Bed-ridden. Couldn’t walk, stand, cook, drive, or work.
Pain was off the charts.
Friends helped with groceries and basics.
Now:82.9 kg (sitting ~85 kg for ~6 months,
then a recent drop). Less weight to carry =
a touch more mobility, a touch less pain.
My big idea: two “digestive systems”
I started thinking of my body like it has two engines:
The Food Engine — what most people mean by “digestion.”
Purpose: fuel, nutrients, and day-to-day energy.
The Healing Engine — what I call the repair state.
Purpose: clean-up, reset, recovery.
For me, this “switches on” when I stop constantly feeding and let the body focus on repair instead of digestion.
I can’t promise this for anyone else, but this is the mindset that got me moving:
feed when I need fuel, and give my body quiet time to heal.
The rules I lived by (simple, strict, doable)
What I cut way down:
Added sugars, greasy foods, most bread, most processed and takeaway foods, big meat portions.
What I brought back in:
Soft, simple foods that are easy to digest: steamed veg, fruit, soups/broths, slow-cooked things.
I swapped milk → small glasses of orange juice (my choice for something light + vitamin C).
Lots of water. A pinch of electrolytes on longer fasts.
Why soft + simple? When pain pinned me to the bed, even eating was hard. Soft foods made it easier on my gut and my energy.
Less “digestive noise,” more repair time.
The fasting rhythm that helped me
Most days: light, simple meals.
Sometimes (my choice):72-hour reset windows where I eat very little (or nothing) to “flip on” my healing engine.
I’ll still take a mouthful or small snack daily on those stretches so the gut “sees” something and keeps moving, but the overall signal to the body is rest + repair.
Safety note (what I tell myself):
long fasts aren’t for everyone. I stay hydrated, use electrolytes, and if I feel faint/dizzy, I stop. Always worth checking with a clinician if you’ve got meds or conditions.
The mind piece: rewiring pain
Pain had me locked down. So I trained my head as hard as my diet:
Language: “There is no spoon.” I treat pain like noisy data. I notice it, breathe, and turn down the volume.
Practice: slow nasal breathing, long exhales, music that steadies me, and tiny wins (sit up, stand, one step).
Reframing: I’m not a pain receiver; I’m a pain controller. Signals pass through me, I decide how loud.
This isn’t magic. It’s repetition. New pathways take reps.
Why weight loss mattered to me
Every kilo off felt like pressure off the spine and hips. Less load, fewer flares. The goal wasn’t “skinny”; the goal was mobile.
What I did alongside the diet
Osteopath / chiro / physio: hands-on care + movement coaching.
Gym (recovery rules): neutral spine, front-facing only, ≤10 kg loads, no twisting or side-bending under load, plenty of walking/bike/pool.
Sleep routine and stress downshifts to keep the nervous system calm. but hard to sleep 12 months later still
My “why”
No partner, no nurse, no miracle. Just me, some mates, and a choice:
I will heal. I will learn my body. I will drive the process.
When I couldn’t even lift my head from the pillow,
this plan gave me agency. The weight came down. The flares spaced out. I’m not “fixed,” but I’m moving—
and that’s the win that keeps me going.
My field guide
Daily
Water first. Breathe before screens.
Soft, simple meals. Stop at “enough.”
10–30 minutes of gentle movement (walk/exercise/pool).
10 minutes of quiet (music or breath).
Weekly
One longer repair window if I’m stable (my 24–72h choice).
Plan groceries so there’s nothing to sabotage the plan.
Check-in with physio plan; add one tiny progression.
Always avoid (for me right now)
Heavy loads, twisting/side-bending under load, long sitting + slumping, sugar binges, “I blew it so I may as well keep going.”
What I’ve learned
Less noise, more repair. Simple food and quiet windows help my system settle.
The brain is the amplifier. When I calm it, pain changes.
Progress is uneven. I celebrate distance between bad days.
Where I am today
From 106 kg → 82.9 kg over ~12 months.
Mobility’s better, pain’s not the boss, surgery may still be on the table—but I’m stacking every advantage while I wait and work on it all
One-paragraph version for my page
In Aug 2024 I was 106 kg and injured;
by Nov–Jan I was bed-bound.
I rebuilt my routine around two “engines”:
a food engine for fuel and a healing engine I trigger with simple foods and periodic fasting windows so my body can focus on repair.
I cut sugars/grease/processed foods, ate soft steamed veg and fruit, hydrated, and kept gentle movement.
I trained my mind to turn pain down instead of amplifying it. With physio/osteo and careful gym rules
(neutral spine, ≤10 kg, no twisting), I’ve come down to 82.9 kg over 12 months and regained mobility.
It’s not a miracle—just consistent choices, less noise, more repair.
Still undergoing treatment for daily pain that stays around 4 – 6/10 min daily and can still range of the charts if i do not take steps or avoid things, driving walking sitting and others is still a big issue but mentally prepared for it more now.
problems with constant walking after 1 km on a treadmill
but compared to not moving an inch at first stage of injury this is a massive difference with heal and recovery…
The digestive system, often called the gut, is intricately linked to overall bodily healing and well-being.
A healthy gut is crucial for nutrient absorption, immune function, and even mental health, impacting everything from skin health to mood. Imbalances in the gut microbiome can contribute to various health issues, highlighting the importance of maintaining a healthy gut environment for optimal body function and healing.
Here’s a breakdown of the connection:
1. Nutrient Absorption and Energy:
The digestive system breaks down food into smaller molecules that the body can absorb and utilize for energy and building blocks.
Nutrients from food are essential for cell repair, tissue regeneration, and overall bodily functions.
When the digestive system is compromised, nutrient deficiencies can arise, hindering the body’s ability to heal effectively, according to a health resource.
2. Immune Function:
A large portion of the immune system resides in the gut, making gut health vital for defending against pathogens and maintaining overall immunity.
The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in training and regulating the immune response.
Imbalances in the gut microbiome can weaken the immune system, making the body more susceptible to infections and inflammation, which can hinder healing processes.
3. Gut-Brain Connection:
The gut and brain are in constant communication via the vagus nerve and other pathways,
forming the gut-brain axis.
This connection means that gut health can significantly impact mental well-being, and vice versa, according to a mental health and pain management website.
Imbalances in the gut can contribute to mental health issues like anxiety and depression, and conversely, stress and mental health challenges can negatively affect the gut.
This highlights the importance of addressing both physical and mental aspects when healing from any condition.
4. Inflammation:
The gut plays a key role in regulating inflammation in the body.
An unhealthy gut can lead to chronic inflammation, which can interfere with healing processes and contribute to various diseases.
Conversely, healing the gut can help reduce inflammation throughout the body and support overall healing, notes a gut health and functional medicine website.
5. Skin Health:
The gut-skin connection is another area where gut health influences overall well-being.
An unhealthy gut can manifest as skin problems like acne, eczema, or psoriasis.
By addressing gut health, individuals can often improve skin conditions and achieve a healthier complexion.
In essence, the digestive system is not just about digestion; it’s a central hub for nutrient absorption, immune function, mental health, and overall bodily healing
