Why We Choose to be Sick

I was reflecting this morning on what I have learned over the decades with regard to health and healing.

Healing can come in miracle quickness, or miracle passage of time. Either way, healing is a gift freely given. So why doesn't healing come immediately through either medicine or prayer? The infinite question of mankind: why do people have to suffer?

Ponder three possibilities: 1) We choose to suffer, 2) Our suffering is as a result of the actions of another human being, or force of nature, 3) We are born with ailments with no explanation. To know which category your suffering falls under requires self reflection, honesty, and in the case of the first possibility, personal accountability.

For the moment, I'm only going to address the first possibility: We choose to suffer. Why would anyone choose to suffer, you might ask?

Original Circumstances

Unfortunately, when we are born, we are born into a set of circumstances we don't choose (or did we - but that is a subject for latter consideration). We are surrounded by adults who have the responsibility of raising us based on what they have learned and experienced in the process of becoming adults, based on what they believe, and based on what they choose for themselves that ultimately affects us.

Until we are the age of majority and can live independently, which ranges from 16 to 21 years depending on how ready you are to leave the nest, we are programmed by our circumstances and upbringing.

Now you are thinking, "This really is possibility number 2:  Our suffering is as a result of the actions of another human being ..." Yes, and no. Because when we leave the nest, we are ultimately responsible for ourselves. All that we experience as children either follows us for the better or the worse.

For example, if you were raised eating vegetables, you will most likely eat vegetables when you grow up - unless ... you were forced to eat vegetables - that you didn't like - and then you CHOOSE to NEVER eat vegetables again for as long as you live.

In this example, the way that the choice was presented to you impacts your future choices - AS LONG AS YOU LET IT. YOU made a decision at some point to NEVER do something again based on another person's presentation of the choice, but it was still YOU that made the decision. So you can remain entangled in an emotion that occurred possibly decades ago, or you can release the emotion to make a healthy choice. And this is why I say "We choose to suffer."

An Extreme Example

An extreme yet valid example is that of a young person whose life is so controlled by a parent that the only way that they know how to retaliate or take control back is to become anorexic - controlling his/her eating to a detrimental degree. It may be the only control he or she has over the parent, as well. It may be used as an emotional weapon to conquer the parent's attempt at being a dictator. However, the result is devastating on the young person.

So what happens when this young person grows up? As long as that person regards the parent as a controlling factor to be conquered, he/she may continue the cycle of anorexia. What happens if they choose to disregard the parent as a controlling factor, regarding themselves as the ultimate person in control of their life? That is being honest, conducting self reflection, and becoming accountable for their actions.

One must separate oneself from the controlling factor that is used as an EXCUSE not to do what is best FOR ONESELF, or one is in the position of CHOOSING TO SUFFER.

The Process of Change

Is this an easy process? No, of course not. Stubborn pride can prevent us from changing. Fear of FEELING controlled or out of control can also prevent us from changing. Few other things except Pride or Fear interfere with our choices to be healthier individuals.

If you truly self-reflect, the root of your un-health, in a situation where it is you who is choosing to suffer, is either based on Pride or Fear. Pride: you are unwilling to admit your choices are your choices. Fear: you are afraid of losing control. Change means feeling out of control for a period of time until a new habit is formed. Once a new and better habit is formed, the feeling of being out of control will go away because you are now in control of the new habit. You have successfully created, by your own choice, a new habit that benefits you.

What happens when the emotional injury is deep? It takes longer to recover, but recovery is possible if you CHOOSE - if you have the capacity to choose. Most people have the capacity to choose.

Where do you start? You start with changing how you think about yourself and your circumstances. Regard yourself as an intelligent human being who may make good choices for oneself because you CHOOSE to respect yourself. If you don't believe yourself to be that person, if you have low self esteem, low self worth, then you have the challenge of finding your worth first. For that I recommend you read my other blog: Love Your Neighbor As Yourself.

**Although the example of anorexia was used, the author understands that there are many reasons a person may become anorexic. Relationships with parents is only one. This is not intended to be a diagnosis, or statement of absolute fact. It is merely an example based on research and personal experience with those who have suffered from anorexia for the reason cited.

