A Gutsy Girl

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The Nudge to Connect

Filed Under: 101 Days of Blogging, Inspire, Love, Wellness Tagged With: ,

The Sunday Reflections post today revolves around the nudge to connect.

Since moving, Sundays have become such awesome days (except for the fact that we still haven’t found a church – and that is killing me). I told you last Sunday, but the weekends are now a time for less work and more personal downtime. 

This weekend and today are no exception.

Yesterday morning, Samarah and I went on a little “hunt” with my brother JJ, and then she and I headed to a nearby town to get groceries. Guys – our fridge is finally filling up again, after a month of being back, with all the things we are used to eating on a day-to-day basis. 

In the afternoon, Ryan took Samarah to run errands and grab more things from his parent’s house that we had forgotten. Meanwhile, the babies napped, and my mom came over to help me work on the house a little more. My friend Meg came over late afternoon to see if Samarah could go with them (she has a daughter Sam’s age and a son in between Maya and Isaiah) to her niece’s hockey game. Samarah went with, and by the time she came home it was dinner and bed for all three of them. Sleeping – all of them – at 8pm. Ryan and I were totally winning yesterday.

I’m telling you – what I have just described never, ever could have happened a month ago prior to the move.

Anyways, today is Sunday and I’m spending time writing, placing some online orders (Beautycounter, Thrive, and Amazon), getting a workout in (the treadmill + set of dumbbells did find their way to the rental!), working on the house a little more, and then Ryan and I are taking the kids to my cousin’s to hang out for awhile (and have Ba Ngaio’s spring rolls!) and just enjoy Sunday while saying a little prayer for our beloved Vikings!

And that’s it for today – no real “work” or focused blog post about life or health or anything, just another Sunday Reflection, as I promised I’d do last week,

I decided to just share something from a reader each Sunday during the series that is a reflection of the hard work I’m putting into producing and sharing. 

Today’s Email

The Nudge to Connect sarahkayhoffman.com

What I’m sharing with you today is an email I received this past week. I’ve read it a few times now and each time I do, I have a new thought. There is one thought, though, that stays in my mind more than anything. In the email she said, 

So I am reaching out because I feel a nudge to connect, as I realize we actually, now have so much in common. 

I am going to share her email with you (with names and other personal things changed, of course), but I can’t help but continue coming back to the idea that she and I, you and me, all of us…..we are not really all that different.

People reach out to me a lot, and the first thing many say is, “I didn’t know how to approach you….” or “I wasn’t sure if you’d even read this or care to hear from someone like me, but….”

Listen – I wish I could pass along the responses I send to every single person who has ever emailed or messaged me something like the below because there has never been a time when I have not responded with complete gratitude.

You hear from me all the time, currently 7 days a week, but there are thousands of you and I don’t know your stories. If I did, I can assure you they would make me smile.

I hope you enjoy her email to me, and my hope is that this email is your nudge to connect with me, too. 

The Nudge to Connect

Hi Sarah,

I think if you saw me, you would recognize me. I live in xyz, and we once had the opportunity to meet at the Tracy Farmer’s Market. We chatted about connecting over food, but it was never really my thing…. Later, I learned that we both attended Southwinds Church, that you were from Minnesota, and Peter and I even sat behind you when you dedicated Samarah, Isaiah, and Amiya. We were geographically and proximally so close, and even though I knew we were meant to eventually connect, the time never felt right.

I knew you had your blog, and not being a natural food foodie, honestly, I partly read the blog and mostly enjoyed your family posts…while always wondering when/how we would connect. Well, when you posted about your dad’s cancer, something in my heart moved. Then you posted about your intent to move and then your move home to MN, and the full-on shift occurred. So I am reaching out because I feel a nudge to connect, as I realize we actually, now have so much in common.

A little of my background for you…

Your family posts have always been fun because I have two adult stepchildren in their 30’s who were 5 (Ben) and 7 (Molly) when I met them. And Peter and I have an 18-year-old son, Josh (who Isaiah reminded me of at the day of his dedication. Little boys are crazy busy and amazing, but don’t think that the girls will give you a minute of rest either, they are just different! ???? And viva la difference!! – I’ve always said that boys change their moms, and girls change their dads), and a 12 ½ “I’m a tween, Mom!” daughter named Carrie. 

