I am a 52 year old women ( I don't mention that to too many people although I never deny my age if asked) I'm African American and am obesely overweight according to NIH standards, but I wear it well. I come from a genetic background of diabetes, hypertension, multiple sclerosis and heart disease. I am a prime candidate for any one or all of these. However, so far so good. At least since my last check up.I do have allergies, and an intolerance for wheat and probably gluten, my hair is thinning so my intolerance may be more serious than I realize. Although I prefer to think this issue is due to stress. I'm working on it...
At the onset of my mother's MS in 1975 my parents very seriously changed our eating habits. White food products were a no-no. No white rice, no white sugar, no white bread or pasta, only brown rice, brown sugar and brown bread, including pasta. We ate no red meat and fasted often. Daily multi vitamin intake was a must and we read books like the Sugar Blues, Back to Eden and the Vitamin Bible. We also read every ingredient label on every package A habit which was difficult to break until maybe five years ago. We somehow missed the elimination of dairy, but we bought and ate raw cheeses. We needed our calcium in our quasi vegetarian diet and got it there. I felt like I had kicked the habit, was pretty familiar with the foods I consumed regularly and just stopped paying close attention to labels.
AS I look back it's clear that I had a pretty solid foundation on what and what not to eat. I learned to enjoy different foods and tastes, and learned how to prepare many delicious dishes that were healthy and tasty. In those days there weren't that many alternative foods to sate even the under active taste bud. There are so many alternative wheat products now, so making the transition from an avid bread enthusiast to living without has been easier than one would think.
What this lifestyle change has done for me is made me appreciate how wonderful it is to be sensitive to my body and the messages it emits when I fall into some bad habits. It is easier to let go of bread, dairy and sugar and a great way to keep my health predispositions at bay. Wonderfully, grocers, organic growers, and food scientists have been able to supply us conscientious objectors with a diverse selection of choices; a number of healthy alternatives that sustain, and please the palate. With my history I am fortunate to understand the necessity of quality food, especially since Americans have decided that bigger and more is better even at the risk of poor health. We plump and grow and color and sweeten and enhance our foods in so many dangerous ways. We even purport that these foods are healthy even though they may contain partially hydrogenated oils and MSG and canola oil, and high fructose corn syrup..I could go on. And I realize that we're trying to get better by eliminating trans fats and becoming more aware of diseases that appear to be the result of all of these unhealthy by products that we ingest. But it never hurts to have more information on what is healthy and what can be unhealthy.
I got married to a wonderful man in 2007. He's Greek and eats a lot of bread. It just seemed the right thing to do to join him in his joyous consumption. Understand, I never disliked wheat. Wheat just disliked me. But in our courting and ensuing commitment, I forgot my self and my body and began to consume all of the foods I enjoyed without any filters or guidelines, especially during the periods when we would travel to Greece.
My father died, suddenly, last year. I'm sure you can imagine how losing a parent must be. but I cannot begin to describe his death's impact, it was clear that I was now an orphan. It was and has been very difficult to process this. Even at my age this new place in my life is a difficult pill to swallow and a very strange place to be. I, most of my life, have defined my life by my parents. And now that they're both gone I've lost touch with who I really am. I have too many opportunities to consider and no boundaries to protect. I'm all over the place. I have a huge sense of freedom, no overseers, no approvals to seek, but also of vulnerability and fear, in that there is no-one with the innate obligation to protect me at any cost. Its clear that I have to be a big girl now and take care of myself. And when in deep doo-doo hope that the friends and family that I hold dear love and care for me enough to help me take care of myself.
In the last year it has been apparent that I have not been taking care of myself. I've gained about 15 pounds that have put me into a whole new category of BMI The weight gain and poor eating habits has hindered my agility and my spirit. I do have genetic predispositions to diabetes and hypertension, and perhaps even MS. I know the risks of my behaviour and yet, I suppose I sought refuge in these unhealthy foods and behaviours to assuage my sorrow and comfort me through my grief.
it's been almost a year now since my dad passed, and 11 years since the passing of my mother, for whom I don't believe I properly grieved. But recently I have been able to work through some stuff. I feel a little stronger, and find it necessary to let go of my poor habits. I had forgotten myself in a such an unhealthy way. My eating habits deteriorated to such low levels that I believe I really did some damage. I have been unable to move forward as if trying to walk knee-deep through quicksand. I am and have been stuck, spiritually and physically.
Around this time of year I have a good friend who invites many to participate in his detoxification program. I have participated in his and other detox programs in the past and am always grateful for the outcomes. Cleansing the body is one of the most beneficial things we can do to manage our health and spirit. Detoxing provides me with more energy, clarity of mind, diminishing stress and just feeling lite on my feet. I would like to share my journey with you as I participate in this seasonal detox. It is my intention to not only create better health but eliminate some other junk that keeps my from moving forward and lightening my load. I hope you come along with me on this journey of cleansing in all aspects of my life.
Thanks for reading. Next Post - Detox The Beginning.