Love the Sauna

You can eat healthy all day long all year long. But if you don't take time to exercise and relax, you are missing the benefits of a healthy eating regimen.

How often have you gone to bed restless? Ever heard of restless leg syndrome? Sometimes I have so much good nutrition in me, my body is literally jumping up and down saying - "Go EXERCISE!!" All that nutrition would go to waste if I didn't get outside for a walk or a run, or to the gym for a great class or work on the treadmill, or into the pool for a swim.

But we can exercise and exercise and exercise and forget that our body and brain sometimes just needs some peace and quiet. Have you tried your gym's sauna yet? OOOoooohhhh, the benefits of the sauna!!

The Benefits of the Sauna

We live such busy lives with our immediate technology that keeps our brain a buzz. If you want to maximize your world, then step into the sauna for a breather.

Typically, you spend no more than 15 minutes at a time. What does it do?

1) It allows you to be quiet for a moment - unless, of course, you are accompanied by some chatty people. Typically, its quiet. The quiet is a great stress reliever, and the heat in the relaxing environment increases endorphin production - the happy hormone.
2) The deep heat penetrates muscle to bone increasing your circulation. It is great before a work out to thoroughly warm-up your muscles and prevent injury. It's great after a work out to increase the circulation and decrease lactose build up in the muscles that cause that stiff soreness from a hard work out.
3) The heat from the sauna has been shown to increase the production of white blood cells, boosting your immune system and fighting disease.
4) The heat induces the sweat that flushes the toxins out of your body also helping to fight illness.
5) By inducing the sweat and flushing toxins, your skin as an elimination organ is free to regenerate healthier cells making it smoother and younger looking.
6) Just as with exercise on a hot day, the heat of the sauna causes your heart rate to increase in an attempt to cool you down - just as sweating is the body's attempt to cool you down. The affect is improved cardiovascular function. If you follow the sauna with a cool shower or jump in the pool, you further stimulate the heart. Your heart muscles get exercise in a relaxed environment. It is an easy comfortable way to increase your cardio - especially if you are recovering from an injury and can't be doing what you usually do.

Where do I find a Local Sauna?

I actually have used a sauna in several different places. Right now I belong to a gym that has a sauna in the ladies dressing room. The men have one too so that they are separate for people who prefer the sauna in skimpy or no attire. I have also seen a coed sauna in the local YMCA. My previous chiropractor had a sauna in his office with a tech that would do herbal wraps, which are a dream!! You can either have a professional wrap you, or buy the kits to take with you into a public sauna like the one at the gym. High end salons typically have saunas and will also do the herbal wraps.

There are also companies that will bring the sauna to you. You can have a sauna installed in your home if you truly want a private quiet moment.

Do Your Research

As with anything, do your research, and if you have a special medical condition to take into consideration, check with your doctor first. Accountability leads to responsibility and good health. But what ever you do, DO NOT IGNORE THE BENEFITS OF THE SAUNA. You will be so happy you have discovered this gem, if you have not discovered it already!!

Emotional Healing

It has been my experience that some people I've met who have some sort of debilitating illness have a source for that if it occurred during adulthood. Most illnesses can find their roots in a traumatic experience, which may have resulted in any number of negative emotions: fear, hate, anger, resentment, abandonment, unforgiveness, anxiety, self hatred, vengefullness, sarcasm, etc... the list is lengthy. These emotions held inside without resolution may - and usually do - cause a physical symptom to occur.

Louise L. Hay in her book You Can Heal Your Life, and Karol K. Truman in her book Feelings Buried Alive Never Die both address this phenomena. After I was diagnosed with the dermatomyocitis, I had to take a huge look at the source. Both of these books were recommended by a Naturopath that was assisting me in finding the source for my dis-ease, as Louise Hay likes to put it.

Heartbreak Hurts

If a person who is generally healthy, eats right, exercises, has a positive attitude, and all of a sudden becomes ill - something happened. In my case it was stress and heartbreak. I can honestly look at my life and my symptoms and know that the two are linked. Nothing else happened prior to my getting sick, no change in my diet or routine, just an abrupt nonsensical end to a relationship that I cherished.

