Marie-Noelle Marquis (00:08):
Welcome to the AIP Summit Podcast, your go-to resource for taking control of your autoimmune health, presented by AIP Certified Coaches. Hi, I'm Marie-Noelle Marquis.
Jaime Hartman (00:18):
And I'm Jaime Hartman. And we're here to equip you with the tools knowledge and support you need to effectively use the autoimmune protocol.
Marie-Noelle Marquis (00:27):
Today we are reminding you that the AIP elimination phase is just the starting point by sharing my story of reintroductions.
Jaime Hartman (00:40):
So as we were sharing in our last episode, we know that when people get started on the AIP and they get focused on that list of foods that they need to eliminate, a lot of people get scared away they see on that list some of their favorite foods. But if you keep focused on the fact that the point of the elimination phase of AIP is so that you ultimately determine which of those foods you actually need to keep avoiding and which ones you can bring back into your diet, it gets a lot easier to say goodbye to those favorites. It's just saying goodbye to them for now. So to reinforce the importance of this mindset and to show our listeners that AIP is not a one size fits all diet, we are sharing reintroduction stories. In episode 29, you heard my story and now you'll hear Mar Noel's story. Then look for future episodes featuring the reintroduction stories of our fellow AIP Certified Coaches and their clients. So let's get started and hear Marie Noel's story. Are you
Marie-Noelle Marquis (01:40):
Ready? I am. I really enjoyed interviewing you, by the way, for our last episodes. And I learned a lot about what you eat and don't eat on a regular basis. And I know that these conversations will also inspire some people who are still on the fence about getting started with AIP to hear that reintroductions and continued wellness are possible.
Jaime Hartman (02:01):
Yeah, totally. So to get started, let's remind listeners of your diagnosis and a little bit about how you got started with AIP.
Marie-Noelle Marquis (02:09):
Yeah, absolutely. So I also shared my full story in episode four, so anyone interested, feel free to go back and listen to that episode. In a nutshell, I was diagnosed, looking back, I've struggled with autoimmune symptoms since I was probably four years old, but I was diagnosed in 2015 at the time with lupus and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. It was very confusing. I thought getting a diagnosis meant getting a roadmap, but I was just left with a label and no help. So after doing a lot of seeking a lot of advocating for myself, I ended up through a friend at first being introduced to Mickey Scots, the Autoimmune Paleo, and that was my first intro. And then it just so happened that a doctor mentioned it finally, doctor 17, I think. So then that's how I got introduced and started looking into it, into like, okay, this could be a possibility. And as I shared in episode four, there was a lot of barriers for me to go through initially emotionally, I was a strict vegan at the time. So the thought, I remember opening the book on the first night being like, Nope, not for me. And putting it, it was when the doctor brought it up again that I was like, okay, and gave it some thought. So that's how I finally baby step got started with it.
Jaime Hartman (03:35):
And then when you moved into the reintroduction phase, what was the beginning of your reintroduction phase? Was that easy for you to transition from elimination to reintroduction or did you have any difficulties with that
Marie-Noelle Marquis (03:46):
Easy peasy done? No, I would have to say, just to be clear, I have reintroductions story. So I think my personality is I tend to be, I'm someone who's definitely hard on myself. I put a lot of pressure on myself. So when I made the choice to go and start the elimination diet, maybe partly because, no, actually not, I was going to say maybe because partly I was vegan and I wanted to fully commit, but I think it is really, I am not saying this is healthy linked to that pressure put in myself, but I knew that when I went to the elimination, I had to just jump in cold Turkey, just do everything all at once and do it right. I definitely did the whole, I am focusing on the whole list to avoid be as tough love as I could possibly on myself.
