Cheating on the diet

[goldy]

Could anyone tell me what is the max I am allowed to cheat on the diet? It is so hard for me!!

[jacob]

There is no such a thing as cheating on the diet.
if you cheat the diet will not work
depending on how you feel you might be able to add legal foods that you warent eating till now
the list of legal foods are very big.
you might want to buy some ready to eat scd legal snacks for times you feel like cheating.
also the longer you are on the diet the easier it will be
a year after I started the diet I didn't crave any illegal foods.
in fact my whole family now craves my food.
I know its hard but the rewards are big.

[beth]

I agree with Jacob. I can hear you that it is soooo hard in the beginning. I still remember those days and it was years ago!! But he is also right when he says the reward is in the feeling so much better when we stay with the legal list of foods. When I get to wanting something that I can't have I remind myself it is all in the mind and try to drop those thoughts and think of something that I can eat as really good for me!

[goldy]

thank you so much for the encouragement and good advice. It really helped me.

[Bgliberman]

Hi Goldy
Your feelings are mutual with all beginners. It is very hard, yes! But the benefits of staying strictly to the diet far surpasses the cravings to cheat. The gut needs to heal, and SCD is allowing the healing process to take place. Cheating backfires on the healing process, which reverses all the hard work and effort you've invested thus far. It's simply not worth it. While on the SCD you have to put your logic first and cravings second. Stick to the rules, no cheating allowed ever. You can do it - just like the rest of us. Best to have around a special legal treat and save to fill those cravings. There are many great recipes you can make from the wellbees recipe book that really fill the sweet tooth.
Or, if you feel ready, maybe your desire for more should be a sigh for you to expand your legal list, one item at a time.
If you simply can't resist the cheating temptation- then make a recipe that's all SCD legal ingrediants, but beyond the scope of your tried tested ok list. This way your just cheating within the SCD diet and not on illegal ingredients. Usually you'll disagree with the food and it will remind you to stay on track.
It's great that your reaching out for support! We've all been there and can attest that it does and will get easier!
Keep it up!

[MaddieMyLove]

My mantra is that I'd rather be in the kitchen cooking yummy SCD foods than in the bathroom or the hospital. It's worth sticking with. Even after years of being on the diet and I think I'm healed and I "cheat" it always gives me a flare and the harder they are to get under control. I wish I never cheated and didn't have to experience two more flat ups bc I wanted something non-scd. The best gift to yourself is feeling good and having a great healthy life without your disease making all the decisions for you. Stick with it, everyday and it does just become your lifestyle.

You're so lucky because when I was diagnosed 14 years ago, there were like 3 cookbooks out and no prepared foods so I had to make everything from scratch. It was mind-boggling. Now we have Wellbees (amazing Pecan Bread, granola, morning muffins, etc) and Liberated Specialty Foods is a fantastic bakery for scd foods. https://liberatedspecialtyfoods.com

[goldy]

Thank you all for the amazing encouragement. I really feel better!!