Vibrant Health and Nutrition
What Finally Helped My Gut After Years of Cutting Everything Out
What Finally Helped My Gut After Years of Cutting Everything Out
Disclaimer: This blog is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. I am a certified holistic health coach, not a licensed medical provider. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, supplements, or lifestyle, especially if you have a medical condition, are pregnant, or are taking medication.
What worked for me may not work for everyone. Everyone’s healing journey is unique, and results can vary. The recommendations shared are based on personal experience, client insights, and current research and are intended to support, not replace, medical care.
For years, I was stuck in the cycle.
Bloated after every meal.
Reflux that kept me up at night.
Gas and discomfort that made me dread wearing jeans.
And a bathroom schedule that was…well, far from regular.
So I did what most women do when they feel miserable in their body:
I started cutting things out.
No gluten.
No dairy.
No sugar.
No alcohol.
No “high histamine” foods.
No joy, basically.
At first, it helped. A little.
But eventually, the symptoms crept back in—and I was left eating 5 “safe” foods, still feeling awful, and constantly wondering what was wrong with me.
I felt broken.
And I truly believed I’d have to eat perfectly forever just to feel okay.
But here’s what finally shifted everything:
I stopped trying to fix my gut with food alone.
Instead, I looked at the bigger picture.
What Actually Helped Me Heal
After working with a gut health specialist and doing a ton of work on my own, here’s what made the biggest difference (and no, it wasn’t another elimination diet):
1. I started supporting my nervous system.
Gut issues aren’t just about what you eat. They’re also about how stressed your body is. I learned how to regulate my stress responses, support my vagus nerve, and finally let my body feel safe enough to heal.
2. I added the right fiber.
I was scared of fiber for a long time because so many kinds made me feel worse. But everything changed once I found what worked for my gut and added it slowly.
3. I prioritized sleep and recovery.
I used to push through my day exhausted and wired, living on caffeine and ignoring what my body needed. When I finally started honoring rest, my digestion improved more than it ever did on any restrictive diet.
4. I let go of the perfection mindset.
The truth is, healing isn’t linear. You don’t have to get it right every single day. I stopped chasing food rules and started building habits I could actually stick to.
All of these shifts became the foundation of what I now call my Bloat-Free Blueprint — a simple and realistic roadmap for women over 40 who are tired of bloating, restriction, and food anxiety.
It’s everything I wish I had back when I felt hopeless and defeated.
And now I’m sharing it with you.
If you’re sick of cutting everything out and still feeling miserable, this is for you.
Inside the Bloat-Free Blueprint, I walk you through:
The surprising (non-food) reasons bloating hangs around
How to calm your gut without cutting everything out
The real connection between stress, hormones, and digestion
And the small daily shifts that actually move the needle
You don’t have to figure it out alone.
This journey doesn’t happen overnight, but it does happen — and it starts with giving your body what it really needs to feel safe, supported, and strong again.
Ready to take the first step?
Click here to get my Bloat-Free Blueprint!
Healing doesn’t require perfection. You just need a path forward.
I’d love to help you walk it.
Coach Kristy
Research and Resources:
Gut-brain connection / nervous system regulation:
National Institutes of Health (NIH) – The Gut-Brain Connection:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4367209/
Harvard Health – The gut-brain connection:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/the-gut-brain-connection
Fiber and gut health:
NIH – Dietary fiber and prebiotics and the gastrointestinal microbiota:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3705355/
Stress and digestion:
NCBI – Stress and the gut: pathophysiology, clinical consequences, diagnostic approach and treatment options:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4270174/
Sleep and digestion:
NIH – Sleep and gastrointestinal symptoms:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8167806/
What Finally Helped My Gut After Years of Cutting Everything Out
Disclaimer: This blog is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. I am a certified holistic health coach, not a licensed medical provider. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, supplements, or lifestyle, especially if you have a medical condition, are pregnant, or are taking medication.
What worked for me may not work for everyone. Everyone’s healing journey is unique, and results can vary. The recommendations shared are based on personal experience, client insights, and current research and are intended to support, not replace, medical care.
For years, I was stuck in the cycle.
Bloated after every meal.
Reflux that kept me up at night.
Gas and discomfort that made me dread wearing jeans.
And a bathroom schedule that was…well, far from regular.
So I did what most women do when they feel miserable in their body:
I started cutting things out.
No gluten.
No dairy.
