Dirk_E, Age 46. Advanced cleansing. 7DW Level 2, Introduction

[Dirk_E]

Hello Fellow Cleansers!

I did my first cleanse in October last year. My previous Level 1 intro has been reposted here on the board.

I am living in Japan and have a busy life -like everybody I know, with not enough time for the really important issues in life.

I consciously make an effort to break this crazy life style by asking my wife out to have a drink so that we can talk about nothing in particular; go out and see or listen to something beautiful; reading a good book, helping my 9 year old finding a plot for a story he has to write...

I am married and we have two children. Jobwise I deal a lot with people in an international context. Eating and drinking without paying attention is part of it. Irregular schedules, business travels and emergencies, a lot of PR-talk and shallowness are also part of it.

Keeping balance is what I try to do. Not only in Aikido practice but also in daily life. I regularly go flat on my back or on my face but can always find a way to get up again.

There is a lot I can do better.

After the Level 1 I didn't pay attention to the post-cleanse instructions and I realize now how bad a mistake that really is!

Still, I tried to focus on having more fresh fruits and salads in my eating habits. I enjoy eating salads now! And I always have a full bottle of water on my desk.

Most profound change for me was taking the habit of a one day fast every week with lots of water. The money I save on that day I put away in a special for charity fund. This motivates me to put aside the problems I encounter during the daywith sticking to this regimen. (How do I dare to complain when so many around the world have to put up with no food for longer periods of time out of necessity my mother used to say...)

Results and changes: hard to believe it but is a fact that with my allergy and asthmatic condition...

I am without medication for months now; sleep horizontally even better than before; my skin has become much softer, my previously noisy joints are getting more silent, the start of varicose veins is disappearing...people who haven't seen me comment on my youthfull appearance and fit figure (which becomes embarrassing and leaves me sometimes speechless).

What I expect from the next level(s)?

I will just continue along the road chosen. There is still a lot of work to be done on the physical and spiritual level. I know that there is also no going back for me ...it is very hard to believe what I really see happening! I need no motivation to go on, I try to go step by step sorting out the issues that come to the fore, for instance...

I started out beginning last year to get back in shape again and lose some weight. Nothing more nothing less. Objectives have been met succesfuly.

However it turns out that it is going to be about much more than that...

as for my feelings on this, they are mixed -I knew so well who I was and accomodated to all my weaknesses, fitted them so well into my lifestyle.

I never had the chance to get to know the person full of vibrant health who is hiding inside.

I have changed jobs at different periods in my life and lived up to several professional and personal challenges, but you will hardly believe this...I have trouble of letting the old 'sick' me go and I am afraid of the healthy me.

There is more truth in this than you might believe...but that is how I feel.

Strange isn'it?

I will not close this introduction in this philosophical mode (I majored in (ancient Chinese) philosophy if you forgive me!) but admit to the pleasant surprise I have when accidentally I touch my own hands or face and am equally wondering how wonderfully soft they feel.

Yes, this is also me I have to reassure myself!

Let's clean the mess out everywhere, own colon first!

[Claudette_P]

Dirk:

Thank you for sharing from your heart. We judge ourselves so fiercely...it puts me in mind of the concept of being a friend to ourselves; rather than treating ourselves, sometimes, in a manner that we would not even subject our worst enemy!

We are fantastic, glorious, incredible creatures evolving and growing (sometimes I feel like a multiple personality too!) and have also discovered a self that has been trapped under all those layers and pounds of "waste".

It is wonderful to share this journey with you, fellow traveler, and your story and progress encourage me, as well, as many who will benefit from your honesty.

I, too, will be looking forward to cheering you on during this next level.

Love,
Claudette

[Susan_L]

Dirk:

You are marvelously changing -- so much good change since your last (first cleanse).

I heard this once and it has been a guiding principle for me:

Courage is being afraid and facing the fear.

I wish for you courage, my friend. Change is a very scary thing. It is scary for you who are experiencing change and scary for those around you. It disrupts equillibrium.

Still, the equillibrium that was your truth wasn't working for you. You have chosen this path which will disrupt the equillibrium you have known. If you believe in this path (as I believe you do), have courage to experience the new balance which is evolving.

You can trust the outcome to bring you to a satisfying place.

Susan_L

[Tisha_P]

Hi Dirk,

You have made great progress since your level 1. You really have such a positive attitude.

I have a 14yo son who is trying to lose weight. It seems that he will lose a little and then turn around and gain it right back. It seems that his weight, even though I know he would like to lose, is somewhat of a comfort to him. Just as he is losing weight and people are telling him how handsome he looks, a trigger goes on somehow, and he starts making the wrong eating choices again.

I will be interested to read about your insights into this as you progress through this program. Maybe there will be something that I can say to my son to help get him over the hump.

Good luck on your level 2,
Tisha

[Fran_D'A]

Hi TIsha,

My 17 yr old son takes after me and is stick thin. He struggles to gain weight. My almost 9 yr old son is a much stockier build and takes after his father, who has had a lifelong struggle with weight. At the last annual checkup, the doctor noted that the little one was high on the charts for weight, at 73 lbs. He offered this advice, which I think was great. He said, that as a growing child, my son would need to be 73 lbs at some time in the future. So, instead of trying to lose weight, concentrate on not gaining anymore weight. He told him to still eat the foods he likes, but try to eat a little less. This way he won't feel like he is being deprived or punished for his weight. Maybe this approach will help your son.

[David_T]

Press on! Thanks for sharing so deeply of yourself. You remind me that I must continue to drink more water! hehe.

You remind me also about the difficulty in making profound changes in ones life. I applaud you for your courage. You are a good model for your family and the people you love.

Good luck with your level 2, I will be watching with great courosity.

Love and light,

David_T

[Dirk_E]

Hi mothers,

Thanks for the encouragement. How to teach the children about it?

I certainly think that the positive approach is the right one -since things that are forbidden have great appeal to them.

(I have met quite some people raised as very strict "foodfundamentalists" who have abandoned every concern about healthy food as a reaction to their childhood)

That's why we have "house rules" on proper eating, but if our boys are guests somewhere else they can participate (be social) in what is on offer there (mostly chips, pizza, coke or other junkfood or snacks...)

The frequency of these invitations elsewhere makes it more of a learning experience for them to appreciate the quality of the food at home.

To benefit from it - we also ask them to check on the difference of their BM (size, smell, colour,...). At age 5 and 9 there is pride in big BM and it entitles them to some bonus points that can be cashed in for a toy at the start of holidays. Dad, come and have a look this one really deserves 3 points :-)

My mother used to tell me to leave table with still enough space in my stomach to have another serving. Dan Reids's 80% rule says the same: basic rule is eating less then full and eating consciously.

Every step is a step...

There is an ugly variety of white spongy kind of bread here on the market. Because the children like it once in a while we have it. They can eat it toasted and without us-parents commenting on it. Usually during the week they eat healthier whole grain bread made at home.

To much of a good thing would end up bad. We don't really want to get rid of these bad things, because sometimes they are good.

e.g. when I had too much food on an evening, nothing helped my stomach better than a quickly gulped down coke!

I must say, that this "medicinal use" of softdrinks has slowly dissapeared...

How to teach children that are older, I have no idea, but I will have to in a couple of years. Could be an interesting discussion topic for sharing experiences.

[Melody_C]

Dirk,

You have such a great attitude regarding your life and cleansing journey. I am sure Level 2 will be just as fabulous as Level 1 was for you. I think we all get a little anxious here and there regarding any type of change, and with cleansing its no different.

Looking forward to seeing your level 2 posts!


xo, Melody.