Transition Pt. 1 intro

[Guest guest]

Hi-

I have been lurking on the list for a week or two. I am impressed by the

wide range of stages and approaches that are supported by this group.

I am writing my intro/question in two parts because otherwise it is too

long.

I am 49. I have had chronic health problems since I was very small (like

1-2 yrs old). At the beginning, it was severe asthma requiring frequent

trips to the hospital to get hooked up to oxygen, then severe allergies

were added in. I received little medical care except for emergency room

overnight stays. Read between the lines and see that some of the

problems end up to have a big emotional component but who wants to go

there? I am getting the help I need now.

I have suffered from severe and unsevere migraines, had a stomach full

of ulcers " doctor's quote " from taking too much ibuprofen for the

headaches. I have had major surgery for fibroids, precancerous cells in

female areas at the last stage before cancer, and finally, I have a very

bad back (3 severely degenerated disks and some scoliosis. That about

covers it. My biggest problems now are migraines and back/spine pain.

I have taken extra good care of myself as far as diet and exercise go,

by conventional (unraw) standards. I have stuck to unprocessed foods and

largely whole grains and almost no dairy for decades. I was strict in

eating no animals for many years. Now I am not anymore, since I found

that cutting out grains completely and eating more protein gave me more

energy. I have been doing that for just over a year.

I first heard of the Arnold Ehret/fruitarian philosophy when I was 15.

The setting was pretty dramatic, but that is not the purpose of this

intro. It made sense to me then. But I was too dependent on others to

give it a whole try.

Through the years, I have succumbed completely to taking

symptom-suppressing doctor-prescribed medicines, while sticking to the

afore-mentioned unprocessed diet. This is the best I felt I could do.

Jogging is not the best exercise for someone with a back problem, but I

really love to jog outdoors with music. I used to do yoga and swimming,

but I have been an intermittent jogger for decades now. It is the

quickest form of exercise. Put on some old clothes and sneaks and go!

Many people are in this situation. If you are poor, living paycheck to

paycheck and supporting children, you CANNOT go through some detox that

will make you so sick that you are unable to function optimally on the

job. A person needs to work if they have no safety net, inheritance,

etc. Everyone does not face this situation or understand this, I have

long realized. And yes, some single-minded purists are willing to become

unable to support their kids or hold down a job for the sake of healing.

But many are not. I do not consider this an option or setting a good

example, on balance.

Stay tuned for Pt 2 with questions.

Thanks for your patience!