Food Faith Fitness has been an entirely gluten free blog for 6 years, and it’s time to shake things up a little bit!
This post has been a long time coming and I figured its finally time to write it.
If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know that I’ve gone through a lot of changes with food lately. If you’ve been around the blog awhile, I’ve been pretty open and honest that I had overcome an eating disorder, but still really struggled with the obsession with healthy food, calorie counting and over exercising.
Until 6 months ago.
I finally decided enough was enough and I quit the gym, and started eating more in order to gain weight but, really, to gain my health as I was at a low and unhealthy weight where my body wasn’t functioning properly. I had lost my period for MANY years, and that’s a huge sign something is wrong.
It’s been the best (and hardest and scariest) decision I’ve ever done. Sure, I’ve gained weight. But I’ve gained my life. I’ve healed my relationship with food and my body and exercise. I’m still not lifting weights right now and haven’t in 6 months. I’m just doing gentle walking and yoga. I am excited to return to weights, but I want to make sure my body is truly happy before doing so and that I’m cycling regularly (I’m cycling now, just not regularly yet.)
I’m going to do a much larger post on this topic, Intuitive Eating and hypothalamic amenorrhea (the term for losing your period) BUT, what I want to write about today is my perspective shift on gluten specifically.
To be totally honest, I’ve never been one to not eat gluten. I never ate a lot of it as I do naturally crave foods that don’t have it, but it’s never been off limits – I have always eaten whole wheat bread, for example. But, gluten KIND OF bothers Mr. FFF’s stomach (nowhere near as much as dairy though) and since gluten free is popular right now, I just kind of thought “ok, I’ll be a gluten free food blog.” FFF is my job and it was (and still is) important to make things that I think will be “popular” and get visits to my website.
BUT, what is now more important to me is practicing what I (and many people) call “food freedom.” And to me, that means enjoying ALL foods, regardless of their dietary specifics. That means I typically still eat whole and “real” (I don’t love that term) food, but there is always room for treats and listening to what my body is craving.
All that being said, I am no longer going to ONLY do gluten free recipes, or ALL special diet recipes. Yes, everything will still be what I consider “healthy” (in air quotes because food is just food, not healthy or unhealthy) and MANY will still be gluten free because that is mostly naturally the food I crave, and the recipes I make for you are now what I am actually eating in my day-to-day life. Yes, there will still be a TON of dairy free recipes since Mr. FFF can’t have it, but not all recipes will be. Yes, I’ll still do some special diet recipes. There won’t be a TON of change. But there will be some just be “everyday healthy” recipes that focus on better-for-you choices but not following a super specific diet, and they might have a gluten-containing ingredient. I might make almond flour muffins. But, I also might make whole wheat muffins. I’ll try to have subs for people who truly can’t have gluten, but I can’t promise that will always be the case.
I want FFF to represent my authentic self, which I don’t think it TRULY has in the past. I also want it to be a place that doesn’t contribute to the overwhelming message that we have to follow a certain diet to be “good.” I want you to know that you can eat what you want, what makes you feel good and what satisfies you!
I understand many of you might stop reading the blog because you ONLY want gluten free recipes and that’s okay. You have to do YOU. But, I have to do me and that means slightly switching the perspective of Food Faith Fitness.
Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
Xo Taylor
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anne shields says
Thank you for sharing so much of yourself and the brutal honesty. Life is a journey and the Lord is refining us daily. Proverbs 3:5&6
Taylor Kiser says
Thanks so much Anne 🙂
Amy Sheree says
I love this!! We have a very similar story with eating disorders and I had a while where I wouldn’t even touch gluten because of food fear. I recently have been adding gluten recipes to my blog as well and honestly it’s been freeing. So happy for you!!
Taylor Kiser says
Yay!! I am so happy to hear that you’ve had the shift too and that it’s been freeing! It’s so nice to know that we can just post what we truly love without having to worry if it “fits!” 🙂
JoAnn Olinger-Luscusk says
Unfortunately, I’m one of those people who cannot eat gluten, at all. For medical reasons. So I will have to skip over your new gluten recipes. But I’m glad you are taking better care of you.
Have you ever read the book, “Wheat Belly” by William Davis? Before you dive into a tub full of whole wheat muffins, you might want to check it out.
Best wishes to you!
Taylor Kiser says
Yes I have – like I said, I still don’t eat much of it because I do prefer foods without it. But the little foods that I do eat don’t bother me at all. I TOTALLY understand not being able to for medical reasons and don’t worry there will still be many naturally GF recipes on the blog! 🙂 So would love to have you stay to read!
Laurie Messer says
I am so happy for you Taylor! You are such an inspiration to so many who come here to FFF! Many blessings to you as you continue this journey! Hugs!! ❤️
Taylor Kiser says
Thank you so much my dear friend!
