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Cheated on the SCD... Nothing happened

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 12/16/2011 2:36 PM (GMT 0)
I'm still new to SCD and I've done well to sticking with the diet for over two months. Last night, though, I was at a Christmas party and I had a few milky way minis and one chocolate chip cookie (I've been craving chocolate like mad since starting the diet - I still don't really get why it's illegal in the first place...).

I was expecting to get sick and to my surprise, nothing happened. My poo was same as usual this morning, too.
I'm wondering why there is so much insistence to "fanatically adhere" to the diet under these circumstances. Is it just because cheating could lead to going back to old ways? I can understand if something legitimately made someone sick after eating it, but in my case I was fine... So why should I cut it out entirely?

I still plan on staying on the diet, but I don't think I'm going to be quite as strict, atleast when it comes to going out. I've stressed about my food options in social situations too much and I just think it might be easier on my mind if I allow myself to cheat when there aren't any SCD options available. The other 95% of the time, I'll stick to the diet. I think that's what is best for me.

Anyone else had experience with cheating and no reaction? Are you still on the diet with occasional cheats?
Posted 12/16/2011 3:07 PM (GMT 0)
I am not a "fanatic adhere" person. I've had weeks where I could eat everything I wanted but then my colon said Whoa.
I am at the point that it doesn't seem like "cheating" as much as it is "testing" how much my colon can handle.

And for me it matters what type of food I'm testing. Splitting a pint of vanilla ice cream with my husband just results in a little gas and minor D the next day. My biggest problem is that once a previously "out" food doesn't bother me I tend to go overboard lol. I cannot bring home a half-gallon of ice cream because I am powerless from consuming it all in the least amount of time. And although I love SCD yogurt my colon does not :-(

The thing is we (or I should say I) aren't allergic to these "out" foods, just intolerant. The healthier my colon gets the less reaction I get.

You've only been on SCD since October and you are able to eat more foods already, good for you. My journey was much longer with many ups and downs. We are all different.
Posted 12/16/2011 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
I can add some sugar to my tea or coffee with no problema. Moderate amounts of good chocolate has real sugar and is relatively safe for me but the high fructose sugar in a can of soda and most candy is a sinker. I can have certain ice cream if it does not contain carrageenan. Hagen Daz is one of the few safe ice creams for me.

Of course everyone is different. Find out what works for you. The one absolute NO-NO for me are those ice cream sandwiches with two cookies with ice cream between them. It is an unholy combination of trans fat, gluten, and carrageenan together in one package that floors me every time. I don't know what is in Starbucks hot chocolate but it is no good for me. But my girl friend can make hot chocolate or cocoa that doesn't cause problems.

It is a good idea to experiment to see what affects you individually but I don't recommend going overboard to beg the lightning to strike. Once you are well into a flare it is very difficult to escape.
Posted 12/16/2011 3:30 PM (GMT 0)
The premise behind the diet is to starve out the bad bacteria in the intestines by only eating the leagal food if you cheat it will not make you sick it just means you are feeding the bad bacteria and you are suppose to be on this diet at least a year.I occasionally cheat with chocolate too.
Posted 12/16/2011 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
I wouldn't expect that after 2 months of following the SCD and then one night of indulgence would make a world of difference, the key thing is looking at it long term, if you continue to eat poorly it will have negative health effects, if you eat healthy for the most part and indulge once in a blue moon, there's no reason it should have a negative effect.

There is healthy chocolate, minimum 70% cocoa content, the higher the content the healthier.
Posted 12/16/2011 5:29 PM (GMT 0)
As zdenka said, the idea behind the SCD is to starve out the bad bacteria in your gut until it contains only good bacteria. Having an SCD illegal item now and then may not create any noticeable problems, but you may be delaying your recovery through the SCD protocol.

I've been on SCD since early October 2011 and so far I've been able to resist all temptation. It hasn't always been easy because I am inordinately fond of S.E. Asian cuisine, Dim Sum, and Mexican food - all of which seem to have one or more illegal ingredients. The only thing that keeps me on the straight and narrow SCD path is a dogged desire to beat this condition and move on with my life.

