Doctor’s Orders: The Results of My Health Consultation with Dr. Ritamarie

Well, last night was pretty interesting. There were a LOT of other people listening in last night as Dr. Ritamarie gave me a rather complete health consultation. I thought it might be useful to share a bit about what I learned, though I would still encourage you to check out the recording for the juicy details.

The biggest things I wanted to address were:

• my cyst
• my lowered immunity
• my late-night eating and salt cravings

There were a few other things in there, as well, but these were the biggies.

At the end of the call, here’s what came out of it and what I’ll be doing to get a solid grip on my health and high-energy living.

First of all, chances are pretty great that I’m running a Vitamin D deficiency. I suspected this and now will be dosing up on D to help handle the situation. I’m a bit too stubborn to get tested, so asked for a supplement regime that wouldn’t hurt me and would still help me catch up. Knowing that I live in a Northern climate, knowing how little sun I got last summer, and observing the fact that my immunity seems to be challenged right now, I’m going to dose up on:

• 10,000 units/day of Vitamin D for 2 weeks.
• Then 4,000/day for a month.
• Then down to 2,000/day.

I’m on GREEN JUICES and green smoothies, BIG TIME. But more green juices than green smoothies. I’ll be doing the 6-Week Detox, and will follow the protocol and recommendations that are a part of this program, but I’ll also be starting out with a minimum of 4-days/week on liquid green love and working on an ideal 6-8 weeks on liquid–green smoothies and green juices. She said I could add some salads, and I’m sure I’ll do that.

There were some very interesting ideas circulating about salt, and if you listen to the consultation, you’ll hear my epiphany! Very interesting to observe how the mind works its magic on us!

The other things I need to do are try to get to sleep earlier and wake up EARLY instead. Going to sleep after 10pm is likely to kick up late night food cravings. I love this idea, but it’s practical application in my life continues to evade me. There’s something serene and peaceful about waking up at 3 or 4 in the morning ready to start the day, but I’m not sure I can commit to getting these regularly any time soonn.

I’m supposed to dose up on wheat grass (*gag*) and put hot compresses on my cyst. I’m supposed to measure it and see how it changes over time. I’m going to up the sea vegetables and supposed to add more Omega fatty acids. I thought all that Omega fatty acid stuff was a big ol’ conspiracy, but it seems Dr. Ritamarie is convinced and has seen a lot of benefits, and so she’s putting me on hemp, chia and other delightful omegalicious eats.

I’m supposed to go to hot yoga twice a week and run four times a week for half an hour. I’m supposed to do weights, too.

Okay, maybe somewhere inside I knew those things. Maybe I knew most of what I needed to do, but I know I would never have done it if I’d not had someone else there telling me, reviewing and guiding me. I am committed to doing the 6-Week Detox and by investing in a health consultation for myself, I’ve just stepped up the intensity a few notches. I admit, that having invited 30,000 people to come and listen in on my health consultation is motivation enough to get some results.

What’s going to motivate you?

Back to our 21-Day Challenge:

I looked at my new journal for 2009. I’ve writted some great family goals, personal health goals and romantic goals, too. I’ve taken the time over the last couple days to sit down and invest in my health–put my attention on some serious health goals. Now I need to apply the discipline to make things happen.

It’s been a bit more chaotic and free-flowing than planned, this little 21-day challenge, but what I love about it is the fact that rather than putting a whole bunch of pressure on my shoulders to put my new years resolutions in place on the 1st, I’ve given myself some time to implement positive changes and plan, dream, envision and build the foundation for a great year to come.

If you’ve been following along with me, then just check in and see where you’re at on the following major life areas that we agreed we would address:

1. Attitude
2. Fitness/Activity
3. Spirituality/Creative Expression
4. Sensuality
5. Health
6. Family
7. Relationships
8. Beauty
9. Home
10. Money/Abundance

I know that I’ve covered attitude. My attitude is great. hee hee… Working with Dr. Ritamarie I put in place my fitness related targets for this year. Now I need to make them happen. Spirituality and creative expression for me have a lot to do with personal study–the time and energy I invest in understanding Life and myself better. I have some targets related to study that I’d like to put in place and will start working to make that happen.

Health–certainly look at some big targets yesterday with Dr. Ritamarie and I have my work cut out to make these things happen.