When that happened, I had to re-think everything that I had done to lead to that moment in my life. What had I done? How had my choices gotten me to that place? and How was I going to keep from repeating that tragedy in my life.

Since then I have recognized a pattern of unhealthy relationships that took me down this road - each one similar to the other in some way.

Be responsible with your decisions

We are ultimately responsible for our decisions. We can either repeat patterns of behavior, or recognize them, change OUR mind, and make different decisions. I chose to change my mind.

With the help of the two books mentioned above, a prayer life, journaling, and time out of a relationship and choosing to be single while I heal, my body has been recovering. None of the healthy tactics I had used previously worked. I was healthy when I got sick. This was clearly an illness resulting from dis-ease in my psyche.

Why am I telling you this? Because sometimes you have to take a look at this emotional part of your life to determine why you are ill. You have to be willing to look inside, reflect, and be real about your emotions. Emotions are an important part of who we are as people; however, emotions are either helpful or detrimental to our well-being.

Making relational changes

I recently had to sever a relationship with someone whom I love dearly because their constant dwelling on the past, holding grudges, unwillingness to forgive, and negativity created an insurmountable barrier to peace between us. It was a source of constant negative emotions hurled in my direction that was keeping me from healing completely and functioning normally.

Madea said it best

Madea said it best when she said: "Some people are meant to come into your life for a lifetime, some for only a season and you got to know which is which. And you're always messing up when you mix those seasonal people up with lifetime expectations.

I put everybody that comes into my life in the category of a tree. Some people are like leaves on a tree. When the wind blows, they're over there... wind blow that way they over here... they're unstable. When the seasons change they wither and die, they're gone. That's alright. Most people are like that, they're not there to do anything but take from the tree and give shade every now and then. That's all they can do. But don't get mad at people like that, that's who they are. That's all they were put on this earth to be. A leaf.

Some people are like a branch on that tree. You have to be careful with those branches too, cause they'll fool you. They'll make you think they're a good friend and they're real strong but the minute you step out there on them, they'll break and leave you high and dry.

But if you find 2 or 3 people in your life that's like the roots at the bottom of that tree you are blessed. Those are the kind of people that aren't going nowhere. They aren't worried about being seen, nobody has to know that they know you, they don't have to know what they're doing for you but if those roots weren't there, that tree couldn't live.

A tree could have a hundred million branches but it only takes a few roots down at the bottom to make sure that tree gets everything it needs. When you get some roots, hold on to them but the rest of it... just let it go. Let folks go."

What type of person are you?

If you are the person that is ill, you need to decide what type of person YOU are to yourself and to the people around you. Are you a constant source of negativity that drives people away? Are you always sick? Are you trying to heal but don't want to let go of the personal injuries you choose to own?

Or are you ill because of the choices you make? The people you continue to associate with that bring you down?  Are you comfortable in your dis-ease? Is that all you've ever known? and wouldn't know what to do if you were healthy? happy? or had a good relationship? Do you believe you are unworthy of happiness or a good relationship?

If any of those questions make you angry, then the answer is probably yes and you are dealing with an illness tied to your emotions.

In this case, the choice is completely yours. There is no doctor or therapist on the planet that can help you until you decide to help yourself and let go of your present circumstances and way of thinking - or nothing will ever change.

Do you want to change your life?

If you do want to make a change, I recommend the books above, and my other blog spot for starters:
matthew2239.blogspot.com titled "Love Your Neighbor as Yourself - You First."

There was absolutely nothing that I could do in the way of healthy eating or medicine that helped me heal through the dermatomyocitis. The meds kept me from getting worse and eliminated the symptoms to some degree. However, the symptoms were consistent with my emotional state, and I had to work through healing those emotions.

I am off meds and on the mend. I feel better, and I am getting smarter with the emotional choices that I make and the company I choose to keep. Remember: I choose. I took responsibility for my state of being. I made the choice to change. I cannot pass the blame onto my circumstances, or the people involved in my life at the time all this occurred. And neither can you. You must choose your change. You cannot blame anyone including yourself.