Whether or not ice cream, cake, candy, or chow mein throws a UC gut out of balance really depends on the individual. Since my symptoms are relatively stable, I often ponder when it will be safe for me to return to a 'normal' diet. I believe it will be safe no less than a few months after I am off all prescription meds (yes - I am determined to get off these things) and I remain symptom free.
Posted 12/16/2011 5:49 PM (GMT 0)
I did SCD diet for 3-4 months and I didn't see any improvement in my condition. I was very hopeful and optimistic that it would work for me because I had read so much positive feedback on "breaking the viscious cycle". After going for it 100% with no result, I have concluded that diet doesn't heavily impact my condition.
Posted 12/16/2011 8:46 PM (GMT 0)
Maybe it's just because I had such a small amount. And I'm pretty good with making sure I only have small amounts of bad stuff, which is why I think (for my situation) being too strict is making me feel worse. I never went overboard on bad food prior to starting SCD so I don't see myself doing that now UNLESS I deny myself my cravings every time.

I do think cutting out bread/grain has helped a lot, as well as adding significantly more protein. Prior to SCD I was eating a lot of oats, rice, and little to no fruits and veggies so I think SCD has helped in that respect. But to cut out chocolate completely, especially when I'm PMSing, has been the most difficult thing for me and I just don't see the point in being completely miserable on this diet if I can do well for the other 95% of it. I dunno, I just think for myself it's more important that I have a balance of a healthy diet (which SCD has given me), with a very small indulgence for my sanity every once in a while. If it had caused a reaction, I'd stay away... I just don't see the point in cutting out something that I love and that isn't bothering me, though.
Posted 12/16/2011 9:59 PM (GMT 0)
for me is easier to check what foods are offending me, because first thing to respond is the inflammation in my bones (the AS). only after this my UC starts to react. strange is that after 2 years on the diet i become more and more sensitive to starch...
Posted 12/17/2011 12:45 AM (GMT 0)
i am a patient of dr. hoffman who wrote the foreword to breaking the vicious cycle. i cheated once too with no problems which is a good thing. this means healing. however, ulcerative colitis is different from chrons in the sense that all healing is much more gradual therefore if you cheat once you may not see acute symptoms. you may see them develop a few days later or not at all. it takes longer for the diet to work on UC patients because of the area the disease is in. if you do not adhere as much as possible, healing will be even more delayed than it already is or not take place at all. the scd diet is not something one can take on with a lax mentality otherwise it may not work.
Posted 12/19/2011 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
well said MikeyyWho !
Posted 12/19/2011 10:36 PM (GMT 0)
I'm a bit confused MikeyWho,

Why would the SCD take longer to work on a UCer compared to a CDer? And what about if the CDers colon is being affected by the disease, would it then be the same as for a UCer?

Based on things I've read at the CD forum, the SCD varies from person to person as to whether they have success with it or not, same as on the UC forum, which leads me to think that even as far as the SCD goes, CD or UC some will have success and some won't.
Posted 12/19/2011 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
it is true that everybody is different therefore results vary greatly but those with disease in the lower part of the GI tract will see slower/less acute results then those with disease higher for example in the small intestine. this is because the diet works from the top down. sometimes when people say the diet doesnt work it is because they tried it for a few months and did not see significant results or remission. many times they quit the diet before the colon was allowed time to heal therefore there were no results.
Posted 12/19/2011 11:29 PM (GMT 0)
Why would the SCD take longer to work on a UCer compared to a CDer? And what about if the CDers colon is being affected by the disease, would it then be the same as for a UCer?

I've read this in the past, I think it was in "Life Without Bread" which is not a SCD book but is a gluten-free diet, and the doctor found that CD'ers had faster improvement than UC'ers. I think MikeyWho has the right idea about "top down" and the bottom-up can be treated with mesalamine enemas.
Posted 12/20/2011 12:45 AM (GMT 0)
Huh, very interesting....thanks for the response....never heard this before or seen any research about it....learn something new everyday eh LOL!
Posted 12/20/2011 2:25 AM (GMT 0)
Mikeyywho, just wondering are you currently on pred and still in aflare
Posted 12/20/2011 8:23 PM (GMT 0)
yes i am currently on 15mg tapering down and i would consider it a mild yet annoying flare i cant seem to shake. no more than 2-3 bms a day, moderate urgency, skinny stools when formed. no blood. some gas. minimal mucus.
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