Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives NSD and diet-related; New here

I have been on the NSD for 2 days. I also took 8 days of Cleocin and 1 week of Minocycline, but had such a hard time following the NSD, so I quite the antibiotics until I could follow the diet. It is such a struggle.

Sunday I made myself some vegetable soup with a tomato base from our home grown organic tomatoes that we freeze. I put them in the slow cooker and added mushrooms, cabbage, carrots, green beans and seasonings. It turned out delicious, and I am eating this soup for lunch with some chicken breast added to it. It fills me up.

Afternoons, I have the carb cravings, so I eat an apple and one or two string cheese.

I am trying to take this one day at a time because if I think of doing this the rest of my life, it is overwhelming.

Any other ideas how to continue this? Once I have done this for a week, I will go back on my antibiotics.

Judith

2 days and struggling! I can think of one kickaser who cracked at the approach of the first lunch break so you do have resolution. Prof Ebringer found that it could take months for his patients to learn the diet and show improvements so be patient and we will answer your questions.

Any other ideas how to continue this?

Be prepared to eat plenty of animal fat - butter, sour cream, milk, cheese, fatty meat etc. As your body adjusts to metabolising fat the (starch) hunger cravings will cease. Your bad cholesterol levels will not increase but should decrease because your body starts burning the fat for fuel. Some people are lactose intolerant and cannot digest the dairy so you might want to cut this initially.

Also you need to give yourself time to discover new foods to replace old favourites, then it ceases to be such a struggle. As time passes new eating habits replace the old.

Good luck and do keep us informed of progress.

Thanks, Bilko, I will do that. I do great at home and have figured out work. (We have lunch provided and though we have salad every day, and fresh fruit, we don't always have appropriate meat for me). I made a soup and am having that with my salad.

My problem is eating out! I didn't think we do it a lot, but lately, it seems we have. Tonight is another banquet. My option is not to go (which means I don't spend the evening with my husband) not eat, (how do I do that?) or try and eat around what they have, which is what I will do.

thanks for saying that about my resolve. I sometimes get into the all or nothing thinking. I ate a few french fries last night and am paying for it this am, so don't plan on doing that again. I am keeping a pain and stiffness diary.

Hi Judith -- and welcome!

Make sure to read past postings if you haven't already done that. There are some wonderful threads with food and meal ideas.

Is the banquet a buffet? I find that I can usually find something safe to eat at a buffet. A banquet in which a set menu or plate is served is trickier.

Some ideas -- discreetly pull a waiter aside and ask if there are any options that you might be served -- a plain meat (without sauces or gravies that often accompany such menus and tend to use corn starch or wheat as a thickener) along with plain vegetables and/or salad.

Or you could take something along with you in your purse and bring it out. The little sealed tuna packets, for instance, to put on top of a salad. Just make sure that whatever you buy doesn't include vegetable broth which may be soy or potato based -- it needs to be pure water or olive oil). Obviously, this approach attracts more attention which can feel awkward.

I will tell you that eating differently, even in public, gets easier. Most people really don't care that much -- and aren't aware of it as much as I am or feel that they may be. I've gotten so that I just do my thing without feeling the need to explain it, and if someone asks, then I talk about it. Most seem impressed that I am being so pro-active about my health.

Best wishes as you sort all of this out for yourself. I can attest that the NSD is effective. I have actually been eating LSD lately without having a major flare (for the first time since beginning the diet last August), but I've definitely been less careful this week, and I felt stiff this morning when I got up. Time to tighten up the diet a bit!! Because it really works!

Paula

Hi Deertoo,

I hear you re your comment about the all or nothing thinking, I was sticking to the NSD so well until i became chronically constipated and had to reintroduce some roughage to get me going, and now that things are almost back to normal on that front the thought of sticking to the diet is suddenly overwhelming, odd.

As you say, just have to approach it a day at a time, and as Bilko says have a look at the recipes and things - i've printed a load off to stock up on ingrediants, and i'm going to start afresh on Monday, really hope it works as i'm in agony

Good luck!

Sarah

Thank you everyone. Sometimes I think I am the only one to struggle with this because I am so weak-willed. Since I know this is what is good for me, I should just be able to do it. Right?
It is good for me to read about others who struggle with it and just keep striving for it. Thanks!

Hi Sarah,

I just want to comment that I think we can get a huge amount of roughage on the NSD via veggies, fruits and nuts. Albeit, I realize that sometimes we may need additional nudges. I know some people have asked me how I get my fiber without eating grains, but the fact is that lots of vegetables and fruits are full of fiber.

Best wishes as you get back to the diet. Paula

I agree Paula, I have problems the other way because of the incredible amount of fiber I am getting from the apples, oranges, veggies, etc I am eating. Whole grains are only one way to get fiber.

Don't forget about prunes and apple juice!

You're so right about the diet being a struggle to start with, most of us experienced that feeling of being overwhelmed /overloaded with information and dreading shopping!

It does get easier with time, and it's important to be kind to yourself in the meantime. They say it takes 30 days for a new habit to become established, and when you think about just how many changes we take on board at the start of this thing...

It's a bit of a cliche, but a journey of a thousand mile does begin with a single step, and if you fall off the path here and there just take it a a temporary (and sometimes pyschologically necessary) blip and get back on again. Absolutely no need for "Go to Jail, Do Not pass Go, Do Not collect £200"!

J

Sarah - perhaps in your case you might allow time for a gradual transition to the NSD, weaning yourself off the grains as the source of bulk to be replaced by the fruit and veg. It is not so important where you are in 3 days time as where you are in 3 months.