Crohn's Fitness Food

Ashley Zuchelli shares her journey with Crohn's disease, from the onset of symptoms to her recent diagnosis. She discusses the challenges she faced in finding a doctor who would listen and the frustration of not knowing what was causing her symptoms. Ashley also talks about the impact of Crohn's on her work and how she manages anxiety. Finally, she shares her motivation for advocacy and raising awareness about IBD. In this conversation, Ashley Zuchelli shares her journey with IBD and the challenges she faced in getting a diagnosis. She emphasizes the importance of realizing when something is wrong and seeking help, even when faced with fears and uncertainties. The conversation also highlights the difficulties doctors face in diagnosing IBD and the need for patients to advocate for themselves. Ashley encourages listeners to not give up on their goals, to prioritize their health, and to listen to our bodies and not dismiss symptoms. Takeaways Finding a supportive and understanding doctor is crucial in the journey to diagnosis and treatment. Managing anxiety and stress is important for overall well-being and symptom management. Having a flexible work schedule can be beneficial for individuals with IBD to accommodate flare-ups and self-care. Sharing personal stories and advocating for awareness can help others going through similar experiences. Realizing when something is wrong and seeking help is crucial for managing IBD. Don't let fears and uncertainties prevent you from seeking the care you need. Advocate for yourself and communicate your symptoms and concerns to your doctor. Don't give up on your goals and prioritize your health. Connect with others who have similar experiences for support and guidance. Topics covered in the interview Ashley's Journey with Crohn's Disease Seeking a New Doctor for a Diagnosis Diagnosis and Treatment Managing Anxiety and Balancing Work Realizing Something's Wrong The Importance of Seeking Help The Challenges of Diagnosing IBD Don't Give Up on Your Goals Don't Disregard Your Body's Signals From the show Stephanie: What have you done over the years to help manage anxiety? Ashley: I would say meal prepping actually soothes me and it keeps my mind at ease because I know if I am hungry or if…I'm feeling good that day, I have food ready for me and it just makes me happy just cooking in the kitchen…And then I started doing the HelloFresh program, where I get ingredients sent to me and then I just cook. I don't have to think about the recipes. They have dietary restrictions on there of things you can and cannot eat, so that helps my anxiety—to make sure I have the food I need when I have a long day at work or if we go travel. feeling so great today or, you know, I do have that type of job where if I wasn't feeling well, I can block that time and deal with what I need to deal with. If I had a flare or upset stomach from eating something or just. Stephanie: How do you balance work and work in IBD? Ashley: You know, Crohn's being Crohn's, acting up when it's not the best time, so I was just honest with my clients. Like if I didn't feel well, like I have to go to the bathroom, [saying] I'll be right back. We don't discuss what happens in the bathroom, but they know I need a moment to break away because of issues going on…I am grateful that I have the luxury to make my own schedule when a flare happens. Links from the show: Follow Ashley: https://www.instagram.com/azuchelli4 * * * * * Support the podcast ❤️ at https://www.crohnsfitnessfood.com Shop my favorite products, Read my favorite books, Subscribe to the podcast, Send a little love/coffee

Back on medication and mindset changes during my Crohn's journey It's been over 20 years since my colon started bleeding and my inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) journey began. In 2003, I ignored the symptoms of blood, pain, and bloating for nearly three years. When I finally sought help in 2006 after a severe flare, it took another three years to reach a diagnosis. In those first six years, I was left to my own devices to try and stop the symptoms and find some way of living a normal life.  When I finally had an IBD diagnosis in 2009, I was relieved to have answers and eager for pharmaceutical help to finally eliminate my symptoms. Eventually, I ended up on a combination therapy of both Imuran and HUMIRA. I got better, but not completely. I didn't have the uncontrollable diarrhea that kept me at home for three months during my first severe flare-up, but I still struggled off and on with pain, blood, and mucus.  I found that I had to watch my diet in order to get the most relief, and my obsession with food and supplements became fanatical. Then, after five years, I thought I had learned and experimented enough that I could stop my medications. And so, under the supervision of my gastroenterologist, I did. I was 32 years old. I was completely free of medications for a little over a year. But, when I started living life again – enjoying food and finding myself in stressful situations that life tends to bring – I went into a moderate flare. I went back on medications for a few months and by the end of 2016, I was off all medications once again. After that, I had multiple minor flare-ups during the next few years involving pain, mucus, and bloating, that I was able to work through using CBD, extended fasting, meditation, and extremely restrictive diets. I didn't seek medication or medical help and thought I was doing fine. In early 2022, I was actually feeling really good and the minor flare-ups seemed to be behind me. But, as many of you can guess how this story goes, IBD wasn't done with me. In the summer of 2022, I had my first bout of intestinal bleeding in over five years. I tried to seek help, but the flare happened during the middle of our move from Texas to Florida and I couldn't get set up with my new doctors in Florida without going through a few hoops with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It was (and I'm sure still is) a requirement that I see my new primary care doctor first, and then she would need to put in new referrals for me to be seen in the gastroenterology and nephrology clinics – even though I already had those specialists assigned to me in Texas.  By the time I got to see my new doctors, my symptoms had fortunately gone away and I was back to feeling good. But, that only got me dismissed by the VA's gastroenterologist and another four month wait to get assigned to a gastroenterologist in the VA's community care network, thanks to the help of my primary care provider.    For the past year and a half, I've been well. But we all know that IBD is a disease of remission and flare-ups. Fast forward to today, not even a full two years later, and I'm back in a moderate flare. This time, while it's not the worst I've ever been, it's the worst I've been in a long time. For the past two months, I've been passing blood and mucus up to twelve times a day, frequently nauseous, fatigued (so fatigued!) with low iron saturation showing on my lab results, experiencing intermittent pain and extreme bloating (my fellow IBD warriors know what I'm talking about), and feeling pretty lousy overall. Even my kidney function has declined (it's still fine and we're still watching it, but I find it interesting to see distinct changes in my lab values while my body battles inflammation from Crohn's). I've still been able to leave the house and do things, but the dread of being anywhere not close to a bathroom is back. I've been avoiding meals with friends, fasting a few hours longer than usual if I'm going to be out running errands, and wondering what foods are causing my pain this time. It's been almost ten years since I was on HUMIRA, and during that time, I've changed. For starters, I don't want my life to be controlled by my diet. I don't want to go back to being obsessed with food and every single bite I put into my mouth. My health journey is more complicated now. I'm on medication to lower my blood pressure and hopefully stop IgA nephropathy from causing further damage to my kidneys. I'm taking omeprazole to relieve symptoms of silent reflux, which is causing inflammation in my esophagus and stomach. And that little thing we call stress, which is also my biggest IBD trigger, is not going away – no matter how much sauerkraut I eat or meditation and yoga that I do. I still think diet and lifestyle play significant roles in overall health, but I accept and recognize that at this point, I need more than that. In my current state, I'm reluctant to use some of the supplements and methods I tried in the past. Now that I'm on blood pressure medication, I don't feel safe doing periods of extended fasting because my heart rate drops low and I get lightheaded if I go longer than sixteen hours fasting. So many products have warnings against taking them if you have kidney disease and I don't want to accidentally take an herb or supplement that either lowers my blood pressure even more or causes additional damage to my kidneys. I don't have the knowledge or expertise to start combining natural and pharmaceutical treatments; it's not a road I want to travel. Finally, even though daily meditation has numerous benefits, it doesn't eliminate stressful situations from happening in life. People get sick, work has deadlines, and travel or new experiences can cause anxiety, even if they are exciting adventures. So this time, I'm ready.  This time, I'm not starting medication with one foot out the door. I don't want to wonder what damage is being done by inflammation in my body during minor flare-ups that I try to ignore. I don't want moderate and severe flare-ups to prevent me from enjoying life. I want to live my best life and I'm ready to do that with a biologic medication again. When my symptoms began in early March, we were out of town, so I waited a week to contact my gastroenterologist. When I reached out, he ordered some blood work and a fecal calprotectin test. My CRP was quite a bit higher than my baseline levels, but still considered within the normal range. My calprotectin, however, was definitely high.  So, with my symptoms worsening and a high calprotectin test, my gastroenterologist recommended it was time I go back on medication for Crohn's and I agreed with him. I was finally able to receive my loading dose of HADLIMA this past Friday, April 26 (a biosimilar for HUMIRA that was introduced to the U.S. commercial market on July 1, 2023). My doctor did actually prescribe HUMIRA, but I learned that the VA announced in February that they selected HADLIMA (adalimumab-bwwd), a biosimilar, to replace HUMIRA on the VA National Formulary.(1) It's my understanding that the change took place just this month. As an aside, over the past week I've spent a lot of time on Google catching up on the progress that's been made in the last ten years for IBD medications. I've learned quite a bit about biosimilars, biosimilars with an interchangeability designation(2), and JAK inhibitors that I'll try to write about in a later post! Even though it's been less than a week since I took my loading dose of HADLIMA, I'm already starting to feel better. I know there are risks that come with medications, but there are risks that come with natural treatments and even greater risks when inflammation in the body isn't treated at all. I can't see the damage that may have been done when I ignored minor flare-ups during the years I stopped HUMIRA, but I know I don't want this current moderate flare to take a turn for the worse and I'd like to try and prevent them altogether in the future.  It's been a long journey with Crohn's disease and I know it's far from over. As I reflect back to my first six years with IBD and being left on my own to manage symptoms, I now wonder if I would have been so determined to come off medications ten years ago if I would have received the help and diagnosis I needed at the very beginning. I don't know the answer to that, but what I do know is that as life goes on, we evolve, we grow, and things change – including our perspectives and even beliefs we once held so tightly.  I'm ready now, and I'm grateful. Grateful to have a supportive gastroenterologist who listens and actually believes me, grateful to have access to medications I need, and grateful for a clear path ahead for this next chapter.  https://www.formularywatch.com/view/the-va-replaces-humira-with-hadlima-on-national-formulary https://www.organon.com/news/samsung-bioepis-organon-announce-fda-acceptance-of-supplemental-biologics-license-application-sbla-for-interchangeability-designation-for-hadlima-adalimumab-bwwd-a-biosimilar-to-humira/ * * * * * Support the podcast ❤️ at https://www.crohnsfitnessfood.com Get your copy of Crohn's Fitness Food and My Rocky Road to Health, Shop my favorite products, Read my favorite books, Subscribe to the podcast, Send a little love/coffee

