Crohn’s Fitness Food
Sharing the stories of those with IBD. Hosted by Stephanie Gish
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Episodes
Monday May 06, 2019
Monday May 06, 2019
In this episode, Zach and Chelsie Leighter share their stories of battling Crohn’s Disease. Together since high school, they are now married with a little boy, Kash. Zach was diagnosed with Crohn’s at the age of 12, has been on countless medications from steroids to biologics, and just one month ago had his temporary ostomy made permanent. His wife Chelsie, having watched Zach fight his disease for so many years received her own Crohn’s diagnosis this past September. They are now dedicated to raising awareness about IBD and passionate about helping to educate others on what living with a chronic illness is like.
Zach and Chelsie talk about what it is like to both be battling a chronic illness–while raising a toddler–and share their advice for balancing work, stress, family, and Crohn’s. Zach talks about the lead up to his temporary ostomy and what is was like to make the decision to have it made permanent.
Determined to raise awareness for IBD, Zach recently became an ambassador for Jake Diekman’s Gut It Out Foundation, which is dedicated to improving the quality of life for those in the IBD community through education, research, pediatric care, and support groups. As the pitcher for the Kansas City Royals, Jake Diekman has pledged $100 for every strikeout that he earns to help fund crucial research projects making advancements toward finding a cure for Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis.
Having already met his original goal to raise $1,000, Zach raised the bar. He and Chelsie are currently reaching out to local businesses in support of planning larger fundraisers in their area.
To keep up with Zach and Chelsie’s story or to contribute to their Gut It Out campaign, follow them on Instagram as The Unspoken Journey:https://www.instagram.com/theunspokenjourney/https://pledgeit.org/gutitout2019/@zleight39
Monday Apr 29, 2019
Monday Apr 29, 2019
Today’s guest is Ryan Van Voorhis, who was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease in high school and has been living with an ostomy for the past 15 years. Inspired by the health care team who helped him through the early years with Crohn’s, he decided to pursue a Masters in Social Work, which allowed him to begin volunteering as a camp counselor at the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation’s Camp Oasis almost 11 years ago. And he’s been going back every summer since to continue volunteering, serving as the Mental Health Director for the last few years.
Two years ago, however, he made the decision to leave his career in social work to pursue his culinary passion. You’ll now recognize him and his best friend since high school, Seth Bradley, as the co-founders of Nude Dude Food in Chicago. They specialize in anti-inflammatory diets and menus for their clients, providing private catering and experiences for small groups. They travel around the country preparing amazing meals and also raising awareness for Crohn’s and Colitis.
In this episode, Ryan shares his Crohn’s story, how he spent over five years trying a variety of medications–from steroids to biologics and having severe reactions to many–while never finding remission. After his junior year in college, he faced the decision of having an ostomy; for him, it was a chance to get his life back.
After his surgery, he dove into his passions of fitness and cooking, determined to not let Crohn’s prevent him from living his life. Reflecting back on his journey and how far he’s come, he takes on life with determination and positivity, knowing that every day is a gift. He continues to serve others through his work, volunteering, and advocacy and encourages anyone with IBD to be be their own biggest advocate; ask questions, do research, and be an empowered patient.
Ryan Van Voorhis, Nude Dude Foodwww.nudedudefood.com@nudedudefood@rvanvoorhishttps://www.facebook.com/hotguyscooking/
Monday Apr 22, 2019
Monday Apr 22, 2019
Today’s guest is Meghan Cary Brown. At 27 years old, Meghan has lived 10 years with active disease, 13 years with indeterminate Crohn’s/Colitis, and 3 years with an ostomy. But IBD can’t stop her. In that same time, she’s also gotten married, graduated college, lived in four different states, travelled abroad, adopted a zoo of fur babies, and–most recently–landed her dream job as a Patient Coach.
As an 8th grader in Middle School, Meghan began having her first bouts of severe diarrhea and IBD symptoms, but doctors dismissed her as just being a nervous child. After about a year, she received a Crohn’s diagnosis and started down a path a trying various prescriptions from oral medications, Methotrexate injections, and biologics. Too sick to stay in school, she was home schooled for the next few years.
