About Amy

My Lifelong Journey With Food
Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 4

Joe & Me, Nov. 2007

I am not an expert on the effects sugar and gluten have on our bodies. I’ve read through pages and pages of research, some that sound reasonable and some that sound incredibly extreme. In the end, I only have my experience to share.

My Childhood

I was born in January 1976 to two loving and devoted parents, Art & Sheila. I have two younger sisters, Lorie & Marcia. My mom was a very busy full-time, stay at home mom. Daddy worked in sales & marketing and traveled most of the time. We spent a lot of time together, which has been the basis for my strong sense of family.

My mom would tell you that I was a skinny little kid. The doctors were concerned about my lack of weight gain. When I started kindergarten, I was 32 inches tall and, under doctors’ orders, my mom had to work really hard to get me up to 32 pounds. I was skin and bones back then.

My First Day of School, 1981

I loved everything about school. An avid reader, I read more books than anyone in the entire school as a kindergartener. In fact, they sent me to first grade for reading instruction and I had my very own advanced spelling list. I remember that I often missed out on the ‘fun’ activities in class, like the bean bag dance and art time. It didn’t bother me, though, until I was in second grade and they sent me to third where everyone wrote in cursive.

I remember staring at the cursive alphabet, displayed neatly above the green chalk board, trying desperately to memorize the letters. I couldn’t read anything the other kids were writing. The social implications of being a second grader in a higher reading group than nearly all of the 3^rd graders started to set in, too. None of the other kids talked to me. It didn’t help that the teacher, Miss Wholman, often just cast me aside to sit and stare, waiting for her to start reading groups. Clearly, I was not welcome in her classroom.

This was the first time I started to realize that I was somehow different than all of the other kids, a haunting awareness stayed with me for decades. Looking back through old family photos, this time in my life clearly shows my face getting a little rounder, my belly a little more pronounced.

At home, we were the center of my mom’s life. Everything she did was for us. Our life was active, full of bike riding, trips to the park, and family walks after dinner. Though Dad traveled through the week, many weekends we went camping in the hills of Ohio. Again, lots of activity including hiking, biking, and canoeing.

My mom cooked healthy dinners 7 nights a week except for the occasional Friday Pizza Night, which necessarily included a tossed salad. She never used prepackaged foods, like Hamburger Helper or Rice-A-Roni. Everything was made from scratch.

We got together with my mom’s family a couple of times a month for dinner. The women in her family are all very attractive and were never obese, but they’ve struggled with their weight. At some point the family dinner conversations started to center around fat, calories, and, yes, Weight Watcher Points.

Our neighborhood was very tight knit. My mom and her friends used to get together and do aerobics at different people’s homes. This was back before VCRs so they’d don their leotards and tights, set up the record player, and jump around to Jane Fonda. My mom let us stand in the back and try to follow along. The women laughed together at their lack of coordination while gasping to catch their breath. Exercise was always followed by a conversation about how many calories were burned, and then salad with some kind of fat-free dressing.

As I moved up to 3^rd grade I continued to gain weight. As my weight increased, my mom did more and more to try to help me. Back then, the focus was so clearly on fat-free foods, which are generally loaded with sugar, and our pantry started to have a variety of fat-free desserts. I suspected that my eating was a little strange when I would eat spoonful after spoonful of sugar right out of the bowl and then pick chunks of brown sugar out of the bag, popping them right into my mouth.

Then, at age nine, came the unforgettable visit to Dr. Reuger’s office, our family pediatrician. Right in front of me, he told my mom to hide the Oreos and the ice cream or I was going to be as big as a house.

My mom did what any good mom would do. She followed his orders. What she didn’t know was that I could find anything she hid. It didn’t take long for her to figure this out, though, and she started to put signs on foods that she’d prepared to take to a get-together that said “DO NOT EAT!” I ate it anyway.

My 4^th grade year, I was in Mrs. Camp’s class. She was tall and thin, with thick, straight, shoulder length hair that fell on her shoulders. Her bangs fell to the left side of her face and she continually restyled them with her fingers. A light and joy came through in her eyes. Every child felt safe in her class.

