Mother’s Day weekend!!  My tradition is to plant flowers on Mother’s day weekend. Honestly, I transport flowers from one pot to another, but I still consider that planting (insert winky face).  I just planted my flowers and even if you don’t plant flowers, I want to wish all the moms a happy, fun filled day spent doing something YOU love whether or not it includes children, family or friends.  Do something that feeds your SOUL!

So, today I’m frustrated.  Not because its Friday (of course not!) or because I still need to get a card for my mother for Mother’s Day, but because I’ve been doing the Whole30 diet with a couple of friends and I’m ticked off with my body’s reaction.  First, I cannot eat eggs, beans, sweet potatoes or nuts which are staples in the diet!  But second, my severe case of SIBO and leaky gut takes these foods and many other foods off the list! Ugh!  Finally, the ultimate bummer is how my body is responding!

Three weeks in, I’m feeling more energized and sleeping better; however, I’ve noticed over the last three days, my clothes have gotten tighter (Yes, I said tighter not looser), my stomach has become bloated and my mood shifted from happy to irritated.  What is going on? Isn’t eating cleaner supposed to bring fitter, leaner, healthier results?  And to top it off, I ate turkey and squash for lunch and my stomach reacted with major bloating!  WTH!  My body isn’t cooperating and I’m ticked!  UGH!! Double UGH UGH!!  

Yes, I’m frustrated!  I also realize I cannot heal my stomach overnight. I cannot wave a magic wand and make SIBO, Leaky Gut or Lyme’s disappear overnight.  BUT, I can be grateful for where I am today.  Somedays it takes a little (or BIG) push to get there, but we all can get there!  So, even with being frustrated (greatly frustrated), I’m grateful I can afford to eat healthy foods.  I’m grateful for my doctor who has turned this frustrating adventure into a livable journey. I’m grateful for my friends, who talked me off the ledge this morning when I was having a pity party!  I’m grateful for my daughters who motivate me to push ahead with my head high despite the setbacks!  I’m grateful for the people who will read this, who may also be struggling, and see the glimmer of sunlight for them too!  

Yes, life is frustrating, but keep going!  I’m proof you can see the rainbow after the storm!

Happy Mother’s Day!