320 replies to this topic

[Panic!!]

Tell me about it I know it SUCKS big time, especially in the beginning.

I remember thinking I may have a candida issue way back in December, then once I read up on it and saw the proposed diet, eliminating basically over half my diet, I thought, "ehh there's got to be an easier way" so I kept eating my refined grains, fruit etc. And I kept breaking out.....

I was using Coconut Flour for a while, and mixing it with some water, eggs and a bit of cinnamon for my "treat" which was a dry pancake... LOL And believe me you really look forward to it when you can't eat anything else like it, but even cut that out because I was told that it was too many carbs in the flour... I don't really by that, its only 10 grams and I eat 15-25g of carbs in some of my meals, although they come from veggies.

Just know that this diet is not forever! And in the grand scheme of things, if you have to spend anywhere from a few months to a few years sacrificing by eating a strict diet to get clear skin and more importantly be healthy.... it is worth it.


With that said, I can't wait until I can eat some of the foods I miss so badly!!! haha







PANIC

[azz1]

Mmm Panic you are so helpful I love it!

I have thought about the coconut flour pancake thingy too, almost bought some flour the other day but daaaang is expensive. I will have to try that!! I can get obsessed wtih eating a certain food and eat it over n over again and have it not bother me so maybe that will be my new yummy.

I just ate some bacon---- do you eat bacon? I'm thinking not. High sodium. MMm so good though. THe only thing I thought I could maybe eat from a company party.

I am going to Finland, Germany, Spain and Ireland in one month!!!!! I really want to be completely clear before I go, or at least significantly. I am going to work so hard at this diet!! )

More lata.

[azz1]

Ok so let me just say I am jonesing for some sugar/ carbs BAD. LIke really really bad. I don't if it's cuz I'm really tired or because its been a few days or what. AUUUUUUGHGHHZZZZHGHGH!!

I started eating some chips, and stopped... drank some water instead, ate some nuts... AUGH this is HARD.

oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy. self CONTROL.

[azz1]

Last night/ yesterday has been good for eating. I am cutting way back on nuts and seeds, and need to research soaking almonds before consuming...

My skin is clearing, except for the heinously annoying breakout from the sardines/iodine yesterday. It blows my mind that the sardines made my chin break out like that-- at least four little pimples, one of them pretty big actually, about five hours after consumption. How shocking and annoying!! I was not expecting that. I found an interesting article that stated toxins in the iodine can cause the breakouts... and to be ware of shellfish and sushi. Crappy crapper, I eat sashimi all the time and have never sensed a b/o from it... But all it is is raw salmon. I have eaten quite a bit of salmon in the past, I think these foods are "safe".

So last night I have eaten:

1 head of broccoli
5 eggs (total) with some ground turkey
1 bell pepper
2 trio bars
Coconut oil
All veggies with olive oil
2 baked chicken legs

Yummy, I am starving right now though so am gonna have to figure somethin out to eat. I have been washing with jojoba oil only, this thoroughly removes makeup, and using honey as a mask with coconut oil. I think for a few days I am going to back off from masks and just coat my skin with coconut oil after rinsing before bed.

I met this sweet girl at FM in the wholistic area- yesterday. She works there, and is really into natural medicine. Her acne is very similar to mine. It amazes me how many people seem to have this very same problem related to the very same foods. One thing that she mentioned to me was that people "give themselves food allergies"-- which I completely agree with... eating hostile foods constantly, as we do in our culture, creates a hostile, acidic, inflamed body response. Interesting.

I've realized my entries are very long, blah blah blah. Sorry to anyone who has read them, but so far they have just been great help to me!

Takereasy
J

Hey girl! I hope you have great results with this diet... and your posts are not too long - I enjoyed reading your log thus far... best of luck to you!

That would be awesome if you could clear your skin without birth control and prove your MD wrong! Just keep sticking with this - even though it must be SO hard. As you know from my log, I love sugar/carbs also. I'm not sure if I could have the same strength as you to actually follow a diet like this. I'll definitely be monitoring your progress though - and hoping for wonderful success for you! Good luck! Can't wait to hear some more updates.

