How Nicole Used Intermittent Fasting to Heal Her Gut

This woman used Intermittent Fasting to de-bloat and lose fat. Here’s exactly what she did for her incredible results.

Tell us about yourself!

I am a 35 year old mom of 3 amazing kidos. I work full time and am very active. I love Karate, rock climbing, camping, hiking and being outdoors. In 2019, I was diagnoised with several health issues… Lupus and IBS being the biggest life changers. These two issues have been constant struggles for me so when I discovered IF I was excited for the possibility of finally finding a solution to help me feel better, have more energy, ect.

Which Intermittent Fasting Program were you following?

21 day challenge

What was your main wellness goal?

To become less bloated, less constipated, help with inflammation, help with “lupus” brain fog, to sleep better, to have more energy, ect.

Did you have any hesitations before starting the Intermittent Fasting Programs?

No. I was getting to the point that I was desperate to find relief. So I was willing to try anything.

What was your biggest wellness win?

To finally not be in pain every time I ate. This was huge. I was so miserable every time I ate and it didn’t matter what it was that I consumed. I was also taking prescription laxatives and magnesium citrate because my stomach had gotten so messed up that I couldn’t have a bowel movement on a normal basis or without pain. (I no longer need any of those any more!!!)

What was your favorite meal from the Intermittent Fasting Programs?

Yogurt Brekky Bowl by far but the cabbage, eggs and pumpkin seeds is a close second!! I would have never thought of mixing pumpkin seeds with eggs!! So delicious!!

Did you have a “Nutrition Nerd” moment?

Oh my goodness I had so many. I have always been into nutrition and health, so I was so excited to learn new tricks and tips I didn’t know before. Like taking magnesium before bed (rather than melatonin). I Also loved learning about the nutrient timing and the different things I need at eat meal. I was definitely not doing enough fat in my diet prior to finding Autumn’s youtube channel and the AEN Peeps (by the way, I love the facebook group!! such an awesome way to meet others, get ideas and find encouragement!!).

Is there anything else you would like to share?

On January 4th, I decided that I wanted to give IF a try. I figured at this point I have tried so many other diets, why not try one more. I decided that I would jump right into a 18/6 schedule 7 days a week. I was already gluten free and I really did eat pretty healthy, so I didn’t think it would be that difficult of a transition. I was pleasantly surprised how quickly my stomach cramping and bloating began to decrease. Prior to IF, I always dreaded eating because whenever I ate, I would be in discomfort. But this new lifestyle was making it possible for me to eat without immediate issues afterward.

In addition to helping my gut, IF has also helped with minimizing my inflammation. Prior to IF, my C reactive protein levels were really high. One month after beginning IF, my CRP levels were back to normal range, which made my rheumatologist happy. I also noticed that the brain fog (or lupus fog) I was experiencing was also improving. I was no longer stumbling on my words or forgetting things like I had been.

Furthermore, with the help of my doctor, I was able to stop all my IBS medications as well as stop taking medications to help with constipation. I cannot emphasize enough what a relief it was to finally get my gut back under control. I was no longer experiencing muscle spasms in my intestines, I was no longer having major issues with bloating and best of all….I was finally able to use the bathroom again without the aid of laxatives and prescription medications!

As far as weight loss I did not lost any pounds. However, I did drop in inches in the following:

Bust ½ inch

Waist 3 ½ inches

Abdomen 1 inch

Hips 1 ½ inches