Dr. Natalie Scheeler, a naturopathic doctor specializing in integrative treatments for gastrointestinal conditions, shares her perspective and valuable insights on gut health. She discusses the difference between naturopathic doctors and traditional MDs, the use of fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) and Helminthic therapies in treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the impact of food and probiotics on IBD, and trends in flare management and remission. Dr. Scheeler also provides information about her practice, Modrn Med, and offers a final message of hope and encouragement for patients seeking alternative or complementary treatment options. Takeaways Naturopathic doctors focus on preventative medicine and finding the root cause through a whole person approach using integrative treatments that can be used alongside conventional therapies. Fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) and Helminthic therapies are alternative treatments for IBD that show promise in inducing remission and maintaining gut health. Diet plays a significant role in creating a diverse microbiome. Modrn Med is an integrative and functional medicine practice that offers telehealth consultations and works in collaboration with other healthcare providers. There are other treatment options available for patients who have not found success with conventional therapies, and it is important to work with a knowledgeable practitioner to explore these options. Topics covered in the interview Difference Between Naturopathic Doctors (ND) and traditional doctors (MD or DO) Integrative Treatments for Gastrointestinal Conditions Fecal Microbiota Transplant (FMT) Impact of Food and Probiotics on IBD Trends in Flare Management and Remission Helminthic Therapies About Modrn Med From the show Stephanie: What are some of the trends that you've seen with helping people to get out of a flare and into remission? Dr. Scheeler: …the dietary aspect is a large trend I'm seeing I think, too, with social media. There's just the ability to spread so much information and so that is oftentimes how people coming into our office and have said, ‘I've tried these diets' or ‘I've done these diets' versus us kind of introducing them to that idea. So that's interesting. The other one is an herb called Qing Dai. It's a Chinese herb…which is an herb that can be really helpful for inducing remission, typically. We usually reserve it for remission induction versus maintenance therapy because there are some safety risks to that…I would always, always recommend working with a provider who's familiar with that herb…something that is important to say is that natural medicine isn't always safer, and it isn't always safe in general. There is risks associated with any treatments that you do. And so knowing those risks, having somebody who is familiar with those risks is important, especially if you are on the kind of quote-unquote conventional medications and add this stuff in, there could be interactions. Stephanie: Can you talk a little bit about the Modrn Med practice and what types of patients you see? Dr. Scheeler: Yeah, so ModernMed, we are a practice, we are all naturopathic doctors. There's four of us there. And we do integrative and functional medicine. A large part of our practice is gastrointestinal disease, including inflammatory bowel disease. I personally see patients exclusively via telehealth…but there is a location in LA, too, if people are interested. With that, since I do telehealth, I'm licensed in California, Arizona, Maryland, Vermont, and Connecticut, as of now. But all of us depending can either see you as patient if we're licensed in that state or do what we consider educational consults. So with patients who live out of state, we can share some of this information with you and help you do things safely or talk with your provider too…it's very common for us to work with other providers, especially myself working with gastroenterologists. I think when we all work as a team is when we get the best outcomes. And so patients, who may be in a state that we're not licensed in, we're comfortable talking to providers and usually there's no issues with that as long as we explain what we're doing. We always do evidence-based medicine. So as long as we share, even if they're not familiar with it off the bat, most people are open to working together and helping the patient out. Links and studies from the show Modern Med: https://www.modrnmed.com/dr-natalie-scheeler FMT for UC: Nishida A, Inoue R, Inatomi O, Bamba S, Naito Y, Andoh A. Gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. Clin J Gastroenterol. 2018;11(1):1-10. doi:10.1007/s12328-017-0813-5 (PMID: 29285689)  FMT for CD: Zhou S, Cui Y, Zhang Y, Zhao T, Cong J. Fecal microbiota transplantation for induction of remission in Crohn's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2023;38(1):62. Published 2023 Mar 8. doi:10.1007/s00384-023-04354-4 (PMID: 36882658)  Helminthic Therapy in CD (Trichuris suis specific): Schölmerich J, Fellermann K, Seibold FW, et al. A Randomised, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial of Trichuris suis ova in Active Crohn's Disease. J Crohns Colitis. 2017;11(4):390-399. doi:10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjw184 (PMID: 27707789)  Helminthic Therapy in CD (Trichuris suis specific):  Garg SK, Croft AM, Bager P. Helminth therapy (worms) for induction of remission in inflammatory bowel disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;2014(1):CD009400. Published 2014 Jan 20. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009400.pub2 (PMID: 24442917)  Paper co-written by Dr. Scheeler on Qing Dai (Pronounced "Ching Dye") a.k.a. Indigo Naturalis: https://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/journal/clinical-application-of-indigo-naturalis Support the podcast ❤️ at https://www.crohnsfitnessfood.com Get your copy of Crohn's Fitness Food and My Rocky Road to Health, Shop my favorite products, Read my favorite books, Subscribe to the podcast, Send a little love/coffee

Enjoy this interview with Megan Starshak, an ulcerative colitis warrior, adventurer, runner, cyclist, patient advocate and co-founder of The Great Bowel Movement. In this conversation, Megan shares her journey with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), her advocacy work, and how she balances life with chronic illness. She discusses her diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and the challenges she faced in finding effective treatments. Megan emphasizes the importance of finding a supportive community and offers advice for young adults with IBD. She also talks about her involvement with The Great Bowel Movement, an organization that aims to decrease the stigma surrounding IBD. Megan shares her career in marketing and how she uses her skills to support other patient advocates. She closes this interview with a message of empowerment and the importance of not wasting the challenges we face. Takeaways Finding a supportive community is crucial for individuals with IBD. Connecting with others who understand the challenges can provide a sense of belonging and empowerment. It is important for young adults with IBD to be proactive in their healthcare journey. Staying informed about treatment options and advocating for oneself can lead to better outcomes. The Great Bowel Movement is an organization that aims to decrease the stigma surrounding IBD. They provide resources and support for individuals living with IBD and encourage open conversations about the disease. Megan's career in marketing allows her to use her skills to support other patient advocates and help them share their stories. She believes in the power of storytelling and connecting ideas with the people who can make a difference. Living with a chronic illness can be challenging, but it can also lead to personal growth and resilience. Embracing the journey and finding meaning in the struggles can empower individuals to live their lives to the fullest. Topics covered in the interview Megan's IBD Story and Diagnosis Understanding IBD and Treatment The Impact of IBD on Daily Life Advice for Young Adults with IBD Navigating Treatment and Doctor Appointments Finding Effective Medications Life in Remission Navigating Food and Trigger Foods The Great Bowel Movement Megan's Career and Supporting Patient Advocates From the show Stephanie: Looking back at that time in your life and reflecting on when you were going through this as a college student, what advice would you give to other young adults who are living with a chronic illness? Megan: Advice for people going through that now would be just to keep yourself informed, and know that it's okay if you don't understand the deep science of what all the treatments are or what they do, but just know that there are options out there. There are so many more options now than I had when I was that age, which is really amazing for people to have just some more things on the table. It's kind of frustrating that you do have to take charge, that we're still in a place where nobody is really going to do this for you, but it's also kind of a good growing up action too. Start by understanding what's going on in your body, what's going on with your treatment, and managing the relationship with your doctor. Stephanie: What are your biggest takeaways from the lessons you've learned throughout your IBD journey? Megan: Understanding treatments and understanding nutrition and exercise, but also realizing you have to find what works specifically for you and that it might take a little bit of trial and error and working with your doctor to figure out what's going to be best. Also, coming to terms with what you wanted maybe isn't what the reality is; I gave up running, but I found cycling. I found an entire other sport that I love that I have met some really amazing friends through. So it's okay to pivot. It's okay if your best laid plans do not come to life. You're gonna be okay. Links from the show: The Great Bowel Movement: Website - https://thegreatbowelmovement.org/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheGreatBM/ Instagram & X - @thegreatbm Megan: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/itsmemegaroo * * * * * Support the podcast ❤️ at https://www.crohnsfitnessfood.com Get your copy of Crohn's Fitness Food and My Rocky Road to Health, Shop my favorite products, Read my favorite books, Subscribe to the podcast, Send a little love/coffee

Enjoy this interview with Leah Crumrine, a businesswoman, mother, and wife of IBD Warrior Logan Crumrine. Logan has been on the show to share his story with Crohn's disease, but today, his wife Leah shares from her perspective about what it's been like to walk along IBD with her husband. She shares her experience, insights, and tips for supporting those in your life with IBD. Summary Leah Crumrine shares her experience as a caregiver to her husband, Logan, who has Crohn's disease. She discusses the challenges they faced during Logan's flare-up, the changes in roles and responsibilities, and the importance of communication in their relationship. Leah also talks about managing food and family meal planning, communicating with their children about the disease, and the support system they had throughout their journey. She emphasizes the need for caregivers to prioritize self-care and balance, and offers advice for managing day-to-day flare-ups. Leah concludes by discussing the therapeutic aspect of advocacy and sharing their journey with others. This conversation explores the journey of Logan and Leah Crumrine as they navigate life with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It highlights their journey to recovery, reaching remission, finding balance, and hope and perseverance. Leah also offers support to others facing similar challenges and emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and love. Takeaways Prioritize self-care and balance as a caregiver. Communicate openly and honestly with your loved one about their needs. Create a support system of friends, family, or online communities. Learn as much as you can about IBD and advocate for your loved one's care. Make a plan for managing flare-ups. Enjoy moments of normalcy and adventure when your loved one is feeling well. Recovery from IBD is a journey that starts small and progresses over time. The story of Logan and Leah Crumrine is a testament to hope and perseverance in the face of adversity. Offering support and being open to conversations about IBD can make a significant difference in someone's life. Continuously learning and loving each other is essential in navigating the challenges of IBD. Topics covered in the interview Introduction to IBD and Logan's Flare Changes in Roles and Responsibilities Mourning the Loss of Expectations Balancing Responsibilities Self-Care and Finding Balance The Importance of Communication Asking Good Questions Managing Food and Family Meal Planning Communicating with Children Managing Day-to-Day Flare-Ups Advocacy and Sharing the Journey Importance of Support Systems Keep Learning and Loving From the show: Stephanie: What kind of advice would you give to someone facing a similar situation in becoming the caregiver and provider? Leah: I don't think that we knew going into it how much [life] would change, but I started having to take on more responsibility for things that we normally share, like cleaning the house, taking our boys to different things, going to different family events for holidays and things like that. Logan couldn't go to those things. And so my role really changed in our home to be the primary income earner, but also kind of the primary parent where, of course, those things were shared between us as well. And it was kind of shocking. I mean, I don't think anybody goes into a relationship or whatever, thinking this could totally get flipped on its head. But it really did. And the advice that I think that I would offer is to keep communicating through it and to be good to each other and yourself as a caregiver. Of course, I didn't know that's what I was becoming, but I was becoming a caregiver. And I don't think I realized just how significant that was gonna be…it really was kind of a role reversal, role change. So, again, just the advice of keeping communication open. There were times when we would look at each other and sit there and cry and just say the words out loud. Like, ‘I didn't think it was going to be this way.' ‘I'm so sorry you're so sick.' ‘I'm sorry I'm sick.' Like we just really had to say words to each other and allow each other to feel feelings and talk about it and just say, ‘how do we move forward from here?' ‘What does this mean?' At the time, at the height of his flare, we didn't think he was going to survive. And so we were making plans according to that. And it wasn't easy, but we had to be able to communicate through those things. Links from the show: Leah: https://www.instagram.com/trailmama1  Logan: https://www.instagram.com/logancrumrine * * * * * Support the podcast ❤️ at https://www.crohnsfitnessfood.com Get your copy of Crohn's Fitness Food and My Rocky Road to Health, Shop my favorite products, Read my favorite books, Subscribe to the podcast, Send a little love/coffee