Thanks girl! The diet isn't easy, but it feels really weird whenever I Start to put something no-no into my mouth that it almost makes it easier/simpler. )
My skin looks clearer today that it has in weeks, at least after I put my makeup on, so that should encourage ppl who are trying to work on their diet. And, almost binged on chippies today but Stopped Myself. YAY. Good job me. lol. Self control is all about PRACTICE. (and i hate it, pass me the cake.)

[sick of cystic acne]

Thanks girl! The diet isn't easy, but it feels really weird whenever I Start to put something no-no into my mouth that it almost makes it easier/simpler. )
My skin looks clearer today that it has in weeks, at least after I put my makeup on, so that should encourage ppl who are trying to work on their diet. And, almost binged on chippies today but Stopped Myself. YAY. Good job me. lol. Self control is all about PRACTICE. (and i hate it, pass me the cake.)

Wow - nice job stopping yourself from a chip binge... that's impressive!!!!! Once I get just one bite of something, it's all over! I'm glad to hear your skin is geting clearer - that's awesome!!! Keep it up and good luck!

[azz1]

Hey... Yes, SOMETIMES I can stop myself from a binge... later that night was really bad though, and I am waiting to see if I get a break out from it. Since then things have been okay. I am on Vacation with my family right now and let me just say it is much much harder when you are at the beach all day watching people eat cotton candy, chocolate, gummies, caramel apples, and salt water taffy. I did really well today until the evening when I ate some graham crackers. We'll see if that affects my skin.

I have really been thinking a lot and pondering my relationship to binge eating, bulimia, and acne. I really think it is so strongly linked together. Really, I think if I can train myself not to binge eat, that much of my acne problem would go away... Food for thought.

Also, I have been gaining weight a lot. My eating schedule is SO messed up since I went to night shift about four months ago and I think I have gained a bit of weight. I hate that... Other things associated with working nights are messed up hormones and insulin (can we say acne anyone??) , stress, and mood swings. I am experiencing all those things. Let me just say, if you can avoid working nights do so!!

Anyways more on skin/diet later... vacation doesn't help much w/ keepin up this log.

[azz1]

Today went good. Great actually. I am amazed that I can be around ppl eating ice cream, yummy mexican food, chocolate, etc, and not eat any of it. I guess I want my skin to heal that badly.

Ate eggs, a few (a lot less) nuts, snap peas (about 20 g sugar per serving), bell pepper, and ground turkey today. Trying to scale back on the calories a bit... oh and I haven't gained a lot of weight, that is the idiot e.d. talking--- four pounds. Har har.

Side note
Honey continues to be my best friend as a mask./healing agent. Still loving the coconut oil for skin. Coconut pancakes with coconut flour=nasty. may try again later.

Does anyone else start fixating like mad on their nasty scars/pit marks when they start clearing up?? to me that is the downside of not being focused on nasty pimples-- the nasty scars steal the limelight.
God bless ya'll.

[azz1]

Okay so I am COMPLETELY frustrated with myself. Why can't I just eat the right foods all the tiem? Do I not want clear skin bad enough (believe me I want it).... augh augh augh. Today went great until I went out with some girlfriends. Istaved off the nono foods until I ate some fries. Sooo annoying. I don't even want to go out anymore. Why does everything involve food?
Today I ate
eggs, tom's, turkey meat
lettuce wraps with shrimp, cilantro
STUPID french fries with some ranch dip.

To top it off, I broke out from the few times that I cheated with family this last week (my weekend)... ate some graham crackers, some cookies or something I can't really remember. This really sucks big time, it is hard, I am depressed, the only up side is that my skin has improved a tiny bit--- I don't have HUGE pimples everywhere anymore. I broke out above my mouth for some reason, five tiny pimples, but I want it all to just STOP STOP STOP. I want to take this more seriously--- I hate how it is all in my control though. IT's annoying the heck out of me right now, and when I look in the mirror allll I see is acne and scarring. BWAH.

Sorry for the rant. that's it though... It's been two weeks of me once again dabbling in anti candida and thinking oh this won't hurt just a little bit, but it ALWAYS does people don't be fooled. I have seen a slight improvement in my skin, but I wonder if in the next two weeks I hit it harder if I will be able to see signficant results after a month. We shall see, we shall see.

