The Lighter Side of: Diets that Don't Work

I used to try extremely strict diets and believe that if I stuck to it perfectly, with no slips, no cheat days, no junk, that I would become healthier. I used to believe that if I adhered to the perfect restrictive diet that I would not only be physically healthy outside of my illness, but that my illness would improve (or that I would at least go into Remission).
Strict food diets did not work for me in that way.
That is not to say that they do not work... it simply means that my body's underlying autoimmunity and inflammatory responses did not respond - my body did not respond. In fact, those strict diets sometimes made things worse. I lost weight too quickly, became dehydrated (which is really easy to do without a large intestine helping you absorb), and depleted my strength.

That's okay though!

I know that I didn't do anything wrong.
I know that I did not cause my illness.
I know that I am not actively making it worse.
I know that I have tried every possible avenue I can think of.

The Lighter Side of diets that don't work is that I no longer stress about following such a restrictive diet. Going to a restaurant does not cause panic. I know that I can find almost anything to eat on a menu - especially since restaurants have made such strides into gluten-free and accommodation territory. Because those multiple diets were not successful, I can allow myself more options, I can enjoy my food without ever wondering if I am making myself worse. Of course, there is always new information out, and I may find out one day that eating yogurt or drinking herbal tea or practicing yoga were all factors in worsening my illness, but for now that does not appear to be the case, so I am going to enjoy my life.
I also make mistakes.
I rarely eat things like bell peppers, mushrooms, or tomato sauces at home because they can make me feel worse or cause problems, but when I am out for a special occasion and I know I will feel like junk the next few days anyways, I indulge.
Okay, maybe not the mushrooms anymore after the last mushroom incident.... =S

I still follow a diet that is specific to my body's needs and responses (instead of following a diet laid out by other people who are not me), and I do not think of occasionally eating poorly as 'cheating'. Comfort foods provide comfort for a reason. Sometimes my body requires some carbs. My diet is ever-evolving - constantly finding new foods that do not make me ill and new ways to cook old favourites in a healthier way.

Enjoy what you eat. Be kind to your body.
That's it!

Follow doctor's orders as best you can, listen to your body, and if you feel worse, talk to your doctor or nutritionist and maybe change things up.

Remember that we do not know everything about food or chronic illness. If we did, illnesses would no longer be chronic and one type of strict diet would likely work an an entire variety of people with similar illnesses. If diets have not worked for you, that is not because of anything you have done, especially if you follow them as strictly as I did. If a diet or medication works for one person but not another, that does not mean the latter did something wrong. It just means that the disease in their body does not respond the same.
Try the varying diets. Seek out nutritionists. Find foods and a diet that works for you and your experience. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, so look for your own answer.

Keep fighting!