I suggest that if you’re following along with the idea of doing a 21-Day challnge, you take out your journal and just see which areas of life have fallen in place for you so far.  I wrote the list of major life areas down in my journal and will continue to lay down a few of the targets I have for each area. The watch as life wriggles and weaves its way into my hopes, dreams, visions, etc.

Oh my! What do you know?! How remarkably coincidental that these categories/life areas we are addressing here on the blog seem to align themselves exactly with the major topics of our WISH Summit!! Coincidence? I think not. I hope you’re signed up, Sunshine. I’m so, so, soooo excited about making this event happen! But for now, in order to meet a few of my health and fitness targets, I’ve canceled some appointments and put myself on the top of the to do list.

I’m off to shop for greens and make my day a winner. Hoping yours will be, too.

Smooches and chlorophyll kisses,

Tera

The Color of Transparency: My Health Consultation with Dr. Ritamarie

I’m sitting here nibbling on dried mission figs and sun-dried tomatoes. Strange combination, I admit. Technically, both of these food items are “breaking the rules” of my new suggested foods list. As I prepare for the 6-Week Detox, the list of foods I’ll be weaning myself off of is long, but since today is the first real day of getting started, I don’t care what anyone says.

Figs are on definitely on the menu.

The 6-Week Detox has 3 different protocols based upon your schedule, work load and experience with raw foods. I’m too lazy to take supplements, and way too lazy to order them, so I need to do Option 3, which is based more on whole foods, enemas, colonics, etc. It’s a bit paradoxical, really, because this is a far more time-consuming path, but I can spend an hour juicing foods, I just can’t be bothered popping pills. Maybe it’s just a question of doing what is most familiar and comfortable for me. I’ll try a bit of both and keep you posted. The thing I love about this whole program is that it is so customized.

Tonight is my consultation with Dr. Ritamarie. Before I spout off too long, I thought I’d include the second part of the preparatory exercises that I’m supposed to do before the consultation. You’re welcome to listen in and comment in the background if you can catch it live. If you get to this and the call has already happened, you’re welcome to listen in to the recording and pass it along to anyone you think may be able to benefit from it.

I know it’s not every day someone puts the intimate details of their bowel movements and cardiac history up on a blog to share with the world, but I think it’s really important that transparency be one of the primary Raw Diva colors. The pink and green are pretty catchy, but at the end of the day what matters to me most is that I’m living what I’m preaching and committed to helping other women find the solutions they’re looking for. I have some health issues to sort out, so I’m going to the person I trust the most to help me make it happen.

I thought you might enjoy coming along for the ride, so I’m inviting you to listen in to my private health consultation with Dr. Ritmarie tonight.

I gotta prepare for my big night. I hope you find this useful and would love to hear your comments and feedback about the process.

Love and support,

Tera

p.s.

For those with a weak stomach, do not proceed. What follows is the metabolic, bowel-blasting assessment Dr. Ritamarie asked me to fill out before my consultation. Hope you’ll be joining us this evening and benefitting from the experience along with me.

p.p.s.

If you’d like to be notified about updates and challenges on the blog, just make sure you’re signed up to receive our Health in High Heels newsletter, or have taken the free 7-Day Diva Detox.

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Metabolic Assessment Form

Please list the 5 major health concerns in your order of importance.
1. The cyst on the back of my leg.
2. Scanty menstrual cycles. Is this a problem? I don’t mind it.
3. Salt cravings and late night eating.
4. can’t think of any others…
5.

Please select the appropriate number, from ’0-3′ on all questions. 0 as least/never and 3 as most/always.

Category I (Colon)
Feeling that bowels do not empty completely – 2
Lower abdominal pain relief by passing stool or gas – 1 (if I eat something I know I “shouldn’t”)
Alternating constipation and diarrhea – 0
Diarrhea – 0
Constipation -0
Hard, dry, or small stool -0
Coated tongue or “fuzzy” debris on tongue -0
Pass large amount of foul smelling gas -0
More than 3 bowel movements daily -0 (I WISH!!!)
Use laxatives frequently – 0
Please add the scores and put the TOTAL HERE: 3

