July 2010 Archives
Me, at the famous Red Rocks Amphitheater last month--it's a long walk from the parking lot and I had no trouble at all!Besides losing weight, my body is so much healthier overall. I am off all medication for rheumatoid arthritis except ibuprofen when needed, and I have needed that less and less till I have lately been noticing that I have gone whole days without even thinking of taking it. If you know anything about RA, you know this is remarkable!
My walking is so much better that I was able to walk around most of the floor at INATS a few weekends ago--I went 2 days in a row--and it's in a huge exhibition hall at the Denver Merchandise Mart and I'd had to walk quite a ways from my parking space even to get in the door. Did I feel it in my knees afterward? Yes--some, and I honored that and hastened to put my feet up when I got home while my lovely husband made a run to get Middle Eastern food (vegetarian, of course) for me so I didn't have to stand up to prepare something. But it didn't sideline me and I recovered very rapidly. I'm able to work out vigorously in my little swimming pool, and swim normally without having to do what I was doing before which is modifying my strokes to allow for joint pain.
I will not claim that there are no challenges. My longtime addiction to coffee/caffeine has proven to persist, and while I go weeks without it, there have been times when the demands of the upcoming book launch have seduced me into consuming the stuff. That has been the case lately, much to my dismay. While caffeine serves one purpose--to jump start me when I'm wanting to answer the alarm of the Difficult World Dictator who is telling me there's too much to do not to be snapping into action the minute I wake up--it does not serve my health, especially with adrenals that are stressed out.
Addictions are definitely the continual summonses of the Difficult World Dictator.
So the caffeine issue is something to address. Instead of resistance, dynamic surrender to my Spirit--the aspect of me that is always in Easy World--is the path through that--and any other difficulty. I still have a ways to go before I will have finished releasing the excess weight, but I'm enjoying my current plateau as it's allowing me to have clothes to wear that fit! (I bought clothes to get me through the summer because everything I had was several sizes too large.) I know that when it's time to take off more lbs., it will happen easily and naturally the way it has to this point.
So, to sum up my success formula for getting healthy and shedding the excess weight, with all the wonders that come along with that, I believe you need to surrender the process to your Spirit, release resistance, allow yourself to come into alignment with your divine blueprint, and trust your internal wisdom to take over and inspire you to want the things that are healthy for you and to simply find those that are not to be unappealing or, at least, no big deal. An important facet of this is to tell yourself you can have anything you want so there's no resistance within you--nothing to push against.
What are typical diets about? Resistance. They're about employing will power to resist eating things you'd enjoy and about eating what others tell you to eat instead of honoring your own body's wisdom. Resistance always puts you in Difficult World. The experience of Easy World is sustained by allowing.
When so many were preaching to me to just cut my calories or whatever their diet prescription du jour was, I knew that will power wasn't going to work for me. I knew it would take the kind of magical shift that has, indeed, occurred, once I surrendered to my Self. I knew it would take the kind of realignment only my Spirit could perform. And I was right.
The End (for now!)
I'm doing a free live seminar via Ustream tomorrow night (July 20) at 9 pm Eastern. Here's the scoop:
Who is the Difficult World Dictator and
How Can I Possibly Love Him?
How Can I Possibly Love Him?
Ah, Easy World. Realm of joy, prosperity and fulfillment. If being
there is a choice (it is), why wouldn't we be there all the time? Learn
about the Difficult World Dictator (DWD) and his masterful program for
keeping you in Difficult World, the difficult, and often painful, realm
he rules. Find out the very simple thing you must do in order to escape
his clutches as well as practical ways to deal with him so that you can
spend more and more time in Easy World!
Use this link to access the class when the time comes: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/choosing-easy-world
Use this link to access the class when the time comes: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/choosing-easy-world
One important aspect of this is that when I said to my Spirit I'd give
up anything to heal, I knew I had to be willing to give up anything
that was taking precedence over my alignment with my Spirit, and that
included my relationship with Rick. If he decided he wasn't willing to
support my new way of eating, there would be little hope for us.
