Recovering Crapatarian on eating well

I've mentioned this before. I am a recovering Crapatarian.
I grew up hating food, unless it was junk (salt, sugar, fizz).

I've been working on breaking the junk food habit, along with the "foods I'm allergic to" habit for my entire adult life.

I have tried every kind of diet: candida diet, gluten-free, raw foods, calorie counting. Some of them worked, but I never lasted very long on any of them. I have finally found a system that helps me keep my eating clean. And it has had a HUGE impact on my well-being. I didn't want to mention it until I'd actually managed to stick with it. I've been on this plan since last September, and I couldn't be more pleased with it.

I feel great, and I look great (if I do say so myself!). I'm off the pain meds! I'm on zero immune suppressants. And I am in remission. I've had 3 very serious flares (strokes, kidney failure, congestive heart failure, anemia, pleurisy, extreme weight loss- and then of course the extreme prednisone weight gain!), so I hesitate to say I'm "cured." Because frankly, all I have to do is start eating junk food and foods I'm allergic to and I'll get sick again.

I wanted to share some pictures of me last year and this year. I've received so many compliments lately that I had to go back and see for myself what I looked like a year ago. Hair, skin, eyes- not to mention 15 pounds lighter - with no exercise! (I did start exercising after I dropped the weight, because I finally had the energy).

It's possible to kick old habits! It's possible to get better! It's possible to feel great again. I still have a couple things to work out (I take sleep meds and they cause memory problems, and I have ADD- but those are old problems, and I will tackle them next!)... but I feel like I finally have my life back!
Carla
PS If you're interested in the nutrition plan, let me know. E mail me at carlau@comcast.net  !

summer 2014

summer 2015

Day 34: Day 2 of 2 (cleanse/ detox)

Day 34: cleanse/ fast day #2 (of 2 consecutive).

So this evening, I was talking to a (Jewish) friend on the phone, telling him that I was on my second fast day. he said,"I do that once a year and that's enough."

Yeah, so far none of my friends have responded to the mention of fasting with "oh boy! can I join you? that sounds so fun!"

Well I'm about to go to bed, and when I get up… I eat! (well, not if I get up to pee in the middle of the night. But you know what I mean).

Had a doctors appointment today, and one of the first things she said was "you've lost weight!"

Interestingly, she said she could see it in my face. Which means to me I'm less bloated, because I'm no longer taking narcotics and hardly even taking any ibuprofen either (3 Advil in 34 days, versus taking it once, twice- even three times a day). 

My primary goal in starting this plan was to get healthier. To get my inflammation down. I need to get some new lab tests done to see if indeed I have succeeded in reducing my inflammation, but I do know this – I'm no longer struggling with the constant shoulder discomfort - The beast that is haunted me for 20 years and ruined many a nights' sleep.

Well of course, as soon as I start feeling better, my vanity kicks in, and now I want to drop a few more pounds. it's far more telling to use the tape measure than the scale. so, if I can control myself, I will only pull out the tape measure tomorrow and not step on the scale.

By tomorrow, I mean today, because it's 4 AM.


Cheers and well wishes!

Carla
http://www.thesingingpatient.com

Day 33: What's Great About Fasting!?

Day 33 on nutrition plan!
I decided to make today (and tomorrow) cleanse days.
On this plan, that means pretty much no food, but lots of water and also 4 ounces, 4 times a day of a cleansing drink containing detoxifying herbs.
The directions say "enjoy 4 ounces," but I don't really care for the taste that much, so I'm take the "enjoy" part as optional, and just drink it. Like all directions, I take them as suggestions (yes, I'm a middle child).

I am still feeling good- no shoulder problems again today.
Drove into NYC to do a fun rehearsal of a musical that a friend is hoping to put on.
Earlier, I got up to teach guitar lessons, then found a message that my student had to cancel. So I went back to bed.  :)

Otherwise a low key day- oh, and this little ditty for y'all about fasting: