Bodybuilder Michelle Middleton recently shared a side-by-side photo of her bloated and un-bloated body.She shared the photos to show her followers that extreme bloat can affectanyone.Middleton told INSIDER that she used the FODMAP diet to determine what causes her bloat.She hopes people will realize that you can reach your healthand fitness goals despite dealing with bloating.A little bloat is expected ' and normal ' after a night of indulging. But even healthy everyday foods cause extreme bloat: just ask bodybuilder Michelle Middleton. The 30-year-old recently shared a side-by-side photo on Instagram to show the change in her body after eating.The photo on the far right shows Middleton before she ate, and the two on the left show her bloated stomach after eating. A post shared by MICHELLE (@madlymish)on Dec 10, 2017 at 12:17am PST "When I say I'm bloated ... I'm bloated," she wrote in the caption of the post. "Yes, I get bloated and it happens when I eat certain foods."She explained that foods like Greek yogurt, protein powder, apples, and other fruits and vegetables make her the most bloated. To combat the side effects, she trys to follow a low FODMAP diet.Created by Australian researchers to control symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), like bloating, diarrhea, and gas, the goal of the diet is to determine which foods cause your symptoms so you can avoid them. These foods often include dairy, fruits, sweeteners, and even some vegetables.According to Harvard Medical School, one study found that 76% of IBS sufferers following the diet saw an improvement in their symptoms. And although Middleton doesn't have IBS, she saw a huge difference in her own stomach bloat from following this guide. A post shared by MICHELLE (@madlymish)on Dec 3, 2017 at 10:27am PST Shetold INSIDER in an e-mail that she's struggled with bloat her whole life, and it wasn't until two or three years ago that she finally looked into the FODMAP diet."Through [the] process of elimination I was able to find out which foods were the culprit," she said. "[FODMAP]helped me to identify which foods were causing me to bloat which made me feel so much better ' both physically and mentally."Now,Middleton feels comfortable wearing whatever she want's and eating what makes her feel good. She want's her followers to realize that it's possible to achieve your fitness goals despite dealing with extreme bloating."As soon as I found out about it, I had to let others know," she said. "It was then that I learned that so many girls were going through the same thing." A post shared by MICHELLE (@madlymish)on May 8, 2017 at 10:39am PDT Her post resonated with her followers and currently has more than 2,000 likes and comments from people who relate to her bloating issues."So glad I'm not alone. I feel and look pregnant when I bloat," one person wrote. "Wow the same thing happens to me I thought I was alone," someone else commented. "I seriously thought I was the only one who bloats that much," another person wrote.Middleton's photo and openness about her health show that everyone's body (and health journey) are different ' and listening to your body is one of the best ways to figure out what it needs.Sign uphereto getINSIDER's favorite stories straight to your inbox.Join the conversation about this storyNOW WATCH: Why Korean parents are having their kids get plastic surgery before college
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