Strict diet help

Hi

I have bad digestive issues and I have been told to follow a strict diet for a few months (possibly forever) but I find it I incredibly difficult. There are certain foods that cause me immense pain but I stil reach for them, then there are others that cause me to crave more food and I reach for them too. How do I stop this and learn to just eat those foods that I can eat?! Its mainly vegetables and some fish and meat.

Thank you!

Hi, have u had dietary advice from a specialist or dietician?

Hi...well they've told me what to eat but I find it very difficult. Not sure what else they can do?

Just wondered as I'm seeing a dietician soon lol. I'm quite strict with myself so I doubt they will tell me anything I don't already know. My diet is really controlled, it has to be or I'm so ill. I do have a few things on a weekend or when I'm on holiday that I wouldn't usually dare eat but generally, mon-fri I cant take the risk of suddenly vomiting or running to the loo

Yeah I'm the same I need to be controlled and I am for a few days and then I just eat those foods and feel horrible! I need to learn not to but I don't know how 😕

It is hard but for me, it's better than taking the consequences! I literally live on bread and turkey, plain crisps and a fruit bake bar for lunch and either gluten free pasta or white rice with sweetcorn and a bit of fish during the week for tea or I'm pretty much doomed!

I think a lot of the time I don't eat cause I'm too scared and that probably causes me to crave for those foods that don't agree with me. So I'm going to start eating every meal and seeing if that helps at all! It's so tough eating this restrictively

I've done it for the best part of 20yrs so I guess im use to it. I still have days where someone offers me something and I think it's so unfair! I would luv cake and custard or a Sunday lunch but never in a million years would I risk it as I know full well I would vomit and be in agony for days. Eat little and often, it will curb the hunger and hopefully stop u from picking things which upset u

Yeah I'm going to start doing that. See if it helps

Good luck

Hi

I totally get it. It so hard specially at work functions. It is embarassing to say what may happen if you eat the wrong thing. Sometimes I give in and regret it later. Lately I have been so sick that no food appeals to me so it is not as didficult. Some days I would rather not eat. I stick to soups or rice. I miss chocolate with hazelnuts.

Good luck

Vivivan

😊

I have been on a strict but not too bad diet for many months and I just have to remind myself that the consequences are nasty.   However I find its very difficult when friends buy food I can't eat and leave it in front of me.

I used to not want to bore everyone with details but now I know that I have to tell people not to buy stuff and leave it out in front of me.

I think the best advice is to say to friends and family that I really want to stick to my diet and please keep all the things I dont want to eat out of my sight and dont offer them to me.

At least then its only up to you not to seek out the forbidden fruits that are poison to you.

Make a list of what you are allowed and make sure you buy a lot of it so you always have something to satisfy yourself if you feel the need for feed.   As far as is possible keep your food seperate so you dont even have to look at the poison when getting your own meals.

I hope your friends and family will help.

Cheers

Graham

 

Thank you Graham. A lot of it though I think is me. I feel like I'm missing out and so buy the foods I shouldn't and eat them and then feel horrendous! So I just need to stop doing this and realise how bad it makes me feel.

You are exactly right!   The moment of truth is not when you prepare a meal or reach in the cupboard for a snack.   It when you are in the supermarket and you reach for some evil poison because you used to find it NICE a few years ago.      Well when you reach out say No I know its no longer fun or delicious   Its become poison.

Try hard.   I read somewhere that if you change behaviour for 30 days it becomes a new habit.   I know 30 days seems a long time on day 1 but by day 20 its just around the corner.

Good luck

Graham

Thank you and I'm going to be doing exactly that. I also notice it's when I'm hungry I crave and cause I react to food I tend to skip meals so I need to start making myself having 3 meals a day.

Try and follow a simple diet:

Toast with dairy free spread and a light coating of jam

Sandwich with dairy free spread and a slice of meat or filling that u can tolerate

Light tea of rice or gluten free pasta with meat or fish

THEN introduce other foods one at a time to see what you can tolerate. This is what I did.

If Im desperately craving something I can't eat I may have a bite and bin the rest. Very wasteful I know but at least I get the taste and not necessarily the symptoms haha

Hi Jo

I think its better to follow a more scientific approach.

Just the little bit you wrote sounds like good advice but for me the toast is poison and the jam is probably poison.    Many jams are high level of fruit but when you check up the rasberry jam is only 25% rasberry and the rest of the fruit is apple.   Apple is poison to me and sets me right off.

Naiose might not think of needing lkactose free milk in her cuppa.   That would be another problem if it was me.

I suggest you go to the doctor and tell him/her that you want to be properly tested for ibs and if that's positive go on a fodmap diet where your dietician will tell you exactly what you can and can't eat for a few months and then help you top reintroduce a wider range of foods

Do it methodically or it will be a lot harder and you may not understand the cause of your problem.

Of course if its not ibs then make your doctor work hard to find out what it is.

Cheers

Graham

It was just an example smile That's what works for me. I have a 20 yr diagnosis of IBS but now I'm suspected as having crohns disease. I have chronic lower right abdo pain, lactose intolerance, fat intolerance, SIBO, B12 deficiency and inflammation in my stools with a raised calprotectin level of over 350. I'm under a consultant and dietician. I'm currently going thro all the tests

thanks all - well i've been told i have ibs but also have candida and a build up of gut bacteria. my stomach is just a mess but i fear food so much that i need to just start eating normally i think. I've gained weight cause i just keep eating bread and chocolate cause they seem to be the only things that don't cause problems!!!

 

I have to admit bread and chocolate are my downfall despite the lactose! I do try and limit chocolate and check bread labels but I'm rubbish where chocolate is concerned. I can't gain weight tho sad