I read an article about Novak Jokovic being advised to give up wheat in order to increase his energy, so thought I would give it a go for a week. That was 7 weeks ago and the extra energy I feel has improved my life no end. For the first time, I don't want to nap in the afternoons. I can pull my belt in a notch, my stomach is flatter and even my rosacea has disappeared. I am getting up earlier. I have the energy to go running and to a dance class, which I had given up, which of course leads to feeling more wellbeing.
I am a sugar and chocolate fiend (possibly pre-diabetic) and of course bread, biscuits and the rest turn to sugar, so if you stick with slower-release carbs you don't get that sugar high, which is addictive. Cutting out wheat (almost - biscuits at friends' houses don't count
) has also somehow given me the willpower to (almost) cut out choc for the first time. I have to not buy the stuff though because I can't resist it if it's in the house.
So I still eat crackers made with oats, and I make my own muesli from oats and rice flakes (from a health food shop, nuts and seeds. I thought this would be difficult but it's not - replace wheat with rice, lots of veg, potatoes, chickpeas, nuts etc. For lunch I have a huge salad bowl with leftover rice and beans, then raw peppers, avocado, leaves, carrots, courgettes,, and then pomegranate seeds/ hummus/cheese/tahini/pumpkin seeds/herbs.
You can get pasta made with lentil flour ( I think - not wheat anyway.) Sains has a decent range.
I am not a skinny - have been 13 stone. This morning weighed in at under 60kg for the first time since forever. I look around me at people with tums and puffy faces - like me - and want to challenge them to give it a try for a week. If you feel fantastic you might be prepared to cut out toast and have the willpower to cut out cakes and pastries.
I honestly wonder how my life would have been different if I'd discovered this years ago.