I was on the phone with a client today talking about what her goals were and what she hoped to achieve by working with me. She made a comment that struck me. She said that she wants to gain a healthier relationship with food, eat more whole and more organic. She went on to say, “I will never be where you are”.
What struck me about this comment is that lately I have become so caught up in what I am doing that I seem to have forgotten where I came from, forgotten that it was only a short time ago I was in a very different place.
Fall 2003: Just a hippie in Africa with a fashion degree (and braided hair)
It began in 2003, after graduating from university with a degree in fashion, I hopped on a plane with the intention of backpacking for several months around Africa on my own. I would joke that I was going to be a hippie in Africa with a fashion degree. My parents couldn’t work out why I was going and kept saying that I was going to get sick. I insisted they had no idea what they were talking about. No matter how old you are, it’s always a little annoying when your parents are right and you are wrong.
I was sick from the time I got my vaccinations, before I even left. After backpacking through Mozambique, Swaziland, South Africa and Senegal, I couldn’t handle the way I was feeling anymore and so returned home after just ten weeks and there began a three year nightmare.
I was working in advertising, and spending most of my free time trying to work out what was wrong with me. I was going from doctor to doctor and they kept telling me different things- IBS, stress, depression… I started doing my own research and after reading Dr. Jensen’s Guide to Better Bowel Care, I knew exactly what I had. It took half a dozen more doctors before I found one who would look past my teary and terrified eyes and take my complaints seriously.
September 2004: Just talking business with my boss. Look at that outfit- all black with pointy high heeled boots. I look ridiculous!
April 2005: That would be me with a spread sheet in front of me, in a status meeting taking place in a windowless boardroom. Get me out!
A month later, in the summer of 2006, I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, and that diagnosis was later changed to Crohn’s Disease, an inflammatory bowel disease that can affect any part of the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus. This disease can cause severe pain, bleeding, malnutrition and nervous system disorders. My doctor gave me a list of medications I could take and suggested I come back in a few months to discuss surgery. He said to me- “You’re young, have fun. Go ahead- eat your cheeseburgers and drink your milkshakes”. He told me there was not much I could do, that there was no cure for what I had and to just learn to live with it.
I couldn’t believe this was my life and that this was what my future was. At 26, I was looking at a lifetime of medication and surgery. Intuitively, I believed there had to be another way. I believed in my heart that if the body, mind and spirit received what it needed, health would be the inevitable result- that health and happiness were the natural birth right of all human beings.
Going against the recommendations of all my doctors, I took a holistic approach to my healing. I quit my job, put my life in storage and moved down to California. While there, I underwent intensive acupuncture treatment, where six days a week for three months, I was turned into a human pin cushion, being stuck full of needles. I made healing my full time job. I knew that if I was going to recover and be well, I had to believe that it would happen with every itty bitty part of me.
October 2006: The start of the flowered bike. By the Venice Beach pier.
From the moment I landed in LA, I was dedicated to getting better. Everything I did was for my health. I walked on the beach every morning and got around the sweet beach town of Santa Monica by bicycle. I went to yoga every afternoon, meditated twice a day and ate only whole, organic food that I prepared myself. There were definitely times when I felt wholly overwhelmed by the burden and responsibility of what I was doing. I had taken total and complete responsibility for my health, and should this ‘alternative’ approach fail, I would have no one to blame but myself. I was terrified.
Should I succeed, however, I knew that I would understand the true meaning of empowerment.
I remained in high spirits through most of this time as I knew instinctively that a lightness in my heart was integral to getting better. I was living by the beach where the sun shone everyday, eating seasonal organic food, making wonderful friends, reading every health book I could get my hands on and had a sweet boyfriend who kept me giggling. In amongst those three months, however, I did have bad days. Days when I didn’t feel well and days when I just wished to return home to my friends and family and be ‘normal’. I often felt overwhelmed by the burden of having to be mindful of every thing I ate, what I thought, how much I slept… There were times I felt completely alone, that no one could understand what this was like for me; no one could understand the fear I had that this would not work and that I would be sick and suffering the rest of my life.
In these three months, I learned the importance of the simple things. I learned that without our health, we have nothing. I learned that a cute outfit means nothing if we feel like shit. I learned what true love and true friendship was and I learned what it was to be well. These are the greatest lessons of my life.
I succeeded in my quest. I returned home three months later healed, vibrant, and happier than I could ever remember.
Two weeks following my return, I found myself sitting in a fundamentals of nutrition class, wondering how I went from advertising to nutrition school, working towards my certification as a holistic nutritionist. In December of 2007 I graduated with first class honours and was elected class valedictorian.
Just three years ago I was sick, I was tired and I was so afraid that this was as good as it was going to get. I didn’t know how to cook, had done maybe a handful of yoga classes and was surviving on rice cakes and margarine. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that this is where I would be today, healthier, stronger and happier than ever before in my life- living a dream I never even knew existed.
I now have the greatest job in the whole world. My job is to give people hope that they might live their best life possible, and provide the skills, knowledge and support to help them achieve this.
May 2008: Teaching my very first cooking class. There is the ever supportive Thistle by my side.
