Yesterday, December 17, 2010, here in Ladysmith, British Columbia I went to see my doctor. Two concerns this time; my left ankle healing and shortness of breath.
My left ankle was injured the first Sunday in November on the 7th, 2010. I was in the garden, trying to pick some greens to make a Green Smoothie to take with me to the Raw Nanaimo potluck. To keep the rabbits out, I've got a small screen as a temporary gate. Instead of moving it, I tripped on it, slipped on a wet board with my left ankle and as I went down, felt a really sharp pain in my left ankle, which wasn't made better by my back landing on a sharp corner of the RV pad. I'm very fortunate, I didn't hit my head! I had an x-ray about November 17 and the technician told me I should follow up. My doctor brought the digital x-ray up on his computer and showed me I have little reason to worry; no fracture, but the torn ligaments are still hurting. He said that will take time.
My shortness of breath keeps getting worse. I saw an article in alive Magazine about COPD and wondered if that could be the problem. Also when I met Annamie, my wife in Calgary in April of 2008, I was 170 pounds, I wasn't looking forward to the inevitable weigh in. The doctor and I discussed COPD, he compared my overly swollen left ankle and foot to my right one and we could see there is a lot of fluid retention.
I was invited to the scale and was dismayed to discover I now weigh 234 pounds! Last time he weighed me, I was 214 pounds, down from 225#. Then my blood pressure was taken. And lastly, I was asked if I had finished my water pills. I haven't, because my weight was going in the right direction, but having been bed ridden for 40 days, I have been eating junk without trying to rest up my injured ankle without alleviating the other concerns.
Last thing Dr. Tim gave me was a prescription for water pills and told me to come back to see him after the New Year. We also discussed my "non-compliance" with doctors advice. Thankfully, Dr. Tim takes the attitude that he gives the best advice he knows, but compliance is up to the patient. He is also going to make me an appointment to have a spirometry test done.
All these things were swirling in my head as we made our way to Chemainus and Wing's buffet. Afterwards we stopped at the 49th Parallel Grocery in Ladysmith and I picked up my oatmeal and raisin cookies, two apple fritters and a 6 pack of Eccles cakes. To even things out, I bought some bananas and some breaded fish. I needed some closure.
This morning I got up at 8 o'clock and did some serious prayer and thinking. I'm overweight again and cheating on my exercise and raw foods. I'm supposed to see a surgeon in February for a right knee replacement, so I've not been getting any exercise for almost 2 years already. I've missed the last two potlucks and I miss the support I get there. So I have made the decision not to eat any solids, I'm on a water fast only again This is the sixth time I've done this in the last five years, the longest so far was 30 days, just before I met Annamie. I really like the FREEDOM fasting gives me! No more shopping, food preparation, dishes to do, defecating and the garbage to dispose of! And with all my fasts, I'm also not taking any prescription drugs. I have found the first three days are the most difficult as that is when the body is detoxifying itself from all the "food" additives, adulterants, emulsifiers, surfactants, etc.
So, here I am, up against it again! The way I prefer to handle these issues is with a water fast. I ave in the past attended weight loss clinics, Over-eaters Anonymous, diet clinics, etc., and have quite a library on this subject, but prefer Paul Bragg's book, MIRACLE OF FASTING. I'm going online and watching the videos of others for inspiration.
So here it is 8:30 pm on a Saturday night, December 18, 2010. Day 1 ended at sundown, now I'm onto Day 2. I haven't eaten anything since last night! Actually the first three days are the hardest, I'll be detoxifying and then my body will go into ketosis and begin to use the fat I've stored up. My goal is HWP, Height / Weight Proportional. So for my height, a male, 5' 8" a low weight of 137, a high weight of 171 with a goal weight of 154, I should ideally be 160 pounds. That will take about 40 days to lose those 74 pounds of ugly, energy sucking fat. Then when my weight is under control, I'll need to be on a maintenance, raw food diet. My flesh needs to know the brain is in control here! Not the mouth!
And besides, there are so many things I want to do in 2011. I need my energy and trim, toned body back.
For me, it is: FASTING: Do or Die - Sooner than Later. Wish me well?!
One other thing? If you've never tried it and want to spew some ill advised venom on me, please pass me by? I'm really discouraged by some of the fools who post on YouTube.
If however you're wanting encouragement, go for the positive, ask God and receive!
