Let’s continue the discussion on abstinence from the previous post.
As mentioned, when the food addict begins to follow the plan of eating (Food Plan), they will experience withdrawal symptoms for a few days. This is because the body is releasing the toxic and harmful addictive substances it has adapted to. As you embark on your new way of life, be willing to go through this experience and know that it will soon end.
I believe in the cold-turkey approach to becoming abstinent. However, there is one exception: Coffee! Coffee, as well as any other caffeine-containing beverage (such as soda and tea), is a thief and a liar. Caffeine robs a person of their natural stores of energy and then it lies to them, telling them they must have it to recoup their energy! What a trap! Therefore, I suggest withdrawing from caffeine a little at a time over the course of month because the withdrawal symptoms are usually too intense otherwise.
With that said, I suggest starting the Food Plan on a Friday so that you have the weekend to experience the most intense level of withdrawal symptoms. Starting the plan on a Friday will begin the change that will allow you to begin taking your life back from this disease.
There will usually be no real symptoms of withdrawal on day 1 (Friday). The symptoms will most likely start on day 2 (Saturday) and continue through day 3 (Sunday) when they reach their peak. Most likely, symptoms will start decreasing on days 4 and 5 (Monday and Tuesday).
Everyone is different. You may experience a different timetable, but generally, it takes four to five days for these substances to cycle out of the body—and then freedom awaits.