Spring Back Your Body Challenge!

Hi everyone!


Talking about very personal matters has never been easy for me. I’m sure you all understand. But when my good friends at GlamMoms2013 decided to organize a Spring Back Your Body Challenge on YouTube and Instagram, I was intrigued…and then compelled to share a bit of my story.

Rochelle (GlamMoms) has gotten a bunch of YouTube and Instagram ladies to commit to challenging eachother and ourselves to living healthier and make make lifestyle changes…not going on a mere fad diet. Then I saw a video a friend of mine, Mari, posted. And then Rochelle posted her story. Both videos moved me. Compelling me to film my own.

Now I didn’t necessarily go into extreme detail, even going this in depth was a challenge for me. If you want to hear my story growing up just check out the video below.

Throughout my 20s, I had been experiencing different symptoms that should have alarmed me but because I wasn’t in any pain, I wasn’t alarmed at all. Even after finally consulting a specialist, I wasn’t given any direction or even told how serious my condition was. So I kept on with my life and bad eating habits. It wasn’t until about 5 years later, ironically enough, on my honeymoon that things started to unravel. Looking back, I know it was all the red wine and amazingly delicious steak that sparked what I now know is a ‘flare up.’

Basically, my immune system is broken. Broken? Yes, broken. It thinks there’s some craziness going on in my stomach so it’s sending little soldier white blood cells to go attack! Which would be great if there was something to attack, but there’s isn’t. Just my stomach lining. So I have these ulcers and inflammation and anything and everything was making it worse.

I had to switch doctors, hospitals, get a gastrointestinal specialist. It has been non-stop drama for the past 3 years. I’ve probably been on 10 different medications, always buffered by steroids to calm the inflammation just enough for a new medication to work. I’ve had to go on short-term disability, was laid off, unemployed, landed in the hospital, started a new job…so many changes. And through it all, being told there’s no cure. Oh yeah, and try not to stress because that makes it worse. Um, yeah, okay!

So what food can I eat? What should I do? Unfortunately, there’s no black and white answer since it’s different for everyone! Unlike many, I can handle most dairy. Pizza does me fine but any raw veggies send my stomach into a whirl. Everyone, and I do mean everyone, simply shrugs and says oh you need more fiber. Go eat grain, salad, beans, veggies, do it all! Only I can’t. Because those wonderful things that my body needs are so rough on my system that they actually make it worse.

So how the heck do I lose weight when I can’t work out because I’m too sick and can’t eat healthy? Even a common cold usually lasts about 2 months in my system and kicks me on my butt. I try to do what I can. Especially when I’m not having a flare up. But I’m limited. And it hurts to be 32 and limited. I just want to live my life. I hate looking in the mirror and seeing my ballooned face from steroids. Hate knowing I’m avoiding the scale.

So Rochelle couldn’t have decided this at better time. Mentally at least! I’m getting over a cold, still on steroids and just getting off antibiotics but it’s a new season! Spring is here and I’m ready! I only have one body and one life and I intend to live it! And knowing I have a team of wonderful women with their own stories pushing them forward pushes me forward. I’m not alone. And I love that.

This is the continuation of a lifelong journey, but the start of something better. I hope to share this journey with you (with shorter posts I promise!) as well as share recipes, workouts, and other ways I’m learning and trying to stay healthy!

Within a few mere hours of posting my Spring Back Your Body Challenge video, I’ve received so much support and so many amazing words and sentiments. People, you, have reached out with encouragement and appreciation that I’ve shard part of my story. I’ve touched you. And in return, you have touched me.

I want to thank each and every one of you and encourage you to join me on this journey. Everyone’s story is different, goals are different and abilities are different. But we can do this together!

So….are you in???? Follow me on Instagram & Twitter @adrianarr9 and here on my blog! #SBYB

Check out more great blogs at ReDo It Yourself Inspirations!

XoXo,

A