5 of 2006: Powerful testimony
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Remember the talk on “Happy Hormones” in Somerset West/Strand area on Thursday night 15 March phone Georgie Keanly on 021 853 3123
Just returned from a week in Johannesburg doing talks where we met some wonderful people. A huge thank you to Michelle Bestbier at the gallery on 157 Jan Smuts Ave. Parkwood, Johannesburg, she and Jeanne organized a wonderful talk with spectacular breakfast. We managed to raise some reasonable funds for the Kylemore feeding scheme. Jeanne is the motivating force behind this and it is just a small way we can give something to children who are malnourished.
Jeanne had this to say recently
“One of our teachers, Ms. Urline Williams, has researched the effect of the muffin on the children that receive it, in the Primary School -- you need to talk to her --- you will be amazed --- absenteeism has dropped, disruptive behavior improved, concentration is much better, marks are climbing and --- the best for me --- self esteem is definitely on the 'up'.
You will also like to know that we managed in 2OO5 to feed 'free' muffins daily to 7OO of the 'poorest-of-the-poor' children in Kylemore --- children whose parents are jobless [with all the arising problems] and who are unable to afford even the R1.OO per day to feed their badly undernourished children. We have a similar sponsorship in place for 2OO6 and have also managed to include the 55 children being looked after by MamaLumka in the Somerset West Area.
This is where the 'gate-money', paid at the talks you have done for us, Mary-Ann, is going! We managed to buy 2 food-processors to 'chop' the veggies for our soup pots [feeding 17OO children a free cup of soup daily from May to November] We also used some of the money to give all the children on the Imbali-Visual Literacy Project a free muffin when they attend their art-workshop [12O children on one Saturday morning a month]!
We are aware of the fact that some children are almost totally dependent on this muffin --- there is a desperate need in the little village of Kylemore --- where I understand that unemployment --- and all the resulting problems --- are rife!
Thank you for caring!
Love and a hug
Jeanne Bestbier-Bloch
STONEBRIDGE FARM
jeanneb@stonebridge.co.za
Tel. ++ 27 [0] 83 601 2376
Thank you too everyone who attended this talk and the ones on the East and West Rand, Mark and I are committed to raise funds for under privileged children with a particular emphasis on street children. If you would like to contribute either your time or money to this worthy cause or know more about the scheme contact Jeanne at the above contact details.
Interesting stuff
I am 36 years old and have been obese for the last 10-11 years. I have never been petite, in fact I started menstruating just before my 10th birthday and in my last two years of primary school I was the tallest person in the school! At school I did not really participate in sport, rather opting for first aid and cultural activities, with the result that I never developed a love for exercise. Furthermore my light complexion kept me out of the sun most of the time and when I did burn, I got blisters and cold sores.
My weight gain started when I got married at the age of 25. Prior to that I used to at least walk almost everywhere I wanted to be, but that all changed when I got married. The marriage was a disaster from the word go and I gained a whopping 50kg in the first year. I was so unhappy and developed a really destructive attitude towards food, often binging uncontrollably. Just after we got married, I went off the Pill and had an IUD fitted. I blamed this device for my heavy and painful periods and off-the-wall PMS, never realizing that it was my diet and excess weight that brought it about. After two years I had the device removed, thinking (silly, of course!!) that a baby might improve things in our home. After about a year of really trying very hard, I went to the doctor, who told me that I had cysts on my ovaries and fibroids in my uterus. I had two surgical procedures, including a D&C, to correct those things, but still no pregnancy. One day a nurse I met socially told me that my lifestyle is to blame – I was smoking heavily, drinking a few glasses of wine most nights, eating very badly and not getting any exercise.
The marriage ended after four years and I moved back in with my parents for a while. My mother at that time had a lot of allergies and health issues and someone recommended Herbal Fibre Blend for her digestive woes. At the same time my boss told me about Herbal Fibre Blend and Barleygreen (as it was called then). I became an AIM member and started using the products. It definitely improved my health, but I was not motivated enough to change my diet and start exercising. I even attended some talks that you gave, bought The Natural Way and really admired you. I also believed you, but couldn’t see myself living that way – maybe because I couldn’t imagine finding a man who would want to live that way. And finding a man was rather high on my lists of priorities – after all, I really wanted a family.
