New Here--Struggling with Self Sabotage

[binx]

Hello,

i have struggled with from some form of neuro-autoimmune disease for the past nearly 6 years--whether it is caused by MS or Lyme & co-infections remains to be seen.  regardless, i have very elevated inflammatory markers and know that whatever the cause, i need to put a stop to the fire within.

i have been following the paleo mom for some time, have both books, and know what i need to do; yet, i can't seem to get out of my own way sometimes.  i keep self sabotaging for a variety of reasons, and use the fact that i have a lot of external stressors in my life as an excuse to go off the protocol and am seeing my condition gradually declining.  one would think the loss of the ability to walk would be enough of a motivator for me, but i just lose control sometimes and can't stick with the program.  (using food to relieve stress has been a running theme in my life, unfortunately…)

i am also so fatigued that i often have a hard time mustering the energy to prepare the food i need to heal my body and mind.

any suggestions as to how to simplify meal preparation would be so helpful, not to mention any ideas as to how i can stop sabotaging my healing process. 

blessings to you all.

[farmfresh]

i find batch cooking really helps. Always make extra. Freeze some too. And I find it best to have some easy go to snacks in mind and I try to make something weekly or maybe twice a week. By something I kinda mean a treat but it doesn't have to be sweet although for me it often is because then I have something to satisfy dessert or snack urges and won't be tempted by the SAD food I cook for the rest of the family. Coconut milk mousse, plantain crackers, dates and coconutbutter, sausage patties with avocado, sweet potatoes....a pressure cooker or slow cooker can help too. Meals can be pretty simple but satisfying and AIP. Meat and veggies in broth if all else fails. Fish is really fast too.
I also have a habit of relieving stress with food so having something AIP ready, even if it is dates again cause they're like candy, is better than eating off protocol. Also re reading why I don't want to eat the non protocol food and new studies on healing, crohns for me, listening to podcasts like the paleo view and Phoenix helixs podcast help keep me in the right mind frame. Having said that my AIP journey hasn't been perfect. But as someone said its not perfect we strive for but progress. So when we fall off the wagon we just need to focus on what we eat in the future and acknowledge that the wrong foods do hurt us. I'm getting back up after misleading myself into thinking that hey I feel better, that must mean Im ok now and these foods don't bother me...I always have delayed reaction and I,m here to say that the wrong food is "the slowest form of poison"
Stick with it. As you feel better you'll have more energy to cook too, I listen to the podcast while I cook and do dishes.

[woodswhisperer]

Binx, We are very similar, your post cold have been written word for word by me. I have MSIDS (Chronic Lyme & Autoimmune combo) and the fatigue is so oppressive I have great difficulty preparing foods so that I can stay on the AIP protocol. As FarmFresh mentioned, I too enjoy and am encouraged by the podcasts. Good luck!