Alex's Microbiome Journey: Unlocking Wellness Through Boosts

A year ago, my relationship with my body felt like a puzzle with missing pieces. Despite my best efforts to lead a healthy life, there were persistent health challenges that often left me feeling defeated. Then, I came across the world of the microbiome, and it felt like a promising frontier.

I started with the 7-Day Boost, a program designed to rejuvenate and recalibrate the gut's intricate ecosystem. Initially, I was skeptical. However, as each day passed, I felt subtle shifts. The chronic bloating and sporadic energy crashes began to wane.

Inspired, I dived into the 4-Week Microbiome Reboot. The program demanded commitment, but it wasn't just about dietary changes. It was a holistic approach, encompassing stress management, sleep patterns, and mindfulness, all centered around nurturing the microbiome.

My journey wasn't without its bumps. Adapting to new dietary habits, understanding prebiotics and probiotics, and tuning into my body's signals were sometimes overwhelming. There were moments of doubt, especially when immediate results were elusive. But the community's stories, both of success and struggle, reminded me that real change is a marathon, not a sprint.

Today, I feel more in tune with my body than ever before. I've cultivated a symbiotic relationship with my gut, understanding its signals and providing it with what it needs. The boosts have not just transformed my microbiome, but they have reshaped my understanding of health. I still have learning to do, but with every new discovery, I'm one step closer to achieving optimal wellness.

Jonathan D. New Brunswick | Jonathan Dunnett finding Energy

After struggling for a period of time with not feeling 100%, I engaged with Perry Steckly to learn from him through one of his programs. Efforts towards learning more about the microbiome (and my health, more holistically) have been hugely beneficial. The fundamentals of aligning sleep, exercise, diet and stress management have been key for me in my health efforts, and I continue to work to improve these as much as possible.

I have continued to experiment with various approaches with sleep, as well as food and vitamins, to find the right mix for me. I would encourage you to explore various resources to find what might work for you: even small steps towards your health are better than doing nothing at all. For whatever that may mean to you, I would encourage you to try! The effort is worth it.

“We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.”― Confucius

JD. S. Muskokas | More Than Macros: My Gut Health Awakening

Choosing to adopt a microbiome-friendly lifestyle has been transformative for my overall health and well-being, both mentally and physically. I have always been health-conscious and counted my macros to ensure I was getting the right mix of protein, carbs, and fat to feel healthy, but I was failing to realize that there was much more to feeling my best than simply consuming the right combination of macronutrients. I have learned that there is a connection between our gut health, brain, happiness, and the level of inflammation we carry with us every day.

Thriving Gut's boost program opened my eyes and allowed me the flexibility to adopt some strategies that fit my life (and that I can no longer live without). I hadn't realized that the "healthy" carbs I was eating were actually making me feel worse and leaving me chronically bloated. I used to think that being bloated was something I was just born with. In my new lifestyle, where I embrace prebiotics and probiotics and avoid the things Thriving Gut has suggested, I never feel bloated (unless I eat the things I know I shouldn't). I don't have swollen hands and feet, my face doesn't carry additional inflammation (especially when I wake up in the morning), and I have noticed an overall boost in energy. I am significantly less lethargic during my "afternoon dip".

There is certainly no going back to the way I used to think was a healthy lifestyle. Thank you so much to Perry and the Thriving Gut team for teaching me how I could improve my life in all the ways mentioned and more!

Mary W. Toronto | Mary’s Journey from Prednisone to Promise

I first learned about microbiome, brain/gut health and Perry’s Reboot program in a Cayman Marshal Real Estate magazine at our friend’s cottage in Muskoka. What a fortuitous find that turned out to be! The article focused on the ability to address anxiety, depression, weight and digestive issues through adopting a microbiome strategy, but for me the connection between gut health, brain and inflammation was very intriguing. I attended a Reboot session the next month – 1 week that has changed my life.

I was born with an imbalanced system that caused allergies, chronic eczema and general “unwellness” causing hospitalizations and restrictive diets my whole life. Nothing was ever really successful until I was described Prednisone at age 16, which I continued to take for 45 years. [I can already hear all the medically trained people gasping]. Prednisone suppresses your natural immune system and essentially controls your body’s operations. Long term use is associated with heart disease, diabetes, cancer and pretty much every other bad thing that can happen to your health. In 2019 I took the cancer journey, have high blood pressure and a sugar intolerance. I’ve tried every naturopathic regimen, acupuncture/cupping and pharmaceutical prescription ever thought to address my condition – nothing worked, so I always reverted to Prednisone.

When I saw Perry’s article, the description of microbiome as a health strategy made perfect sense to me and a 1 week session /1 hour a day for 8 days, seemed a very reasonable investment. The Reboot program was easy to follow, food and supplements very accessible and suggestions for short exercises, journaling, etc. were not at all onerous. I also loved hearing other’s stories about what brought them here and how it had worked for them.

I adhered to the program for 3 weeks after the Reboot session. For the first 2 weeks I stayed on Prednisone but then decided to wean myself off. Within 4 weeks I was completely off Prednisone - 10 months later I have not taken it even once and while I still have the occasional eczema flare-up I feel so good. I have incorporated Kefir into my daily routine, I’d taken a probiotic daily for decades so that’s not new, and I love the BOGA (Brussel Sprouts, Onion, Garlic, Asparagus) stir fry so I have that 3 – 4 times a week. The prebiotic / probiotic connection seems to really work for me.

While I almost think it’s too good to be true, I recommend incorporating a microbiome program to so many people – for the wide ranging health benefits it offers. My eczema suffering friends swear by it. One of our nurse friends had tried so many other approaches and she says this is a miracle to her – so much so her parents started to follow it too. And my oncologist spent over half my annual checkup talking to me about the HuMINT for her husband. (of course after she’d determined I was AOK).

I can’t encourage you strongly enough to try this health management strategy.

Yves P. | My Microbiome Journey: Regaining Control

I am leveraging the microbiome to control my allergies, eliminate digestive problems, enhance my mental health, cut out medication and control my weight.

It took me a year to be convinced to take control of my health and wellness. The COVID pandemic made me realize that we are on our own to manage our health and wellness. I was fortunate to know Perry and that he was patient enough to allow me to explore the possibilities of Microbiome on my own and at my own pace. I started slowly to take Kefir and moved on to pro-biotics when Perry offered a 7-day boost. This short boost appealed to me because I could not commit to a full 30-day program. This shorter boost introduced me to the benefits of following a plan that suites my needs and circumstance, while taking ownership of my health.

The playbook provides great information for beginners and helps you to select the basic supplements and follow easy recipes to get you started. Even during the 7-day boost, I was comfortable tweaking my meals and fasting when it made sense for me. What works for me is the 16/8 fasting schedule, the smoothies (yummy) and the light exercises that enhance my existing physio and exercise routines. The playbook is simple and easy to follow, without making any real sacrifices.

Here is what the Microbiome regimen has done for me:

No blocked sinuses, with little allergies; No heartburn and little indigestion; No desire to eat sweet or salty foods; No desire to drink alcohol; No high blood pressure; No prescription drugs, none!

Yes, more energy & strength & stamina; Yes, continued & gradual weight loss (35 lbs.); Yes, to better mental health & better sleep; Yes, to a new outlook on life at 54 years of age!

I read more about better foods, better mental health, better lifestyle and better exercises. I feel better than ever! When I start to feel old signs of lethargy and sinus headaches, I take a mindful moment and reset my microbiome with my own mini-boost.