Welcome!Are you seeing Matia yet?If you are, she tells you when its ok to move to list 2 and 3.If you are not seeing her yet, you can stay on list one until you see her.If you are not planning on seeing her, you can stay on list one until your symptoms subside and slowly add in things from list two and see if you have a reaction. 

First off welcome to the group I am happy for you that you have found Matia's site. I honestly do not recomend doing this on your own. There are too  many varibles. I know people want to do it on there own to avoid going out to see her but it really is worth the trip and your peice of mind. There are people on all types of budgets and she really does work with you. Know one knows IC quite like Matia. SO with that in mind and not knowing anything else about you I would start with list one untill you can get out to see her. Many  people do get releif from the diet but some still have a hard time. The diet is not going to restore your health alone. Now this program is about restoring your total health. I recomend reading her disertation if you can to grasp a better understanding on what is going on. It is quite techincal but it offers thigns in there I am sure you can understand along with case studies. The program is mostly focused on restoring the intestines because they house your immune system 70% to be exact.
If you have any other questions I am sure we would all be happy to answer them :) I hope you choose to make your apt to see Matia and wish you well.
 

Hi, I am very new to all this. I am wondering so much about what I can and can not eat on list one. Is wheat flour Ok? I got some Organic spelt Flour ( still is wheat though? ), and some Organic brown Rice flour. Can I use those? Also, as far as Olive oil... I see that you need to use "pure", not the extra version. What is the difference?I made my app to see Matie this next month. I am excited, but nervous. I have been following diet one for almost a week now. I just want to make sure I am doing it right! I want to start to heal so bad, it is so hard living with this pain and discomfort. But I don't have to tell you all that : )I am also confused on what I should NOT be taking as far as supplements right now? The only synthetic thing I am on is a Thyroid med. I know at my app she will direct me, but what if I am taking something right now that is making it worse!I got Arrowhead spring water today. Is that good? I have always just drank tap.Just all these thoughts in my head! I have only found this website and Matie on Monday of this week, and I am so convinced that I made an app! There seems like there is hope? Of course ins doesn't cover it, and I live in Colorado. Sounds like a lot of people travel to see her the first time. I am hoping and praying for the best. : )  : ) 

Welcome - you are absolutely on the right healing path with Matia. She is a genius.
Nicole gave you really great info re: your first questions.... I will try to help out & answer your most current questions.
- I wouldn't advise going off any medication on your own & suddenly, esp thyroid.  Talk to Matia first, she will guide you.
- Don't worry about buying organic meat.  While preferable, Matia says people get well on non-organic too.  Yes, no Organic seal but natural/hormone-free, etc. meats are better than regular meats.
- Your fatigue and weakness could certainly be all or partially from the diet.  Just from switching to a clean diet your body is already starting to cleanse and you'll feel the effect as the toxins come out. It's not pleasant but it definitely gets better in time, and it can be easier to bear when you tell yourself it's a good thing, which it is.  Re: coffee, Matia allows some people to have it from the beginning; ask her.  There was a good post a while back on coffee's risks/benefits.  Type "coffee" in the search box.- The Lightly Salted Organic Kettle chips' ingredients technically can be for List 1/2, but Matia tailors the lists to each person, so I would wait.  Esp as you're just starting, I might suggest you eat as clean and least processed foods as possible.
- Yes, meals should always be eaten with animal protein in a ratio of protein 25%, carbs 25%, veggies 50% or 33%/33%/33%, depending on what Matia advises for you.  Optimally, eat your protein portion first.
- I wouldn't worry much about gaining weight; most people at a healthy weight actually lose some at the start.  As for cravings, the sweets cravings usually go away within a month or two; people are always amazed or think they'll be the exception but it really does go away.  As for eating, everything in moderation is key.  If you think you're using too much of something (i.e. olive oil), check w/ Matia to gauge appropriate amounts.  As for being hungry, many of us can relate.  Esp in the beginning your body is so broken down that it's usually not extracting all the nutrients from food, so you often still feel hungry even after a big meal.  Matia will guide you, but it is ok to eat more if you're hungry, within reason.
- If you're travelling for a short time, you can probably bring your own food.  Or stay at a place with a fridge.  There is a Ralphs grocery store behind Matia's building.  Type "travel" or "plane" in the search box -- there are several valuable posts that should give all the info you need.  I live in LA near Matia.  If you need further guidance on where to eat, stay, etc., I'm happy to talk with you (you can email me by clicking the email icon by my screenname). 
- Yes, it will be hard at times, but you can do this.  As someone once said to me, if you've found Matia, you're one of the lucky ones.
All the best!!

