Data Kick

Welcome to the Data Kick blog. Ever since being diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in early 2011 I have been trying to find a way to live a normal, healthy life with the chronic disease. I want to use this forum to share my struggles and successes along the way.

Warning, some of these stories may be gross. Ulcerative Colitis, an Inflammatory Bowel Disease, is an inflammation of the colon (aka large intestine). When the disease is active the colon gets inflamed. This can cause rectal bleeding, loose stools, and frequent bowel movements. These topics are not off limits.

While occasionally there may be a light hearted conversation about poo, these stories will mostly focus on the data behind the poo. I tracked my bowel movements for the year prior to the first post on this blog and plan to continue to track them throughout the good and bad times ahead. This data is a great quantified indicator of my health. I am constantly using it to assess the effectiveness of medications and treatments.

Poo tracking is just the beginning. I enjoy being physically fit and am adept to running. Between short reps running to the nearest bathroom, I enjoy long runs on roads and trails. Running was nearly impossible during the time I was diagnosed with UC. When symptoms came back under control I started running more frequently. Tracking my running progress was a natural progression of my data happy lifestyle. My fitness often reflects on my health, and it has become a valuable tool in evaluating my current health.

The beginning of this blog will cover stories centered around the Specific Carbohydrate Diet , my latest attempt to get healthy. Later in the year my focus will shift to my first attempt at the Portland Marathon.