I am now over two and a half years symptom-free from a disease that is believed to have no cure. As far as I’m concerned, I am cured. With the support of my family, and the help of my acupuncturist, yoga teachers, spiritual guides, friends, pure determination and a little sunshine and bicycles, I cured this disease. Without a doubt in my mind, I know that anything is truly possible.
Get The Full Story: The Healthy Cookie: Unbaked
————–
Next Workshop: April 19th, Cooking Cosmetics: Natural Body Care
Green Smoothie Group Cleanse April 19th!- Details coming this week!
Spring is springing and to celebrate, I would like to invite you to join me on a three day health adventure (no, you don’t need to go anywhere). Starting Sunday, April 19th, I will be starting a three day, green smoothie cleanse. Yes, just three days and it will be power packed with nutrient dense goodness. It will start on a Sunday to give you time to ease in. As it is a smoothie cleanse rather than a juice cleanse, you won’t experience the same kind of hunger. Over the next two weeks, I will be offering more information on green smoothie cleansing. This is an easy and well supported introduction to cleansing, using whole foods. Hope you’ll join me!
PDF 
Facebook
Flickr
LinkedIn
Twitter
RSS
Youtube
iTunes
Meghan,
What a fabulous story! What you did is incredibly brave and inspiring–and your dedication to where you are now really shows in this blog and everything you do. I can relate to so much of what you write–similar problems getting diagnosed, leaving another job for nutrition (I was also valedictorian!) and feeling energized by the knowledge that what I do can make a difference. I’m still working on the “cure,” but it’s so great to read about someone who’s already there, and can be an inspiration to the rest of us!
Thank you Meghan! This is a necessary and helpful reminder.
You are normal too. Therefore, we too, can be amazing.
(-:
Thank you so much for sharing this meghan! This was really a beautiful post. You are such an inspiration!
You are such an inspiration to me. I look forward to reading the full length version when it’s published.
Meghan,
I love this… it’s so real. Thanks for sharing.
Jenn xo
Thank you for sharing Meghan. I’m inspired and humbled by your story. I look forward to reading your book, and can see myself sharing it with a number of friends already.
what a powerful, beautiful story. thank you for sharing. you are such an inspiration. it’s amazing ppl like you who keeps me motivated, keeps me positive, keeps me encouraged and strong.
anything truly is possible. this gives me so much hope that I CAN recover from my ED, too.
Great story. Reading it just confirms my strong animosity towards conventional medicine. What you went through reminds me of my mom and when the doctors told her she needed to have a Hysterectomy peformed because a biopsy came back inconclusive and it was “better safe than sorry”. Thankfully she trusted herself like you did and found alternative routes. In the end she did not need to have one because I later test said she was fine. What happened on first test was that they cut her by accident and that’s what made the biopsy inconclusive…..we’re living in a crazy world. Glad you’re healthy now!
Wonderful, inspiring story Meghan and at the same time sad because of all that you had to go through to get where you are. It’s all good now though that’s the important thing. Hopefully I will be able to join you in the green smoothie cleanse. Looking forward to reading more about it. Congratulations on the book deal! The Cooking Cosmetics: Natural Body Care Workshop sounds interesting – will you be sharing with us too?
Wishing you all the best…
P.S. I really like the flowered bike ;o) how cute!
OH MY GOD!!! Meghan – that photo journal of you is hilarious – you look so bad ass in the boardroom with all your bangles on! And sooooooo adorabus and soooo young in LA. LOVE IT!!!
Thanks for sharing your story, Meghan! It’s so nice to hear form others who have or HAD crohn’s. I am still battling to cure mine but hopefully my story will end like yours. Good luck with your book, I would love to read it.
My goodness woman!! I am so glad you posted this.
I know exactly how you felt and how scary and crappy some days can be. I am so glad to have found others, such as yourself, and know that there are some people that actually CAN relate to the lost and terrified feeling these illnesses cause.
I was also told by several doctors to just live with it. I too, know what you mean when you said, there were times you felt completely alone, that no one could understand what this was like for you, and oh my gosh… how a cute outfit means nothing if we feel like shit!!!
You couldn’t have said it any better my friend. I’m glad we are all at different stages in our healing so we can encourage each other along. I can totally look to you for encouragement!
So just curious, obviously you are eating whole foods, but are there any foods you have to avoid? Do you eat GF and DF?
Thanks for your story! I totally want to come hang out with you and see your flowered bike, love it
P.S. I wanted to mention- healed in 3 months!!! That’s amazing!! I’m going on 6 months and working on it still
Meghan, I love your blog. April 3rd was the 10th anniversary of my diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, which was followed by all kinds of digestive issues that I eventually treated similarly to you… through diet and lifestyle changes. I am always seeking to improve (eat more raw food, find time for yoga etc…) but I can’t believe how different my life is from where I was 10 years ago… I saw Michael J Fox on Oprah last week trying to explain how his illness has been something of a blessing in terms of how it changed him and I can totally relate… I would like to not have diabetes but I would never trade the changes I have made and how I have found my own path to health and vitality.