The only way to be totally healthy is to put your relationship with your true Self before your relationship with any other human, any lifestyle or any addiction.
I remember a call with Rick while I was in Spain (thank heavens for Skype--we talked every day--sometimes multiple times--for free) when he asked "What is this all going to look like when you get home? How are we going to eat?" I told him I wasn't sure--but that I was pretty sure our relationship would depend on him going along with whatever I needed to do to heal.
Sure enough, the man got with the program, and though has not restricted himself to my plan, has done all the grocery shopping for the organically grown foods I've required and has happily eaten the vegetarian meals I've prepared.
Though I long for him to decide to do whatever it takes to get healthier and trimmer--he has been moving in that direction--he has to reach his own "come to Jesus" point and find his own way to come into alignment with himSelf. I am truly grateful he has not been working to sabotage me and has actually been supportive and proud of me! It has allowed our relationship to grow.
I must mention that before I surrendered completely to this process, I was guided to The Gabriel Method. When I stumbled upon it online, I immediately burst into tears, a sure sign that there was something important there for me. Jon Gabriel's story of his own process was totally inspiring and his theories about the body's "fat programs" rang so very true. So I ordered the program, downloaded the included meditation, and it has been magic--but it only started working for me once I did the necessary surrender.
Prior to my surrender moment, I'd listen and nothing much changed. It was only after I got back from Spain that I noticed that listening to it really seemed to make a difference in my weight loss and the behavior that contributes to it. Essentially, it works to align your subconscious with the understanding that when your body feels safe, it will let go of the weight effortlessly and that it is, indeed, safe to let go of the weight. It reinforces your natural desire to make healthy eating choices. I listen to it several nights a week as I am going to sleep.
to be continued...
The only way to be totally healthy is to put your relationship with your true Self before your relationship with any other human, any lifestyle or any addiction.
I remember a call with Rick while I was in Spain (thank heavens for Skype--we talked every day--sometimes multiple times--for free) when he asked "What is this all going to look like when you get home? How are we going to eat?" I told him I wasn't sure--but that I was pretty sure our relationship would depend on him going along with whatever I needed to do to heal.
Sure enough, the man got with the program, and though has not restricted himself to my plan, has done all the grocery shopping for the organically grown foods I've required and has happily eaten the vegetarian meals I've prepared.
Though I long for him to decide to do whatever it takes to get healthier and trimmer--he has been moving in that direction--he has to reach his own "come to Jesus" point and find his own way to come into alignment with himSelf. I am truly grateful he has not been working to sabotage me and has actually been supportive and proud of me! It has allowed our relationship to grow.
I must mention that before I surrendered completely to this process, I was guided to The Gabriel Method. When I stumbled upon it online, I immediately burst into tears, a sure sign that there was something important there for me. Jon Gabriel's story of his own process was totally inspiring and his theories about the body's "fat programs" rang so very true. So I ordered the program, downloaded the included meditation, and it has been magic--but it only started working for me once I did the necessary surrender.
Prior to my surrender moment, I'd listen and nothing much changed. It was only after I got back from Spain that I noticed that listening to it really seemed to make a difference in my weight loss and the behavior that contributes to it. Essentially, it works to align your subconscious with the understanding that when your body feels safe, it will let go of the weight effortlessly and that it is, indeed, safe to let go of the weight. It reinforces your natural desire to make healthy eating choices. I listen to it several nights a week as I am going to sleep.
to be continued...
Here I am in January of '09:
And here I am this April:
(Continued--you can read Part 1 of this here)
So everything was put in place for me to heal at the clinic and, as I realize after the fact, to metamorphosize (is that a word?) into a new person. That is what I feel like. A whole, new person. I apparently needed to step "out of context" to achieve this transformation. But please don't think you can't do this without going to Spain! That was MY answer--your Spirit will have one that fits for you.
