course preview
The Trigger Food Method
By the end of 8 weeks you will know exactly which foods cause your stomach pain, one at a time, with proof from your own log, so you can eat again without guessing or fear.
Modules
01
My Story — Why I Built This Method
previewThe learner understands this method came from twenty years of real trial and error, not a textbook, and trusts Gabe enough to follow the process in order.
The moment I was told I'd live with this pain forever
The cold open: a tertiary workup finds nothing and Gabe's doctor delivers the hard truth.free8 minThe struggle: cherries, apples, and two decades of guessing
The food timeline: cherries at 5, apples at 13, and the diets that worked until they didn't.8 minWhat this cost me outside my stomach
The toll the illness took beyond the pain itself: money, relationships, and years he didn't want to be here.12 minThe turning point: what changed
The wrong turns, the truth about 2020, and the moment Gabe stopped waiting and built his own system.9 minThe method, and what this course will and won't do
A high-level walk through Find, Log, Remove, Re-test, Keep, plus honest limits.7 min
The cold open: a tertiary workup finds nothing and Gabe's doctor delivers the hard truth.free8 minThe struggle: cherries, apples, and two decades of guessing
The food timeline: cherries at 5, apples at 13, and the diets that worked until they didn't.8 minWhat this cost me outside my stomach
The toll the illness took beyond the pain itself: money, relationships, and years he didn't want to be here.12 minThe turning point: what changed
The wrong turns, the truth about 2020, and the moment Gabe stopped waiting and built his own system.9 minThe method, and what this course will and won't do
A high-level walk through Find, Log, Remove, Re-test, Keep, plus honest limits.7 min
02
Understanding IBS and Your Own Gut
lockedThe learner understands what IBS is, what it isn't, and how their own digestion actually works, in plain terms.
What IBS is, and what it isn't
Plain-language look at IBS types and how it differs from diagnosed conditions.8 minThe short version of how digestion works
Just enough anatomy to understand why removals and timing matter.6 minCommon triggers in IBS
The trigger categories that come up most, including the ones that hit Gabe hardest.8 minReading your own history for clues
Looking back over past flares to spot patterns without over-trusting memory.9 min
Plain-language look at IBS types and how it differs from diagnosed conditions.8 minThe short version of how digestion works
Just enough anatomy to understand why removals and timing matter.6 minCommon triggers in IBS
The trigger categories that come up most, including the ones that hit Gabe hardest.8 minReading your own history for clues
Looking back over past flares to spot patterns without over-trusting memory.9 min
Before the next module: Note down any past flare-ups you remember and what you ate beforehand.
03
Build Your Suspect List (FIND)
lockedThe learner leaves with a written list of 5-8 foods to investigate, ranked by likelihood.
Starting where Gabe started: skins, seeds, nuts, and rough fiber
Why this category is the first place to look.7 minAdding your own suspects from your history
Combining your flare history with the common-trigger list.7 minRanking your suspects
Ordering the list from most to least likely so testing goes in a sensible order.6 minCommon mistakes at this stage
Warns against lists that are too long or based on fear instead of pattern.5 min
Why this category is the first place to look.7 minAdding your own suspects from your history
Combining your flare history with the common-trigger list.7 minRanking your suspects
Ordering the list from most to least likely so testing goes in a sensible order.6 minCommon mistakes at this stage
Warns against lists that are too long or based on fear instead of pattern.5 min
Before the next module: Finish a ranked suspect list of 5-8 foods.
04
The Meal-Symptom Bridge (LOG)
previewThe learner is logging every meal correctly and consistently, closing the gap between what they ate and what they felt.
The five questions to ask after every meal
The fixed question set that becomes the backbone of every log entry.free8 minHow to log without it taking over your life
Shortcuts and habits that make logging sustainable.7 minRating pain and symptoms consistently
A simple 0-5 scale so entries can be compared day to day.6 minWhat to do on a 'bad log' day
What to write down when symptoms are severe or confusing, and when to stop and see a doctor.5 min
The fixed question set that becomes the backbone of every log entry.free8 minHow to log without it taking over your life
Shortcuts and habits that make logging sustainable.7 minRating pain and symptoms consistently
A simple 0-5 scale so entries can be compared day to day.6 minWhat to do on a 'bad log' day
What to write down when symptoms are severe or confusing, and when to stop and see a doctor.5 min
Before the next module: Log every meal for 14 days using the five questions and the symptom scale.
05
Removing One Food at a Time (REMOVE)
lockedThe learner runs their first clean, one-food removal without accidentally changing anything else.
Choosing the removal window
How many days to remove a food and why that number matters.6 minWhat 'one food out' really means
Spotting hidden versions of a food so the removal is actually clean.8 minWhat to eat instead this week
Simple swaps so you aren't left with nothing to eat during removal.9 minStaying consistent for the full window
Handling social situations, travel, and motivation dips during removal.5 min
How many days to remove a food and why that number matters.6 minWhat 'one food out' really means
Spotting hidden versions of a food so the removal is actually clean.8 minWhat to eat instead this week
Simple swaps so you aren't left with nothing to eat during removal.9 minStaying consistent for the full window
Handling social situations, travel, and motivation dips during removal.5 min
Before the next module: Complete one full removal window (recommend 14-21 days) for the top suspect, logging the whole time.
06
The Comeback Meal (RE-TEST)
lockedThe learner knows, with evidence, whether the removed food is a confirmed trigger or not.