Category II (Gastric Enzymes)
Excessive belching, burping, or bloating -0
Gas immediately following a meal – 0
Offensive breath -0
Difficult bowel movements -0
Sense of fullness during and after meals -0
Difficulty digesting fruits and vegetables; undigested foods found in stools -0
Please add the scores and put the TOTAL HERE: 0
Category III (Gastric Irritation)
Stomach pain, burning or aching 1-4 hours after eating -0
Do you frequently use antacids? -0
Feeling hungry an hour to two after eating -0
Heartburn due to spicy foods, chocolate, citrus, peppers, alcohol, and caffeine -0
Please add the scores and put the TOTAL HERE: 0
Category IV (Pancreatic Enzymes)
Roughage and fiber cause constipation -0
Indigestion and fullness lasts 2-4 hours after eating -0
Pain, tenderness, soreness on left side under rib cage -0
Excessive passage of gas -0
Nausea and/or vomiting -0
Stool undigested, foul smelling, mucous-like, greasy, or poorly formed – ?? 1
Frequent urination - 0 (not too frequent. Just normal)
Increased thirst and appetite – Sometimes. ? When I’m hungry and thirsty. 2
Difficulty losing weight – 0 – not if I stop eating.
Please add the scores and put the TOTAL HERE: 3
Category V (Biliary)
Greasy or high fat foods cause distress - 0 What do you mean by distress?
Lower bowel gas and/or bloating several hours after eating - 0
Bitter metallic taste in mouth, especially in morning – 0
Unexplained itchy skin – 0
Yellowish cast to eyes -0
Stool color alternates from clay-colored to normal brown – 0
Reddened skin, especially palms – 2 maybe this is me a bit.
Dry or flaky skin and/or hair – 4 I have this right now.
History of gallbladder attacks or stones - 0
Have you had your gallbladder removed? No.
Please add the scores and put the TOTAL HERE: 4
Category VI (Blood Glucose Fluctuation)
Crave sweets during the day – 0
Irritable if meals are missed – 0
Depend on coffee to keep yourself going or to get started – 0
Get lightheaded if meals are missed – 0
Eating relieves fatigue – 0
Feel shaky, jittery, tremors – 0
Agitated, easily upset, nervous – 0
Poor memory, forgetful – 0
Blurred vision – 0
Please add the scores and put the TOTAL HERE: 0
Category VIII (Adrenal Fatigue)
Cannot stay asleep – 0
Crave salt - 5
Stow starter in the morning – 0
Afternoon fatigue – 0 (only if I eat cooked foods or haven’t slept the night before)
Dizziness when standing up quickly - 2 (only happens when I’m trying to get off salts)
Afternoon headaches – 0 (Only happened after the lice treatment)
Headaches with exertion or stress – 0
Weak nails – 0
Please add the scores and put the TOTAL HERE: 7
Category IX (Cortisol Elevation)
Cannot fall asleep -
Perspire easily – 2 (when I’m nervous or physical. But not in an uncomfortable or unnatural way)
Under high amounts of stress – 2 well, for me stress isn’t that stressful.
Weight gain when under stress – 1
Wake up tired even after 6 or more hours of sleep – 0
Excessive perspiration or perspiration with little or no activity – 0
Please add the scores and put the TOTAL HERE: 5
Category X (Thyroid – Decreased Metabolic Activity)
Tired, sluggish – 0
Feel cold-hands, feet, all over – 2 (eating bananas in winter doesn’t help me)
Require excessive amounts of sleep to function properly – 0
Increase in weight gain even with low-calorie diet – 0
Gain weight easily - 2 (if I eat poorly)
Difficult, infrequent bowel movements – 2
Depression, lack of motivation – 0
Morning headaches that wear off as the day progresses – 0
Outer third of eyebrow thins – STRANGE idea! 0
Thinning of hair on scalp, face or genitals or excessive falling hair – 0
Dryness of skin and/or scalp – 4 YES! Seriously.
Mental sluggishness – 0
Please add the scores and put the TOTAL HERE:10
Category XI (Thyroid – Increased Metabolic Activity)
Heart palpitations – 0
Inward trembling  – 0
Increased pulse, even at rest -0
Nervous and emotional -0
Insomnia -0
Night sweats -0
Difficulty gaining weight -0
Please add the scores and put the TOTAL HERE: 0
Category XII (Pituitary – Decreased Metabolic Activity)
Diminished sex drive – 0
Menstrual disorders or lack of menstruation - 1 (it’s very low flow and one day of cramps, but not unmanageable)
Increased ability to eat sugars without symptoms - ? Maybe. 2 Not sure what this means.
Please add the scores and put the TOTAL HERE: 3

Category XIII (Pituitary – Increased Metabolic Activity)
Increased sex drive -0
Tolerance to sugars reduced -0
“Splitting” type headaches -0
Please add the scores and put the TOTAL HERE: 0

