Introduction: The Beginning of My Journey with Crohn’s Disease
In 2015, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. I weighed 209 pounds, and I was confused. I had always heard that people with Crohn’s struggled to keep weight on, but my experience was quite the opposite. Instead of feeling frail and underweight, I was carrying more weight than ever.
Faced with debilitating symptoms, my doctor presented me with the typical treatment options: medications and steroids, many of which people never manage to get off. I knew these would only mask the symptoms, not address the underlying cause. This wasn’t a life I wanted to live, so I made a choice—I would take control of my health, and in doing so, I discovered something profound: wellness is about so much more than just food.
This realization didn’t come easily. It was through trial, error, and an unexpected encounter with meditation that I began to understand that healing is a multi-dimensional process. Healing involves the body, yes, but also the mind and spirit. This is the story of how I came to embrace a holistic approach to health and how that understanding now forms the foundation of my work as a health coach.
Phase One: Changing My Diet—The First Step
When I was diagnosed, I dove headfirst into research, determined to find a better way. I discovered anti-inflammatory diets, which are designed to reduce chronic inflammation, a common issue for people with autoimmune conditions like Crohn’s. I cut out processed foods, sugars, and inflammatory triggers like gluten and dairy, and started focusing on whole, nourishing foods.
This made an immediate difference. Within days, I felt better. My energy levels improved, and the severity of my Crohn’s symptoms began to subside. I thought I had found the solution, but after a few months, my symptoms started creeping back. Despite eating all the “right” foods, I found myself in flare after flare. It didn’t make sense—how could I be following the rules of diet and nutrition, yet still suffer?
This is where many of us find ourselves. We focus on what we’re eating, believing that if we just follow the correct diet, everything will fall into place. And while food is an essential part of health, it is not the only part.
Food as Medicine: Understanding the Role of Nutrition
Let me be clear—food matters. A balanced, nutrient-dense diet can have a dramatic impact on your health. For me, shifting to an anti-inflammatory diet was transformative in the early stages of my healing journey. It allowed me to manage my Crohn’s symptoms without the need for harsh medications, but I was missing another crucial piece of the puzzle.
Inflammatory foods, like sugars, trans fats, and processed grains, can cause havoc in your body. These foods spike your blood sugar, increase stress hormones like cortisol, and trigger immune responses that worsen inflammation. On the flip side, nutrient-dense foods like leafy greens, healthy fats, and lean proteins nourish your body, stabilize blood sugar, and support immune function.
But here’s the thing—nutrition alone can’t address the stress, emotional baggage, and mental clutter that contribute to chronic disease. Even though I was eating well, I was still experiencing stress and emotional turmoil. My body couldn’t fully heal because I hadn’t dealt with the underlying emotional and mental stressors.
Phase Two: The Missing Piece—Embracing Meditation and Stress Reduction
A friend suggested I try meditation. Honestly, my first reaction was dismissive. I didn’t see how sitting still for 10 minutes could possibly help my body heal. My mind was always racing, and I felt I couldn’t slow it down long enough to meditate. But after experiencing recurring flare-ups despite my diet changes, I thought, Why not? What did I have to lose?
I downloaded a meditation app and started small—just 10 minutes a day. At first, it was uncomfortable. My thoughts were loud, and I couldn’t seem to focus. But over time, something shifted. The more I practiced, the quieter my mind became. I was learning to sit with myself, to breathe, and to release tension I hadn’t realized I was holding.
Meditation, as I learned, wasn’t about clearing my mind entirely. It was about becoming aware of my thoughts, and more importantly, the emotions behind those thoughts. Within a week of consistent practice, I noticed a difference. I was less reactive, less anxious, and more present. My body started to respond as well—fewer flares, less pain, and more ease in my day-to-day life.
The Science of Stress: How Mindfulness Affects the Body
There’s a significant body of research that supports the idea that stress has a profound effect on our health. When we experience stress, our body goes into fight-or-flight mode, releasing cortisol and adrenaline. This response is helpful in short bursts, but when it becomes chronic, it wreaks havoc on our system—leading to inflammation, weight gain, and even immune suppression.
