There is no doubt that when it comes to chronic autoimmune conditions, that inflammation is the biggest cause of symptoms and pain. One of the most non-invasive and side effect free ways to reduce inflammation, is to make the choice to change to a healing diet.
One of the very first choices that I made when I was physically and cognitively disabled at the height of the Hashimoto’s crisis I experienced, was changing my diet to the AIP (Paleo Autoimmune Protocol.)
The AIP has been specifically designed to eliminate all known and suspected inflammatory foods, help heal a leaky gut and give the body nutrient density to help it heal and recover.
At first glance, going AIP can look daunting. When you feel that so much has already been taken from you by disease, giving up your familiar, comforting foods can feel like yet another loss that seems too much to bear.
What made the decision easier for me, was to see that out of all of the positive and inspiring stories and research that I read, AIP was the common denominator in helping to create healing, better quality of life and in many cases, even complete remission.
My situation felt so desperate, that I was willing to do whatever it took to try to get my life and health back. Eating with my personally modified version of AIP is now completely normal for me. I enjoy the food that I eat and I do not feel deprived.
Do I miss the convenience of being able to eat whatever I want, wherever I want? Absolutely! I would be lying if I said that not being able to eat out at any restaurant or sharing meals made by others who still eat gluten, grains, soy, dairy and other foods I react to, is always easy.
However, now that I have experienced the impact on my body, mobility, mood, motivation and health of the food choices that I make, there is no temptation. I do not want to lose what it has taken me all this time to regain.
Everyone has their own blocks and challenges to going AIP. There are many different stories and experiences of making the switch, from easy, challenging or completely resistant.
It’s important to remember that AIP is NOT forever! You begin careful reintroductions of food after 30 days or when you begin to see an improvement in your symptoms. After going through the reintroduction process you will come out with a personalised template of what you can eat without inflaming your body or triggering autoimmune symptoms.
I asked 11 amazing bloggers to share what their biggest blocks were to going AIP and how they overcame them and this is what they had to say.
Blogger: Joanna Frankham of joannafrankham.com
What was the biggest block I had to changing my diet to AIP?
I think my biggest block was fear of failure. Or, perhaps, false hope. To be honest, after more than two decades of undiagnosed HS (Hidradenitis Suppurativa), I was prepared to give anything a go. I felt the inconvenience of an elimination diet couldn’t come close to the pain, shame and despair that HS causes. (Turns out I was right, too!)
I eased into my elimination experience in phases. First I gave up dairy and gluten, then I went paleo, and then I went the whole hog; for 9 months. AIP has totally changed my life.
How did I get myself through it?
Before AIP, I was the girl who dined out 3 or 4 nights every week. I was a serious foodie. Of course, this wasn’t possible on an elimination diet, so I made it my personal mission to create food that I really wanted to eat. That meant spending time in my kitchen. As it happens, that was pretty easy for me, but it was also fun. Visiting our local farmers market was already a part of our weekly routine, too.
The thing about an elimination diet is that it’s very easy to focus on all the foods you can’t eat. Really, this protocol is all about adding nutrients. So, that’s what I did – I started fermenting vegetables, making oodles of bone broth for nutrient dense soups and stews, concocting new ways to get more vegetables into my diet, making pâté. I made this a priority.
It also really helped that my partner, David was so supportive. I do most of the cooking, but he was completely open to trying new foods. Now, he’d rather eat liver than a steak, and he’s become a gummy connoisseur!
Blogge
r: Erin of Real Food & Love
What was the biggest block I had to changing my diet to AIP?
When I initially started the paleo autoimmune protocol, there were a handful of pioneering AIP bloggers on the scene. While I didn’t struggle with the elimination part of the protocol, I made the mistake of overlooking what foods I should be adding in. I’m talking the nutrient-dense foods. Over the years, I’ve come to find that I was not alone in making that mistake. Often times we focus on the “no” list and completely ignore the “yes” list There’s a whole lot of tasty flavours and healing foods within that “yes” list.
