Meredith’s Success Story

Key to Success

Summer may be winding down and so is our Summer Success Series!  But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves, because we still have two more weeks until school starts, and two more success stories to bring you!  Today’s story comes from Meredith*.

Meredith is married and works at a bank in Manhattan, and her story is a little bit different than some of our others.  It was not a lifelong struggle with weight loss or diet programs that brought Meredith to Bonnie, but rather a struggle with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).  She was not feeling well and was very bloated and in pain from all the gastrointestinal problems she was experiencing.  There were days she was in such excruciating pain, and was so distended she could not even fit into a pair of jeans.   She could not figure out what was wrong.  She recalls, “I found a doctor that specialized in IBS and I was reading about FODMAPS**.  I found out that Bonnie was knowledgeable in the FODMAPS approach to treating IBS.  I was excited that together we would work to find out what foods were triggers for me.”  When Meredith started working with Bonnie, she was not sure it would work, but she was hopeful.  Finding a doctor and an RD that were both on the same page made her feel she was on the right path already.

Meredith did have to put in the work.  She would write down the foods she ate, and symptoms that she would have, and she started noticing what foods triggered her symptoms.  She remembers, “I used to eat loads of cheese, and through the program, I realized I was lactose intolerant.  I also did a fructose intolerance test and though it came back negative, Bonnie and I worked together and realized it was best I avoid foods high in fructose.”  Bonnie was always an email away and would do research for Meredith when needed, which made her feel confident about working with her.

Through managing her symptoms with FODMAPS, Meredith not only felt better, but she lost weight and has maintained it.  Happily she states, “I am never overly distended, tired or sluggish.  I sleep better because I BS gave me pelvic pain that used to wake me up in the middle of the night.  I now no longer have that.”  She also is more active and less irritable than in the past, because she is happy with herself and sees that reflected in her life now.  Her husband also helps her now because he knows what foods will trigger symptoms.  Her new goal is to start exercising again.

Sometimes how we eat can affect pain management and not just weight loss and gain.  The success Meredith found with Bonnie’s help has been great for her.  “Bonnie will work with you.  She tweaks a meal plan for you and personalizes it.  She is an email away which is great.  I can actually live life and not worry about traveling in the car!”  Being able to live your life and knowing how to choose the foods that will work for you is certainly a success!

Let me know if you have experienced problems with IBS or other gastrointestinal discomfort and have found success in managing them!  And for those of you still struggling with symptoms, be inspired to make a change in the way you eat like Meredith did!

*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of Bonnie’s patients.

**FODMAPS is a type of meal planning that can be used to help treat IBS brought on by food intolerance.  Read more here, and contact Bonnie to see if a low FODMAP approach is right for you.

Like this post? Share it!