Questions?
Did you know that CCL offers free resources such as mediation? How does it assist with gut health? In this post, we will discuss all the benefits of doing meditation. Let us at Crohn’s & Colitis Lifestyle offer our tips on this awesome tool!
First things first: What do we mean “to college”?
To college means to have the most epic four years of your life in which you:
But Crohn’s and Colitis can make even the most exciting times seem daunting or sometimes even totally impossible. So how does one “college” with C&C?
We’ve broken it down for you into 3 parts:
Whether we’re sick, just had a bad day at work/school, or are fighting with a best friend/significant other, home is one of the first places we tend to want to go. Why? Because our home is our healing center. Home is the place we go to be comfortable, unwind, and relax. If your home is going to be your haven, it’s important to make sure to create an ideal living space for yourself.
How to nail your home flow:
Basically, make your house, apartment, or dorm the coolest place on campus!
News flash: we are not telling you to put empty $10 liquor bottles on display over your fridge. Really not cool, guys… We mean be the house everyone loves to walk into because:
You get the idea—essentially the ultimate bachelor/bachelorette pad.
But having a cool place can definitely get a little tricky in college between dorms, roommates, and noisy neighbors. There is no simple solution to these problems, but the best approach is communication.
Communication is a major key to ensuring your home flow.
When choosing a roommate, it’s important to have an open and positive conversation about the type of lifestyles you both live. This is especially true for someone with IBD.
Whether you are in a dorm, apartment, or house; living with another person can be tough. Being upfront and open about any specific needs either of you may have will ensure the best possible experience for everyone involved. Some of these may include:
Picking where to live is just as important as picking with whom to live. If communal bathrooms and a small, shared living space don’t really sound like your thing, maybe stay away from the dorm style living.
Love the idea of being able to run down the hall to borrow sugar? Opt for an apartment rather than a house. Does the idea of noisy neighbors make you cringe? Then maybe the apartment thing isn’t for you after all. There are plenty of these questions to consider when choosing the best place to live, but the most important thing after that is to make your living space the best possible space for you to live in!
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle with C&C during college does not mean you can’t have an epic college experience. It just might take a little extra thought and planning, but if you do it right, in the end your experience will be better than you could have imagined. This is accomplished greatly through preparation and balance.
When choosing a course schedule, balance out some of your harder core classes with classes that will enrich your life while simultaneously reducing your stress. There are tons of options:
Basically, if you can think of it, it’s probably a class! Be creative and find something you enjoy that maybe doesn’t require you to spend ten hours a day in the library.
In addition to planning your classes, planning out meals will also help you avoid stress and stay on track for your healthy lifestyle! Starting the day off with a steady regimen of supplements and a good breakfast like a healthy shake will get your day off to the best possible start. Breakfast is the easiest way to build a consistent regimen – start there! Knowing the best places to get C&C friendly foods around campus for days when meal prep isn’t an option is a good idea, as well as trying to bring healthy snacks with you to keep you going throughout the day.
Breakfast Recipe:
All Organic, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free
**Maca root is awesome to have on hand as a caffeine substitute that’s healthy, easy to digest and stimulates healthy hormone production!**
Healthy Snacks will help keep you energized and focused!
Water will keep you hydrated (add a splash of lemon for an extra kick of flavor, detox, and a boost of vitamin C!).
It’s always a good idea to have supplements on hand in case of an emergency like: slippery elm, turmeric, omega 3 oil caps, and amp floracel.
Extra Clothes are great to have for a quick change after a workout or an IBD emergency
Peppermint mouthwash helps combat nausea and will help you to freshen up if need be
When I first started college I was drunk with my newfound freedom–both figuratively and literally. But after a few months of going nonstop, I was reminded of my old friend, Crohn’s Disease. I thought to myself, why won’t this thing just leave me alone? But like a stubborn ex or an old article of clothing you just can’t seem to purge from your closet, Crohn’s always seemed to pop back up. After my first crazy college semester, I realized something much more valuable than anything my professors had ever taught me: Crohns and Colitis is not the end of the world and it can be overcome! We just gotta find that balance!
Who you are choosing to surround yourself with makes a huge impact on your life. Like choosing a roommate to help with your home flow, you should focus on finding positive, transparent friends who will make a good support system if the time comes. Being in college means you may be far away from your usual support system of family, friends, and doctors for the first time. Keep in mind that the people you choose to have around you during this time will be the ones you’ll want to count on to step up if the time comes that you find yourself missing your home support system.
