How 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...
Read MoreWhy I Keep Coming Back For More
As the Midwest 2011 Get Your Guts In Gear ride quickly approaches, I reflect on how important this community has become to me. My daughter Megan has Ulcerative Colitis. She also is an avid cyclist. Some years ago, she found a bike ride to raise awareness and money for research for Crohn’s and Colitis and she decided she was going to go to NY and ride. The 1st year that Megan rode, I stayed in NYC and did some sightseeing. We were to meet up at the closing ceremony. When I walked into closing and the BBQ that followed, I immediately felt welcomed and felt like I was with a group...
Read MoreIt’s More Than A Ride… It’s a Family!
Family. That’s what Get Your Guts in Gear means to me. When I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease back in 1999 I had a wonderfully supportive group of family and friends helping me every step of the way. When my dad decided to find an event supporting Crohn’s his search engine landed on Get Your Guts in Gear. He and I signed up to ride together with no idea what to expect. While Crohn’s symptoms kept me from riding for a couple of years, I joined the crew and was hooked from the first day. We had found a supportive community, not just with people who understood what I...
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