lindsay
Member
Yeah I think weight gain is pretty much expected when you've been through the ringer. And I definitely have so I am not trying to stay thin while I recover. I was just noticing some changes in my body but all the while not really healing. I am done trying to pursue specific macro diets as the cure all. I do think I suffer from low blood sugar symptoms so carbs are very important for me, but not at the expense of everything else. I was curious how people made the low fat diet work. Fruitarianism still intrigues me and probably always will, I love fruit, and wish I lived in a tropical place, but alas I don't!
As I used to say when I first started "healing", coming down off of stress hormones sucks. They feel really good for a reason and hide a myriad of problems. That being said, if you really feel terrible eating a certain way, you should definitely question why. For instance, dairy intolerance is a real thing and worth noting. I realized that the best form of dairy protein for me was aged cheese & cream rather than milk (whole or low fat) - and I have to be very picky about what kind too. I went through some stomach issues recently and tried cutting out things that might be triggering it. Since I am unable to conquer (and don't really care to conquer) my nightly obsession with a plate of aged cheese, I simply switched to sheeps' milk cheese to see if it digests better. I think it does and I think most people would actually tolerate dairy if they found what kind worked - but should never force themselves to tolerate it. I also think that serotonin and estrogen play a much bigger roll in the bloating and weight gain than in actual fat gain. I seemed to put on like ten pounds in fluid when I started menstruating again recently and my stomach was a mess - I kept telling myself it was probably hormonal and now it's gone away when the 3 week menstrual period finally ended. I've lost an ovary, an appendix and a gallbladder over the last ten years and was in a pretty bad place when I discovered RP. It's taken me a long time to "heal" (past the three year point) and I'm sure it will be an ongoing process, but I always took a very different view from RP than most people did. The holistic view has always been more important to me than the diet itself. I derive more energy and wellbeing from activities I enjoy than from eating 1,000 calories in sugar - for instance. Engaging my creative brain was incredible for reducing serotonin for me and makes me feel instantly more energetic and happy (and it's free). Travel has also been very useful. And certain supplements have been necessary for me personally, due to my lack of the above 3 things I mentioned.
Anyhow, find what works for you and don't feel like you have to stick to some rigorous diet. That will likely never work because it just puts added stress on you when you are trying to find healing. There are basic principles of nutrition and then there are insane dietary mandates. It's up to you to find the nutrition that works for you