Today I’m sharing the truth about why your gut is an ugly mess.

I got sick in 2001. And I would not heal for good until 2018.

During that time, I failed miserably and awfully. Not just once, but over-and-over again.

So today, when someone comes to me and says the following, I always have at least 100 racing thoughts,

I’m doing everything “right,” but I’m not healing.

If you want the real and raw, super candid and honest truth, here it is.

The Truth About Why Your Gut Is an Ugly Mess

Click HERE to save the truth about why your gut is a mess for later.

1. You already have it, but you aren’t consistent with it – you give up.

I’m intentionally placing this one first because of all the reasons, this one is likely to be number one.

Yes, it took me forever to heal, and no I don’t want it to take you that long, but the truth is that so many times on my journey I had everything I needed. And yet, I gave up.

You can be healing even if you don’t feel 100% during month one. In fact, you likely won’t be feeling 100% after month one.

But if all the other parts and pieces I’m going to talk about next are there, then your problem is that you are going from one thing to the next like a professional job hopper hops about various jobs.

2. My favorite gut healing hack is to not be gut healing 24/7.

Don’t confuse this one with what I just talked about and consistency.

While they might seem conflicting, they don’t have to be.

Let’s return to the difference between gut health and gut healing for this one.

They are not the same things, though. Even their definitions prove it.

Health: the state of being free from illness or injury

Healing: the process of making or becoming sound or healthy again

Health is a state of being; healing is an action we need to take.

If your gut is a mess and healing is what you need to do, then by all means – heal. But even during healing, sometimes the action is simply to chill the f#$% out.

And honestly, most of us have forgotten how to do this because we get so wrapped up in the 1.3 million “gut-healing daily tasks” to do that there is simply no time leftover for being.

In fact, I healed for the final time in 2018 at the same time as I went to Italy and lived my life freely. Literally – I never looked back to “healing” after that.

If you are 24/7 healing, then how will you ever know if you have hit “health?” That’s right, you won’t. And the reason is not because you aren’t healed, but because you have constantly told yourself the healing, not health, story.

3. You won’t give up McDonald’s and your gluten-free cupcakes.

While diet is by no means the end-all, it is a means to an end for your gut in shambles.

This is never going to be about any specific diet, but instead one that’s made of whole foods that are minimally (if at all) processed.

You cannot outrun diet no matter how hard you try and no matter what society tries to tell you.

4. Workouts, protein powder, and replacement bars are #goals.

If your number 1 goal is body composition from a purely aesthetic standpoint and in order to do this you’re living off hard workouts, protein powder, and replacement bars because your favorite ‘Gram fitspo told you “this is the way,” then prepare to stay stagnant on your gut-healing journey.

I’ve made it very clear for what I believe many of our workouts are doing for the gut healing journey, but coinciding with that are the protein powders and replacement bars that are:

1. Doing no favors for your healing due to their nasty, artificial ingredients and
2. NOT appropriate as entire meal replacements when you should be focusing on nutrient-dense meals that are helping to re-build vs. break down.

5. You haven’t even gotten a (proper) diagnosis.

Though this one is tricky, it’s crucial.

How can you heal something if you’re not even sure what needs healing?

If you wouldn’t expect your broken arm to heal by tending to your knee then why would you expect SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) to heal strictly by tending to acid reflux?

When something is broken, we fix it.

But it’s impossible to fix that which we are unsure is broken.

6. You refuse to not be the “party girl.”

Late nights, booze, greasy burgers, and little sleep because, “it’s so fun!”

If this sounds like you, it could be a major reason why your gut is an ugly mess.

There is never going to be a good time to cut all of that out, as life goes on and the parties are plentiful. But if that’s where you’re at every single weekend, you can’t heal.

Your gut does not care if it’s 5 o’clock somewhere.

7. You’re an Askhole

The Urban Dictionary gives this definition of askhole,

A person who constantly asks for your advice, yet ALWAYS does the complete opposite of what you told them to do.

I’ve always laughed when I heard the term.

But it’s so spot on.

In fact, it’s why I no longer let people “pick my brain” for hours on end.

The freemium version is always a road to nowhere.

You will invest far less time and energy into yourself when you pay nothing. I’ve never completed anything I didn’t invest in, but for those things which I invest in, I’ve grown from.

And if this is you – if you are constantly asking people – multiple people – how to heal your gut, but then do the opposite of their suggestions, then you’re just spinning around in circles – chasing a healthy gut.

8. The Excuse Girl

You’re at the end of this list, and you’re thinking any one of these things:

• Yes, I am consistent….except for……
• ….but I have to be healing my gut 24/7
• Shut. Up. Like I can’t have McDonald’s. And please don’t tell me gluten-free cupcakes aren’t “good for me now.”
• If I don’t workout and eat my replacement bars, I can’t lose weight.
• I don’t need a diagnosis; I have Dr. Google.
• Just let me go out and have fun; it helps reduce all this stress.
• I want all the information, from 100 different sources, and at some point I’ll take action.

Do you see it?

These are excuses, and excuses will forever keep you stuck.

The things we have came from a decision we chose over an excuse we made.

Where are YOU at today?

It’s an honest question I’m asking you after reading through this post and listening to all points above in detail via the podcast episode….

Where are YOU at today?

Are you being honest with yourself or are you finding that you’re simply on the defense?

I’m currently in a different place in my life where I, too, am on the DEFENSE. But I will tell you this — if I can get to my OWN TRUTHS about the current situation in the same way I was finally able to do when I healed my gut for good, then I know the pain of my current situation will alleviate far faster than it did with healing my gut.

And you need to be able to do the same, too.

I promise. It can get better. It will get better. YOU will get better.

But you’ve first got to get honest, and then take the necessary actions.

More from A Gutsy Girl

Want to learn even more about the gut and ways to heal it?

The best way to learn all the secrets is via my signature book, A Gutsy Girl’s Bible: a 21-day approach to healing the gut. Grab your copy on Amazon HERE.

And if you’re really ready to elevate your healing and this journey, Gut Healing for Beginners is where it’s at.

1. Welcome to A Gutsy Girl Podcast
2. Hang out on Instagram
3. BFF’s on YouTube
4. Free resource: The Master Gutsy Spreadsheet
5. Rated-G Email Club

Wrap-Up

As always, a huge goal for this show is to connect with even more people. Feel free to send an email to our team at podcast@agutsygirl.com. We want to hear questions, comments, show ideas, etc.

Did you enjoy this episode? Please drop a comment below or leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

If you liked this post on The Truth About Why Your Gut Is an Ugly Mess, you might also enjoy:

1. The Truth About Greens and Gut Healing
2. A Gutsy Girl’s Supplement Line (everything you need to know)
3. Viome Gut Microbiome Test Reviews {2023}

Xox,
SKH