The story of Peter and me begins in 1992 when we married (actually earlier, but, well, you get it), in Pleasanton. In those early years, we lived in Fremont, and in 1996 we felt we needed to move out of California. We wanted a better place to raise a family, we took on the adventure and moved to Maple Grove, MN. We had made a pact that we wouldn’t buy a home for a year until we became more familiar with the Twin Cities. We stayed in Maple Grove, and, in fact, 14 months later we moved one exit south to Bass Lake Road and stayed until 2004. Josh was born there, in Robbinsdale. He was 4 (like Samarah) when life shifted. Without boring you with all of the details, we decided we needed to be closer to family. Peter’s family was in Washington state, my family Pleasanton (the town I grew up in). We came back home to the Bay Area. We arrived July 1, 2004. Carrie was born June 11, 2005, in San Ramon, and at that same time, Molly was living in San Francisco, and Ben had 2 years at the U of M, Twin Cities, left. And, Josh was just finishing his kindergarten year of school. A lot happened in that year and has happened since then….

But, honestly, through reading your posts and “watching” you make the reverse, inverse trip that we did has brought a smile to my face, and amazed me at how very similar our life journeys have become! I understand the importance of family…that is what brought us back and keeps us here. And tax free clothes and shoes doesn’t hurt one bit! Truth be told, I NEVER got over it. I always braced for the tax the whole 8 years that I lived there and was ALWAYS delighted! Your Dad’s cancer diagnosis touched me, because my brother was diagnosed with leukemia back in late April. My father turned 80 in July and my mom is 77. They caught this flu and it turned to pneumonia for both of them. I savor every day, enjoy every smile and laugh with my children, every moment with my parents and am amazed at my brother’s progress. And I know that this is what the Lord brought me back to, and I know that it is all His purpose. In fact, our story is not sad. My parents are getting over the flu. It’s a nasty one this year, (I am just turning a corner after 3 full weeks) and though we hit some hiccups, my brother’s chemo is working. He looks good and he is back to himself! ….This is my story today. I don’t know what the next month, year and decade will hold for me, but I know the Lord has us all in His hand, and I live in that. Ryan will make it back (our transition back to CA was similar, but again in reverse….Mark travelled ahead to CA while I stayed with the boys to wrap up the house)! Yours, Ryan’s and the kids’ bodies, and psyches, will need time to adjust to everything. It took us a year to adjust and acclimate to everything when we went to MN and again when we came back to CA. But rest assured that you all will acclimate, and in 5 years time, this one year will be a blink!

I will stop here because I am aware that I can easily overwhelm… I am obviously not afraid to write. I have loads of MN stories, I have loads of CA stories, I have tons of Josh and Carrie and Ben in MN and Ben and Molly stories. I had a fantastic, corporate career in MN, that I walked away from. My children are my purpose and the family that Peter and I built hold my greatest blessings. Not all of life is always good, but, God is always good and my life reflects that. Please know that, no matter whether the time is right for you to connect back with me or not, I will continue to periodically read your posts. I am enjoying your 101 blog fest. And I am especially enjoying hearing about Minnetonka, Waseca, Target back in MN (it is different) and Caribou Coffee. It all brings back good, sweet memories. And if you want to connect, and continue sharing journeys beyond the post, please feel free to connect with me. Obviously we can no longer connect at Barista’s, but maybe you can get a Caribou, I will get a Peet’s, and we can build a long distance relationship, …if the time is finally right for both of us.

Take care, Sarah. I love that you touch so many in so many ways. Keep going!!

A California Friend,
Xyz

Have a beautiful Sunday!

p.s. Yes, dear California friend, I’d love to build a long distance friendship. It’s one of the greatest joys my blog has given to me! xox

Xox,
SKH

If you don’t have time to read these posts daily, but don’t want to miss them, be sure to follow via Bloglovin’ and/or join my personal e-newsletter HERE. I am doing my best to send a once per week email recap of prior week’s posts.