My weight kept climbing, but my doctor assured me that my blood pressure and general health was good. I stopped using Herbal Fibre Blend and Barleygreen after I moved out of my parents’ house, because I just couldn’t afford it at that stage. In 2004 I had to have my appendix removed, developed complications and had to undergo further surgery. One morning in hospital I woke up with half of my face grotesquely swollen. The hospital staff had no explanation beyond “I must have slept on that side the whole night”! In the following months I had hives almost every day and had to be hospitalized for swelling up in my face and neck. The doctor sent me for allergy testing and they couldn’t find anything wrong. I realized that he was not open to the possibility that it could be something I ate. I myself, through trial and error, discovered that it was gluten, wheat, or something in that vein – even beer! By then I had already determined that I was severely dairy intolerant.
In 2005 I found the man I had been looking for all my life. Craig loved me despite my weight, but was concerned about my health. For one thing, he was adamant that if we were to have children, we should be in the best possible health, so that we could live to see them grow up. At that time I was trying to take out another insurance policy, but the company wanted to double my premium, because I was in such a high risk category. I was also getting up on average four times a night to empty my bladder, which I knew wasn’t normal. And I was snoring extremely loudly, which I knew was because of my weight, smoking and poor muscle tone. So off I went to the doctor – a different one this time – and thank goodness I found him! He did a whole series of tests and the news was not good. My cholesterol was 6.9, my heartbeat was almost off the charts, my blood pressure had crept up and I was on my way to becoming diabetic. Furthermore, a mole on my leg that had become itchy and he had removed, turned out to be the most aggressive type of melanoma. BUT, and this is where I have to give him a lot of credit, he told me that he would give me six months to change my lifestyle before considering medication. He recommended a Mediterranean diet, quitting smoking and starting an exercise program.
Now I would love to tell you that I started making the changes immediately, but this was just before the Christmas period and we had so many social engagements that I told myself we would start after New Year. And I went on the mother of all binges! On the 31st of December I went to the Spar in Sea Point for some nice deli goodies (one last time…!) and saw your book Perfect Weight. I really believe it was a sign. I started reading immediately, told Craig, who at that time often came up behind me with a measuring tape to measure me for my coffin, exactly what we were going to do. He read the book and we went cold-turkey on The Natural Way on the 3rd of January.
I fasted for two days and started seeing a psychologist who specializes in healthy living to help me with the emotional side of things. She’s been wonderfully supportive and agrees with everything you say.
We found it to be rather expensive initially, until we realized what we weren’t buying anymore – wine, cigarettes (for me), meat, take-aways, pre-prepared meals etc. Once we got into the swing of things, we were amazed at how easy it is to maintain this lifestyle. We have our Barleylife in the morning, then I take the dog for a walk. Before I leave for work, I have my Herbal Fibre Blend and I pack a basket full of fruit and a little container with nuts (we quite like the Trail Mix and have it made up without the coconut strips, which we don’t enjoy). That’s all we have during the day, plus water. Craig’s hours are more flexible and he goes to gym and plays golf regularly. In the evening we make a big salad – and I mean BIG, with lettuce, sprouts, raw beetroot, carrots, raw sweetcorn, even thawed peas, lots of avo, olives, you name it. Your dressing recipes are delicious. For the first month we only ate raw foods, but I have since introduced some cooked potatoes and butternut (he doesn’t like raw butternut), sautéed (in butter) mushrooms, dolmades and chick peas to our salads. Once a week I make soup. We don’t use a lot of dishes and our dishes are not greasy!
After dinner, we spend some time in our jacuzzi, which is outside, so we’re getting the last of sun, and I believe massages the lymphatic system beautifully. This is so relaxing and is also the time when we really connect with each other – much better than watching television!
When we went to an outdoor musical concert one evening, I packed a basket with raw veggies, hummus, dips and a bottle of freshly squeezed orange juice. It was delicious!