(04:51):
So as much of a perfectionist and to the point and I did not cheat, everything was like, it's going to be perfect. The moment when I decided to reintroduce it was the complete, the teenager going to party, it was completely opposite. I did not follow anything. I think it was the way I looked at AIP at that time, I was only looking at the diet part and not the whole protocol with the lifestyle as well, and I was really like, I'm going to do the elimination. Perfect. And then my introduction, yeah, I would've all figured that out. So my first meal that I had for reintroduction had a glass of red wine, had a butter cream sauce, thickened with flour. I mean, I couldn't have picked and I did not feel horrible. Immediately when I started, it was like, here are the three meals a day, and I just was eating whatever, so from pizza. So it took five days and then I just crippled me and I was feeling horrible and horrible and horrible. So it really, that was not a full proper obviously reintroduction, right?
(06:22):
My thought at the time was also like, oh, if I feel bad, I can always go back to it. It's easy. So I was the sicker I've ever been. So I had been at that time, so I decided to, okay, I'm going to go back on the full because I just muddied the water. There was no like, oh, this is the one thing ever introduced. So I went back in full elimination and then what I gave it more thought. It was like, okay, I'm going to structure this reintroduction. And I got scared. I was really scared to actually start introducing food and really getting flared up again. So it took a long time and I kept finding excuses, excuses, and I was like, okay, you know what? No, you got to reintroduce. So I started and I happened to react to eggs right away. So then I had just finally mustered the courage per se to start doing it again to do a proper reintroduction.
(07:21):
And then I reacted to the first thing. So I was like, okay, you know what? No. And then, which I think a lot of people end up thinking too, it's like I was like, why do I need to reintroduce? I'm never reintroducing anything again. I'm going to be fine. I'm just going to eat this. It's meat and veggies, it's pretty much paleo, it's totally fine. So for a good amount of time following that, I just was in denial that a introduction process even it was a thing. And then I ended up trying, and I think it was actually egg whites again, and I had a little bite and that was fine. I didn't have that immediate reaction. And then I was like, you know what? Maybe if I just trust the process, just trust, just go for it. So then I like, okay, then I really got a journal and then applied the discipline that I apply other places in my life to just my health.
(08:23):
There's something that felt like, I dunno, freeing by who cares? I'm just going to do it halfway. I dunno. Well, I finally applied it and then I was like, you know what? It says to go a little bit and then a little bit more, a little bit more, and then wait. So that was the thing that I was like, okay, I have to write this down. And maybe because I had a tiny bite of egg, it was okay, and then didn't actually feel great when I had the full portion of eggs, but then I was like, just stop throwing everything away. Just move on to the next thing. And then I finally could work my way through and started. And so I was very diligent at that point to write down reactions.
(09:06):
And then I remember there was a point where I was really tired of writing stuff down and there was a weird, this little mole skin journal, and it was weird because it was like if I don't have it then I'm not going to know. Like I need this tool to know. And I was also tired of, I have to write this down. And I was like, you know what? Just, and I started telling myself just you don't need that piece of paper. So it was this internal little leap of faith of just trust your body. I dunno, it's hard to explain, but it was like I felt this internal shift of
(09:56):
Just connect with yourself. It's not this. And it reminded me of that two weeks ago when you were talking, sharing your story of the, it is not this external experience, it's happening within you and just connect. And so that was really helpful. And I think allowing breathing, just relieving of that pressure to put on myself and still being strategic about it and paying attention, but trusting my gut, my intuition made a really good difference. So that was a much more holistic and rewarding part of the reintroduction journey. And I would actually, I think because it was less stressful, it was allowing my body to actually connect with the food better and absorb certain foods better. So
Jaime Hartman (10:43):
Let's jump now to the present. So if you were describing your diet today, and by the way, for our listeners, this episode's going to release in early November, 2025. We know maybe people will listen to this much later. We're recording it right around then late October. So what's your diet like today?
