In The Beginning

Severe chest pain, is how I remember that day in the mid 1990's. I had arrived at work, shortly after exercising at the fitness center with an intense pain in my chest. I told my boss that I didn't feel good and asked if I could go home (I know, if you are having a heart attack you should ask for help). I headed towards my doctor's office, a 25 mile drive, and glimpsed an Immediate Care facility at about the 4 mile mark. I was scared and thinking I was having a heart attack so I stopped. They hooked an EKG up to me and assured me that I was not having a heart attack or stroke. They said I was probably suffering from acid reflux (gerd) and recommended I continue on to my doctor's office.

This is where my journey began. For the next 10 years I would suffer from acid reflux. At first my doctor prescribed Prylosec, then after a few years Prevacid, then doubled my prescription for Prevacid, then a double prescription of Prevacid and Mylanta or Mallox. All the while I was on a controlled diet per doctor's recommendations. I gave up drinking alcohol because it was like drinking gasoline (at least I imagine). I gave up citrus, acidic foods like tomatoes, salsa, coffee. I gave up greasy foods, spicy foods, carbonated beverages, caffeine and CHOCOLATE! Still I suffered, until I was in constant pain and the insurance companies were balking at paying for my prescriptions. Finally, I had an endoscopy and was told I had acid reflux (really?) and a hiatal hernia. My doctor said, "It looks like you'll be on Prevacid the rest of your life." I responded, "But it's not working! Why would I take medicine that isn't working?"

I was in grief. I thought I would live in pain for the rest of my life. All my favorite foods avoided. The head of my bed raised up so that my upper body would be higher than my stomach. The threat of these severe attacks always looming.

Then one day a coworker handed me a book. "Natural Cures "They" Don't Want You To Know About". The book is one big infomercial, but it gave me just enough information to start doing my own research. Here I am some 20 years later living pain free, eating the foods I want to and sleeping on a flat bed.

"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food" - Hippocrates 431 B.C. It's words that I live by; I'd say food and exercise. I created this blog, first as a personal web page, then on Blogger, and later on Facebook. I want to share the things I've learned to help others, perhaps you? When I first started the information was hard to find; or people wanted you to pay for it. Now the internet is filled with information and sometimes it's a challenge to filter through it all. Hopefully you find my pages informational and worthwhile.

If you are suffering from any condition I recommend you get in contact with a naturopathic doctor and let them help you find a cure for what ails you. 

The original post from my first web page Overcoming Acid Reflux 

Making Commitments Towards Success

Wow! Has is been 10 months since my last post? My how time flies.

This post is about making commitments resulting in successful outcomes.

I've been struggling with my weight for a couple years now. The last time I stepped on the scales I was at 252 lbs. which is near an all-time high for me. I've been teetering at that weight for at least a year now. What changes have I made to reduce that weight? Obviously none. I've tried a few short term approaches like increasing exercise or eating healthier, each with little or short term success.

A couple weeks ago my naturopath asked me what the driving force was that helped me to be successful when I had acid reflux (gerd)? My quick response was "pain". I was in pain, I was scared that I would be in pain for the rest of my life. Almost immediately when I became vegetarian and then vegan I noticed relief from pain. That noticeable success helped me to commit to eating better.

Back then, I was committed to eating a vegan diet to cure my acid reflux but it did nothing for weight loss.  In May of 2011 I hired a Holistic Health Counselor (http://vtpathfinder.blogspot.com/2011/05/holistic-health-counselor.html). Together we developed strategies and she held me accountable. Through her I was able to lose the desired weight.

There is no reason that any of us cannot do this on our own. The internet is filled with information from exercise routines, healthy recipes, diet plans, food journals, etc.. I myself have found success through Weight Watchers, The Atkins Diet and a Holistic Health Coach. At one time I even posted online recipes for my Weight Watchers plan adhering to vegan recipes.

What's missing? Commitment.

In the past I have been good about committing to certain things. Becoming vegan was a choice. It was not absolutely necessary to become a vegan to beat acid reflux, but it was a commitment I wanted to make. My naturopath had concerns at first because many vegans do not eat a healthy diet; I mean Fritos are vegan. I convinced her with my dedication to cooking healthy, nutritious meals and snacks on a weekly basis. Being vegan also made it easy for me to say "no" to foods that have little or no nutritional value; the weekly cakes, cookies or donuts at work, fast food, and pizza, just to name a few.

For several years I've had few health issues. I became sloppy with my diet. I've been eating cakes and cookies, along with cheese, crackers, chips, ice cream, pizza and whatever else people put in front of me. I started drinking beer again on a regular basis and I have let myself become lethargic, back to my "weekend warrior" routine where I exercise only one or two days a week. It's easy to fall into these traps and they are comfortable.

Two weeks ago my naturopath challenged me to make a 4 week commitment of my choosing. It was up to me to lay the groundwork for these commitments and she would touch base with me each week to see how I am doing. Well, the first week goes by and she doesn't hear from me. At the end of the second week she sends me an email, "Just a reminder that I look forward to receiving a nutritional plan of your making that you will be committing to for the four weeks of your choosing." I attempted to placate her by responding with some non-committal things I am doing. She responded, "As we include more and more with compassion and curiosity what commitments are you willing to experiment with?  Again this is an agreement to experiment for 4 weeks...not forever.   What if it didn't take a crisis or a health issue to make different choices?  Get curious about calling forth that part of you in which cutting back on sugar and eliminating processed food wasn't a problem." I am up for the challenge!

Here are my commitments going forth the next few weeks.

1. Abstain from alcohol until I lose weight and feel better.

2. Not buying chocolate until my birthday (This is something I use to do on a regular basis). This does not include homemade smoothies or treats with cacao in them.

3. Will not purchase cookies, cakes or other processed flour items until my birthday.

4. Try to eat more protein rich foods.

5. Commit to a daily food diary (I've been slacking on this).
 

I am doing this for me. It's not a short-term fix, it's a long-term solution. I get frustrated when I am unable to do the things I like to do because I am overweight or out of shape. I let this happen and only I can fix it. Small changes can make a big difference in our lives. I did not commit to exercising more though a recent article I read "Why Sitting is Bad for You " makes getting out of my chair more inviting.

What can you commit to?