Re: BED week 3 - profound fatigue, weight loss--looking for suggestions

Hi Everyone,

I have experimented with the BED, had three consultations with Donna and worked with a certified BED practitioner in my local area (San Francisco). Here's what I can say, based on my experience and the consultations, in response to the questions you've all raised.

1. The book, and Donna's "guidelines" are meant to be just that: guidelines. They have to be adapted based upon each person's unique constitution, lifestyle, energy needs and metabolism.
2. I am a very active and lean guy - 6'3 180 lbs. is my normal weight. I had to eat two or more protein meals a day and eat more oils, raw buter, soaked nuts, protein powder, etc. (I used ImmunoPro Rx and Goatein) than the book recommends. Donna was the one who suggested this.
3. Think of the diet in stages. Stage one is cleansing (colonics are very helpful here, as is sticking pretty strictly to the diet in the book). This should last about a week. Stage two is restoring the intestinal flora with lots of kefir (coconut first for three weeks, then add SLOWLY milk - maybe goat's milk first), cultured veggies, fermented spirulina, etc. This could be three to six weeks or more depending upon the person. Let your experience be your guide. Stage three is rebuilding. This is when you can begin to add back in some different grains, increase fat/raw dairy product intake, nut and seed butters, stuff that will build muscle mass.
4. I don't think of the BED as a long-term diet. Once the gut has healed, I believe a wider range of foods should be incorporated. Check out Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon. You'll see a lot of similarities to the BED (I don't know who was influenced by whom, but they know of each other and I believe Donna even mentions Sally's book in hers). Same basic principles but much more sustainable. Several people I know who are on this diet feel absolutely fantastic.
5. It may be important for people to take anti-inflammatory herbs or formulas to help the gut recover from it's overstimulated state. Two products I recommend: Perma-clear by Thorne and I.B.S. by RenewLife.

I'm not a nutritionist, though I do have a degree in Chinese Medicine and I've suffered with gut-related illness for seven years. Hope this helps, good luck.

Chris
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