You’re about to get into the details and begin applying the principles we lay out in this book. Before we go there, perspective on the larger health movement you are about to join can provide a welcome sense of community and motivation before you embark.
1. TRUST YOUR INTUITION . You don’t need a guru to navigate this process successfully.
2. EMBRACE THE TEMPLATE . The Autoimmune Protocol is not one-size-fits-all; it’s a template that promotes individuality and self-discovery.
3. INFORMATION IS POWER . Learn enough to be an informed and proactive advocate for your health.
4. START SIMPLE . Begin with the foundations of diet, sleep, stress management, movement, and relationships before delving deeper.
5. TAKE IT SLOW . Don’t be afraid to make changes in phases—it was the tortoise and not the hare that won the race!
6. FOOD IS YOUR FRIEND . It provides nourishment to every single cell in your body!
7. SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS . Planning and preparation are the keys.
8. BE A NUTRIENT SEEKER . Don’t ignore the foods that accelerate healing and restore health.
9. FOOD OVER SUPPLEMENTS . Nutrients are often synergistic and more potent in nature’s packaging.
10. DON’T DIET “HARDER.” Resist the temptation to further restrict instead of troubleshoot.
11. SEEK HELP . When necessary, thoughtfully add practitioners to your team who don’t undermine your authority.
12. TEST, DON’T GUESS . Always use testing to reveal root issues, if progress is not as expected.
13. BE SKEPTICAL . “Magic bullets” that only the elite can afford are not the solution to our health-care crisis.
14. STRIVE FOR BALANCE . Restoring your health is a worthy pursuit, but it is not a religion.
15. SUPPORT IS CRUCIAL . If your networks aren’t strong enough, explore ways to add to your human connections.
16. REFRAME THE NEGATIVES . Find areas where your life has been expanded by your experience with illness.
17. PRACTICE GRATITUDE . Give thought energy to what is good in your life.
18. KEEP YOUR EYES ON YOUR OWN JOURNEY . The path to wellness is unique for all of us. Resist the urge to compare.
19. HEALTH BEFORE IMAGE . Value wellness above numbers on a scale or reflections in a mirror.
20. VIBRANT HEALTH IS A LIFELONG JOURNEY . Nobody ever regrets investing in his or her own wellness. Enjoy the process of restoring your health!