Q & A + giveaway for Sickness to Fitness Quick Start Guide by Tara Perillo

Does autoimmunity mean saying goodbye to your workouts forever?  That's what I thought throughout most of my Ulcerative Colitis healing journey.  Never would I imagine I could stabilize my health enough to rebuild strength and feel vivacious again.  While I was following fellow AIP blogger,  Tara Perillo' s, healing progress,  I became more and more inspired by her AIP + Fitness approach.  Her interest in the low-carb ketogenic way drew me even closer to her updates so when she unveiled her latest project Sickness to Fitness Quick Start Guide,  I knew I had to chat with her about the unique resource she is offering the AIP community.  In this post,  I will provide a quick review of Tara's program, dive deeper into her motivations behind creating this guide with a Q&A,  and tell you how you can win a copy ( PDF ) of Sickness to Fitness Quick Start Guide in a giveaway.


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First off,  here is a quick little review her program before we get to the Q&A.

The Sickness to Fitness Quick Start Guide is divided into four parts

1. Nutrition - AIP + macro and meal planning
2. Workout - Simple and easy to follow step by step workout instructions from warm up to cool down. Tara also shows how to create a home gym with a few types of exercise equipment like dumb bells and achieve a great workout.
3. Wellness - supporting lifestyle factors like Sleep, Stress, and Supplements
4. Recipes - Batch cooking, Meal Prepping, and Yummy recipes!

As promised, here is the Q&A with Tara on Sickness to Fitness Quick Start Guide. 

"Remember, we are trying to make your body stronger..."

Q & A

Have you always been interested in fitness?

I actually have always been interested in fitness.  One of my first jobs, in high school,  was working in a gym.  I was in charge of teaching new clients how to use the weights and equipment.  That's where I first learned about weightlifting.  It was love at first lift, for this girl who was used to Jane Fonda videos and aerobics.  From there,  I went on to earn certifications in personal training,  class training,  and yoga.  Eventually,  I even competed in combat sports and was actually prepping for a fitness competition when I received my lupus diagnosis.  At first,  I was completely devastated,  knowing I would have to end my training.  But, like everything else,  I learned to work within my limitations,  and come out a victor in the end.  That's the program I created in Sickness To Fitness Quick Start Guide.

Can you please provide a brief intro about your AI? 

I have systemic lupus erythematosus,  which affects my skin,  joints,  blood,  and various organs. Many years were spent suffering from my symptoms before I received my diagnosis.  Years ago,  I was diagnosed with Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome,  a blood clotting disorder.  That is a disorder many people with lupus also suffer with.  Had my doctors, at that time,  ordered the appropriate tests, they would have discovered my lupus much sooner.  I also have secondary psoriasis and vitiligo.  Vitiligo causes a person to  lose pigment in their skin.  The combination of the three autoimmune diseases means I suffer from Multiple Autoimmune Syndrome.

Can you  describe the turning point when you knew you needed to take your health into your own hands and can you tell us what your rock bottom was like?

When my doctor initially diagnosed me and discussed her treatment plan,  which included prednisone,  I simply looked at her,  shook my head,  and said,  "I'm not doing that."  I went home that day and started searching for another way.  At the time,  I had the lupus butterfly rash,  several bleeding psoriatic rashes,  a stomach ulcer,  painful arthritic joints,  a kidney infection,  a hiatal hernia, fibroids,  and pockets of inflammation throughout my intestines. I started by going gluten free, which helped a little.  Then,  I found paleo,  which helped my symptoms improve much quicker.  But, it wasn't until I discovered and implemented Dr. Sarah Ballantyne's The Paleo Approach,  that my health really improved.  For me, taking my health into my own hands was never a question.  I've been a certified herbalist and homeopath for 16 years now.  I know the power to heal that nature has. I've also seen the harm that pharmaceuticals and the medical profession have done.  Even though I was suffering,  I knew I had to rely on myself to get back my health.  Now,  I'm so glad I did!