During the summer before her sophomore year, she finally responded to Remicade and went into remission. With her parents’ encouragement and being concerned about the possible side-effects of biologics, she went medication free and did well for about five years with the help of a homeopathic doctor. But, during her junior year of college, life and stress caught up and she was back in a Crohn’s flare.
Meghan shares what it was like to start back at square one and how she got through the struggles and kept a positive mindset. Then, after finding relief with Entivyo for a few years, in 2015, her doctor told her she had high grade dysplasia–a precancerous colon. Coming to terms with the fact that her best option was to remove her colon and rectum, she chose to have the surgery for a permanent ileostomy.
Looking back, she has no regrets and the ostomy has changed her life for the better. Listen as she shares what the recovery process was like–including the initial learning curve she battled with caring for her ostomy–and the importance of talking with someone who’s been through the same thing. Now serving as an advocate for IBD and as a patient coach for 11 Health, she shares what it has been like to not only help others, but how it has also helped herself heal. She encourages every IBD patient to reach out and talk with someone, to take a step back and not worry about the little things, and to take care of yourself every day.
Find Meghan on Instagram: @emc_brown
Learn more about 11 Health and Patient Coaching:https://www.instagram.com/patientcoaches/http://www.11health.com/coachhttps://soundcloud.com/11health
Monday Apr 15, 2019
Monday Apr 15, 2019
Today’s guest is Natalie Suppes, who was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease in 2007 and, after a 12-year flare, is finally in remission. She is a certified personal trainer and sport nutritionist who is passionate about helping women (especially those whose bodies are not functioning!) become the healthiest versions of themselves.
In this episode, she shares her story with IBD and why it’s so important to take care of your body and do your best to nourish and move it in a way that helps you heal. Diagnosed in 2007, Natalie was in a constant flare for 12 years. She tried a number of different medications from steroids and Imuran to Humira and Stelara. In 2017, she experienced a perforated bowel that was able to heal from the use of biologic medications; however, it resulted in significant weight gain.
She turned her focus to diet and exercise. Following a ketogenic-style diet, using intermittent fasting, and experimenting with supplements, she started to turn her health around. During her struggles with weight and success in reclaiming her health, she started coaching other women with Crohn’s and Colitis and helping them achieve better health.
Natalie shares her passion and the journey of developing the IBD Break Free Academy and how she became known as The Crohn’s Coach. She encourages all IBD Warriors to find practices that can bring you back to a positive mindset during the day and to focus on the things you enjoy that you have control over, that your disease won’t stop.
IBD Break Free AcademyNext session runs May 8 - June 26, 2019 Register before April 308-week group coaching to help women focus on nutrition, mindset and movement for better health.https://www.forthehealth.ca/ibdbreakfreeacademy
Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/198951584114128/
Crohn’s & Colitis “Unbreakable” Hoodies and Tanks:https://www.bonfire.com/forthehealth/
Follow Natalie:https://www.forthehealth.ca/https://www.instagram.com/for.the.health/
Monday Apr 08, 2019
Monday Apr 08, 2019
In this episode, Luciana Podschun shares her nearly 30-year journey with Crohn’s Disease and talks about everything from international travel, the support and love of her husband over the years, and how she doesn’t let Crohn’s stop her from living her life.
Luciana grew up in Brazil, has lived and traveled all around the world, and now resides in California. When she was first diagnosed as a teenager, she weighed 80 pounds and didn’t know anything about the disease. She wrote to many different U.S. universities searching for information and received a lot of support–one even told her to write to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, which led her to writing to a pen pal and building lifelong friendships (for our young audience listening, pen pals are what we had before social media!).
In the late 1990s, biologic treatments were finally an option for Crohn’s and she began Remicade in 1999. For a few years she did very well, but in the early 2000s her symptoms steadily got worse. Finally, in 2016 the chronic inflammation and risk of cancer was too high that she underwent surgery and became a permanent ostomate. It was an eight-hour surgery with many complications afterward (a retraction, adhesions, obstructions, and stoma hernia) that left her very weak and barely able to walk.
