About Claire Baker
I have spent the last 25 years in the quest for excellent health, work-life balance, contributing to the greater good through my profession and extra-curriculars, and generally trying to live a fun, engaged and meaningful life. I've had some big "Ah ha!" moments in my life which have brought me to where I am today.
I came out in April of 1986. I haven't had alcohol since January of 1991. I became a vegetarian for ethical reasons in 1993. I didn't eat chocolate for 18 years (though I've since decided that my issue wasn't the chocolate, but the fat and sugar that came along with it - see my info on healthy dark chocolate.) I achieved my black belt in Tae Kwon Do in 1997. My partner Jenn and I had our kids in 2001 and 2003. We got legally wed in California in 2008 after 17 years of non-sanctioned marriage. I began running and following the Joel Fuhrman "Eat to Live" approach to eating in 2009, for health and weight-loss reasons. In 2010 I was identified as having celiac disease and have been gluten-free ever since. You may wonder how all of these things are related. The real answer there is that the process of dealing with all of those major life changes feels similar. Life as I knew it to be and expected it to be changed with each self-revelation or health-related decision. Though I've had a lot of practice in making major changes in my daily life, like most people I actually resist change. That's why I can help others who also need to make big changes. I've spent my career in non-profit management. My approach as a manager has always been as a coach, working with folks to identify what they need to get done, helping them figure out the steps they need to get there, overcoming obstacles, and celebrating successes. I've made gluten-free living fun. I rarely feel deprived. I know how to navigate restaurants, and I have a good sense of what I can eat without being too nervous. My celiac diagnosis is a blessing. I am able to help others who are new to GF living. Please contact me here if you would be interested in one-on-one consulting. |
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My Celiac Story
Diarrhea. Constipation. Gas. Bloating. (It had occurred to me that I had IBS, but I didn’t want to even entertain that idea.) Canker sores. It was the anemia that finally caused the mystery of my miscellaneous heath issues to unravel.
When I was 21 I got a kidney stone which wouldn’t pass. During the plethora of testing during that episode, doctors discovered severe anemia. Fortunately I never had a recurrence of the kidney stone, but I never really got over the anemia. Over the next two and a half decades, I intermittently attempted to address my iron poor blood by taking supplements, but invariably I became lax or inattentive. Finally, in January of 2010 I had a new primary care physician who noted my severe anemia and really encouraged me to get to the bottom of it. I decided to get serious. I took iron twice a day for five months with no improvement. She referred me to a hematologist.
While waiting for my hematology appointment, I had some significant GI issues that my primary physician and lots of tests couldn't explain. I figured it happened to everyone sometimes, and that my vegetarian diet heavy on veggies and beans was at least part of the problem.
I hadn’t connected the recent GI complaints to the anemia. My hematologist was terrific, approaching me as a whole person, and not as just my blood. He asked me questions about my GI issues, and finally put the pieces together.
In August of 2010, after testing positive for celiac antibodies and having a conclusive duodenal biopsy, I was officially diagnosed with celiac disease and made the switch to a gluten-free diet. I set up my follow-up care for celiac and GI related needs at the Celiac Center at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Almost all of my GI distress, especially the gas and bloating, abated pretty quickly once I started the GF diet. Added bonus? No more canker sores! After a year on the GF diet, all signs of intestinal damage are gone. The funny thing is that my anemia isn't gone. I await further testing, because I'm not satisfied with the answer that some people just ARE. Details as they emerge.
When I was 21 I got a kidney stone which wouldn’t pass. During the plethora of testing during that episode, doctors discovered severe anemia. Fortunately I never had a recurrence of the kidney stone, but I never really got over the anemia. Over the next two and a half decades, I intermittently attempted to address my iron poor blood by taking supplements, but invariably I became lax or inattentive. Finally, in January of 2010 I had a new primary care physician who noted my severe anemia and really encouraged me to get to the bottom of it. I decided to get serious. I took iron twice a day for five months with no improvement. She referred me to a hematologist.
While waiting for my hematology appointment, I had some significant GI issues that my primary physician and lots of tests couldn't explain. I figured it happened to everyone sometimes, and that my vegetarian diet heavy on veggies and beans was at least part of the problem.
I hadn’t connected the recent GI complaints to the anemia. My hematologist was terrific, approaching me as a whole person, and not as just my blood. He asked me questions about my GI issues, and finally put the pieces together.
In August of 2010, after testing positive for celiac antibodies and having a conclusive duodenal biopsy, I was officially diagnosed with celiac disease and made the switch to a gluten-free diet. I set up my follow-up care for celiac and GI related needs at the Celiac Center at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Almost all of my GI distress, especially the gas and bloating, abated pretty quickly once I started the GF diet. Added bonus? No more canker sores! After a year on the GF diet, all signs of intestinal damage are gone. The funny thing is that my anemia isn't gone. I await further testing, because I'm not satisfied with the answer that some people just ARE. Details as they emerge.
What I Endorse
On my pages you'll find that I talk about the things I like. I have not ever received compensation for a restaurant or gluten-free product review. I do have some affiliate marketing agreements with information or service providers that I believe in and whose products or services I have personally used: PEERtrainer, Joel Fuhrman, Rich German, Gluten Free Cooking School. If you click through to their sites from one of my links and buy something from those vendors, I will receive modest compensation for the referral. It's one of the ways I can afford to maintain my site without ad sales, which I've avoided thus far. I also earn income as a Xocai Healthy Dark Chocolate distributor. I do eat the chocolate and benefit from it and can wholeheartedly endorse it. If you would like to learn more about Xocai, please contact me.