I was not a novice cook by any means. In fact, I loved to cook, I always have! But when I was reading about all the powerhouse “superfoods” that I wasn’t eating and pondering how I could add them into my daily meals? And eating HOW MANY cups of vegetables a day? The “yes” list became incredibly overwhelming to me.
How did I get myself through it?
I challenged myself. Each time I went to the market or co-op I picked out something I’d never had before. That alone helped up my vegetable intake. My husband also stepped up and began picking out new cuts of meat at the butcher to challenge me in the kitchen. This is around the time we also started making our own bacon, I started fermenting, and making bone broth regularly. Soon after I found myself taking the leap into the world of offal cuts and I gave foods I previously disliked another chance to wow me. Mushrooms, beets, scallops, and avocado are all good examples of AIP foods I avoided because I didn’t like them (even though I’d tried them many times throughout my life). Now not only do I enjoy them, I even crave them at times.
The challenge I set for myself worked well and it’s something I’m incredibly grateful for! Not just for me, but for our family. Things like pâté, tongue tacos, heart stir fry – even lamb “oysters” don’t get weird responses at our table. I think we’ve also set a solid example for our kids. To try new things, to appreciate all parts of the animal, and to not give up on one vegetable just because you didn’t like it the first time.
Blogger: Matthew Chambers-Sinclair of Biohacku
What was the biggest block I had to changing my diet to AIP?
My biggest initial resistance to the AIP dietary changes was the loss of several of my “comfort” foods. At the time, I had convinced myself that certain foods were necessary for me to get through difficult times.
How did I get myself through it?
By prioritising actual healing strategies over symptom management, understanding that there would almost certainly be a period where I’d have to live with moderate to severe symptoms without having my “go to” foods.
Blogger: Maria Krummen of Zesty Paleo
What was the biggest block I had to changing my diet to AIP?
I was in France when I started the AIP. I gave up all the foods fairly easily, except for cheese. That was a tough one but I knew that I had to make this step in order to feel better. Yet, I felt quite deprived when I passed by fromagerie (cheese shop) or watched my husband enjoying cheese right in front of me!
As soon as my grieving over missing cheese lessened, I decided to embrace the new culinary adventure by experimenting with fruits and veggies.
How did I get myself through it?
Funny thing is that a combination of certain vegetables reminded me either of missing nightshades or of missing legumes. It inspired me to experiment more with various, AIP-compliant foods. And it was not long before I’ve came up with a seemingly crazy idea of having ice creams in my salads, just because I used to enjoy cheese in salads before I embarked on the AIP diet!
So, by embracing the change I’ve discovered new foods and unique flavour combinations that made my life on the AIP very flavourful!
Blogger: Yael Goodman of Reversing Autoimmune
What was the biggest block I had to changing my diet to AIP?
I know that so many people feel completely intimidated by even the idea of starting the AIP, as the idea of eating such a restrictive diet, seems completely overwhelming. But to be honest, I had been feeling so unwell for so long and thought I was doing everything right, that the very idea that not eating certain foods and adding in different ones, was actually a completely wonderful opportunity for me.
For me, I had just been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), my third autoimmune disease, and I was actually lying in a hospital bed, completely dizzy from vertigo and unable to see out of my right eye from optic neuritis. My arms were bruised from collapsed veins from the cortisone drip which was in me for 5 days and the Neurologist was talking about having to be on Interferon infusions that I would have to inject myself with, for the rest of my life. I was feeling completely helpless and at the mercy of others, so, you could say that for me AIP was actually the preferred option!
How did I get myself through it?
I actually made myself a literal list of Pro’s and Con’s while deciding which option I should chose, medications or the AIP. One of the pros was that if it didn’t work, I had the option to go and try the medication. On the other hand, I already knew that the medications for MS and in fact all autoimmune diseases don’t actually treat the disease, but only in fact, suppress the immune system to stop attacking itself and the side effects are also very off putting.
Once I had made the decision to go on the AIP, I went in all the way. I am an all or nothing person. I read all the research so that I felt I understood why I was doing it, which really helped me! My husband completely supported me with it and changed his diet for a short period of time as well. That was important for me. The change for me was very quick and very positive.