It's a New Year

This is a New Year with new possibilities. It is the perfect time to look to the future and decide what that will look like for you. I wish you all the best and blessings for a happy and prosperous healthy you future.

2012 Update - Dermatomyocitis

So what is this "itis?" It's a cousin to Lupus and not very well understood. Very little research has been done on it, so little is known about what triggers it to start or what causes it to stop. There is therefore no known cure. What does it do? It is an autoimmune disorder that attacks the body’s skin and muscles, and I was diagnosed with it in March of 2010.

Symptoms

I had this crazy rash thing on my neck and chest that itched, a patch on each hip and my cuticles were red with blood spots on them, so I finally went to a dermatologist. I walked into my first visit and my doctor looked at me and said, "You have dermatomyositis." She looked at all my rashes and indicated that I had all the classic symptoms including the papules that were forming on my knuckles on my right hand. Then to my surprise, she also stated that it was associated with cancer in 40-60% of all cases, so that meant a thorough cancer screening for me.

Coping

So how does Miss Healthy cope with all of a sudden being diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disorder? She reflects, studies and takes medication for the first time in her life. Yes, I was put on prednisone to stop the symptoms from getting worse. And yes, I tried everything I knew to eliminate the symptoms. My last post in January of 2010, I was dealing with the symptoms - which I did not understand. The rash on the back of my neck and chest was like a sunburn that never went away. It bubbled up, and stayed bubbled up. I was eating healthy, on antioxidants - maybe too many. I may never know.

Tocopherols

What I do know is that I was under an extreme amount of stress. I kept hearing in my inner mind that the problem had to do with tocopherols. I actually did not know what those were at the time and had to research. Tocopherols are a form of Vitamin E. As it turns out, most of what I was taking as my healthy supplements had excessive Vitamin E or tocopherols, a vitamin which you SHOULD NOT take too much of. I may have over done it, yes, I may have over done it. Booooo. Remember the old saying, "Everything in moderation..."  Well, even healthy apparently can be toooo healthy.

Medication

Dermatomyositis is unpredictable. The medication regimen is to start with high dosages of prednisone and gradually reduce it to a place that was manageable. I have spent the last 2 1/2 years going up and down on prednisone levels trying to find what works, or make it last if I was between doctor visits and without insurance. I was also on Plaquenil, often used to treat malaria or Lupus. The side effects are a loss of color vision after about 10 years. That literally made me cry. I would rather go to the dentist than to go to the ophthalmologist with that knowledge. After my last dose of that, when my skin seemed to be under control, I didn't get a refill.

Side Effects

Prednisone is actually produced in small amounts by the body, so I decided to regulate with that. (Who is the doctor? lol) I was also supposed to take high dosages of calcium and Vitamin D. Prednisone reduces calcium in the body and can lead to osteoporosis. I did take both of those supplements. The problem I kept encountering was upset stomach, indigestion, diarrhea - all of which I was told I might have. However, I didn't want more medications to alleviate those problems too. So every now and then, I would just stop taking everything when my stomach was a mess. I encountered what is known as the prednisone "crash." Prednisone, as a steroid, replaces your adrenaline. When your adrenaline is reduced, and you have no prednisone to keep you working, you "crash" or run out of energy. I would literally end up sleeping on and off for days. Or, I would hype myself up on caffeine and sugar until my body regulated.

Weight Gain

The other side effect of prednisone is weight gain. I was told this is normal, but if you get off the prednisone, then the weight comes of pretty quickly. Well, not yet it hasn't. I actually tried to use the prednisone to my advantage. Because my dosages were so high at various times, and I was so full of energy, I went to the gym. My body type generally bulks up any time I work out, and with the prednisone, I bulked out A LOT. So, I am not anticipating the typical weight loss. I was always self conscious as a kid about my body - who isn’t? And bulking out was not very feminine, so I avoided it by running and not weight lifting, etc... Not an issue for me anymore. I have learned to be comfortable with my body type and know that my health is more important than my pant size.

What am I doing now?

What am I doing now? I’m out of medication, I have no insurance – like many Americans, but my condition is relatively stable. I don’t have the horrible rash and itching – it’s slight right now. However, my feet and legs are stiff and sore after every work out – more than they used to be – and my metabolism is sluggish. I have symptoms of somebody not on a healthy diet and full of candida, which is a typical side effect of long term use of steroids like prednisone: fatigue, weight gain, muscle and joint soreness.