Mindfulness and meditation work by activating the parasympathetic nervous system—the part of your nervous system responsible for rest and digestion. When you meditate, you shift your body out of fight-or-flight mode and into a state of rest and repair. Over time, this reduces inflammation, lowers blood pressure, and balances hormones.
This is why I began to see results not only in my mental health but also in my physical health. Meditation allowed my body to do the healing work it needed to do.
Phase Three: Emotional Wellness—Unpacking the Past
As I dove deeper into meditation and mindfulness, I started to uncover emotional wounds that I had long buried. Like so many of us, I had been raised to “be strong” and to push through difficult emotions without processing them. But I soon learned that unprocessed emotions don’t just go away—they get stored in the body and manifest in unhealthy ways.
For me, that looked like flare-ups of Crohn’s disease. For others, it might look like anxiety, depression, weight gain, or other chronic health conditions.
It wasn’t until I started actively working on my emotional health that I realized how much these buried emotions were affecting me. Through meditation, journaling, and eventually working with a therapist, I began to process these emotions in a healthy way. The more emotional baggage I released, the better I felt—both mentally and physically.
Emotional Eating: Why We Turn to Food for Comfort
One of the ways that unprocessed emotions show up is through emotional eating. When we’re stressed, anxious, or sad, we often turn to food for comfort. This is because eating certain foods—particularly sugary or high-fat foods—triggers the release of endorphins, the “feel-good” chemicals in the brain.
While this provides temporary relief, it doesn’t address the root cause of our emotional pain. Instead, we end up in a cycle of cravings and regret. We eat to feel better, then feel guilty about what we ate, which only leads to more emotional distress. This is why, even when we’re following a healthy diet, we may still struggle with cravings.
In my practice, I help clients identify the emotional triggers behind their cravings and teach them how to manage those emotions in healthier ways—whether that’s through meditation, journaling, or simply learning to sit with their feelings instead of numbing them with food.
Phase Four: Spiritual Wellness—Connecting to Purpose
As I continued on my healing journey, I realized that there was yet another layer to wellness: spirituality. For me, this meant reconnecting with my sense of purpose, finding meaning in my struggles, and aligning my life with my values.
Spiritual wellness doesn’t necessarily mean following a particular religion. It’s about tuning into the deeper parts of yourself and understanding what gives your life meaning. This can be as simple as practicing gratitude, spending time in nature, or engaging in activities that bring you joy.
For me, this aspect of wellness came into focus as I trained to become a Reiki Master Teacher. Through Reiki, I learned how to connect with the energy within and around me, to heal not just my body but my spirit. I realized that part of my purpose was to help others heal as well.
Phase Five: Holistic Health Coaching—The Power of Integrating Mind, Body, and Spirit
Today, as a holistic health coach, I guide my clients through a journey that addresses all three dimensions of wellness: physical, emotional, and spiritual. I believe that lasting health and well-being can only be achieved when we focus on all aspects of ourselves, not just what we eat.
My programs are designed to help clients not only achieve their physical goals—whether that’s weight loss, reducing inflammation, or managing a chronic condition—but also to reconnect with their emotional and spiritual health. By addressing the root causes of their cravings, emotional blocks, and stress, my clients can experience true transformation and lasting success.
If my story resonates with you, and if you feel stuck in your own health journey, I invite you to take the first step toward a new kind of wellness. Schedule a Free Discovery Call, and let’s explore how holistic health coaching can help you achieve balance in all areas of your life—physical, emotional, and spiritual. Together, we can unlock the healing potential within you and create lasting change.
You can also check out more of my blog posts here to learn more.
Why Wellness is More than Just Food: A Holistic Approach to Health
Leave a Comment
Posted: September 30, 2024 by Candace Foster
Introduction: The Beginning of My Journey with Crohn’s Disease
In 2015, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. I weighed 209 pounds, and I was confused. I had always heard that people with Crohn’s struggled to keep weight on, but my experience was quite the opposite. Instead of feeling frail and underweight, I was carrying more weight than ever.