Peace people. Don't give up hope, I'm trying not to....

[azz1]

Ok so reading over my last post makes me realize that Acne makes me bi-polar... so up and down day to day.

My skin is actually improving greatly, I need to post some pictures. Redness and scarring-- not so great, but one thing at a time. Honey seems to help a lot with redness though.

I have noticed that I am not breaking out in as many big huge cysts so that is good. When I have make up on, I feel much better than I used to about my skin... so, it is improving just ever so slowly.

Diet today/night so far:

Trio bar (yes, Panic, still on those things, need to quit..)
Sashimi- lots (yummy!)
Nuts-cashews, didn't have anything else, wills ee if they break me out, I don't think so though
A tiny bit of popcorn (never seems to bother skin)
1 Bell Pepper
The only other things I have planned to eat tonight are tomatos, so should be good.

Digestive enzymes are really helping when I go off my diet by the way, I used to break out in a ton of zits, now its a few. ...

[Panic!!]

Hey Ramiejae,

I'm gonna give you some tough love here, because I'd rather be honest then lie to you when your undertaking such a huge change in your day to day activities.

You GOTTA STOP CHEATING!!! Your not on a candida diet with the amount of cheating your doing. Trio bar = feeding candida; improperly prepared nuts = mold/fungus feeding candida, popcorn = do I even have to say anything? Just because you might not get an immediate breakout from a certain food doesn't mean its not bad for yeast. It is hard, especially during the first month when you get major carb cravings, which is the yeast screaming for food. And the way you get over the cravings is to eat lots of healthy fat, drink tons and I mean tons of water and make sure you eat plenty of fiber filled veggies: green veggies, lettuce, green beans etc.

I see so many people who attempt this diet and then quit and think its too hard. If you don't get your healthy fat levels up you will fall off the wagon. Yes you will get major die off and feel like crap, but think of that as a good sign.

And your right its completely all in your control, you determine your skin clarity based on your diet, sleep, exercise and attitude. You have a great attitude and I know you want to do this, but if you don't do it 100% your wasting your time.





PANIC

[azz1]

Hey Ramiejae,

I'm gonna give you some tough love here, because I'd rather be honest then lie to you when your undertaking such a huge change in your day to day activities.

You GOTTA STOP CHEATING!!! Your not on a candida diet with the amount of cheating your doing. Trio bar = feeding candida; improperly prepared nuts = mold/fungus feeding candida, popcorn = do I even have to say anything? Just because you might not get an immediate breakout from a certain food doesn't mean its not bad for yeast. It is hard, especially during the first month when you get major carb cravings, which is the yeast screaming for food. And the way you get over the cravings is to eat lots of healthy fat, drink tons and I mean tons of water and make sure you eat plenty of fiber filled veggies: green veggies, lettuce, green beans etc.

I see so many people who attempt this diet and then quit and think its too hard. If you don't get your healthy fat levels up you will fall off the wagon. Yes you will get major die off and feel like crap, but think of that as a good sign.

And your right its completely all in your control, you determine your skin clarity based on your diet, sleep, exercise and attitude. You have a great attitude and I know you want to do this, but if you don't do it 100% your wasting your time.





PANIC

Hey Panic

yeah, you know I agree with you. To be honest I think one of the hardest things Im dealing with right now is my schedule, which is making it harder for me to deal with binge eating/scheduling meals/etc.
I'm actually feeling really low about the whole thing right now, not because I think I cant do it, I just don't know if I can do this while working on night shift. I am not really a staying up all night person-- I work 8pm-6am and my body is literally kind of starting to shut down.
I remember when I was on days I did not have half the desire to binge eat like I have been.
On another note, I don't completely agree with you that cheating on things like popcorn or nuts is going to ruin everything I have tried to do. It is very very very difficult for me, as a black and white person, when I "cheat" or feel like "cheating" --i just give up.. I'm either 100 percent or nothing, and the mentality that this diet, for a while, has to be that way, could be detrimental in part to my success. I don't know.

