Hi Meredith,

I just started up on the diet a week ago with success thus far (also went on this diet 2 yrs ago when bumped off sulfasalazine for a while). I can appreciate my pain while not on the diet and it is like day and night in the right hip and low back (when not on sulfasalazine as I am now). I can drop some weight, but there is not much (6'4" and 205lbs... have dropped a few lbs already... still have room to drop some more... but not much).

I assume each person reacts differently to different foods. But here is what I learned over the week thus far other than eliminating starchy foods.

- Pork is out for me. Have been making eggs and sausage for breakfast. Sausages were pork product. I would wake up in the morning fine.... but as day went on stiffness set in on lower back (which is contrary to AS... typically morning stiffness and gets better as day proceeds which were my symptoms when first diagnosed pre-meds 5-6 yrs ago). Tossed out the sausage and I felt fine all day.

- Tested chicken today. Had for dinner 4-5 hours ago. I typically have the stiffness set in 2-3 hours after consuming it seems. Does not appear to be a problem at this point (have my fingers crossed on this one).

- Want to re-test beef. I do not think it is a problem.... but want to clear the air now that I have the pork sausage out of the way and can be more objective.

Unsure about the dairy... have done no testing here yet. I am slowly testing the foods one at a time so I can be very objective. This diet has definitely made grocery shopping more interesting.

Question for others:
- Do you avoid canned fruits & vegitables and stick with fresh. I have been thus far. Only canned I typically ate in the past was cranberry and pineapple (when not in season).

Take care,

Tim



AS may win some battles, but I will win the war.

KONK - Keep ON Kicking