Living With Crohn’s & Weight Loss

My 15-Year Personal Experience

About Me & My Journey

Hi I'm Susan and I have lived with Crohn’s disease for over 15 years, and in many ways, it has shaped who I am today. When I was first diagnosed, everything changed so quickly. I was put on steroids, and while my energy shot through the roof, so did my weight. I went from a size 14 to a size 18 in just a few weeks. I remember looking in the mirror and not recognising myself, not just physically, but emotionally too. It felt like my body was no longer my own.

What followed was a long, painful journey of trial and error. Every meal felt like a gamble. I would eat something I loved, feel fine, and think I had finally figured it out… only to have the exact same food trigger a flare the next time. That unpredictability was heartbreaking. I felt like I could not trust my own body, and that loss of control took a toll on me. Eventually, I realised I needed to find another way, not just to reduce the flare-ups, but to feel like me again.

Over the years I experienced everything Crohn’s can throw at you: flares that knocked me off my feet, exhaustion that felt bone-deep, days where leaving the house was not an option, and that constant anxiety about what my gut might do next. I tried countless diets, remedies, and “quick fixes.” Some helped for a little while, but nothing lasted. My weight went up and down, my symptoms followed no pattern at all, and emotionally I felt drained. There were days I felt defeated…truly defeated…like giving up would have been easier than continuing the fight.

But slowly, through frustration and persistence, I found my own path. I developed a gentler, more forgiving, protein-focused routine that did not punish my body but supported it. And for the first time in years, something finally clicked. My flare-ups became less frequent, and when they did happen, they were milder. My energy returned. The constant bloating eased. My weight started to drop. I felt lighter. Not just physically, but emotionally too. It was as if I could finally breathe again.

I am not a doctor, a nutritionist, or a coach. I am just someone who has lived through this, someone who has cried, learned, adapted, and kept going. This document is simply a collection of what has helped me during my stable phases, when my symptoms are under control. My hope is that by sharing my story, someone else out there might feel a little less alone and a little more hopeful.