Enjoy this interview with Steve Carver, an IBD warrior, a personal trainer with over 30 years of experience, and the business and product development director at JumpSport. He shares his journey with colitis and dives deep into one of my favorite topics and activities: rebounding! Summary Steve Carver shares his journey with colitis and how he found recovery through a holistic approach. He discusses the benefits of rebounding and how it has helped him maintain his health. Steve also provides advice on getting started with rebounding and emphasizes the importance of consistency and discipline in managing IBD. In this conversation, Steve discusses the benefits of rebounding. He shares options for trying rebounding, including gyms and online platforms. Steve emphasizes the fun and versatility of rebounding, highlighting that it is not a boring workout! Steve encourages listeners to put in the work to overcome health challenges and live a peaceful lifestyle. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive attitude and learning from setbacks. Steve provides information about JumpSport and invites listeners to reach out with any questions. Takeaways: Rebounding on a trampoline can provide numerous health benefits, including increased lymphatic flow, improved mental health, and enhanced balance and stability. Getting started with rebounding can be as simple as purchasing a personal fitness trampoline or finding a gym that offers rebounding classes. You can use the JumpSport club finder to find a gym near you with classes: www.jumpsport.com/jumpsport-club-studio-locator/ Rebounding is a fun and versatile workout. Consistency and discipline are keys in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Putting in the work and having a positive attitude can help overcome health challenges. Topics covered in the interview: Steve Carver's Journey Holistic Approach to Treatment Transition to Rebounding Health Benefits of Rebounding Time Spent on the Trampoline Getting Started with Rebounding Options for Trying Rebounding The Fun and Versatility of Rebounding Accessing Rebounding Programming Maintaining a Positive Attitude Finding Information about JumpSport Additional Questions and Contact Information From the show: Stephanie: What are some of the things that you have found to help control stress levels? Steve Carver: Here's the thing about stress, I think it's really important that you have other tools at your disposal to help you de-stress yourself. Whenever a stress happens in your life…there's about a 90 second chemical reaction that happens in your brain. So it's okay to be angry, it's okay to be sad, it's okay to be upset, scared, whatever caused the stress in the first place. That chemical reaction lasts about 90 seconds. Anything longer than that is you staying on the hamster wheel and continuing to perpetuate those feelings. So how do I stop that? So some people say, well, I can't get off the hamster wheel. So I need to distract my mind. For me, I'll do 10 deep breaths. And the first five, I'm like, doesn't seem to be doing anything, right? And then I get deeper and I exhale more and by number 10, I'm thinking only about breathing. And then I realized that I'm not as at DEFCON 5 anymore. I'm still trying to deal with whatever it was that caused me to be stressed, but now I have a clearer mind to come up with a solution that's going to be beneficial to solve the problem or if it's something that I just can't control and there's nothing I can do about it at this moment, me being worked up about it is not helping the problem. So find a way that works for you to distract your mind from the thing that caused you to be stressed in the moment. I know that there are some monumental things that happen in life and in the moment it's very upsetting. But I always take a moment and think, okay, what can I do about it right here, right now in this moment? And too many of us regress to some other trauma in our life where we were a child and we didn't really have good coping skills; so we have a very childlike reaction to that stress. Whereas if we can understand that that's what we're doing and we're no longer there, then we can replace those reactions or those coping mechanisms with something that's more beneficial to you — and again, this takes a little bit of work and it doesn't happen overnight. One of the coping mechanisms I have is a JumpSport trampoline. When I'm at work and something frustrates me or maybe I didn't get good sleep, I go down the trampoline and I run as fast as I can or I put on my headphones and I listen to really loud music and I bounce for about three to five minutes and sure enough, all of a sudden I'm not that stressed anymore and I'm not that upset anymore. Now, the problem didn't go away, I just stopped making it worse than it was, like pouring gasoline on a fire. And I think that is helpful for people — if they can find something for them, and certainly the trampoline is a vehicle and is a fun thing, that distracts you, it lets you get all that energy out. Stephanie: I've heard that there are mental health benefits to rebounding. Is that something that you can talk about? Steve Carver: Sure, let's talk about the health benefits. So I primarily got into this because of the physical aspect of it. So you go from zero gravity when you're at the top of the stroke, where you barely even just barely leave the surface — you don't even have to jump high on it — and then you push down into the trampoline surface and can create exponential gravity. The beauty of that is, on a health level, is that your lymphatic system does not have a pump, so to move lymph through your body, you need two things do that, gravity and movement…doing the fitness trampoline from JumpSport will give you up to five G's of force, so as you compress yourself down to five G's and release to zero gravity, it creates a natural pumping action…10 minutes of exercise will actually move the lymph through your system and detoxify your body while you're working out. So what does that do? What does that mean, really? Well, if I remove all the toxins out of my body very efficiently and I help my body do that, that helps everything else be more efficient. So now my immune system is stronger because it's not bogged down by toxins. My heart, my lungs, anything that has fluid is going to be assisted by that pumping action as well. So you're going to get benefits to your endocrine system and all of all of the other ones that I mentioned. Not to mention that you're going to actually help your heart in this process so it doesn't have to work nearly as hard. So there's just a small list of just the physical health benefits. We have our product in the UCLA Medical Center…they've realized that it produces a lot of your happy hormones. So oxytocin, serotonin, endorphins all get released into your brain while you're bouncing on the trampoline. So as a result of that, you smile and you're happy. So I always tell people, three minutes on the JumpSport is like a cup of coffee. So if you're feeling a little down, your energy is a little low, you get on the trampoline, you bounce on it for three minutes. All of a sudden you're like, I'm wide awake and I have lots of energy and I'm happy again. Links from the show: JumpSport - www.jumpsport.com Rebounding Benefits - www.jumpsport.com/fitness/benefits-of-rebounding/ ACE Study - www.jumpsport.com/blog/ace-study-proves-exercise-trampoline-benefits/ Workouts - www.jumpsport.com/fitness-trampoline-workouts/ YouTube Channel - www.youtube.com/@JumpSportFitness/videos Instagram JumpSport - www.instagram.com/jumpsportfitness Instagram Steve Carver - www.instagram.com/carvercompletefitness * * * * * Support the podcast ❤️ at https://www.crohnsfitnessfood.com Get your copy of Crohn's Fitness Food and My Rocky Road to Health, Shop my favorite products, Read my favorite books, Subscribe to the podcast, Send a little love/coffee

Enjoy this interview with Logan Crumrine, a Crohn's disease warrior of more than 30 years, advocate, and writer. Logan was first diagnosed in 1990. For years he fluctuated between states of flares, semi-remission, clinical trials and surgeries, and then went into complete remission for over 15 years! But remission came to an end in 2012 and he spent the next few years fighting for his life and eventually filed for disability. Today, he's now in his second year of remission and living life to the fullest.  Some of you will remember Logan as one of my repeat guests. He shared the first part of his story in episode 29 of this podcast in July 2019, and came back a year later in 2020 to talk about his experience and knowledge about going through the process of filing for disability.  Today, he's back to update us on his journey and share what it's like to now live in remission. From the show: Stephanie: What kind of tips do you have for other people who are finding themselves newly in remission and still afraid to let go of the habits that they've held onto for so many years as their safety net? Logan: I think the best advice would be that you've kind of got to do your own walk in that. You've got to kind of let go of those things as you feel comfortable. I still carry supplies in my backpack, but I don't carry as many. I don't carry an extra change of clothes, so my backpack has gotten down to just some undergarments in there and some stuff to clean up if I need to. It's a much smaller kit, but again, I'm still learning. It's still automatic for me to put all that stuff on when I'm going out. And I think it's just, you just kind of have to challenge yourself and push yourself. It helps too that I have Leah with me, who's an incredible partner who reminds me, ‘hey, you know, you made this trip a couple of times without anything. Why don't you try it again?' Or I'll be able to share with her that I didn't even get ready like I normally do for a trip. And then it's kind of an epiphany almost to say, ‘oh wow, we don't need that stuff all the time anymore.' Stephanie: You've shared on social media a few times about struggling with Crohn's and depression. Can you talk about how you've coped through some of the hardest times and how has remission affected your overall mental health? Logan: I think remission has helped my mental health and has benefited it. I still struggle with depression and sometimes, some days, it's absolutely debilitating. Right now, my depression seems to be presenting itself with insomnia. So I can be tired at seven o'clock and think, okay, I'm going to head to bed around nine and then I'm up till two. So it seems to be presenting that way. I think being in a place with more sunlight has helped. Seasonal depression affected me really bad in Washington because where I lived in Washington, from about October to March, it's very dark and very gray. It's nice to be able to look out the window and see blue skies and sun, I'm trying to get back to exercising because that's so vital to mental health. Stephanie: You have shared on social media about your fitness journey and just getting to a place of better overall health, what were some of the baby steps or the ways that you started to get back into that as you were feeling better? Logan: I think that, and for the record, my hiking and walking come and go, like any kind of fitness thing, I do really good for a while and kind of back off for a little while. I think that one thing that I had to do is realize that I have to start with what I can do, even if it's five minutes of getting outside and taking a walk. I started when I was starting to get my health back. I was just literally doing laps around the cul-de-sac. And that's all I could do, just walk around the cul-de-sac very slow with a cane. It was very difficult for me to even get out and do anything. And now, I mean, where I was at the height that's kind of dropped off since we moved, but I'm trying to get back into it. I think I was doing three or four miles a day walking. I was lifting regularly because again, medications that you get on Crohn's and colitis, steroids, sometimes those things play havoc on your bones. Links from the show: Social Media www.instagram.com/logancrumrine Studies on steroids and blood sugar: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4515447/pdf/WJD-6-1073.pdf https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8394226/ What if the Monsters are Afraid of Me (Book) https://a.co/d/elzLPAW Previous episodes with Logan: https://www.podbean.com/ * * * * * Support the podcast ❤️ at https://www.crohnsfitnessfood.com Get your copy of Crohn's Fitness Food and My Rocky Road to Health, Shop my favorite products, Read my favorite books, Subscribe to the podcast, Send a little love/coffee

Enjoy this interview with Abigail Marie the Chef With IBD. She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2014, halfway through culinary school. Throughout her journey, she's navigated various medications, been hospitalized during severe flares, and even adjusted her career path as chronic illness was consuming her life. Unable to find relief, she began experimenting with diet and eventually found the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD). Since then, she's improved her health and discovered a new dream: to help others with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) live better lives through healing and flavorful foods. In this podcast episode, she share's her story, perspective, and tips for fellow IBD patients. From the show: Stephanie: What advice would you give to other IBD patients who might be in a similar position where they're having to face making a career change? Abigail: You know, I was so set on my dream of being a chef, but that's not the path that life took. And you know, you'll find another dream. Now my dream is working on my blog, doing SCD recipes and sharing with the community — sharing my story and advocating and raising awareness. You will find something else. I know it seems so devastating, but just trust that you're on the right path and that you'll find a new dream. Stephanie: What are some of the things you've found in your life to help manage stress? Abigail: I keep a gratitude journal. I do that first thing in the morning and right before I go to bed, and it really helps me get the right mindset for the day. I also do a daily meditation. It's not long, it's 10 to 12 minutes, but just having those 10 to 12 minutes to myself in the morning before my day starts has been really helpful for me. And then just practicing mindfulness, just trying to be in the moment. Chronic illness can be really scary, you don't always know what's around the corner, but you have this moment right now. So just trying to take yourself out of that worrying about the big picture. I also practice Qigong, it's similar to Tai Chi, it's like mindfulness movement. I do that a few times a week for 15 or 20 minutes and that really helps me move stress through my body. Whereas the meditation and the gratitude journal are more for my mind. The mindfulness movement is more for the body. So balancing both of those, mind and body. Links from the show: Website - abigailmariethechefwithibd.com Contact - abigailmariethechefwithibd.com/contact/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/chefwithibd Facebook - www.facebook.com/abigailmariethechefwithibd * * * * * Support the podcast ❤️ at www.crohnsfitnessfood.com Get your copy of Crohn's Fitness Food and My Rocky Road to Health, Shop my favorite products, Read my favorite books, Subscribe to the podcast, Send a little love/coffee

