I have just looked back and I can barely believe it was over 18 months ago since I decided I wanted to take a more active role in managing my Crohn’s and not simply relying on medication.
So, I have to say that I have really enjoyed the journey so far. I have learned so much about my body. At the same time, I have been improving my physical health. I have been weightlifting for a few years now and I personally find that it really helps me connect with my body and clear my mind. My PhD is (obviously) cognitively demanding and not physically strenuous so working out really helps. I feel quite proud seeing how much my body has changed and knowing that it’s from the hard work that I have put in.
I have never really taken any supplements to support my gym progression. I have always been a little dubious of what it might mean for my gut. However, I feel like I’ve gone as far as I can go now and so I am slowly introducing some supplements into my diet to support my muscles and keep me from getting too fatigued. I am also focusing on eating more healthy fats so I’m all about the avocado at the moment.
I want to try and keep a good balance so that the gym is supporting my health and not taking too much energy away. While I do feel I can manage my symptoms a little better, IBD is a beast and it’s not stopping for anybody unfortunately. It is easy to feel discouraged, but I’m not going to give up without a fight.
If you would like to chat more, pop me a comment. I’m open to talk about everything with IBD, I just choose not to disclose details about my health status publicly online. 🙂