While in Spain, I slept so much the first 2 weeks, it amazes me to imagine. I slept in my bed, night and day. I slept in my easy chair. I'd even fall asleep at the desk. Whenever I was not at an appointment or there was no one (housekeeping, nurses) in my room, I slept. It felt like I was a butterfly in the cocoon and when I finally stopped needing to sleep all night and most of every day, I felt like an entirely different being than the one who entered the clinic and I looked like one, too! I credit the juice fasting, the sleep and the colonics with that. Oh yeah--I had started drinking fresh carrot/celery juice daily even before going to the clinic as it is what I was craving. As I hadn't been able to stand up for long at all, Rick very kindly juiced for me and even more kindly, cleaned the juicer, too!
Prior to heading to Spain, I was guided to seek a treatment for my knees which were suffering both from severe osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and found a new medical procedure called "Knee Vitality." (I had to do that to even be able to walk well enough to do anything else--especially to travel internationally because even with wheelchair service, you have to be able to ambulate.)
Amazingly, after specifically asking Spirit how I could get my knees well enough to be able to do the walking I needed to do to get to the clinic and walk while I was there, I "heard" a crystal clear voice that said "Do a Google search for 'knee specialist, Denver'" and when I did, this procedure showed up at the top of the results. Turns out it's only done in 2 places in the world at present--Los Angeles, and at an outpatient surgery center about 15 minutes from my house. Amazing. How smart of Spirit to arrange that!
I had 3 treatments over as many weeks, and was walking well enough to travel, etc., by the time I left for Spain. It took me the whole time I was at the clinic to get to walking any real distance, but by the time I was headed home, I could walk without even using a cane. (I've had one more treatment recently and would have been able to go longer before getting one, but needed to go ahead and get it before our insurance changed at the end of June.)
Upon my return from Spain, I was guided to start drinking green smoothies and to eat vegan except for some fish once or twice a week, an occasional egg, and little goat cheese once in a blue moon (so far 3 times in 7 months). I was also guided to be sure most of the vegetables and fruits I eat are raw and to move toward at least 80% raw vegan.
I was advised to resist nothing and to eat whatever I really wanted. To my astonishment, what I've wanted 99.99% of the time are exactly the foods that support my feeling good physically and have allowed me to drop excess weight. I need to clarify here that though I did receive an overview of how to proceed, my guidance about what to eat didn't just come in some big mandate all at once--it's what I've been pretty consistently guided to do in the moment.
Have I stopped at Starbucks in response to an inner-child craving to have an iced mocha with whipped cream? Yep. Once. Did it hurt me? No--resisting would have hurt me more. But I know that consuming dairy and sugar is not healthy for me long-term-- and more importantly, I really don't like how they make me feel--so I simply don't normally feel like consuming them. Have I hit KFC when I was craving a fried chicken thigh? (My inner child LOVES KFC fried chicken thighs--Original Recipe--tastes like a treat from childhood when dinner from outside our house was a big deal--never mind how gross it is when contemplated rationally!) Yes, exactly twice in 7 months. And I was immediately satisfied--did not feel guilty, and haven't needed to do it again. If ever I do, I'll do it with gusto--in non-resistance and full appreciation for the experience.
The key seems to be to trust your body and not doubt it--not try to force it to do something different than it wants, because most of the time, it wants what will make it feel good. It's utterly amazing what you don't want when you tell yourself, as I do, "I can have anything I want." To allow yourself to want what you want and not to try and make yourself deny what you crave is so liberating and empowering.
But you have to stay conscious and not just eat habitually. You can't just deny whatever it is that is needy inside you that dictates your cravings. For this to work, you have to address that. What that looks like is different for each of us. I'm still figuring that out for me, but apparently, enough was resolved by the act of surrendering to my Spirit and coming into alignment, a lot has spontaneously healed.
Of course, you need to be in the moment with your eating and paying attention. When you do this, you won't normally get to the place where you just have to go to KFC or whatever your deal is. Sometimes if your body needs something--say, concentrated protein--your hunger for it will reference back to a food that seems like it will fill that need and also will fill a need of the child-self. Or of the fearful ego. And you know about dealing with ego--resistance only empowers it!
To be continued...
Only 30 more days till Choosing Easy World is released and we do the 10 Radiant Seconds event!!!
