I am totally with you on this. I'm a lurker on the site because sometimes, for even long periods (like months), I don't have IBS- at least on a symptomatic level. Then for a week I'll have symptoms every day, sometimes severe (though never severe D). Then for weeks I'll have mild symptoms every other day. This has gone on for years. And when I AM symptomatic it's more like I have a "sensitive gut" then classic IBS- in that I won't get severe D, but mild D, but then ALL the other symptoms too- heartburn, gas, mild pain, nausea. Maybe twice a year I have a true "attack" for a few hours where I have serious D and even throw up. But it's true of me too that sometimes I don't follow the diet and I am fine. Eat anything I want. And then other times I could even FOLLOW the diet and am STILL having these mild, but chronic, distracting, upsetting symptoms. LIke I could have rice for dinner and still have symptoms the next day. That said, it IS generally better if I follow a bland and soluble fiber diet, and it IS worse or dangerous for me if I eat high fat, insoluble fiber, or really spicey, and so I try to avoid all of the above. Also certain gassy veggies are ALWAYS a problem- like if I eat a lot of garlic, mustard/collard greens, brocolli, etc. I love these things but avoid any high intake. If I indulge more than just a little in ANY of the above 3, I pay, regardless of my baseline health or upset. Stress is also a trigger, as are hormones, but hormones more clearly than stress, in that I've had times where I was under very high stress and had little or no symptoms, and times of low stress and symptoms. Like right before and at start of my period and particularly at ovulation I usually get at least a little (or could be a big) increase in symptoms. Anyway, I do not fit the typical IBS profile in intensity or duration of symptoms, but I do fit it in terms of the persistent, intermittant symptoms I have had now for 8 years. I do all the things I can to prevent lifestyle-wise- yoga, acupuncture, meditation, therapy...perhaps this is part of why it's milder. But like you, I LOVVVE food and am slim and am a passionate person and can indulge and sometimes get carried away and eat stuff I SHOULD NOT and then I pay and feel irritated w/ myself. Thing is I don't ALWAYS pay and so it's kind of like intermittant reinforcement- now and then I'm fine if I eat that food and that compels me to take risks sometimes.
All of this started for me after salmonella poisoning AND a very stressful break up and starting at new job, all at the same time, about 8 years ago. Before that I felt I had an extremely "strong" stomach. The good thing is, I have really used the situation to learn more compassion for myself nad others, and to slow down and be more gentle in life,.
tonight i'm writing w/ a hot pad on my belly and tennis balls jammed into my back which hurts from all the inflammation it seems, and this after a "safe-ish" dinner, and after a day where I took an immodium, gas-ex, a pepto bismol. I am really tired of this condition, but grateful that at my worst taking just one pill each of the above makes the symptoms manageable for teh day and I can take care of my child and go to work, etc. (I have on a few occassions had to run out of the room on clients i was seeing though! But not fun.
Best to you! 
Maggie
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Re: The consequences are too far from the trigger