Balance my pH

My biggest concern is my joints. I am doing a 7-21 day detox to try to eliminate toxins that would cause joint soreness. My studies have shown me that arthritis and arthritis like symptoms are  indicative of an acidic pH, which leaches calcium out of bones and can cause osteoporosis. An acidic pH can be caused by too much acidic food like canned or bottled fruit juices, or too little basic foods like green vegetables. For me, I am reducing my intake of fruits and fruit juices – except for green apples I am juicing to help my gall bladder – and increasing my green veggies by juicing and making vegetable soups. I have also eliminated dairy and wheat for this period of time because they tend to cause the most issues and inhibit a good detox. This is not a pure detox because I am not eliminating solid foods entirely, eggs for protein, or fish. I believe my body is still a little too sensitive to go cold turkey to a full detox, and I do not want to inflame the dermatomyositis and start over.

Reduce Stress

The difference for me is that my stress levels are greatly reduced right now. I believe that stress played a huge role in this illness. I have times in my life where I have been under tremendous stress, but nothing compared to this. Studies have shown that stress is one of the major causes of severe illness. I certainly am a believer!! The other thing I do to relieve stress is go to the gym. My gym has a sauna, whirl pool, and swimming pool. My after work routine for a while was to go to the gym and cross train: swim, bike and run. Sitting in the sauna helps to relax, heal, and detox the body, and the whirl pool helps relieve muscle soreness after a good workout. I also have an excellent massage therapist who helps keep my stress levels in check.

Know my self

The most important thing for me during this period has been to spend time focusing on myself mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. A healthy person reflects on life as they live it, is flexible and changes as needed sometimes to adapt to a change in environment. As we get to know ourselves a little better, sometimes we just change because it is better for us – an improvement. Our core values may stay the same, but our perspective may change based on new knowledge or experience. My core values are the same, but my perspective and how I think about things has definitely changed. Perhaps that is why my stress levels are lower, my health is improving, and I am finally able to write again.

2010!! Update...

It is January 6, 2K10!! And I want you to know the pounds are still off, have dropped more towards my goal, and survived another holiday without putting the pounds back on!!! This is all to encourage you in the fact that what I practice on myself really does work!! If it works for me, it will work for you!!

It is a brand new year and you are ready to reach your NEW YEARS Goals!! This really is going to be a great year for milestones. Why not take your health and body back and feel and look your best regardless of how old you are.

I'm not changing anything to the below, not going to re-write it. I am adding the suggestion of a sea salt flush for people who want to dramatically jump start their New Year's detox and cleansing.

Sea Salt Flush

If you want to jump start the colon cleanse and really eliminate quickly, I suggest a sea salt colon cleanse. This is particularly important if you have a distended abdomen which is hard to the touch. That means you have compacted food that is having a really hard time moving. And if this is the case, I would be willing to bet that water is your LEAST favorite beverage. I hate to say, but some how, some way, you are going to have to get that water into your system. You need the salt water flush, but you really need the water afterward because your body is gonna go: "Wow, we have space to clear all this stuff out!! But, OMG, it is like cement in here!! Where is the river for the logs to float out!!" Seriously, that is what it is like... moving logs across rough cement. The water lifts, coats and floats!! So the salt water flush clears the initial space out and makes room for the rest of the junk stuck to the walls of your colon to actually start getting loose from the colon, but it is gonna need some help... and no, there are really not any good substitutes. However, I do not object to you adding a little flavor to your water in moderation. Power Ade packets are good because they add electrolytes to your body. Please, please, please avoid artificial sweeteners, or any kind of sweet beverage additives... sugar and sweets only deplete your system of the valuable nutrients it needs to metabolize all you eat. Lemon is also a great detox element for your water.

So how do you do a salt water flush? Sea salt is different from regular salt because it doesn't have the iodine added to it. You find it in a local health food store labeled "Sea Salt" ... Mix one tablespoon of that with 10 ounces of warm DISTILLED water. Distilled water can be bought at the grocery store with all the gallons of water in the beverage isle. Make sure it is distilled though. Distilled water pulls toxins out of your body, which is what your colon needs.

