Re-Intro for an 0+
Hi gang! I introduced myself once before but I got busy and went
away…blah blah so I didn’t keep in touch with the list but I’m back
now and happy to be here! I see there is are alot more participants
so I’ll reintroduce myself!
My name is Amanda and I am 29 years old. I lived in British
Columbia, Canada, most of my life until I moved here January 2000
(Ontario, Canada). Although my ills are nothing compared to some of
you I thought I’d share a bit of me.
When I was a child I caught every cold going around at school and had
strep throat about twice a year. My single mom finally got fed up
paying for antibiotics which ended up costing her more each time
since the regular ones would not work and at about age 12, she took
me to a Nautrapath. Simply cut out dairy was the number one problem
(and it was a for a teenage kid who loved pizza, yogurt, cheese,
milk…). It was really hard but I started to feel better and when I
was 16 they finally decided to take my tonsils out.
I got to learn more as I grew older and lived on my own at 18 (after
an appendictomy and a breast reduction). My weight fluctuated all the
time and I remained prone to sinus infections. (learned how to use
warm water and salt to rid this fairly well). I began to realize that
something else was in my way and about 3 years ago I learned about
Dr. D’s theories a bit. After years of seeing Nautropaths, massage,
chiro and even tried acupunture I knew I had to take care of myself
better but this realization only came two years ago when I was a
crazy woman! (I worked one full time admin job, photo tech part
time, waitressed part time, and was a volunteer coordintor for an
exhibition year round aside from some other things I dabbled in). I
was told that at 26 I was beginning to internally be over 35. I went
on stress leave because I became so depressed and angry in my daily
life and I’ve always been an outgoing and happy person. The doctor
tried to give me some meds but I knew it wasn’t the right way to go
and I definitely didn’t feel like myself after a few days on them so
in the trash they went. My energy dwindled and I told my nautropath
that I couldn’t remember the last time I had a good peaceful sleep.
I am an active dreamer at night and often I had to go pee so my sleep
was always interrupted! Apparently this isn’t normal. He did my
blood test right there and saw I was a blood type O+. He also
mentioned my thyroid was pretty much at a standstill and the fact
that I don’t sleep well is causing so much grief for my body. I
asked him about Dr. D and he agreed with some of the theories (this
guy is in his 50’s and looks like he’s 32 so I’d believe him)
I fell in love with a wonderful man and moved to Ontario and took it
as a sign to begin a new life. When I got the first book and read
type O - it was ME!!! I could not believe it. Although it is
difficult in a new city to find the things you need and are used to
and having a partner who thinks hot dogs and kraft dinner are the
best, I must say I struggled! Things I missed the most was the fresh
seafood which is almost impossible to find here. Also, Kitchener is
a very European town so lots of markets which is bad in one way with
all the fresh bad meats but good in all the fresh meats and Mennonite
organic vegies and there are quite a few natural stores around too.
But in the last 2 months I have been experimenting a bit and notice
things, like geez, surprise, surprise, when I eat a wheat product I
get stuffed up instantly and feel lethargic! Needless to say, I’m
starting to pay attention, and feeling better, losing a bit of that
fluctuating weight, and Derek is being supportive and open to it
all. Also, I am doing home schooling to get my degree in Holistic
Applied Nutrition, something that has always appealed to me. I’ve
learned so much from the books I’ve been studying. (For survival, I
work at Family and Children’s Services full time).
I think this is the short version although I’m sure there’s a few
things missing. Thanks for reading on, if you got this far, and I
look forward to continuing to learn from all of you.
Keep smiling always!
Amanda Schaffner
August 26th, 2004 at 9:21 pm
Amanda, I appreciate your great introduction–it’s so great that you found
improved health via ER!
I wanted to ask a favor of the gang on the list. Anyone who has time and
inclination, I’d love to hear your stories about what your experiences
were like when you first started the ER diet. I’m sure you get requests
like this all the time from newbies, so if no one feels like rehashing,
that’s fine. But my body’s been wacky since I started maybe a week and a
half ago, and I know everyone’s body will react differently, but I’d sure
feel better if I heard that other people had similar experiences.
I’d been a vegetarian for four or five years. When I first started the
program, I felt these surges of energy from the combination red meat and
increased exercise. In the past few days things have gone haywire–as I
mentioned in an earlier post, my sinuses have gone insane; yesterday I was
nauseated most of the day just from the amount of mucus I was swallowing.
I also was exhausted, slept most of the day. Today still lots of drainage
(I’m sure you’re all delighted to hear about my more icky bodily
functions, but there it is) but not so sleepy and nauseated, I’m hoping
the worst is over. Still feel kind of off, though, not much energy, a
little dizzy. Now I’m having bizarre food cravings; bizarre because I’m
not craving the foods I have given up, nor the new HB foods like red meat,
but rather weird neutrals like eggs and chicken, neither of which I ate
much of before. I feel like my body is just off doing its own thing, as
bodies are wont to do during pregnancy or sickness or other weird hormonal
changes. I feel like, hmm, wonder what bizarre body things I will
experience tomorrow! No one knows, it’s a mystery! And I’m going just on
faith that this is some kind of detox process, rather than something
nasty.