Today, nearly 4 years later, my Celiac Disease is in remission, my last MRI scan showed no new lesions, I have no clinical neurological symptoms, and my thyroid antibodies have dropped to the lowest level ever and will hopefully be completely down very soon. Also, I must stress that it’s not all diet, that the lifestyle factors of reducing stress, getting enough exercise and social interaction are just as important as diet and now that diet is an easy habit for me, that is where my focus lies.
Blogger: Alissa Frazier of Liss-ms
What was the biggest block I had to changing my diet to AIP?
I had known about AIP for years before starting on the journey for myself. I distinctly remember the first conversation I had about it with anyone, and it was with my mother. Now I love my mother dearly, but she can be unknowingly very unhelpful when it comes to some things, my diet mostly. I was still living at home at the time and was very curious about AIP. I remember telling her about it, and the things that were off the table. Her initial reaction was “that sounds absurd! There’s no way you can do that”. I told her the reasonings behind the eliminations, yet she maintained her ground. I felt very dismissed and discouraged. I put my needs on the back-burner so I didn’t “rock the boat”.
How did I get myself through it?
I moved out! It wasn’t that situation that forced me to go anywhere, but life moved in such a direction that I found an incredibly supportive boyfriend, who eventually became husband, who supported my dietary choices and chose to do them with me. I had also found my voice and began to make my own changes anyway prior to leaving, regardless of what waves I caused. This was my own health situation and I found the courage and power to take control of it.
Blogger: Catharina Delmarcel of CatharinaDelmarcel.com
What was the biggest block I had to changing my diet to AIP?
Starting AIP turned my life upside down. See, I’ve never been one for diets. I’m a food loving, freedom seeking, discipline evading, more is more kind of girl. And I’ve always been a big eater. The only thing I had going for me, by nature, was that I’m a great fan of vegetables and I love me a good piece of top quality meat, fish or seafood. On the plus side, there were a few skills and experiences I had picked up over the years: I love cooking (mainly because I love eating, and because it’s not a very precise craft) and I had survived a Candida diet about twenty years earlier – which had been hard, but worth it. On the down side, I was now chronically ill and had a family to care for.
There was also the small issue of comfort eating, my latest hobby. Food had become an only refuge when I was cut off from all other sources of comfort. Like sex (no libido), dressing up in pretty clothes (no figure) and going dancing (no energy). Or hitting the shops for some good old retail therapy (no funds). What the French toast was that all about? My self-image was at an all-time low. I felt fat and useless and no fun at all (try cracking a joke when you forget the point midway). It was like this illness had stripped me from everything worth living for. Almost everything.
How did I get myself through it?
There was my sweet baby girl and my wonderful husband. I wanted to be there for them, raise a happy family. Love was my #1 motivator for change. I’d just been to hospital to have a tumour removed from my wrist, the newest in a long list of symptoms, and I was terrified of not being around to see my daughter grow up. So Fear was #2. My body did not respond well to the anaesthetics and when I woke up from surgery I faced five horrible hours of feeling like I would die. That was rock bottom right there. Something snapped. Even before I left the hospital, I knew that I was going to turn things around and do everything I possibly could to have a good life again. I wanted to reclaim joy, beauty, pleasure, fulfilment. I felt like I’d been left out from the fun for way too long and I was furious. There you have #3, Anger, a pretty awesome force if you use it well. I refused to be a victim any longer. I refused to listen to doctors claiming there was no cure. By the booty of Beyoncé, I would show them all wrong! There was a powerful surge of Anger and Pure Bloody-mindedness (aha, #4) that propelled me forward. I would not stop until I got a high-quality life. I wanted to feel great and look great. Yep, #5 Vanity was working for me too.
So how did I work this powerful combo of Love+Fear+Anger+Bloody-mindedness+Vanity? I made the protocol all about pampering myself. I vowed never to eat anything I didn’t like. If the grub was going to be restricted, it better be restricted to tasty grub. Anything within the food lists that took my fancy would be mine. Smoked salmon here we come! I got serious about Self-Care. Took 3 months off work to concentrate on my healing. Set up a morning routine of gentle yoga and positive affirmations – because I realised #1 Love had to start flowing my way too. Cut out all activities and relationships that drained my energy or somehow caused stress. It got pretty radical. I turned into a bit of a healing guerilla. I stood on the scales every day and noted weekly averages. AIP is not about losing weight, but if you have Vanity on your team, why not use it? I set rewards. Promised myself a full new wardrobe once I got my figure back. And I delivered on that promise.
