3 Ways GERD Changed My Life

I never knew that GERD could change my life. I won’t lie, I thought that since I was skinny, I could eat whatever I wanted. 

Lies, all lies. 

Let me just say this for the record; just because you’re skinny, doesn’t mean you’re healthy. 

GERD caused me to change my lifestyle in three major ways. 

Keep reading to find out how. 

What Is GERD?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a digestive disease where the stomach acid irritates the the lining of the food pipe. It is also known as acid reflux.

Better known to me as a pain in the butt. 

GERD can cause chest pains, stomach pains, soreness in your throat, a feeling of a lump in your throat, and a bitter taste in your mouth. 

Ewww! 

It does not feel good at all. 

If you are feeling these symptoms, I would advise you going to visit a gastroenterologist ASAP. 

Trust your gut. 

What I Ate

I’m not a dirty eater but I’m not the cleanest eater either. I used to think that I had a balance between the two….

Until that balance turned upside down. 

So, my chest started burning one Saturday afternoon. It was hard for me to burp and the comfort levels in my body took a turn. 

After doing some heavy research on my symptoms, I discovered that I may need to go see a gastroenteroligst. 

Yeah, try saying that five times straight. 

I had never been to a stomach doctor before. I mean, I really didn’t feel the need to visit one if I’m being honest. 

The visit wasn’t scary, but the news of me having to change my eating habits was. 

It turned out that everything, I liked from lemons to tomatoes, was causing me to experience acid reflux. 

Now, I didn’t go tossing out the tomatoes completely. I still had them in moderation but I had to be mindful. 

I learned to incorporate more greens into my diet, lean meats, and low fat dairy. 

I even started juicing y’all. 

My doctor gave me this food guide as a resource so I’m going to share the news with you. Click the link below for more deets: 

https://www.rexhealth.com/app/files/public/7576/pdf-rex-digestive-anti_refluxdiet.pdf

Eating cleaner was painful at first.

I had to give up my fried conch on the weekends. 

But overall I felt better physically and my body thanked me for it. 

 

 

Exercise Routine

“1, and 2, and 3, and 4, and get them sit ups right, and

Tuck your tummy tight and do your crunches like this” -Kanye West

I didn’t implement Kanye’s workout plan but I did have to get off my butt and start exercising. 

A great way to combat GERD is by working out consistently.
I rise and grind on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 6:00 am. 
I either walk for 30 minutes or jump rope for 15 minutes to get a full body workout.
When it’s raining outside I flip on my favorite PopSugar Fitness video with Massy Arias and get it in! 
 
Incorporating exercise into my day to day lifestyle has made me feel better physically. 
And my body looks great too. 
Ayyyyee!
What? 
It’s bikini season all year long in Miami. 
Don’t be that way. 
 

Nighttime Routine

I love a good nighttime snack as much as the next girl.

A scoop of ice cream before bed never hurt, until it did. 

With combating acid reflux, came a few changes to my nighttime eating routine. 

Goodbye wine.

Goodbye Cheetos cheese puffs.

Hello hot herbal teas! 

I try not to eat anything 3 to 4 hours before bed these days.

I used to eat and sleep. 

The “itis” was real. I soon learned that eating and sleeping is the stomping ground for GERD. 

If I do need to eat something, I make sure it’s something light like fruit or juiced veggies. 

Although my nighttime eating habits have changed, my tummy is a lot happier with me and my decisions. 

The GERD Takeaways

A few takeaways about GERD:

-It can be treated. It isn’t the end of the world.

-Lifestyle changes will help control acid reflux. 

-Eating healthier isn’t a bad thing.

-Exercising will make you look good and feel great. 

Have you ever experienced GERD aka acid reflux? 

If so, share with me how you overcame it. I could use some tips. 

Peace, Love, and Curls

Debra B.

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