Mindful Cravings: Balancing Emotions and Fitness

Welcome to Hot Topics! In this episode, we're joined by John McDaniel, who shares his experience with ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation and ulcers in the digestive tract. This condition leads to symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, and weight loss.John talks about his journey living with ulcerative colitis, which he was diagnosed with at age 13. He recalls how his symptoms, including bloody stools, started suddenly and how he was afraid to tell his parents. The diagnosis required an endoscopy and a colonoscopy, as the condition doesn't show on regular imaging tests like X-rays.He also discusses the emotional challenges of living with a chronic illness, including feelings of embarrassment and being misunderstood. John explains how stress plays a role in his condition, leading to what he calls "stress poop," where anxiety can trigger flare-ups. After surgery to remove his colon, he had a temporary stoma, which helped him eliminate waste while he healed. He now has a j-pouch, allowing him to eliminate waste normally. To monitor his condition, John has to get a colonoscopy every year, which is more than the average man, highlighting the ongoing nature of his care. He stresses the importance of awareness since there is currently no known cure for inflammatory bowel disease. Now in remission and not taking any medications, John manages his condition with a careful diet and regular check-ups. He encourages others facing similar issues to seek support. Join us for this important conversation that highlights the strength needed to live with ulcerative colitis and offers helpful insights for those dealing with similar challenges.Who is John McDaniel?John is a stay at home dad who is a nerd about several things including music, books, history, and sports. He also hosts a podcast about the EFL and NFL called "The PitchGrid Podcast."You can find John:On Facebook (Profile): https://www.facebook.com/the.pitchgrid.podcastOn Facebook (Page): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566358666939On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepitchgrid/On X # 1: https://x.com/pitchgridpodOn X # 2: https://x.com/JRAwkyOn YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PitchGridPodOn TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thepitchgridpodOn Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thepitchgridpod.bsky.socialJohn has a podcast called "The PitchGrid Podcast." Listen and subscribe here: https://open.spotify.com/show/4jGYrJadVEuflrR1QamfkFWatch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/DGnco_NmE14Rate this episode on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt38888385/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk********************************************Follow Gabrielle Crichlow: On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gabrielle.crichlowOn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabrielle.crichlowOn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielle-crichlow-92587a360Follow A Step Ahead Tutoring Services:On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/astepaheadtutoringservicesOn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astepaheadtutoringservicesOn X: https://www.twitter.com/ASATS2013 On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-step-ahead-tutoring-services/On YouTube: https://youtube.com/@astepaheadtutoringservicesOn TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@asats2013On Eventbrite: https://astepaheadtutoringservices.eventbrite.com Visit us on the web: https://www.astepaheadtutoringservices.com   Sign up for our email list: https://squareup.com/outreach/a41DaE/subscribe Sign up for our text list: https://tapit.us/cipPJO Check out our entire "Hot Topics!" podcast: https://www.astepaheadtutoringservices.com/hottopicspodcastSupport us:Cash App: https://cash.app/$ASATS2013PayPal: https://paypal.me/ASATS2013Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/ASATS2013Zelle: [email protected] a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/hot-topics--5600971/supportOriginal date of episode: May 29, 2025