Leigh Merotto, RD • GutFit Nutrition

09/07/2026

Have you been told that you have IBS, but something still doesn't feel right? 👀

Maybe you've tried the low FODMAP diet, fiber, probiotics, stress management, even medication.. and the symptoms just aren't improving.

Well, IBS is a real medical condition. And your symptoms ARE valid.

However, there are some real conditions that commonly get mistaken for IBS.

This includes IBD (Crohns, Colitis), SIBO, digestive cancers (colon, pancreatic), and endometriosis.

In this weeks episode, I’m walking through 8 conditions that commonly get mistaken for IBS, and the specific red flags that mean it's worth asking your doctor about further testing.

To be clear: IBS is a real diagnosis for most people with these symptoms.

This episode is NOT about making you doubt yours..
It's about helping you to recognize when your symptoms aren’t fitting the typical pattern, and how to advocate for the right support. 🎧

🎧 Listen on your favourite podcast app: pod.link/1809215958/episode/Nzk4YWMwZmMtN2U1Yi00N2U0LWI4NDYtYWMyZWE1YTAwYTg0?view=apps&sort=popularity

📺 Prefer video? Watch on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ1ruOqYsjg&list=PLCSVZx8RU-RI

09/01/2026

I’m doing something a little different this September.

For the month of September, 50% of proceeds from my courses and resource bundles will be donated to Pancreatic Cancer North America. Pancreatic Cancer North America

And to kick things off, you can get 10% off everything in my shop from TODAY September 1st through Thursday September 3rd. 🎉

Why pancreatic cancer?

The past couple of months have been resilience building as I’ve walked alongside my dad through investigations, treatment, and surgery for pancreatic cancer.

Thankfully, his cancer was caught early enough that he was able to have successful surgery to remove the tumour.

We know how fortunate we are.

Pancreatic cancer is considered the "world's toughest cancer”.

Unfortunately, many people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer don’t have the same outcome. It has one of the lowest five-year survival rates of all cancers, which is why more research into early detection and better treatment options is so important.

That’s why I’ve chosen Pancreatic Cancer North America as my fundraising charity for the upcoming Constantine Constantine Yorkville Run

And the fundraising efforts will also benefit your gut health and fitness goals too!

💜 Good for Your Gut. Good for a Greater Cause! 💜

📅 September 1–3:
​ 10% off the GutFit Nutrition Resource Suite (meal plans, resource bundles + courses)

📅 All Month Long in September:
​ 50% of proceeds from the resource suite sales will be donated to Pancreatic Cancer North America. Pancreatic Cancer North America

So if there’s a course, guide, or resource you’ve had your eye on, this is a great time to grab it, and know that your purchase is also helping support pancreatic cancer research!

If you’re looking for:
⭐️ Step by step recipes to help you optimize your gut microbiome on the low FODMAP diet
⭐️ A system to meal prep + plan for a happier gut
⭐️ Cheat sheets to crush your workouts without gut symptoms

Visit my link in bio OR go to gutfitnutrition.com/shop-resources

👉 Use code PANCREAS10 at checkout.

Here’s to more research, earlier detection, better treatments, and more positive patient stories! 💜

08/31/2026

Have you ever gone out for a run hoping to tackle a fast speed workout or get through another long run in your half marathon or full marathon training plan, only to have the whole thing derailed by multiple urgent trips to the bathroom? 🏃

Maybe you've even had to find a bush or some other private place because your bowels suddenly decided they needed to empty.. and fast.

Truth is, people with a GI condition like IBS and a sensitive gut do need a more nuanced approach to endurance fueling. Generic sports nutrition plans probably won't work for them, and can make symptoms worse.

I see it in new athletes that come to me all the time.. And when we create a fueling plan that helps actually address the physiological needs related to training, with fuel sources that won’t exacerbate their symptoms - everything changes!