Faced with debilitating symptoms, my doctor presented me with the typical treatment options: medications and steroids, many of which people never manage to get off. I knew these would only mask the symptoms, not address the underlying cause. This wasn’t a life I wanted to live, so I made a choice—I would take control of my health, and in doing so, I discovered something profound: wellness is about so much more than just food.
This realization didn’t come easily. It was through trial, error, and an unexpected encounter with meditation that I began to understand that healing is a multi-dimensional process. Healing involves the body, yes, but also the mind and spirit. This is the story of how I came to embrace a holistic approach to health and how that understanding now forms the foundation of my work as a health coach.
Phase One: Changing My Diet—The First Step
When I was diagnosed, I dove headfirst into research, determined to find a better way. I discovered anti-inflammatory diets, which are designed to reduce chronic inflammation, a common issue for people with autoimmune conditions like Crohn’s. I cut out processed foods, sugars, and inflammatory triggers like gluten and dairy, and started focusing on whole, nourishing foods.
This made an immediate difference. Within days, I felt better. My energy levels improved, and the severity of my Crohn’s symptoms began to subside. I thought I had found the solution, but after a few months, my symptoms started creeping back. Despite eating all the “right” foods, I found myself in flare after flare. It didn’t make sense—how could I be following the rules of diet and nutrition, yet still suffer?
This is where many of us find ourselves. We focus on what we’re eating, believing that if we just follow the correct diet, everything will fall into place. And while food is an essential part of health, it is not the only part.
Food as Medicine: Understanding the Role of Nutrition
Let me be clear—food matters. A balanced, nutrient-dense diet can have a dramatic impact on your health. For me, shifting to an anti-inflammatory diet was transformative in the early stages of my healing journey. It allowed me to manage my Crohn’s symptoms without the need for harsh medications, but I was missing another crucial piece of the puzzle.
Inflammatory foods, like sugars, trans fats, and processed grains, can cause havoc in your body. These foods spike your blood sugar, increase stress hormones like cortisol, and trigger immune responses that worsen inflammation. On the flip side, nutrient-dense foods like leafy greens, healthy fats, and lean proteins nourish your body, stabilize blood sugar, and support immune function.
But here’s the thing—nutrition alone can’t address the stress, emotional baggage, and mental clutter that contribute to chronic disease. Even though I was eating well, I was still experiencing stress and emotional turmoil. My body couldn’t fully heal because I hadn’t dealt with the underlying emotional and mental stressors.
Phase Two: The Missing Piece—Embracing Meditation and Stress Reduction
A friend suggested I try meditation. Honestly, my first reaction was dismissive. I didn’t see how sitting still for 10 minutes could possibly help my body heal. My mind was always racing, and I felt I couldn’t slow it down long enough to meditate. But after experiencing recurring flare-ups despite my diet changes, I thought, Why not? What did I have to lose?
I downloaded a meditation app and started small—just 10 minutes a day. At first, it was uncomfortable. My thoughts were loud, and I couldn’t seem to focus. But over time, something shifted. The more I practiced, the quieter my mind became. I was learning to sit with myself, to breathe, and to release tension I hadn’t realized I was holding.
Meditation, as I learned, wasn’t about clearing my mind entirely. It was about becoming aware of my thoughts, and more importantly, the emotions behind those thoughts. Within a week of consistent practice, I noticed a difference. I was less reactive, less anxious, and more present. My body started to respond as well—fewer flares, less pain, and more ease in my day-to-day life.
The Science of Stress: How Mindfulness Affects the Body
There’s a significant body of research that supports the idea that stress has a profound effect on our health. When we experience stress, our body goes into fight-or-flight mode, releasing cortisol and adrenaline. This response is helpful in short bursts, but when it becomes chronic, it wreaks havoc on our system—leading to inflammation, weight gain, and even immune suppression.
