- Joined
- Jun 4, 2015
- Messages
- 5
I was raised in a small town and now live in Las Vegas , Nevada. I have been living with Crohn's since 1988 after 14 years of rarely even catching a cold. Prior to diagnosis, I was into soccer and was a competitive top state player, winning and starting on many all -star teams and regional teams.
It took many months, several doctors and even more days and nights of lying in the fetal position on my bed (or the floor) from the intense pain, before I was finally diagnosed properly and I've heard them all from, "It's all in your head" to "It's just gas". It was devastating news to fathom, especially when I asked the question, "How do I fix it?" and the doctor replied "Unfortunately there is no cure".
Since 1988, I have had numerous surgeries, resections, abscesses, fistulas, fissures, obstructions, fatigue, dehydration and many other "minor" complications. I, like many other after diagnosis, went through the "why me?!" phase, followed by the "wtf!!" phase and the "c'mon, really?!"phase.
The reason why I’m sharing my story is to promote health, wellness, nutrition, and fitness. I also compete in Men’s Physique fitness shows every year. Men’s Physique is a subclass of bodybuilding where contestants are judge on aesthetics , shape and symmetry. Where it differs from bodybuilding is contestants wear board shorts and do not display the typical bodybuilding pose. Men’s Physique competitors look more like fitness models than bodybuilders since extreme muscularity is marked against them. I personally like the idea behind Men’s Physique because contestants have more attainable look than a 280 pound bodybuilder. A more appealing and attainable look to the general public creates a larger following and provides opportunities to wider audience. I do not enter competitions to show everyone how good I look,….I want to get that straight.
The reason I want to do this is to raise awareness of Crohn’s Disease and motivate people while showing what is possible, despite having a debilitating disease. A lot of people with Crohn’s are extremely malnourished and look like I did 20 plus years ago at 160pounds. I would love to motivate and show others with Crohn’s that is possible to get your symptoms under control and live a healthy, fulfilling life. By competing , I have personal accomplishments to work towards every year I can be proud of. I don’t care whether I get last place or first place( although 1st would be nice). I enjoy challenging myself and completing something that I put my mind to. I’ve had to overcome more obstacles than most, so stepping on stage is extra special for me.
I want to show people with my disease what can be possible while pushing the limits of their body and mind even with a debilitating chronic disease. I have good days, and sometimes I have bad days, but I don not want anyone to feel sorry for me, it is not the point. I want to increase awareness to a relatively hidden disease that many people have not heard of before. People take one look at me and judge me based on physical appearance. All I can hope for is to make a difference in someone’s life, big or small,
My goal is to provide motivation and show what has helped me deal with it. I think of exercise as my natural antidepressant. That’s one of the reason it’s so important for me to stay physically active, since as a person living with Crohn’s disease, sometimes it’s hard to keep a positive outlook. Exercise can help you feel more upbeat, get better in tune with your body, and help prepare for your potential obstacles in your life with Crohn’s. Evan if a bad flare has exhausted you, or you feel especially drained following surgery, remember that resuming some form of enjoyable exercise is a sign that you are returning back to independence and your self-care routine. Even though finding time to exercise can be challenging, it might be good motivation to try recalling what it felt like to be sick and unable to exercise. Remember that feeling when you find yourself unenthusiastic about exercising. Any time that you can spend strengthening your body is a privilege, one that Crohn’s can sometimes deprive you of. Take advantage of those opportunities when you can work out!
“WHAT TYPE OF BODY DO YOU WANT TO LIVE IN?” You can decide to control your disease instead of letting it control you. It’s difficult at first but, as with everything, practice makes perfect. You will notice improvements both in the severity of symptoms and your enjoyment of life. ( I'm the one left on the end)
It took many months, several doctors and even more days and nights of lying in the fetal position on my bed (or the floor) from the intense pain, before I was finally diagnosed properly and I've heard them all from, "It's all in your head" to "It's just gas". It was devastating news to fathom, especially when I asked the question, "How do I fix it?" and the doctor replied "Unfortunately there is no cure".
Since 1988, I have had numerous surgeries, resections, abscesses, fistulas, fissures, obstructions, fatigue, dehydration and many other "minor" complications. I, like many other after diagnosis, went through the "why me?!" phase, followed by the "wtf!!" phase and the "c'mon, really?!"phase.
The reason why I’m sharing my story is to promote health, wellness, nutrition, and fitness. I also compete in Men’s Physique fitness shows every year. Men’s Physique is a subclass of bodybuilding where contestants are judge on aesthetics , shape and symmetry. Where it differs from bodybuilding is contestants wear board shorts and do not display the typical bodybuilding pose. Men’s Physique competitors look more like fitness models than bodybuilders since extreme muscularity is marked against them. I personally like the idea behind Men’s Physique because contestants have more attainable look than a 280 pound bodybuilder. A more appealing and attainable look to the general public creates a larger following and provides opportunities to wider audience. I do not enter competitions to show everyone how good I look,….I want to get that straight.
The reason I want to do this is to raise awareness of Crohn’s Disease and motivate people while showing what is possible, despite having a debilitating disease. A lot of people with Crohn’s are extremely malnourished and look like I did 20 plus years ago at 160pounds. I would love to motivate and show others with Crohn’s that is possible to get your symptoms under control and live a healthy, fulfilling life. By competing , I have personal accomplishments to work towards every year I can be proud of. I don’t care whether I get last place or first place( although 1st would be nice). I enjoy challenging myself and completing something that I put my mind to. I’ve had to overcome more obstacles than most, so stepping on stage is extra special for me.
I want to show people with my disease what can be possible while pushing the limits of their body and mind even with a debilitating chronic disease. I have good days, and sometimes I have bad days, but I don not want anyone to feel sorry for me, it is not the point. I want to increase awareness to a relatively hidden disease that many people have not heard of before. People take one look at me and judge me based on physical appearance. All I can hope for is to make a difference in someone’s life, big or small,
My goal is to provide motivation and show what has helped me deal with it. I think of exercise as my natural antidepressant. That’s one of the reason it’s so important for me to stay physically active, since as a person living with Crohn’s disease, sometimes it’s hard to keep a positive outlook. Exercise can help you feel more upbeat, get better in tune with your body, and help prepare for your potential obstacles in your life with Crohn’s. Evan if a bad flare has exhausted you, or you feel especially drained following surgery, remember that resuming some form of enjoyable exercise is a sign that you are returning back to independence and your self-care routine. Even though finding time to exercise can be challenging, it might be good motivation to try recalling what it felt like to be sick and unable to exercise. Remember that feeling when you find yourself unenthusiastic about exercising. Any time that you can spend strengthening your body is a privilege, one that Crohn’s can sometimes deprive you of. Take advantage of those opportunities when you can work out!
“WHAT TYPE OF BODY DO YOU WANT TO LIVE IN?” You can decide to control your disease instead of letting it control you. It’s difficult at first but, as with everything, practice makes perfect. You will notice improvements both in the severity of symptoms and your enjoyment of life. ( I'm the one left on the end)
