Hi, I’m Lauren and my stomach is a bitch.

I’m sorry to use such a mean word but she really is. She’s a straight up DIVA. Like, she got invited to perform at Vh1′s Diva’s Live but she holed up in her trailer and refused to go on.

Let me explain.

Several years ago I found myself wondering things like, “hmm why is my body punishing me for everything i eat?” and “huh, i could’ve sworn the world wars took place on land and sea, but this one seems to be taking place in my stomach” multiple times a day.

I had horrendous stomach pain. All.the.time. I called it “the lasers” because it just felt like lasers shooting in and out of my stomach rapid fire. Couple that with intense nausea, cold sweats, and the shakes and I was one happy and attractive person.

SIKE! I was miserable. It was like Les Miserables, but worse because Russell Crowe was playing every character.

Oh, also my limbs would just go completely numb multiple times a day. FUN!

Anyway, I finally decided that enough was enough. I had to make a change.

The thing was: I had always been a healthy eater. I effing LOVE vegetables and gleefully eat them all day. Besides my entire mouth full of sweet teeth, i never really ate junk food. So how could my stomach be rejecting a balanced diet of whole wheat bread, greek yogurt, fruits and vegetables? Well yes, she WAS a diva, but there had to be something more to it…

The first thing I (begrudgingly) did was cut out gluten. The GFree thing was just starting to get popular and, while I thought it was bizarre, I bit the bullet and gave it a shot.

After 3 days my main symptoms disappeared.

HOLY SHIT IS THIS REAL LIFE?! It was amazing! I lived a blissful few months as a GFreebie. My stomach became really nice. We fell back in love, went on a honeymoon–Hawaii, it was gorgeous*–but then, after a while, the honeymoon was over. Some of my symptoms came back. I had a feeling the diva was starting to reject my beloved (seriously, it was a love affair for the books) frozen yogurt, my Greek yogurt snacks, my CHEESE. Whatta bitch! But, like any true diva, she gets what she wants. So, I eliminated dairy and BAM! Second honeymoon. This time we went to Paris, it was lovely**.

FFwd to now: I’ve been gluten and dairy free for about 5 years and since then have gone through umpteen trial and errors to ease my last remaining symptoms. It was a long and frustrating process, but I now follow a specialized diet for my stomach disorder. When I follow it strictly, it works wonders. The Diva still flares up now and then from anxiety (my middle name***) or when I eat something that I know will give me symptoms, but all in all I’m in a much better place.

This is all a SUPER long and drawn out way to introduce myself to FittieLand! I’m passionate about the brain/body/food connection and have experienced firsthand the way food can harm and tremendously help us. I am here to share with you my knowledge of nutrition and health foods that will fuel your body and mind, but still be delicious! Eughhh smack me, that sounded like some lame-ass intro to a Food Network show. Sorry

In short: I’m not a doctor or nutritionist, but I know my way around health food pretty damn well. I also know my way around fitness pretty well (I was a competitive dancer and gymnast for most of my life. Now I run, lift heavy things, jump around, lift other things, etc). I can’t wait to share what I’ve learned with you and learn from you and the other bloggers in the process! Everybody is different, but hopefully I can bring enough stuff to the table (pun intended…maybe) for you to pick and choose what works for you! Thanks for reading my transcription of Ben Hur; I can’t wait to hear from you!

Lauren

*I’ve never been to Hawaii

**I’ve never been to Paris

***This is my real middle name.