Question about diet and alcohol

[KimberlyC]

I just decided today to give this program a try and ordered the DVDs this evening. I watched all the videos available on youtube, and it does make sense.. I have to admit, I still wonder the exact cause of CFS... why do we get stuck in this cycle where others don't.

Anyway, my question is about the diet recommendations that Ashok makes in Session 1, part 6 that is on youtube. I'm curious if many of you have been following them and how much you attribute that to your success. Of course I see them as good advice and nothing that isn't recommended for anyone who wants to lead a healthy life.

I was reading through some of the posts and noticed talk about alcohol tolerance. I've been trying to avoid alcohol for the past couple months, but I seem to keep coming up with excuses to have a few drinks here or there. Is that an absolute no-no? I wouldn't say I'm an alcoholic, but I've been to weddings and BBQs lately where it is socially acceptable and hard to resist having a drink or two. I typically don't feel too bad after having one or two drinks, but I haven't exactly been feeling great anyway. I do feel really bad if I have more than 3 drinks over the course of an evening though and I can commit to avoiding that. I just like to have an occasional glass of wine because I like to think it helps me relax.

I had also been working on my diet and find that very difficult because of the amount of grocery shopping and cooking I have to do in order to avoid convenience foods that aren't good for me. Again, how crucial do you think this is?

Eliminating caffeine will be another challenge for me...I've tried that and failed in the past. I've already managed to cut dairy and most sweets (like anything with high fructose corn syrup). And I already have made a good effort to get out of the house everyday for sunshine and fresh air (its easy this time of year).

I look forward to your comments.
~Kimberly

[noeshe]

I get really sick from alcohol and caffeïne anyway, so those are not a problem for me and I didn't eat much sugar and dairy products to begin with.
When starting the program I did eliminate red meat and salty foods. I now occasionally eat red meat, but much much less then I did before. The salt I put back into my diet again. I have very low bloodpressure and after stopping salty foods, it dropped even further

I think it's very much up to your personal circumstances what you should or should not eat or drink. Try to find a balance for yourself between eating healthy and stressing out about it. Stressing out about anything messes up your amygdala and that's what you're trying to turn around!!

[KimberlyC]

Thanks for the advice, noeshe.

I've always been pretty good at moderation. Its complete elimination that I have a hard time with. I agree that it seems better to strive for balance and avoid worrying about it.

I only consume low amounts of caffeine anyway in the form of really dark chocolate (just a lil bit a few times per week) and by having 1 or 2 diet colas per day. I think its more the carbonation that I've found hard to give up, but I've found substitutes in the form of mineral water that I like...its just more expensive and more difficult to buy in bulk.

I had been stressing about eating a fresh foods diet with little or nothing processed and that is quite difficult. I also gave up corn and dairy and realized that my husband's side of the family pretty much doesn't serve anything that doesn't have one or the other and my side serves a lot of corn. I may change my policy on corn though because I might not be as allergic to it as I thought and it is the hardest to avoid. Avoiding dairy completely has helped noticeably though, but its tough since it hides in the strangest places even some vitamin supplements.

I really can't wait to get started...wish I didn't have to wait 2 weeks for delivery. It will be so nice to be able to commit to one plan and just stop second guessing myself.

[dmbaken]

Hi KimberlyC

From my understanding the diet is not a major part fo the program. My wife had already done all that years ago. I think that stressing about giving things up wold do more harm than good.

regards

Don

[spring]

While, as you say KimberleyC, Gupta's dietary advice is good advice for anyone I don't think it is critical to the success of the programme.

I gave up just about all of my dietary restrictions about a month after starting the programme. The only thing I have stayed with is not eating wheat to which I had a pre CFS intolerance.

Now I am not saying what I have done is good because I think some of my food choices have not been particularly supportive of my health but I am just enjoying not having to keep such a tight rein on things for now.

I used to strictly avoid MSG and all additives unless I knew they were ok.

I have not noticed any immediate ill effects with any of the things I have reintroduced into my diet except 1/2 a glass of wine seems to be about my limit for now to avoid any payback the next day. I only have one coffee a day as I don't think my system needs any more winding up but boy do I enjoy that coffee!