Marie-Noelle Marquis (11:00):
So today, if I go to a friend's house or family event or I will say, and they're like, what can you eat? You can't eat anything. I'll be like, definitely. And I am 100% avoid gluten as well as I cross-contamination for gluten. So I'm very, very strict with that. I don't do dairy and those is what I'm going to, and then I'm like, I'll figure out the rest, don't worry about it. So those are the main two that I will publicly say not to freak people out, and I will manage the rest. Right now in my life, I run my own business. I'm very busy all the time, so I don't really have time to eat out and I happen to have an AIP business. So by default, my current diet is very, very, very much, it's very close to a full AIP elimination. However, I do know that there are a lot of food that I can have and some that I can only have once in a while, but some that I can have more frequently.
(12:17):
And if I don't, it's just because I didn't have time to cook and I didn't have it. But yeah, I found that seeds, for example, was something that I, 99% of the seeds don't bother me other than sunflower seeds. So I know that sunflower is a thing that I'll look for like, oh, nope, some hard to digest. So corn and rice are two things that I seem to do well with. I will notice that the quality matters. So I will source organic corn, real masa made tortillas a little toggle stand the least processed possible. Almond tend to be fine. So definitely, I mean I feel like it would take forever to mention not to rub it in, I'm really sorry, but I totally am fine with chocolate.
Jaime Hartman (13:21):
It's okay. I'm at peace with that.
Marie-Noelle Marquis (13:22):
I know, I know, I know. That's the thing, we feel like, I'm so sorry you can't eat pizza. I'm like, no, it's okay. Believe me, I have no desire to be in bed for two weeks. So yeah, I feel like there's a lot that I feel comfortable with. But the big two that I will tell is I don't do gluten for sure and dairy.
Jaime Hartman (13:45):
Okay, so gluten, dairy for sure. Sunflower seeds you mentioned. Are there any other foods that you avoid? Completely like my chocolate, absolute unique to me
Marie-Noelle Marquis (13:55):
Actually in the nightshade world, eggplants and bell peppers,
(14:00):
I was okay, reintroducing actually spicy like chili peppers. But any bell peppers, anywhere, I'll pick them out and mold eat them for sure. I feel like those are the sunflower seeds. I oats, but I really don't. I would say that outside of AIP, I really do stick with a more paleo lifestyle, which yeah, so beans, legumes, I have not. And you piqued my curiosity when you said because you hadn't reintroduced them in a while, your body was reacting. I do know that if I have legumes, my is definitely impacted and I might be because I haven't had them in a very long
Jaime Hartman (14:54):
Time. I think I see this in my clients a lot too, where they haven't literally haven't eaten beans for years and years and years and it requires the enzymes to digest. I mean, it's not like it's going to be poisoned to you, but you may not feel good when you haven't had something like that for such a long time because your body just doesn't have the resources to digest it. Well, it can relearn it if that's something you want, but it requires an attention to it.
Marie-Noelle Marquis (15:25):
Yeah. Yeah, I think that's it. It's sort of a more paleo lifestyle. I rarely do grains.
Jaime Hartman (15:34):
And then that might lead into this next question, which is the gray area foods. Have you identified any foods that you can eat either only in small quantities or infrequently or maybe there's a specific form?
Marie-Noelle Marquis (15:48):
Yeah, so I would say that eggs is something that if I have once in a while, twice a month, once or twice a month, I have no symptoms whatsoever. But if I do it a few days in a row, I definitely will react to it. So that's a common one. Oil, soybean oil, soybean stuff. I will definitely, so once in a while if I have some food that was like, okay, there's a little bit of soy in it, I guess won't be a huge flare up, but very, very scarcely almonds. If I have organic almonds, usually it's okay, and if I have almond milk, I don't have any reaction. But if I just have regular conventional almond and my mouth gets super itchy and I get sort of this itch flare up, and then another one, because I said I'm completely dairy free, I'm completely dairy free when I'm in the United States, I have found that if I go outside of the country, I'm okay having certain cheeses. And usually it's the more gooey spread cheese. I'll be okay with those. I've even done a little bit of butter and I'm originally from Quebec, Canada, so when I go home visit my family, I'll do a little bit butter. And then very, not every day, but here and there, if I have a little bit of that really soft spreaded cheese, I seem to be doing okay. So I'll make a couple exceptions there.