In this week’s episode drop (after a 4-week season break!), we break down:
✅ The 3 most common mistakes causing GI issues and bathroom emergencies during runs
✅ How fat, fiber, and FODMAPs can each trigger urgency and loose stools
✅ What "gut training" actually means and why the mismatch between training and race day causes problems
✅ How f***l loading and constipation can be the real root cause of "runner's diarrhea"

💬 Comment EPISODE 62 to listen + watch now!

08/24/2026

Can squatting actually help with bowel movements? 

Research supports it! A 2019 study found that using a defecation posture device increased bowel emptiness, reduced straining, and reduced bowel movement duration compared to sitting without one.

Using a squatty potty (or a foot stool) is one “morning habit” that I love as a gut health + IBS Dietitian. 

But there are a few more you NEED to know! 

Let me ask… Is your morning routine to support your gut overcomplicated, or simply non existent?

I know the morning routine trend has been around for a while… But which of those trendy habits REALLY make a difference when you’re trying to get bloating relief, calm unpredictable bowel movements and relieve IBS symptoms?

Well… if you roll out of bed, grab your phone, and chug a coffee before you’re even really awake...Your first hour might be doing more to trigger your bloating than anything you eat all day. 

But, you’re stressing too much about your routine and what the “perfect” habits are – that could also be backfiring. 

In episode 17, we walk through:
✅ 8 realistic morning habits that support digestion, manage IBS and calm your nervous system
✅ Why screen-free time might be the single most impactful habit you can add
✅ The science behind sunlight, movement, and the Squatty Potty for better bowel movements
✅ Implementing the ABC routine framework for adapting these habits to a busy, realistic morning

If you want to know exactly which habits and tools DO and DON’T make a difference for your bloating & IBS symptoms.. 

Comment EPISODE 17 to listen + watch the full episode now! 

08/24/2026

Can squatting actually help with bowel movements?

Research supports it! A 2019 study found that using a defecation posture device increased bowel emptiness, reduced straining, and reduced bowel movement duration compared to sitting without one.

Using a squatty potty (or a foot stool) is one “morning habit” that I love as a gut health + IBS Dietitian.

But there are a few more you NEED to know!

Let me ask… Is your morning routine to support your gut overcomplicated, or simply non existent?

I know the morning routine trend has been around for a while… But which of those trendy habits REALLY make a difference when you’re trying to get bloating relief, calm unpredictable bowel movements and relieve IBS symptoms?

Well… if you roll out of bed, grab your phone, and chug a coffee before you're even really awake.. .Your first hour might be doing more to trigger your bloating than anything you eat all day.

But, you’re stressing too much about your routine and what the “perfect” habits are – that could also be backfiring.

In episode 17, we walk through:
✅ 8 realistic morning habits that support digestion, manage IBS and calm your nervous system
✅ Why screen-free time might be the single most impactful habit you can add
✅ The science behind sunlight, movement, and the Squatty Potty for better bowel movements
✅ Implementing the ABC routine framework for adapting these habits to a busy, realistic morning

If you want to know exactly which habits and tools DO and DON’T make a difference for your bloating & IBS symptoms..

🎧 Listen on your favourite podcast app: pod.link/1809215958/episode/ZjQ2ZmYyNTgtN2NiNy00MjI2LWFhMjItMGY3Y2U5MDYyMDhj?view=apps&sort=popularity

📺 Prefer video? Watch on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jAu-Z4TXDQ&list=PLvcW_qBMEYDYqk4i7IhaMq7JKOBaB0h1s

08/23/2026

Some island time! 🌊 🌳 🇨🇦 Enjoyed a lovely week up north with family + Mike in Manitoulin (the largest freshwater lake in the world!)

I've been here several times but it's been a while since the last visit. Some highlights for this holiday week:

🏃‍♀️ Great week of training: back up to ~60km weekly mileage with 2 workout/quality sessions

🚀 6 x 800m at 5K pace with 400m recovery (total 15km)

🏔️ 20km long run with blocks at marathon + half marathon pace finishing up in the town to do some walk/ exploring and checking out Bridal Veil falls.

