A NEW LIFE!

It's been quite a while since I sat down and posted anything but a few lines here and there on Twitter and Facebook. The time has come to go over the events of May-December 2013, 7 momentous months of change that have turned my life around.

It began a few years ago, when I was noticing so many things spiralling out of control for me. My career was over at age 56, I was adrift not knowing what to do with my life. My health had deteriorated and was presenting more and more problems, I was taking prescribed drugs for many symptoms which seemed to be getting worse and worse.

I had acid relux, multiple allergies, chronic bronchitis and sinus infections, horrible back pain as a result of arthritis and 3 herniated lumbar discs (I actually injured them in 1987 while working and they had bothered me from time to time ever since, though not frequently or severely) was short of breath, obese, lethargic, depressed, had terrible insomnia, migraine headaches, elimination issues, constantly swollen feet and hands, mood swings, difficultly walking more than a few blocks, unable to bend or twist my body. A car accident in 1997 dislocated and broke my hip, damaged my right knee and exacerbated my back problems. It seemed to have destroyed my stamina and energy, and I had chronic pain.

Not to mention the figure I used to be proud of was now bloated and bulky, and I was hitting the scales at close to 200 pounds (I'm 5'3") actually 196. I looked and felt old. At 56 I was feeling like my life was over and I began wishing that it really was.


A personal crisis concerning my daughter brought it all to a head. I was not healthy before it, but the added stress of hurt, anger, self realization and regret, and helplessness to solve the issues increased my symptoms and added some new and scary ones to the mix. I started having attacks that froze me in my tracks, with pain and immobilization in my chest, and difficulty breathing.

For a while I did nothing. I just stayed home, watched TV and ate all day, cooked comfort food meals and hibernated, getting worse and worse. My back problems got so bad that I was bedridden weeks at a time and did not even get dressed, living in nightgowns and robes.

My husband begged me to see a doctor and take some tests, and he bought health insurance so I could go ahead and do just that. So I made some appointments. I was skeptical that the medical system would actually help me, since the previous complaints I'd made always met with disinterest and a quick prescription.

Just about this time, and it was mid-May 2013, I was watching the Dr. Oz show on TV, and a Dr. Alejandro Junger (cardiologist) came on promoting his best-selling book "CLEAN"...I watched and listened with great interest as he described the amazing breakthroughs his patients had made when they followed his 21-day detox program and then his Elimination diet. The symptoms these people had sounded just like me. I listened carefully and before the show ended I had gone to Amazon.com and ordered a hard copy of the book. Figuring it couldn't hurt to read the book and see if the program was something I could do, I awaited the mail and in a few days I had the book and began to read.

Before I was finished reading I knew I could do it! I began to order some of the rarer components online, and threw out much of the bad stuff in my cabinets. I kept reading, read a few other books of a similar nature, and the last week of May I began my Clean Detox. No sugar of any kind, no wheat, corn, soy, beef, pork, dairy, tomatoes, bananas, peanuts, nightshade veggies, alcohol, potatoes, nothing canned (except some coconut milk) or processed at all. Two liquid meals a day with supplements. A blended fruit/veggie shake with protein powder, chia seeds, coconut oil, etc every morning. A homemade blended soup every evening about 6-7PM. Midday meal between 12-3PM of salad, greens, veggies, fish, chicken, lamb, or bison. Only a few grains allowed like Quinoa.

The first few days were bad...low energy, fogginess, malaise and lots of aches and pains. I got through them and resolved to give this a true, fair shot....by the end of the first week something amazing happened.

I felt great! My energy started returning, my pain diminshed somewhat, my head felt clear and I began to become optimistic. I made appointments for chiropractic sessions, massages, and other Wellness services. As I went through the chiro routine my back started improving. Soon I wanted to exercise, so I learned of a new place that had just opened in April near my house, Pilates Bodies By Patty Witt, and I signed up for 10 classes.

My doctor appointments were now here, so off I went. The GP doctor found my blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar to be quite high, and wanted to give me pills. I told him about my Detox and what I was doing and he was negative, saying it sounded like it would be very unhealthy. I refused the prescriptions and he said he'd see in 4 months if what I was doing had made any impact on my "numbers". After his 5 minute consultation he was done and so was I-with him!

The cardiologist said my heart seemed OK but that I needed to take a stress test, which was scheduled for almost 3 months away since I was going on a vacation in July.

The orthopaedist took x-rays and said my back discs, though abnormal, were not seriously impaired and that my hip repair, a large plate and 12 screws, was holding up wonderfully and that there was no sign of disintegration or failure around the repair site. He told me that my back and hip muscles were weak from lack of use, which was causing pain and allowing my discs to move out of alignment and that I needed to do Physical Therapy. I asked about Pilates and he said that was an excellent therapy for my problems as long as I was careful and took it gradually, and worked with an experienced pro who could train me with my issues in mind. He also said that losing weight would be very positive as well. I told him what I was doing, he wasn't sure what to say about it except to wish me luck on my recovery and give me a prescription for Physical Therapy (turned out our health plan doesn't cover it anyway).

Back to Detox. I kept the 21 day Detox going for a month, then began the Elimination phase where you add a few things back in (like the tomatoes, bananas, strawberries etc, not most of the other things!) and add one more meal. So you still "drink" breakfast every day, which I have grown to like very much. I had lost a little weight, but not a lot, so I went to a Wellness Coach. She showed me how to get the "My Fitness Pal" app for my phone and start keeping track of everything I ate and all my exercise. I started using it every day, making sure I ate and exercised under 1200 calories every day.

I stepped up my Pilates sessions to every day once I got used to it, and found that I loved it! The ladies who teach at my local studio gave me lots of attention, helped me to learn the exercises, and corrected my form with humor, kindness, and concern. They worked me hard, pushed me beyond where I thought I could go, and made me feel the exercises. I took various kinds of classes to mix it up and got resistance and strength training as well as some cardio. I started walking home from class every day, and then to the train. I took classes at another studio in Center City Philly and walked block after block all over the city. I took the train to neighborhoods and walked miles.

I began getting Acupuncture and doing Yoga. I had Colonic Irrigation. My energy was boundless. My pain was minimal. My weight...well, now it is 7 months later and I have lost 31 pounds! I am a size 10 and look better than I have in many years. I am toned, strong and my posture and body consciousness has improved incredibly. Everyone I see who hasn't seen me in awhile is stunned at the transformation.

My symptoms? GONE. No GERD (acid reflux), I walked all over tree-lined streets with mowed grass all summer with NO SEASONAL ALLERGIES AT ALL. No headaches, I sleep well most nights, and take no meds. At 56 I have never felt better.

When I returned to the GP doctor (for the last time!) all of my "numbers" were normal. Seems that diet and exercise, and getting rid of toxic foods replacing them with real, healing whole natural foods actually works.

I have a new lifestyle that propels me to get up and out, exercise, walk, cook wholesome food, and my attitude is completely changed. I now feel like the best is yet to come! And it is.