My state of health wasn't great before working with Romanwell.

I had been in a flare since mid-July and wasn't getting much help from my GI. Other than getting prescribed steroids and to "try" a low FODMAP diet, that was really all the help that was given to me to get my IBD under control.

My relationship with food and my body was like that toxic ex that you just can't seem to quit for some reason. I was deep into diet culture, counting calories and obsessing over every inch of my waistline.

There was rarely a day where I felt good about my food choices or how my body looked.

My biggest hesitation to working with Romanwell came from the past experiences I had with my GI and the diet culture world. I didn't want to get a plan that was going to be another low FODMAP or elimination diet and I didn't want someone who would make me feel like I caused my own IBD issues and upset.

But the more I watched their stories on Instagram and read their blog, I knew that they got it and it wasn't an elimination/low FODMAP/try just another diet approach.

If I didn’t end up working with my dietitian, I’m sure my flare would still be happening and I would probably also be on a biologic right now.

I think I would still be having "secret" food binges when I was feeling emotional and probably doing more harm than good to my body by still obsessing over diet culture.

Since working with my dietitian, there are honestly too many valuable changes to list.

What I will say is that I know how to be a better patient advocate

• I know what labs and tests I need to get done to monitor my inflammatory levels
• I know that I can eat the things that I want
• And I know that my body is meant to change right along with me.

I feel like I've got the knight in shining armor now, instead of that toxic ex - we broke up for good.

The IBD vault was a game changer for me. So much good information right at my fingertips, whenever I needed it.

I was also impressed by how much she acted as part dietician, part therapist. She addressed me as the whole person - not just my IBD and not just my eating patterns - but she genuinely cared about how I was feeling and how my life was going.

That is her secret ingredient, I think.

I felt important, seen, and understood. I also appreciate how patient she was.

She held me accountable, but gave me time to digest, process and feel things out. But she was also not afraid to get me to think hard about my goals and my choices and how that all ladders up into my IBD care.

She felt more like a friend than a health or nutrition professional. I always looked forward to our sessions and just getting to talk with someone who gets it, while getting awesome advice.

If you're on the fence or not sure about taking the leap, absolutely do it. In my 8 years of being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, working with Romanwell was the best care decision that I've made. I know that I would be much worse off health-wise if I hadn't started the program.

But now, I'm confident, I feel good, I have energy and I learned the most important ways to take care of myself.

My dietitian made that possible.