Category XVI (Menstruating Females Only) – Female Hormones
Are you perimenopausal – Nope.
Alternating menstrual cycle lengths – actually, I seem to be right on target these days. Used to be VERY irregular.
Extended menstrual cycle, greater than 32 days – nope.
Shortened menses, less than every 24 days – nope
Pain and cramping during periods -2 yes. Just for one day. Minor compared to what I experienced before childbirth.
Scanty blood flow - yup. 4
Heavy blood flow – nope.
Breast pain and swelling during menses -nope.
Pelvic pain during menses – nope.
Irritable and depressed during menses -nope
Acne breaks out – nope
Facial hair growth – nope.
Hair loss/thinning – nope.
Please add the scores and put the TOTAL HERE: 6

How many alcoholic beverages do you consume per week? none. Maybe 3 in the last 10 years.
How many times do you eat out per week? maybe average of one, but we work with the raw food restaurant.
How many times a week do you eat fish? 0
How many caffeinated beverages do you consume per week? 0
How many times do you eat raw nuts or seeds? uh… if I eat at the raw food restaurant, a lot more. Usually 2-3.
How many times a week do you workout? Well, not as many as I’d like. *sniff* 0 but I am just very active with the kids, walking here and there, etc.
List the 3 worst foods you eat during the average week. uh… if I have a bad week I’ll get some refined sugars from something the kids left kicking around (chocolate, or something), hummous, glutenous bread.
List the 3 healthiest foods you eat during the week. greens, fruits and greens.
Do you smoke? no.
Rate your stress levels on a scale of 1-10 during the average week. 2
Please list any medications you currently take and for what conditions: none
Please list any natural supplements you currently take and for what conditions? none.

Toilet Talk and Other Pertinent Poop Issues

Today is Monday and it feels like things are getting back into full speed ahead mode after the holidays. I’m certainly glad I’ve given myself these 21 days to put things in place. I know today is supposed to be the day that we buckle down and address fitness, but I need to interrupt your regularly scheduled 21-Day Challenge programming with an announcement about toilet talk and other pertinent poop issues.

Okay, so I need to get right down to the juicy stuff here because I’m just aching to share with you my big news. Brace yourselves, if you’re the sensitive type.

Around here it is to be expected that if you’re talking about food, you’re talking about poop. I have yet to meet a woman with whom I couldn’t have a great conversation about the pleasure of a satisfying bowel movement. Either we’re consitpated, gassy, bloated or just irregular, but without exception we all know that the pleasure of a productive bowel movement has been daringly, but not unjustly, compared to the pleasure of a sexual orgasm.

In the last few hours I’ve had four intensely pleasurable experiences of the non-sexual variety and I feel like a new woman!

The secret?

I’ll tell you in a moment.

As you know, I’m prepping for the 6-Week Deep Tissue Detox. It’s starting in just a week and today is the first day I’ve really been able to consider getting myself on track for food and prepping myself for the detox that’s coming. The timing is PERFECT for a detox. After the travel, irregular sleep, mashed potato indulgences and other chocolate-coated conditions that come with the holidays, I am so ready to clean out and clear up. But more than that, I’m ready to learn.

I’ve been at this now for seven years and am astonished still to realize to what degree I am the byproduct of the information I’ve been fed by other health enthusiasts. I can remember when I first jumped on board the raw food bandwagon, I was rubbing noses with a lot of friendly fruit-eaters and running about 30km on an average Sunday afternoon. I was doing my best to learn the ropes and ask questions and get the results I was hearing about.  Unlike many raw foodists, I didn’t come to this lifestyle seeking health improvement. I was simply curious.

I was following a pure path at first. Avoiding salt was a spiritual arm-wrestling match unlike any other I’ve ever had. The white-knuckling didn’t last long for me. The recommendations I followed at the time were probably better than what I’d been doing before, and so I got results. I still felt bloated and constipated and remember asking about enemas and colonics at the time and got a big ol’ resounding “NO!” That’s “BAD”. The ideas put out were that some people have had enemas and colonics and then never had a natural bowel movement again in their lives.

Last year after encountering a few health professionals that do recommend and use enemas and colonics themselves, I decided to call upon Michael Perrine and ask him to give me the “Scoop on Poop”.  Looking back at 2009, I can honestly say that one of the best things I did for myself was invest $20 in a rubber enema bag from my local drugstore! SUCH a good move. The reason I’m telling you all this is because I don’t think you should believe anything I say. I think you should find out for yourself.