Happiness leads to healthiness. Doing things that are fun and make you happy is a huge part of living a healthy lifestyle. Focus on daytime activities to do with friends like working out, attending yoga classes, cook dinner with friends, movie night, driving to a beach/park, or going to a concert. There’s always something new and fun happening in college towns! Colleges also offer many clubs and organizations you can join from honor societies, to Greek life, to camping clubs, to support groups with fellow students dealing with IBD or similar situations.
Daytime activities are definitely the way to go. They’ll leave you feeling happy, fulfilled, and probably very ready to dive into your way-too-comfy pillow by bedtime, but if you do want to go out a few nights and have some drinks with friends, we say go for it if you like—but be smart! The best option is obviously to stay clear of alcohol altogether, but for many, that’s just not happening. So if you do decide to, keep in mind:
1. Who you’re drinking with
This comes back to the importance of genuine and transparent friends. If your friends care about you and know about your IBD, they will be far less likely to pressure you when drinking and will be much more likely to understand and support your decisions.
2. How/Where You’re Drinking
We all have those nights where drinking isn’t just a leisure thing, but a competition of who’s who in the college world. We’ve all had those nights of playing drinking games that left us victorious on the field but not so victorious in the BR. Story of our lives right? If you can, drink out of your own cup only and fill it with a substance you know you can tolerate.
Usually, clear liquids are your best bet. Go for gluten-free liquors like Vodka or Tequila because they’re the cleanest and have shown to be easiest on the gut.
For Most:
Mix clear liquors with some soda water and a dash of lemon or lime. Lemon and lime will help counteract the acidic damage from the alcohol while giving your body a boost of nutrients. It’s also a good idea to pop some TURMERIC, SLIPPERY ELM and OMEGA 3 to help reduce inflammation, as well as a MULTIVITAMIN to replenish lost vitamins & minerals. This will also help reduce a hangover, so share them with your friends to become the most popular guy/gal at the party! *High Fives All Around
Basically, Crohn’s and Colitis should never stop you from doing anything you want to do in your life, and it certainly doesn’t have to keep you from college-ing. It is possible to live a healing life without giving up that epic college experience you’ve always imagined. Obviously we think you should eat clean, do what’s best for you and stay away from alcohol, but if you must, these tips should help you make it everything you have dreamed it could be!
In order to mitigate a reaction and symptoms, follow our four secrets!
You can find all of the products mentioned in our CCLIFESTYLE shop at discounted rates with the First10 – 10$ discount code!
P.S If you sign up for our newsletter you can receive a 10% discount code for EVERY order!
Before using any of the products or trying any of the treatments mentioned please consult with your doctor, as this is not medical advice and should not be used without medical supervision.
Do you struggle with toxicity? Or need to shift the microbiome? In this post, we want to discuss Wild Oil of Oregano and the benefits it offers for the body. Let us at Crohn’s & Colitis Lifestyle share all we know with you on WOO.
When it comes to maintaining good gut health, many individuals turn to natural remedies for support. One such option that has gained significant popularity is the use of doTERRA essential oils. With their powerful properties and potential benefits, doTERRA oils have become a go-to choice for individuals seeking relief from gut-related conditions like Crohn’s disease and colitis.
In this blog, we want to offer you a creative way to “spice up” your gut-friendly recipe toolkit! This is a smooth, tummy-friendly recipe that can be catered to your diet specifications.
Dating is complicated… We won’t try to sugarcoat it! Why else would there be countless magazine articles, blog posts, podcasts, and books all about this one topic? We go into love usually kicking & screaming half the time always thinking we were innocent! We hate, then love, then hate again…It’s a tough business this dating thing… Throw the awkwardness of IBD into the mix and it may seem more appealing just to hide behind your computer screen and avoid the whole thing completely. However, fortune favors the bold, so let us show you how to jumpstart your dating life!
Believe it or not Crohn’s and Colitis can give you an edge when it comes to dating. Seriously! But it’s all about how you handle the situation. Let us explain…
1. Show You’re “Real”: Dating can be super intimidating for both people involved. We all love to admire the star football player with the perfect booty and the blonde cheerleader with the amazing…ya know ;). But when it comes to actually forming a relationship, we are all looking for something “real”. Having something like Crohn’s Disease gives you a “realness”, and depth about you. No matter a person’s looks, we all desire something deeper and stronger to connect with – as The Beatles so famously said, “love is all we need”.
