In the last few weeks while I have been dealing with the worst GP flare I've ever had, I've been forced to reconcile my differences with my dysmotility. And I discovered that there are some positive attributes.
As a bodybuilder, I have to maintain an extremely strict diet and can never eat anything 'fun' ie. anything with any measurable source of glucose or fat. The diet, and not the workouts, are what makes or breaks a bodybuilder. Especially in our society which is so heavily focused on food, many people can't live a life devoid of cheesecake, brownies, pizza, and beer.
Luckily, I don't have to flex my willpower as often as my biceps. In the past I loved all kinds of junk. No discrimination: from buttercream frosting to french fries, I was an equal-opportunity compulsive eater. Now I have no choice: I can just barely stomach what I need to in order to compete. The very idea of consuming those goodies, makes my stomach well up in revolt. As I'm flaring, there is no such thing as a craving, other than that to feel better again.
Furthermore, because both my stomach and duodenum are both slow, what I am able to eat is 'superabsorbed' according to my GI. This has proved key in building muscle, which is difficult for a woman to do given the lack of testosterone. (Since I am a natural bodybuilder, adding outside sources of the hormone are absolutely out of the question!) I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think gastroparesis has thus far been the key to my success in my sport.
of course, I know it might eventually be its demise as well. Each flare gets slightly worse than the previous one, and being a realist, I do know that I might be forced into 'retirement' when I can't take the high amounts of protein needed on a daily basis. But until then, I will do what I can. if doing what I love requires a bit of nausea and pain, so be it. (for now!) Doing what I love to do is worth the sacrifice. And when I can no longer do it, I'll find something else that I can.