There are obviously difficulties. The first time we went to visit my parents for a weekend, my mom was totally out of sorts, because we never wanted coffee or anything – she couldn’t “serve” us. But they are delighted that we are doing something so positive. We love going out for a meal every now and then and have found that it’s much cheaper now that we don’t have wine and desserts. Our local Greek restaurant is ideal, since the salads are good (we substitute the cheese with avo) and we know they use good quality olive oil. The Indian Restaurant is another favourite – they serve wonderful vegetarian meals. If we do have meat or seafood in a restaurant, we ask for no sauce, potatoes or rice and we always start with a salad. We have just finished renovating our house and
I can’t wait to start entertaining – I think it will be easier on our turf than theirs, because then I have control over the menu. The idea of going to friends’s houses, and waiting hours for an unhealthy meal while they’re socially imbibing, just doesn’t do it for me anymore.
I expected much worse in the line of detoxing. Craig had a headache for the first week or so, but I found that our bowels and bladders took the brunt of it. Until recently that is, then Craig started getting the most painful boils and I came down with cold sores. My first period after changing our diet was still heavy and painful, but the second one was much better and only lasted for about 5 days. I increased my intake of Barleylife and Flax Oil before and during my period and I believe this has helped tremendously. We are also taking a course of Para90 at the moment, so I’m sure that we will still see some strange things being expelled. Another side effect has been a marked decrease in both our libido’s, which I sincerely hope is just temporary! I realize that, given all the accumulated toxins that must still be trapped in my fat cells, I will go through repeated detox spells, but I’ll just take more Flax Oil and Barleylife and weather the storms.
We have both lost over 10kg in the two months (I started at a whopping 145.9kg). Every Monday morning we have a weigh-in and I record our progress on a spreadsheet. I have also listed a lot of my symptoms and am seeing them disappear one by one. My cracked heels are now nice and smooth and when I want to treat myself I go for a pedicure instead of something to eat. My snoring improved almost immediately! I did not have an acne outbreak before my second period and my skin is noticeably softer and more radiant. I only get up once a night to empty my bladder and don’t suffer from excessive thirst anymore. Within days Craig noticed that we smell better. He used to suffer from hay fever and nasal congestion and that cleared up almost immediately. We also sleep better (although I started suffering from nightmares – which you have now explained as a detoxing symptom) and our energy levels have improved significantly. I also find that I concentrate better and I don’t have the “after-lunch-slump” anymore. Oh yes, to put it delicately, my uterus is no longer an organ of elimination and I have not had hives since we started. You will not believe my surprise when I noticed after three weeks that my cellulite had completely gone! I have to drop my pants regularly, no one believes me before they see it for themselves!
I bought Healthy Kids as well, since we want to raise our kids this way. I keep on having to buy more copies of Perfect Weight and The Natural Way, because my friends want to read them and I insist that they keep them.
Thank you so much, Mary-Ann, for sharing your knowledge so successfully with the world. This has changed our lives. I will keep you updated on a regular basis and you are welcome to interview me. I know that a success story inspires other people. I fully intend to be your “Slimmer of the Year” (and I say that tongue in cheek, because the most important aspect is the health we are gaining). I have decided to not get married until I have regained my figure, so that I can look and feel like a beautiful bride on my wedding day. And you know what, I can’t wait to see the doctor’s face when I go back to him in June! Other plans include doing the two courses (starting in July with the first one), because when we do have kids, it would be great to be able to have more flexible working conditions and I have always wanted to help other people.
H.
Digimag
The Digimag is a monthly DVD sent out directly to you which is designed to encourage and help you in your quest for a healthier lifestyle.
Every month we do 2-4 recipes showing just how much fun and how easy it is to eat healthier, we interview someone who has befitted from a change in diet, we cover a talk topic and we have one other article of interest. This is designed in such a way that it answers many of your questions and some that you had not even thought about.
We would love to focus on what you want so please feel free to send us the recipes or topics you would like us to cover in 2006. We are trying to make it more fun and easier to help you get healthy.
If you want to find out more about subscribing to our monthly DVD “Digimag” go to www.mary-anns.com) You can always share the cost with a friend and it makes a great gift to a health conscious friend.
P.S. Remember that that as a DVD subscriber you are entitled to a discount on our products if you order directly from our warehouse.
Thought for the week
Proverbs 13:11
Wealth not earned but won in haste or unjustly or from the production of for vain detrimental use, such riches will dwindle away, but he who gathers little by little will increase his riches.
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