Meal Planning
Failing to plan is planning to fail.
Success on the AIP is easier when you have a few good tips, tricks and tools under your belt.
Do I Need a Coach?
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away” … ahh … if only it were that easy!
If you’ve arrived here, you’re quite possibly struggling on your AIP journey or are at least curious to know what I mean by coaching. I’m not talking about a physical trainer … I’m talking about not having to face the AIP alone.
To state the obvious, big lifestyle changes and health challenges can be overwhelming!
You may be reeling from receiving an autoimmune diagnosis or be completely confused about this new diet your doctor has recommended. You may be faced with fatigue, brain fog and other symptoms that are keeping you in a state of overwhelm. If you’re struggling just to get through the day and need help figuring out how to safely start changing your diet or want to be sure you’re using the right AIP foods for YOUR personal condition, you may want to consider getting some professional help.
For some, AIP Coaching might not be necessary. Maybe you’re a DIY-er who has great will-power and stick-to-itiveness. For me, I’d been been making changes to my diet and lifestyle gradually as I became more and more un-well, so switching to the AIP wasn’t a huge transition. I was already gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free and never had any love for coffee, so things weren’t quite as challenging.
For others however, the process of transitioning to the AIP may seem more daunting, and you may find it much easier to cope if you have proper coaching by way of an AIP Coach or Functional Medicine Practitioner. Some folks enjoy a very guided approach with support groups while others prefer self-guided learning. Either way, this section of the website has some exceptional options for you, so please keep reading.
Functional Medicine
If you’ve been struggling to find a diagnosis or have a diagnosis and want to get to the root cause of your health challenges, a Functional Medicine Practitioner will help you do just that (your diagnosis is really only the beginning and you really should delve deep to find your root cause or you could just be spinning your wheels or may experience a further set-back).
Functional Medicine is what I like to think of as the perfect combination of traditional and holistic care.
Since I can’t explain it any better, I’ll quote The Institute for Functional Medicine Website:
The Functional Medicine model is an individualized, patient-centered, science-based approach that empowers patients and practitioners to work together to address the underlying causes of disease and promote optimal wellness. It requires a detailed understanding of each patient’s genetic, biochemical, and lifestyle factors and leverages that data to direct personalized treatment plans that lead to improved patient outcomes.
By addressing root cause, rather than symptoms, practitioners become oriented to identifying the complexity of disease. They may find one condition has many different causes and, likewise, one cause may result in many different conditions. As a result, Functional Medicine treatment targets the specific manifestations of disease in each individual.
If you’ve been working with a diagnosis from your traditional doctor but are seeing little to no improvement, this is also a good time to seek the advice of a Functional Medicine Practitioner – they can often help you find underlying reasons for your state of dis-ease that traditional medicine overlooks.
Want to know more about Functional Medicine? Please visit the link above to the IFM website. If you’re interested in locating a registered Functional Practitioner in your area, use this link to find one near you. NOTE: If you’re unable to find one that’s close to your area, bear in mind that many Functional Medicine Doctors often do consultations by phone, Skype or Zoom.
AIP Coaches
If the DIY approach isn’t for you, you’re feeling overwhelmed, confused or just need a bit more help on your AIP journey, it may be time to find a Certified AIP Coach.
What is an AIP Coach? An AIP Coach is a practitioner (anyone from a health coach like CHCs, NTPs, NTCs, and CNCs, to licensed practitioner like LAcs, NDs, RDs, DCs, FMDs and MDs) who has received extra training on top of their base certification. They’ve taken the time to learn the science behind the Autoimmune Protocol (from the experts in the field, Dr. Sarah Ballantyne, and Nutritional Therapy Practitioners Angie Alt, CHC and Mickey Trescott, NTP) and have the knowledge and practical strategies to help people implement dietary and lifestyle changes to manage their health challenges, promote healing and optimal wellness.
An AIP Coach provides personalized support for all stages of your Autoimmune Protocol journey to wellness including; motivation, transitioning, troubleshooting, personalization, reintroductions and more.
Want to learn more? Reach out to a qualified coach today via the directory – and remember – you may not find one you can visit in person, but many handle consultations by phone, Skype and Zoom. Visit the AIP Coach directory and get the guidance you need.
A little further down on this page I also get into Autoimmune Programs, or group coaching options, so keep reading for that!
Autoimmune Strong
Exercise … There, I said it … the dreaded “E” word!
As you might have guessed, the most commonly avoided part of the autoimmune protocol is exercise, ’cause let’s face it, most of us are usually so exhausted we can barely get through a day, never mind trying to add an exercise regime!
Thankfully there’s an amazing program available to help us add a healthy, balanced routine of exercise to our lives without making things worse.
Autoimmune Strong will help you break the cycle of flares and recovery caused by over-exercising or exercise intolerance – it helps you find the “sweet spot” that’s right for YOU and YOUR autoimmune challenges. It’s the only online exercise program tailor-made for YOUR condition, even if you have limited mobility, are bed-bound or in a wheelchair!