Enjoy this interview with Amber J Tresca, health content creator, writer, speaker, advocate, and host of the About IBD podcast. Amber was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at the age of 16, had a colectomy at age 26, and started writing about inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other health conditions one year later! She's been writing ever since, sharing both about her own journey and writing for a variety of health publications giving insight and technical information about IBD. In this podcast episode, she share's her story, perspective, and tips for fellow IBD patients. From the show: SG: How important it is to get care, and the right care, right away? AT: …it's so important. And it's important also to not get into that fatalistic state of mind that I was in, that I still don't know where it came from, but that I could only expect so much improvement and that it wasn't going to go further than that. I should have expected, I should have demanded more, but I didn't know what I didn't know. Today we have better treatments, we have a lot more understanding, there's better testing, etc. But you still, as the patient, have to be the one (or as a parent or a caregiver) you have to be the one to make sure that all of this is happening and you have to be the one to advocate for yourself or your loved one to make sure that you're getting what you need. And I've heard lots of stories about how people advocate for themselves and the ways in which they make changes…There's always a workaround. There's always a way that you can make the situation work for your life, but you have to explain what that is to your healthcare providers and help them help you get to where it is that you want to be. SG: What are some of the top resources that you would recommend to people listening to go to for information? AT: …my first place to go is PubMed, but I know that's not for everybody. Not everybody wants to wade through all of that stuff to find what they're looking for. But I do often give talks or write about how you can find good sources of information. …government sites, educational sites, and patient advocacy group sites, so .gov, .org, .edu, is usually a good place to start and to find information. The second thing that I would look for in information is who wrote it. And I just told you that I write all kinds of stuff without a byline. But when you read something, there should be an identifiable entity, at least. Even if it says staff writer. It shouldn't just be a bunch of very clinical advice-sounding type stuff on a page and you don't know who wrote it. You should know who wrote it and how to get in contact with them. Three, would be looking at what the site that you are interacting with, or the app, I guess I should say, what they're getting out of it. Are they selling you something? And I'm not saying that someone who has something for sale is always off the table. I mean, if you sign up for my newsletter, I have discount codes in there too that you can go and purchase some of the things that I have vetted and that I use in my own life…But I will say it should be clear and you should have a clear understanding of if that person is selling something and then what they are selling. …So the fourth thing is, is that you want to see that the information that you are looking at, receiving, interacting with, goes back to some primary sources. So that's where it gets back to that PubMed thing…Did they get it from a source that is, for instance, someone interviewed a clinician, which is something that you and I do, you interview someone like that, they're a source. They link back to a clinical trial. Okay, they're talking about a medication. So they link to maybe a trial on that medication. That's great. Or they link back to, for instance, a patient advocacy group or an educational resource like an IBD center, which there are several across the country. That's good to know. Whenever I see something that says like 10% of people XYZ, I want to know where that 10% came from. Where'd that come from? There's got to be something behind that for me. So that's another thing that I usually say that people should look for when they're looking for good sources of information. …number five is your own healthcare team. Ask them for the resources, okay, because we all want to go online and look for things because it's easy and convenient and works out really well. But there are also sources that are offline, another patient that they might suggest for you to be a sort of a mentor for you, or someone else on the healthcare team, like a dietician, like a mental health specialist. Those people are great sources, primary sources, of information for you, and then they can also tell you what it is that they think would be helpful for you. Links from the show: Website - aboutibd.com/about-amber About IBD Podcast - aboutibd.com/podcast Instagram - www.instagram.com/about_ibd Facebook - www.facebook.com/aboutibd * * * * * Support the podcast ❤️ Get your copy of Crohn's Fitness Food and My Rocky Road to Health, Shop my favorite products, Read my favorite books, Subscribe to the podcast, Send a little love/coffee

Enjoy this interview with Tim Parsons, a Crohn's disease warrior, ambulance service chaplain, and author of the children's book series Paramedic Chris. Through the Paramedic Chris children's books, Tim aims to help develop children's reading skills and also offers support for important subjects such as anxiety, fear, and working together as a community. In today's episode, he shares his story with IBD and how he balances life with Crohn's. Social media & links from the show: Instagram:  https://instagram.com/paramedicchriskidsbooks TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@paramedicchriskidsbooks Website: https://timparsons.co.uk/ Books: Paramedic Chris Paramedic Chris A Helping Hand Paramedic Chris A Sorry Bully Paramedic Chris and the Runaway Chicken * * * * * Support the podcast ❤️ Get your copy of Crohn's Fitness Food and My Rocky Road to Health, Shop my favorite products, Read my favorite books, Subscribe to the podcast, Send a little love/coffee

Enjoy this interview with Clemmie Oliver. Diagnosed with Ulcerative colitis in 1999, she had an ileostomy at age 11, was later diagnosed with IBS in addition to IBD, and is now focused on helping others improve their lives and find better health. After becoming a Registered Associate Nutritionist and Qualified Nutritional Therapist, she founded the Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine Clinic in 2018 where she and her team support patients living with IBD in the UK and across the world to live a better quality of life.  She is passionate about empowering patients with IBD by providing evidence-based nutrition support to bring clarity around diet and their IBD, remove fear from food, optimize nutritional intake, and support symptom management, as well as being their patient advocate ensuring they are receiving the care they need. Links from the show: instagram.com/clemmieolivernutrition nalmclinic.com * * * * * Support the podcast ❤️ Get your copy of Crohn's Fitness Food and My Rocky Road to Health, Shop my favorite products, Read my favorite books, Subscribe to the podcast, Send a little love/coffee

Enjoy this interview with Sarah Campbell. She's a Crohn's warrior, the founder of @ibdheroes on Instagram, a mother of two, and a former beauty queen. In this episode, she shares her IBD journey, advocacy, and how she balances it all. Follow on social: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.may.campbell https://www.instagram.com/ibdheroes/ * * * * * Support the podcast ❤️ Get your copy of Crohn's Fitness Food and My Rocky Road to Health, Shop my favorite products, Read my favorite books, Subscribe to the podcast, Send a little love/coffee

Enjoy this interview with Kiley Petencin, an ulcerative colitis warrior diagnosed in 2014. Despite the flares battling IBD, she continued to pursue her graduate degree and is now an occupational therapist providing telehealth services to clients, many who have chronic illness. Four years ago, she started writing songs and found music to be a refuge and passion throughout her journey. Today she shares both her story with IBD and music! Listen until the end to hear her song "Brighter Days" that she released two years ago this week. Links & Social: Website - kileypet.com Instagram - www.instagram.com/kileypet Instagram - www.instagram.com/kileypetmusic * * * * * Support the podcast ❤️ Get your copy of Crohn's Fitness Food and My Rocky Road to Health, Shop my favorite products, Read my favorite books, Subscribe to the podcast, Send a little love/coffee

Enjoy this interview with Kelly Jenkins. She's a chronic illness patient, certified yoga teacher and certified nutrition coach thriving in a modern world! After being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, she spent the past eight years treating it with a combination of western and naturopathic medicine. Today, she's on a journey to support healthier, happier, chronically WILLED warriors! Links from the show: Blog & Website: chronicallywilled.com/blog Instagram: www.instagram.com/chronicallywilled Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094712043821 * * * * * Support the podcast ❤️ Get your copy of Crohn's Fitness Food and My Rocky Road to Health, Shop my favorite products, Read my favorite books, Subscribe to the podcast, Send a little love/coffee

Enjoy this interview with Tom Wilding, a Crohn's disease warrior and graphic designer who enjoys horror films, travel, wrestling, and sharing irreverent humor about body parts and his IBD journey! After battling Crohn's disease for the past 16 years, he's now just four months post surgery from a subtotal colectomy and he's here today to share his story. Show links & Social: Instagram - www.instagram.com/intestinesareoverrated Designs - www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TomWildingDesigns * * * * * Support the podcast ❤️ Get your copy of Crohn's Fitness Food and My Rocky Road to Health, Shop my favorite products, Read my favorite books, Subscribe to the podcast, Send a little love/coffee

Enjoy this interview with Jackie Zimmerman, an IBD warrior, author, patient advocate, and QUEEN of getting shit done (GSD)! She's here to share her journey with IBD and how she channeled two chronic illnesses into a side career in patient advocacy, founded a nonprofit for women with IBD and ostomies, and runs a successful business inspiring small business owners to dream big. Links from the show: Jackie Zimmerman - jackiezimmerman.com & www.queenofgsd.com Girls With Guts - girlswithguts.org “What Won't She Say” podcast (Jackie's full story) - www.podbean.com “Not Crazy” podcast - notcrazy.libsyn.com SheHive - theshehive.com Follow on social: Instagram - instagram.com/queenofgsd Instagram - instagram.com/jackiezimm Facebook - facebook.com/queenofgsd * * * * * Support the podcast ❤️ Get your copy of Crohn's Fitness Food and My Rocky Road to Health, Shop my favorite products, Read my favorite books, Subscribe to the podcast, Send a little love/coffee

Enjoy this interview with Natasha Monk, your stoma acceptance queen! She's advocating body acceptance and raising awareness about IBD and ostomies. In this episode, she shares her 20-year journey with Crohn's disease and endometriosis. Follow on social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natasha_monk1 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@natasha_monk1?lang=en * * * * * Support the podcast ❤️ Get your copy of Crohn's Fitness Food and My Rocky Road to Health, Shop my favorite products, Read my favorite books, Subscribe to the podcast, Send a little love/coffee

Enjoy this interview with Dr. Selvi Rengasami, a Crohn's warrior, physician, and integrative nutrition health coach. From medications and multiple surgeries — including a temporary ostomy — to facing death, she's reached remission and filled her life with joy, purpose, and the ability to guide others on the path to gut health. Links: Dr. Selvi: https://www.drselvi.com/ Follow on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/selvi.rengasami Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.selvi.coach/ * * * * * Support the podcast ❤️ Get your copy of Crohn's Fitness Food and My Rocky Road to Health, Shop my favorite products, Read my favorite books, Subscribe to the podcast, Send a little love/coffee

Enjoy this interview with Chrissy Y (@lifewithcrohns on Instagram). She was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease in 2005. From diagnosis to treatments, she shares her journey with IBD and how she raises IBD awareness through education and humor! Follow on social: Instagram @lifewithcrohns * * * * * Support the podcast ❤️ Get your copy of Crohn's Fitness Food and My Rocky Road to Health, Shop my favorite products, Read my favorite books, Subscribe to the podcast, Send a little love/coffee

Enjoy this interview with Stephanie Brenner, a Crohn's warrior, ostomate, and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has 13 years of experience working with clients with chronic illnesses. Through her journey as a chronic illness patient and clinician, she has developed a passion for helping people with health challenges live their lives to the fullest. When working with her clients, she uses cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, medical hypnotherapy, psycho-education, and a strengths-based approach.  Links from the show: Stephanie's practice, Chronic Illness Psychotherapy: https://chronicillnesspsychotherapy.com/ GI Psych Provider Directory from The Rome Foundation: https://romegipsych.org/ Ostomy Academy on Mental Health: https://youtu.be/6IyluMHxKwM The Circle of Care Guidebook for Caregivers of Children and Adolescents Managing Crohn's Disease: https://www.caregiving.org/caregivers-of-children-and-adolescents-managing-crohns-disease/  * * * * * Support the podcast ❤️ Get your copy of Crohn's Fitness Food and My Rocky Road to Health, Shop my favorite products, Read my favorite books, Subscribe to the podcast, Send a little love/coffee

Enjoy this interview with Tina Aswani Omprakash. When Crohn's disease derailed her career and educational goals 17 years ago, she rose from the ashes and celebrated her graduation this summer from the Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine's Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and gave the commencement address. Her battle with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) rendered her unable to work until she mustered up the courage to pursue a Master's in Public Health (MPH) and change careers. Throughout her journey, Tina's undergone more than 20 surgeries, had four near-death experiences, and today is passionate about advocating for the chronically ill and disabled. Through her blog, Own Your Crohn's, she welcomes everyone to “Own your Crohn's. Own your IBD. Own your chronic illness and/or disability. Own everything that might not fit societal norms and give it a voice. Because what knocks us down can make us stronger, fiercer, and more united if we let it.” Links from the show: Own Your Crohn's: https://ownyourcrohns.com/ South Asian IBD Alliance: https://www.southasianibd.org/ SAIA IBDesis: https://www.southasianibd.org/ibdesis/ Follow on social: https://www.facebook.com/ownyourcrohns/ https://www.instagram.com/ownyourcrohns/ https://twitter.com/ownyourcrohns https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-aswani-omprakash/ * * * * * Support the podcast ❤️ Get your copy of Crohn's Fitness Food and My Rocky Road to Health, Shop my favorite products, Read my favorite books, Subscribe to the podcast, Send a little love/coffee

