Today’s blog post is all about updating you guys about my experience on the Low FODMAP diet. I normally post lots of recipes and helpful tips but I realised last week that apart from seeing what I eat, I never tell you anything about my symptom control or just generally how I’m getting on with the diet in general.
I know how useful I found these types of posts when I was just starting out on the diet, so I hope that you can benefit from it too. Starting the Low FODMAP diet can be an insanely dauting experience and it made me feel like I was never ever likely to enjoy a meal again if I was following the diet strictly. But seeing other people’s positive experiences spurred me on and reminded me why I should keep going on those days where all I wanted to do was have something that I know I wasn’t allowed. Fingers crossed I can do that for some of you too!
Don’t get me wrong, the diet is hard, and I think it always will be in terms of eating out, but for me I’ve found the light at the end of the long Low FODMAP food tunnel. I followed the strict elimination phase for about 12 weeks. I know this is longer than recommended but I hadn’t quite achieved full symptom control by the advised 6 weeks, so I stuck with it. And I’m so glad that I did because it got better, and I no longer had pain after everything I ate! It felt like a miracle!
https://learningtolovelowfodmap.food.blog/2019/06/03/low-fodmap-and-gluten-free-asian-style-chicken-noodle-soup/ or click on the photo)
It was seriously scary thinking about moving away from elimination because I knew that I would begin to get some symptoms again once I started reintroducing things back into my diet. But, its such an important phase because it has meant that although I have the occasional symptoms from trying to reintroduce, I can enjoy a far more varied and manageable diet! I’ve also found that when I do have symptoms after trying to reintroduce something, they are never as severe and as painful as they were before starting the diet!
For my reintroductions, I would say that I have been relatively successful. I have managed to reintroduce lactose completely which is a huge bonus for me because I love eating yoghurt for breakfast and love a glass of milk with any gluten free biscuits. I’ve also been successful in reintroducing apples for the most part if its a small apple (major win in picking up a snack!) and a half portion of cous cous which is ideal considering the fast cooking time after a busy day at work. I can also manage the odd ‘normal’ biscuit as long as its small and as long as I’ve not eaten any other large gluten containing products throughout the day.
Sadly, I did try to reintroduce wheat pasta, but it seems that any large amount of wheat or gluten still causes me a problem so I’m sticking to gluten free pasta, bread and cakes wherever possible to stay as symptom free as I can. I also managed a small amount of garlic but definitely not a full clove which is what I was hoping for. Although I didn’t manage the full amount, knowing that I can tolerate a small amount has been amazing for eating out because I’m not quite so worried anymore when I go out to eat.
Even though I’m super happy with how my reintroductions have gone so far, I know there is still a long way to go and that I have by no means fully conquered my tummy troubles. But to me, any progress on this diet and with IBS is serious progress and Ill take it with a smile on my face!
I would love to know if you found reading this interesting or helpful so that I can understand more of what my readers want to see. SO please, don’t forget to head over to my Instagram page (@learningtolovelowfodmap) and leave a comment on my post to let me know what you thought.
Hope you have a great weekend, Amy xx
Learning to Love Low FODMAP 