Ilya_N, Age 29, 7DW Level 1, Introduction

[Ilya_N]

(So here I go. Hard to concentrate with all that’s going on, but I guess I can’t –and shouldn’t- postpone my introduction anymore. Plus, I like the idea of starting my “spring cleaning” now that spring arrived.)

I’m turning 30 this year. Can’t really say where home is. Been traveling extensively for the past few years due to work (i'm an artist). I rarely spend more than a couple months in one same place. Needless to say, my life is quite unstable and unpredictable.

I write this from a place where I intend to remain for at least four months to concentrate on one thing only: my health. No work, no stress. Pretty much just me and a colema board. And most importantly, a caring, compassionate and supportive environment to help me reconnect with my body.

Came across HPS almost a year ago looking for information on urine therapy, and immediately felt like coming home. I grew up in a quite progressive family that has always been more than open to alternative ideas, especially those related to health. Our family doctor was both a homeopathist and acupuncturist and we were often surrounded by naturists and yogis. My parents have never trusted western medicine, so I’ve never relied on medications. I’ve probably taken less than 10 aspirins in my entire life. Clay and an enema bag is what you would surely find in my mom’s medicine cabinet. Have known about the basics of food combining, colon cleansing, fasting, skin brushing, etc, etc, etc, for more than a decade now. I don’t smoke, drink or do drugs (a surprise, since I have quite an addictive personality). Became a vegetarian when I was a teenager --although my reasons weren’t health ones, but political and moral.

But, I’m definitely not healthy. To tell you the truth, I’m quite ill because i've always been inconstant, but most importantly, proud and arrogant.

I have developed a severe hormonal imbalance complete with cysts and a tumor (benign), crazy weight fluctuations, skin problems, and a quite extreme and reactive personality (one day I’m energetic, happy and sunny and the next I’m depressed, stressed out and tired as hell).

I was a competitive athlete during my teens, until I had a major accident. I broke a bone, tore some ligaments and dislocated my hip. I went from training 4 or 5 hours a day, 6 days a week to absolutely no exercise at all. Totally threw me off balance. Screwed up my metabolism.

So, the thing is that although I have a fairly decent notion on what I would have to do to get on the road to health, I keep boycotting myself with half-assed actions. I neither follow the endocrinologists’ suggestion to go under the knife and take all kinds of pills for the rest of my life (of course), or adopt any permanent healthy habits.

I am here because of the support community. I'm now ready to accept that it’s exactly what I’ve been missing to stay on the path. I can’t agree more with what Joshua says in the ebook: one can have all the information, but it won’t really work if you don’t have a caring group behind and next to you every step of the journey. And it’s absolutely crucial that it’s strangers with no close emotional attachment.

Anyway, I can’t tell you how much I look forward to this experiment with all of you. I can’t remember ever been as inspired. This is so great.

Freedom. Peace.
I.

[Pat_W]

Dear Ilya,

Welcome to our group. I think that you've made a thoughful committment that will help you to find the direction and stability that you need to stay to course to health.

I know from experience what it is to sabotage your own wellness with excusses and such. It really feels terrible and helpless to be lost in the abyss of knowing the right way to go but, as you put it boycotting the actions that would get you there.

I think you'll find this a very caring group of cleansers who will be there with you every step of the way.

Love and Light,

Pat

[Joanne_M]

Hi Ilya,

Welcome to our community! You are so WISE to do this at your age! Congratulations! Envision decades of health ahead of you!

It is also wonderful that you have such a large block of time in which to give this your full concentration. You'll realize that, as time goes by. You're starting a journey of cleansing and enlightenment and I feel certain it is one you will enjoy.

Best Wishes,
Joanne

[Ilya_N]

Pat, Joanne, thank you both so very much for the welcome. Such a great gift to be on the same boat as you guys. I know it's gonna be a great journey.
All my best.
Peace.

[Jake_W]

Welcome Ilya,

Glad to have you join our group. Given your upbringing you are a step ahead of most of us who were raised with Western medicine and SAD eating habits. I have been a vegetarian for about 9 years now but had unhealthy eating and work habits that were taking a toll on my health. This program has made all the difference in the world.

I wish you the best and will enjoy following your progress. This program can have a profound impact on your health. I will be curious to learn how it impacts your artistic expression.

[Ilya_N]

Hey Jake!
Thanks so much for your words.

I really hope that --as you've said-- I'm a step ahead. But so far, having an idea of what's best for my health, hasn't made that much of a difference (even though I'm a vegetarian, and, say, eat only fruit in the mornings, my eating habits are absolutely awful). In fact, in some cases, knowing it has kind of worked against me. For starters, you can't imagine how much I've beaten myself up after, for example, binging on junk food. Guilt makes one do really stupid things. Plus, it turns one into a nervous wreck. On the other hand, it's taken me at least 12 years to accept that I'm a long way from being able to do this on my own. I know I'll learn more from Joshua and you guys than what I've learned in the past decade.

I'm hoping with all my heart that with this community's support I can find the strength to finally get rid of this terrible habit of not keeping up with things I start. I'm optimistic that this is the coming full circle for me.

All my best and peace to all.
I.

PS I'm also very curious to see how a cleanse can impact my work. It seems clear that when one flushes out crap, everything starts flowing more freely (be it nutrients or creativity).

[Michelle_M]

Ilya,

I can relate to feelings of guilt associated with binging. Do you binge out of boredom, stress or habit? I think I do a little of all of the above. But, since my level 1, and now getting ready for level 2, I'm slowly coming to terms with my bad habits. SOOOO refreshing to know I'm working on long-term issues that need to be addressed.