Enjoy this interview with Flic Manning, author, radio broadcaster, speaker and entrepreneur with a flare for dance. She is a disabled and chronically sick human who built a successful twenty-year career as a dancer and choreographer while living with chronic invisible, incurable diseases. She worked for business legends such as Gary Vaynerchuk and Lesley Gold in San Francisco, California, USA, while becoming a qualified wellbeing and holistic health expert. On her return to Australia, Flic founded Corethentic, a complete wellness system, and is an ambassador for Crohn's & Colitis Australia, the Mental Health Foundation of Australia, and for FitRec DNA. She hosts “Brainwaves” on 3CR Melbourne—a show dedicated to the lived experience of mental health.  Flic has a range of qualifications spanning the brain, mind and body; from neuroplasticity, neurobiology, wellness coaching, mindfulness and holistic pain management to fitness and dance. She has written for magazines like OK!, has been featured on Ticker News and Broad Radio Australia, and is a popular speaker working with organizations like the YMCA and Vush. Her memoir Living Human, which details the lessons she has learned living with invisible illness, is available accessibly in print, digital format, and audiobook and has been called a “Profound story of hope and resilience” by Jacinta Parsons, ABC Broadcaster. She will release her second book The Mind Symphony a book about the brain and body aspects of mindset soon. Flic spends most of her time working to change the public perception of disabled and chronically sick people, and in her free time she can be found with her support dog Rocket and her husband by, or in, the ocean. Links from the show: Flic Manning: https://flicmanning.com Corethentic: https://corethenticbody.com Brainwaves: https://www.3cr.org.au/brainwaves Living Human: https://flicmanning.com/books.html Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flicmanning  * * * * * Support the podcast ❤️ Get your copy of Crohn's Fitness Food and My Rocky Road to Health, Shop my favorite products, Read my favorite books, Subscribe to the podcast, Send a little love/coffee

Enjoy this interview with Courtney Walls. She's been an IBD warrior since 2006, and is passionate about sharing her story and experiences to help inspire others on their own journey. She shares the ups and downs of life with IBD, showing that despite this illness, you can achieve your dreams. Links from the show: Healp Social Network, www.healp.co Thought Catalog article, "What You Don't See" Follow on Instagram: @courts_crohns_corner * * * * * Support the podcast ❤️ Get your copy of Crohn's Fitness Food and My Rocky Road to Health, Shop my favorite products, Read my favorite books, Subscribe to the podcast, Send a little love/coffee

Enjoy this interview with “America's Trusted Digestive Nutrition Expert” and celiac disease fighter, Tamara Duker Freuman. She's been featured on Good Morning America, Inside Edition, CNN and many other media outlets. She is a New York-based dietitian, whose clinical practice focuses on the dietary management of digestive and metabolic diseases. She is the author of "The Bloated Belly Whisperer," and has just released her second book, “Regular,” which addresses the many causes of — and treatments for — bowel irregularity, including a full chapter dedicated to Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Links from the show: https://www.thebloatedbellywhisperer.com/ https://gastroenterologistnewyork.com/ Get the books on Amazon: Regular: https://amzn.to/41xNETo The Bloated Belly Whisperer: https://amzn.to/3oB53ft Follow Tamara on social: https://www.instagram.com/bloatedbellywhisperer https://www.facebook.com/bloatedbellywhisperer/ https://twitter.com/tamaraduker ___________ Enjoy the podcast? Help keep it going and send a little love ❤️ https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stephgish Shop all the things I love: https://crohnsfitnessfood.com/shopping-list/ Want to share your story? Send me a message here.

Enjoy this interview with Professor Ed Cohen who was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at age 13 and has now been living with IBD for over half a century. Crohn's nearly killed him in his early 20s and the only outlook his doctors ever gave him was that the best he could hope for would be periods of remission. Professor Cohen has spent his life in search of better health and is sharing what he's learned over the years in his new book, “On Learning to Heal or, What Medicine Doesn't Know.” He draws on his 50 years of living with Crohn's disease to consider how Western medicine's turn from an “art of healing” toward a “science of medicine” deeply affects both medical practitioners and their patients. Links from the show: On the web: www.healingcounsel.com Get the book: www.healingcounsel.com/publications/on-learning-to-heal Schedule a 15-minute conversation to learn about Healing Counsel: www.healingcounsel.com/contact View Professor Cohen's bio from Rutgers University and additional publications: Rutgers: womens-studies.rutgers.edu/faculty/core-faculty/122-ed-cohen Follow on social: www.twitter.com/Healing_Counsel www.instagram.com/healingcounsel www.linkedin.com/in/ed-cohen-15386816   _______ Enjoy the podcast? Help keep it going and send a little love ❤️ www.buymeacoffee.com/stephgish Shop all the things I love: www.crohnsfitnessfood.com/shopping-list   Want to share your story? Send me a message here.

Enjoy this interview with Katie Truscott-Howell who has been battling Crohn's disease and celiac disease since she was 18. Her journey with IBD and celiac disease, combined with her passion and commitment to fitness and a healthy lifestyle, led her to start Katie's Life Kitchen — UK's only meal kit provider suitable for people who suffer with IBD, celiac disease, IBS, or gluten and dairy intolerances. In this episode, she shares her Crohn's disease story and tips for balancing life with IBD. Follow Katie's Life Kitchen: https://www.katieslifekitchen.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/katieslifekitchen/ https://www.facebook.com/katieslifekitchen/ Support Katie as she races in the Jurassic Coast Ultra Challenge to raise funds for Crohn's & Colitis UK: Donate here. ----- Enjoy the podcast? Help keep it going and send a little love ❤️ https://www.buymeacoffee.com/stephgish Shop all the things I love at: https://crohnsfitnessfood.com/shopping-list/ Want to share your story? Send me a message here.

Enjoy this interview with Stephanie Lewis, a Crohn's disease warrior who's been battling IBD and other autoimmune diseases for most of her life and is passionate about helping women over 50 get their autoimmune and other inflammatory illnesses under control. She's the creator of The Longevity Blueprint, is certified in training and nutrition, and is an NLP practitioner.  We talked about illness, surgery, hitting rock bottom in health, recovery, diet (from vegan to carnivore), NLP and more! Though we covered a lot of topics, Stephanie shares these words with listeners, “the only thing I ever want to say to people is you're stronger than you think you are, and if you give up, you're not going to get any better.….and just being focused on where it is you want to be.” Keep in touch with Stephanie Lewis (and follow her journey as she prepares for the strongman competition on October 7, 2023!): YouTube: www.youtube.com/@shsb1979/about Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_longevity_blueprint Blog: the-longevity-blueprint.com Learn more about The Longevity Blueprint: (470) 426-1959

Enjoy this interview with Tony Berardo (www.theberardo.com), a Crohn's disease warrior, video creator, and fellow podcast host of The Berardo Podcast, where he's in pursuit of health, happiness, and good conversation! Keep up with Tony: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook @theberardo @theberardopodcast Links to things we talked about: Meet Cute Box www.meetcutebox.com My Gardyn www.mygardyn.com (use code THEBERARDO for $75 off) Tony's recommended protein powder and more: www.amazon.com/shop/theberardo

Interview with Brittany Blais, an IBD warrior who's been living with Crohn's disease for the past 12 years since she was 14. From medications and diets to fitness programs, she is passionate about health and wellness and is here to share her story.   TikTok @brittanybrealty facebook.com/brittanyberealty Instagram @remaxbrittanyblais

In today's episode, Camille Parker shares her journey with Crohn's Disease. Diagnosed in 2012 as a high school student, she shares her experiences through college, marriage, and having her first child while managing and learning to live with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Following her passion for nutrition and desire to be in the health industry, Camille earned her bachelor's degree in exercise and wellness from Brigham Young University and became a certified personal trainer.  Ten years after her diagnosis, Camille has now combined her education, experience with IBD, and passion for helping others to start her own business, Be Well With IBD (and she donates 2% profits to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation!). She is focused on empowering women With Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis to live a healthy life. In addition to diet and fitness, Camille focuses on living her life with gratitude and finding the blessings in the curse.  Connect with Camille: www.bewellwithibd.com  www.instagram.com/bewellwithibd/ www.pinterest.com/bewellwithibd/_created/

In today's episode, Beth Coldrick shares her journey of living with Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis for the past 11 years. Over the last two years, she's had four major surgeries and is now living with a stoma, raising awareness for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), and sharing her story and experiences to help others. Although she struggled with symptoms for most of her life, it wasn't until 2009 that she was finally diagnosed with both Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Despite being on daily medications and high-strength steroids, she suffered for another 10 years until her surgery in 2019 when most of her large bowel was removed and she was fitted with a stoma.  During that time, as her IBD worsened over the years, Beth had to make major changes to her lifestyle that included moving back home when flares were at their worst and changing careers–using both her skills and passion to launch her own organic vegan skincare brand in 2018. Since then, and after her original surgery in 2019, she's had three more surgeries and has had her life transformed, thriving with a permanent stoma. * * * Learn more about Beth and her skincare brand, BAO Making Skin Happy: https://www.baoskincare.co.uk/  https://www.instagram.com/baoskincare/ https://www.instagram.com/happy_stoma_life/   Links to references in this episode: Hannah Witton: https://www.youtube.com/hannahwitton/featured Yoga with Adrian: https://www.youtube.com/c/yogawithadriene

In today's episode, Ulcerative Colitis Warrior Holly Fowler shares her story of living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) for nearly 14 years. During that time, she's been hospitalized more times than she can count (including once in a foreign country!) and–despite her diagnosis–has proceeded to have a career in corporate marketing, travel the world, run a marathon, and build her own business. She's learned to put her health first and now shares her raw, unfiltered experience with IBD to help raise awareness and connect with others in the IBD community.    Holly is a certified health coach and the founder of Colitiscope Nutrition, where she offers health and lifestyle coaching for those ready to reclaim their lives and get back to doing what they love. She also offers numerous freebies on her website for those living with IBD, including a releasing shame workbook; 7-day workout guide; healing grocery list; and her masterclass, “7 ways to hack your health and make more money.”   **New program launch: Warriors Rising** Specifically designed for women with Crohn's and Colitis, Holly is launching her new group program, Warriors Rising. This 12-week program will teach women practical ways to get into–and stay in–remission, learning about nutrition, fitness, mindset, stress management, and more.  https://colitiscopenutrition.com/warriors-rising/   Follow Holly online: https://colitiscopenutrition.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/HollyCampbellFowler/videos https://www.instagram.com/hollsfowler/  

In today's episode, Lauren Cunningham–a Crohn's Disease warrior, recipe developer, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, and major foodie–shares her journey with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). She talks about how she turned her health struggles into her passion, healing herself from the inside out, and helping as many others along the way as she can. Lauren shares her journey with Crohn's Disease–from surgery and total parenteral nutrition to being diagnosed with additional rare disorders–and how she balances her life now with IBD.  BONUS: Be sure to sign up for her mailing list on her website to receive her free recipe book for a low-residue diet.  https://laurencunningham.co/  Instagram @laur_cunningham | www.instagram.com/laur_cunningham

In today's episode, Heather Hausenblas, PhD, shares her perspective and story as a mother of a son with Crohn's Disease. Her son, Tommy, was diagnosed three years ago at the age of 16. Heather shares how she helped navigate his health and ultimately chronicled their journey in her new book, Invisible Illness: An Insider's Guide to Eliminating Overwhelm and Rediscovering the Path to Health and Happiness with an Autoimmune Disease. In this episode, she shares tips for parents who have children with IBD, cooking for a family, and journaling to track health and patterns. She is passionate about getting people talking about IBD and being more open to sharing their stories to help prevent others from suffering in silence for so long before seeking help. Learn more about Heather and sign up for her weekly newsletters, including recipes and research, at: https://www.heatherhausenblas.com/ Purchase her book on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09DR7VZS7

It’s been a while, but I’m back with another solocast episode of the podcast. I wanted to share a quick peek into what life has been like during the past year for me from working at home, my morning routine with Crohn’s, and balancing life and fitness with fatigue to my recent kidney biopsy. I plan to connect with more of my fellow IBD warriors and bring you all more podcast interviews to listen to, but until then, I hope you enjoy this quick solocast.