🥾 Cup & Saucer Trail: on the trailhead at 7am with it all to ourselves!

🛶 Kayak + paddles on the lake

🍽️ Usual home cooked, plant forward & gut friendly meals (always taste better eaten in the sunshine). Enjoyed some various veggies, tofu and fresh caught pickerel on the BBQ

☕️ Post run coffees by the lake with visits from the cottage dog Daisy

Overall a lovely week of great training, exploring & family time - Canada is so beautiful! 🇨🇦

08/17/2026

Have you ever opened the Monash FODMAP app to check a food you already tested, only to find it now shows a completely different serving size? You’re not imagining it, and you didn’t do anything wrong. 🍇

In this episode, I sat down with Dédé Wilson, co-founder of FODMAP Everyday, to talk about why FODMAP serving sizes actually change over time (hint: it’s usually about the produce, not the testing), what’s new in Monash’s latest reintroduction updates, and how to know when it’s actually worth retesting a FODMAP group you already failed.

We also got into the non-food IBS and gut symptom triggers that get blamed on food when they’re really about stress, sleep, or your environment.

If a serving size change has ever sent you spiraling into “wait, was I doing this wrong the whole time”....  this one’s for you! 🎧

Comment EPISODE 20 to listen + watch now!

08/17/2026

Have you ever opened the Monash FODMAP app to check a food you already tested, only to find it now shows a completely different serving size? You're not imagining it, and you didn't do anything wrong. 🍇

In this episode, I sat down with Dédé Wilson, co-founder of FODMAP Everyday, to talk about why FODMAP serving sizes actually change over time (hint: it's usually about the produce, not the testing), what's new in Monash's latest reintroduction updates, and how to know when it's actually worth retesting a FODMAP group you already failed.

We also got into the non-food IBS and gut symptom triggers that get blamed on food when they're really about stress, sleep, or your environment.

If a serving size change has ever sent you spiraling into "wait, was I doing this wrong the whole time".... this one's for you! 🎧

🎧 Listen on your favourite podcast app: pod.link/1809215958/episode/OGY1NjkyMWEtOTgxYi00YTU0LThjNTItMzQ5MGYxMGQ5YzBi?view=apps&sort=popularity

📺 Prefer video? Watch on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rq_VRwx7Rnw&list=PLCSVZx8RU-RI

07/18/2026

✈️ Does the thought of travelling upset your gut before you've even left home?

Travel can disrupt your gut in more ways than you might think.

If you live with IBS, IBD, or celiac disease you aren’t alone in your worries about travelling. Worry about access to washrooms during long road trips, stress about eating meals out, and the impact of flying on the gut are all common concerns.

But, with the right plan it doesn’t have to be that way. ❤️

Understanding why travel affects your gut is the first step toward preventing flare-ups and feeling more confident wherever your trip takes you!

In my guest article for Gastrointestinal Society Inside Tract® newsletter, we break down:

✈️ Why flying can trigger bloating & constipation

🧠 How stress and disrupted routines affect digestion

💧 Nutrition, hydration, and movement tips to help prevent flare-ups

🎒 What to pack in a gut-friendly travel kit

🌎 Simple strategies to travel with more confidence

Because your gut shouldn't dictate your travel plans!

Want to understand why travel can influence your digestive function and how you can navigate without the gutdistress?

Visit the link here to read online. ❤️ https://gutfitnutrition.com/blog/navigating-travel-flying-with-gastroinestinal-conditions

& be sure to subscribe to the GI Society's inside tract newsletter for their quartley issue! (I love taking mine to read at the coffee shop ☕️ when they come in 😌)

If you live with a gastrointestinal (GI) condition such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or celiac disease, you likely understand the complexities of navigating your condition while travelling.