Why re-testing matters
The case for proof over permanent avoidance.6 minHow to set up a clean re-test meal
Eating the food alone, in a normal portion, with nothing else new that day.8 minReading the result
Interpreting a mild reaction versus a clear one versus no reaction.7 minWhat to do with an unclear result
Repeating a re-test or trying a smaller portion when the first result isn't clean.6 min
The case for proof over permanent avoidance.6 minHow to set up a clean re-test meal
Eating the food alone, in a normal portion, with nothing else new that day.8 minReading the result
Interpreting a mild reaction versus a clear one versus no reaction.7 minWhat to do with an unclear result
Repeating a re-test or trying a smaller portion when the first result isn't clean.6 min
Before the next module: Re-test the first suspect food and record the result.
07
Building Your Working Lists (KEEP)
lockedThe learner has a working Safe List and Cut List and has repeated the cycle for their remaining suspects.
Running the cycle again
Moving to the next suspect food using the same loop, faster the second time.5 minBuilding your Safe List
Actively confirming cleared foods, not just assuming safety by default.7 minBuilding your Cut List
Finalizing confirmed triggers and stopping unnecessary re-testing.6 minKnowing when you're done
Signs that you've found your main triggers and can stop active testing.6 min
Moving to the next suspect food using the same loop, faster the second time.5 minBuilding your Safe List
Actively confirming cleared foods, not just assuming safety by default.7 minBuilding your Cut List
Finalizing confirmed triggers and stopping unnecessary re-testing.6 minKnowing when you're done
Signs that you've found your main triggers and can stop active testing.6 min
Before the next module: Complete at least 2-3 full cycles and have a working Safe List and Cut List.
08
Eating in the Real World
lockedThe learner can eat out, travel, and cook for others without abandoning the method.
Ordering at restaurants with confidence
Using a Safe List to order without a scene.8 minGrocery shopping around your lists
Turning the Safe List into a repeatable grocery list.7 minCooking for family or a partner
Making one meal work for a household with different needs.6 minTravel and special occasions
A plan for holidays, trips, and events where control is limited.7 min
Using a Safe List to order without a scene.8 minGrocery shopping around your lists
Turning the Safe List into a repeatable grocery list.7 minCooking for family or a partner
Making one meal work for a household with different needs.6 minTravel and special occasions
A plan for holidays, trips, and events where control is limited.7 min
Before the next module: Use the Restaurant Card at one meal out and the Grocery List for one shopping trip.
09
Medications and Supplements — What I Take, What I Refused, and What to Ask Your Doctor
lockedThe learner has a short, honest list of medications and supplements to bring up with their own doctor, and knows which of Gabe's dead ends to ask about avoiding.
The supplements that actually helped
The short list a chiropractor recommended that gave Gabe real relief.7 minBentyl and Carafate: what they do and what to ask about
What these two medications did for Gabe, framed as questions for a doctor, not a recommendation.7 minWhat I refused, and why
Remicade and long-term steroids: why Gabe stopped both.13 minSurgery is not a shortcut
A caution built from a gallbladder removal and a sphincteroplasty that both made things worse.8 min
The short list a chiropractor recommended that gave Gabe real relief.7 minBentyl and Carafate: what they do and what to ask about
What these two medications did for Gabe, framed as questions for a doctor, not a recommendation.7 minWhat I refused, and why
Remicade and long-term steroids: why Gabe stopped both.13 minSurgery is not a shortcut
A caution built from a gallbladder removal and a sphincteroplasty that both made things worse.8 min
Before the next module: Write down every medication or supplement currently being taken, and one question to bring to the next doctor's visit.
10
Your Emergency Plan
lockedThe learner has a written plan for what to do the moment a flare starts, when it's time to go to the ER, and how to talk to ER staff so they get real help fast.
What to do the moment a flare starts
A calm, step-by-step first-response plan.7 minWhen it's time to go to the ER
Signs this isn't something to ride out at home, built from Gabe's five-day ICU stay.6 minHow to talk to the ER so you get real help
What Gabe learned the hard way about being specific with staff.9 minRecovering after a flare, and getting back to your lists
Returning to eating slowly and folding the flare back into your Log and Suspect List.6 min
A calm, step-by-step first-response plan.7 minWhen it's time to go to the ER
Signs this isn't something to ride out at home, built from Gabe's five-day ICU stay.6 minHow to talk to the ER so you get real help
What Gabe learned the hard way about being specific with staff.9 minRecovering after a flare, and getting back to your lists
Returning to eating slowly and folding the flare back into your Log and Suspect List.6 min
Before the next module: Fill out the Flare Response Card and keep a copy somewhere accessible (phone, wallet, fridge).
11
Staying on Track Long-Term
lockedThe learner has a maintenance plan, a support system, and knows what to do if new symptoms show up months from now.
Re-checking your lists over time
Why triggers can shift and how often to spot-check.6 minBuilding a support system
The value of not going through this alone.6 minWhat a new flare means
How to respond if pain returns: re-run the method, revisit the Emergency Plan, or see a doctor.7 minWhere coaching fits if you want it
Introducing the weekly food-log coaching option.5 minClosing lesson
Returning to where the course opened and closing the loop.7 min
Why triggers can shift and how often to spot-check.6 minBuilding a support system
The value of not going through this alone.6 minWhat a new flare means
How to respond if pain returns: re-run the method, revisit the Emergency Plan, or see a doctor.7 minWhere coaching fits if you want it
Introducing the weekly food-log coaching option.5 minClosing lesson
Returning to where the course opened and closing the loop.7 min
Before the next module: None — course complete. Optional: enroll in coaching.
Locked lessons open the moment you join
The free lessons are the real thing, not a teaser. The rest is the full method in order, with the worksheets.
Get the Full Course