Optimum Health Institute-One Month Later

After one week at the Optimum Health Institute I got home with the best intentions. I slid down the slippery slope and ended up in a rebound love affair with sugar. Within a week I had gained back all but one of the nine pounds I’d lost. That is a long, hard week’s worth of work down the drain. But then again, maybe not. I do feel better and it’s easier to “be good” after my initial rebound.
I got back on my feet and was able to stay away from the sugar. The week of wild abandon was not as satisfying as I thought and I really missed my veggies. So now I’m striking a nice balance of mostly whole, raw foods and some sweets for emotional fulfillment or social situations. After spending time at OHI I’m moving towards all raw and plan to get this 30-day raw food done by the end of July.  
One positive observation: plant power in the pool. I’ve started getting some swimming workouts in and trying to get in shape. I signed up for the Utah Summer Games Master’s swim meet. I didn’t want to participate because I’ve been mostly out of the water for the past few years. (It's the old "I don't want to get into a swim suit" excuse.) The last time I swam in this meet was 6 years ago and I weighed 30 pounds less than I do right now. I decided to swim anyway just to see where I’m at. I was surprised that I swam as fast as I did and I wasn’t that far off from my times six years and 30 pounds ago.  I actually ended up with two first places and two seconds places. Both of the first places were new records for my 45-49 year old age group. Go figure! My 50 Meter Freestyle time of 33.43 even qualified me to swim in the Master’s National meet in CA this August. I’m excited to swim because the last time I went to a National meet was in Mission Viejo in 1985. So as of now I am officially in training. No more sugar, no more junk. Raw food starts now. Lets see how far this plant power will take us!

http://www.thespectrum.com/article/20130622/SPORTS/306230004/Utah-Summer-Games-swimming-family-affair

Saturday at OHI

I felt good when I awoke this morning. Renee and I slugged down our wheatgrass juice like pros then got ready for breakfast. Everything is winding down and I’m excited and nervous to be going home tomorrow. I’m not sure I’m ready to leave this place and venture out in the world again but I really miss the kiddos. I can’t wait to get home to my family.

I’m still struggling with cravings now and then and I want to continue this program. I know I’m not done detoxing and I look forward to feeling really good. Most of the pain in my body is gone and I can walk with no sharp knee pain. The lump at the back of my skull had gone down considerable and is no longer tender. Not sure what it was but I’m glad it’s leaving! (I was afraid that it would keep on growing and one of my alter egos would take up residence at the back of my head-Harry Potter style. Glad that didn't happen.)

Renee, too, has seen so much improvement during this past week. She was able to stop taking her pain medication for her rheumatoid arthritis for the first time in years. She also feels like she learned so much and made some startling discoveries about her own life.

We attended the closing class then had lunch. Afterward we had a quiet afternoon journaling and setting up a life plan to help us succeed in the “real world.” Spent time after dinner visiting with the other guests then watched the “Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead” documentary in the evening. One day I will do an extended juice feast. Just for fun.

Friday at the Optimum Health Institute

“You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you’ll discover will be wonderful. What you’ll discover is yourself.” - Alan Alda

Friday 5/17/13

I didn’t get to sleep until around 12:30 this morning but I wasn’t too worried about it because I planned on sleeping in. I slept well but was awakened at 5:30 am by a loud, urgent pounding on the door. I jumped out of bed and ran down the stairs to see who it was. There was no one at the door. I checked the back door but there was no one there either. It was a little puzzling but I returned upstairs and went back to bed. Instead of sleeping, I remained wide awake listening to my thoughts. I had ideas, and hopes and goals rattling around in there. Intrigued by some of my thoughts, I got up and wrote them in my journal. I was able to record inspiration on how to handle aspects of my life as well as long lost goals and dreams that resurfaced after years of hiding out. By the time I finished writing it was around seven so I headed out to the wheatgrass juicing room to prepare our morning juice. 

Before Friday’s breakfast we had the testimonial meeting where people share their experiences at OHI. So many miracles occur here, it’s truly amazing. I want to tell everyone who has a health issue or who wants to get more energy or tune up their body or sort through their issues or learn to deal with stress in their life to Go To The Optimum Health Institute! I guess that would include about everyone. I would love to bring all four of my children here at one point or another because it’s a basic owner’s manual for the human body. Hubby tried out week one a few years ago and my beautiful firstborn, Asia, went with me two years ago when she was 20.

We had breakfast and then I went to a great organic gardening class taught by Dan. Lunch was a tasty raw pizza with the usual salad and sprouts. Then afternoon class and a massage. We also managed to get some goodies from the Friday lunch buffet prepared by the third-weekers. Dehydrated seed and veggie crackers and an assortment of sauerkraut. It tasted much better than it would have at the beginning of the week.

After dinner was Friday Night Live, the weekly OHI talent show. Renee sang an incredible version of Amazing Grace. What a beautiful voice she has. What a great week it’s been.

About that early morning knocking... It may have just been a dream, but I’m going with the theory that it was my subconscious mind knocking loud enough to wake me up. I’ve been asleep for way too long.