You will be rewarded for your efforts. Be consistent and love yourself through the process. Changes will occur over time and with consistency. Good luck with your cleanse. The group has saved me and kept me focused.

Your friend,
Michelle_M

[Jake_W]

Ilya,

I could write a book on being an unhealthy vegetarian. I used to drink 3 Dr. Pepper's a day and often lunch would be peanut butter crackers and a Dr. Pepper. I'd skip dinner or have a bowl of cereal.

You are so right about how guilt makes you do stupid things. But beating yourself up about the bad food choices you make doesn't make it better so try to let go of the guilt and leave room for positive changes. I don't always make the best choices (especially when I'm stressed out) but I'm making more good ones all the time. You will too as you move forward with the program.

[Tina_A]

Ilya,

Welcome!! Can't add much to what the others have already said. Just know that many others have felt the way you have, that I know what a struggle it is to "know" what one should be doing in order to enjoy optimum health and the utter frustration of not being able to follow through, and the endless beating up of oneself for not being able to do it. My mantra now is -Just Start- no matter how many times I fail and have to START OVER. I don't care. Just Start and keep starting over as often as necessary. I find that my motivation gets stronger each time I go through the starting over pains. Wishing you the best and please keep in mind that it is likely that even after your first cleanse you will find yourself falling back on old habits. Many of us have done so. It is not perfection we seek. Just trust that once you are on the path the changes will come along in their time.

Cheers, Tina A

[Joy_M]

Hi Ilya,

Welcome to the group. Sounds like you've had a very interesting life up to now. You're so lucky to have come to some of your realizations so young in life. And Tina is so right about falling back on old habits. I'm writing you while enjoying a big cup of hot coffee with cream and sugar. My first in almost 2 months.

You'll experence such incredible benefits from cleansing. And you'll learn that beating yourself up is only counter productive to the whole process. Kindness and compassion are the keys.

I can say without a doubt that it has literally saved my life. Life is good. In fact, its better than ever.

Best of luck on your new path......................joy

[Julee_T]

Welcome to the group. I am new and am in my second day of the formal cleanse. So far I have seen progress in battling my food addictions.

As you can see everyone is very helpful. You are so open that I know that you will get the support and advice that you need. Good girl for starting so young... although to read your input here, I would have guessed you were much older- you are very insightful. You must be an old soul.

I am looking forward to reading about your progress.

[Ilya_N]

Michelle, Tina, Joy, Jules and, again, Jake,
thanks so, so, so, so much for your support and encouragement. You're like tropical fresh fruit for my soul.

As I wrote in my introduction, I'm of a quite extreme personality, so I push everything to the limit only to bounce back to the opposite pole with a vengeance. I'm nervous, anxious and impatient. And that makes me sometimes behave quite manically, compulsively and self-destructively.

I'm looking for balance.

Reading your posts it made me realize that this program will not only help me to stay on the path, but will actually provide me with one. It becomes more and more obvious that, at least for me, it's all about structure.

It's like a jigsaw puzzle in which I've been missing a bunch of pieces, but more importantly, the glue to hold it all together.

Now I'm gonna go because it sounds like the UPS man is here with Reid's book (yey!). I'll later go check out what you guys have been up to. Hopefully I'll have something to share.

Peace. I wish us all the best. And once again, thank you. It's starting all to fall into place. You guys are already being that glue.

[Tisha_P]

Hi Ilya,

Welcome to the group.

How lucky you are to have been exposed to all of the healthy alternatives in your youth. I have five kids that I am trying to teach about what I have learned about good eating habits. The thing is, they will have to make their own choices someday. They are embracing this change in eating and other things but they still have fond memories of sugar, fast foods, junk food, and other things that we are cutting out of our lifestyle.

I know that one day they will have to decide for themselves how they want to live. I can not make that decision for them. All I can do is share with them what I have learned and hope that they will choose good health.

I have noticed that since my level 1 and even more after my level 2, that I am a calmer person. I used to be such a witch to my husband and kids. I now know that I was out of balance from all of my bad food choices plus the emotional roller coaster my dh and I seemed to be on. I was so worried that my kids would only remember me as this witchy woman that they called mom.

I have come such a long way. I can see that. I know that this program is one of the things that helped me become more in balance with myself. Cleansing not only gets rid of crud but also emotions that have been carried around for years and never gotten rid of. It sounds like these cleanses are just the thing for you to reclaim your health. Plus, I'll bet your mom would be a wealth of information and support for you.

Good luck on your cleansing journey.
Love,
Tisha

[Ilya_N]

Hey Tisha!
Thanks for the warm and motivating welcome.

If I didn't have enough reasons to get well, the possibility of inspiring my loved ones into thinking of alternatives to medicines would be more than sufficient.

Anyway, time to start a new thread. Moving to the precleanse forum. I can't wait to start.

Thanks you all so much. It's a great new beginning. Peace.

[David_T]

Welcome Ilya!

Please be gentle with yourself. You are where you are supposed to be at exactly the right time. You will get it now, or you won't. But there is no time like the present to love yourself.

love and light,

David_T

[Ilya_N]

Dear David,

Thank you so much for your words. Thank you. They came at the perfect time. I was right in the middle of a session of self punishment.

Signing up for this cleanse is probably the first truly good thing I've done for myself in a long, long time.

All my best,
I.