With the 6-Week Detox coming up, this is the perfect opportunity to learn for yourself what happens when you really clean out your body and understand more about what’s going on inside it. We are so indoctrinated to avoid things, fear certain practices, etc. Inform yourself honestly and objectively, then try stuff. Listen to the teleseminar that I recorded with Michael and read some of the comments left by other people and have the courage to walk your own path. The reason I started all this toilet talk in the first place, actually has nothing to do with enemas, but is related to bacterial balance in the gut and my extremely productive morning on the throne.

Here’s the secret to my high productivity:

The last time we did the 6-Week Detox, I learned SO much about the gut and healthy bacterial balance, but I didn’t really apply it all. Over the last few days I’ve been drinking LOADS of fermented Kombucha and may I just tell you that stuff works!! I could never be convinced that enemas are a bad thing because they have just done way too much good for me. And now I am most thoroughly convinced that drinking and eating fermented foods is a health-building habit to have and one I intend to keep for a long time.

Through Crudessence we’ll be offering a fermentation workshop very soon. You can access the Crudessence calendar for more details if you’re in the area.

As for you, my dear, and our 21-Day Challenge, please spend some time tonight dreaming of your fit, hot body and how you feel when you’re fitness is at its ideal. What do you want to do and how often? Set your ideal scene and tomorrow we’ll do some action steps and target setting to put things in place. I know today and tomorrow are devoted to dreaming of and putting in place our fitness goals for the year, but with my glorious gut adventures this morning, I simply had to tell you how excited I am about learning more, about deconstructing the myths that I didn’t even realize I was operating with.

I mean, I’ve heard all this bacteria stuff and people say it works, but holy smokin’ toilet seats, now I’m a believer. If you’re joining us for the 6-Week Detox we’ll make a believer out of you, too. Otherwise, start googling about fermentation, Sister!

Okay, back tomorrow with the fitness focus!

Love and laughter,

Tera

Passion and Peristalsis

Well hellooooooo, you gorgeous creature!

I couldn’t resist writing a few words to kick off the week before another week kicks me.

Just like I compare my thighs to the size of every other woman’s thighs in the street, I was surfing online today and recognized how much room there is for improvement in what I do. I felt that ache you get when you come in 6th place in a race with 7 runners. I only saw what I wasn’t doing well enough or fast enough or often enough…

*sigh*

Then I logged into Facebook.

There were pages and pages and pages and pages of “happy birthday” messages I’d not seen. There were well wishes, expressions of gratitude, validation of one kind and another. I read every single comment and suddenly realized how FAREAAAKING lucky I am.

Oh sure, I could keep up to date on those fancy, shmancy marketing gurus. I could sell more and sleep less, but I’m SoooooOOo grateful to be where I am and to be supported by smokin’ hot women like YOU! I was really moved by the messages left on the blog, my inbox and Facebook. A big word of thanks to all you lovely creatures who helped make that day special for me.

**My Birthday Surprises**

I have received a lot of emails asking for the details of my romantic escape. My day started with smooches and an interior designer who showed up to help me get my new apartment all gussied up and ready for hosting workshops. I’m excited about some of the ideas we came up with and curious to see how it all turns out! I promise to take pictures! (I actually did take pictures of my birthday adventures, but Mr. Right can’t find his camera chord! Sooo…)

After that, my beloved packed my suitcase into his car and took me to my favorite raw food restaurant (the ONLY raw food restaurant in Montreal) for some sushi and picnic treats. We picnicked in the sun, then made our way to the hills. He  took me for a hike in the mountains (I had told him I used to loooove going hiking with my family on my birthday when I was growing up), then it was off to the ONLY Givenchy Spa in North America for a deluxe seaweed wrap, sauna and some five star snuggles.

We stayed in a gorgeous little castle/hotel! I was more than impressed with what the resident chef whipped up for my raw food meals. The entire experience was picture perfect. I felt pampered and adored for a birthday celebration that will be remembered for a long time to come. (We don’t call him “Mr. Right” around here for nothin’!)

**The Poop Report**

Talk about a change of subject! Okay, it’s not actually about poop, but more about what happened since I did my colonic last week. Some interesting things have developed for me. I can’t say for sure what caused the changes, but I can say that the colonic was the trigger to a MAJOR shift in the way I eat and the way I live.