Or maybe it’s just allergy season and I’m hypersensitive.
Anyone have any thoughts?
Thanks!
Kelly
August 27th, 2004 at 9:56 am
Kelly wrote: And I’m going just on faith that this is some kind of detox
process, rather than something nasty.
Hi Kelly. I originally joined the ER4YT because of chronic sinus problems
amongst others. What you are experiencing I went through too. It is just a
form of detox in my opinion. As you are not aggravating your sinus problem
by eating the wrong food, the mucous build up you have is coming loose.
Sound groce, but it is true. It will drain until it is clean. If you start
eating avoids like orange juice, wheat, dairy, it will build up again and
you will have the constant drip. I don’t have any medical evidence here,
but I can tell you what I went through. To me it feels as if the mucous is
more sticky when I am eating avoids, hence the constant DRIP. When I eat
right, I have a constant WATERFALL for a few days until I am clean. Then
its ok. I suspect yours will be the same. Just stick it out.
Lots of love
Hilda (South Africa)
August 27th, 2004 at 7:15 pm
I feel better after reading more on this topic. The “up to a year”
had me skittish. I am starting to incorporate as much of the
beneficial and neutrals into my diet as possible, and reduce the
avoids.
I have been on a “healthy” diet since college, when I went lacto-ovo
veggie (forget the lacto now!), and health food. I am healthy for 43,
thanks to good genes and good food. Now I know all those whole grains
and dairy weren’t the best. At least the organic fruit and veggies
were good, now just to eat the “right” ones. <g
It’s difficult, but I’m trying. I will probably do the “I Love
Dieting” to get a kick start, though not until after my holiday in a
couple of weeks. Hopefully it will help me stop craving those carbs
in forms of bread, pasta, etc. I still eat rice, but less. <sigh
Thanks,
E Long (female, first initial + middle name, call me “E Long”)
August 28th, 2004 at 11:36 am
Hi Kelly & Amanda,
I was vegan for 6 years and lacto-veggie for the last 2 years before
I started eating the LR diet on April 7th. I jumped in with both
feet and I had some really weird things happen to me. I felt really
great at first. But then within 2 weeks I started feeling a
little ’shaky’ and my hormones went completely out of whack. I had a
regular cycle 27 days exactly every month and then the first cycle
after changing my diet I went 47 days! It was weird - I had PMS
those 20 extra days and I never get PMS. Completely whacked out
hormones.
Now, I am noticing a lot of little things. Usually after my morning
shower I would have to blow my nose first thing but now I never need
to. I did not have the severe sinus issues that you had but I did
have mucous. I have noticed that if I cheat with wheat - I get it
again. I also get extremely sleepy when I eat wheat. I have always
had dry skin on my arms and legs and now that is lessening also. I
get hungry more often so I am eating 5 smaller meals each day. I
lost weight in the beginning but now it has slowed down. I found
(with Thomas’ help) that I was still eating too many carbs. That has
really been my biggest struggle.
Good Luck and it was wonderful to hear from you both!
Colleen
August 28th, 2004 at 6:39 pm
Hey I want to say thanks to all the people who have written about their
and my initial weeks on the ER diet, that’s all just so helpful,
especially what so many of you said about the weird sinus thing being
typical. The nausea did end after a couple of days, I’m still having a
lot (though obviously less) drainage. My O buddy who started the
diet with me is salso having a lot of drainage.
These days my task is to make the diet more fun. I’m trying to emphasize
the things on the diet that actually taste good to me. Otherwise, that
“medicine” metaphor is just all too real. My fridge is now full of food
that I don’t enjoy eating but that makes me feel good afterwards. I guess
I lost my taste for meat, as a vegetarian, and I thought bringing
additional greens into my life would be fun, but turns out no. Fruits,
that’s where it’s at. I’m also on a quest for compliant preprepared and
easily-prepared food.
Anyway, sleep patterns, that’s another interesting question. The main
thing I notice is I’m not so much of a night person as I had been. I get
sleepy earlier, sleep through the night, and wake up earlier. Also I
figured out I had been retaining water during the day–if I weighed
myself, I would be about four pounds heavier at night than in the
morning–and that’s changed, which was interesting.
I definitely have more energy for running, especially now that the nausea
thing is receded.
Elizabeth, all that thyroid stuff you posted was interesting. I even went
and got my thermometer and tested my underarm temperature–97.5,
borderline. How about that. Maybe some of these yummy O-compliant foods
I find will help with that too.
Kelly
Amanda,
August 29th, 2004 at 12:56 pm
This is something I am finding. Having recovered from what the doctors
say was Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome by being strict with the LR diet I
am finding that eating wheat will send me virtually back into the same
state of fatigue.
LnL,
Steve - Cheltenham, UK
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August 29th, 2004 at 10:53 pm
Thanks Steve,
I won’t try to sneak by with those HB’s fixed in a wheat based sauce or gray
any more.
Sarah
August 31st, 2004 at 1:29 am
I’m having trouble with some of the acronyms used in this group. I
hate to sound ignorant, but what is HB?
Thanks! elp
August 31st, 2004 at 6:06 am
Highly Beneficial…
LnL,
Steve - Cheltenham, UK
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