The key to my success with AIP was that I did not see the protocol as (another) deprivation. Illness deprives us of so much, we don’t need anything else taken away. I made the protocol all about boosting my well-being. It was 100% for me. And 0% against me. This realisation had to be forgotten and relearned when I went back for another round of strict AIP four years later, to reach a new level of healing. Once again, I had to turn into Self-care-zilla, slashing and burning anything that was killing my joy. Silicone sealing the energy leaks. Adding more fun to my day. Until the mental resistance stopped and I could set to work again. With new yummy recipes and weekend batch cooks and little snack containers in my handbag (next to the new Guerlain lipstick, ‘cause hey, we can’t forget #5).
Blogger: Astrid Fox of Heal me in the kitchen
What was the biggest block I had to changing my diet to AIP?
My biggest resistance about changing my diet to AIP was self-doubt. It was the voice of my GI telling me “you would be one in a million to heal your Ulcerative Colitis through diet.” His threat of “surgery will be around the corner” if I didn’t listen to him and take lifelong medications did really scared me, but deep down, I knew there was another way. At least I was willing to try it. By the time I decided to look into AIP, I had been doing Paleo for about eight months. I felt the improvements from changing my lifestyle and way of eating was definitely a sign I should pursue my healing plan and am glad I stuck to it.
How did I get myself through it?
No pun intended but GUT feeling, stubbornness and finding support got me through the block to the wellness I have today. Discovering the AIP community through social media was what introduced me to this protocol. I met many other IBD warriors who have the same determination to better health and take control of their healing, but specifically, a special person, Martine from Eat Heal Thrive, led me to this lifestyle and a growing community I turned to for support.
I encourage everyone no matter what kind of health challenges you’re facing to take charge, do your research, find your community and move forward together. I’m always around for encouragement.
Blogger: Angie Alt of Autoimmune Wellness
What was the biggest block I had to changing my diet to AIP?
I actually felt very little, if any, resistance to changing my diet to AIP. I had never been on any diet of any kind up to that point and AIP was brand-new. From that perspective, I’m not sure I had any preconceived fears of what a “diet” meant and there wasn’t really an AIP community yet with some voices saying that it “might be hard” to stoke fear. Also, I was extremely desperate and basically felt my life was at stake. I think instead of resistance, I felt hope. If anything I was afraid that my hopes would be dashed.
How did I get myself through it?
I got myself through the fear that my hopes would be dashed by focusing on the practicalities. I spent a lot of time figuring out recipes that would adhere to AIP and how to plan menus around those recipes. I spent time learning to read labels, something I’d never, ever done before. I started to concern myself with food sourcing and meeting farmers, again something I’d never done before. I also had to work on adjusting my time and budget to focus on quality food. With the time and budget adjustments came the step of teaching my family about AIP and getting my household on-board. Finally, I began to think about how I would travel and socialise while still maintaining the diet. The actual process of implementing what was, at the time, just a vague list of foods being mentioned by very few sources helped occupy my mind and didn’t leave space for fear of failure. Almost six years later, I’m happy to report that my hope was well founded!
Blogger: Lexi Haverly of Ayce to better health
What was the biggest block I had to changing my diet to AIP?
My biggest block in starting AIP was time and knowledge. I had tried to remove various foods from my diet before being diagnosed with autoimmune disease and finding out about AIP and found it extremely difficult every time, even with single ingredients like gluten, dairy, or corn. Although I could avoid these ingredients in about 70-80% of my meals, I struggled to stay compliant, especially when traveling and in social situations and on the many nights when I would work a 10 hour day, commute for 3 hours, and just want to order takeout versus taking time to cook.
