Results, naturally
Disclaimer: If you are reading this and dealing with ANY health related problems I am NOT recommending you take the same unconventional approach as I have in my battle with Crohn’s disease. Any changes you wish to make in your care plans should be done in partnership with the team of qualified healthcare providers who treat you.
How have lifestyle changes improved my health?
I mentioned in a previous post that following a strict specific carbohydrate diet allowed me to come off of all medications more than 10 years ago (the one exception was my flare and hospitalization of 2018). Since 2018 I’ve implemented both an elimination diet along with detailed journaling and my health has improved well beyond what I was able to achieve on a prescribed diet (i.e. specific carbohydrate diet).
When I first started tracking my symptoms in 2018 I was going to the bathroom more than 4 times a day and 52% of the time it was diarrhea.
The results from implementing lifestyle changes have been significant. I’ve gained over 50 pounds from my lowest weight; I haven’t had a major flare since 2018; and most importantly I’ve discovered specific trigger ingredients that directly correlate to my most severe IBD symptoms (diarrhea and GI bleeding) - now I rarely have any GI related problems at all.
While my specific triggers are not guaranteed to be triggers for anyone else, the process I’ve refined over the years could help anyone dealing with IBD identify their triggers.
The following statistics show the progress I've made in my health since I started tracking my symptoms in 2018.
Average number of trips to the bathroom per day:
2018 - 4.5 trips per day (max in 2018 was 11 trips)
2019 - 2.2 trips per day
2020 - 1.9 trips per day
2021 - 2.0 trips per day
2022 - 2.1 trips per day
2023 - 1.7 trips per day (up to 11/5)
Average consistency of stool (7.0 is my desired target):
2018 - 4.5 average consistency
2019 - 6.4 average consistency
2020 - 5.8 average consistency
2021 - 6.5 average consistency
2022 - 6.8 average consistency
2023 - 6.9 average consistency (up to 11/5)
Average weight:
2018 - 154 pounds (lowest in 2018 was 145 lbs)
2019 - 164 pounds
2020 - 166 pounds
2021 - 170 pounds
2022 - 179 pounds
2023 - 179 pounds (up to 11/5)
Recently a fellow coworker joked with me about how difficult it was to stay healthy saying, “I wish I had your willpower Nathan!” Assuming I was going to share some insightful advice about how I stay healthy, she was a bit taken back when my immediate response to her was “Who me? No, I don’t have willpower either.” She was confused.
But this single statement shows how far I’ve come over the last 9 years as I’ve fought IBD via diet without medications or surgery. I believe that the success I’ve had over the last few years has been less about having amazing willpower and more about having a plan and sticking to it.
I do meal prep every week, packing one of my proven baseline meals which I rotate through for lunch. Instead of being tempted by the treats they offer us at work I have a handful of go-to snacks that I munch on throughout the day/week. Sure, I cheat from time to time but I’ve found when I stick to my plan I’m much less likely to run into issues.
After more than 10 years of fighting IBD via diet I’ve greatly reduced my fear of food and I am living more of a normal life today than when my battle with IBD started over 20 years ago.
But with even with as far as I’ve come in my health journey with IBD - from 128 pounds to 185; from popping pills and regular infusions to diet managed; from constant frustration about my health to slightly less frustration about my health (ha!) - I still have a bit of uneasiness about what tomorrow might hold because of my past experiences.
What do I fear about the future?
As I think about the past and look towards the future the one thing that worries me the most is the unknown. I used to eat my triggers as a kid without symptoms (at least not that I remember). Some of my triggers I ate frequently while others I would eat only on occasion but it wasn’t until my early 20’s that my body began to reject these ingredients. I do remember having minor GI problems with corn meal when I was 15 years old but no blood.
I can’t tell you why it took until my 20s to start seeing major symptoms - I assume it has to do with the fact our bodies can tolerate more when we are kids (more stored nutrients, growth hormones, etc.) - and I can’t tell you that I won’t develop a new symptom to a yet unknown trigger in the future. All I know is right now I’m in the best health of my life and very thankful / grateful for it.
There is only so much I can control in my life - for the things I can’t control I turn to God in prayer. I don’t know what tomorrow holds but I personally believe in a God that loves me and wants what is best for me - even though I myself am far from perfect.
I will continue to test foods, research all things health related, and do everything in my power to be the best version of myself I can be and we’ll see what the future holds for me and my health. Anything new I discover I’ll share with you here. I hope you’ve enjoyed my journey so far. :-) Be blessed.
Update: November 2023.
I will always say that I still have Crohn's disease or at least immune issues. If you define IBD as the presentation of GI inflammation then that symptom is very rare in me now... but I absolutely have other immune issues. I'm not yet sure if those general immune issues and my need for trigger management will ever go away - my symptoms simply present differently based on the different triggers I come in contact with. I always have to manage it. It's not an easy journey but I'm grateful that I've chosen this path and for all the lessons I've learned about my body and health along the way.
Here are photos of me before and after implementing lifestyle changes.
