Monday 11 May 2015

Back Into the Real World!

After many hugs and farewells we left Living Valley Springs to start this new life.

We were fortunate enough to be picked up by Kevin & Jill, Jo's uncle and aunty. We took a nice leisurely trip back to Brisbane stopping off in some love spots.

So we stopped at morning tea... hmmmm thats right I shouldn't be eating, we went into a nice little French Cafe...and pretty much nothing fell into a category that I would be allowed! That's fine, I'll keep drinking water...I did a very small coffee though with Soya milk.

We get to lunch at Sunshine plaza...We did some quick shopping and then looked for lunch by ourselves. That was an incredibly painful experience. Can't have that, no to that, what about...No. This happened for 10 minutes. We finally found a salad bar...of which I had some chicken salad plus chilli concarne...I like that.

Spent a lovely rest of day in the car, and we get dropped off at the airport. Must be dinner time. After looking at all the menus, chicken and salad was the only option...is this going to be my whole life?!!!

We finally sat down at another restaurant, that said it could deal with gluten free. Exciting! By the time the chap had explained what had dairy and gluten I had an increasing headache!!! All I could have was bacon and eggs, on a piece of gluten toast, again down it went and up it came!

This made me wonder how hard it must be for people who have real issues with dairy and gluten to ever eat with confidence in a public setting. I also understand better know why these people are so organised with their own foods! Not fair really...

Later on the plane, Jo drew up this weeks menu...looks good!

So back in Whangarei, about to see how I navigate the complexities of this new challenge. 3am NZ time now, so think I should be asleep...I've missed all my melatonin time!

Saturday 9 May 2015

Graduation day

Today is by far the quietest day...tomorrow we have breakfast and leave...
We have a long day planned, Jo's Uncle Kevin and Aunty Jill  are coming to pick us up and take us to Brisbane airport for a 6pm flight... so we have some time on our hands. We arrive back in NZ at 11pm...then a 2.5hour trip to home:)

In the morning Jo was up at 4:45 for a hike up this monster of a hill. Mount Cooroora,  Jo got up the top first:)
Half way up...Sun rise
The view from the top
Jo climbed that:)
I know that when I get back to NZ, the journey will involve partnership with both a healthier natural approach and with my public health as well. I'm complicated in either system but maybe if I keep working at it together, with all of your support, and with an incredible God I'll get there!

We had our graduation, many acknowledged that we are like a family, close and able to talk about so many private and complicated things...colonics and bowel motions are stuff openly talked about around the table! made sure I prayed for Gary to acknowledge and thank him for this wonderful place.

But time to pack...I will miss them, but my heart is set for home.

Some photos from today...

These little anthills are everywhere!!!

Banquet Dinner

Gary Martin the owner!

A Honorary Degree

Friday 8 May 2015

Out in the Real World

Back on food this morning...Breakfast is two eggs, on spinach, pumpkin and feta fritters, cooked tomatoes, asparagus and for those allowed dairy, Feta cheese.
I still struggle with the size and breakdown of this meal. I get the idea
that it is like fuelling a car before a long journey. I could only manage to eat half of this, and then sadly lost it half an hour lately... a typical day start for me...

Enjoyed going to the gym this morning, noticing how much pain I have in my stomach at the moment. Then we went to pick up my supplements, Jo had to go our Naturopath to slash this list because we just cant fit it in our luggage...what we are taking is 3.5kgs...can't wait for customs to pull us aside and feature on border patrol:) Jo will purchase the rest at home.

I have noticed an interesting phenomenon here...there are tiny ant hills all over the property...all over the property! Now I know Australians are proud of their country... but I reckon they live on an anthill! We asked why they don't have their own chickens for egg laying, the answer was that dingos, foxes and iguanas attack the chickens and the eggs...its just not safe out there!!! I have enjoyed reminding our Aussie friends here that barely anything wanting to kill us.
We also found this little spider today, it makes a cross on its web and where are the legs? There is a web behind this sorry about the shot.

