33- Focusing on the small things

Ashley and Rebecca from The Crohn's & Colitis Dietitians talk about all things IBD-related. In this episode, we talk about how small things make a difference and how being in tune with your body can build trust with yourself.

0-6 minutes
Ashley talks about the ingredients she used in a gluten free and dairy free pizza she recently made. She mentions some gluten free and dairy free brands that don't taste terrible!  We talk about how carbohydrates are essential and not to be avoided.

6-13 minutes
Ashley discusses a client she recently worked with who was gaining weight but couldn't figure out why and thought maybe she needed to see a specialist. She was not eating much in the morning or for lunch, was working out and then crashing in the afternoon.  Ashley helped her to realize that she wasn't getting enough fuel and her body was in starvation mode. We talk about how sometimes we think we need complex solutions, but often simple things can help. We talk about how a perfectionist mindset around food is unattainable and we should give ourselves grace.

13-19 minutes
Rebecca brings up how trust with health professionals is key. It is natural to feel vulnerable or worry about judgment but it can help immensely to be open with those we trust. With IBD or other diseases it is normal to question things and try to figure out the causes of our diagnoses and sometimes there aren't clear cut answers. 
IBD is so unpredictable and complex. There can be grief when diagnosed or even years into the process when treatment or symptoms change. 

19-23 minutes
We briefly look at the role of IBD with pregnancy and discuss having kids when the parent has IBD. Keeping in mind that you have a plan in place and a supportive healthcare team can drastically improve our quality of life. We try to remember to not let IBD get in the way of living life!

23-33 minutes
IBD affects joints, skin, and mental health too; we talk about how it's all connected. 
We have fun with some mindfulness dice and cards. We talk about breathwork and  we practice ujjayi breath which can be helpful to induce relaxation. 

Ashley talks about some advice she received when making decisions based on how your body feels with each scenario. Does the choice make you feel restricted or expansive? We acknowledge that sometimes growth can feel scary, and in that situation is a good thing. The body is a great guide. With IBD we can sometimes disconnect from pain and uncomfortable feelings or symptoms but it is good to check in with yourself. We can start small to build trust with ourself and body.