These posts will all live under “Wellness+Lifestyle” and also tagged with “101 Days of Blogging.” The 101-day series runs from Monday, January 8, 2018, through Wednesday, April 18, 2018.

If there is a topic surrounding change that you would love for me to include in this series, please just CONTACT ME.

Previous 101-Day Change Series Posts

  1. Beginnings are Scary
  2. Change Pain Point
  3. Making Sense of Change
  4. Gratitude Journal
  5. Love Your Baby Girl
  6. Little Things Add Up
  7. House and Home
  8. Sunday Reflections
  9. Two
  10. Chocolate Shake
  11. 3-Ingredient Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Shake
  12. Chaos is a Temporary State
  13. Thirsty Thursday
  14. Month One

Consolation Prize

Filed Under: Adoption, Faith, Infertility, Inspire, Love Tagged With: , , , , ,

I run a private Facebook group called Born In Our Hearts. Last week in the group, a woman stated, “I feel like parenthood is a celebration no matter how it comes. Foster parenting isn’t a consolation prize for us, it’s an appointment from God.”

I loved it so much that I asked the woman to share more of their story if she was interested. Almost immediately, she emailed me. 

I title Jesse’s post, “Consolation Prize” because of the deep impact those two words had on my thoughts once she stated them. There is zero consolation in Samarah, Isaiah, and Amiya. They are the prize. The only prize. And Jesse is about to see first hand how true her statement really is. 

Consolation Prize

Click HERE to save this post for later.

Earlier I posted this picture to the Born In Our Hearts Facebook group. I was excited! We are officially licensed foster parents in the state of Texas. Honestly, this picture was a little bit of a brag moment for me. It felt a lot like I imagine pregnant moms feel when they post their beautiful baby bump photography. I was excited to share and celebrate the next step in our life. I felt like there was no better place to post something like this.

Consolation Prize sarahkayhoffman.com

My post was very well received, but I still felt the need to justify it. You see, some of my friends and initially some of my family have been weirded out about what we are doing. They didn’t know how to react or how to celebrate it. It was new and different, and even among people who are doing the same thing I am, I felt a need to explain myself. So, I made this comment

I feel like parenthood is a celebration no matter how it comes. Foster parenting isn’t a consolation prize for us it’s an appointment from God.

It was as if God had hijacked my Facebook comment. This is truly the way I feel but I let my fear of misperception cloud that. (There goes my Jesus setting me straight!)

When Sarah asked me to write about that statement I prayed the Lord would continue to speak.

My husband and I so badly want to be parents.Successful pregnancy hasn’t happened for us. The further we get into this journey, the clearer it becomes that this is because we have been specifically crafted by God for us to be foster parents. We both have experienced struggles that make us more aware of what a hurt child has experienced, what that feels like and means. Even our own perception of our infertility lead us to understand more what loss is.

Romans 8:28 says “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” As we get closer to our first placement, I continue to research and consume every little piece of information on foster care and foster children I can find. The profound way that God has used everything in, not only my life, but in my husband’s life, to prepare us for the specific task ahead is astounding. 

God didn’t just say “I think I’ll have Jesse and James be foster parents.” It’s as if he said, “This thing happened in their lives. Ouch! Let me lead them to grow from it in the perfect way so that they can fulfill the need these children have.”

And being a foster parent was not a backup plan for us.  It was what HE had set aside and designed. Maybe it’s not what we thought would happen first, but in my experience, God’s plans are always better than my own. These beautiful babies are precious children of God. Whether in our home for a season or forever, they are His.

Consolation Prize sarahkayhoffman.com Foster Adoption

When I said that foster parenting is not a consolation prize for us but an appointment from God, I wasn’t bragging, although it started that way. Foster parenting is a beautiful appointment that God has given to all of us. Whether it be by supporting those who open their home with our prayers and our help or by opening our home ourselves. 

Foster care is part of God’s design and it is our privilege to be part of it.

Xox,
SKH

p.s. Interested in sharing an adoption birth story, from any angle? Click HERE to learn more!