Last night’s cozy coaching call I explained some of the things that have been going on for me. If you’d like the full story, you can listen to that recording, otherwise, here’s what I’d recommend this week as a stepping stone, if you need one, to getting on track with your food:

Portion control!

Hydrate!

Chew!

Eat When Genuinely Hungry!

We spend so much time thinking and obsessing about WHAT we eat, that HOW we eat sometimes gets neglected. Eating too much food, not enough water and not chewing are the reasons my hydrotherapist said I have diverticula and a prolapsed colon!

These are all things I knew, but I’m now able to apply with new determination. Something just “clicked” in place and is working now in ways that it wasn’t before. Maybe it was my transverse colon.;-)

I got this picture as a birthday present this week and wanted to share it. Renata said this,

“Happy birthday, Tera!

I made this picture specially for you today : ) This bee seemed to pose and reminded me of you,
and all the huge work you do to make this world a better place! Thank you soo much!

Wishing you a huge love and happiness!
Renata”

Here are the commitments we’ve made for this week! If you’d like to join us this Sunday for a kick in the pants or a shoulder to cry on, then just sign up to be notified of our weekly support calls! We’d love to get to know you better!

Doll – Drink more water!!

Keely – Get organized and spend less time on the couch! (We slave driver her around here!)

Stacey – Get to bed by 11pm

Tera -

So, I Had My First Colonic…

Weeeell, for those who requested I get “up close and personal” this one may be overstepping the boundaries a bit, but bears sharing.

Forgive the puns if they happen. Given today’s subject matter, they’re virtually unavoidable. (If you’re pressed for time, just skip down to the part that says: “What I Learned From This Experience”) For the rest of you, buckle up and enjoy the ride.

Today I went for my first colonic.

I didn’t do any fancy foot work or ask for recommendations to find this particular colon clinic. I just did a search for “colonic, gravity and montreal.” Having discussed things with Michael Perrine in our Scoop About Poop call, I knew gravity was the way to go. On the phone I asked to confirm that this was indeed the gravity method, and while they spoke neither French nor English terribly well, they assured me that this is what I was looking for.

I booked myself an appointment.

Warning sign #1: It was way too easy to get an appointment whenever I wanted.

Today was the big day. I didn’t do anything special to prepare for this event. I didn’t take bowel-busting herbs or do any kind of fasting at all. I didn’t even avoid eating breakfast this morning. I just showed up to see what I could see and learn what I could learn.

About 20 minutes before my appointment, I hopped on my bike and made my way to the colon clinic.

Warning sign #2: All the offices in the building were for lease, except ONE–the colon clinic!

When I arrived at the clinic, I was met by a woman who immediately directed me to a room and told me to take my pants off. (This diva isn’t whipping her pants off for just anyone without getting a few questions answered, first.)

Upon examination of the equipment, naturally, I had a few questions and concerns. If this was a “gravity” method, then what were all those pressure gauges about and why wasn’t there anything above the height of the bed?

I asked her again if this was a gravity colonic.

Warning #3: She said the word “gravity” didn’t appear to be in any of her dictionaries.

That’s when I picked up my purse, dropped it to the ground and explained that this was gravity and at this point it became clear that we were not dealing with a gravity-operated colon-cleansing machine.

The floors creaked. The baby “bum wipes,” toxic room deodorizers and water-stained, sun-bleached, Scotch taped, photocopied pictures of bowels and cancer statistics on the walls all contributed to a rather uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.

All the warning signs were there.

I had every reason to walk out the door, and maybe I should have, but a voice in the back of my head said, “Be willing to experience anything.”

She explained that she was an anesthesiologist (my favorite!) in her home country and had been doing this for 15 years. She was trying to be gentle and supportive and I guess that, coupled with my laziness at the idea of booking another appointment, were enough that I sucked back my fear and bent over.

Once de-robed, it was time to prep the passage with an inspection to assure there were no hazards or hemorrhoids.

Apparently the coast was clear, because she whipped out an intimidating collection of tubing supplies, and it was time to get serious.

It wasn’t comfortable, but you get used to it.

I was expecting a miraculous outpouring of the macaroni and cheese dinners I ate in high school. I was expecting bubbles, heat, discomfort, ooze or SOMETHING! I was expecting drama and got plain, old, ordinary poop. Either my pipes were disappointingly clean, or I am more anal retentive than I thought.

