Women Food and God

I just got out of a bubble bath, and now I’m sitting in my bed reading Women Food and God by Geneen Roth.

I’m four pages in to Part Two, and a lot of things have hit home with me, but I wanted to share this on my blog:

The path from obsession to feelings to presence is not about healing our “wounded children” or feeling every bit of rage or grief we never felt so that we can be successful, thin, and happy. We are not trying to put ourselves together. We are taking who we think we are apart. We feel the feelings not so that we can blame our parents for not saying, “Oh darling,” not so that we can hit pillows and express our anger to everyone we’ve never confronted, but because unmet feelings obscure our ability to know ourselves.

I’ve talked a little bit about my family here, but I’ve never gone into details about my issues with how I was treated in the past around my weight by my mother and certain other family members. To make a long story short — I was put on the Atkins diet before I even know what a diet was, so I began to sneak food and binge in secret at a very young age, was later put in LA Weight Loss by my aunt in middle school, developed seriously disordered eating patterns, and was continuously reminded that I wasn’t good enough the way I was while I was growing up.

I’ve accepted that my family meant no harm and have always had my best interest in mind, but that doesn’t change the fact that I’m still affected by their actions to this day. I’m aware that I need to let it go, but in the back of my mind I’m still 100% convinced that I’m not good enough. And that I never will be.

This passage really smacked me across the face. I need to let go of the past, because I can’t change it. I tell the residents I work with that every day. I need to start taking my own advice, because if other people deserve self love and appreciation, then so do I.

I need to do this for my overall well being, because I can’t heal my Crohn’s while I’m still binge eating. SCD requires strict adherence, which I haven’t been able to commit to thus far.

I graduated in May with a degree in psychology, I work in a mental health facility, and I believe in recovery with my whole being. I need to wo-man up and make a therapy appointment. I’ve tried fixing myself a million times and it doesn’t work that way. At least, not for me.

I deserve it, right?

A Twist on Digestion

Reblogged from nutrition intuition:

This past weekend I attended a great workshop at the Yoga Center of Minneapolis on twisting for spinal and digestive therapy. It was a fantastic two hours that, to quote the instructor, "squeezed and soaked" my innards and left me feeling grounded and happy.

Whether you practice yoga or not, twists are simple movements that you can make to help ease digestive discomfort.

Read more… 215 more words

The Spoon Theory written by Christine Miserandino

Reblogged from A Guy With Crohn's:

Almost everyone with a chronic illness has probably heard of the Spoon Theory.  Here it is if you have never read it before.  I belive the originator of it was Christine Miserandino so I am crediting her.  You can check out her website at www.butyoudontlooksick.com

Spoon Theory

My best friend and I were in the diner, talking. As usual, it was very late and we were eating French fries with gravy.

Read more… 2,111 more words

Hometown flushtrations.

My family has always been preoccupied with my weight, but that could be written about in a blog entirely to itself. I just want to talk about recent flushtrations I’ve experienced while on a visit to my hometown to spend some time with family.

My mom and aunt have both asked me about whether or not I’ve lost weight with this new diet. I replied by saying that I didn’t know, because I wasn’t weighing myself. I told them that I wasn’t following a weight loss diet, and wasn’t worried about whether this diet would make me lose weight or not. It’s about my health. Not my weight.

I know there is a problem with the word “diet,” in general, but it offends and hurts me that my family automatically goes back to my weight when talking about my health.

My weight has never affected my health in my 22 years.

My Crohn’s disease has continuously affected my health, in a very detrimental way, for over four years.

Am I alone in this? How can I make them realize the importance of healing my body without making it about my weight in any way?

Our Guts Have a Brain Too!

Reblogged from Dr Lisa Tabrizi, ND:

Did you know that our guts have the second largest collection of neurons in our body? Our brains come in first, and are guts are second. Meaning, there are in fact more neurons in our guts than our spinal cord! Scientists coined the term the "second brain" for this collection of nerve endings which gives some truth to that sensation of having "butterflies in the stomach” when we are nervous.

Read more… 287 more words

SCD chicken soup!

I was skeptical of this soup, but the longer it cooked the better it smelled!

I can’t wait to try it tomorrow.

Today went really well! 2 scrambled eggs for breakfast, broiled beef patties for lunch and dinner. I have also enjoyed some delicious apple cider for dessert.

I still haven’t found a yogurt maker or any dry curd cottage cheese, but I’m excited to vary the food a little bit tomorrow.

Day 1 of SCD

Here we go!

I should probably also mention…

I’m about 102% sure I have a binge eating disorder.

Sometimes, like tonight, I feel like the only comfort I’m ever going to feel again is the next sip of Dr. Pepper. Or my next double cheeseburger, taco, cookie, philly cheesesteak, etc, etc. 

This is also absolutely the biggest hindrance in my journey of wellness. 

I’m completely aware of what I’m doing to my body. I know all about what is healthy, what is not, and especially in terms of my Crohn’s. Although, that part is what I’m still constantly learning about. 

I’ve had the awe-inspiring epiphany that there is no way my ulcers can heal if I constantly shove food down my throat to rub on them as they make their way out of me. 

Logically, I know this. 

But, I still can’t seem to stop myself. 

Is there anybody else out there that struggles with this too?

First post!

I guess this is where I’m going to vomit all of my flushtrations about Crohn’s disease and my journey to wellness.

For over four years now, I’ve been sick. It took me three years to admit that I couldn’t fix it by myself and get help. That’s where the colonoscopy comes in, as well as the diagnosis of Crohn’s disease. 

If you don’t know what Crohn’s disease is, and you have a weak tolerance for poop talk, you won’t want to read any further.

My version of Crohn’s includes unlimited amounts of diarrhea, with the occasional bouts of pain and flatulence. It makes my body, head, and heart hurt. I’m sick of being sick. And I’m done waiting on medicine to fix it for me. I have to step up, do the research, and make uncomfortable changes.

It’s going to be hard.

It’s going to suck.

But, I’ve gotta do it. I’ve gotta start loving myself. I’ve gotta do this for myself.

Who else will?