The Beautiful Bag

It’s my first solo episode of the new year so I wanted to talk about nutrition and exercise! At the beginning of the year, we always set these goals we want to achieve for the year, so today I want to chat a little about some tips that I have for you to help you stick to your goals and feel good! I am not a stickler for the scale, I just want to feel good and be able to move my body! So in today's...

Ashlyn is 1 year out from having her Ostomy and from her perspective, it has really been a year of acceptance for her. After going in and out of remission with her UC over the years, it finally got to a point where it was truly a life or death situation. The last thing that had to be done to save her life as the medications and treatments stopped working was to get part of her colon removed and ha...

Heather's journey started as a young child with stomach issues and doctors always telling me nothing was wrong.  Fast forward years down the road and Heather was in constant pain with Ulcer Colitis, then faced a Crohn’s diagnosis. Receiving these diagnoses lead her down a long path of healing holistically and doing things to get her life back. She learned about the importance of a clean, organic a...

Genine is another beautiful soul that I had the opportunity to have here on The Beautiful Bag podcast this past week!   She was in an Ileostomy for over a year, which was supposed to be temporary, but through more struggles than the doctors anticipated, got surgery this past September to get her permanent Colostomy!  Genine is now THRIVING and enjoying her life, pain-free with her children and gra...

As we close out 2021 it's a great time to reflect and define what you would like 2022 to look like.  In this episode, I talk about: setting goal Being SMART with your goals Working on your personal goals first  Closing out 2021

Rita is brand new with her Ostomy!  She struggled for years with Crohn’s and Cancer and for years her doctors told her that getting a Colostomy would be the best chance for her to lead a normal life.  But succumbed by fear of the stigma an Ostomy can carry, she continued on with her life hoping that things would get better. For the last 2 years, she has been through a lot with cancer treatments an...

How can you make your mess your message? Update on Kam's mom Finishing this year strong!

Coming

I cried a little this morning in a good way. Finished 75 hard yesterday and feel so accomplished. I woke up one Sunday morning after watching @mrsdukesfitspo for a few weeks and said that’s it I’m doing this and starting today. It was my grandson's birthday party day, I knew there’d be cake and celebratory food but made that commitment to myself. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I had been feeling out of sorts for a whi...

JD is a true fighter and he is alive today to talk about it. After a motorcycle accident that left him clinging to life with breaking more than half the bones in his body, being in an induced coma for over a month, and being told he would never walk again, he is defining the odds and really has an incredible story to tell. The accident also left him with an ostomy. But he has decided to not dwell...

In this solo episode I bring you back to an interview that I did on my friend Jodi Harrison-Bauer's Fearlessly Authentic show back in Oct of 2020    We cover: - living in NYC through Covid - Why we moved to NYC - Relationships - Finding the Cancer  - Not having a community  - getting on Stage - Fear and how to break through it Follow LeeAnne on Instagram @leeannehayden  Find Jodi on Instagram @jod...

Michelyn Caldwell founded the company, NB Products (Na'Scent.com) in 1998. This company came to fruition after a close family friend, Linda, needed an ostomy when she was in her 20’s and learning about her struggles inspired Michelyn's journey and dedication to help Linda and others! For those that are unfamiliar with the product, Na`Scent is an Ostomy Odor Eliminator for use in all ostomy pouchin...

It's Thanksgiving week!   I wanted to take a moment in this podcast to thank you for being a part of the community, also so tips and tricks around eating for Thanksgiving to avoid blockages and a little fun around the NYC parade.   I hope you all have a fantastic Thanksgiving!   Instagram handle @leeannehayden 

"The Ostomy has saved your life and has given you life, but it is NOT YOUR LIFE. You are separate from it. Yes, it has helped define who you are like; it has helped me and allowed me to feel confident in myself. But it is not what makes me, me. And I think that it is important to understand that for everyone else out there. There are other things out there that make you who you are. It's just a pa...

In this episode I discuss: - Went to  NYC last week for my colonoscopy - What it was like to move to NYC 3 years ago  - Starting a new job with my ostomy and the fears I had - Realizing I am an entrepreneur, not an employee  

After being diagnosed with Ulcer Colitis in 2013 while in his 3rd year at UC Berkeley, Collin's illness took such a drastic spiral downwards in 8 months from the time of diagnosis to having surgery to get an Ostomy. This forced him to put a halt to his track and field carrier that he had been working towards since he was a child. Then to have this rise to the sport pulled out from under him was ve...

This story is remarkable… When I say we are given a second chance at life with our Ostomy…. Today's podcast guest Natalia can literally say she was at death's doorstep and she is NOW living with a second chance at life! Natalia was prepared to die after her battle with Chrons. She had come to terms with it and she almost was not here to tell us her story. After multiple surgeries, Natalia is doing...

Ok guys and girls, I got a little personal with this one.  Let's just say my first experience getting ready for a colonoscopy wasn't that fun. So I want to make sure you are all prepared if you ever have to have one!   

Your dreams and goals that you have before an Ostomy are still attainable and within reach even after an Ostomy. This is something today's guest Keyla taught me through getting to know her and in this podcast. She wanted to model before, so after her surgery, she knew that she was going to set a goal and make those dreams come true! In today's podcast, we dive into much good stuff! How to make sur...

Good morning and welcome to an additional solo episode with me this week!   I am so excited to share why I chose to do 75 Hard and what it feels like to be halfway through it!   I woke up one Sunday morning 5+ weeks ago and decided at that moment that it was time for me to challenge myself.  I was getting very complacent with life and knew I need the challenge to break my comfort zone.  I can say...

Charlotte has only had her ostomy for a few years, but in that short time, she has truly inspired people.  She is empowering and vulnerable at the same time and it really is such an amazing quality to have and is so rare to find.  On social media Charlotte talks about the good and the bad of everyday life with an Ostomy, just keeping it real!  And this is what is helping so many people and what is...

Talking with Kimberly gave me goosebumps… Her inspiration is so profound and it is such a beautiful thing how she is reclaiming her life after beating cancer and receiving her Ostomy. "This device doesn’t mean it is the end. It's actually a beautiful beginning. My ostomy has given me 5 extra birthdays with my family." - Kimberly Coleman @kimberlyhcoleman on IG We talk all about her life after canc...

“Don’t let having an Ostomy stop you from living your life and THRIVING!” -Ryan Van Voorhis In today’s podcast, I got to sit down with @rvanvoorhis who is a Chron’s survivor and has had his Ostomy for just over 20 years! He is also the owner of @nudedudefood and he is doing what he loves and what inspires him! (you have to check him out, the food on his page…. I get hungry every time he posts some...