[Chronicfatiguetreatments]

for me, i just cant tolerate alcohol at all, so ive just had to stop completely. I feel fine when im drinking, but i get really sick for about 1-2 weeks after. I love to drink, but it just not worth it to feel sick for that long.

[*Emerald*]

When i drink alcohol my face burns in minutes, i feel nauseas and have
hot flushes, and feel just generally ill for days.

But oh how i miss it (at least while drinking i fell over for a reason ):lol:

[angelicatoo]

On the alcohol issue, I have heard lots of people with M.E say they can't drink alcohol but I have started 'using' it in order to have a social life. This probably sounds crazy but I am a lot happier in myself when I can get out and see people but am usually too tired. So I have been going out maybe once a week or once every two weeks and find that although I feel really tired when I go out, a couple of vodka's pep me up and I feel relatively normal for a few hours and enjoy the company of friends. I am usually knocked out the next day or the following one but would rather pay this price than be a total lonely recluse. It would be nice to find something that was not intoxicating or addictive that would have the same effect and you could use all the time.

[Chronicfatiguetreatments]

On the alcohol issue, I have heard lots of people with M.E say they can't drink alcohol but I have started 'using' it in order to have a social life. This probably sounds crazy but I am a lot happier in myself when I can get out and see people but am usually too tired.

I feel the smae way, it is alot of fun to have a few drinks and take a break form being sick. I does help me have fun for a little while. But for me when i drink i get really sick for about 2 weeks. So i had to quit all together.
If it was only 1 day i would, but 2 weeks is not worth it. So only on special occasions for me, unfortunately.

[neil25]

alchohol has this negative effect on me as well, after having a couple of beers i felt very faint. I am also knocked out for a couple of weeks afterwards.

[Chronicfatiguetreatments]

alchohol has this negative effect on me as well, after having a couple of beers i felt very faint. I am also knocked out for a couple of weeks afterwards.

I used to feel really faint all the time, especially when i would stand up after sitting down a long time. Its called orthostatic hypotension. I think its pretty common in cfs. I took a test for it called a tilt table test. They put you on a table angled at 45 degrees, and if you faint then you have orthostatic hypotension. I used to take some type of blood pressure drug, which made it alot better. But it hasnt been bothering me for the last few years

[Truevira7]

I am totally the same: out for about two weeks after alcohol. It took me ages to even realise that that was the case since I was only having 3 or 4 drinks. I would get on and exercise and work or something and always attribute the ensuing crash to that. Since I have cut alcohol out ALMOST completely, my recovery has moved along unbelievably. I find it hard re social events though. I take ginger beer around to people's houses and try to have only one alcoholic drink on special ocassions. It has taken me two years to finally accept that this is what I have to do as I used to like drinking tremendously. This reluctance to listen to my own body in order to ease social situations signals my predisposition to this disease in the first instance - and so I am working on the psychological state that tells me to override my poor body. Seriously, try a few months without it. The difference is enormous! Good luck.

[neil25]

I only tried drinking once since i had cfs and since it caused a bad reaction i had to stop completly. i also used to love to drink it was one of the best things in life but if it makes you feel awful you have no choice but to cut it out. maybe one day we might be able to drink without being dead for 2 weeks afterwards. until that day.

[Houllmouse]

I have always had a glass or two of whisky or wine before bedtime as it is the only thing that seems to help me sleep through the night. My doctor has told me though that I should have no alcohol as it was becoming a "problem". Since stopping I have not had one good night. I had already stopped drinking socially because too much (three pints or shorts) made me ill for several days. I also find that not having alcohol at night causes me to feel a hangover each morning when obviously there isn't one.

As far as diet goes I became vegetarian a couple of years ago after a screaming migraine and felt 'cleaner' afterwards. Certainly helps reduce the feeling of severe lethargy after a meal. I do have a poor diet, mainly bread eggs cheese and lots of butter. My wife does cook me lots of Quorn stuff thats nice but I can't be bothered to feed myself.

One thing that really makes me feel bad is smoking, but after 30+ years it will cause me too much stress to give up.

[CS1]

I think the best thing to do is to reduce them both and increase your hydration as I think alot of us are DEHYDRATED,


1) more water
2) water containing foods - fruits and veg juices


Regards
CS