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Crohn’s Fitness Food

Crohn’s Fitness Food

By: Stephanie Gish
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 Sharing the stories of those with IBD. Hosted by Stephanie GishCopyright 2018 All rights reserved. Exercise & Fitness Fitness, Diet & Nutrition Hygiene & Healthy Living
Episodes
  • Episode 22: Katie Vyn, Ulcerative Colitis and the Beautiful Journey of Life

    Episode 22: Katie Vyn, Ulcerative Colitis and the Beautiful Journey of Life
    Sep 14 2025

    Today’s guest is Katie Vyn, who was diagnosed in her early 20s with Ulcerative Colitis. Only one year after her diagnosis in 2000, a blood clot in her leg was the driving force that took her to the hospital where her colon ruptured and she underwent an emergency colectomy. Since then, she’s been growing stronger, living life, sharing her story, raising awareness for IBD, and advocating for fellow ostomates.

    We talk about food and fitness and how both affect her mental and physical well being. Active since a young child, Katie talks about how fitness is central to her life–practicing discipline, improving her energy and mindset, and providing a community of support and love. She also shares how she focuses on eating a clean, vegan diet that allows her to feel her best.

    Over the past year, Katie has quickly grown her voice as an IBD advocate. After starting her Instagram, @mygrandcanyon, to begin sharing positivity and support for fellow ostomates and chronic-illness fighters, she now advocates on YouTube, Twitter, and is finishing her training to serve as a Patient Coach for 11 Health.

    Her YouTube channel serves as a place to “encourage young artists and athletes, raise awareness for invisible illnesses and disabilities, and share inspiration to keep living our dreams,” focusing on messages of resiliency and hope.

    Through our conversation, you’ll hear for yourself how Katie’s love, positivity, and inspiration shines through in everything she does–life is a beautiful journey.

    Follow Katie: https://www.instagram.com/apoeticadvocate/ https://www.youtube.com/katievyn

    Learn more about 11 Health: http://www.11health.com/
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    47 mins
  • Ashley Zuchelli: Navigating Crohn's (E99)

    Ashley Zuchelli: Navigating Crohn's (E99)
    May 9 2024
    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 DiseaseSeeking a New Doctor for a DiagnosisDiagnosis and TreatmentManaging Anxiety and Balancing WorkRealizing Something's WrongThe Importance of Seeking HelpThe Challenges of Diagnosing IBDDon't Give Up on Your GoalsDon'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 😉More at crohnsfitnessfood.com Want to share your story? Send me a message here or email story@crohnsfitnessfood.com #crohns #crohnsdisease #ulcerativecolitis #ibd #podcasthost #healthpodcast #chronicillness #chronicillnesspodcast #ostomy
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    46 mins
  • Stephanie Gish solocast: Back on medications (E98)

    Stephanie Gish solocast: Back on medications (E98)
    Apr 30 2024
    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...
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    12 mins
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