RE: mostly raw vegetarian diet: very long....

July 24, 2002

Peace to all,

I have been a vegetarian, officially, since 1982. I gave up meat for

several reasons, though I was never much of a meat eater, the main reason

was philosophical/spiritual, which I will not go into as I understand is not

a topic for discussion on this list. Another big reason was I did not want

fill my body hormones and antibiotics that are administered to meat animals.

Dh tried a vegetarian diet until he decided he would take responsibility of

cooking because I refused to cook meat. He did not do well on it. As a

nurse I have counseled many patients on diet. Their first question is

usually what diet I follow since I am so thin. I tell them I am vegetarian

but do not advise others to follow this diet unless they are committed to

follow this path. There is a lot to learn about vegetarian diets to be

followed correctly. Most people do not want to put more thought in to their

meals than pulling a microwavable dinner out of the freezer and lifestyles

are hard to change. I also caution people that do decide to go vegetarian

to do it slowly. Most will find cutting down to small amounts of fish or

chicken a couple times a week work best for them.

My mother is also a vegetarian. Neither of us eat meat of any kind but

while I am 5'10 " and 125 lbs. She is about 5'4 " and weighs well over 200

lbs. The difference is that she tends to snack quite a bit and lives a

sedentary life since she retired. She sits at her computer most of the day

and rarely gets out for exercise.

Naturopathy teaches us there are many factors to living a healthy life, a

diet of living foods alone is not the only answer. Fresh air, fresh water,

exercise, rest all play a role. But each step brings us closer to our goal.

Being newly diagnosed I have several questions for the group. All my

training as a nurse and student of naturopathy does not help when you are

trying to get through the day in pain. I know what I am supposed to do but

knowing and finding the energy and courage to do are completely different

things. I am a very optimistic person. I have fought my young life proving

doctors wrong when they predicted my passing from this life and I have

experienced severe pain. The difference is you generally know that no

matter how severe the pain, it will pass and you are able to work through

it. Unfortunately with fibromyalgia there is no real treatment to follow

knowing that in a certain period of time the pain will resolve and you will

be healthy again. I am not subject to depression but I can certainly see

how this can wear one down to the point of feeling hopeless. I keep telling

myself that I have to find a way to deal because I am only 44 years young

and I still have half my life ahead of me.

I would love to hear from the group what keeps you hopeful? What things

help you find the energy to go on?

For me it is my animals, gardening, spinning and weaving. These bring great

joy in my life, along with caring for my dh, who needs little care

physically, but creating a nice peaceful place for him to come home to.

As I said I am not at the point of feeling hopeless but after a few years of

waking up in pain and going to bed in pain, never any relief I pray that I

will not reach the stage of just not wanting to deal and taking to bed or

something just as drastic. It is pretty scary to think that this could go

on for another 40 years. But still as long as it does not get worse than it

is now I think I could deal with it.

My mother has been after me for years to go on disability. Open heart

surgery corrected the congenital defects but my heart will never be normal,

that along with congenital defects in the back, a herniated disc and now

this diagnosis she asks me nearly every day if I think I should go on

disability. My answer to her is no. I feel if I were to think about doing

that then I would give up.

I hope this was not too long. I know you all have probably heard stories

like this many times. I would like to say that I appreciate the opportunity

this forum affords those of us newly diagnosed and full of questions.

Breathe and :-)

myrrhsea ~Peaceful Life of the Heart~

MyrrhSea FibreCraft

http://www.geocities.com/myrrhsea/mfc.html

.:*~*:.:*~*:.:*~*:.:*~*:.:*~*:.:*~*:.:*~*:.

She seeketh wool and flax and worketh willingly

with her hands. ~Proverbs 31:13~

-----Original Message-----

From: parrot004@...

What a great idea! A veg diet for all!

July 25, 2002

Peace sister,

Thank you so much for your reply and your prayers. I too enjoy and practice

meditative activities such as gardening, spinning, weaving and as mindful

living teaches, even washing dishes. They do indeed help take your mind off

the pain and lift your spirits.

I had a very strange thing happen to me last night. I was lying on the

loveseat, quite comfortable, when dh came in and handed me some pictures he

had developed and out of nowhere a gripping pain shot through every part of

my body. It lasted just long enough for me to jump and that was it. I did

spend 2 1/2 hours in the garden about an hour before that, sweating

profusely to where my clothes were soaked. I really did push myself to far

and meant to come in long before I did but I was in the middle of a project

and wanted to finish. By the time I was done it took every ounce of energy

I had to walk up our driveway (about 150 feet) to the trash. I am not sure

if that could have instigated the episode or not.

Breathe and :-)

myrrhsea ~Peaceful Life of the Heart~

MyrrhSea FibreCraft

http://www.geocities.com/myrrhsea/mfc.html

.:*~*:.:*~*:.:*~*:.:*~*:.:*~*:.:*~*:.:*~*:.

She seeketh wool and flax and worketh willingly

with her hands. ~Proverbs 31:13~

-----Original Message-----

From: a

MIND OVER BODY... I have read into

this therapy and when I feel myself getting depressed,

I am usually feeling sorry for myself, which is easy

to do if you let yourself. But my children need a

mother. They need me as their mother to guide them to

the Good and positive things in life. I also find

quiet calming times, weeding my flower and vegetable

garden. Something about playing with the dirt,

creating a garden in my mind and making it look like I

vision is my goals, I've had to not work on it when I

get really bad flare ups, but I had to tell myself

that tomorrow will be better and I can fix it

tomorrow.

I hope anything I said will help answer your

questions.

My prayers are with you,

a Faye

July 25, 2002