Understanding the cost benefit analysis of candida diet
I wanted to talk a bit about food and values, and doing a cost benefit analysis. Many people can see that the diet we recommend makes sense scientifically, but struggle actually following it. I know I sure did for a long time. I wanted to talk a bit about the shifts that I had in being able to eat this way consistently.
The diet information is pretty irrelevant if you don’t follow it because of personal challenges. Most people have several personal challenges, like food addiction, cravings, emotional eating, boredom with food, too much value on food, the wrong technical information and more.
Each person has to work on those challenges, and even “tweaking” the diet we recommend for themselves, and therein lies the challenge. I had mentors to guide me, and looked to others who were successful to see what behaviors to mimic.
I read lots of books, shared on newsgroups, did a lot of self-reflection. Simply put, there is no magic answer, it’s just a lot of hard work and some creative solutions. I had to figure out how to change my values with food, to change my attitude, to put my food as a priority, to really face how if I fell off the wagon, how hard it would be to get back on and
more.
I had to realize that there was no “end” where I would be able to eat pizza and ice cream and maintain my weight and health. I had to accept that I have to eat the way I do for life. The physical and emotional go hand and hand.
If you avoid the “alcoholic foods” (the ones that just make you want more and more) completely, then you are really able to have a physical peace with food. The diet we recommend will likely give you that peace.
Then there is the emotional and behavioral aspect of it. I find that if I deviate, I get cravings big time, and I really get set back, and I lose the peace I normally have. To avoid that, I have to always have my food cooked and ready to go, so I always have something appropriate to eat.
Many people hate this aspect, having to plan things out. But when you really get that just a little preparation makes everything easier, and puts your mind at ease about being able to stay eating the way you know works for you, it really helps.
Then there are lots of situations where it is really tempting to give yourself excuses to eat off plan, like parties, holidays, birthdays, etc. I look at this like I am an alcoholic with certain foods. Just like an alcoholic, I abstain from certain foods completely.
Just like a recovered alcoholic, there are no breaks, no holidays, no excuses. I have not cheated on my diet in almost 3 years. Not even a taste or a bite or a lick. Because I know, and have FULLY accepted that I can never have just a bite.
Just a bite will always lead to a binge, I’ve proved that over and over to myself. Just like an alcoholic can’t have just a drink. But many people will set themselves up over and over again with this scenario.
Oh I’m just going to have a little chocolate. Oops, I ate the whole bag. Well I am so ashamed of myself.
But you know it’s only XX number of rewards points, or I’ll exercise more next week, or I didn’t gain weight, or I don’t feel that bad, or it was my birthday, or <insert other reasoning here>.
Then the same thing happens over and over again..
lather, rinse, repeat.
I know, because I did this dance myself for a long time. Until my mentor really showed me, got me to take a good long hard ugly look at my self destructive pattern, and showed me how beautiful it was to stop that dance.
How I could make consistent good choices, see consistent good results, and get off the emotional roller coaster with food for good. I can still remember my own dance with those foods. Oh I’m just going to have one piece of chocolate.
It’s low carb, it’s not that bad. I am PMSing, and I really need chocolate. Chocolate is not that bad for me. Oops, I ate the whole box. Well, I’ll just do better next week, can’t beat myself up over this.
So yes, I have never been perfect, will never be perfect, and have danced the dance with food. I’m just done being in denial over my issues with food. I’m done expecting it to make me feel better when it never does.
I’m done trying to have a party in my mouth because I’m bored because I’m too fat and sick to have a real life. I’m done feeling guilty because I ate too much or I made bad choices with my food.
So what does it take to have lasting success with this IMO?
The right candida diet that is going to take away your cravings and your health issues and give you good results.
Combined with being *done* with your expectations and values with food, and having consistent behavior with food that is devoid of backslides the vast majority of the time.
When you realize and understand and accept that chocolate (or other unhealthy food) is only going to be enjoyable for a few minutes, but that the emotional and physical impact of that choice (guilt, weight gain, getting sicker etc.) are going to last days, weeks, or longer, then making good choices consistently is going to be a lot easier.
Food is for fuel, to make your body healthy. Not for entertainment, soothing, socializing, etc. It does not do the things we want it to do, as much as we wish it did. Do your own cost benefit analysis of food and you’ll probably see what I’m trying to say.