In today’s episode, Angela Spaulding shares her 16-year journey with Crohn’s Disease. Diagnosed in her early 20s, she spent many years angry–angry at the diagnosis, at the disease, at the world–and in denial. Like many others, she was forced to navigate the highs and lows of Inflammatory Bowel Disease and eventually found humor as a way to help shift her perspective. Over the years, Angela quickly learned that stress is a major trigger for her Crohn’s flare ups. She was on and off medications for the first few years, but never wanted to stay on them long term. Though she did well for a few years and stayed in remission after stopping medications, in 2010 she found herself in the hospital and facing surgery. In the hospital, the doctors found that her appendix was close to rupturing and scheduled her for an immediate appendectomy. The surgery went well, but she wasn’t recovering as expected. After a couple days in the hospital, she was taken back into surgery where the doctor found that a fistula had been connecting her colon to both her appendix and small intestine. When the doctor removed her appendix during the original surgery, he had unknowingly broken the connection to the fistula, which was allowing its contents to leak and make her sick. Having made a larger incision this time, the doctor found that 19” of her small intestine were badly diseased and removed it. After surgery, the road to recovery was long. She had lost a lot of weight and all of her core strength. Describing her recovery process, Angela shared what it was like learning to eat without fear, how walking was the foundation for her recovery, and how discovering her love for running gave her strength. Running, she found, was not only a physical release for anxiety and stress, but also gave her a much needed mental break by giving her the time and space to clear her head. Since 2011, she’s been off medications and she’s been in remission for the past couple of years. She’s learned to work with her body, navigate through mini flare ups, and find peace in the present moment. It’s taken time, but over the years she’s also learned to shift her mindset from being angry at everything to one of positivity. Though she admits that some days it felt like one step forward and two steps back, gradually her outlook shifted and she’s learned to focus on the good things in life while using humor to help her get through the difficulty of IBD. “We’re not always OK,” she said, but that’s what makes her more grateful for the times that she is. Follow Angela on Instagram: @wanna.be.runner  https://www.instagram.com/wanna.be.runner/

In today’s episode, 12-year Ulcerative Colitis Warrior Shelly Sulfrain shares her IBD journey and how an ileostomy gave her back her life. At the age of 29, Shelly was working as a pharmacist and enjoying life, having just finished school. Then, her first symptom of blood in her stool led her to a trip to the emergency room. It took a few more visits to her primary care doctor and eventually a gastroenterologist to finally diagnose Ulcerative Colitis. From there, she faced a number of highs and lows as she cycled through medications and faced life-threatening side effects throughout the course of her journey.  Over the years, Shelly found brief periods of remission, but ultimately kept finding herself back in a flare and struggling to keep the symptoms away. She battled one major flare right before her wedding and found remission on Imuran while she carried her baby. But, after delivering a healthy baby boy, she went into her worst flare yet and was started on Remicade. Four years later, she experienced a life-threatening side effect. The brain fog she developed and difficulty in finding the right words were a result of her neurons not functioning properly; a rare side effect of Remicade. It also meant there was a chance that she might only have a few months to live. While an MRI confirmed that she was not facing death, the damage that had been done was not reversible.  Her options for medications were dwindling and, for Shelly, it was a sign that the disease was getting worse and that it was winning. She went on to try Entivyo, Humira, and Xeljanz, but nothing worked. By this point, she was in a bad place emotionally and mentally and she leaned into meditation, prayer, and journaling to help her cope with the anxiety, stress, and depression. Finally, her doctor suggested surgery. While she dismissed the idea at first, after reaching out to a number of different ostomy advocates on Instagram, she was ready to consider it. She gave one last effort to exhaust all non-surgical options and sought the help of a functional medicine doctor. After she still couldn’t find relief, she was ready for surgery. Though she faced a number of complications after her first j-pouch surgery, a year later Shelly had an ileostomy and today is living life to the fullest. She’s gained a lot of insight over the years and although times may get tough and bleak, she recognizes that having a positive outlook is vital and encourages others to remember that they are not alone. Follow Shelly on Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/shellsgotguts/@shellsgotguts

In today’s Crohn’s Fitness Food podcast interview, Raina O’Dell shares her journey with Ulcerative Colitis, talks about the growth and transformation in her life from @rainavsfood to @its.just.raina, and how she’s been able to stay positive – always searching for the silver lining. While Raina struggled with symptoms for about a year before diagnosis, she found herself pushing through and just attributing the symptoms to either nutrition or stress. Finally, in the early part of 2016, she started searching for a doctor who could give her answers and eventually found one who performed a colonoscopy. She immediately came away with a diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis, medication, and no knowledge of what IBD was. After returning home from the hospital, she poured over research and learned as much as she could about what was happening with her body. Drawing upon her background and experience as a health and fitness coach, she was determined to help her body heal without the use of medications. She refocused her efforts in diet and exercise, using the tools and knowledge she had, and succeeded in achieving remission by October of that year – just over six months after being diagnosed. She stuck to the foods that made her feel good (“eat good, feel good” was her mindset), cut out inflammatory foods, and took the same approach with fitness. But remission didn’t last and the stress in her life wreaked havoc on her IBD. Her previous efforts of diet and fitness were not enough to overcome the stress and flare up this time. Her IBD journey escalated quickly and in February of 2017, she was in the hospital. A few months later in May, she had a total colectomy and temporary ileostomy. In July, she went in for the j-pouch surgery, but knew immediately it wasn’t working. Despite knowing what her body was telling her, she left the hospital that summer and was back in February of 2018 with abscesses on her j-pouch and an infection. The next step was a permanent ileostomy. But two and a half years later, she’s more vibrant, healthier than ever, and thriving. She’s spent the last few years focusing on reducing stress, becoming more mindful, and using movement and nutrition to intentionally care for her body and become her best self. Both meditation and mindfulness help to reduce the noise in life and allow her to take a breath and slow down. During her flare ups and surgeries, she took the time to listen to her body and allowed it two full years to heal, unable to even do yoga as she battled fatigue. Fast forward to today and there’s nothing she can’t do now. With the green light from her doctor to workout again after her last surgery, she slowly and steadily built up her strength and she loved every aspect of getting back into fitness. From bodyweight workouts and lifting to fitness bands and yoga, you won’t find her skipping a day of movement now! Today, she finds the silver lining in being able to serve as an inspiration to others. Her journey has made her stronger and being able to help just one person to feel better keeps her motivated to do more, share more, and enjoy life more. To everyone out there with an ostomy, IBD, or anything else that might currently be holding them back, she dares you to talk about it and to search for the silver lining in every single day. @its.just.raina@letsputtheradinradicalhttps://www.instagram.com/its.just.raina/https://www.instagram.com/letsputtheradinradical/ Want to get the shorts she wears when working out:https://honeyathletica.com/Use code: raina10

In today’s episode, Angie Venetos shares her Crohn’s Disease journey and how it’s impacted not just the way she views IBD, but life overall. From learning to adapt her workouts by listening to her body, to seeing how strong her support network is from the love of her family and friends, she’s rewriting the story of Crohn’s Disease in her life and is working to share a message of hope, compassion, and awareness. Angie’s first signs of inflammation in her body, and the onset of Crohn’s, was in late 2017 when she developed psoriasis for the first time in her life and later severe joint pain. That November, she started experiencing more stomach issues and seeing blood when going to the bathroom. With her dad being a gastroenterologist, she was able to quickly get a scope, and in December, she was diagnosed with Crohn’s.  After the diagnosis, she was started on medications and tried to resume her life. Things were going well, but a stressful 2018 resulted in a major flare up that hospitalized her for a month. It was during her stay in the hospital that she realized how deep and strong her support network was. The support and love her family and friends showed her, in addition to her faith, helped her get through the pain and physical disability of it. Shortly after that, Angie began sharing her experiences and raising awareness for Crohn’s on her Instagram. Prior to Crohn’s, she posted about fitness and her love of weight lifting. But she found herself retreating from social media for a few months during and after her hospital stay. When she was ready to post again, she felt compelled to explain the silence and her 20 pound weight loss that occurred in just a few weeks. Since then, she’s been sharing her IBD journey alongside her fitness journey.  Throughout her time since diagnosis, she’s learned that stress is a major trigger for her and she’s learned the importance of balance and its role in keeping her in remission. Whether it’s working out too much/too hard, focusing too much on work, or overdoing any other part of her life, she knows stress will trigger a flare up. She’s learning to trust herself and listen to her body, knowing when she needs to slow down and honoring that. Having a support system is also beneficial in helping her to slow down. She credits her boyfriend for not being shy about letting her know when she’s working out too much or focusing too hard on work and reminds her to rest! Though she’s still learning what foods work best for her, she has found that plant-based proteins and plant-based protein supplements make her feel less bloated and gives her energy before working out. She incorporates a variety of supplements in her diet on a daily basis, including Apple Cider Vinegar, collagen, a multi-vitamin, turmeric, gynostemma and milk thistle; when she’s going through a flare up, she incorporates bone broth smoothies.   With fitness being a major part of her lifestyle, she’s had to learn to adapt and be flexible in her schedule. Her weekly routine will usually include weight lifting, running/walking, and yoga, but she’s learned that she now needs 1-2 days off each week. She’s also found that sticking to bodyweight exercises in the morning works well for her and by taking a nap early in the evening after work, she can then get to the gym with lots of energy and have a good lifting session. Angie’s willingness to adapt to the challenges that Crohn’s has given her has helped her to learn to work with her body and not against it. Although Angie makes finding balance and listening to her body look easy, she admits that it’s actually been one of her biggest challenges since being diagnosed – learning to listen to her body and not her head.  In addition to finding and constantly working to achieve balance, she’s had to learn to deal with the emotional stress that comes with IBD. Not knowing what the future holds, but knowing what the potential outcomes may be, causes anxiety that, if not kept in check, can lead to flare ups. It’s taken a shift in mindset to focus on the present moment, to take a step back to simply ask, “am I OK right now.” She uses prayer daily and makes a gratitude list each evening to help put herself at ease. Having IBD has changed her view on a lot of things in life and has allowed her to become kinder and more compassionate and empathetic about what other people are dealing with in their own lives. But, above all, having IBD has made her want to help others who are going through the same thing. She’s driven to be a voice for those who are afraid to speak up and in sharing her own journey, she hopes that someone else may benefit from it.  Follow Angie on Instagram at: @angie.m.vee