Again:

1 Tablespoon Sea Salt
10 ounces of warm distilled water

oh yeah!! What do you do with it? Drink up!! If you can... if not, it's not for you and you need to do the herbal cleanse.

Spring Cleaning

Well, it is THAT time of year again. We are half way to our goals for summer swimsuit bodies, at least in time frame.

Actually, what is more important than the swimsuit body on the outside, is the swimsuit body on the inside.

Time to Detox!!

Last year, it took a 40 day detox to jump start my metabolism back to functioning normally. What does that mean?

It means that when you are trying to do everything "right" with regards to eating healthy and exercising, and your body still does not shed pounds, something is clogged and not functioning right. That was my case. Eating a balanced diet, predominated by fruit and vegetables, balance of proteins from multiple sources, no sugar or caffeine or refined processed foods, and exercise 3-5 times a week any where from 20 minutes to 3 hours...and still no results...except a little toning... I had to ask myself what was wrong.

Gallbladder Flush - this is last, but was an excellent reason to get started

How did I figure it out? A combination of things lead me to the conclusion that I needed a detox. No results when doing the above was the first and obvious. Second, I took an Ionic Foot bath at my chiropractor's office, mostly out of curiosity to see what it my detail about my toxicity. When the results showed gall bladder issues, it clicked! If my gallbladder was clogged, then bile was not getting to my digestive organs, which is why my metabolism was slowed down and I was not digesting anything properly - no matter how healthy.

That meant I needed a gallbladder flush - not to have my gallbladder removed - which is common for people my age that seem to be having digestive troubles. I like my parts.

Before you can do a gallbladder flush, you need to detox your colon first. And yes, I am familiar with the controversy of a gallbladder flush - questions as to whether or not it works, do you really pass stones, etc... If you research a great deal on the web, you will get everyone's opinion.

So, rather than give just an opinion, I will share my experience and let you form your own opinion.

A gallbladder flush is the last part of a detox. The first thing in any detox is to clean your colon. After all, if you are going to detox, you have to have a place for the waste to go and your colon is waste central to your body.

CLEAN YOUR COLON FIRST!!!

There are several ways to effectively clean your colon. Most every herb shop (qualified as most because I have not shopped in all - but all should have) should have a colon cleanse product of some sort. You want to find one that not only cleanses you, but also replaces the happy bacteria that actually help your colon function - Acidophilus. The other tidbit I learned along the way is to use a colon cleanser that has bentonite clay - volcanic ash. Apparently, the surface area on the clay is greater than any other "clay" or inorganic substance and still retains the purifying properties we love in things like clay facial masks. It pulls the toxins out of your colon - the real little stuff that a colon cleanser might leave behind.

Other alternatives include a natural salt flush, colonics, or enemas... all of which are effective depending on your particular situation.

The Master Cleanse Diet - for detoxing

The salt flush is a natural colonic, sometimes considered more gentle, but literally hard to swallow. It can be found in the book The Master Cleanse and is part of that program. I have tried The Master Cleanse but have a seriously hard time functioning in my normal daily routine with only the lemon juice tonic. The most valuable thing I derived from its prescription is the salt water flush for a quick cleanse. However, be prepared to be at home, and be prepared to do it more than once if you have a particularly large midsection.

If your belly looks like John Wayne's before he died, you are probably compacted with 5 years of undigested food matter, and it WILL take more than one dose of a salt water flush, colonic, herbal flush, or anything else. Be dedicated to losing that belly!! You cannot exercise it away if it is a hard mass!!! I once had a well meaning friend tell me that the belly hanging over his pants - so far that he couldn't see his toes - was actually muscle. Guys, quit fooling your self!! That is not muscle!! That is a compacted gut that is going to land you in the hospital with a disease if you don't do something!! Good grief!! Ladies, that goes for you too! However, we tend to carry more soft tissue FAT around our bellies...but I am digressing.

The point is, YOU MUST CLEAN YOUR GUT other wise known as your colon at the beginning of your detox. There are a ton of options out there for doing that. Research and find what is best for you.