How I Found Beauty in the Dust

Filed Under: Inspire, Love Tagged With: , ,

Today’s post was written by my good friend, Marissa Vicario. She writes on ‘How I Found Beauty in the Dust‘ and why hitting rock bottom was her saving grace.

How I Found Beauty in the Dust sarahkayhoffman.com Your Holistically Hot Transformation Marissa Vicario

I enjoy telling you stories, but I believe in the power of sharing other people’s stories as well. For much of this blog’s existence, I have shared “Your Gutsy Stories.” When I had my business, A Loving Spoon nut butters, I shared “Stories of Hope.” And as I prepare to re-launch/re-invent and be re-inspired by this slice of the Internet, I’ll tell you that the space for sharing these stories will continue to exist. Only now, they will revolve around how people have found their own beauty in the dust.

I am grateful and excited that Marissa is the first to share her story. I met Marissa when we both attended The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. While our approaches are different, our viewpoints are almost parallel. She is passionate, talented, brave, bold and beautiful. I adore her, and I love the drive she brings daily.

Marissa recently published her first book, Your Holistically Hot Transformation, and with that, I couldn’t help but let her share with you today how she found beauty in the dust.

p.s. I’m rounding up more ‘How I Found Beauty in the Dust’ stories for the launch of my new site. If you’re interested in sharing, on any aspect of your own life, please contact me HERE and/or email me (sarahkayhoffman at gmail.com).

How I Found Beauty in the Dust sarahkayhoffman.com Marissa Vicario

How I Found Beauty in the Dust

For months on end, I had spent my weekends sitting on the sofa in my studio apartment, staring at a television that wasn’t even on. By winter 2008, this had become the norm. My weekdays were spent just getting by — going through the motions at work or hungover from the previous night’s happy hour.

That summer had been a series of exciting accomplishments from training for — and successfully completing — the New York City Triathlon and Marathon, a raise and promotion at my Corporate Communications job and a new relationship that had all the promise of a future. Yet, in what seemed like an instant, everything changed.

The previous few years had left me unable to shake a feeling of general dissatisfaction — emptiness in my romantic life, un-fulfillment in my job and loneliness in my social life, but in summer 2008, I had turned a corner. Then not long after, everything fell apart again — the company I worked for was sold and my job became unsteady due to corporate restructuring. The man I was falling in love with ended our relationship and my social life remained stagnant.

That’s when my downward spiral started: the binge drinking, my relentless sugar addiction, and the motionless staring as I racked my brain for answers that weren’t there. It went on that way for weeks until I heard a voice.

You can’t go on like this anymore. This is not the life you’re meant to live.

 It was in that moment I decided everything had to change. I vowed that I would start treating my body differently and placing a priority on my physical, mental and emotional well-being. When I did that, when I made that choice and let every decision from there on out be guided by that intention, my entire world changed.

How I Found Beauty in the Dust Quote Marissa Vicario sarahkayhoffman.com

I started simply by learning about whole food ingredients and cleaning up what I was eating. I prepared food at home with my hand-me-down pots and pans and dull cutting knives so I could bring my lunch to work. Lunchtime conversations with co-workers were focused on the kale and quinoa in my lunch bag. My cleaner food led to clearer thoughts about what I deserved in this lifetime so I stopped ignoring the dissatisfaction I was feeling in my career and cultivated more of the joy I found in speaking to my co-workers about nutrition and healthy food. Instead of putting more energy into climbing the corporate ladder, I invested in my new-found love of nutrition and wellness and went back to school to become a certified integrative nutrition coach.

It didn’t happen overnight, but from there the once-messy and disjointed pieces of my life fell into place. Health and wellness put my life on a new trajectory that led me to a satisfying social life devoid of binge drinking, a loving relationship with the man who is now my husband and a fulfilling new career as a health coach.

The most important lessons I took from those darkest moments were that imbalance breeds imbalance. The unhappiness I felt in one area of my life manifested in poor food choices, which affected my self-esteem, which influenced how I showed up in my relationships. I learned that I don’t have to settle for being dissatisfied in any area of my life. It’s never too late to take action and make changes. Finally, I learned that eating healthy food and prioritizing self-care has the power to change everything.