In today’s episode, Bec Simpson shares her journey with Crohn’s Disease and how she balances life, competitive sports, work, and family. Her journey began almost a decade ago when she struggled with symptoms that she thought were due to IBS, which was common in her family. But in 2011, after running out from the class she was teaching with an urgent need for the restroom, she knew she needed to see a gastroenterologist.  Her initial colonoscopy, however, didn’t show anything and she continued to struggle and manage her symptoms for another five years. Finally in 2016, she had another colonoscopy and Crohn’s Disease was confirmed. After that, she quickly went through a number of medications, from Prednisone, Pentasa, Methotrexate, and Humira (from which she suffered side effects) to now, finally seeing results after just one infusion of Stelara. Bec shares what it was like to go through the different medications and how grateful she is to have a gastroenterologist who provided her with a lot of information, but ultimately left the decision up to her.  During all this time, Bec continued (and still does) to play competitive sports. She plays in the Touch Rugby League in Australia and has learned to balance her passion for fitness and rugby while managing IBD. Realizing that she was able to get away with pushing her body harder and past its limits when she was younger, she knows now that rest and listening to her body is key for staying healthy and managing symptoms. She’s also learned to change her mindset and rather than getting upset at the limitations Crohn’s may have placed on her, she focuses on doing the best she can and being grateful for that.  Outside of sports, Bec relies on her strong support network, made up of her family and partner, that allows her to balance life and continue with her passions. Recently, her gastroenterologist also sent her to see a psychologist who works with patients with chronic illnesses. While simply being able to talk and vent about the disease was beneficial, the psychologist also gave Bec a number of different strategies to help manage stress in her life, which is the main trigger for her symptoms and flare ups, including mindfulness and not being afraid to take a step back to rest.  Bec is now sharing her journey with Crohn’s on social media and raising awareness. She encourages others who are also fighting IBD to take it easy – still work hard to achieve your goals, she says, but listen to your body. You can follow her on Instagram at @becs_ibd_journey. 

In today’s episode, we continue Nicole Candelaria’s story from her decision to begin traveling to and from New York to see a gastroenterologist who specializes in IBD. Everything happened quickly as her new doctor was determined to not let her suffer any longer, but she quickly became weary of the travel and the reluctance of her doctors in Florida to cooperate.  In New York, however, her doctor blew her away with the amount of information she knew about IBD and her willingness to explain and discuss in detail the answers to many of Nicole’s questions that her doctors in Florida were never able to give. From medications to surgical options, her new doctor shared the reasoning behind every step of her treatment plan.  This past fall, Nicole went on short-term disability and began seeing her doctor in New York once a week. As she began healing, her visits dropped to every other week and then every few weeks. Using Methotrexate to help her transition from Remicade to Stelara, Nicole and her doctor finally started to see an improvement just this past February.  It was then, after all the years battling IBD and only achieving remission for one brief period, Nicole finally had hope and she realized that in order to get better she needed to move to New York to be able to continue this journey with her new doctor. As the timing worked out, she was able to move and get settled into a place in New Jersey just before the Coronavirus pandemic hit the U.S. in March.  Today, Nicole is vibrant, energetic, and thriving. Looking back, she realizes what a shell of her former self she had become – not realizing she was simply going through the motions day in and day out. Now, she’s happy, appreciating every moment of life, and sharing her story with the IBD community. One of her biggest struggles throughout her journey, with all the highs and lows that IBD brings, was body image. Nicole often found herself hating her body for fighting against her, she was uncomfortable, and had no self love. Over the years, however, she gained a different outlook. Her experiences with IBD, she said, were humbling and she learned to love and be grateful for her body and everything it was doing to fight FOR her. With that new perspective, she created her Instagram handle, @crohnsically_beautiful, and began sharing her journey to help provide comfort and show others that they are not alone.  To those who are newly diagnosed, Nicole gives a reminder that you will get through it, you’re not alone. For those who are currently battling flare ups, “you’ve got this!” And for family members, she shares the importance of reading up and becoming as informed as possible to help better understand the person in your life with IBD. ---- Follow Nicole: www.instagram.com/crohnsically_beautiful

In today’s episode, Nicole Candelaria shares her IBD journey that began in 2007 during her first semester in college. After ignoring the symptoms for a few months–attributing them to stress–she finally went to the hospital and a colonoscopy revealed both Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. From there, life became a roller coaster.  Like many who are unfamiliar with IBD, she was overwhelmed. Her life changed dramatically as flare ups prevented her from doing the things she loved. From band to athletics, she started losing a sense of who she was as IBD started to define her. She was put on a number of different medications over the next few years, from antibiotics and steroids to 6MP and Remicade, but nothing gave her the relief she was searching for and a few resulted in serious side effects. Nicole’s search for remission led her to a naturopathic doctor, and although she was able to achieve a brief period of remission by listening to his advice, changing her diet to a vegon one, and taking a variety of supplements and herbs, it didn’t last. Over the next couple of years she found herself back in the emergency room on multiple occasions. She experienced intestinal blockages, partial blockages, fistulas, and had part of her small intestine collapse and deteriorate over her large intestine–dangerously close to ruptering. During one surgery, she had 10 inches of her large intestine removed and 12 inches of her small intestine. Between her surgery and blood infusions on separate occasions, Nicole said it was eye opening to just how serious IBD and the long-term effects of inflammation are.  In 2017, Perianal Crohn’s Disease was added to her list of diagnoses and changes to insurance forced her to switch doctors. It started a search that led her to multiple physicians and discovering the difference that a doctor who specializes in IBD can make. Her search for relief eventually led her to a doctor in New York, over 1,200 miles away from her home in Florida. It was during her search that Nicole also realized the importance of advocating for herself and listening to what her body was telling her.  Like many others, her journey has been–and continues to be–a long and winding one. Though she found herself wishing for the guide book on how to cope and accept IBD, she recognizes that everyone’s journey is different and that there’s not one clear path. In this episode, we break here in Nicole’s story and will pick up next week as she continues her journey with a new gastroenterologist in New York who specializes in IBD. ---- Follow Nicole: www.instagram.com/crohnsically_beautiful

In today’s episode, Ryanne Sullivan, shares her 20-year journey with IBD. Diagnosed with both Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, she’s learned to manage her symptoms and achieve remission through nutrition and lifestyle. At age 14, she started treatment with medications, like many others, using steroids and 6MP to try and control inflammation and symptoms. But, she often found the side effects of medications to be worse than the IBD itself.  Over the years, Ryanne has found stress to be a major trigger of her flare ups. Right out of high school she started working full time and living on her own, but the stress brought on yet another flare. Remicade helped to put her back into remission, however, it was short lived and soon after she was back to battling Crohn’s symptoms.  After the Remicade failed, her aunt introduced her to “The Maker’s Diet” by Jordan S. Rubin. It focused on bringing nutrition back to the basics of real food, grown in nutrient-dense soil and improving the microbiome. The book kicked off her journey to discovering how she could control inflammation from within. Since then, Ryanne has only had a few flare ups due to the stress from each of her three pregnancies and with the knowledge and experience she’s gained over the years (and continues to gain!), she was able to get right back into remission.  Ryanne focuses her diet around foods and supplements that help reduce inflammation, including plenty of fruits and vegetables and grass-fed meats. Her family eats the same and follows a healthy lifestyle with her, though she does try to let her kids be kids and enjoy the occasional bowl of ice cream and Goldfish crackers :) She’s learned to listen to her body and knows what the first signs of a flare up are for her, which gives her a chance to head off a full-blown flare up by sticking to the basics and giving her gut a chance to heal. Her go-to methods and supplements include intermittent fasting/gut rest, aloe vera capsules (or juice), Protandim® Nrf2 and Nrf1, prebiotics and probiotics, easy-to digest foods and soups, golden milk (made with almond milk, turmeric, black pepper, ginger, and cinnamon), and dandelion tea. As many of us with Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis know, genetics play a role in IBD. Recently, Ryanne’s 8-year-old daughter was diagnosed with Crohn’s and they’re working together to help give her the same level of control and quality of health. Ryanne talks about what it was like to have open and honest conversations about taking a holistic route with her daughter’s pediatrician and gastroenterologist. While medications are not off the table, they are hoping to avoid them. Ryanne’s advice for other parents with children diagnosed with IBD: keep a food journal, learn everything you can about the disease, learn to talk to doctors openly, and  get involved in the community! To keep up with Ryanne and her IBD journey, follow her on Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/ryanne_sullivan/  

In today’s episode Jackie Robbins shares her 30 year IBD journey. Diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis at age 8, she spent most of her childhood feeling alone and angry.  Once diagnosed, she was immediately started on prednisone that helped control her symptoms, but caused her to gain weight and eventually wreak havoc on her body image. Her symptoms never fully went away, however, and she spent her entire childhood going into flares. In 1998, at age 17, she had her colon removed and a temporary ileostomy made. Then in 1999 she had her reversal surgery, but things didn’t get better.  While she struggled with symptoms over the next few years, she slowly started to close herself off from the world. Then, in her early 20s, things took a turn for the worse when she suddenly lost the ability to go to the bathroom. She couldn’t hold her bowels anymore and was left having to use a catheter that she later nicknamed her “poop straw.” Though she laughs about it now, and her vibrant personality radiates in her posts, podcasts, and everywhere she speaks, having lost the ability to go to the bathroom spiraled her into a version of herself that you wouldn’t recognize having met her now.  Over those next 15 years, she became more and more distanced from friends and her outlook was negative. But it was only after she found out that people didn’t want to be around her, that she took a hard look at what had happened and how far away she was from the person she wanted to be. She worked on her mindset, focused on exercise (something that has always been a passion of hers), sought the help of a therapist, read many self-help titles, and pushed herself to become the person she wanted to be. Her confidence grew and she started engaging in activities again. When she signed up for a Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation Team Challenge event and discovered how openly and easily she could talk about her own story, she immediately applied to become an Ambassador.  A year ago she sat down and started writing about her experiences. Out of that, came her eBook, The Fearless Academy, 21 Days to More Self Confidence. She’s on a mission now to continue raising awareness about IBD and help others overcome their fears and self-imposed limitations. Jackie’s advice, “You have the power to change your story. Don’t get stuck in one that you don’t like.”   Find and follow Jackie at: https://www.jackiemrobbins.com/ https://www.instagram.com/beingfearlessjax/ Podcast: Being Fearless with Jackie Robbins Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2274349429251806/ --- Episode support: PURPO by Beviva Foods (Use code CFF15 for 15% off your order)

In today’s episode, Yovani Gonzalez shares his IBD journey from rapid onset and diagnosis to turning down surgery and finding the right balance of medication, diet, and lifestyle changes to take back his health. Before Yovani’s diagnosis, he was an active 26 year old working 12-hour shifts, hitting the gym hard, and enjoying everything in life–including great food and watching the game with a beer. But when he had his first sudden flare up and immediate Crohn’s diagnosis, his life turned upside down. Steroids helped with the initial inflammation and then he started Remicade treatments. But his mindset was one of “let’s take a drug to fix this and go on with my life.” Young and stubborn, as he described himself, he wasn’t ready to make any lifestyle changes. But, Remicade eventually lost its effectiveness and he found himself back in the hospital. He switched medications to Entyvio and later to Humira. At the end of 2017 and beginning of 2018, Yovani faced his worst years yet. His weight dropped from around 170 lbs. to 138 lbs. and it was then that he decided he needed to do more than just take medications. Yovani took a look at all areas of his life and with the support of his friends, family, and girlfriend (now fiancé), he made some significant changes. He took a new role at work that was less stressful, he began changing his diet and workout routine, and sought the help of a holistic doctor. Yovani focused his workouts on endurance and started incorporating new activities, including yoga, which helped him slow down both physically and mentally. He focused on sleep and changed his priorities–allowing him to focus on his health. For his diet, he gave up beer (though he still has an occasional glass of wine or cocktail), learned what he tolerated and what he didn’t, and adopted the Autoimmune Paleo diet as his way of eating. Over the years, he’s kept his positive outlook and tends to look at new hurdles as challenges that he can take on and overcome. He adapts to what life throws his way, looks at problems from new angles, and is grateful for the support of his friends and family around him. One of the biggest life changes that Yovani and his girlfriend recently made was moving to Palm Springs. With long-term health as their focus, they wanted a quieter place that would allow them to be outdoors more with less traffic and stress. Throughout his journey, Yovani has always kept a focus on his roots–what drives him and what anchors him. His focus on remaining true to his roots, combined with a passion for clothing and fashion, led him to start Purple Roots Clothing just over a year ago. His line is focused on clothing for active lifestyles that raises awareness and supports a cause (Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation), while at the same time being approachable and wearable by anyone–not just those with IBD. Purple Roots Clothing is about finding your roots–your anchors in life–and remaining true to those. Follow Yovani & Purple Roots Clothing:https://www.instagram.com/crohns_fit_yo/ https://www.instagram.com/purple_roots_clothing/ ---Episode support:Intestinal Fortitude Supplements: https://www.crohnsfitnessfood.com/if (10% OFF use code CFF10)

