One of the best things about having you Suffolkians on my side is that you all do your part to try to keep me on the straight and narrow in this whole diet game. When I’m out on the streets, I can sense that you all have read about the obstacles I’m trying to overcome and are genuinely concerned. And since I’ve gone gluten-free, I have to say that it hasn’t been easy to be good in the restaurants and food aisles.

Because just as there are so many things out there that I can eat on a gluten-free diet, there are so many pitfalls out there that I’m trying desperately to avoid. And frankly, reading labels is starting to make my head spin. Calcium chloride, sucrose acetate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, and phenalalanine? If I had actually known that I would need to know all these terms at this phase of my life, I would not have used my Chemistry book as a pillow and drool protector.

Luckily, you my good Suffolkians are doing your part to keep gluten out of my system.

With that said, I feel I should mention the efforts of Molly at Chick-fil-A. For those of you who visit the Chick-fil-A here on Main Street, Molly is one of my favorite smiling faces behind the counter. Now, what separates Molly from all the other people that help make my lunch needs a reality is that she is one of those many encouraging Suffolkians out there helping me achieve my health.

And just when I needed inspiration most, the evening I sat to write this column and contemplating rolling up a pizza like a burrito and inhaling it, I received a call from Molly. She reminded me of Chick-fil-A’s gluten-free options and that now you can get an actual calorie count of the restaurant’s menu items on your receipt. This is the kind of information I so desperately need when I’m trapped in a sea of delicious fast food and an urge to just attack.

So, with the awesome combination of some kind and devoted Suffolkians and my new “Find Me Gluten Free” app, I am gluten-free and loving it. But, as you all know, I slip off that path a lot. And frankly, it’s really starting to tick my doctor off big time. So far, though, I’ve cut out the gluten and I haven’t looked back.

But since I’m so weak, I realize that I can’t do this alone. Luckily, instead of Jenny Craig or Richard Simmons, I have you Suffolkians pushing me forward and giving me tips on pitfalls I should avoid. So thank you, Molly, for all your kind words and encouragement. Little things like that count for a lot with me.

And who knows, with more Suffolkians like dear Molly at Chick-fil-A offering me little pushes, all of it collectively can move the boulder that is my massive form into a healthier, smaller pebble.