My heart is starting to think of home, our kids, home, church, friends, school, commitments and life...so keen to get home and start putting this plan into place.
Some other goals I need to attend to:
1. Remove my Amalgam Filling, to remove the potential of Mercury
2. Sort out a possible timetable that can make sure I have a more structured timetable.
3. Biggest meal first, strong meal midday, small meal at night and no snacking. Stop thinking about what I can't have.
4. See through this dietary and supplementary change
5. Exercise, purchase some weights, bench and lose another 10kgs? Join the gym in time:)
6. Support this change with Jo in front of the children.
7. No dairy for the next 3 weeks, see if this causes me issues, it doesn't, but keeps Jo happy.
8. Don't stress it, if you make a mistake or treat yourself thats fine.

Jo and I were lucky enough to catch a ride with John, who has been with us for the fortnight. You really do form strong relationships. One of my weaknesses is getting to know people in a short time, but not here. I learn a lot from Jo about how to care, Jo was writing out recipes from last week for one of the ladies, just her gentle way of showing she cares:)

Anyway... we went to Noosa today, I sat on the phone trying to organise a Whangarei wide sports day on Tuesday...aint technology great:) Made me a tad car sick, I noticed that Aussie back roads are a bit like SH1 in the North, a little bit sad, but made it feel like home, bump bump...

We hunted out a healthy focused cafe and had this for lunch. I've never eaten so many greens in my life...tomato, avacado, tomato, cucumber, chicken, carrot, beetroot and more. It was a huge meal, and again I have learnt that you don't have to finish it to enjoy it. Embarrassingly and oh so regularly, I threw most of it up...
This was good food, I know I can enjoy this.
protein, high fat and good carbs in the vegetables and with healthy sauces:)
What saddened me was I was keen to sample some healthy muffins over my left shoulder... but decided to wait another day!

Had some lovely time enjoying the beach front and doing a bit of shopping. I needed this day, just to
get away look at the normal world and work out how you make this new lifestyle work. It was great to be tourists for the day:)

Last but not least check out this sculpture, some very talented people out there...


Thursday 7 May 2015

The Final Assessment

"Scotty you are one of the most complex cases we have had, you are definitely the the most complex I've had, you've just got too much happening in your body"
Well at least I'm special!
My report today showed several things
1. My weight was around 107-8 just under 2 weeks ago... now I'm 101.4kgs. Pretty excited about that as I haven't cracked the 100 barrier in over 20 years. Ironically it isn't good news, as they wanted minimal loss and my system to be stable. But when I can block myself up again, I have a new weight to start at. Its all come off my muscles...and the truth is I don't have many of them!
2. My waist went from 111cms to 104cms
3. My blood quality has come along in leaps and bounds
4. My body has remained heavily dehydrated... no surprises with my continued visits to the toilet!

He has given me an 84 day programme to try to take back control. I will have so many supplements, I'm pretty sure the NZ Customs will think I'm a smuggler/druggie:)
Adrian is trying to target 3 aspects;
-Internal parasites
-Leaky Gut syndrome and the fact there will be so much damage in there.
-Bowel/nausea
Then I can start looking at the head issues.

They have a theory that my Vagus nerve is what is not working properly... What is the Vagus, not a clue from me:)
It extends from the brain stem to the abdomen, via various organs including the heart, esophagus and lungs. Also known as cranial nerve X, the vagus forms part of the involuntary nervous system and commands unconscious body procedures, such as keeping the heart rate constant and controlling food digestion.

So I'm very aware that this is still the start of the journey... and its going to take time by the look of it. But hey, I'm up for that...after all, its all in my head...and my stomach ....and butt at the moment!!!:)
I have a new plan and that means direction...yay!

On a different tack...Its an interesting thing, dynamics of groups. This group is very different from our last one, this place is great again for sharing in journey's. I'm surprised with what people always share during the day. It's always a humbling time to know others have it worse physically and even more importantly others are losing hope in the future. I always learn so much from others.

The biggest thing that is truly dawning on me is how committed Jo is to our whole family going into this diet... it will be huge for me and the children...lucky Gran has been preparing for this with all type of healthy foods...maybe????

Jo and I see the value in putting the 8 parts of the Acronym - "NEW START" as a poster to help remind us and the children why things might look different.
Nutrition
Exercise
Water
Sun
Temperance...abstain & be moderate in the choices we make
Air
Rest
Trust (For us in God) This can be different for others...

We still want people to know that we like to be invited out:) We won't come with a list of demands:) We would like to have more people over so Jo can show the magic of what she has been learning.

