Autoimmune Protocol Lecture Series FAQs

As I gear up to teach the next session of the AIP Lecture Series, you’ve asked me a ton of excellent questions about the course!  I decided to collate these questions and my answers here so you can decide if this is the right resource for you.

Is the AIP Lecture Series really for me?

I put a tremendous amount of effort into gearing this course for all levels, including if you:

• are completely new to the idea of diet and lifestyle changes to heal from chronic illness,
• have dabbled in Paleo or AIP but had trouble sticking to it in the past,
• are an Autoimmune Protocol veteran who already has seen great results,
• are the caregiver, supporting family or friends with autoimmune disease,
• are a practitioner looking to begin your advanced learning of the Autoimmune Protocol. (Note: if you want to become an AIP Certified Coach, that is a different program and you can get more information here.)

You can benefit from the information presented in this course whether you’re in the early phases of diagnosis, are looking to reduce disease risk due to a strong family history, or have battled autoimmune disease or other chronic illness for years.

I want to take this course but start on a later date… is that possible?

Absolutely! The first module will still unlock on the session start date with subsequent modules unlocking each week afterward. However, once unlocked, you have lifetime access to the entire course and all of the course materials including all of the resources shared in the private Facebook group, so you can start whenever you’re ready and proceed through the content at your own pace!

Another option is to wait for the next session. (Note:  Due to my extremely busy schedule, I only teach one or two sessions per year.)

How much interaction do I get with Dr. Sarah?

Lots!  I give all the lectures and am there to support you and give you guidance throughout the 6 weeks. You will be able to interact with me and ask me your individual questions in the private Facebook group for this course.

I answer every single question in the private Facebook group to provide you with individualized support and guidance throughout the session. There’s no limits on how many questions you can ask or what topic, just know that I can’t legally answer medical questions that are best directed at your healthcare provider.

I guide discussions relevant to that week’s lecture topics in the private Facebook group twice weekly (posted Mondays and Thursdays, and we typically continue to discuss over a few days).  I also share a video FAQ based on the most common questions and discussion points from that week (posted on Saturdays, with sometimes a bonus FAQ video mid-week).

How is the course is structured?

You access the online course by logging in to this website (click on “My Account” in the top right of the header menu). Each week/module of the course features 7 related topics.  Each topic contains 1 video lecture that streams on-demand (videos vary in length but each week contains 2 to 3 hours of total video).  Each video is accompanied by recommended reading as well as relevant printables, action steps, and a self-discovery exercise.

Proceed through each week at your own pace and on your own schedule!  You must go through the topics in order and watch each video lecture in order to mark that topic as completed. Reading, action steps and self-discovery exercises are all optional but highly recommended.

As mentioned, I lead twice weekly discussions led in a private Facebook group to accompany each week’s lectures as well as post at least one weekly once-weekly Facebook video FAQ. The private Facebook group is also where you can ask questions and connect with other students.

At the end of each week/module, there is a 10-question interactive quiz so that you can test your understanding of that week’s content.

Do I have to join the private Facebook group?

The private Facebook group is an awesome feature of this course.  It serves two purposes:

1. The discussions and interaction gently encourage you to keep up with the course.  The AIP Lecture Series has a fantastically high completion rate compared to other online courses, and this is probably why!  The discussions are also great for connecting with other students, reinforcing concepts and solving your individual challenges for implementation. They’re just so helpful!
2. The group is where I answer every question asked by every student during the session. It’s also really helpful for other students to see my answer to your question (they might have been wondering the same thing!) and helps generate great follow-up discussion.  I use these questions to decide what to cover in the weekly FAQ videos too.

That being said, joining the private Facebook group is completely optional. I have had many previous students create dummy Facebook accounts just to participate in the group for this course, which is a great option for anyone who doesn’t have nor want a Facebook account.

I live in [country name].  Can I still take the course?

Yes!  I’ve carefully planned every aspect of this course to be accessible no matter what time zone you’re in or what your schedule looks like!  You can stream the video lectures on-demand, and contribute to the Facebook guided discussion, ask your questions, or watch the FAQ videos at your leisure.

What topics will be covered each week?

Great question!  Here’s the course outline!

Yes! Before the course launches, you can request a full refund for any reason.  After the course has launched, you may get a partial refund for any reason.  Refunds are prorated to 80% after the first week unlocks, 60% after the second week, 40% after the third week, and 20% after the fourth week.  No refunds will be provided after the fifth week of the course has unlocked (extenuating circumstances excepted).  Once your refund has been processed, you will lose access to the course and the private Facebook group.  To request a refund, click here.

What do previous students have to say?

I am so incredibly proud of this course because it’s changing lives! And, graduates of this course become the most informed ambassadors for the AIP, paying it forward by helping their family and friends on their health journeys.

If you’re interested in what previous students have said about this course, here’s a selection of testimonials just from the most recent session of the course!

• I’ve finished the videos in week 6 and I am really excited about the future and feel like I have a road map for investing my time, energy and money to increase my health and wellbeing. This is so very empowering. I don’t think I can really express how much this class and your involvement in it has meant to me and its impact on my life.  –Ashley
• I can’t thank you enough for sharing all your knowledge and insights. I’ve heard things from you that I’ve never heard from even a doctor. Also, your gentle and supportive way of encouraging us and giving us a template to work with has tremendously helped me. –Cheryl
• Thank you for giving us all the support, tools, and feedback necessary to move forward in our individual journeys to health and healing. Most of all, thanks for giving me the best gift of all: Hope.  –Domonique
• Wow! I am overwhelmed at all the amazing, dedicated work, you have done Dr. Sarah in order to corral the evidence and logic behind the AIP approach for us to sit back and digest! You are a truly dedicated scientist driven by insatiable curiosity and a caring heart to get this important information out into the world. Thank you. –Jeanne
• Thanks, Dr. Sarah Ballantyne for your time, commitment, and effort you have put in this course. You have been nothing but inspiring, professional, and generous sharing your ingenuity in such a short period of time. I love the energy and the enthusiasm you spark. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  –Olivia
• You have impacted my life in such a great way! You are truly an inspiration! Your amazing research and phenomenal presentations of all your wisdom and knowledge has enlightened my world and has given me new found hope! I am eternally grateful to you!  –Joy
• This has been an incredible class. Having been on AIP for a year and a half with the guidance of a dietician who is well versed in the diet, I wasn’t sure how much I would get out of it. But I have learned SOOOO much and have refined my diet in multiple ways. Your answers in the chat are so thoughtful. The money was SO worth it! Thank you!! You are doing incredible work and I would recommend this class to others in a second. –Heather

 

If you have any other questions about the AIP Lecture Series, I’m happy to answer them.  Feel free to use the form on this page to ask them!