Hello,

I am a Natural Foods Chef and freelance writer living in Colorado with my husband. I've been living with symptoms of IBD and IBS since I was in high school and was diagnosed with Colitis in 1998. The first three or four years after the diagnosis were the toughest for me. I had to seriously change my life style - including my job, my diet, my stress levels, everything, really - and put my self and my health first. But with a lot of patience, a lot of trial-and-error, and a lot of time I am finally at a stage in my disease where I have been living a good quality of life for years now. I travel, I spend time with friends, I hike, camp, backpack, bicycle, and swim without too much fear that I'll have an "episode." 

I've written a book about my IBD experiences - the good, the bad, the funny, and the not-so-funny. It's titled, LIVING WITH IBD & IBS: A PERSONAL JOURNEY OF SUCCESS - you can find it through the Crohns and Colitis Foundation of America's book store or at amazon.com.

In summer 2011 I received my certification as a Natural Foods Chef will allows me to help other IBD and IBSers to learn to eat for health. I also help people with special dietary needs like food allergies, or learning to eat for diabetes, heart disease, or cancer. You can follow my food/recipe blog at: www.eatlivelocally.com