Mindfulness and meditation work by activating the parasympathetic nervous system—the part of your nervous system responsible for rest and digestion. When you meditate, you shift your body out of fight-or-flight mode and into a state of rest and repair. Over time, this reduces inflammation, lowers blood pressure, and balances hormones.
This is why I began to see results not only in my mental health but also in my physical health. Meditation allowed my body to do the healing work it needed to do.
Phase Three: Emotional Wellness—Unpacking the Past
As I dove deeper into meditation and mindfulness, I started to uncover emotional wounds that I had long buried. Like so many of us, I had been raised to “be strong” and to push through difficult emotions without processing them. But I soon learned that unprocessed emotions don’t just go away—they get stored in the body and manifest in unhealthy ways.
For me, that looked like flare-ups of Crohn’s disease. For others, it might look like anxiety, depression, weight gain, or other chronic health conditions.
It wasn’t until I started actively working on my emotional health that I realized how much these buried emotions were affecting me. Through meditation, journaling, and eventually working with a therapist, I began to process these emotions in a healthy way. The more emotional baggage I released, the better I felt—both mentally and physically.
Emotional Eating: Why We Turn to Food for Comfort
One of the ways that unprocessed emotions show up is through emotional eating. When we’re stressed, anxious, or sad, we often turn to food for comfort. This is because eating certain foods—particularly sugary or high-fat foods—triggers the release of endorphins, the “feel-good” chemicals in the brain.
While this provides temporary relief, it doesn’t address the root cause of our emotional pain. Instead, we end up in a cycle of cravings and regret. We eat to feel better, then feel guilty about what we ate, which only leads to more emotional distress. This is why, even when we’re following a healthy diet, we may still struggle with cravings.
In my practice, I help clients identify the emotional triggers behind their cravings and teach them how to manage those emotions in healthier ways—whether that’s through meditation, journaling, or simply learning to sit with their feelings instead of numbing them with food.
Phase Four: Spiritual Wellness—Connecting to Purpose
As I continued on my healing journey, I realized that there was yet another layer to wellness: spirituality. For me, this meant reconnecting with my sense of purpose, finding meaning in my struggles, and aligning my life with my values.
Spiritual wellness doesn’t necessarily mean following a particular religion. It’s about tuning into the deeper parts of yourself and understanding what gives your life meaning. This can be as simple as practicing gratitude, spending time in nature, or engaging in activities that bring you joy.
For me, this aspect of wellness came into focus as I trained to become a Reiki Master Teacher. Through Reiki, I learned how to connect with the energy within and around me, to heal not just my body but my spirit. I realized that part of my purpose was to help others heal as well.
Phase Five: Holistic Health Coaching—The Power of Integrating Mind, Body, and Spirit
Today, as a holistic health coach, I guide my clients through a journey that addresses all three dimensions of wellness: physical, emotional, and spiritual. I believe that lasting health and well-being can only be achieved when we focus on all aspects of ourselves, not just what we eat.
My programs are designed to help clients not only achieve their physical goals—whether that’s weight loss, reducing inflammation, or managing a chronic condition—but also to reconnect with their emotional and spiritual health. By addressing the root causes of their cravings, emotional blocks, and stress, my clients can experience true transformation and lasting success.
Conclusion: Your Invitation to a Discovery Call
If my story resonates with you, and if you feel stuck in your own health journey, I invite you to take the first step toward a new kind of wellness. Schedule a Free Discovery Call, and let’s explore how holistic health coaching can help you achieve balance in all areas of your life—physical, emotional, and spiritual. Together, we can unlock the healing potential within you and create lasting change.
You can also check out more of my blog posts here to learn more.
Category: Blog Tags: Balancing Mind and Body, Chronic Illness Management, Emotional Eating, Healing through food, Health Coaching, Holistic Weight Loss, Meditation for Health, Mind-body Connection, Natural Health, Reiki Healing, Self-Care Practices, Transformational Health