And here I am this April:(Continued--you can read Part 1 of this here)So everything was put in place for me to heal at the clinic and, as I realize after the fact, to metamorphosize (is that a word?) into a new person. That is what I feel like. A whole, new person. I apparently needed to step "out of context" to achieve this transformation. But please don't think you can't do this without going to Spain! That was MY answer--your Spirit will have one that fits for you.
While in Spain, I slept so much the first 2 weeks, it amazes me to imagine. I slept in my bed, night and day. I slept in my easy chair. I'd even fall asleep at the desk. Whenever I was not at an appointment or there was no one (housekeeping, nurses) in my room, I slept. It felt like I was a butterfly in the cocoon and when I finally stopped needing to sleep all night and most of every day, I felt like an entirely different being than the one who entered the clinic and I looked like one, too! I credit the juice fasting, the sleep and the colonics with that. Oh yeah--I had started drinking fresh carrot/celery juice daily even before going to the clinic as it is what I was craving. As I hadn't been able to stand up for long at all, Rick very kindly juiced for me and even more kindly, cleaned the juicer, too!
Prior to heading to Spain, I was guided to seek a treatment for my knees which were suffering both from severe osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and found a new medical procedure called "Knee Vitality." (I had to do that to even be able to walk well enough to do anything else--especially to travel internationally because even with wheelchair service, you have to be able to ambulate.)
Amazingly, after specifically asking Spirit how I could get my knees well enough to be able to do the walking I needed to do to get to the clinic and walk while I was there, I "heard" a crystal clear voice that said "Do a Google search for 'knee specialist, Denver'" and when I did, this procedure showed up at the top of the results. Turns out it's only done in 2 places in the world at present--Los Angeles, and at an outpatient surgery center about 15 minutes from my house. Amazing. How smart of Spirit to arrange that!
I had 3 treatments over as many weeks, and was walking well enough to travel, etc., by the time I left for Spain. It took me the whole time I was at the clinic to get to walking any real distance, but by the time I was headed home, I could walk without even using a cane. (I've had one more treatment recently and would have been able to go longer before getting one, but needed to go ahead and get it before our insurance changed at the end of June.)
Upon my return from Spain, I was guided to start drinking green smoothies and to eat vegan except for some fish once or twice a week, an occasional egg, and little goat cheese once in a blue moon (so far 3 times in 7 months). I was also guided to be sure most of the vegetables and fruits I eat are raw and to move toward at least 80% raw vegan.
I was advised to resist nothing and to eat whatever I really wanted. To my astonishment, what I've wanted 99.99% of the time are exactly the foods that support my feeling good physically and have allowed me to drop excess weight. I need to clarify here that though I did receive an overview of how to proceed, my guidance about what to eat didn't just come in some big mandate all at once--it's what I've been pretty consistently guided to do in the moment.
Have I stopped at Starbucks in response to an inner-child craving to have an iced mocha with whipped cream? Yep. Once. Did it hurt me? No--resisting would have hurt me more. But I know that consuming dairy and sugar is not healthy for me long-term-- and more importantly, I really don't like how they make me feel--so I simply don't normally feel like consuming them. Have I hit KFC when I was craving a fried chicken thigh? (My inner child LOVES KFC fried chicken thighs--Original Recipe--tastes like a treat from childhood when dinner from outside our house was a big deal--never mind how gross it is when contemplated rationally!) Yes, exactly twice in 7 months. And I was immediately satisfied--did not feel guilty, and haven't needed to do it again. If ever I do, I'll do it with gusto--in non-resistance and full appreciation for the experience.
The key seems to be to trust your body and not doubt it--not try to force it to do something different than it wants, because most of the time, it wants what will make it feel good. It's utterly amazing what you don't want when you tell yourself, as I do, "I can have anything I want." To allow yourself to want what you want and not to try and make yourself deny what you crave is so liberating and empowering.
But you have to stay conscious and not just eat habitually. You can't just deny whatever it is that is needy inside you that dictates your cravings. For this to work, you have to address that. What that looks like is different for each of us. I'm still figuring that out for me, but apparently, enough was resolved by the act of surrendering to my Spirit and coming into alignment, a lot has spontaneously healed.