I may have hit rock bottom, but it helped me discover my best self.

How I Found Beauty in the Dust sarahkayhoffman.com Marissa Vicario Book Cover

Marissa Vicario, AADP, is the best-selling Author of Your Holistically Hot Transformation: Embrace a Healthy Lifestyle Free of Dieting Confusion and Self-Judgment. As an award-winning Certified Integrative Health and Nutrition Coach, Women’s Health & Lifestyle Expert and the Founder of Marissa’s Well-being and Health, she teaches women to trust themselves to make slimming, nutritious and energizing choices without resorting to fad diets. For more information, visit www.MWAHonline.com

{If you enjoy my posts on the gut and/or healing + true wellness with food and lifestyle click HERE to subscribe to my e-newsletter.If you enjoy my posts on life, inspiration, passion, entrepreneurship, adoption, love, thoughts, faith and living in a way that gives us purpose, daily click HERE to subscribe to my e-newsletter (a different one). To follow the blog in general, be sure to place it in your feed.}

Xox,
SKH

From Indeterminate Crohn’s/Colitis to a Healing Path with Abby Lindblade

Filed Under: Love, Your Gutsy Stories Tagged With: , , , ,

Last Friday, I was tagged on Instagram in this egg photo. The caption read as such:

#Farmfreshfriday eggs straight from the farmemoji thanks to @sarahkayhoffman & her #21day #gutsygirl #guthealing I can now eat a whole egg with no problems!

I had never “met” Abby before that moment, but in that moment, I remembered all the reasons I spent countless hours researching and putting together The Gutsy Girl’s Bible: an approach to healing the gut, 2.0.

Not for me, for you…..and if it has helped just one person, then my mission has been accomplished.

I reached out to Abby because I wanted to know more about her, and then I asked if she wanted to tell her own Gutsy story here.

Meet Abby Lindblade

It’s freshman year of college and out of nowhere you get a really bad stomach bug. Mom and Dad aren’t there to take care of you anymore so what do you do now? Like any college student you go to the store buy some medicine and Gatorade and let it pass because it was probably just the gross cafeteria food you eat three times a day. Or so that’s what I thought when this happened to me during my first semester in college. The only problem was that this stomach “bug” wouldn’t just pass, it would get worse.

(SKH Side Note: The EXACT same thing happened to me, my freshman year of college.)

www.agutsygirl.com Story of Abby Lindblade

I eventually went to numerous doctors and had every test done known to man, yet the doctors still couldn’t figure out what this “bug” was. It was a stomach flu turned to e-coli and finally with the results of a colonoscopy I was diagnosed with indeterminate Crohn’s/Colitis. I had never heard of this disease in my life and had no family history of it whatsoever. At 18 years old hearing this news was a complete shock, and there were times I would break down and wonder why me?

I became very health conscious about what I ate, and read every book I could about naturally healing. Unfortunately, I was not conscious enough and college life got the best of me again because soon I was having feelings of this “bug” again. Fall break came, and I was now in a full blown flare up in so much pain that I spent Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday) curled up on the couch all day long. My parents took care of me throughout the holidays but it finally came to a point they no longer knew what to do and drove me to the hospital where I spent two weeks recovering. After my trip to the hospital I was reluctantly put on Humira. Since then I have been adamant about finding what works with my body to heal naturally, and that’s when I ran into A Gutsy Girl’s blog online. Finding this was like an answer to prayer because it was exactly what I had been searching for! Sarah’s blog and the Gutsy Girl’s Bible opened my eyes to so much information about living a healthy lifestyle with Crohn’s/Colitis. At first I intended to follow the 21 day gut healing just so I could have a good colonoscopy result (which I did!), but now I plan to follow this lifestyle of naturally healing my gut so I can find what works best for me and my body. I am currently adding back in foods and can now eat one of my favorite foods, an egg, with no problems!

This disease is not a weakness but a strength that can be used as an inspiration just as Sarah has been to me and to so many others going through similar gut issues. She is truly a “Gutsy Girl” and I hope to inspire others one day just as much as she has by healing myself with good food and strong faith.