I also know that my relationship with bulimia in the past has affected my skin, and, my binge eating patterns to this day still affect my skin. Reading through these posts on here I see huge differences between people who have had success going anti candida and people who have struggled: it looks like the people who did not struggle going back and forth (and I could be wrong, but just what I have read) did not have pre existing issues with food. It makes it a hell of a lot harder.

Im not bringing these things up as excuses or to say, "no I can't do this", but to look at the obstacles that I have to face, which are being on nightshift and a horrible schedule at the time, and having a history of bulimia which has not been helped by my erratic schedule. I bring these up not as excuses but as, okay, these are the hurdles, and my personal obstacles, that I am dealing with right now. I disagree with you also that it's a "waste of my time"... yes I might not be getting the results I could be getting and it is very frustrating at times, but, I am learning a lot, and some people don't get things the first time. Some people can snap their fingers and change, and other people have to keep trying, obviously I could either at this point 1. give up, or 2. keep trying. I don't see any benefit to giving up.

thanks for your input though, I appreciate it, and yes the changes I have made are helping my skin even a little, so I'm not giving up, and I am hoping to be on a regular schedule again soon, and am going to continue to try to eat anti candida in the future.
Thanks Panic I appreciate your input as always.

[Panic!!]

Yeast is a tricky beast to overcome. And I'm glad your sticking to your guns and are clearly determined to get to the finish line (and you will!!), but cheating does set you back every time. Yeast is very opportunistic, if you start killing it off by cutting off the food supply (sugar) and then feed it even once when its in an over-grown state, it literally will take you way back, not all the way back to step 1, but far enough to where its depressing.

You haven't been on the diet that long, that's why I'm trying to stress how important it is to not cheat at this point. Hell I'm pretty sure I could eat some sugar right now and be okay, but I'm not taking a chance, I want to be absolutely sure that once I do eat some other foods that my digestive system is in order.

Your right, overcoming an eating disorder is very different from an anti-candida diet and it takes a lot of strength to do what your doing. We are all so different and who knows maybe nuts don't effect you negatively like they do to someone else, but why even take that chance when your making such a radical change? That's my line of thinking, I'd hate to spend months and months doing a diet like this, then find out the one thing I ate from time to time that was questionable held me back this entire time.

As far as your schedule goes, that is rough! But you just need to plan ahead and make it happen. Cliche here, but I believe if you really want something, you find a way to make it happen. I spend plenty of time in the kitchen now towards bettering my health, I'm tired half the time, or have die off some times or flat out just don't feel like doing it, but I do.

I know you'll find a way to make it work for you, just plan a day or two ahead, stay positive and stick with it. I'm sure it'll work out.





PANIC

[azz1]

Dr. B.

So I myself went to the naturopath this week! And I am very grateful that I did so. I have seen this guy before, once when I was ten for spots I was getting then on my legs, and once a few years ago for brain fog. Both of those things he cured for me. Interestingly enough, he had me, when I was ten, go off sugar completely to heal the wart thingys on my knee. I can barely remember it but I do remember at that time it was not that hard to go off sugar. Nothing like it is now!! Maybe it was the fact I wasn't packin my own lunch or buying my own food...

Basically my doc, we'll call him Dr. B, did a bunch of testing and found that I have upper intestinal problems, my liver is weak as are my lungs. Mainly for my acne, he did validate a yeast overgrowth, but he also talked about inflammation-which is something I haven't heard/read about much. He said that there is inflammation in my intestines, and pertaining to the rest of the body it causes skin to be tighter, not allowing oils to escape. He also did some testing by looking into my eyes, at the color around the retina, very interesting!

So, he prescribed me several medications that are basically herbal ones, one for my liver (livastat or something), a black licorice one for yeast overgrowth, and two others. He was happy to hear that I was ingesting and using ACV. He also did this RAD thing where he tested all the vitamins I was taking against my body, and my body basically told him which ones I needed and which to reject through strength testing- sounds weird, I know, but I really do believe it works- try it with sugar sometime!!

Diet wise, he encouraged me and basically gave me a plan that is almost exactly like the anti candida diets floating around on the internet (imagine that).... He was also happy that I have been eating a ton of RAW foods, lots of veggies.