Jaime Hartman (17:42):
And then finally, let's look into the future. Are there any foods that you may try reintroducing at some future date? Any foods that you're just not eating now and you're maybe not sure about, or that you'd like to try and see how your body responds to in the future?
Marie-Noelle Marquis (17:56):
Yes, and I'm with you. Remember what you said about the dairy, because I think if I were to actively try to bring back, I mean I honestly, I've tried it then the A two protein, I've done all this stuff here and it just seems to be a disaster every time. But there's this thing in the back of my mind, maybe one day I can have cheese. I would like to look at pseudo grains and quinoa, something that I used to eat a lot and I haven't actually really made a diligent effort to bring it back, but it's something that my boyfriend eats a lot of it and I'm like, oh, that's tasty. So that's one food that's on my list. I would like to bring back a wider variety of nuts, but I really want to sprout them and see how my body will feel with that. So I would say those are the two things that are on my radar.
Jaime Hartman (18:58):
Thank you for sharing your reintroduction story today. As we wrap up, is there anything else you want to share with our listeners about the lessons you've learned or some words of advice for those who are maybe currently working their way through the reintroduction process?
Marie-Noelle Marquis (19:15):
Yeah, thank you very much. It was a pleasure sharing and I hope this was helpful for our listeners as well. I would say my word of advice to anyone who's working through the reinjection process right now as well, as far as book to the book wise, lemme say that again. So as far as the potentially how strict or how diligent you were with the elimination, I think the reintroduction is not just something that was created for fun. There's as much science in the process of reintroduction as there is in the process of elimination. So I think understanding that it's a full protocol, it comes together. It's not part one, part two, you can leave one out. It holistically, it works together and there's a reason for the order. So I think that that's important to go through those steps and have that patience to work your way through it.
(20:18):
And the importance, and you mentioned that in the previous episode too, Jaime, the importance that comes with that shift that is about connecting with our bodies. It's not about mostly as much as I just said, follow the guidelines. It's so key to connect with our bodies. That's the only way that, because it's long-term because one thing we actually didn't necessarily talk about, but what I find interesting is I have brought back corn, for example. I brought back corn and had no issues. But if I have stressful events going on in my life, or if I know that or something happened and I didn't sleep a full night, I know that that following day where I'm short on sleep, if I have corn, I'm going to start having joint pain two days later. So there are condition, it's not like just you checked it off the list and we're good.
(21:24):
We're evolving all the time. All these different things are impacting our bodies and we're exposed to all these different stressors. So I think the importance of understanding that not to be afraid of our body and trusting ourselves, we have autoimmunity and it's not our body against us. The key is through connection and finding that peace with ourselves. So I can't stress that enough of the importance of bridging that gap and really connecting with ourselves and trusting that. And if you react to something, it's okay. It's okay, it's okay. You just keep going. Just keep going and being kind and forgiving and give yourself grace I think is such an important factor in the journey.
Jaime Hartman (22:16):
Thank you Marel Listeners, we hope that hearing this reintroduction story has educated and inspired you. We'll be sharing more episodes like these in the future, and we welcome your feedback and your comments about what else you'd like to hear from us through this podcast. AIP Certified Coaches want to bring you resources so that you can feel confident about doing AIP on your own. But with the knowledge that you aren't doing AIP alone,
Marie-Noelle Marquis (22:40):
We'll be back with another episode in two weeks. So make sure you subscribe to the AIP Summit podcast and your favorite podcast player if you have not already. And make sure you don't miss an episode.
Jaime Hartman (22:50):
And if you'd like to leave us a reading and a review, it will help others find this podcast where we are committed to helping you use the power of the autoimmune protocol to elevate your wellness journey to new heights. The AIP Summit podcast is a Gutsy By Nature production. Content presented is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. I.
