FAQs

Autoimmune Strong is a fitness program designed to support individuals with Autoimmune Disorders, Fibromyalgia, Lyme Disease, Chronic Pain & Chronic Fatigue.

Autoimmune Strong is a fitness video streaming service designed to help individuals reduce inflammation, & gain flexibility & strength from the comfort of their own home. Complimented by a food plan, a lifestyle plan and community support, Autoimmune Strong is designed to give you a comprehensive wellness program. To learn more details about this program, click here.

Have you ever tried a workout regimen, only to find out a few days later that you actually feel worse? Or that it compounds your feelings of exhaustion and fatigue? Or have you been too scared to even think of trying to exercise for fear that it might exacerbate your already intense and unmanageable symptoms? Then Autoimmune Strong is designed for you.

Autoimmune Strong is designed for people with chronic pain related medical conditions. However, every body is different, and there is always a chance that this may not be the best fit for you. Please consult your physican or reach out to me directly at andrea@getautoimmunestrong.com if you want to discuss further if Autoimmune Strong is right for you.

Unfortunately, I am not a doctor, and I cannot promise that Autoimmune Strong will have any healing impact on your disease. The goal here is to make you stronger, with more energy and capacity for life.

Yes, Autoimmune Strong is designed to help anyone suffering from any type or any combination of Autoimmune disorders. However, if you have questions about your particular health, and if Autoimmune Strong is right for you, please email me directly at andrea@getautoimmunestrong.com, and I will be happy to help you figure it out.

Yes! Autoimmune Strong can work even with the stiffest of joints. Just go slow- you may need to go slower than the recommended pace. Over time, though, exercise has been shown to decrease joint stiffness and pain, and Autoimmune Strong is designed with that problem specifically in mind. Additionally, using the food guide will help you reduce inflammation in your body and may have an impact on joint pain reduction.

An autoimmune disease occurs when the body's immune system gets confused and begins attacking itself, leading to the deterioration of the tissues. This can take many forms, such as:

• Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

• Celiac Disease

• Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Lupus

• Sjorgen's Syndrome

• Multiple Sclerosis

• Irritable Bowel Disease

• Alopecia

• Type 1 Diabetes

• Scleroderma

• Addison's Disease

• Grave's Disease

• Reactive Arthritis

• Vitiligo

• Pernicious Anemia

• Intersticial Cystitis

There are so many Autoimmune conditions, too many to list here, so if you don't see yours listed, Autoimmune Strong will still apply to you. And even if you don't have a diagnosed autoimmune condition but still struggle with intense exhaustion, fatigue, and general body aches, pains, soreness and inflammation, Autoimmune Strong will work for you.

Many people suffer from other conditions, such as Fibromyalgia, Lyme Disease, Chronic Pain & Chronic Fatigue. While these conditions are not specifically Autoimmune, they can be managed with the same fitness & lifestyle modification program like Autoimmune Strong.

Of course! Autoimmune Strong can be used by anyone- not only the people described above. The pacing and the exercises themselves are specifically designed to reduce risk of an autoimmune attack, but they are also appropriate for anyone who wants to slowly change their body, become strong and agile, and get more energy back into their lives. I have used this same program for all types of people- busy parents, people who sit at desk jobs all day, people who are getting older- and have had great success.

We all have immune systems, and we want to make sure they are as strong as they can be. We can all become Autoimmune Strong.

Exercise has been documented by numerous medical studies to have a profound positive impact on reducing the symptoms of Autoimmune Disorders, Fibromyalgia, Lyme Disease, Chronic Pain and Chronic Fatigue (see below for citations). Research proves that these individuals show remarkable improvement with both short and long-term movement & exercise programs. This includes:

• Enhanced overall physical and mental health (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7)

• Reduced anxiety and depression (1, 3)

• Increased energy levels (6, 7)

• Decreased fatigue (6)

• Improved sleep (8)

• Reduction in pain (3, 6)

• Improvement in mood (3, 6, 7)

• Increased or restored range of joint motion, even in individuals with chronic arthritic conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis (2)

• Increased muscular strength and endurance, even in individuals with muscular or joint degeneration (5)

• General reduction in overall symptoms (3, 5, 6, 7)

Unfortunately, despite the benefits listed above, exercise can be a double-edged sword for people with chronic conditions.