Liquid Diet at Least 3 days

One more tip for detoxing...A liquid diet for a period of at least 3 days is the best way to start. When you are trying to get rid of excess undigested food in your gut, adding more solid food to it is not the solution even if you are using a colon cleanser. You body needs a break.

We are lucky now that there are so many pre-made whole food juices in the produce section of our grocery stores now. I use Odwalla, Boathouse, and Sunkist to juice fast when I do not have time to do my own juicing. DO NOT USE CANNED, BOTTLED, OR FROZEN JUICES TO JUICE FAST. These are full of sugar and lack the nutrients you need to detox. Doing your own juicing is your first best option. Cheat if you have to by using the above brands or others in your area. Just make sure that what you are using has a variety of fruits or vegetables, and no preservatives or additives. That defeats the purpose.

Doing the Detox Again

Yes, it has been a year. I detoxed last year and lost 30 pounds. I let myself cheat over the holidays and enjoy the good food - just a little too much. My metabolism started slowing down again, and dropping those pounds (I gained back 10) started getting harder. So I did what I do best, and have started my Spring Cleaning. A Juice Fast for a least three days, colon cleanse, and cut out some of the junk I know I let slip back into my routine. I dropped a quick 7 pounds in just a week - mostly undigested food and excess water build up (which happens when your body does not metabolize properly). I feel better already, my clothes are back to normal, and I have a new goal. Last year I dropped the first 30. I still really want to shed another 10-20. I don't believe in being too skinny. Healthy and fit is what I am shooting for. So this year after getting off the extra 10 I gained over the holidays, I will go for detoxing the next 10-15.

By creating a plan of regular detox, which everyone needs, you can maintain a healthy diet but not be obsessive or radical about everything you eat. I know some who are obsessive and radical, and I was at one time. Realistically, unless you are fighting a major disease, we as Americans do not want to change our lifestyles enough to radically change our eating habits and lifestyles built around our eating habits. At some point, we will discuss how the Standard American Diet (SAD) may be killing you. But right now, focus on how to give yourself that first detox, or refresh your memory.

One good experience can lead to a life time of change. You will find that you get addicted to feeling better, healthier, staying out of the doctor's office and you want a more permanent eating lifestyle change. But if you are not there yet, at least start with a Spring Cleaning:)

Back to the Gall Bladder Flush

Is a 3 day juice fast enough to get you ready for a gall bladder flush. NO. If you have more serious digestive issues, a 3 day anything is not going to help and you have to be prepared to be more radical in your detox. That is why I did a 40 day detox last year starting in February (during Lent actually). That was 40 days of mostly juice, soup, and fresh fruit every now and then. My one cheat would be about half a bag of soy crisps, and that managed to quell my desire for solid food and flavor.

After 30 days, I did a 7 day liver cleanse, which is relatively easy, and then a 3 day gall bladder flush.

The Liver Cleanse I use is simply a carrot salad alongside my detox diet. Carrot salad is a cup of shredded carrots, one tablespoon of olive oil, and one tablespoon of lemon juice. Add raisins if you want a little extra flavor. Take this every day for seven days in a row. Don't skip a day or start over. This can be found in Juicing for Life by Cherie Calbom and Maureen Keane in the back under the Seneca Liver Cleanse Diet.

Then I did the gallbladder flush. First I took the herb Hydrangia for 30 days. Then I followed the gall bladder flush instructions in 21 Pounds in 21 Days: The Martha Vinyard Diet Detox by Roni DeLuz RN, and James Hester.

Results

As I said before, I lost 30 pounds in the next few months after my detox and kept it off until I started seriously cheating over the holidays. I could eat a normal healthy diet, and exercise and still lose weight without starving. My metabolism was functioning normally again and I didn't feel like everything I put in my mouth would end up on my hips.

I'm 30 pounds lighter and looking forward to this Lent season as having a Spring Cleaning, but this year it doesn't have to be as radical. As soon as I started noticing the slow down, I realized it was Spring and time for a cleanse. I am starting with a 7 day cleanse by using the colon cleanser, and a liquid juice diet. Sometimes your body just needs a break, and missing solid food for a week is not going to kill you!! Actually, it is going to keep you alive and well just a little longer than if you skip it.

