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Psychosocial effects of a highly restricted diet


Sat, January 22, 2011 1:55 PM

I have been on the SCD diet for 5 months.  It is a VERY restricted diet and I have mastered the "what am I going to eat" part of it so far.  However, I am finding that I have a LOT of anger issues concerning not being able to eat like "normal" people (my boyfriend says I need to stop "hating on" people who can eat the things I can't)  What started this is an argument with my boyfriend over me "guarding" my food.  I say it takes so much labor just to make enough to eat for a week that I can't afford to let "regular eaters" dive into it.  I am frustrated because no one seems to understand what it's like to not be able to "just grab" something to eat at a fast food joint or even the store, because EVERYTHING that I eat has to be made, planned, etc.  Just wondering if anyone else has gone through this and how long it takes (and any tips!) to get over the anger/depression of it all.  I know I should focus on the fact that the diet I have chosen will give my body back health/energy....but seriously, that only goes so far when you are consistently faced with the downside (feeling like a freak eating differently than everyone else, the constant denial, etc etc)  Tell me it gets easier and I don't have to feel like this forever!!!!!

FPO rweiser
Joined Sep 27, 2008

Sun, February 06, 2011 4:51 AM

 Reply posted for rweiser.

I can remember guarding my scd food and still put things at the back of the freezer or under the vegetables in the fridge  sometimes so my family don't find them. In the first year or so I needed to make myself special treats to be able to stick to the diet and as well as time consuming they are usually expensive.

It gets much easier. When you really start to feel well you won't need so much specially prepared food and the people around you will start to ask how you manage to look so healthy rather than why you eat such  peculiar way. Many of my friends have started to reduce the amount of carbs they eat since I changed. On a couple of occasions I have been asked how I have managed to lose ten years and why I seem to get younger when others are getting older. I would not have believed that could happen when I started (4 1/2 years ago)

It sounds as though you have passed the worst part. Keep going.

FPO lca
Joined Oct 12, 2008

Thu, February 03, 2011 2:38 PM

 Reply posted for roneth1974.

roneth1974 

When dealing with an autoimmune disease, it is the body attacking self that is causing the problem. Although diet can not cause the disease, certain foods can make the disease worse. Certain people are predisposed to autoimmune diseases, like Crohn's, and just changing what you eat won't get rid of the attack of your immune system. There are lots of factors that do contribute to susceptibility to autoimmune diseases. And for reasons that are still not completely known one identical twin can have an autoimmune disease while the other one is healthy.

FPO jenn d h
Joined Jun 16, 2008

Sun, January 23, 2011 11:16 PM

 Reply posted for alanschachter.

Ok, but how come people like my father can eat anything anywhere and never have GI problems? He is 70 years old and has been doing this eat anything anywhere diet forever with no GI problems. I have yet to meet someone who can explain this without a long drawn out salemen explaination. there are 7 billion people on this planet and some of them live an entire lifestime with zero autoimmune problems and they eat anything they want. Please explain!

FPO roneth1974
Joined Mar 24, 2008

Sun, January 23, 2011 6:16 PM

 Reply posted for alanschachter.

What is Paleo????

FPO nancyt
Joined Mar 26, 2010

Sun, January 23, 2011 10:25 AM

 Reply posted for rweiser.

I have been where you are at now.  I used to get angry about going somewhere and there is just nothing I can eat. 

Here are some of things that help me get by.

I make big batches of chicken soup, squash soup and all sorts of stews.  So I always something around that I can heat up on the stove when I'm in a hurry. 

I will eat before I go out to a place or party where I know my food choices will be limited or non existant.  I pack a meal with me just in case.

Remember that life is not about what you eat is about enjoying time with the people you love.  Hang in there, it will get easier.

FPO patman75
Joined Feb 8, 2009

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