As you have just seen, research has demonstrated that exercise has many benefits for people with challenged immune and nervous systems.

However, research has also demonstrated that physical and psychological stress can aggravate the symptoms of an autoimmune disorder and other such chronic conditions. (9) Exercise produces elevated cortisol levels, which causes a kind of stress on the body. So, the challenge here is to exercise in a way that creates enough work to reap the benefits, without overworking the body, causing too much stress.

This is the goal of Autoimmune Strong- to provide a movement program that will allow its users to experience the benefits of exercise without stimulating a flare-up.

The Autoimmune Strong program is different from a traditional workout program due to this focus on stress reduction on the body while exercising. There are many components to this program that contribute to managing physical stress levels, allowing Autoimmune Strong members to exercise in a way that is beneficial.

Pacing: Many exercise programs dictate how often you need to follow the protocol in order to see results. While Autoimmune Strong does have a recommended timeline for the exercise routines, is designed to go slowly, and you have the option to go at your own, slower pace. There is a significant focus on rest time and recuperation, so your body can adapt to each change before moving on.

Posture: Many exercise programs work only the biggest, most superficial muscles in the body. Autoimmune Strong does work those muscles, but doesn't focus on them. Instead, the focus is on deep structural muscles- to help relieve your physical discomfort by making sure you body's posture functions properly. Proper body posture and function contributes to pain reduction and movement fluidity.

Strength + Flexibility + Mobility: Most exercise programs focus only on strength. To fully relieve pain, strength must be combined with flexibility and mobility. And no, that doesn't mean doing a ton of yoga. Yoga is great, and is incorporated into this program, but Autoimmune Strong is rooted in resistance training techniques, and will teach you other important ways to gain flexibility and mobility in multiple ways.

Progression: Many exercise programs throw you into a tough workout and expect that your body will adapt over time. The Autoimmune Strong Movement Program does not- instead, it starts with very easy yet essential strength exercises, and these increase in difficulty slowly and over time, so as not to cause pain or kick start a flare.

Repetition: Constant repetition of the same exercises before progressing will help your body adapt to the movements and limit the amount of stress on the body. In the Autoimmune Strong workout routines, you will be repeating many of the same exercises over time.

Daily Routines: It is recommended that you do these exercises a little bit each day. This is essential for both gaining strength and movement adaptation, as well as reducing the impact of stress on your body.

Lifestyle Approach: Exercise is only one component needed in order to relieve pain and reduce the impact of stress on your body. Food and lifestyle habits also have an impact on controlling stress in the body. Autoimmune Strong is distinctive in its approach by combining movement, food and lifestyle modifications to help you transform your life.

Meet me- Andrea Wool- a health coach and founder of Autoimmune Strong. I am a certified personal trainer, a certified nutritional therapy practitioner, and a mom of 2 adorable boys. Autoimmune Strong has been designed based on the program I use to support my own health due to my own Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, Celiac Disease, and Fibromyalgia. To hear my story, click here.

The Autoimmune Strong videos are instructional by nature. They teach you how to do each exercise step by step, in the comfort of your own living room. Andrea demonstrates how to do the exercises correctly, focusing on posture & positioning. The details in my instructions are meant to ensure an effective workout while concentrating on injury prevention.

Along with the instructional videos, there are practice routines, which allow you put all the moves you learned together into a short yet effective home workout routine.

The Autoimmune Strong fitness program is designed for you to watch each instructional video, learn the exercises, then practice the workout routines. Once you feel comfortable with the exercises from that video, you can move on to the next video. Each video is designed to build upon the previous one- there is a specific plan and progression to the exercise programming. And the videos are always accessible through the member portal- you can watch the instructional videos as often as you like in order to practice the individual exercises.