LOVE YOUR GUTS, Abby 🙂

Abby Lindblade Gut Healing via www.agutsygirl.com

p.s. Ready to tell your own story? Contact me!

Love your guts,
SKH

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Heather Filipowicz is a Gutsy Girl Living Out Her Dreams

Filed Under: Inspire, Love, Your Gutsy Stories Tagged With: ,

Heather Filipowicz is a Gutsy Girl Living Out Her Dreams.

It’s been a long time since I’ve featured one of your stories. I love featuring you and allowing you to tell your gutsy story. Having a Gutsy story isn’t just about living with IBS and/or IBD. It’s about being Gutsy, being fearless, in all areas of your life. We all embrace this in some way or another. The following Gutsy story is from a former client and current friend. I remember coaching her on these thoughts long ago, and I’ve loved watching her step out of her square box. I think you will enjoy it, too!

p.s. Ready to tell your story? Contact me!

Heather Filipowicz is a Gutsy Girl Living Out Her Dreams

Everyone has that dream. You know, that nagging, niggling thing in your mind that you place excuse after excuse in front of. “I’ll do that when I retire.” “I don’t have enough money.” “I can’t do THAT.” “There isn’t enough time. I’m too busy.”

I was that person, and then I wasn’t.

Heather & Joe. Heather Filipowicz, a Gutsy Girl and Living Out Her Dreams via www.agutsygirl.com #Gutsy

My husband Joe and I always dreamed of oceans – turquoise waters and the sway of palm trees, warm sun on our faces and sand in our toes. Yet, we lived in Buffalo, NY. Buffalo is spectacular in the summer, but come mid-January it is not our ideal living location. We always said “We will move when Logan (our 6 year old son) graduates from High School. Graduation cap goes up in the sky, for sale sign goes in the lawn.”

Then we woke up. We realized that we aren’t guaranteed tomorrow, all we have is today and if we don’t set an example for Logan that dreams are for the taking then we would have failed him, failed us. No more waiting.

We hustled. We researched. We had vision boards. We read books about facing fears and dreaming big. Our mindset changed. We worked on our goal early in the morning and late at night. We decided that now was the time to take the leap because Logan is 6 years old, adventurous and still thinks we are the center of his universe. We were clear on what we wanted and we didn’t waiver.

Our dream became our reality. After two months of split living, on December 7th our family of 3 moved into our home in Wesley Chapel, Florida, complete with sunshine and palm trees.  We left behind everyone we knew and loved – family, friends, and colleagues. Joe had a new job, and I was jobless for the first time in my life since I was 12.

Heather Filipowicz is a Gutsy Girl Living Out Her Dreams. Founder of 'Sassy Inspiration.' An inspiration for making dreams come true. sarahkayhoffman.com

The funny thing is once you start dreaming, you can’t stop. With a big dream accomplished, new ones come along. I wanted more for me and my family. I wanted more time with my son, more balance in my life and more control over my future. I didn’t want to go back to working long hours and have my son in daycare day after day. I wanted to be there more for him and to change the future for our family.

So here I find myself, working on building my own business. The CEO of Redefining Awesome is what I like to call it. I want to change my life and the lives of others by getting more out of life. I allowed myself to think bigger and take the leap. Scared? You bet. Guaranteed to work? Nope. Does it seem crazy to many people I know? For sure.  But yet again, I think about Logan. I want him to know that dreams are worth pursuing. I want him to know that hard work, determination, sacrifice, and grit have never failed me in my pursuit of anything worth having.

Dreams aren’t these crazy things that only exist in our brains and heart that just sit there. They are real and by not even attempting to go after them we are letting ourselves down. Listen to that voice that keeps nagging your brain and your heart. Taking the leap isn’t easy, but anything worth it in life shouldn’t be easy. Take the leap. Trust me, it’s worth it.

Heather Filipowicz is Redefining Awesome and lives in Wesley Chapel, FL. She blogs about life, dreams, health and parenthood at Sassy Inspiration. She is living life on her terms as an AdvoCare Distributor and Non-Profit consultant. She believes in eating “the gutsy way” and knows that Sarah Kay Hoffman changed her life through her coaching and kindness. Mom to Logan and wife to Joe, she has mastered the art of stepping on Lego’s in the dark, making bone broth and finally embracing her curly hair. 