The only problem I've had since seeing him is that I have been very constipated the last few days, I am not sure why. He had mentioned that being "regular" which is something I am really relaly trying to get to, is going at least twice a day. That is not happenin for me, won't go into details.

But, I am so encouraged seeing him! I continue to notice that if I binge, or go off my main diet, as Panic has reminded me through this blog, my skin greatly degrades and it IS very depressing. I feel so encouraged and empowered to continue to do the right things. And looking back over my pictures that I take of my skin obsessively to see if there is improvement (yes, this problem is addicting)... my skin was looking SO much better before my last binge, and now I am recovering from a binge five days ago again.

So, continuing on, and having a bit more hope with my new help and the supps I am taking.

Edited by ramiejae25, 27 June 2010 - 03:35 AM.

[azz1]

Side note; good candida site: http://www.wholeapproach.com/index.php

[Panic!!]

Very cool post about your naturopathic doc visit.

For constipation you can try lots different things, not sure if it falls in line with your doc's plans though.

First the basics:

Make sure your drinking enough water, sounds simple enough, but when your detoxing and cleansing the body, if you don't drink enough water it will constipate you. Rule of thumb is at least half your bodyweight in ounces at the bare minimum, but usually about 15-20 ounces more. I drink around 85-100oz a day, only side effect is constantly peeing...

Next make sure your getting enough fiber in your diet; this is pretty tough on an anti-candida diet that is strict. I eat lots of green veggies (green beans, spinach, broccoli and cabbage).

You can also take some citrate form minerals such as magnesium or calcium, they have a laxative effect on the body, so does high doses of Vitamin C.

Lastly you can get into laxative teas like Senna, but I don't recommend this for a couple reasons a) some people get dependent on them b) they cause detox reactions


---------------------------------

Sounds like your on the right path and I'm glad your getting professional help. It also sounds like some good internal cleansing will really help you out with your intestine's and digestive health.





PANIC

[azz1]

Very cool post about your naturopathic doc visit.

For constipation you can try lots different things, not sure if it falls in line with your doc's plans though.

First the basics:

Make sure your drinking enough water, sounds simple enough, but when your detoxing and cleansing the body, if you don't drink enough water it will constipate you. Rule of thumb is at least half your bodyweight in ounces at the bare minimum, but usually about 15-20 ounces more. I drink around 85-100oz a day, only side effect is constantly peeing...

Next make sure your getting enough fiber in your diet; this is pretty tough on an anti-candida diet that is strict. I eat lots of green veggies (green beans, spinach, broccoli and cabbage).

You can also take some citrate form minerals such as magnesium or calcium, they have a laxative effect on the body, so does high doses of Vitamin C.

Lastly you can get into laxative teas like Senna, but I don't recommend this for a couple reasons a) some people get dependent on them b) they cause detox reactions


---------------------------------

Sounds like your on the right path and I'm glad your getting professional help. It also sounds like some good internal cleansing will really help you out with your intestine's and digestive health.





PANIC

Hey dude

I actually called Dr. B and talked to him over the phone today briefly and explained to him that I was constipated and I feel that food is just "sitting" there. Especially when I eat cauliflower and broccoli- which I have been snacking on raw a lot lately.

He reccomended drinking aloe vera, and so I bought some tonight. About an hour later the magic happened lol. So I think that is going to help.

He seems to think that the main thing is to get my bowels moving, and I agree- if I have candida diet off, but no where for it to go, it will just cause further problems.

Have been eating well on the diet the last few days, it's not hard once you get used to it, I just have to figure out a way to cure this damn binge cravings.

Also easing up on the nuts a lot. If they cause inflammation, which i know they do, I don't want to be crunching on them all the time. They are also kind of a thing I go to for a binge sometimes.

Cheerio, Panic, thanks for your help, I am definetly upping my water intake.

[sick of cystic acne]

Well it sounds like you have been doing good with your diet lately! That's good to hear... and 'Dr. B" sounds good too. Hopefully his recommendations are helpful to you. Keep it up girl!

[azz1]

Well it sounds like you have been doing good with your diet lately! That's good to hear... and 'Dr. B" sounds good too. Hopefully his recommendations are helpful to you. Keep it up girl!