Of course, you need to be in the moment with your eating and paying attention. When you do this, you won't normally get to the place where you just have to go to KFC or whatever your deal is. Sometimes if your body needs something--say, concentrated protein--your hunger for it will reference back to a food that seems like it will fill that need and also will fill a need of the child-self. Or of the fearful ego. And you know about dealing with ego--resistance only empowers it!
To be continued...
Only 30 more days till Choosing Easy World is released and we do the 10 Radiant Seconds event!!!
This is me at a restaurant a couple of days ago, eating raw green soup. It was delicious and I've been thinking about how to recreate it ever since.
And this was me before, at a restaurant a couple of years ago, eating some kind of cheesy sandwich and chips that were totally unmemorable. I don't even know what I weighed at that particular point, but it was at least 50 lbs. more than now. I hadn't even topped out by then--I certainly didn't get on the scales very often!So many folks have expressed a desire to know how I've so easily dropped so much weight, so I'm going to hit the highlights. I've already outlined some of this in other entries, but not from the place of having trimmed down to this point! This blog entry will be a multi-parter. I'll put the rest up in the next day or two.
The first and most vital thing, was that I had to finally wake up and face the fact that I was unhealthy and fat because I was living out of integrity with my Self and the divine blueprint for my health. I was not in alignment with the Design for Harmony within me. My health was deteriorating and I got to the point where I was unable to even walk without excruciating pain and was rapidly approaching not being able to walk at all. So I guess that actually the first thing was I needed to get to the place where I was sufficiently motivated to change. The specter of not being able to walk is very motivational!
I had abdicated responsibility for my health and I was also in a co-dependent relationship with Rick which centered around food--not so much "bad" food- but food that wasn't right for my body. Food that I was eating to soothe myself emotionally and, I suspect, to create some sort of insulation from the stings that come along with living on one's Pluto line and dealing with challenging blended family issues, etc. I did a whole lot of stuffing of anger and feeling powerless and stuffing myself with fattening foods.
One day, as I sat on my bed for a half hour or more, as had become routine, trying to get up the courage to make it the 5 feet or less to the toilet in the master bathroom because my knees were in such horrendous pain, something said, "Julia--this is not very Easy World." (Ya think?!)
I'd been using a walker to get around and a wheelchair when I had to go more than about 30 feet--VERY humbling and definitely not an EW experience for me. As I contemplated my need to live my truth about Easy World and everything else, especially since I'm the Easy World messenger, I realized that in Easy World, all this was already solved. I realized that I needed to surrender it to my Spirit, my personal Easy World guide, and let the Easy World magic transform me. I needed to do whatever I had to in order to get back to Easy World and its miracles.
So I surrendered. I sincerely surrendered and said I'd do ANYTHING and I'd let go of ANYTHING in order to heal. I meant it. And the guidance came.
Here's what I was guided to do. I was guided to refuse the powerful rheumatoid arthritis meds the rheumatologist said was the only answer (and it was, indeed, the only answer he had for me) and to get off of the one I'd been on for 10 years that was suppressing my immune system. I always felt I was somehow betraying my body's wisdom and violating a sacred trust when I was on this, but for a lot of years, the drug allowed me to stay in denial and eat the way I was eating without much pain. No more! That same medicine I'd been on for so long is renowned for adding pounds, but I can only blame that for so much!
So I decided to let my Spirit direct my healing and knew that a big part of that was that my weight would normalize. I instinctively knew my focus needed to be on feeling good and giving my body what it needs to feel good. And that the rest would magically take care of itself!
I was guided to go to a holistic clinic in Spain--Buchinger Marbella--to fast/cleanse and rest for 3 weeks. There's a whole cool story about how the Universe financed this for me, but I'll tell it later--don't want to get too bogged down in details. Suffice it to say, it was amazing the way everything was provided to make following my guidance possible even when I hadn't at first figured out how I could.
To be continued...
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, friends in the USA! Hope you're enjoying the holiday and appreciating your freedom.
