I have been on a serious health journey for more than three years now. Here is my story. This is going to be a shocker because lots of people don't know this entire story. Even some of my family and closest friends don't know what I have been through with regard to my health. I will share the details in hopes of inspiring people to eat more plants and fewer animals.
In 2000 I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. It was a very, very dark and scary time. When I tell you I got down lots on my hands and knees and prayed for God's help I am not exaggerating! I was scared, very scared. I walked around like a zombie for years. Then I went on about my life, getting married, buying a house, having two beautiful children. After all this, about 3.5 years ago, I was still really scared. I was not feeling good, I had an IV in my arm receiving intravenous steroids, and I was more than 100 pounds overweight. Plus, every day I had to have my husband give me my medication, which was a shot, for my MS. How could this happen? I was in a dark place.
So I decided to make a change. I went to a personal trainer named Heidi who happened to move right next door where I was working. The universe works in strange ways. I sat with her in tears: How could this be? How could I have allowed myself to be so unhealthy and so overweight? She was amazing and assured me I would be fine. I worked with her for about eight months. I lost some weight and inches but most importantly I made fitness part of my life. My next step was to join a gym and see if I could keep up my fitness. I joined and I did keep up. I started running races. I did 5k races and then 5-mile races.
I then decided to go off my MS medication. My instincts have always been right for me. I believe 100 percent in the power of my own healing through diet and exercise. I do supplement with vitamin D3 and B12, which I believe are both very important. I am not saying everyone should go off their medication -- you have to do what YOUR instincts tell YOU.
I then really started looking at what I was eating. I had tried to cut back on meat and dairy because I knew it was not good for MS. I decided to become a vegetarian -- no more chicken wings and blue cheese dressing! Interestingly, when I was diagnosed with MS 12 years ago, I read about the benefits of leafy greens for MS and I had tried with a $50 juicer to juice kale, but it was not up to the task. So when I finally got a good quality juicer and started drinking green drinks, things changed. This was a pivotal moment in my journey. Ever since I started drinking green drinks I have had not one episode of MS. I kid you not! That was a little more than three years ago.
If you were following my prior post, you know 2011 was the year I fully committed to a life of health. I decided to try eating only raw and vegan food for a few days. Well, those first few days turned into almost a year. I felt amazing. I ate so many fruits and veggies, I went to a fruit festival, I met lots of inspirational raw and vegan people, hung out at a Peace Summit, did a 5-day Organic Avenue juice cleanse and started writing my book. Magic and miracles followed me around in 2011. I owe it all to the fruits and veggies!
When October hit and we had our first snowstorm I was cold and I wanted a little soup, so I had some soup and even some steamed broccoli. During the holidays I definitely had some slip-ups. They were good for me. They reminded me how awful I feel when I eat bad stuff. They also helped me realize where I tend to fall off the wagon: social events.
Going forward I will eat vegan and mostly raw. I believe in the power of raw foods but I think it might be virtually impossible for me to stay 100 percent raw forever. So I will probably eat around 95 percent raw. My diet for the most part consists of fruit for breakfast, a green drink mid-morning, a huge salad for lunch, fruit for a snack and another salad for dinner, or if I am feeling cold, I might have a big bowl of steamed broccoli for dinner.
In 2011 I lost 70 pounds, so I have now lost a little over 100 pounds altogether since my journey began 3.5 years ago! I am medication free! I run races and feel great! I am on my raw and vegan journey and I feel very healthy! Look for my before and after pictures to be posted soon!
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I was just diagnosed last week and I'm trying to get a game plan together on how to combat this. I'm in a flurry or anxiety and research.
Robin Bernhoft, MD
Bernhoft Centers for Advanced Medicine
Ojai and Los Angeles, CA
You are showing us how and what great results you can have.
your story is exactly parallel to mine. I was also diagnosed with MS in 2000 and have not had any relapses or symptoms since adopting a vegan mostly raw diet shortly after. I also have 2mostly vegan kids. Glad to hear it has worked for u as well. Take a look at Wahl foundation. She is an MD with MS who also discovered vegetables as a way to heal, but not totally vegan. Worth a look though. Good luck with your future journey. P.