But, the surgery also gave her a second chance at living. She talks about dealing with depression, the emotional struggle, and the encouraging words of her husband who told her, “Luciana, you can’t stop being the same person you’ve always been. I’m in love with the person who is positive, likes to do things, who is brave, and who likes to live her life fully.” This was her second chance at living and after accepting her new body, things got better.
She still doesn’t let Crohn’s stop her from enjoying life. Little by little her old self came back, she began finding ways of dressing up with the bag and feeling sexy and beautiful again. Mr. Crohn (as she calls it) is a part of her journey, but he doesn’t control it. She now shares her story to help other women who are going through the same thing to show that you can live your life, even with a bag. “We never know what’s going to happen tomorrow,” she said, “don’t be afraid to live your life.”
More about Luciana:Blog https://meandmrcrohn.wixsite.com/mysiteInstagram @meandmrcrohn Facebook https://www.facebook.com/meandmrcrohn
Read her article for Stoma Tips Magazine here (pages 30-31)Read her article in Ostomy Connection online here Order the Stomawise calendar here, she’s Miss June!
Monday Apr 01, 2019
Monday Apr 01, 2019
Today’s guest is Carrie Combs, who was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease 8 years ago at the age of 22. Within her first 5 years after diagnosis, she had three surgeries, countless medication changes, and–as she puts it–a lot of really bad days.
During those times, the thought of running a marathon never even crossed her mind. But, fast forward today and she’s now run two half marathons and getting ready to complete another with the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation’s Team Challenge in Nashville at the end of April. She plans to race in her first full marathon this fall.
In this episode, Carrie shares how her mindset changed after her surgery in 2017 and she realized she needed to do more to take control of her health. With the help of a new gastroenterologist, she began a healing journey with new medications, a training program to regain her strength, a clean diet with all foods in moderation, and supplements she discussed with her doctor. She’s now an avid runner and crossfitter who is learning to balance life with IBD, her family, and her passions.
Carrie goes into detail about some of the supplements she’s found beneficial in her endurance training, including: Nuun (an electrolyte tablet made with plant-based ingredients without all of the extra sugar and additives, and are gluten free, dairy free, and soy free that helps with hydration), salt tablets, slow-release iron, vitamin D, and collagen powder.
As a runner with Team Challenge for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, Carrie is able to combine her passion for running with the purpose of raising funds for IBD research. If you’d like to keep up with her story or make a donation to help her meet her fundraising goal for the April Rock ‘n Roll half marathon at the end of this month, visit her Instagram page for more tips, her journey, and links to her Team Challenge page:
@carriethecrohniehttps://www.instagram.com/carriethecrohnie/
Monday Mar 25, 2019
Monday Mar 25, 2019
Today’s guest is Elizabeth Alvarez, also known as The Dancing Crohnie. Elizabeth was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2011 at the age of 21. Since then, she’s described her journey as one wild ride trying to attain remission. She’s been on numerous medications–including included Remicade, Entyvio, Humira, Stelara, Prednisone, Dilaudid, Valium and many others–and is now pairing conventional medicine with non-conventional treatments and organic lifestyle changes.
Elizabeth shares her journey in pursuing a career in professional dancing, how she gave it all up when she experienced the worst flare of her life, and how she’s regaining her health and finding her way back to dancing. She relies on the expertise of her Gastroenterologist, her Naturopathic Physician, and a Dietitian to help guide her in her healing journey.
In this episode, we talk about the importance of diet–including suggestions for cutting out known inflammatory foods like dairy, gluten and sugar–and her latest addition to her nutritional protocol: celery juice. (http://www.medicalmedium.com/blog/celery-juice) She urges every IBD patient to learn how nutrition can play a role in IBD management and encourages everyone to be an advocate for their own health.
Follow Elizabeth online:
BLOG: www.thedancingcrohnie.comCheck out her blog for articles, tips, and tricks for navigating everyday life with Crohn’s and Colitis.
SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram @thedancingcrohnieFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Dancing-Crohnie-517797962006260/
Monday Mar 18, 2019
Monday Mar 18, 2019
Today’s guest is Will Jenkins, founder of Intestinal Fortitude–supplements for IBD patients created by an IBD patient. Will was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease 7 years ago in his mid-30s. After a short time on prednisone and mesalamine, he began searching for a different way to treat his disease. His diagnosis led him down a path of research, natural healing, and eventually to developing his own supplement company focused entirely on gut health for those with Crohn’s and Colitis–including a probiotic with strains grown specifically for IBD.
Will shares his journey of being diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease; his experience with the Specific Carbohydrate Diet; how he now avoids carbohydrates, sugars, and processed foods; and how his entrepreneurial spirit led him to start Intestinal Fortitude to be able to share what is helping him with the entire IBD community.
In our conversation, Will gives an insider’s look at supplement manufacturing, how he refined his formula, and the process of getting to the official product launch earlier this year.
From shift work to kids, Will and I talk about the importance of stress management and sleep as part of a whole lifestyle approach to better health. He shares how the process of developing his supplements and becoming an advocate for IBD has shaped his view of Crohn’s and Colitis and underlines the importance of raising awareness for IBD both inside and outside of the IBD community.
Intestinal Fortitude
If you are interested in learning more about Intestinal Fortitude supplements, visit their website at www.intestinal-fortitude.com
Use the code FREE for free shipping on orders over $75.
The 2-Month Supply Value Bundle allows you to receive $5 off of each bottle of AI-5 and GLR-6, and you get the Pro-B11 for FREE!
Follow online:https://intestinal-fortitude.com/https://www.instagram.com/intestinal4titude/https://www.facebook.com/intestinalfortitudellc/https://twitter.com/IFsupplements
Monday Mar 11, 2019
Monday Mar 11, 2019
Today’s guest today is Jim Bell, a Crohn’s Warrior since the age of 8 who was inspired to run his first marathon at the age of 44. In this episode, Jim share his Crohn’s journey, why running has become a passion for him now, and what he’s doing to raise awareness for Crohn’s and Colitis.
Though he describes his disease as mild, Jim has been through 4 different surgeries that has resulted in about 40 inches of his small intestine being removed and had over 25 blood transfusions in a matter of one year. He’s fought many flare ups–large and small–throughout the years and shares his tips on managing stress, mindset, and flares. He shares his experiences with medications and has been on Humira since it was first available as a drug trial.
Jim also shares how running has become a passion, part of his Crohn’s management, and a way for him to raise awareness about Crohn’s and Colitis. Jim said in a recent blog post, “I run because I can. I run for those that can’t that deal with this disease.”
Follow Jim online:www.runningwithcrohnsdisease.com
Monday Mar 04, 2019
Monday Mar 04, 2019
Today’s guest is Samantha Rynearson, a cake artist, wife, mother, and Crohn’s Warrior since 2012. In this episode, she shares her journey with Crohn’s and how she’s learned to balance family, pursuing her passions, and life with IBD.
Samantha talks about her struggles with anxiety, joint pain, medications, and how she communicates with her daughter about her Crohn’s. We discuss the mental aspects of Crohn’s, stress, and the importance of rest, self-care, and even fitness. She shares her tips on using essential oils (with her favorite being the Stress Away blend from Young Living), supplements such as turmeric and green tea, and how using moderation in her diet allows her to enjoy a variety of foods and help keep her Crohn’s symptoms in check. She also turns the tables and asks me about my use of Endoca CBD oil, so I share a bit of my experience with that :-)
Samantha also talks about how Crohn’s almost robbed her of pursuing her passion for baking, what got her back on track, and how it helps Crohn’s by being a fulfilling and important part of her life.
Finally, she also shares her experience with the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation’s Camp Oasis and what an impact the camp makes on the lives of children with IBD. She encourages anyone who might have a child with IBD who is interested in learning more about the camp to reach out to her.
Follow Samantha online:www.cakedbyryno.com Instagram @crohnicallyfabulous and @cakedbyrynohttps://twitter.com/SammiBrad