Sometimes, no matter what you do – it just doesn’t work. You eat your prescribed diet in the prescribed quantities. You exercise the prescribed amount of time. You don’t cheat. And still…. you gain. It can really make you want to scream and cry and kick the dog. It can make you feel hopeless, depressed, and like you are doomed to be overweight forever.

But I promise you, you are not doomed to be overweight. Through the promise of Bio-Individuality you can determine what does and what doesn’t work for you.

For example, I like to try new things. I like keeping up with all the information (good, bad, and ugly) in the realm of nutrition and health. I’m always looking for things that can make life easier or more enjoyable. In my quest to find out what the newest, latest, and greatest trends are, I signed up for a program with a local fitness facility. The program is based on exercise, nutrition, and behavior modification, and lasts 90 days.

However, once I got into the program I found that while the options and choices would work for the Average American Woman, it relied a bit more heavily on packaged foods than I was comfortable with, required more food than I was comfortable with, and even it’s ‘high protein/lower carb’ plan included things like bread and crackers.

So, I struggled. I tried eating foods according to the plan, but skipped snacks and didn’t eat all that the plan said I should. I worked out 5 days a week. I gained. The coach said I wasn’t eating enough. So, I picked all ‘on plan’ foods, didn’t skip meals, and ate my snacks. Worked out 5 days a week at higher intensity. Still I gained. And don’t ask about inches…. they were the same. The coach is stumped. =)

But here’s the thing. I know my body better than they do. On their plan, due to their exchange combinations, I was somewhat forced to eat foods I wouldn’t have typically eaten. My food diary became full of entries of dairy, pretzel sticks, crackers and breads. On the verge of quitting the program entirely instead of risking a 10 lb gain in as many weeks, I decided…

Fall back and punt.

I know, through my Carroll Food Intolerance testing that I am predominantly potato intolerant. That said, potato is in this small sampling of items:

• all synthetic B Vitamins (aka the multi-vit they suggest/require you to take)
• commercial dairy products (cheese)
• products containing Vitamin A Palmitate (multi-vits, cereals, crackers, breads)
• dextrose (lunchmeats)
• most yeasts (bread, crackers, some tortillas)

I’m putting these foods and foods containing these foods into my body on a daily basis. (!!!)

So, what are some of the symptoms of a food intolerance? I am SO glad you asked.

• Headaches (check!)
• constipation (check!)
• diarrhea
• migraines (check!)
• IBS
• pain
• weight gain (check!)
• depression/anxiety (check!)
• insomnia (check!)
• asthma
• ADHD
• chronic fatigue syndrome
• arthritis
• eczema
• PMS

I think it is also worth noting that up until beginning this program, my psoriasis was in full remission. At this point, it has gotten slightly worse.

Now, don’t think that I am blaming the program, because I’m not. Rather I’m simply stating that sometimes, you need to review what you know about yourself, and make modifications so that it works for you. This is where your food diary or journal and any sort of data and log keeping comes into play. I know a lot of people feel completely oppressed by keeping a food diary, but let me tell you that it can provide you with a wealth of information. How else do you think I figured this out??

Do know how to keep a Food Journal or what you should write down? Sign up and get my free instruction booklet.