No sugar.
No alcohol.
No “high histamine” foods.
No joy, basically.
At first, it helped. A little.
But eventually, the symptoms crept back in—and I was left eating 5 “safe” foods, still feeling awful, and constantly wondering what was wrong with me.
I felt broken.
And I truly believed I’d have to eat perfectly forever just to feel okay.
But here’s what finally shifted everything:
I stopped trying to fix my gut with food alone.
Instead, I looked at the bigger picture.
What Actually Helped Me Heal
After working with a gut health specialist and doing a ton of work on my own, here’s what made the biggest difference (and no, it wasn’t another elimination diet):
1. I started supporting my nervous system.
Gut issues aren’t just about what you eat. They’re also about how stressed your body is. I learned how to regulate my stress responses, support my vagus nerve, and finally let my body feel safe enough to heal.
2. I added the right fiber.
I was scared of fiber for a long time because so many kinds made me feel worse. But everything changed once I found what worked for my gut and added it slowly.
3. I prioritized sleep and recovery.
I used to push through my day exhausted and wired, living on caffeine and ignoring what my body needed. When I finally started honoring rest, my digestion improved more than it ever did on any restrictive diet.
4. I let go of the perfection mindset.
The truth is, healing isn’t linear. You don’t have to get it right every single day. I stopped chasing food rules and started building habits I could actually stick to.
All of these shifts became the foundation of what I now call my Bloat-Free Blueprint — a simple and realistic roadmap for women over 40 who are tired of bloating, restriction, and food anxiety.
It’s everything I wish I had back when I felt hopeless and defeated.
And now I’m sharing it with you.
If you’re sick of cutting everything out and still feeling miserable, this is for you.
Inside the Bloat-Free Blueprint, I walk you through:
The surprising (non-food) reasons bloating hangs around
How to calm your gut without cutting everything out
The real connection between stress, hormones, and digestion
And the small daily shifts that actually move the needle
You don’t have to figure it out alone.
This journey doesn’t happen overnight, but it does happen — and it starts with giving your body what it really needs to feel safe, supported, and strong again.
Ready to take the first step?
Click here to get my Bloat-Free Blueprint!
Healing doesn’t require perfection. You just need a path forward.
I’d love to help you walk it.
Coach Kristy
Research and Resources:
Gut-brain connection / nervous system regulation:
National Institutes of Health (NIH) – The Gut-Brain Connection:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4367209/
Harvard Health – The gut-brain connection:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/the-gut-brain-connection
Fiber and gut health:
NIH – Dietary fiber and prebiotics and the gastrointestinal microbiota:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3705355/
Stress and digestion:
NCBI – Stress and the gut: pathophysiology, clinical consequences, diagnostic approach and treatment options:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4270174/
Sleep and digestion:
NIH – Sleep and gastrointestinal symptoms:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8167806/
Hi, I'm Kristy...
I’m a Gut Health & Wellness Coach helping women over 40 heal from daily bloating, discomfort, and digestive struggles.
For years, I silently battled bloating, gas, and stomach pain—sometimes waking up already bloated or feeling fine until water made me look five months pregnant. I tried cutting foods and Googling for answers, but nothing truly worked… until I stopped chasing quick fixes and started supporting my gut the right way.
Now, I no longer live in daily discomfort. I understand my triggers, know how to calm symptoms, and finally feel like myself again—and I help other women do the same.
With over 15 years of experience as a certified personal trainer and holistic health coach, my mission has shifted from fat loss to gut healing, so you can feel good in your body again without restrictive diets or starting over every Monday.
I created The Bloat-Free Blueprint as a simple guide to help you go from “doing everything right” to actually feeling better. It’s the exact method that changed my life, and I’m excited to share it with you.
When I’m not coaching, you’ll find me outside with my husband Jon, hanging with our two dogs, Bruce Wayne and Titon, and two cats, Abby and Einstein, or spending time with my five amazing nephews.
I believe every woman deserves to feel confident, comfortable, and free in her body, and that healing your gut is where it starts.
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Still feeling bloated, gassy, and uncomfortable after meals?
Download the Bloat-Free Blueprint—your step-by-step guide to stop Googling symptoms and finally calm your gut.
Still feeling bloated, gassy, and
uncomfortable after meals?
Download the Bloat-Free Blueprint—your step-by-step guide to stop Googling symptoms and finally calm your gut.