Hi Diane,

I've been there too. I did the same last year and made a total mess of everything. I cheated and I cheated big and I had to start from scratch. No point feeling guilty, just get back on track as soon as you can - it happens to us all.

Yes sugar is poison, alcohol is poison and for me, coffee and high carbs are also poison. I cannot have any of these things and I don't know how many times I messed up to finally get it into my head to STOP. it is never worth the momentary/temporary pleasures of these things, only to endure long term consequences and misery. They taste good yeah - at the time, but boy do they leave their mark. I'd rather feel better/happier/healthier and deprive myself of giving into temptation, than the alternative. But that does not mean I am immune to falling off the wagon. I have and do.

I did not cheat so far this Xmas and do not intend to. My well being is far more important to me now, i just cannot handle anymore weeks and weeks of misery just to feel more...human.

No guilt Diane, you're just human. Sometimes we have to get hurt a few times and take a few knocks before we finally realise that giving into temptation is not worth the long aftermarth. You know what to do about it, nobody can do it for you (as nobody can for me). So just get back on the wagon and stay strong and the cravings will eventually fade and you'll handle the diet much better. However, it does take time before they go, as when yeast start to die off, you can start to crave the very foods that it thrives on.

Prayer is wonderful and not just for health reasons (soul) - but we need to also help ourselves healthwise and we know what to do about these problems, even if it's just an improvement rather than a cure, it's still worth doing it. I have to do it. God expects me to do all I can under the circumstances and the rest is up to Him.

Take care Diane and you will improve again once you get back on track and stick to the programme. It's just a sad reality that so many of us are just too weak and vulnerable to be able to indulge like those in more normal health. Candida is an opportunistic in any situation like this and will readily thrive and take over, any chance it gets.