The Autoimmune Strong calendar is there for extra support, to give you an idea of recommended pacing, as well as providing instructions on which videos to do when.

This is up to you. Practice as often as you feel you need to in order to do the movements properly. Speeding through the videos is not encouraged- especially in the beginning- because it is essential that you give your body time to adapt to the movements & postural adjustments.

However, going slowly is encouraged- so, if you feel you need to progress at a slower pace, that is totally fine, and please feel free to do so. Some people may need to take two to three weeks with the exercises from one video before moving on to the next.

You do not need to belong to a gym- Autoimmune Strong was designed to be done in the comfort of your own home. I do the exercises in my living room! In fact, the videos are designed so that you can do the exercises anywhere- in your home, in a hotel room, or even at a gym. For most of the movements, you only need a space big enough for a yoga mat.

Unfortunately the videos are not downloadable, these videos are streaming only. But you can stream for free in any location with wifi, and the videos are accessible from any device- phone, laptop, tablet and TV's with internet access.

Most of the exercises are body weight only, which means that they do not require equipment. However, some equipment is helpful, particularly some sort of SMR device like a foam roller or a p-knot (these equipment options are discussed in the Basic Foundation Video about muscles, and links to purchase them are included in the member portal). A small set of dumbbells might also be useful. After becoming a member, you will have access to information about my favorite home equipment items.

Members get access to the complete package- all the instructional videos, corresponding practice videos, and e-books. In addition, members get access to the closed Autoimmune Strong Facebook Group, and they are entitled to a free call with me! To learn more about membership benefits click here.

You go to the login page, enter your email address and secure password, and you will be given access to the Autoimmune Strong member portal. In that portal, you will have access to all of the videos, all of the guides, and other fun tidbits to come soon.

Yes! I am constantly researching, working with my clients on new techniques, and so I am always going to be sharing it with you! If you follow the blog, you will get new content every week, and I provide new content on facebook and instagram daily! And there is always new Autoimmune Strong content being worked on, and more information will slowly trickle out in the form of e-books and new videos- for no additional fee.

Autoimmune Strong is offering a 7 day free trial. So, you can use the free trial time to explore the website, watch a few of the videos, and see if this program is a good fit for you and your lifestyle. After the 7 days is up, the monthly membership is $24.99, and if you choose an annual membership it is $219.

To access the free trial, enter your name, email, and credit card information. Your credit card will NOT be charged until the 7 days are over. To cancel, just email info@getautoimmunestrong.com requesting a cancel, and it will happen immediately. If you decide that you love the program and want to continue, your credit card will be charged and you will roll into full membership.

Your monthly membership starts the day you join and renews each month on the same day. It will automatically renew each month unless you cancel in advance.

From time to time, Autoimmune Strong will offer a discount coupon code. If you have one of these, either from Autoimmune Strong directly or from one of our partners, you can enter it on the same page where you enter your credit card information. The coupon code button is located at the bottom of that popup- so enter your code before you hit the "Start Your Free Trial" button. Click Here to Watch a Video How-To

Yes! It's a great idea to give the gift of good health to your loved ones. To learn more about how the gift certificates work, click here.

To cancel your free trial, please email us at info@getautoimmunestrong.com anytime within the 7 day period and we will immediately cancel per your request, and your credit card will not be charged.

To cancel your paid membership subscription, please email us at info@getautoimmunestrong.com. There is no refund policy. You can cancel at any time, and your membership will not be automatically renewed in the next month.

One person or household membership, please.

There are many opportunities to ask questions, share comments and discuss your Autoimmune Strong experiences. You can do this through a) the Autoimmune Strong private Facebook community b) in your free call with me or c) you can schedule additional personalized coaching with me through my one-on-one practice.

Yes! Our coaches offer private consultations for both food and fitness. Check out details and pricing at https://www.getautoimmunestrong.com/book-a-1-on-1-coaching-session

You can follow Autoimmune Strong on Facebook and Instagram using the links below: