Will It Still Work???

[strongmama]

Hi all, I've been AIP since late June and I haven't mastered it as I'll find out some ingredient is a do not have. Honestly I was wrapping up grad school when I started and just could not absorb another book so I haven't delved into the details as yet.

I do feel like my overall system is functioning much better! But wondering if these little blips like finding cane sugar in something makes all my other efforts a total loss? And these are ingredient level blips not like I ate a stack of pancakes with butter n Mrs. Butterworth's. (Barf I recall how my stomach would buckle!!)

I'm just frustrated and hoping that as I grow to master this way of eating that some healing is still taking place. any advice or encouragement? Thanks!!!

[paleoprincess]

When you get some time, I'd highly recommend reading Sarah's book as it covers all this for you in an easy to understand way.

AIP isn't a black and white list of yes/no foods. It's about working out which foods you can tolerate and avoiding the ones you can't. The lists are a good starting point for exploration.

For example, I can tolerate eggs and nightshades but only in small amounts. Many people cannot tolerate them at all. Many people are ok with onion and garlic, but I cannot digest even a trace amount. Its about paying attention to your own body and monitoring the effects of different foods.

The main thing is that you're feeling good. Its a journey, and nobody gets it right 100% of the time.

[strongmama]

Thank you so much for that bec btwn reading her book and simply paying attentions to my body- I've stayed away from things that I later find out is a 'not'.

I do notice feeling very diff since off night shades. Oddly enuf anything with peppers doesn't even smell right in my nostrils. Had something that must've had some type of pepper in it and it immediately lit up my mouth. Talk about inflammation!

Indeed a journey and thank you again! Blessings?

[strongmama]

Meant blessings!!!! Lol

[EJ]

Eating more healthy, nourishing, nutrient-dense real foods is never a bad thing! You've already come far, so don't feel bad that you haven't been able to go 100%. When you have the time, figure out what is and is not allowed in the initial elimination (hint: most processed foods have ingredients you shouldn't be eating during that time...try whole-food snacks instead). Then stick to it until you feel improvement. Make a list that is easily accessible (on a device or on paper-stick it on your fridge)-and consult it before you buy any food or make any recipe or put anything into your mouth! That's how you avoid those "oops" situations. It won't take you long to learn which foods are allowed and which aren't. Then reintroduce slowly to find out what bothers you and what doesn't. Some people need more time in the strict elimination than others. The purpose of AIP is to heal your gut and to find the foods that work best for you (and to teach you to avoid the ones that don't).

So Paleo Princess is right...but you should probably still do a full-on elimination for a little bit to give your body/gut time to heal. It's all a process-and it sounds like you're already learning things about your body, which will help you later when you reintroduce foods. Just give yourself time to heal, too!

[strongmama]

Thank you so much! I def need and want more time in the elimination mode. And I'm emotionally divorced from food anyway viewing it as fuel with taste. The only time I want something for emotional purposes is during pms. So I have my teen babysitter who also likes to bake whip me up a batch of paelo cupcakes I say that to say I'll prolly not reintroduce foods. I know it's allowed but if this way of life can heal me I'd rather stick with the healing formula and not put things back. So shocking to me about nightshades!!!

I haven't had tomato and suspect it's something I can reintroduce later but maybe won't. But I can see the diff in how peppers and tomato made my guts feel with all the acid. My gut now just feels easy. When prior- altho assuming it was supposed to feel this way, felt it was always working and churning like some old rustic machine in a barnyard. Now I don't feel it at all. I eat and I poop. That's it. I also drink minimum 96oz water a day. That helps a lot too.

Great idea about my own list. Thanks for the encouragement!!!