Jennifer McKeown

- 05/24/2010

Hi Chris! Below please find the testimonial I promised to write. I don’t know that anything I write can truly express the impact you’ve had on our lives.

‘In 2004 I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease known as Ulcerative Colitis. This is a condition where immune system attacks the digestive tract causing bleeding ulcers.
Most patients with UC accomplish this and live a normal life taking a daily immune suppressant drug. This wasn’t my case.

Throughout the many years of treatment I was told changing my diet and/or lifestyle would not make a difference, this disease requires prescription medication to be controlled. After many week-long hospital stays and failed attempts with traditional treatments I was forced with the choice of having my large intestine surgically removed or weekly injections in the stomach of an experimental drug which were painful and expensive: $600 a month. Expense and discomfort aside, it’s better than losing a major organ.

In October 2009 another relapse; apparently the drug’s efficacy was wearing off. Again, doctor’s only responded by trying high doses of traditional medications. At this point I was convinced nothing would control the disease, it would control my life.
A few months later, my husband convinced me to try a free CrossFit class with him. Inspired by reading Chris’ story, we gave it a try and learned a lot about how to effectively physically challenge ourselves and how what we thought were healthy eating habits were actually working against our bodies. We immediately began following a Paleo diet. That was 9 weeks ago; I haven’t taken my medication since then and have never felt better. Also, in that time I’ve gone from a size 10 dress size to a size 6…that’s what I call a value added benefit!

This summer promises to be the best we’ve had in 6 years: we see an outdoor Jacuzzi in our near future thanks to the monthly savings and me in a bikini for the first time since High School!’

Jennifer Mesa McKeown
Director, Marketing Strategy and Analytics | Direct Services, Inc.
10390 USA Today Way | Miramar, Fl 33025