Hey girl.
Yeah, i am doing better overall I would say. Right now, though, my skin is still realing from a huge binge over a week ago. that's how long these damn zits take to go away...

I have been reading/studying a LOT more about candida lately (that will make you happy Panic)
I am learning so much and I am excited about it! At first yout hink, oh candida overgrowth okay so don't eat sugar and carbs and starve the little beasts. But then, the more I am learning the more I am seeing why my body cannot fight acne very well. For example,, candida can actually burrow into the intestinal lining, making it hard to absorb nutrition and making your body susceptible to leaky gut which in turn can allow toxins to flow freely through your body and tax your liver. It is actually the waste of the candida, I have read, that cause the acne. But the overgrowth also cause an inflammation that make it hard for your skin to deal with sebum, also resulting in acne. I find the whole thing incredibly fascinating.

Diet update: I am removing, for the time being, all nutty nuts from my diet. I will miss them, yes, for I love to binge on anything crunchy (which is part of my problem) but I know that nuts cause inflammation, that I tend to overeat them, and I heard (not sure if true or not) that the oils and high fat in them can feed the candida.

So, my diet now is going to look even more anti candida, or "page diet" as Dr. B instructed me: chicken and other lean meats, fish, eggs, at no limit, veggies, avoiding high starchie ones, fats (olive oil, coconut oil, etc) and kefir which is amazingly not making me break out and should be really helping to rebuild my intestinal wall. I am determined to get to the place where someday I can eat a peice of birthday cake and ice cream without fear. But I've got a lot of healing to do!

*** Side note: having acne this bad and having to study my ass off to try to cure it has really encouraged me to pursue my life long dream of naturopathic medicine. Silver lining!

*** Double side note: Going to the regular MD tomorrow to get a wart on me knee removed. Theyt hink on my birth control for my skin. Could be a pain in the butt talking to them about my natural methods. Will update.

God bless you my little skin frenzied friends!

[azz1]

Ok
So I am going to start updating this every day again, at least for a while. I am going to Finland in a couple weeks and realy want my skin to be clearer at least before then.

The last few days I have been eating well on the anti candida diet. It is kind of ironic, however, because today I "messed up" by going out to sushi with some friends. I ordered sashimi and then ended up eating some sushi with with white rice that my friend had ordered.
I immeidately started craving more carbs. It was all I could do to stay away from the ice cream and elephant ear stands everywhere around us walking downtown. I also felt extremely lethargic, and the cravings were so INTENSE.

It is amazing how stubborn candida is. And it is amazing how hard it is for me to stick to my diet and not cheat by eating carbs. I feel like I kind of suck at it, actually. I go a few days and then start eating something again. I was reading this site on clearing up acne and it was basically saying that you cannot eat carbs for like three months. Yay me I've failed so far.

Well, I guess I have to just keep trying. I haven't got any new active pimples on my cheeks or forehead since my last binge, but man the last one really made me break out and it has taken for---evverr--- to start clearing up. Totally not worth it.

Time to start keeping more of a "food log".

Have a great night everybody.

Oh, and side note, has anyone noticed that acne is RAMPANT in today's society? It's like everywhere I go I see people with really really bad skin. It's a night mare, and it makes me sad.

[azz1]

I am feeling pretty down about my skin tonight. Like, really down. I wish I could just wake up and the problem go away. I broke out so badly a few weeks ago that I am not sure if a few pimples are from back then, or if they are new.
Since I decided to start logging my food again I've eaten

Eggs w/ coconut oil
Kefir, 1 cup

Kefir, 1/2 cup
1 serving almonds (okay, still need to cut these out, am not sure if they will break me out or not, but at any rate I think I need to start avoiding... have been eating less nuts but still)
1 red pepper

For breakfast or my dinner, I have a salad with veggies and boiled eggs ready to go.

Well that is all. I am sad. I went out on a date this week, I felt it went pretty well, but the guy never followed up. I feel like a big reason I am single is because of my skin. It makes me feel kind of a like a monster. I am sad.

Side note, I have been reading a lot lately about kefir being a miracle food of types for people with skin problems, because it heals the intestines. Does anyone confer/have experiences with kefir?