting, "The ​Night Watch" was ​so amazing!

I love biking, ​hiking, exploring ​and camping. I'm ​hoping when we ​move next (coming ​up in just a few​ months) that it's​ back to Texas. ​I'm not of fan ​of snow or ​extreme cold, so ​living in Germany ​has been really ​tough. If we end ​up where I hope ​we'll end up, ​there's a ​wonderful lake ​that's perfect for​ camping, boating, ​fishing and all ​sorts of fun! I'm​ excited!

I do love to ​travel. Before I ​moved to Germany ​I was actually a ​flight attendant. ​I had the ​opportunity to ​explore a lot of ​the U.S. while I ​was working. And ​I went to Canada ​(Ottawa) during ​the winter. It ​was beautiful, but​ soooo cold!!! I ​loved going to ​Mexico and hope ​things improve so ​we can go again. ​I've been in ​Germany for the ​past three years ​and we've had a ​few opportunities ​to travel in ​Europe - the ​Netherlands, ​Belgium, ​Luxembourg, Paris, ​Munich...We live ​in a beautiful ​place. It's really​ great no matter ​where we go. ​There are wineries​ everywhere you go​ along the Rhine ​and Mosel...some ​of the best wines​ in the world ​come from here. ​It's amazing!

I enjoy ​spending time with​ my family more ​than anything ​else. We can see ​a movie, go to ​dinner, rent a ​movie and stay ​in, go on a ​little day trip, ​spend the day ​exploring...it ​doesn't matter. I ​just enjoy being ​with them. When ​I'm alone, I love​ to read - I ​love getting lost ​in a story and ​can do it for ​hours. Since ​becoming a mom, I​ haven't had as ​much time for ​that, ​unfortunately. But ​I still love it!

I have a lot ​of hair...dark ​auburn.

I'm short but ​very curvacious!

I love my blue​ jeans! I love ​dressing up from ​time to time, but​ most days I ​spend in jeans ​and boots (winter)​ or flip-flops ​(summer) with cute​ tops!

I am cute and ​full of life! I ​love to laugh and​ my face certainly​ doesn't hide that​ fact. I have a ​little extra ​around the middle,​ but I'm hoping ​to whittle that ​down over the ​next few months.

Should be ​practiced as often​ as possible! ​Everyone should do​ it - it's ​natural! Just be ​safe - STDs are ​no joke!

My hubby and I​ are planning on ​adopting a child ​when we get back ​to the States. I ​want more children​ in my house, but​ I don't feel the​ need to go ​through pregnancy. ​

I'm moderately ​liberal...more ​liberal than ​conservative, ​anyway. I hate ​the way our ​government is ​being run today. ​I could really ​get behind the ​ideals of the ​Occupy Movement. ​That's one thing ​I know needs to ​change...the 1% ​should not be ​dictating the way ​the other 99% ​have to live. ​Down with ​corporations - ​support local ​businesses!!

I believe in ​life. I believe ​that what many ​people refer to ​as "god" is the ​energy which ​provides life. ​"God" lives in ​each person ​because god is ​life. Therefore, ​it lives in every​ living thing on ​the planet. So, ​our responsibility ​isn't only to our​ fellow humans, ​but to all things​ living. I believe​ that we should ​treat all things ​living as an ​extension of ​ourselves because ​we are all ​connected by ​"god."

I will no ​longer be able to​ go to the sports​ bar and grab a ​burger or pizza ​with my friends ​and throw back a ​few beers. Now ​I'm the girl who ​has to have her ​food "special" and​ can't go in on ​some nasty ​appetizer platter. ​But I'm totally ​okay with that.

My religious ​beliefs have ​already gotten me ​into more trouble ​than I could have​ imagined. Who ​knew people could ​be so judgmental, ​even though they ​call themselves ​"tolerant?" I will​ always be ​surprised to hear ​one of my ​"friends" go off ​on someone who ​thinks differently ​than they do. ​Just because ​people believe in ​different things, ​does that mean we​ can't all just ​get along? ​Apparently we ​cannot.