Coconutgal, I remember being in tears talking to my naturopath…. I had cut out all common allergens from my diet and was working so hard but still felt sick … he told me it would take time and he was right. Food is medicine… when I made the shift from focusing on cutting out the “bad foods” to having as many nutritious, healing foods as possible, things started to come together.
Michelle
What an inspirational story, Meghan! I’m so glad I finally made it over here to check out your site.
“You’re young, have fun. Go ahead – eat your cheeseburgers and drink your milkshakes.” He told me there was not much I could do, that there was no cure for what I had and to just learn to live with it.
I am astounded by this. Very scary to think how many other patients this doctor has given this medical advice to. Whoa!
I so resonated with this, Meghan: I had taken total and complete responsibility for my health…Should I succeed, however, I knew that I would understand the true meaning of empowerment. That is SUCH an important teaching. I wish everyone who’s facing a health challenge could experience this.
what a great post!
thank you so very much for sharing.
Meghan – you are an inspiration! Thank you for sharing your story and giving us insight into who you are. It makes a huge difference to your blog readers when they can understand the path you’ve traveled. Knowing that you’ve had your share of struggles and that you’ve overcome them with hard work and determination is greatly inspiring. Keep up the great work. You are a blessing, for sure!
Count me in on the three day green smoothie. I’ve always wanted to try this – having buddies to do it with makes it seem very manageable. I look forward to your posts in the next few weeks, as you begin preparing (and helping us prepare) for the journey!
best,
Ellen
http://www.Iamglutenfree.blogspot.com
[...] those of you who are new to my blog, allow me to introduce myself. The long story is here, and professional information here, but in short, I am a fully certified holistic nutritionist and [...]
what a great story!
wow, accidently stumbled on your story. please let me know when your book is released and i’ll be the first to buy it!
Whoa that is crazy. I found your videos on youtube a few days ago and decided to check out your site. I didnt know about all that IBS and Crohns stuff. Good thing you are alright now.
Congratulations Meghan! What an awesome story.
[...] the time I was living in LA healing from my illness, I was often asked by my friends and family if I had come across any movie stars. I am sure I did, [...]
[...] a health food store diet, which at the time I thought was healthful, didn’t help me much when I was suffering from symptoms of Crohn’s disease. I was eating brown rice syrup based chocolate puddings, gluten-free waffles with organic [...]
[...] I am so honoured that you have chosen me to help guide you to a healthier life. We all know how much information is out there, and how much crapalicious product sponsored advertorial content is around. I trust that the support you have shown through your participation and your reading of this blog is, at least in part, is due to my offering of truthful, honest, unbiased and simplified information about health and good food. This is my passion. This is what healed me. [...]
Dear Meghan:
My friend sent me your website.
I was diagnosed with UC in ’94 and had numerous surgeries over the next year or so for the colitis and numerous side effects. The surgeries have continued up until last year and I’m still not out of the woods – yet
I still suffer from associated ailments.
Your story is very inspirational. Thank you for shaing it.
Good luck with everything!
All the best,
Rob Hughes
Hi Meghan:
Thanks for getting back to me
In retrospect, I wish that I hadn’t had the pelvic pouch procedure. Unfortunately, my symtoms were so acute and debilitating that I really didn’t, as you mention, have a choice. I just wanted the pain to stop, to get out of the hospital, and to get on with my life.
Rob
[...] special sitting on my desk, I was ready to get to work. Aaaaand my internet was down. Given the experiences I have had in my life, I trust that all things have good reason for happening. Instead of stressing (well maybe one phone [...]
Hi Meghan,
I am happy that I have accidentally stumbled upon this post
Thank you for sharing your story. This is really encouraging.
Cheers!
Sandy
[...] is a continuation of My Story. If you haven’t read it as yet, you might want to [...]
Thank you so, so much for sharing your success, Meghan.
I have also had some frustrating digestive issues that I often feel a bit hopeless about, but what you just shared caused something to shift in me.
I’m just going to keep trying, working with my body, until I can also boast such a lovely story of healing.
Thanks again, you’re a wonderful role model!
AND you’re gorgeous!
[...] work. This was the first book of its kind that I ever got my hands on. I read it during the Summer of 2006 when my life was pretty much turned upside down by disease and dizzying lostness. I was up at my cottage, picked up the book and it suddenly opened my eyes to the understanding [...]
[...] was skinny when I was sick, but never saw the beauty of it. I just saw sickness and tiredness. Everyone kept asking how I’d [...]
Hi! Megan,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. It’s so inspiring.
Coconutgal- you are doing amazing. Keep in mind that I wasn’t doing anything else- it was an absolute privilege to heal and repair the way that I did. I also have an inherently strong constitution- this makes a difference as well. You are doing all the right things and are in the right track. It just takes patience and persistence.
Thank you all of you for generously kind and warm comments.
Thank you for your comment Rob. I am happy you found my site and I hope some of the information I share will be useful to you. I have heard stories such as yours time and time again. Seems that when it comes to any sort of IBD, or often any type of inflammatory or degenerative condition, the first surgery is often the first step towards the second. It is an unfortunate way in which these conditions are treated by modern medicine and the worst is that by the time we actually know what the problem is, we don’t have much choice in what to do.