Forums:
I have some food list questions. I am on list 3 at the moment and am pretty confident that I could be trying list 4, but I'm a chicken about trying new things even on list 3 for a couple of different reasons. One big one is that I feel like my relationship to food since starting the diet has become so much more sane than it used to be. I have struggled with anorexia and bulimia for about 15 years (the big contributing factor to my IC says Matia) and even though it was pretty much under control before my IC hit about 2.5 years ago, I had some pretty wierd eating habits even at that point. With the diet, I feel like it's forced me to be very conscious about eating healthfully to sustain my body and it's really changed my attitude about eating in a lot of ways. However, the old no self control bulimia girl hasn't been able to have any of her trigger foods and I'm afraid as I'm able to add things like yogurt, fruit, cheese, nuts, etc. that disordered eating patterns may creep back in. In a way, I'm kind of comfortable with the limited choices on list 1+2 because it gives me such clear parameters to work within. While I say that I'm scared to try new foods because I'm afraid of the pain, I think I'm honestly more afraid of feeling out of control around food again. I guess I'm just wondering if anyone has had any experience in this department and if they find if easier to manage their eating now even as they have the green light to try a greater variety of foods.
I also have some food list logistical questions.
1. There are some foods on the list that I just hate (bell peppers) or that are not available where I live and I'm wondering if it's important for us to try them to see if we react even if we're not interested in eating them.
2. If there are foods on the lists that used to cause us trouble pre-IC, should we still try them? Like I used to have the hardest time digesting beans and dairy- try it anyway and see what happens or skip it?
3. In the beginning of my IC, I reacted big time to broccoli and eggs. It's been a long time now, but I'm hesitant to try them again. Has anyone found that they tolerate foods much better with time? I know Matia says try it again, I was just wondering about actual experiences with this.
Thanks for posting this as I
Thanks for posting this as I have exactly the same fears and questions. Like you Ive suffered from eating disorders for most of my adult life and I'm sure was the biggest factor in causing my IC. Following this diet has forced me to be much more 'normal' with my eating patterns too and it is a fear that I also have as I move further along the lists. At one point I was on list 4 but still doing OK with the control thing but I'm now back to list 2 after a bad spell.
I have been seeing a hypnotherapist, initially it was to help me during my recent set back but now that seems to have passed she is helping me with my eating disorder fears. I do find it useful to an extent but I'm hoping the fear never wanting to go through this again will stop me if ever I start to feel out of control again. Its not much help to you I know but I just thought I would let you know you aren't alone.
As for the question about eating everything on the lists, I don't because somethings I've just never heard of and are not so available perhaps over here but also somethings I just don't enjoy eating.
As we progress in treatment we are supposed to tolerate foods we might not have been able to in the beginning, so it might be worth trying them again is small quantities at first.
I have not had eating
I have not had eating disorders so cannot relate on that level, sorry, but I do get scared about food.
I am on list 3 but still go back and forth on things for instance I've added in carrots and bell peppers seems that they don't aggrevate anything, then pain levels increase and I wonder if they are causing a problem cumulatively, it can be very frustrating. I think the key is defnitely to try just a very small amount and wait, if it is ok then perhaps try a little bit again the next day and test it like that.
If you are comfortable for the moment just sticking with list 1/2 why don't you hold off until your next appointment and ask Matia if it is ok to stay with it or if she would really like you to try some foods, she may even suggest which would be best to try. It's just a suggestion.
If you do decide to try something new, good luck abnd I really hope you have success.
thanks!
Thank you for all your thoughtful responses ladies. As usual this discussion board is just really good at making me feel like I'm not alone in this. I will post on this thread again after Matia gives me her answers to my questions.
The whole eating (disorder) thing is interesting, I have many friends who struggled with eating disorders in high school, college and beyond, and many of us now have digestive and/or hormonal issues. I sometimes think that IC is just the manifestation of my imbalance from eating poorly for so long while my good friends have IBS, gluten intolerance, no periods, adrenal fatigue, etc. as adults, but really it's all the same thing. It would be good to tell young girls that the penalty for mistreating their bodies when they're so young is an adulthood filled with trying to rebuild yourself after the damage has been done! I wish someone had told me- I think it might have helped me make better choices.
Hi! I never had an eating
Hi! I never had an eating disorder but i am having a lot of issues with adding food. I am still on list 1 with a few things from list 2!! I thought I'd be eating list 2 at the end of May. Ha! I am so nervous about it and it is almost comforting to have such a strict diet. I don't know what that is about!? I need to start getting serious about adding food so eating can be a little more interesting.
Food Issues
These are old posts but I read them tonight because I am struggling again with portions. I know that I am holding my healing back by overeating. In some ways, I have mroe trouble on the diet because you don't get fat and it is possible to stuff myself on a regular basis. This is a longstanding problem and it really stems from emotional issues and I am in therapy but does anyone have any wisdom on thsi topic? I have been getting too full all week and today I finally realized that it was because I was heaving a delayed reaction to my daughter/s move to NY. I feel so much better when I am not bloated but I have great difficulty controlling this at times.