She massaged my bowels and there was some definite “release” but not on the scale of the “oooohs” and “aaaaahs” I’d been hoping for. I guess those stories of 4ft gluey intestinal gunk and super flat stomachs are what inspired me in the first place, so I was naturally disappointed when, at the end of the ordeal, I looked and felt…

…exactly the same.

She told tell me that I have diverticula and a prolapsed colon.

*GASP!*

She explained that these were because I was eating portions that were too big for me. She explained that my portions should not really exceed a small handful of food at a time.

“But what about…”

“But I only eat…”

“But that’s going to be…”

A thousand “buts” raced through my head and the only one that really mattered was the one still being fed 100 liters of water!

She said I should chew about 30 times a bite, that my blood pressure was VERY low, so I should drink 10 cups of water  per day. All these things I knew, I guess, but as a woman is washing out your colon and massaging your “diverticula”, it somehow becomes easy to take her very seriously.

What I Learned From This Experience

People have a right to be comfortable in the environment in which they are being treated for their health.

It’s not just about what you eat, it’s about how you eat–how much, how often and how you mix things together.

I’ve known all these things, but now chewing and calorie restriction will be on my to do list for real.

I didn’t like the experience, but I’m glad I did it. I intend to take what I learned and move forward from here–inspired with new learning and personal wisdom. Perhaps later down the road I’ll try again, but for now, I’m keeping a “Do Not Enter” sign on my exit door and chew, chew, chewing my chow with new determinism.

Love and peristalsis,

Tera

P.S.

2 more sleeps until my birthday!

P.P.S.

I did finally meet the avocado. Nice guy. Got totally DRUNK on chocolate, but that’s another day and another blog post.

“Keep That Thing Away From My Hindquarters!”

That’s what Lora said on our BES teleseminar last night when I announced that I had booked an appointment for my very first colonic. *blush* Of course, there are other, more discrete terms like; “hydrotherapy” I could use to describe what I’ll be doing on Friday afternoon, but when a woman decides it’s time to flush her gut with a few hundred liters of water, then why be discrete about it?

I’ve been asked to get more up close and personal on the blog, so there you have it, Ladies. (Careful what you ask for. )

Now that the Green Smoothie Day festivities have come to an end, I’m reorganizing particles and getting my feet back under the desk. Check out the comments  I received in response to last week’s little love note sent out in lieu of a Health In High Heels Issue.

EVERY TIME I SEE YOU OR READ YOUR CUTE LITTLE MESSAGES I KNOW THERE IS A GOD. YOU’RE A WONDERFUL PERSON AND I AM BLESSED TO HAVE YOU IN MY LIFE.
HUGS & KISSES FROM LINE.

*gush*

I can honestly say I haven’t heard that kind of beauty in a text for the whole year. I really took your words to heart, and words like appreciation, and grateful and most importantly THANK YOU, spring up from my inner being. Every woman is better for the raw divas. It was a good decision to step into your world and I am the better for it. Take care of YOU,  and THANK YOU.

Soooo here’s what the rest of my week looks like:
*The Avocado*
Most people know of David “Avocado” Wolfe. I’ve never read a book or even listened to him speak for more than an hour, but this Friday a mutual friend of ours is hosting a potluck and it looks like I’ll finally get the chance to shake hands with the King of Cacao himself. I’ll let you know how it goes.

*Poop*
After hosting the interview with Michael Perrine about “The Scoop on Poop” I was determined to give this enema thing a fair try.  Now, I’m a believer. I avoided enemas because I’d been told that some people do them, then never have another natural bowel movement again. Michael said that sounds like a load of “crap”. I figure if anyone knows about crap, he does, so I tried it.

The “proof is in the pudding” metaphor leaves me slightly uncomfortable in these circumstances, but I can admit that my regularity, moods, comfort and overall health have much improved since incorporating “The Big E” into my life.

Expressions like:

• “feeling like crap”
• “having a shitty day”
• “being full of shit”

all have new significance for me.

I’ve never had a colonic, so can’t consider myself qualified to share an opinion on it. This Friday, all that will change, and you, Sweet Thing, will be the first to know about it.

The strange sounds coming out of my computer indicate to me that it’s time to get some fresh air. As the end of summer approaches, I struggle about in post-holiday restlessness. Bet the colonic will help.

9 more days until my birthday!

