I weighed 5 stone and could barely lift my head from the hospital pillow. My bowel had just perforated, and 30cm of my intestine was gone.

But every single day in that bed, I closed my eyes and saw something different. I saw myself strong, in the gym lifting weights, with muscles defined and skin glowing with health.

Eight months later, I stepped onto a powerlifting platform and broke two records. I was medication-free and living that vision. I’m Manny, and what happened between that hospital bed and that platform is what I want to share with you today.

Why I Started Visualising My Recovery

I lived with Crohn's Disease for sixteen years before that Christmas Day perforation in 2016. Sixteen years of taking 14 tablets daily at my worst, watching conventional medicine reach its limits with my body.

When they removed that 30cm of diseased intestine and I dropped to the weight of a small child, spending six weeks being fed intravenously just to survive, something shifted.

I had a choice. I could accept that my body was broken, or I could create a different story.

So I started creating a clear mental image. When my physical reality was tubes and monitors and weakness, I saw myself with an incredible physique. Happy, vibrant, energetic, living fully.

The shift wasn't just positive thinking. It was deeper than that. I moved from "my body is broken" to "my body is healing."

The thing is, most people think about getting healthy. They imagine it in their heads. But I did something different. I felt what it would be like to be that healthy version. I didn't just picture myself in the gym. I felt the weight in my hands, the strength in my legs, the confidence in my chest. I embodied it.

When you embody the feeling, not just the thought, something happens. Your daily actions align naturally. You stop forcing yourself to do things that are "good for you" and start moving toward the version you've already become in your mind.

Visualisation gave me the target. Habits were the vehicle. Together, they taught my body how to function properly again. I’ll share the six habits now that I used to help my recovery.

6 Daily Habits That Made My Vision Real

Hydration

It sounds simple, but proper hydration moves food through your intestines and prevents constipation. When your gut is compromised, this matters more than most people realise.

I made daily water targets non-negotiable. Not coffee, not energy drinks, just clean water that supported my gut function at the most basic level.

Stress Management

Here's something that surprised me when I first learned it. 90% of your serotonin, your happy hormone, is produced in your gut.

Your gut and your brain are in constant conversation, and chronic stress disrupts the balance of bacteria in your gut. So taking care of yourself is taking care of your gut.

I started with meditation and breathing exercises. Nothing complicated, just creating moments in my day where I actively supported my gut-brain axis instead of letting stress destroy it.

Balanced Nutrition

This is where most of my experimentation happened. My kitchen became stacked with over 30 different plants and herbs as I learned what my body needed.

I aimed for 30g of fibre daily because fibre feeds the beneficial bacteria in your gut. I incorporated fermented foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, and kefir to provide probiotics. I focused on plant diversity, aiming to build a healthy, varied microbiome.

I learned to chew thoroughly and eat slowly. Your digestion begins in your mouth, and rushing through meals was sabotaging my recovery.

What I limited mattered just as much. Eating processed food out with friends, unhealthy fats and excess sugar were all working against my gut.

Quality Sleep

I prioritised 7 to 9 hours nightly because poor sleep disrupts your gut bacteria balance. Your body does its deepest healing work while you sleep, and my gut needed that repair time.

This wasn't negotiable. Sleep became as important as the food I ate.

Regular Movement

From bedridden to powerlifting champion in eight months sounds impossible, but movement was part of my healing, not separate from it. Exercise influences gut bacteria diversity, supports digestion and reduces stress.

I started small and built gradually, always listening to my body and respecting where I was in the recovery process.

Plant Medicine

This is where everything came together for me. After years of experimenting with different plants and herbs, brewing multiple different teas daily, I created Cosmic Hue.

It became my daily ritual, the 7-plant formula I developed from my own recovery journey.

Marshmallow Root to support the gut lining. Cat's Claw and Nettle to reduce inflammation. Echinacea to strengthen immunity. Ashwagandha to manage stress. Astragalus for resilience. Fennel to ease digestion.

Each plant was chosen because I experienced its effects personally and is backed by modern science. Together, they work better than they do alone.

But consistency is what matters most. That's when the real transformation happens. Not overnight, not in a week, but through consistent daily practice until your body remembers how to function properly.

How to Start Your Visualisation Practice

You don't need to be in a hospital bed to begin this work. You can start today, wherever you are.

Create a clear mental image of your recovered self. What does that version of you look like? How do they move through the world? What energy do they carry?

Now go deeper. Don't just think about it. Feel what that version experiences. Feel the lightness in your body, the confidence, the freedom from constant worry about your gut.

Hold this vision while you take your daily actions. When you brew your Cosmic Hue tea, you're not just making a drink. You're expressing your future self, living as the healed version of you.

When to Seek Professional Support

I was hospitalised by my gut issues, so professional support is essential to be safe in your recovery. I'm not suggesting you replace medical care with visualisation. I'm suggesting you combine them.

Watch for warning signs like persistent pain, blood in stool, chronic diarrhoea or constipation, unintended weight loss, or fever. These need immediate medical attention.

Get a professional diagnosis because identifying underlying conditions like IBD, Coeliac Disease, or IBS gives you information about what your body needs.

Work with your healthcare team while implementing visualisation and daily practices.

Conclusion

Healing becomes consistent when vision and action align. When you see yourself healed and you act as the healed version of yourself, your body follows.

I envisioned myself strong when I could barely move. I felt what health would feel like when I was at my weakest. Then I took one small habit step, then another, then another.

Today, you can do the same. Envision your healthiest self, then take one habit step today. The vision gives you direction. The habits give you the vehicle.

Author: Manny is the founder of Fifth Ray and a certified Gut Health Coach. After battling Crohn's Disease for 16 years, he transformed his gut health through plant-based healing. His story has been featured on BBC, ITV, and Daily Mail.

Disclaimer: This information is for education only. Cosmic Hue is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always speak to your healthcare provider before changing your routine.