Mrs. Camp had a way of sharing herself with her students that made you feel connected to her in a deep way. As a kid, she was overweight. She told stories of her teacher who used to spray the fat kids with Lysol, telling them they smelled bad. She told stories of how the other kids made fun of her, how she was embarrassed to eat around other people. I related to everything she said and would often talk to her about my weight. Mrs. Camp gave me hope that someday my weight would change, but more importantly she let me know that I was valuable as a person regardless of my weight. I didn’t believe it but she did. That was enough.

She was actually my saving grace that year and the two years that followed. She was my 5^th grade teacher as well and got a teaching position in middle school the year I moved to 6^th grade. Still, I continued to gain weight. By this time, I weighed 130 pounds. Maybe not much for an adult but as a growing child, I was very round.

Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 4

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17 Responses to “About Amy”

Kathy Vest
August 24th, 2009 @ 11:55 am

I total understand where you are coming from. I was the skinny kid until I had my tonsils taken out in kindegarden and blew up like a balloon. I have been on every diet and even had gastric bypass six years ago. Guess what still same problem. (I learned to eat cookies as my staple food.) When I read about the g free diet and the symtoms, it makes since. My husband is diabetic with all kinds of issues and the symtoms that are described fit both of us to a tee. I am sitting down looking over the recipes and am trying to be commited to finally sticking with something that works for all of us. You have inspired me. Wish us good health and luck.

Kathy

[Reply]
Amy Reply:
August 24th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
I know lots of people who’ve had surgeries to loose weight and it hasn’t worked. They told me that they did what you did and found a way to eat things that kept the weight on. Once I quit eating sugar and flour (gluten) the cravings stopped which in turn made it possible for me to actually eat meals instead of eating all day long. It’a a daily practice even today. I absolutely do hope that you & your husband find a solution that works. Thanks for your honesty! It’s not easy. I’m sending a big hug, too.

[Reply]
Lori Sloan
October 3rd, 2009 @ 2:15 pm

Hi Amy, I never knew your experience with food. I am so interested in your findings. I am so excited for your 2nd place accomplishment at the Build a Better Burger contest. We, too, were excited to see you on TV. I sent good thoughts and best wishes to you all weekend.

I would love to change my diet, but I just don’t know if I have the time.

Lori

[Reply]
Amy Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 11:53 am
Thanks, Lori. It’s funny how there are so many things we don’t know about other people, huh? I am thrilled with 2nd place and would have loved to be on TV – it’s supposed to be broadcast next year so I am already thinking about burger recipes. Thanks for thinking of me…I’m sure it helped.

If the time is right to change your diet, you’ll know. For me, I had to. Sometimes small diet changes are the a good place to start. So glad to see you here.

[Reply]
Betty
December 3rd, 2009 @ 8:06 am

Your testimony was very touching. I could relate to so much of it. I’ve had chronic fatigue my whole life and now have celiac. I can’t tolerate any flour other than almond flour and coconut flour. I can’t tolerate grains, either. It’s been quite challenging. It seems like once I went GF, and that layer was removed, a whole host of other health challenges reared their head. I’m still quite weak at times. Your website is so helpful and encouraging.

I would like to enter the HOneyville Giveaway Contest, but could not figure out how to leave a comment on that post. I don’t have a blog or twitter. Thanks for any help.

[Reply]
Amy Reply:
December 3rd, 2009 at 12:15 pm
@Betty, Go back to the post and click on the title – that will bring up a new page. The comment box is located at the bottom of the post.

[Reply]
Telecom Devices
May 19th, 2010 @ 10:50 pm

I total understand where you are coming from. I was the skinny kid until I had my tonsils taken out in kindegarden and blew up like a balloon. I have been on every diet and even had gastric bypass six years ago. Guess what still same problem. (I learned to eat cookies as my staple food.) When I read about the g free diet and the symtoms, it makes since. My husband is diabetic with all kinds of issues and the symtoms that are described fit both of us to a tee. I am sitting down looking over the recipes and am trying to be commited to finally sticking with something that works for all of us. You have inspired me. Wish us good health and luck.