Charlotte Moore says
You have to do what is best for you. Unless there is an allergy to Gluten I really don’t think people should go GF. Good luck with your new feeling better self.
Taylor Kiser says
Thanks Charlotte! I totally agree!
Anne says
Wow Taylor, I feel like I could have written your story myself! I have such a similar past with disordered eating, compulsive exercise, and food obsession. I too had a missing period for years and years. I finally got the help I needed to gain weight and be able to conceive and have two amazing children with my husband. It is NOT easy work and you are so incredibly brave and strong. Thank you for sharing your journey with us and I’m looking forward to your blog reflecting this amazing growth. Congrats to you!
Anne
Taylor Kiser says
Thank you Anne!! It is SO hard isn’t it? But it’s been the most freeing and amazing (and hardest!) experience I’ve ever put myself through, and just so worth it! Thanks so much for cheering me on! <3
Cassie Autumn Tran says
Wow, this was such an incredible post, Taylor. I started following you around 2016-2017 or so and have stuck around ever since. We all evolve and undergo differences in how we perceive everything. This post resonated me on all levels. I was pretty deep into health and fitness when I first started the blog, also super regimented with food and exercise, rarely ever giving into a treat. I even wrote a whole blog post on how I never had a cheat meal more than three times a year. Now I can’t even imagine living a life like that! Don’t ever worry about just creating healthy and gluten free recipes. I cannot wait to see a recipe for whole wheat muffins, maybe a cake with regular flour too! Cheers to recovery and being so strong!
XOXO,
Cassie
Taylor Kiser says
YAY!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy to read this and that YOU have also evolved too! A life with no fun food is not a life I want to be a part of anymore!! Thank you so much for being an amazing follower and for sticking around!!
Rhadonda says
I’m on board with whatever you share because I think you are pretty darn amazing and so talented!! So glad you are following what YOU need to do! You can’t get rid of me LOL
Taylor Kiser says
I don’t WANT to get rid of ya! You’re stuck with ME lol! Thank you so much for such a sweet comment and staying! <3
Julie C. says
As someone who found your blog when I first began my recovery journey from anorexia & orthorexia (2 years and counting in recovery!), I love that you are shifting your focus on FFF. I will continue to be an avid fan and follower of your blog and am looking forward to the new content! Keep up the awesome work with reclaiming your health and “doing you.” xxx, Julie.
Taylor Kiser says
Ahhh I love this so much!! Thank you so much Julie!! So happy you are in a space of recovery – it’s beautiful isn’t it!? I’m so happy you’ll stick around! <3
Julie C. says
It is SO amazing and beautiful. I still have my struggles some days, but knowing that there are many out there who are so open about the ups and downs but still persevere keeps me strong. 🙂
Taylor Kiser says
Totally with you on that! <3
Laura says
Thank you for this post! You and I are so in a similar place, and my respect for you has only grown. ❤️
Taylor Kiser says
Ahhh that makes me so happy! Thank you Laura!
Christine Bonnivier says
So thankful for your honesty and health! Many blessings Taylor!! xo!!
Taylor Kiser says
Thanks Christine! <3
Emily Swanson says
LOVE how you’re shaking things up Taylor; this resonates with me so much, and you’ve been an incredible blessing in this area to me and THOUSANDS of ladies.
Taylor Kiser says
Thank you SO much! <3
Kristina S. says
Thank you for spot lighting exercise bulimia as it is a real problem facing many men and women. I look forward to old and new recipes.
Taylor Kiser says
You’re welcome 🙂
Diane says
Dear Taylor
Good for you on making this decision! I could go on about why but that’s not the point. Too much judgement in this world so yes as you say « Food Freedom »! You do YOU! ?
Taylor Kiser says
Thank you so much Diane!! <3
Cassie Thuvan Tran says
Taylor, I started following you around 2015-2016 and adored your recipes, whether they were 100% healthy to the core or they looked like cookie dough that could not possibly be healthy at all. Your creativity really shone through everything you published! Thank you so much for being completely honest in this post–I dealt with restrictive eating for a long time in high school and started slowly making more balanced choices in university. I still need to work on exercising as it is hard for me to embrace rest days. Today was a rest day and I had two slices of vegan chocolate cake. Yep, totally could have chosen to avoid it because it’s high calorie but that would have been way too mentally barring for me! Now I am inspired by you <3
Taylor Kiser says
YAY for chocolate cake on rest days! I took 9 months of rest days and I lived 🙂 you can do it! Thank you Cassie!
James Mitroka says
Great idea to consider not restricting gluten-containing food outright. You otherwise rule out many healthy foods such as whole-grain wheat and barly. There are much mor important considerations inhaving a healthy diet.
Taylor Kiser says
100% agree!!!