When I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, my body felt as though it was shutting down. At the time of receiving my diagnosis, I could not retain body heat, every movement hurt, and I ran on “auto” mode, in a major fog. When my mother-in-law purchased Sarah Ballantyne’s The Paleo Approach, I started glancing through it and figured it would be worth a try. However, I was not convinced that removing this “random” set of food from my diet would be the answer. P.S. no I had not gotten nor could I comprehend why a lot of the food that is restricted on AIP is good to avoid, at least in the initial stage. Before committing to AIP, I decided to run a food sensitivity IGg test in hopes that would provide a narrower list of what I would need to avoid. Giving up bread without reason was just NOT something I wanted to do!
How did I get myself through it?
I started on my AIP journey, I’m sure with many unknown mistakes, the day after Thanksgiving and about a week later I received my food sensitivity results. They showed me being sensitive to almost every fruit and vegetable, yet showed me fine with grains and dairy. I was at a loss and refused to eat anything for a day in fear that it would make me sick. Eventually, my husband ordered a pizza for us because “I had to eat something” and oh boy, after only a week of being AIP that pizza was very obviously not good for me! This was my turn around point where I decided to go full force AIP and only avoid the couple of “ultra high reaction” foods and I never looked back!
Within a couple of weeks of being strict AIP, I began feeling better and that was enough for me to know that this diet was working. My husband could tell as well and he and the rest of my family were very supportive. As I felt better, I reintroduced more and more food and while gluten and wheat have never shown up on allergy, food sensitivity, or celiac testing, my eventual attempt to reintroduce it failed miserably and it again confirmed the accuracy of an elimination diet like AIP, the healing outcomes it provides, and the fact that relying on testing for food sensitivities and allergies is simply not he best approach.
Blogger: Susan Vennerholm of Backcountry Paleo
What was the biggest block I had to changing my diet to AIP?
I might be uncommon in that the decision to start and continue the AIP was easy for me. That doesn’t mean it’s all been easy. By the time I decided to start the AIP, I was desperate. Why hesitate or look back when you have nowhere else to go? I had brain fog so bad I literally couldn’t hold a conversation, read more than a few sentences, or complete my thoughts. I had severe bloating and other food reactions with every meal. Debilitating depression and brain fog had kept me from work and social life for a long time. I was so exhausted and depleted I could barely get up a flight of stairs. It was a herculean effort to leave the house maybe once a week. I wondered what in me was so broken and I was terrified.
In desperation for a change, I decided to start a strict AIP based on Dr. Kharrazian’s diet in his renowned book on Hashimoto’s. One afternoon, I just made the decision and with no hesitation, made a menu of AIP meals I knew I would eat (that’s key!), made a list of ingredients, removed all non-AIP food from my kitchen (also key), and drove to the grocery store. Frankly, I never looked back.
How did I get myself through it?
I experienced a fast and profound healing on AIP. Within three weeks, most of my symptoms were either gone or reduced enough to know I was on the right track. I had no more food reactions, my depression reduced dramatically, my energy came back, and my brain fog literally disappeared. To be sick for so long and then experience such profound changes was motivating. It showed me I had the power to change my own health and happiness.
Over time I’ve had to figure out some persistent underlying health issues and tweak my diet and lifestyle accordingly. That takes patience, but it’s worth it. I’m doing reintroductions as I am ready. Keys to ongoing success are: weekly meal planning; batch cooking for the exhausting times in life; letting go of friends who refuse to support my AIP lifestyle; letting go of habits and situations that don’t support my well-being; learning to say ‘no’ to commitments that exhaust me; being gentle with myself for making mistakes; a desire to help myself and live well. Most importantly, believing I am worth it. The profound changes I’ve experienced on the AIP fuel my continued determination to do what’s right for my body, mind, and spirit.
If find yourself feeling blocks or resistance to trying AIP, I hope that you can see from the stories here that you can find a way through it.
What is your resistance? See if you can pin it down, uncover any fears or doubts behind it and work through it. Remember strict AIP is not forever! Chronic illness in all of its many forms can feel so overwhelming, uncertain and unpredictable. Anything that we can do to help ourselves is so very worthwhile and gives you back a much needed feeling of being actively in control of your life again.
Who knows just how much better you can feel?
Kerry
