Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives NSD and diet-related; Help w/Starch Free Diet

I'm also very skinny (and also was very skinny when I started the diet 6 months ago). I tried the apple fast and only succeeded for 1 day because I was becoming skin and bones and looked pretty sickly. I then went full-steam ahead with eliminating starch and after around 1.5 months things clicked and I experienced a drastic reduction in pain. So, point being, I've had success with the starch free diet (the most dramatic success when also avoiding dairy) without doing the all-out apple fast.

Hey Tam,

For what its worth this is what I did.

Before I was even diagnosed, which was about 3 months ago, I went to a naturalpath and she put me on this 2-3 month long cleansing routine. This was about 8-9 months ago and lasted for quite a while and had many stages. It included a parasite specific cleanse of the gi tract, which, apparently, was something of a problem with me. (I can get more specifics if you are interested -- not of the parasites but the cleanses) Also around that time I started to put together, independantly, that sugar was a factor in causing the pain. So I started to cut down on sugar eventually to the point of elimination and the pain lessened but never went away. (This diet modification was the hardest as I had a RAVING sweet tooth, in fact I felt very strong cravings for sugar for months and months, they are gone now though) Then, like I said, I got my diagosis around 3 months ago and I was devistated because, as I'm sure you know, there is no 'cure' for AS. Turns out it was the best thing for me because it gave me some focus and I eventually found this site, along with other very informative sites, and most importantly the No Starch Diet (NSD). I started the NSD almost immediatley after being diagnosed and have had excellent results. If I dont eat starch I am pain free. If I eat starch I get some, almost immediate, reaction, from mild discomfort to a painful days long flare up. I won't lie to you, it wasn't easy. It isn't easy. It is not a temporary change. Significant lifestyle changes were necessary. For example: I now have to plan each lunch and supper at least one day in advance. No more coming home from work and looking in the fridge or freezer to see what is for supper. Also it took a while to weed some foods that are listed as being ok but werent for me. For instance honey is out for me. Potatoes and corn in small helpings are ok. White rice is wicked bad. Fruit juice is out. You get the picture. Zark has an excellent blog site that was something of an inspiration to me, i suggest you check it out: http://zarkme.blog.com/AS_Food_List/

I have noticed many changes since being on the NSD: elimination of pain, psoriasis went away, crippling fatigue went away, decrease in body fat even though I eat high fat meals at least 2X a day, the list goes on. I'll admit that, from what I have read in these forums, I seem to have a more mild case of AS that was diagnosed relatively quickly (after two years), maybe that is a factor in my reation to the NSD.

One more thing: I went back to the natualpath recently for something called a Metabolic Type Assesment. The result was I am parasympathic dominant. I didn't really look into exactly what this means or how reliable the 'test' is but the recommendation was to eliminate starch and adopt a high protein and high fat diet. She gave me a fairly comprehensive list of foods to eat regularly and to avoid and it almost mirrors the NSD.

Anyway, that is my story.
Good luck to you.
Shane

Shane,

That was very interesting.
I'm happy to see you're doing alright!

Just wanted to ask why you eliminate fruit juices and honey. Is it because of the high level of sugar?
Also - Do you find zark's list of reactions to different foods equivalent to your reactions?

I never succeed in identifying what exactly still causes me to flare, although trying all the time. Puzzling, I'd say, being on NSD more than 3 months, no sugar for a month (about to put it back in moderately soon) and almost no dairy (morning bio low carb yogurt).

What say u?
Oded.

Hi Tamaroo,

I started the LSD in March this year and I have lost about 101bs, which I needed to lose!

I find I can keep my weight up by drinking wine (in moderation), eating some chocolate every day (instead of cakes and crisps) and eating things like steak, chicken etc with plenty of salad or veg. I also bake some almond four muffins which go down well with all of the family.

I think the diet is hard to stick to at first, but you do stop missing the things you used to crave and in my experience weight loss does settle down.

The upside is that I refer to it as the wine and chocolate diet!!

Regards

Michelle

Hey Shane Thank you sooo much for all the great info. I have been doing what Oded said to do and cutting starch out of my diet slowly. So far, So good. Like you, there are things that I cannot eat that are on the list of good things. Like pineapple(raw), eggplant, alot of fruit juices, etc...I also have problems w/ some beef.
I am very enthusiastic & hopeful about changing my eating habits. I knew food was causing me pain and I feel empowered knowing in general what to stay away from. I don't want to think that I'll lose more weight, perhaps if eating is not causing me pain, I will eat more & gain weight!

I am VERY interested in the cleansing process! IF you could tell me more about that I'd appreciate it so much. Is it something I can do myself? I do not have the resources to go to a special clinic. I've seen so many different ways to cleanse your body out & I would like to know what really works. All kinds of junk on the market.
I wish I could be like Michelle & have a wine & choco diet. That is crazy good. But refined sugar makes me sick & I cannot drink alcohol of any kind. Boo Hooo!
Thanks again to all of you & please let me know about cleansers.
Peace, Tam

I lost some but I needed to loose it. I'm STILL not thin.
A good low starch diet is going to be higher in fat. Fat does two things, it makes you feel less hungry and it acts as a long slow burning fuel.

Hi wind rider!
I have had the opposite problem. I have had loss of appetite for years and do not eat when I'm in pain-which overall has been most of the time. I have a fast metabolism to start and I keep losing weight. From 130lbs to 124 to 119 and down and down I go. I keep hitting a plateau-maintain for awhile then down again. I am hoping that this diet works the opposite for me but all I can do is try it. My goal is 15 lbs. Which would put me at 125. I have to force myself to eat most meat because I don't like it. If nothing else, at least I will be eating healthier. Something good is bound to happen from that!
Peace, Tam

Hi Gingann!
Why are you so skinny? Pain? Metabolism? Lack of appetite? Do you have trouble gaining weight? When I was healthy, thought I was anyway, many of my friends hated watching me eat like a construction worker and not gaining. Although I worked out all the time, jogged, martial arts etc.... so I was burning alot up. When the disease kicked in big time, after I had my son, I started losing weight & have never gotten back to my original.
Peace, Tam

Michelle,
thanks for the support! I am going to try and use the almond and coconut flour, sounds great. I'm real weird because I actually love so many 'health foods' I will miss some of those the most. I am practically addicted to oatmeal, I have put it in everything I could for yrs. If you have any other suggestions for things you can make to grab & go let me know.
Peace, Tam

I've just always had a high metabolism. I did gain 15 pounds and kept it on for around 5 years while I was in college and then a couple of years after college, but I dropped that extra weight when I grew more 'mature' and stopped drinking like a fish a couple of nights a week and having Taco Bell at 3am. Those were the days!

When I watch what I eat, especially being on this diet, I'm naturally skinny.