Hi Manymoons. I don't think that anyone was being discouraging or dismissive to the "Macro lifestyle", least of all me.
I do however agree, speaking from a naturopathic nutrition perspective, that if someone has violent allergic tendencies towards certain foods, (which the anonymous poster had experienced) from a dramatic diet change, consisting primarily of; wheat (gluten), whole grains, nuts, that they should certainly continue to eat a healthful balanced diet, but one that works for their personal dietary needs, perhaps incorporate some macro aspects but not all.
As Macrobiotics (from my understanding) seems to be heavy on the whole-grain side, this wouldn't be the best option for an allergy sufferer of those types of foods, hence the statement that the anonymous poster made that "Macrobiotics isn't for everyone". She clearly had a bad experience + poor coaching and should be welcomed to share her experiences so that others may understand and take what they can from them, be it a positive or a negative experience, it is relevant and it happened to her. It's more "dismissive" to sweep someone's bad experience under the magic Macro carpet and not discuss it, not offer assistance or helpful nutritional guidance, that would be "discouraging" to the person who had a bad experience.
As I said in my initial post, several of the Macro books I have read barely delve into the difficulties of changing one's diet to a Macro one and seem to overtly embellish the experiences a bit flamboyantly to "sell a lifestyle in a book", so having said that, I think it's very interesting and healthier to hear an honest interpretation of one's experiences be it good or bad, not every individual is going to have the same positive earth shattering orgasmic cosmic zen experience that most of these Macro authors write about.
I personally prefer to hear a more "balanced" opinion of people's personal Macro experiences, the good with the bad. No diet/lifestyle is 100% perfect and 100% for everyone, and for anyone to assume so could come off as a bit naive, if not patronising.
The best thing about a whole foods diet and positive lifestyle for me is that now that I am feeling and looking great again it's a constant reminder for me to want to eat a healthy balanced diet (as I am fortunate to not suffer from any grain or whole food allergies), and because I feel fantastic all the time, have tons of energy and clear headed thinking, it's been enormously great for me these past 2 months getting back to that healthful lifestyle I once had, but obviously if I had nutritional reactions as violent as the anonymous poster did, this would be an entirely different post from an entirely different perspective and that would be okay too because it would be real!
