Fodmap diet

[Pierre567]

Hi All

I am thinking of starting the Fodmap diet and was wondering if anyone has done it and how they found it

[Becs33]

I've only been trying to follow it for around 2 weeks. I have noticed a big difference in my IBS symptoms which is great. I don't follow it to the letter ( I still eat diary and wheat) but I have cut out onion and garlic completely and some of the other high FODMAP foods. The big test will be around the time of my period as that's when my symptoms are at their worst. Give it a go. Good luck.

[Vvvd]

I have been on it for 6 weeks as recommended to me by a doctor. It helped the very first day for me! I am so thankful for it, despite the fact that it has been very difficult for me to get used to. I will be trialling some foods again soon to see if I can add anything back in, but I doubt it. Some people can, but I seem extra sensitive. The Monash app has helped me immensely and also finding good sites on the internet for recipes and explanations of what foods are safe.

[Angie11 in reply to Vvvd]

I found that it didn't have enough fibre for me, but I do stay away from the main culprits , onions and garlic plus watch my gluten intake.

[Hidden]

Use it all the time and have done for about 4 years. Completely changed my life. Give it a go!

[Pierre567 in reply to Hidden]

have you lost any weight from this and how did you stabilise it

[Hidden in reply to Pierre567]

Unfortunately the opposite but I think that is more because I am less active due to arthritis than because of the diet.

[Hidden]

I am a low FODMAPer too. Have been since 2012, it has helped immensely.

I reintroduced things and have found my tolerance level vs quality of life balance. Sometimes I eat trigger foods because so decide the flavour is worth the consequences!

I can eat half an apple, or a few TBSP yoghurt, or a small coffee but I'm careful to make sure I don't overload on one group.

The app is awesome, I wish it was available when I started! I had to work things out from the sheet of good and bads my bowel health nutritionist gave me.

I ensure enough fibre using linseed and psyllium and a handful of nuts on my breakfast.

[Pierre567 in reply to Hidden]

Hi which app are you using

[Med70 in reply to Pierre567]

IBS DIETS.org

And the app is really good....good luck

[Pierre567 in reply to Med70]

What app is that

[Hidden in reply to Pierre567]

The Monash University app. It's a paid one and absolutely worth it. It uses the traffic light system, but also if you select a food it will tell you what size serving is low in FODMAP. You can add notes and save favourites.

My favourite site for recipes, ideas and further info is alittlebityummy.com

[noonionsorgarlic in reply to Hidden]

Another app that has a lot of recipes is biggestlowfodmaprecipebook.com

[Bijourose]

I havd found the FODMAP way of eating wonderful. Focus on all the foods you CAN eat not the ones you can't. Make a list and stick it in the kitchen. Your gut will be a lot quieter if you do it correctly. Ideally it is a way of eating and then challenge the 4 groups slowly to see which are tolerated well. GOOD Luck and Remember rejoice in all the ok FODMAP foods and enjoy!

[Pierre567 in reply to Bijourose]

have you lost any weight from it

[Med70]

Just started this week but still adjusting to it. My tummy has really settled since cutting out the wheat!!! Was tested for coeliac but test came back negative????

Anyway try it you've got nothing to lose...😊

[Pierre567 in reply to Med70]

Wheat is also bad for me. What website did you use to get list

[Pierre567 in reply to Med70]

have you lost any weight from it

[gurgleguts]

I have been using it for a while now and I'm still struggling with it at times. Its helpful to highlight the foods that are most likely to cause problems (onions and garlic seem the biggest offenders) but I'm learning from this site that there are 50000000 variations of IBS so you might find living on onions alone might help you (joking obviously). It has definitely helped me but there can be one thing lurking in any food that can be a trigger. Speaking personally it helped me narrow down processed sugars as a trigger (i can't eat cheap ice cream but clotted cream ice cream which is real ice cream, is no problem). I have narrowed down a good list of things I CAN eat that keeps the real problems at bay however one tiny adjustment can trigger again. An example is, I can eat salads with almost anything in them. Last week I had a terrible attack of wind, stomach pains, diarrhoea etc. Thanks to the good people here they mentioned lettuce can be a trigger. I usually buy watercress, spinach and rocket salad but they were out of stock last week so bought a bag of mixed leaves and never gave it a thought so be aware of this. From time to time you might feel its useless but persist. There also appear to be a few contradictions in the diet. I have a fodmap app on my phone for when I'm out shopping and its says broccoli is low when many other sites say its high so this site is great for double checking. In summary, its definitely worth trying but it might take you a while to narrow down the real cause. Great help here too with probiotics and other little tips. Good luck.

[Pierre567 in reply to gurgleguts]

What app are you using and website to get food list

[gurgleguts in reply to Pierre567]

Its called "The Low FODMAP Diet" by instamedic. There are loads of IBS apps now. When I got this there were only a handful. The icon is 3 coloured lines with a purple tick in the bottom right corner.

[Pierre567 in reply to gurgleguts]

did you lose any weight from this and how did you stabilise it

[gurgleguts in reply to Pierre567]

No weight loss but I'm a greedy pig. I don't think my IBS is bad compared to others on here. I can eat a fairly wide range of foods and the fodmap diet helped me find out the triggers. Lettuce seems to be an issue for me. I can eat things like quorn burgers with cheese etc so weightloss is unlikely, especially if I wash it down with a beer. I just need to pull the lettuce out! Thats how weird IBS can be. Ive had a few really good days and eaten many of the things that are listed as high like onions and garlic, wine etc. All it takes is one little thing in there that can make me rough for a few days. If you're experiencing weight loss, try adding in a few of the things you miss and see if that makes a difference. I only recently learnt that FODMAP is only a temporary diet to eliminate the bad stuff.

[Popetta]

Hello Pierre, I think each individual has a different reaction to this diet. I have been on it for at least 9 months now (recommended for IBS) and to be honest it hasn't made any difference. In fact my IBS symptoms have just gotten worse, so I don't believe that food is the culprit per se. Even when I tried to re-introduce the items that are usually classed as "culprits" still "nada" no improvement, so personally I don't support it. My reason for continuing on it is that it doesn't make me worse and it's still healthy.

But give it a try and see how your body reacts to it. Only you know your body better than anyone else, that includes doctors and specialists.

[carolnorrington]

Hi My only problem with this diet was that I lost a lot of weight which i can ill afford. I was 9 stone to start with and I am 5ft 10 inches tall and I lost 1 1/2 stone very quickly over three months and was advised by my doctor to stop the diet. I am now finding it very hard to put on weight. After stopping the diet for 9 months I have only been able to put on 1 stone. OK if you ant to lose weight and watch it if you ill afford to lose weight.

[Pierre567]

Do people find they lose weight following this diet