When did you think you were ready to tackle the fitness component?

About a year after starting the AIP,   I started toying with the idea of training again.  To be honest,  I was a little afraid.  I had heard horror stories about exercise causing flares in people with autoimmune disease.  But,  I missed it so much.  Since I was feeling much better,  and my symptoms were under control,  I decided to formulate a program for myself to begin building strength,  stamina,  and endurance, without putting my health at risk.  After following my program for 8 weeks, I knew I was on to something.  Not only did I not experience a flare,  but my health continued to improve,  in ways that I never thought possible.  I only wish I hadn't waited so long to add the fitness component.  It truly was the missing piece of the autoimmune puzzle for me.  Within 6 months of starting my Sickness to Fitness Program, I had put my lupus into remission.  Plus,  my body was stronger and fitter than ever.  A year later, I'm happy to report, I'm still in remission,  and I just rocked it in a bikini,  in Las Vegas...at 47 years old!

How do you think fitness affected your healing protocol?

Obviously,  I think fitness affected my healing protocol in the most positive way.  By building muscle,  I gave my body the foundation it needed to be stronger.  The muscle that isn't being used will simply waste away, making a person feel tired and weak.  Our lack of action is actually making us sicker.  When we get rid of extra fat and build our muscles,  we are helping our bodies to regulate hormones and body systems.  We are improving our circulation,  cardiac response, digestion,  and mindset.  And,  let's not forget about the psychological boost you get after an amazing workout session.  We all know the power of the mind in healing.  This psychological boost I received after adding fitness to my protocol,  was a key factor in me reaching remission.  Because I was feeling better about myself,  I was able to manifest that healing in my body.  It's all about the mind and body connection.

For people struggling with chronic conditions, what is your advice in regards to a fitness routine both for starting and maintaining a fitness routine?

To start,  my advice is to follow every component outlined in Sickness To Fitness Quick Start Guide. My program has been tested by many people,  with different autoimmune and chronic conditions. The most important concept to remember is to start slowly.  Every aspect, including diet, stress management,  and sleep,  is the key to maintaining balance in your fitness routine. You must first build a foundation.  I see so many people moving into fitness routines too quickly,  or skipping the diet aspect,  or not working on lifestyle factors.  When you do that,  you set yourself up for failure....or,  in our case,  a flare.  Exercise,  in any form, places a certain amount of stress on the body.  If you're skipping steps,  chances are you're not helping your body to heal.  You may actually be hurting yourself.
Once you've implemented the Sickness to Fitness program,  you will notice the improvements in your health and fitness levels.  After about 6 to 8 weeks, you will be able to determine if your body is ready for more.  Always listen to what your body is telling you.  There are several ideas in Sickness To Fitness Quick Start Guide, that help you with how to advance your fitness routine.  And,  just to help you out, even more,  I've already started on my next ebook, which will outline the nutrition changes and workouts to move your progress up to the next level.
It is never too late to regain your health and build your fitness.  Those of you with autoimmune disease or chronic illness should always speak with your doctor before beginning any workout routine.  Once you get the okay from them, be sure to move at a level that is comfortable for you.  I think you are all going to be surprised at how much better you're going to feel and look!

Thanks again,  Astrid!

Tara

Timing is everything.  Since I recently got my Ulcerative Colitis under control,  I am ready for a new challenge like Tara's Sickness to Fitness program.  I am excited to use this guide to help me build muscles,  gain strength while supporting my mobile joints.  I look forward to fulfilling a little goal of mine to lift heavier things.  If you have been thinking about getting back into fitness while navigating your autoimmunity,  you should consider Tara's Sickness to Fitness Program.  Her Quick Start Guide will walk you through her AIP + Fitness healing approach in four steps, share her passion about how to return to health by including a suitable workout routine and encourage you to search for resources that resonate with you. Don't forget to enter the giveaway ( PDF ) below for a copy of Sickness to Fitness Quick Start Guide.

Good Luck!

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