In order to figure out where we’re going, we need to first find out where we are now. Getting a baseline reading of where we are is critically important to understand what benefits we receive from the ECD.
Many of us have issues that we’ve been dealing with for a long time, and we’ve gotten used to them, to the extent that we don’t even notice them or pay attention to them on a regular basis. As a practicing physician I see many patients who tell me they are fine and healthy, but when questioned admit to having headaches and migraines, joint or back pain, heartburn, skin rashes, or diarrhea among other things. These things are not healthy, we’ve just gotten used to having them, and often take them for granted as “normal”.
Therefore it’s important to back up and take an inventory of your health and disease before you begin the ECD, so you can truly get a sense of how much benefit you’ve received from doing it.
I recommend creating an inventory of your health and disease. Below I have provided you with a template that lets you rate your general health and well-being. Answer each of the following categories from 1-10, with 1 being lowest/worst and 10 being highest/best, and answer yes or no to the sub-questions. If you have specific issues you can add descriptions or notes afterward.
- Sleep 1 – 10
- Are you waking up feeling rested?
- Energy 1 – 10
- Do you have any energy crashes throughout the day?
- Digestion 1 – 10
- How often are you having a bowel movement? (1 per day, 1 per week, etc.)
- Are you constipated?
- Do you have diarrhea?
- Gas or bloating?
- Flatulence?
- Mood 1 – 10
- Anxiety?
- Depression?
- Menses (your period; for women only) 1 – 10
- PMS?
- Painful period?
- Musculo-Skeletal 1 – 10
- Joint pain?
- Muscle pain?
- Back pain?
- Skin 1 – 10
- Rashes?
- Overall sense of well-being 1 – 10
After having taken an inventory, set it aside in a safe place. Once you finish the elimination portion of the diet, you’ll fill out a second copy of the above questions which you’ll compare to the first to help solidify the benefit you’ve seen from the ECD.
What are your thoughts? Feel free to share them with us in the comments section below.