My insides are ready for summer and all that fresh fruit that is just waiting to be eaten, and my outsides are almost ready for the new swimsuit!! (That is an ongoing process at the gym!)

I'll be looking for you at the pool - but let me hear from you here. What are you doing? How is it going? And can I give you any more tips to start this process. Good Health - rather than Good Luck because some things you have to do on purpose:)

Good Eating Habits or Doctor Bills

Fresh Fruits and vegetables can be quite expensive, especially out of season. But doctor bills are expensive every day. Do you find yourself running to the doctor on a regular basis for colds, congestion, flu symptoms, sinusitis, etc.... Have you ever thought about how what you eat might be contributing to your poor health? I'm not talking about good eating habits just to stay thin and trim. I'm talking about good eating habits to stay out of the doctors office.

The old saying, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away," has tremendous merit.

This is what I have learned from monitoring my own body. When I have a high intake on a regular basis of fresh fruits and vegetables, not cooked, not frozen, not canned, or even from home canning - but FRESH like off the tree or out of the ground (from the grocery store silly), I feel better, have more energy, look better, and do not get sick.

If I go days without fresh stuff, or have too many sweets or other things - too much cooked food or high calorie, low nutrition food - (because I am NOT a purist at all - been there burned the T-shirt), I start feeling lousy and realize I have to increase the fresh stuff, get rid of the crud still sitting in my body - cause it takes a few days to get rid of the not so good foods - so I can feel better. IT WORKS EVERY TIME!!!

This is my day in day out practice. Eat a balanced diet by eating several times a day and only when I am hungry. Stick to as much fresh fruit and vegetables as possible, and keep everything else very simple. The more simple your food, the easier it is to digest. Keeping things easy to digest is the key. YOUR DIGESTION IS THE KEY TO KEEPING THE INSIDE OF YOU HEALTHY - but that is another blog. Keeping things simple is also easier on MOM or DAD - whoever does the food prep at home.

Juicing for me is simply a way to maintain optimal health. For instance, my doctor doesn't know who I am or even have records on me any more. The last time I went to the family practice was because I had gotten a severe case of food poisoning and was dehydrating. They hadn't seen me in eight years - since I was in with my son for a check up after he was born. They hadn't seen me in so long, they didn't have my records. They didn't even start a new file. They gave me a shot, sent me home and never even billed me. That was in 2000. Other than a female physical about every two years, which so far has been good, I don't go.

What do I do? Well, I pay attention to how I feel. If I have too many sweets too many days in a row (I do have a terrible sweet tooth!), my first symptoms are congestion. As soon as I start feeling congested, I cut out the sweets and dairy (also causes mucous and congestion), juice if I can with fresh fruits and vegetables, or increase my intake of fruits and vegetables, drink lots of water, and take an herbal fiber cleanse (more on that later). Within a day or two, I am back to normal: no congestion, no cold, no antibiotics, no bills. I would rather spend my money on lots of fresh fruits and vegetables rather than on doctor bills anyway.

What about when I feel sick to my stomach? Again, I can usually tie it back to something that I ate that my body does not particularly appreciate.

What about when I am exposed to people who are sick? Generally speaking, because of my health, my immune system is healthy and I do not tend to get sick from others very easily. I take care of my body on a regular basis; it takes care not to get sick when the epidemics come through. Believe me; they come through the school system on a regular basis. My fellow teachers are out on a regular basis when this happens. I haven't been out sick because of this stuff since my first or second year of teaching - when my stress levels were excessive, and I was in graduate school living on "find what you can on the way to class after work"...NOT GOOD!! NOT GOOD!!

If that is where you are, you have to make up your mind to start making changes even if they are little ones - especially if you feel like your doctor gets more of your money than you do. I do appreciate doctors and believe they are needed - in an emergency. I don't think we need to run to them every time we get the sniffles - especially if it can be helped by changing our diets. Like I said, it has worked for me and my family. We don't pay the doctor, and I don't pay excessive rates for insurance either. Think about it....