Why I’m Doing a 30-Day Reset

I’ve recently started a new type of training that I’m super stoked about! My husband has been training for the show American Ninja Warrior for nearly two years, and I’ve secretly wanted to be a ninja too! It was time to make my secret a reality! I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love this new training, as it’s incredibly challenging, yet SO fun!!

So what’s this all have to do with a diet reset? Well, after a couple days of training, I took my first step to jog as a part of my warm-up, and noticed right away that my ankles hurt. For me, this pain set off a series of “uh-ohs.” The first memory that came to mind was May of 2010, when my Crohn’s was flaring up big time. I woke up in the morning and immediately realized that it hurt to walk because of ankle pain. I didn’t know back then to associate pain with inflammation, because I didn’t even really know what inflammation actually felt like. Now, it’s clear to me, as I’m much more in tune with my body. There’s also the time I was in 4^th grade and had this pain in my ankle that no one could figure out. It wasn’t until I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease at the age of 12, that my GI doctor went back through my file and contributed the ankle pain to an early sign of Crohn’s. Crohn’s is crazy like that, and it can show up anywhere, at any time. I’ve even had it in my eyes, which you can probably guess isn’t very pleasant. 😉 The ankle pain has always felt the same, and this is why when it comes to dealing with inflammation, I don’t mess around. 

I eat really well, but lately I have let a few things slip in the name of too much sugar and additives such as guar gum, which I know can cause inflammation. Errr, more like for me, they do cause inflammation. It’s too bad that the coconut milk ice cream (with agave and guar gum) from Whole Foods is so delicious. Whomp whomp…

I started a diet reset last week, and I’m feeling great! I’m following strict paleo guidelines, and adding in lots of bone broth and turmeric to really boost the anti-inflammatory effects. It never ceases to amaze me that my body really supports me, when I give it what it needs to thrive. I know that I feel my best when I’m eating strict paleo – especially no sugar. But sugar is delicious, this I know all too well! I’m not dogmatic by any means, this reset is simply just a tool that I have to lower the inflammation in my body quickly. I’ve done many resets before, and I know that they work wonders for me! I believe paleo is more of a template that is meant to be customized according to each of our needs. I don’t believe that there is a one-size-fits-all approach to diet, and I think it’s awesome that we each get to find what really works for our own bodies!

The real reason I’m sharing this all with you is that I never want anyone to look at me and think my life is perfect, and that my disease doesn’t come with maintenance. Social media and the Internet can really give you a one-sided view of someone’s life, and it’s my goal, and quite frankly my job, to share everything that has helped me heal. I know many of you are sick and searching for health, and when you have a chronic disease it can be full of ups and downs. I’ve learned the hard way that you shouldn’t always believe what you’re told, and doing your own research can really pay off.

If you’re dealing with any sort of health issue, I encourage you to take a look at what’s on your plate. I believe that it can make such a huge difference in how you feel!

Have you ever done any sort of reset? I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments!

xo,
Kristen