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self esteem
just a little rant, you don't have to read it
I started this diet nearly a year ago, great results for sure.
however, i've noticed one thing deteriorate completely. My self-esteem. I've been following this diet suuuuper strictly, havent cheated not even for a snack in months. It really does effect my social life, especially for a young dude like me, but I just want the results as fast as possible. I try taking my meal prep out with me once in a while but people just keep trying to convince me that I'm not intoxicated anymore and I can get off the diet. At this point I refuse to go anywhere because I don't want to keep getting asked why I bring my food with me. Not asking for a therapist at all or anything haha, I just want to hear other peoples thoughts because I think this whole dieting thing is starting to be a little toxic itself to my social life
It seems you've answered your own question! 🙂
I think happiness it the most important nutrient... when it comes to health.
Do make changes slowly.
Why are you telling people about vitamin A toxicty? Most people will be unwilling and unable to understand it. Just say that you have various allergies and sensitivities and that you used to be really sick, but now since eating a strict diet you're in much better health. And don't bring it up unless asked, don't be verbose, just a quick explanation and then try to steer the conversation in another direction. You don't owe anyone an explanation for what you're eating, but if you want to say anything they will probably respect allergies and oversensitivities more than you talking about a fringe dietary theory you read about on the internet. Of course you could talk about it if you want to but it sounds like the fact that other people don't believe you gives you some pain.
Hi Thomas,
The assumption that I had was that people would apply this diet for only as long as they needed to. Then, thereafter they’d return to a somewhat more normal diet. I never had any expectation that people would stick to it forever. So, if you’ve made big gains in your health maybe it’s time to taper off a bit and not be so strict about it. I don’t think a few social meals while out with friends is going to be overly harmful, and it’s important for people to still lead normal lives.
Two other points to be aware of. One is that there’s a potential “detox” trap when going too low for too long. And, we really have no solid understanding of it’s mechanism yet. So, sure there might be some small risk in the occasional cheat meal, but there’s definitely also some risk in maintaining a very strict diet for too long.
The other point is that the human body is very well adapted to deal with vitamin A in reasonable amounts, and especially so when you are young. Therefore, I think once people have recovered their health, then a good long-term maintenance diet will be to just stay away from the big-ticket VA food items
I hope this helps.
Best regards,
Grant
Quote from salt on October 26, 2019, 7:17 pmWhy are you telling people about vitamin A toxicty? Most people will be unwilling and unable to understand it. Just say that you have various allergies and sensitivities and that you used to be really sick, but now since eating a strict diet you're in much better health. And don't bring it up unless asked, don't be verbose, just a quick explanation and then try to steer the conversation in another direction. You don't owe anyone an explanation for what you're eating, but if you want to say anything they will probably respect allergies and oversensitivities more than you talking about a fringe dietary theory you read about on the internet. Of course you could talk about it if you want to but it sounds like the fact that other people don't believe you gives you some pain.
I've been trying to steer away from the topic as much as possible, but most of my friends want to know more. I just mention how I overloaded and am on a depletion diet. I will start keeping some information to myself from now though. I think part of why I used to spill a lot of it out is because of the emotional ups and downs I got from intense detox cycles, and needed a place to let some of it out
Quote from ggenereux on October 26, 2019, 7:22 pmHi Thomas,
The assumption that I had was that people would apply this diet for only as long as they needed to. Then, thereafter they’d return to a somewhat more normal diet. I never had any expectation that people would stick to it forever. So, if you’ve made big gains in your health maybe it’s time to taper off a bit and not be so strict about it. I don’t think a few social meals while out with friends is going to be overly harmful, and it’s important for people to still lead normal lives.
Two other points to be aware of. One is that there’s a potential “detox” trap when going too low for too long. And, we really have no solid understanding of it’s mechanism yet. So, sure there might be some small risk in the occasional cheat meal, but there’s definitely also some risk in maintaining a very strict diet for too long.
The other point is that the human body is very well adapted to deal with vitamin A in reasonable amounts, and especially so when you are young. Therefore, I think once people have recovered their health, then a good long-term maintenance diet will be to just stay away from the big-ticket VA food itemsI hope this helps.
Best regards,
Grant
Hello Grant,
I will take your advice on the occasional cheat meal, sounds like a great mental relief. I am still seeing physical/mental improvements by each week. I don't think I'm quite where I want to be just yet, but definitely getting there. Is this "detox" trap you speak of a constant stage of "detox"? I've never heard of it, but i'll stay careful now. Thanks
Oh god , I have had a hard time explaining people why I cant eat certain type of foods when I go out or visit my friends . The usual response I get is either a confused look or a chuckle , when I tell them I can only eat meat and few veggies only . yeah , the best thing is to tell them you have allergies , doctors , my parents and friends , none on them initially believed me that I had toxic levels of vitamin A. Jesus!, once a doctor tried to prescribe me a 50K IU of betacarotene supplement despite the fact I told him I overdosed on retnol.
I agree it can affect your social life, my main cheats for meals out when I attend, are burger and fries or steak and potatoes, most restaurants in this area will usually have something like this. Since you are younger, you probably have way more social interactions than I do, hopefully you won't need to much longer on the diet.
My family are generally supportive, but even though most have way worse health then me, they think this stuff is to complicated, also I have been changing my dietary trends so much over the last decade looking for a solution, I suspect most would think this is another fad diet, like all the rest... time will tell.
Quote from thomas on October 26, 2019, 7:58 pmRE: I don't think I'm quite where I want to be just yet, but definitely getting there. Is this "detox" trap you speak of a constant stage of "detox"? I've never heard of it, but i'll stay careful now. Thanks
Hi @thomas,
I wrote about the "detox" trap on this blog post.
It's not happening to everyone, but it still hugely concerning.
Just so that you know, the primary reason I continue with this diet now after 5.5 years is to prove a scientific point. It's not for health reasons. I think I could now reintroduce some va containing foods back into my diet and I'd probably be fine. But, even during just the last year I feel that my cardiovascular health is improving even more.
Grant
I didn't tell anyone in my family about this diet, after decade of my healing attempts - first mercury, heavy metal chelation, then copper, adrenal fatigue, electrosensitivity (my attempts to shield the apartment with the carbon paint, aluminium foil, sleeping in a special tent and running with the measure device and cap everywhere)...leaky gut, gaps diet, no gluten... three years ago I stopped talking about my health problems and treatment, everyone is already tired of it - I am tired too!, oxalate and low vitamin A diet - that would by too much and really sci-fi. But my friend asked me why I am not juicing carrots anymore and I told him there is a lot of glyphosates and it is concentrated in juice. I have no problems with my social life because it is zero :))).