In today’s episode, we pick up where we left off last week in Sanaa Lynne’s IBD journey. She continues her story today with how she regained her quality of life through dietary and lifestyle changes. As her health slowly returned, she began focusing on her passions, flipped her negative mindset to a positive one, focused on relationships that brought peace–leaving behind the ones that didn’t, and began taking courses in Ayurveda, Chinese medicine, and nutrition. Her new path led her to focus on healing the body as a whole, instead of addressing one symptom at a time. She learned the importance of gut health and how it impacts the entire body and how mindset and mind training–like meditation–are equally important to overall health. As she deepened her learning, she found herself on a path that was destined to help others and recently became a Functional Nutritionist focused on helping women with chronic illnesses. At the same time, Sanaa began sharing the powerful formulas that she and her husband created together that helped with her symptoms and health. Shortly after, they started Ancient Remedy and are now in the process of making their supplements available on a wider scale. As their business is in its early phases, Sanaa is offering free samples of their Fatigue Fighter and Nighttime formulas to anyone who is interested in trying the products and providing a review–simply DM her or send an email. Follow Sanaa:https://sanaalynne.com/ https://www.instagram.com/sanaalynne/ https://www.instagram.com/ancient.remedy.llc/ hello@sanaalynne.com ----Episode support:PURPO by Beviva Foods (Use code CFF15 for 15% off your order) 

In today’s episode Sanaa Lynne takes us through her IBD journey–including how she went more than 10 years undiagnosed. She battled a number of different health issues growing up and over the years, her doctors suspected everything from endometriosis and Celiac Disease to Mediterranean Familial Fever. Though she underwent numerous colonoscopies, endoscopies, and a capsule endoscopy, the timing was always off and the procedures were never done when she was in a flare–leaving her doctors reluctant to diagnose IBD. She talks about the struggles and frustrations of a diagnosis taking so long and how it made her question her own symptoms after everyone dismissing her for so long. Finally in 2016, at the age of 25 and after a nearly two-year-long flare up, her doctors were able to diagnose gastroparesis and then Crohn’s Disease. Had she not been so sick and exhausted, she said, she would have been mad at how long it took. But in reflecting back, she appreciated the doctors’ care and caution to not just jump straight into biologic medications and a lifelong illness. But, after failing to respond to medications, she realized she needed to do something to take back control of her health. With the support of a Holistic Medicine Doctor and her husband’s expertise in botany, she began tackling IBD at the roots. Through meditation, mindset shifts, supplements, and dietary and lifestyle changes, she began piecing back her life. In next week’s episode, we’ll continue Sanaa’s journey as she regains her health, goes in depth into the changes she made, and how it led her to become a Functional Nutritionist and to starting the business, Ancient Remedy, with her husband. She’s now sharing her knowledge and experiences with others on how she went from bedridden to businesswoman! Follow Sanaa:https://sanaalynne.com/https://www.instagram.com/sanaalynne/ ----Episode support:Cellercise Rebounder: https://www.crohnsfitnessfood.com/cellercise

In today's episode, I'm sharing an update on what I've learned over the past few months about meditation, fasting, supplementation, and how it all affects my Crohn's. After our vacation in November, I went off the rails throughout the holiday season with regard to my diet and fitness routine...and I learned a few lessons in the process. Since then, I've been increasing the types of foods I eat, discovering what fasting window works best for me (alternate daily fasting vs. one meal a day), and started a daily meditation practice. I talk about the benefits I've noticed from meditation and fasting; how a combination of fasting, CBD oil, and Intestinal Fortitude supplements have once again relieved my first signs of a flare up; I share a few of my favorite resources (from supplements to meditation); and extend an invitation to join us in the Vivante Health Community.  Links & Resources from the episode: Intestinal Fortitude Supplements (Anti-Inflammatory, Probiotic, Gut Lining Repair)   Vivante Health Community (focused on gut health, lifestyle, and microbiome) Heart Wisdom Podcast with Jack Kornfield Joy On Demand by Chade-Meng Tan Mind Hacking Happiness by Sean Webb  

In today’s episode, Aras Toker shares his journey with Crohn’s Disease. For six years he battled flare ups with numerous medications and sought the help of three different doctors. But his symptoms only progressed. In 2014, he developed a fistula that connected to his sacrum and left him unable to stand for more than 10 minutes at a time due to the pain. The fistula required surgery, which included rerouting his intestines to give that portion of the bowel time to heal and an ostomy. It was after his surgery, when his last doctor presented him with medication options for continued treatment, that Aras knew he needed a different path. Having tried other biologic drugs with no success, the last medication available also came with severe potential side effects, including brain tumors. It was then that he began researching holistic options and found a naturopathic doctor in his area. In 2015 Aras met with his new doctor, who immediately started him on an intense, six-month plan that focused on four main pillars of nutrition, stress management and mindset, movement, and social connection. He methodically completed elimination diets, removing and reintroducing foods back into his diet, and made practices like meditation, mindfulness, and journaling a part of his everyday life. His inflammation markers dropped, his energy and quality of life came back, and in 2016 he was healthy enough to have his ostomy reversal surgery. With the success of his own personal healing journey, Aras wanted to share his experiences. He began blogging about his story, connecting with other people who battled chronic illnesses, and ended up building an entire community and network of patients, caregivers, and experts in autoimmune diseases. While he still shares his experiences and writes for Medium, he’s finally taking his passion for gut health and community to the next level. In 2019, Aras partnered with Vivante Health where he’s now building an online community of members who are interested in incorporating nutrition and lifestyle changes into their healing journeys. Aras Tokerhttps://twitter.com/ArasTokerhttps://medium.com/@arastoker Vivante Gut Health CommunityInterested in making nutrition and lifestyle changes a part of your healing journey? Join like-minded patients, caregivers, and experts in the free Vivante Gut Health Community:https://community.vivantehealth.com/ ----Episode support:Cellercise Rebounder: https://www.crohnsfitnessfood.com/cellerciseIntestinal Fortitude Supplements: https://www.crohnsfitnessfood.com/if(10% OFF use code CFF10)

In today’s episode, Crohn’s Warrior and food challenge competitor, Michael Simmons, shares his IBD story. From his first Crohn’s symptoms in 2008 to his ileostomy surgery in 2017, he’s now not only raising awareness for ostomy patients, but also raising the bar for eating without a colon. From Remicade infusions that put him into anaphylactic shock to medical marijuana, Michael talks about the various treatment options he’s tried and what led to his decision to finally have his ileostomy surgery. He tried various diets over the years, from the Specific Carbohydrate Diet to the Low FODMAP Diet, in combination with medications, but never reached remission. During his hospital stay after his ileostomy surgery in 2017, Michael had the idea to start doing food challenges. Having had such a restrictive diet over the years, it was a fun way to start enjoying food again and to show others that surgery didn’t mean continued sacrifice with food. He immediately began advocating for ostomy patients and started his Instagram account to show what life after an ostomy was like and to raise the bar for eating without a colon. Just five months after his surgery, Michael did his first food challenge. Since then, he’s been documenting his #bagvsfood challenges. From giant stacks of pancakes, burritos, and pizza to the Lulu’s “Texas Ranger” Chicken Fried Steak Challenge right before his interview with me, he’s showing that an ostomy doesn’t have to hinder life. Though he doesn’t let anything stop him from trying a food challenge, there are a few obstacles that are difficult to overcome. Speed eating is off the table, since it’s critical to chew food with an ostomy, and he always listens to his body. The goal, he says, is to have fun, not end up in the emergency room. Surgery has given him control of his life and put food back on the table! In addition to his Instagram, Michael has just started a YouTube Channel to go into greater detail about ostomy life and even document his food challenges. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYWn6XO9W7a0gPoW9SqMWwInstagram: @mic_flare https://www.instagram.com/mic_flare/Watch the Lulu's Challenge on my CrohnsFitnessFood IGTV!    ---Episode support:Cellercise Rebounder: https://www.crohnsfitnessfood.com/cellerciseIntestinal Fortitude Supplements: https://www.crohnsfitnessfood.com/if (10% OFF use code CFF10)

Describing her Instagram as “a young gal’s adventures with Crohn’s Disease & other chronic illnesses,” Renee Taylor continues her IBD advocacy on today’s podcast where she shares her Crohn’s journey and how she’s seeking to find the balance between western and holistic medicine. Diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease while a junior in college, Renee shares her many ups and downs over the past two years. Renee was diagnosed with Autoimmune Hepatitis as a child, so she’s no stranger to battling chronic illness. But, since being diagnosed with IBD, she’s faced some of her biggest challenges yet, including flare-ups and erythema nodosum episodes that are so severe that she can’t walk. Renee talks about her medication history, from her first few (and only) days on prednisone to finding immediate relief with Remicade. But relief was short lived as she failed out after a few months and then switched to Humira. Once again, however, she started to reject Humira and it was then, around July 2019, that she decided to get serious about her lifestyle and began focusing on changing her diet and reducing her stress levels to help manage Crohn’s. While fitness has always been a part of Renee’s life, she stresses the importance of re-evaluating what fitness looks like after being diagnosed with IBD. As she describes in the interview, sometimes fitness must be put on hold during intense flares. She talks about how she’s learned to celebrate the small daily victories and reminds herself that the flares are temporary. Overall, she feels better when she gives her body the chance to sweat and move and fitness gives a much-needed routine and structure to life with a chronic illness. During flares, she tries to hold on to a sense of normalcy, even if it’s just reading a book or connecting with a friend. She’s learned to adapt her diet to include foods she tolerates and avoid common inflammatory foods like corn, soy, and gluten. Renee has also found the power of investing in her interests and not being afraid to follow her passions, one of which is advocating for IBD patients. Through her advocacy, she has found a sense of normalcy and connection to those fighting the same battles. This month, she’s starting a collaboration with Avery Rosenbloom from @talktummytome on Instagram called “What the F Wednesdays.” They’ll be diving into the abyss that is early adulthood in a series of Instagram live videos. The first episode just launched yesterday, January 5th, on her Instagram (@killinitwithcrohns) and future episodes will be recorded every Wednesday evening. Follow Renee on Instagram: @killinitwithcrohnshttps://www.instagram.com/killinitwithcrohns/ -------------------- Cellercise Rebounder: https://www.crohnsfitnessfood.com/cellercise Pineapple Clothing Leggings: https://www.crohnsfitnessfood.com/pineapple(20% OFF with code: STEGIS)