Wheeee…

T-raw

Those Children in Africa

Like many parents, I think a lot about what I feed to my children. I don’t have all the answers; in fact, I find myself pretty confused by all the nutritional information with which we’re constantly bombarded. Having said that, I’m really looking forward to hearing from Dr T in his The Truth About Your Food series, and to reading Monique and Stephani’s upcoming book about feeding children raw. Hopefully they’ll be able to give us some nutritional direction when it comes to starting off the lives of our little ones in the best way possible.

My basic philosophy is to fill ’em up with as many varied raw fruits and raw/cooked vegies as I can, and to give them a broad intake of other healthy foods. They rarely eat processed sugars or white flour (treats are occasional), and I try not to get into calling foods “good” or “bad”. I just matter-of-factly explain what eating healthy foods can do for them, and what the effects are of eating less-than-healthy food (while acknowledging that they may taste good!).

But, like many in our culture, I find it difficult not to be swept up in the concept of food as celebration. Perhaps even setting up the notion of “treat” or “special” food is problematic? I believe that the food-related rituals and attitudes we acquire as youngsters are carried with us throughout life – I bet we all have a few fond, comforting food memories from our childhood. But is that so wrong? Food IS pleasurable, so why quash it into a purely functional role? It’s one of life’s many pleasures, and it shouldn’t, I believe, be demonised or made.

However, I do sometimes wonder whether I’m sending my girls the healthiest messages about food, even if I am feeding them what I feel is a healthy diet.

Interestingly, my lovely sister-in-law, Angela, recently sent me a link to a thought-provoking article on this very subject. You can check it out here. It describes how, last year, a nutrition researcher called Professor Lynne Daniels from QUT (Queensland University of Technology) undertook a survey asking 361 mothers how they feed their one- to three-year-old children. She wanted to find out more about the feeding practices of mothers.

She believes that the first five years of a child’s life are crucial for laying down food preferences (just to give new mums something else to worry about!), but she found that many mothers surveyed are setting up less-than-ideal habits. For example, many feed their children after the kids have indicated they’re full – I find this interesting, because I bet quite a few mums are carrying on this habit from when they were children. I still find it difficult not to eat everything on my plate, as that’s what was expected of me when I was a child – but, knowing how much discomfort this has caused me as an adult, I don’t put this expectation on my own children. I’m sure my mum doesn’t approve – think of those starving children in Africa! Though, in defense of my dear mum, she did set us up with some pretty good eating preferences, for their time – wholemeal bread, no plastic cheese, soft drinks only occasionally…

Also, only one-third of mums surveyed offer new foods at least 10 times (this repetition helps young children become more familiar with different foods, and therefore makes them more likely to eventually accept them). It is a struggle to keep offering the oft-rejected foods, but sometimes, just sometimes, it does work! I guess there’s a fine line, though, between offering – which could be interpreted by children as “forcing” – foods many times and respecting the preferences of our children…

About half of the mums surveyed sometimes offer food as a reward for good behavior, and many feed children to keep them occupied or to soothe them. Professor Daniels is concerned that mums are tying emotions to food, meaning that children grow up eating when they’re not actually hungry (and vice versa). Yep, I think that’s a biggie – I’d see it as acknowledging the pleasure of food but not using that pleasure for comfort. Not easy.

Professor Daniels also believes that we shouldn’t regularly feed under-fives sweet, salty or fatty non-nutritious foods, because they’ll eventually prefer these foods. I can see the reasoning behind that, and I think the key word here is “regularly”. The odd cookie or cake certainly isn’t going to kill your child (unless they happen to have an allergy or other food-related problem – a whole other ballgame). While upholding my ideals most of the time, I think it’s far healthier that I make allowances for occasional “little treats”, and set a good example by having a positive, relaxed attitude towards food. Easier said than done, though, right? I’m also coming at this from the perspective of being a parent of children who are now five (nearly six) years of age – I think was a tad more food-vigilant when the girls were babes and tots. Hopefully I’ve set them up with good habits!

Professor Daniels is undertaking further research this year, to observe the effects of nutritional education and “peer support” on the feeding habits of new mothers. I think the results will be very interesting.

I wrote this blog this afternoon, and we’ve since had dinner. We usually each discuss at least one thing that we’re grateful for just before we eat our meal, and tonight Evie said, “I’m grateful that we have yummy food to eat that also makes our bodies healthy”. I’ll take that as a sign that I’m heading in the right direction!

PS An update on my swimming progress – I’m now up to taking FIVE breaths before stopping, and I’m about 5m away from making a full length of the pool. I’ve even signed up for the intermediate (not beginners’) class for next term! More to come…