2. Mental 6 Pack: Every flare is like a cross-fit session for your brain. Owning it and overcoming adversity makes you look like a total boss and someone who can handle the punches to the gut so to speak. You’ll need that six pack strength when dealing with your partner and the lovely roller coaster we call life.
3. Meet the Parents: Being a real, compassionate, strong, and health-conscious individual will score you major brownie points with the ‘rents! Who wouldn’t want such a positive influence around their son or daughter? Plus, they’ll know their son/daughter is in good hands if you play the “I don’t party/drink/stay out too late” card.
4. Healthy is Hot: Crohn’s and Colitis inspires us to live a healthier lifestyle by being conscious of both our physical and mental health. The condition requires we learn how to eat healthy, be positive, see the good in each day and take responsibility for our lives. Owning our health mentally, physically and spiritually is sexy no matter who you are and whether you’re considered “sick” or not!
Imagine the hottest version of yourself. What attributes do you have in the glory of all your full hotness? Are you strong minded? Ripped? What kind of lifestyle would you have? What does your hot self eat and do to keep it up? How do you handle all of that attention?? The lifestyle choices for healing Crohn’s/Colitis and being the “best you” are one in the same.
People who care about their health are automatically more attractive. So when we take the extra step to implement a healthy lifestyle we win on two fronts. We’re hotter and healthier!
There are all kinds of scientific studies about humans being more physically attracted to healthy people because of our desire for biological advancement and these things called pheromones…or something like that. We won’t go too far into it because
1) we’re not scientists
2) this is not a science post.
But it’s a thing; just trust us on this one.
Someone who would rather sit on the couch eating pizza and drinking beer every night doesn’t sound like a healthy partner for anyone, C&C or not!
Plus, who would want to invite a greasy, gassy, lazy, and all-around downer of a person into their life, or their bed, anyways? Goodbye. Speaking of beds…
You’ve been dating this person for a while and you’re like…totally feeling the connection. You’re both ready to take the next step in your relationship but just as things are starting to heat up in the bedroom, the bathroom calls. There’s no better way to ruin the moment than with an IBD emergency. So what is a guy/gal to do?! Running to the bathroom in the middle of a steamy moment can completely kill the vibe. Some situations are totally out of our control, but these tips will definitely help that first sleepover whether you’re looking for a relationship or not.
Hopefully, by the time you’ve reached the sleepover stage in dating, the communication about your health and how you feel about things will already be established. Good communication will make the transition a whole lot easier—not to mention your connection under the sheets will most likely be stronger too! Whether you’re looking for a serious relationship or not, we suggest that you…
1. Go to your place
Have you ever seen that scene in Along Came Polly when Ben Stiller’s character totally clogs Jennifer Aniston’s toilet in a post-spicy dinner catastrophe? The poor guy couldn’t find her plunger and things got pretty shitty!
Having the first sleepover at your place will make you feel much more comfortable and help you avoid some awkward situations. Be sure that your home flow is top-notch.
Also, when you’re at home you have all of your emergency supplements (ie: slippery elm, DGL, Turmeric, Omega 3’s), your own bathroom, and a change of clothes if you need them!
2.) Watch what you eat
The Ben Stiller spicy food incident from the movie Along Came Polly brings us to our next point: if you’re thinking of getting intimate, plan accordingly. AKA an ideal dinner before the “dessert” definitely wouldn’t be a large pepperoni pizza with fries and a coca-cola. Stick to clean/safe foods that you know will give you energy without upsetting your stomach.
Better yet, you can go for an elemental shake, which will be super easy to digest and give you plenty of energy. **Add maca root to your shake to kick start your labido.** Whether you have IBD or not, doing the right thing in the kitchen will help you out later in the bedroom. The right foods will provide you with energy and keep you from fatiguing, making your experience that much better!
3. Plan ahead
Before things get hot and heavy, it helps to be prepared. If you’re planning that special night, try to pick a time when you’re feeling well or expecting to feel well. Of course some things are out of our control, but try to avoid those times when you know you tend to feel sick (like when stressing about an upcoming exam or Monday after a long weekend).
If you know you might be spending the night with someone, you may want to consider doubling up on your supplements that day as an extra boost and using the restroom before hand so you’re not awkwardly departing just as things start heating up!
One of the things we have found most challenging is when to bring it up. Usually it comes out in natural conversation when you first eat or make a comment about sometimes having stomach issues. We like to lead them to ask the question instead of just blurting it out. That could create one of those awkward silent moments and no one is loving that!
