Reclaiming Our Health

Back in 2004 I was 50 pounds overweight, depressed a lot, and trying to find a focus for my life. I was retired with nothing to do that was important. I swam, I walked, I biked. But most of all, I ate. I was lonely and I was not in charge of my health.

Now in 2009, I am 140 pounds, happy most of the time and focused on several projects. In addition, I just had a bone scan and after five years on a specific program which included diet, exercise and nutritional supplementation, I have reversed the beginning stages of osteoporosis, gained bone density in my spine and hips and have, as the bone specialist said, “The bones of a 15-year old!” How did I do that?

Well, it all begins with a story. In March of 2004 I met a woman in Puebla, Mexico where I was studying Spanish. She and I talked about health briefly, I told her I wanted to lose weight and feel better and she gave me a card for Sanoviv Health Institute. I put it away and forgot all about it. When I went to my masseuse the first week I was home, he recommended I go to Dr. Thomas West, a fascia-release specialist, so that I could stand straight. Somehow it seemed important to me to get my shoulders back. I went for ten sessions and I saw a remarkable difference in my posture but my weight was still an issue. Here is my first photo when I visited Tom:

Fast forward to October of that year when I went to visit my 6-year-old twin granddaughters. On the first night I was there, Rachel said to me, “Grandma, we want to give you a ‘come-and-not-want-to-leave spa day.’” I gave it a quick thought, the sight of my fat rolls in my eyes making me hesitate, but finally I said Okay because what the heck, they are my granddaughters, right?

They washed my hair, they wash my hands and feet and then Nicole turns and puts her hands on my belly. Suddenly she yells, “GRANDMA, WHAT IS THAT? WHAT IS IN YOUR STOMACH?” You see, her Mom and Dad have flat stomachs so this was the first fat stomach she had touched. I looked up at the ceiling and asked silently, “God, can I lie?” and I could hear Him say, “No, of course not and besides, these are your granddaughters!”

So I said sadly, “Well, honey, it’s called fat.” Rachel piped up immediately and said “Is that the same as blubber, Grandma?” (She had been studying walruses in school and had heard the word.) “Yes, honey, it is the same as blubber.” Okay, they finished my spa massage and I put their remarks out of my head immediately.

Two days later I am at home and without any recall of this incident, I suddenly one moment remembered the woman in Puebla and the card she gave. Being a Virgo, I knew immediately where I had put it. Once it was in my hand, I made a decision. I called and made my first appointment to go to Sanoviv Health Institute in Rosarito, Mexico (below San Diego) in two weeks hence for a complete cellular-based health checkup.

I felt very brave flying all the way to San Diego, going over the border (Sanoviv takes care of all details so it was easy), and driving in through the large gates that enclose Sanoviv. The moment I stepped out of the van and into the Levi Strauss estate (which is part of Sanoviv), I felt safe. Safe inside my soul. I can’t explain it any better than that, but to help you understand what I mean, the first morning I walked out of my room wearing Sanoviv sweats and standing tall thanks to Dr. West, I said to the empty hallway, “Well, if I’m going to stand tall and look people in the face from now on, then I sure as heck want to do that with a thin, healthy body!”

Two weeks later, based on their wonderful program, I was 24 pounds lighter and thousands of pounds happier. They have a rigorous program from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and I was with it all the way. Four days were consumed with tests and then the next two weeks I meditated, stretched, exercised, drank water, drank green juices, ate awesome vegetarian food, took all the supplements they gave me and walked a lot around the track overlooking a cliff and the Pacific Ocean daily.

So here is five years later and how I look now:

I can swim a mile, bike ten without puffing, walk five miles fast, kayak, windsurf and dance until the cows come home.
The bottom line folks, is that I am healthier, more flexible and happier than I have been at any other time in my life!
So, do you have to go to Sanoviv? Maybe, maybe not. We have a lot of health opportunities right here in St. Pete Beach (on the stpetebeachtoday.com website the Events Calendar has opportunities for yoga, hot yoga, Pilates, and many other slimming venues). All I know is that I have given myself extra years to my life and that every day is a joy to greet.

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