We Are All Each Other’s Inspiration
IBD is a Process, We Are All At Different Steps IBD, as with any chronic illness, involves a process. Diagnosis doesn’t come with a one way ticket to activism, confidence, and openness. As we are all very familiar with, a diagnosis of Crohns or Colitis often involves confusion, embarrassment, and a complicated cocktail of emotions for which we are likely unprepared. No matter what disease you have, whether it’s chronic, terminal, or just plain painful, hearing the words “You have [insert condition]” really means, your life will never, ever be the same. Coming to...
Read MoreMaintaining Good Health With IBD
Back in 1999 when I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease I had much to learn about a lot of different things. First and foremost, I had to learn what Crohn’s disease was. At 18, I hadn’t even heard the words “Crohn’s disease” until they were coming out of my GI’s mouth when he was telling me that I had it. So, I set out to do my homework. I immersed myself in everything that I could read on IBD. What quickly became apparent from all of my reading was the importance of what we put into our bodies; our diet has such a significant effect on how our bodies...
Read MoreHow Do You Define Success with IBD?
Redefining Success with IBD When I was a little girl, I wanted to go to the moon. I was maybe four years old and I thought for sure I wanted to be an astronaut when I grew up. Needless to say, that didn’t happen and I have yet to walk on the moon, but it’s not because I gave up on this dream, rather, I found that I had strengths and talents elsewhere, and worked hard to find a career at which I’m both successful and happy. From the time I was four until now, there have been lots of situations similar to this, both big and little. I didn’t always realize it, but I...
Read MoreYoga and Chronic Illnesses: Dealing with IBD
This blog post was written by Claire Balmas. You can visit Claire’s blog here: 8petallotus.wordpress.com My mother asked me to help out some dear souls, that are very close to my heart. When I was younger I had a chronic illness, and below is an article to help people with IBD. However these steps will help any one with a chronic illness and especially any one with digestion issues. The article is in three parts, one being an introduction to the practice of yoga and chronic illness including my story, the second is a sequence of asanas designed to help with digestion and flairs, and...
Read MoreTen Reasons To Ride GYGIG for Crohns and Colitis
My first experience with Get Your Guts In Gear was in 2006. I traveled to a new city and began a journey with a new group of people – none of whom I had ever met before. Like many other riders, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect, and I certainly couldn’t predict the positive impact this would have on my life, and the ways it would fuel me to help others have that same experience. Get Your Guts In Gear’s tagline is, “It’s More Than A Ride”. To truly explain this would require pages and pages of rambling blog postings and a box of tissues,...
Read MoreManaging Training and IBD
Training for an athletic event such as Get Your Guts In Gear takes preparation, and can be complicated by the fact that many riders are patients of Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis. It is especially important to prioritize your health during training, but you can do it! Here are some tips on successful training and management: 1. Know your body. You’ve probably learned a lot about your body through your journey with your disease, such as which foods and medications help, and which ones cause reactions. As your training progresses, be attentive to similar things. Do...
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