[Reply]
Elizabeth
June 19th, 2010 @ 10:59 am

I am so happy to have found this web site. Just found out that my family needs to take gluten and sugar out of our diets. It has been a rough couple of weeks since my four year old daughter loves sweets! I can’t wait to try some of your recipes. Thank you for having this web site. It makes me feel like she can still have foods kids are used to having but in a healthy way instead!

By the way, when your recipe calls for gluten free baking mix or flour mix, do I just use any of the three listed? I’m sorry if this is a silly question. I have a hard time wrapping my head around all of this still.

Thank you Amy! I am forwarding this web site to all my friends that are off gluten and sugar.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[Reply]
Amy Reply:
June 21st, 2010 at 10:49 am
@Elizabeth, There are never too many questions…it’s a big learning curve and I’m glad that you’re taking the action to do all you can for yourself and your family. Congrats!

The Ancient Grains mix is only as a supplement, maybe up to 20 or 30% of the total flour if you want to add some whole grain flavor without it being overpowering.

In the recipes that call for a gluten-free blend, it’s the all-purpose mix unless I specify the higher protein blend. Many recipes have a the flours listed outright in the recipe.

I have had great feedback on my chewy granola bar recipe for kids – you can switch out the fruit and nuts to please your daughter.
Please send any other questions my way. Best of luck to you. Sending hugs.

[Reply]
Debbie
June 22nd, 2010 @ 4:44 pm

Do you still do Once a Month Cooking Gluten Free? Do you have any recipes and menu plans on your website.

I have been GF for 5 weeks and now wanting to get back into my Once A Month Cooking/Meal Freezing planning system. I miss this!!! It’s nice to have at least 3 recipes ready to go..

Thank you!

God Bless!

[Reply]
Sandy
July 20th, 2010 @ 4:18 pm

Good for you, Amy. My husband is on your same diet and he has stayed healthy for over 15 years now. Power to you!

[Reply]
Tammy
July 24th, 2010 @ 1:24 am

Im hoping this will help my son for he is autistic and has gained sum wieght since I put him on the gluten free casein free diet. Iv noticed he has been craving alot of sweets and carbs also. Id like to know if you have a cookbook for all your recipes??

[Reply]
Amy Reply:
July 30th, 2010 at 11:49 am
@Tammy, My cookbook is coming out in January 2011….thanks for asking. It’s going to be quick and simple recipes that require 20 minutes or less of hands-on cooking time.

[Reply]
Linda Trudeau
August 3rd, 2010 @ 8:05 am

Amy… I have just learned that I have gluten and cane sugar sensitivities. I am wondering how you determine which sugar substitute and which flour substitute to use in your recipes? You use some I have never heard of (ex. teff). Is there a site where I can read up on all of these? Thanks for your blog…it will be my life saver!!

[Reply]
Amy Reply:
August 5th, 2010 at 9:28 am
@Linda Trudeau, There is a link in my sidebar to “Understanding & Choosing Gluten Free Flours” – it’s a series I wrote about flours.

Here’s a link to the first post – there are 4 in all:

http://www.simplysugarandglutenfree.com/understanding-choosing-gluten-free-flours-part-1-density/

Let me know if you can’t find the info in my sidebar.

[Reply]
Carron
August 21st, 2010 @ 7:04 am

I just read about Agave nectar on a sugar blog and it was NOT recommended due to the high fructose level which I can not have. Can you suggest something else more natural, eg. honey,apple juice concentrate, stevia and provide quantities? Thanks.

[Reply]
Amy Reply:
August 23rd, 2010 at 10:48 pm
@Carron, I really can’t tell you how to sub the other ingredients and have a ‘tested’ recipe. Honey is usually a 1:1 substitute but the other two require recipe re-working. And, the honey is a rough estimate, again I haven’t tested it unless it’s listed in the recipe.

[Reply]

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