SKH note: Lest what you might think, I did not pay Heather to say those things about me. She added that last paragraph, in italics just as is. I left it in because I adore it. By far my favorite line, “Mom to Logan and wife to Joe, she has mastered the art of stepping on Lego’s in the dark, making bone broth and finally embracing her curly hair.” 

Xox,
SKH

A Teenager’s Perspective on Being a Gutsy Girl

Filed Under: Your Gutsy Stories Tagged With: ,

It’s Friday! And even though weekends don’t mean much anymore now that I’m 100% consumed with a loving spoon, the idea of Friday will always be a positive one.

Before I tell you about an awesome Gutsy teenager today, I want to remind you that the next Gutsy Mastermind Group Program begins on Monday, September 30! The participants from the first group got so many awesome results that many of them are joining again this time for the daily “Gutsy Office Hours.” I cannot tell you how my cup runneth over when women – women just like you – begin to actually heal, actually feel better and are able to smile bigger once again. Don’t wait – just a few spots left. Click HERE to join!

May was the last time I told your Gutsy story. Time for a great one today! (p.s. Do you want to tell your own Gutsy story here? You can. Simply contact me!)

A Teenager’s Perspective on Being a Gutsy Girl

Meet Erica Brahan. I met Erica a few weeks back when she reached out to me with her story:

“I have had a restrictive diet for over two years. The beginning was overwhelming, difficult, and I felt lost and hated almost everything about it. I started the GAPS diet in 2012, which made improvements and revealed that I had a salicylate intolerance. I am 17 now and a senior in high school and can only eat about 20 foods because of the salicylate intolerance (I am trying to reintroduce some of the foods). Although I still do not really enjoy my restrictions, I have learned a lot about what it takes to maintain a semi-“normal” teenage life with food restrictions.

My mom encouraged me to write a book about my experiences to share with other teenagers or parents with teens. When I first started my journey I would have loved, really loved, to have someone give me advice on things like how to go to school, do social activities, and explain my food restrictions. The problem is that there is nothing like that, at least that is easy to find. With that in mind I wrote “A Teenager’s Perspective on Food Restrictions: A Practical Guide to Keep from Going Crazy“. In it I offer all of the advice I wish I had been given.”

Erica Brahan author of "A Teenager’s Perspective on Food Restrictions: A Practical Guide to Keep from Going Crazy" interview via www.agutsygirl.com IBS IBD

I downloaded her book and skimmed through it.

Bravery –  at such a young age!

So I asked her to tell a little bit more about herself and her story so I could share with you:

“I am a senior in high school and have dealt with health problems since I was young. My most prominent struggle is with chronic joint inflammation, which has been on going since fourth grade and intensified with age. I am a softball catcher and at the age of 15 I could barely play anymore because the pain had become so bad. With the guidance of my functional medicine doctor during my sophomore year of high school, I tried several elimination diets. The first improvement in joint pain was as a junior on the GAPS Intro diet. I later discovered I have a salicylate sensitivity that left me with about 20 foods to eat. After I removed salicylates from my diet, the join pain went away completely! Although this journey has been incredibly difficult at times, I have learned a lot and made huge improvements in my health. Last year, as a junior, I played my first softball season without pain since seventh grade.”

And then, of course, I asked her to tell you all a little bit more about her book:

“I recently wrote a book, A Teenager’s Perspective on Food Restrictions: A Practical Guide to Keep from Going Crazy. It is a reflection of my personal experiences and offers the advice I wish I had received before and during my diet restrictions. It is a short book written by a teenager for other teenagers or parents. I talk about the reality of food restrictions and why they are particularly difficult for teenagers, but also the motivation it takes to continue. I offer advice about how to explain your diet, maintain a social life, and go to school along with other topics.”

You can learn more from a Gutsy teenager’s perspective by downloading Erica’s ebook. The ebook can be purchased from her blog, Edible Attitudes, and is available on Amazon as a paperback for $5.99 or as an eBook for $1.99.

Love your guts,
SKH

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