46: Making the Elimination Phase Sustainable

 In this episode, AIP Certified Coaches Jaime Hartman and Marie-Noelle Marquis answer a listener question that gets at something many people feel but don't say out loud: do you really have to do AIP every single day? Can you give yourself weekends off? The short answer is yes, the elimination phase requires full adherence to work. But the more important conversation is about understanding why, and then building the conditions that actually make it possible to sustain. Key Points Covered What full adherence means during the elimination phase of both core AIP and modified AIP, and why both frameworks require the same level of commitment even though modified AIP gives you more foods to choose from Why the lifestyle branches of AIP (sleep, movement, stress management, time in nature, social connection) allow for more day-to-day flexibility than the dietary portion How the elimination phase works as a physiological reset: removing potential triggers long enough for inflammation to calm and symptoms to shift, so that the reintroduction phase can give you reliable information Why "doing AIP five or six days a week" isn't almost AIP, it's a different thing entirely, and why neutral language (full adherence, not "cheating" or "being good") matters when thinking about this How the urge to take weekends off is useful information, not a character flaw, and how to use it to identify the root cause of what's making your current approach unsustainable Common sustainability gaps and their root causes: food boredom, social pressure, feeling deprived rather than empowered, lack of planning, and unsupportive home environments Why helping clients identify their specific sustainability gap is more valuable than lecturing them on compliance, and how to use a client's desire for a "cheat day" as a coaching opportunity Practical strategies for making full adherence sustainable: batch cooking and freezer stocking, building an AIP social toolkit for navigating restaurants and gatherings, finding abundance in the protocol's yes list, setting a defined endpoint, and leaning into the AIP community for accountability How cravings can shift over time as the microbiome changes, and why a spirit of detachment (rather than "white-knuckling") can help with foods you're grieving during elimination Resources Mentioned Episode 1: The ABCs of AIP Episode 6: Answering Common Questions About AIP Episode 43: Our Conversation with Mickey Trescott Freezer Cooking for the Paleo AIP, edited by Jaime Hartman Urban AIP (AIP-compliant meal delivery) Autoimmune Wellness (Mickey Trescott's website) The New Autoimmune Protocolby Mickey Trescott AIP Certified Coach directory