How It All Started..

Atkins "Diet"

I remember being diagnosed with Crohn's Disease as if it were yesterday.  As a naive 18 year old, I decided to go on the infamous Atkin's Diet.  I started my diet off by consuming 10-15 grams of carbohydrates per day, and eating strictly meat & dairy.

FAST FORWARD 7 DAYS: I had lost 7 lbs in 7 days, and was ready to hit the beach!  Even though I was happy that I lost the weight, something didn't feel right about the diet.  How did I lose 7 lbs by eating a fatty steak for breakfast, mounds of cheese for lunch, and some more steak or chicken for dinner? How did I lose 7 lbs when I had only used the bathroom ONCE that entire week? The thought of all of this meat sitting in my system was enough to make anyone sick.

The sense of achievement lasted about 12 hours.  That was when I decided to resume my normal diet.  I was eating dinner with my family: chicken, rice, beans, salad & a Rocher Ferrero chocolate for dessert.

The only thing I remember was clasping my hands over my mouth and running to the bathroom.  Dinner came up in less than 15 seconds; ALL of it.  I sat there in the bathroom with the most excruciating pains in my stomach.  I had no idea what to make of it, so I attempted to go to sleep, twisting & turning all night long.  The next morning, I had absolutely no appetite and still had NOT used the bathroom.  I was extremely bloated and my abdominal area had started showing a small pouch.

Around dinner time I forced myself to eat.  I had some mashed potatoes, shrimp and spinach.  That night dinner came up faster than the night before.  I hadn't even made it to dessert!  At this point my parents were extremely frightened and decided to rush me to the emergency room...