Lisa answerd you questions really well. As far as where to stay I would stay at the

Homestead LAX-Airport

User score 2.9 out of 5 See all reviews

1910 E Mariposa Ave,El Segundo, CA 90245 Area: Los Angeles Airport (LAX), El Segundothey have a full kitchen here for 75 dollars a night. Its about 15-20 min from Matia's office. It is an extended stay hotell and I found it through orbitz. there is a ralphs Grocery just behid the hotell you will be able to cook while your there.if you really want to  enojoy your stay you can do a vacation rental there is usually a refund deposit this one is only 100 bucks a night for ocean view. Will be 5 min from Matia but you would have to drive about 10 min to the nearest grocrie store.http://www.vrbo.com/138445It would be a nice BDAY :) I hope you have a happy one !!

That info really helped. Nicole I booked my hotel at the Homestead Hotel. It does have a full kitchen, so I am excited that I can get some food at the store next to it and make my food.I have been reading so much on this site the last hour. Some things make me really encouraged, then there are some things that scare me that this won't work, or that I will not be strong enough to do it. People keep talking about what makes them flare, and I have no idea what would make me on list 1!!!! I don't know if I am doing it right, and I am not seeing Matie till middle of Feb. I don't want the time till I see her to be a waste of time.I have followed the diet, this weekend was hard. I did good all week, but then yesterday and today all I wanted was something sweet, or  peanut butter!!! It was crazy, I never thought cravings would be this bad.I always have eaten good, like lots of steamed veggies, and whole wheat everything, no pop.... But I have a one year old (so hard to have this and have a baby) , and I am missing coffee, and being able to go somewhere to eat as a family. I know I can't.The worst part is wondering if this treatment will help me! I go 25-30 times a day. I know lots of people have it much worse. i don't have to much pain, though, only burning and sharp little pains sometimes. And sometimes it seems like I can't get all my urine out! Mostly frequency and Urgency. But I do feel like only a week on this diet has helped the Urgency.OK well my mind feels like exploding. Do you think Matie will have me cut out all starch? I am worried I am eating to much of that. I had potatoes for lunch, 1 piece spelt bread toast with butter for breakfast, and I made some spelt bread recipe that I  found on this site for tonight. I have protein and veggies with that. Is that too much starch? It doesn't seem to make any difference in my frequency when I do?Ok one more thing. I had ordered one bottle of Cystroproteck before I found Matie. Has anyone heard of it and if it helps? I stopped taking it. I know it wouldn't solve everything, and I believe that IC is much more than just bladder problems. But does anyone know about it?My mom had IC for 13 years. I remember she was so angry and misrable all the time with it. It took about 2-3 years, but after she really started trying to just eat healthy, and stopped drinking pepsi, and she started taking Bovine Colostrum... well she has been symtom free for at lest 10 years. I wish I knew how she really did it. She doesn't really understand it either.... she thinks she just over time healed herself by how she took care of herself. Also it went away slowly in that 2-3 years after she stopped birth control pills. She is trying to help me. I did start taking that colostrum  2 years ago ( I stopped it when I got pregnant, should have stayed on it ). But man, it really did help me some. I know it because it has to do with building your immunity. Like I was going 11 times at night, and now I am down to 3-5. Ok, so I don't tell this to anyone to make them think that I know a better way, or I wouldn't be going to see Matie.But sometimes it just baffles me! My mom is completely normal now. She can eat and drink anything she wants, do things she wants. She does eat good though, and takes care of herself. This is just a big part of my story. My mom went through tons of horrible surgurys and procidures to try and help, and it never did. It just makes going out to see Matie and spending all this money kind of hard for me. My mom had it and it went away, why can't I be so lucky!!!? : (But I am not willing to sit around and think I might get better like my mom. I will try and fight this with everything I can. I am just discouraged. And confused. I know my mom cares so much about me, and she wishes she knew how I could get better too. I can see it in her face, but she is encouraging me to go.Anyway that was a book : ) 

lol...

That was encouraging : ) I am glad I am not the only one out there that feels like I was on a ton of Vitamins and things like colostrum and it is very confusing, and expensive!I can't imagine having 2 little ones! That would be hard, it is hard with one. But I think Children are a blessing from God, so you are blessed!I am going to try my very hardest to eat diet one until I see Matia. If I can just stick it out until those horrible cravings go away. It felt like I was literally going insane yesterday! My poor husband : ( He has to put up with so much. You are so right about them coming in waves though! Today I feel like if someone put a brownie in front of me, I could push it away and say no thanks, yesterday I would have had to RUN in the other direction!I always ate just peanut butter, plain without sugar, but yes now that you say that I see why we can't have it right now. Is that why you can't have any nuts? It makes it really hard to be out and when you need a protein snack. I always would have just some raw almonds, or a string cheese.I do feel like sex makes it hurt, esp that night and the next day. I can do it, but then later I pay... not to bad, but right now I feel like I want to see if this diet is helping, and if I do that it will be harder to follow because I will be uncomfortable the next day.... I feel sorry for my husband. He is very supportive, and never makes me feel bad, but still I don't know what to do.I agree that my Mom is VERY lucky. And she knows it... It is weird that we both had/have it. I feed my little one what I can from what I eat, but you know they have to get fresh fruit and grains and cheese and stuff. It does make it harder. But I guess having kids makes you want to get better too. I want to be able to take my little girl to the park without having to worry about going every ten minutes...I have some Oil of Oregano... I wondered if I should start taking some? See I am always trying to think of something else!!!!!I will keep you in my prayers! 