Your instructor, Andrea Wool, is an Autoimmune Warrior turned Personal Trainer who saw a need and took her own challenges in hand to help us all!
You can sign up for her 7-day FREE trial and decide if it’s right for you.
If you decide Autoimmune Strong is right for you, you can sign up for the program monthly, by the year or join a small group coaching program for 12 weeks! Check it out and get Autoimmune Strong!
AIP Support Programs …
AIP Lecture Series
This program has been retired.
It may be offered again from time to time, so I’m leaving this here.
Want to learn more about the AIP? Need help getting started but you’re not sure where to turn? Then the AIP Lecture Series by AIP Pioneer Dr. Sarah Ballantyne might be what you’re looking for.
What Is It?
The Autoimmune Protocol Lecture Series is a 6-week video-based, self-directed online course that will teach you the scientific foundation for the diet and lifestyle tenets of the Autoimmune Protocol. Think of this course as going to college for your health!
You’ll get tons of tips and strategies for implementation, refinement, troubleshooting and mindset—appropriate for every stage of the AIP!
The AIP Lecture Series features:
• 44 on-demand video lectures (totalling 18 hours!) with printable slides
• 6 FAQ videos (totalling 3 hours)
• 60+ printable guides
• Written answers to 60+ FAQs
• Action steps to help you go from theory to practice
• Daily self-discovery exercises to reinforce and refine implementation
• Recommended reading for every topic
• 6 interactive quizzes to test your knowledge
* BONUS * LIFETIME ACCESS to all the course materials
The lectures are also loaded with practical tips and strategies for implementation, so you can go from theory to practice with this course! You’ll learn WHAT to eat (not just what to avoid) and WHY, HOW to balance lifestyle and diet priorities, and Dr. Sarah will tackle many topics related to day-to-day AIP life like eating out, reintroductions and even where to start when it comes to troubleshooting!
Who Can Benefit from the AIP Lecture Series?
This course is geared to all levels, from the person completely new to the idea of diet and lifestyle changes to heal from chronic illness, to someone who has dabbled in Paleo or AIP but had trouble sticking to it in the past, to the Autoimmune Protocol veteran who already has seen great results, to the caregiver supporting family or friends with autoimmune disease, to the practitioner looking to begin their advanced learning of the Autoimmune Protocol.
Regain Your Health and Keep It!
Enrolment to the AIP Lecture Series with interactive support only happens a couple of times each year, but you can learn more here through our affiliate link – there’s so much detail about the course (including FAQs) that you’ll want to read all about it for yourself.
SAD to AIP in SIX
This program is no longer being offered. I have not found another suitable replacement to suggest. Stay tuned for more information!
Struggling to get started on the AIP? Feel you need a helping hand and maybe a support group? Then “SAD to AIP in SIX” may be what you’re looking for!
What Is It?
SAD (Standard American Diet) to AIP in SIX is an online group health coaching program created by Nutritional Therapy Consultant & Health Coach, Angie Alt of Autoimmune Wellness.
“SAD to AIP in SIX is a transformative, six-week online, group health coaching program created for people like you – people who are committed to regaining their health and ready to begin the Autoimmune Protocol with a phased approach in a supportive environment. It’s also the only AIP group health coaching program with proven clinical results. The program was used in a medical study in 2016, and 73% of study participants achieved clinical remission.
Each week is a gradual process of removing the bad and introducing the good. Every detail of the diet and lifestyle changes are covered in the program. You’ll be expertly guided by trained, certified coaches who have used AIP themselves to heal, and you’ll be surrounded by an encouraging, small group of peers going through the same process with you. It all happens at a manageable pace in a completely private and very supportive on-line group where the details and organization for empowerment are baked right into the experience.”
Who Can Benefit from SAD to AIP in SIX?
If you’ve tried to transition to AIP before and couldn’t stick with it or if you want to learn how to start the AIP gradually rather than going cold-turkey, this program is the one for you. You’ll get all the support and gentle guidance you need to make a successful transition. Check out my Q&A with Angie Alt and some of her past members in this replay.
“Wishing You Wellness”
That’s one of Angie’s sign-offs and I have to admit I’ve “borrowed” it a few times. We all wish wellness for you, so be sure to take this opportunity and learn more how you to can achieve it through the AIP.
Everything you need …
Food Sourcing
Sourcing AIP ingredients can be tricky, but I’ve got you covered!
Check out our shopping and brand recommendations.
AIP Convenience
Being on the AIP is not exactly what most would call convenient, but thankfully there are some wonderful options!
Coaching
Big lifestyle changes and health challenges can be overwhelming. Some find the process much easier with proper coaching and medical guidance.
Self-Care
Self care is about taking proper care of yourself, taking the time to do some of the activities that nurture you, and treating yourself as kindly as you treat others.
Motivation
Healing is a journey, not a destination. Along the way we all need some motivation.
Here I’ll share motivation, stories of AIP healing and tips for success.