But if it doesn’t come up – our advice is to let them know you live a specific type of lifestyle because you get stomach issues sometimes. The term “Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis” can be scary if they have no idea what it is and it’s much easier to hint at the fact that you take it easy sometimes to stay healthy with a nice smile on your face.
If you mention it right up front you can move on and focus on what’s really important: building a relationship! If they don’t understand or react unfavorably you might be better off without this negative Nancy. Can you imagine being in a strong relationship with someone who can’t be supportive of such an issue. Imagine building a family with this person, introducing them to your friends/family, or god forbid having any other tough situation in life where you need their support – Give em the boot!
If it makes you uncomfortable, you don’t have to come right out and unload every detail of your medical history onto this person during the previews on your first movie date, but it’s good to get at least the idea out there. For example, while choosing where to go on your date, you could say, “I don’t eat (fill in the blank) food because it makes me not feel well”. You don’t have to use the words “Crohn’s” or “Colitis.”
Usually, how you think about it is how they’ll think about it. If you choose to embrace it and use it to empower yourself, your partner will usually admire your strength and feel much more comfortable with expressing their life hardships. Remember, they aren’t perfect either and who knows what they’re worried about expressing to you.
If they do respond well then this has given the two of you the opportunity to become closer and build a stronger relationship with one another. Sharing something personal about yourself gives them a chance to share something personal about themselves with you in return.
Maybe all first dates should start with something personal??
Or not…? Maybe just stick to reading Cosmo on that one!
Thinking of fun date ideas can be tough for anyone, but especially so when trying to think of stuff to do while you’re going through a flare!
Examples:
Use your best judgment based on how you feeling but anything that makes it hard to get to a restroom and can be stressful should be avoided! Also, if this person is constantly suggesting things that don’t mesh well with your life, and they don’t enjoy the things you suggest, they may not be a great fit for you!
Your relationship with your partner should be like peanut butter and jelly, cookies and cream, chocolate chips, and muffins… I’m running out of foods that pair well together but basically what I’m trying to say is that one of the most important aspects of dating is to find someone who shares a similar interests, likes/dislikes, and lifestyles as you do!
Netflix and chill is a perfect, low-key, and cheap date idea for anyone—especially someone with C&C. You can enjoy a home-cooked meal that’s perfect for your body, watch a movie, and snuggle up to your bae all from the comfort of your own couch!
If you do decide to do something a little less low-key, then our advice is to be prepared. If you go to a water park, for example, use the restroom while it’s convenient instead of waiting until you’ve climbed ten stories up to the top of a slide. Trust us, you don’t want to leave your date waiting for you alone and phoneless, with nothing but their thoughts to pass the time, while you run down ten flights of stairs only to wait in a bathroom line of a hundred water park attendees—definitely less than ideal, friends.
When talking about the first sleepover, communication is huge. That’s true in any relationship; it helps people connect, as well as develops the relationship into something deeper, more meaningful, and more beneficial for both people involved. C&C is just one more reason to establish strong communication from the very beginning and maintain it throughout your entire relationship.
Dating is this crazy/messy/slightly insane thing that countless people all over the globe choose to do each and every day. Why? Because when you find that special someone it makes it all worth it. C&C shouldn’t hold you back from finding your person and hopefully these tips will help make sure that it never does! Communicate with your partner, remember the life lessons of Crohn’s Disease, be real, and have fun!
In order to mitigate a reaction and symptoms, follow our four secrets!
You can find all of the products mentioned in our CCLIFESTYLE shop at discounted rates with the First10 – 10$ discount code!
P.S If you sign up for our newsletter you can receive a 10% discount code for EVERY order!
Before using any of the products or trying any of the treatments mentioned please consult with your doctor, as this is not medical advice and should not be used without medical supervision.
Do you struggle with toxicity? Or need to shift the microbiome? In this post, we want to discuss Wild Oil of Oregano and the benefits it offers for the body. Let us at Crohn’s & Colitis Lifestyle share all we know with you on WOO.
When it comes to maintaining good gut health, many individuals turn to natural remedies for support. One such option that has gained significant popularity is the use of doTERRA essential oils. With their powerful properties and potential benefits, doTERRA oils have become a go-to choice for individuals seeking relief from gut-related conditions like Crohn’s disease and colitis.
In this blog, we want to offer you a creative way to “spice up” your gut-friendly recipe toolkit! This is a smooth, tummy-friendly recipe that can be catered to your diet specifications.