Don't drive yourself crazy, in the beginning it's probably near impossible to determine what's causing flares, and many times even for advanced patients it can be confusing. (but they still get better regardless!).   Keep in mind, too, as a wise person told me, that it's Matia's job to connect the dots... your job is just to document & report the dots.  The best way to track things is to get a small diary/calendar to write/rate symptoms and other notable things each day.  Many of us do this, it really helps.
Instead of trying Oil of Oregano or other things that could set you back further since you don't know what you're doing, what you could do right now is try to eliminate your potential flare causers.  Do an inventory of everything you put on your skin, hair, etc.; chemicals or other environmental things you're around; stresses; and consider other things you're exposed to in any way that you may not be thinking of.  (The Gentle Products Guide offers some safe alternatives.)  I myself didn't really believe just how many things, even if you're not ingesting them, can affect your pain and healing time.

guys think I should go off of grains? I mean should I be eating spelt/kamut bread? I got the French Meadows brand.I am reading that a lot of people don't eat grains, or anything with wheat. That would stink.... but should I just wait to see Matia or what? Also, since the California baby shampoo and body wash is expensive, I have been using just Johnsons baby head to toe wash for everything else but my hair face and private area.... ??? Should I stop that? That is what I used before... I have so many questions!!!!! I feel like I am going to explode... I know I cant rush this, so why am I getting all worked up.Can most people use fresh garlic? Cooked in things? Should I be using salt? is potatoes sliced and baked in Olive oil and salt a good side to have with a meal? Are most everyone using some sort of fat when they eat, like olive oil or butter (in moderation), or am I using it because it said you can???Sorry if I sound too hyper about all this. It is because I am : (Thanks.... 

  Is this the deodorant you use? http://www.drugstore.com/qxp41032_333181_sespider/crystal/body_deodorant_stick.htmIt has 4 out of 5 stars with 169 reviews.  I REALLy need to find a good deodorant.  Jason't doesn't work for me.   I would eat grains unless you consistently notice that you are flaring after eating a specific grain.  I have had great luck with potatoes.  I also eat a butter and Bertolli's Extra light olive oil.  I use Matia's body wash.  It is awesome and lasts a long time.  My skin is the clearest it has been in years.  Many patients can handle garlic powder although I haven't added it into my diet yet.  Matia reccommends eating one third meat, one third carbs, and one third veggies with each meal.  Your sugar cravings should go away in about a month.

That is the one I use. I really like it. I was surprised at how well it workes. I got it at Walgreens for a little over $6. It says it can last up to a year with daily use. The ticket is to use it as soon as you get out of the shower, when your underarms are still wet. It can burn a little when you first put it on if you have just shaved. What I did is use it  for a couple days without shaving first to see if it would be good. But I have really sensitive skin, and it does not give me any problems. I smell BETTER than when I would use regular expensive DO, at the end of the day. Now it does not stop you from sweating, it just makes you not smell! But I like being able to sweat if I need to, as that is how your body releases toxins.Well it sounds like I am hearing I need to just kind of eat as good as I can on Diet one until I can see Matia. I have no idea what might cause me to flare in diet one. : ) And I hope the cravings do go away! It has been fine the last two days, but this last weekend was sooo hard!!Marie 

THe reason some of us aren't eating grains are because we aren't tollerating them. Most people are ok with the rice and potatoes though. Some do have issues with rice and have to try different kinds to see if maybe one is better then the other. I personally can't do rice at all I have a real hard time with grains. I don't know what your symptoms are either so it's hard to even perdict how sensitive you are esp since your so new. I am sure when you join the meeting it will be helpful. IF your in a lot of pain you may want to eat more potatoes then grains as far as your carbs go untill you get started because I think it's the most well tolerated carb. As far as list one bothering you other things that may be an issue are the spices. With the garlic I personally found that the fresh was more gentle then the powder and i just use a tinny bit acasionally when i cook. Not sure about it yet because I just don't use it enough to know. It's hard I rather add in a new food then a spice so I haven't focused on it yet. Also I have been changing my herbs a lot in this program and I don't like to try new foods when trying new herbs it makes it harder to tell. I would't focus too much on what you think your tolerating now untill you have your herbs and even then it may take some time. I would just make sure your with in the rules of the diet. When is your apt? I know it's soon I hope your excited you will be relieved when you meet Matia. :)