After a lifetime of searching for the answer to my life-time of ill health I decided to be quiet, to rest, trusting this particular path was the turning point. Nearly 1-1/2 years have passed since I discovered, then began, the Specific Carbohydrate Diet and I am glad to continue a good report.

About 6 months ago I began cutting back on my supplementation, albeit a bit later than was probably advisable. It took an irritating affliction of hemorrhoids to inspire me to cut off my multivitamins, which cleared them up within a couple weeks. At that success I realized I was too irritable and edgy. I was likely taking too much of everything, which indicated my body was doing what it was made to do: digest and process nutritional food! Wow! Yay! Today the only supplements I am taking are: Vitamin K-2; D3, and a little HCL with each meal (hydrochloric acid-to aid digestion).

With hope rising I noticed my interest in life had also increased. Curiosity grew me a bit more each week with questions filling my mind and overflowing into my conversations. I found myself searching through drawers, looking into closets, dragging out boxes just to see what was in them. This treasure hunting began to reawaken interests that I realized I had laid down years ago. As I found beautiful fabrics that I had ‘saved’ for a special garment, or photographs I had forgotten I had taken, I began remembering . . . I had forgotten . . . I had not remembered for a long time. It was like the story of Rip Van Winkle, I was waking up!

The more I ‘woke up’ the more I pursued activities I used to love, such as working in my studio in graphics and sound production; reading a number of new books-on a variety of subjects, while reading through some old favorites; moving my sewing room back into our main house and re-organizing it in the process; updating software programs, installing them and cleaning out old files; reconnecting with special people that just seemed to have dropped out of my life. All the while my brain began functioning more quickly and creatively, yet I noticed I was more calm and able to make my time count, function more efficiently. My capacity for appreciation and joy increased as well with my days more full of satisfaction and less stress, thus I slept increasingly better.

For the first 6 months my weight dropped off another 10 lbs, which caused a little concern. I hadn’t been down to 113 lbs since I was anorexic just after graduation from high school. But, around the 8th month my weight started creeping back up and has been holding between 117 & 120, which I think is about the right weight for someone slim and 5’ 2-1/2” tall. Through all this I have continued with the Silver Sneakers workout program, which is quite a thorough workout with the skilled trainer/instructor here in Olympia. My balance is very good with a strong core, great flexibility, good muscle tone and great community at the work-outs. Nice!

What am I eating? Check out the last post: “Discovery: “The Specific Carbohydrate Diet,” as I am eating the same diet. Elaine Gotschall, the author of “Breaking The Vicious Cycle,” suggests staying on this diet for 2 years, but other testimonies have stated being cured in 6 months. So, when I have recently been faced with ingesting a bit of organic rice in a dish specially prepared for us, I ate it, enjoying it very much and had no negative results. I suspect that I am cured of the upper-gut bacterial overgrowth and probably can eat some bread and grains and perhaps even a bit of sugar. However, I feel better than at any other time of my life, so as of today I will continue on this limited but delicious, whole food, non-processed way of eating.

Enjoy!