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I'm fairly positive I am gluten intolerant (lots of gas, bloating, headaches, fatigue and BAD moods from the rare pizza or beer binge) and I do go off the bandwagon occasionally for a meal or two. Of course I've only tested negative for Celiac's but I digress.

What's the best remedy for getting back to feeling awesome after indulging in some SAD "foods"? Would it be better for me to fast for 16-24 hours or longer, or just eat a bunch of grass fed meat and clean veggies for speedy recovery?

I feel like fasting is pretty awesome for giving the body a break from digestion for a while but my body might have an even greater need for really good fat and protein, even carbs after it gets hit with gluten, preservatives and a metric crap ton of stupid carbs. I eat really well most of the time but can't help indulging here and there, it is football season after all. Thanks in advance.

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9 Answers

15

Take a long view: just get right back to what you should do. Things will be fine over time.

(My two cents worth)

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1 
 Short and sweet. +1 – Nutritionator Oct 11 2011 at 2:36
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I've done both, but recently, I've leaned more towards fasting.

After a particularly "off" meal (or day), I feel like a good 24-36 hour fast (which includes home-made broth, maybe some green tea with lemon, and a spoonful or two of coconut oil if necessary) really pushes the "reset" button better than a more moderate approach (going back to "normal" eating).

I also feel like there is a tremendous emotional/mental benefit to occasional fasting. It has helped me to trust that my body can deal with feeling a little hungry and that I am able to be more conscious and selective about what I eat afterwards.

The caveat would be if you have any history of eating disorders. I don't recommend fasting in such situations because it could easily turn pathological.

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2 
 Ditto on the fasting. I tend to also add in a good dose of fish oil with every "off" meal just to buffer the effects of oxidized pro-inflammatory fats (who knows if it really helps!) – Matt Oct 11 2011 at 1:21
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 I couldn't agree more on the mental benefit of fasting. I was always the "why would you not eat on purpose when there's all this delicious food around" kind of people before paleo but the peace of mind that comes with fasting is pretty incredible and my body seems to love it. As usual, probably just going to be an n=1 experiment but I'm just glad I'm not doing harm to myself by fasting after a SAD day. +1 – Nutritionator Oct 11 2011 at 2:37
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I'm actually in the same boat right now, because I had a calculated weekend of SAD/NAD/FODMAP binging and I could not wait to get back to Paleo. The advice I'm giving you is the same I'm giving myself: get back to your regular routine now. Fast if you usually fast (I do 3x per week), for the same amount of time. If you don't fast, don't bother starting now; it's difficult to get started and you'll be tempted to eat any food you can get your hands on, regardless of quality. Cook yourself some good clean meals, make extra for breakfast or lunch the next day, and try not to worry too much about it.

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Definitely on the fasting bandwagon (IF 16-20 hours here and there) and I make it a point not to keep any crap in the house, or else it will be consumed sooner or later. +1 – Nutritionator Oct 11 2011 at 2:39
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 OK. Then you should do a regular fast. If you're anything like me, eating is going to be a struggle as your injured intestines are hurting you and/or causing mild nausea, but eat what you can, give yourself enough refeeding time for two or three meals in between fasts, and cycle fast/refeed until you feel better. – air_hadoken Oct 11 2011 at 2:43
I had liver and onions tonight, my first meal after fasting after eating SAD crap all weekend. So good. I got the onions at a farmstand and they were some of the sweetest I've ever had. But I couldn't finish the whole pound of liver, so I guess I have lunch tomorrow. – air_hadoken Oct 11 2011 at 2:45
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I always have an upset stomach after cheating. If I eat a good meal of grass fed ground or bacon and eggs my stomach calms right down. I find that if I fast my sugar cravings bring me back to my cheat. I only fast when I've been consistently eating protein/fat and I am not hungry--randomly.

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3

I would get a solid meal in you and go forward.

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Depends on how far off the reservation you have strayed.....For me if its one meal I just pick up where I left off (however I really don't seem to have any noticeable intolerances). Even with that though, if its been a whole day or even weekend of SAD eating out or vacation I usually do 16-24hr fast, and that is usually cause I'm not hungry until the next evening.

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1

Is a 24 hour fast not a good idea after a binge on crap? I suggested this in another thread and I got a lot of negative votes. Personally, I'm physically and mentally refreshed from a day without thinking about food.

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0

My n=1 is a few coffee's with coconut cream to start the day, then a fast for the rest staying well hydrated, maybe even a little workout late in the day.

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Adding on to Aussiebloke's comment, I do a cup of Bulletproof Coffee to start the day, tea throughout, and then exercise as well.

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