Megan Densmore

My Recipes & Articles

• Dairy Free High Protein Brownies on September 27, 2021
• Dear Mom and Dad: I’ll Never Forget What You Did for Me After My Diagnosis on May 3, 2016
• Sweet Potato Hash Scramble on December 15, 2015
• I Am Not Invisible, I Have a Chronic Illness on November 5, 2015
• Protein-Packed Breakfast Smoothie on July 26, 2015
• After Multiple Diets, I Finally Found a Way to Overcome the Chronic Pain of Fibromyalgia: Find Out How on June 23, 2015
• Easily Digestible Arugula Mozzarella Salad on June 11, 2015
• Paleo Meatballs with Easy Tomato Sauce on May 29, 2015
• Protein-Packed, Gluten Free Banana Pancakes on March 16, 2015
• Sweet and Spicy Chicken Chili on March 1, 2015

My Story

Since I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and related hypoglycemia at 13, my relationship with food and fitness has been complex. Most of my adolescent and college years consisted of a very self-destructive and negative relationship with food. I craved carbs and sugar and these things made me feel bad but somehow I couldn’t stop eating them. I was put on medically-controlled, restricted diets numerous times that were often so restrictive that I felt like there were less things I could eat than I couldn’t eat! 

As a lifelong multi-sport, competitive athlete, maintaining the level of fitness I desired was another area that posed a challenge. I have been passionate about fitness my entire life, but 10 years of chronic pain stemming from neck and back injuries and the fibromyalgia plagued my body. I finally turned to Pilates, and after less than two years of Pilates, my pain was nearly gone. I was able to function on a basic level again but had dreams of regaining my former athletic abilities. I began reintroducing weight training into my personal fitness regimen after almost three years of doing solely Pilates. I received certifications in Pilates and Kettlebells, and became a National Association of Sports Medicine (NASM) certified personal trainer. More pain disappeared and my body mechanics seemed to improve a bit more, but I still wasn’t functioning at the level I believed my body to be capable of.

While the fitness was helping, I was also still suffering from numerous conditions believed to be related to Fibromyalgia including digestive issues like gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and hypoglycemia. In addition, I fatigue much too easily and continued to struggle with addictions to caffeine and sugar. It wasn’t until my late 20’s that I started learning about gluten intolerance and eating to manage your blood sugar without restriction. Thank goodness I got there! I worked with a nutritionist to find the right balance of key nutrients.

Now, as long as I avoid gluten and I am smart about what and how often I eat, I can eat anything and everything else in moderation. I am slowly learning to love food again and have even learned to love cooking!

I am now not only 100% pain-free and free of other related conditions, and as of March 31, 2012, the date of my very first long-cycle Kettlebell competition, I am once more a competitive athlete!

Learn more about Megan at: www.meganmasterfit.com