Tonight they covered the endocrine system again. It makes me realise even more how complex our bodies are. I am missing a lot with no Pituitary gland and having no Cortisol, Thyroxine and Testoserone. The Pituitary is supposed to send signals to the thyroid and Adrenal glands, so its all a bit humbling.

What many people are going through here is defined by the way we look at it.
Crisis or Challenge.

Lastly the coolest thing I saw today came from facebook... when I went to Hamilton in 1990 I was alone. In my last year of training I met this remarkable family, they are incredibly special to me and I love them and the entire family deeply...Love ya Barb, Thanks Sarah for writing this, all true!
They are one of the best examples I know of, Focused on God, and understanding a key point...to love people unconditionally!
and whats even cooler nowadays is that my wife and Kids all love Aunty Barb as well!!!
Completely off the topic I know...but hey Mothers Day is coming up!

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff-nation/assignments/win-a-treat-for-a-deserving-mum-this-mothers-day/11706774/A-mother-whos-touched-my-life-and-heart-forever


Wednesday 6 May 2015

Jo's Point of View...

Well, it looks like it's my turn to write the blog post....
Scotty has had a tough day today and is getting an early night (that never happens so he must be feeling pretty bad). I am feeling a little despondent because although I am feeling great and full of energy so far the detox hasn't done the same for the person we came here for! We still have a few days so still hoping. It's pretty rough seeing him struggling.
I've been waking up with the birds every morning- wide awake...no sleeping in happening here and don't feel the need for it really. Scotty probably mentioned they do a walk at 6:15 every morning and a rebound trampoline and stretch class after that. I have been doing the walk but this morning I went for a steam instead - what a nice way to start the day with some nice warmth and then some shock cold treatment! Meanwhile Scotty grabs a bit more sleep to try to recover from the usual bad night. We have been getting a fair bit more exercise this week as we moved to a bigger room which is further away...and up a hill! And did Scotty tell you I went to the gym with him yesterday? Rare event...feeling just a little sore today!
Not too much happening today, we each had a massage - very relaxed..I hung out at the shop and did a bit of reading. It was such a beautiful warm day today - like a summers day for us, spent a bit of time sunbathing and got my vitamin D :) Almost felt like a swim..but the water is a tad cold.
I'm really enjoying the experience - pretty excited that in all my last 6 months or more of reading and research I have come to the same conclusions about what we should be doing healthwise as what they are teaching us each evening. Keen to go home and keep putting it into practice :) anyone want to go to the markets for me on Saturday?? I need to stock the fridge! They've given us some great ideas for sugar free icecreams just using fruit/coconut cream and some other tasty treats that the kids will love like chocolate mousse using avocados (well hopefully they love what I make cos there won't be anything else on offer other than real food in our house!) Eat. Real. Food - the new motto...
There are certainly some things I need to change when we get home too - mainly around spending less time on phone/laptop and making sure I get more sleep. Hours asleep before midnight are worth twice the hours after! Plus drink more water...and I'll be joining Scotty with the exercises his PT gave him (anyone have spare dumbells they're not using??)
And lastly...Scotty bought some healthy chocolate from the shop the other day...and I'm feeling just a little bit cranky just now because he scoffed it without sharing! I *needed it....they forgot my meal tonight as everyone else is detoxing, I had broth along with everyone else! So I had a spoon of coconut oil instead...which is pretty yum actually. We've started oil pulling too - anyone know what that is?

Tuesday 5 May 2015

Have to get going...

Sad to say, still as sick as yesterday, but a lot of people here are trying incredibly hard to alleviate the pain and symptoms.

So a lot of focus on diet today, what should we eat... I am so not an expert in this area, Jo likes the
concept and it does seem to work here.
I grew up happily on the concept of this type of food pyramid.(On right) Seemed fine to me...
The argument is that Fats must be bad for us when in fact it is being argued that good fats and protein e.g meats/dairy should be the key part of our pyramid.
Carbohydrates in the form of vegetables, the next level, and fruits at the top. Fruit can spike our insulin if we consume too much.
And forget sugar...a rare treat
Am I a "convert" to this, I don't know, but will certainly give this a go...
Two other things stood out, Margarine is not good for us, no matter what properties it has.
We need to be primarily be eating foods in their whole form.
Oh and Coconuts are an amazing food!

One of our focus areas today was about teeth, amalgam fillings have Mercury in them. This can affect you subtly in so many ways if not attended to. So I'm off to the dentist...to remove my one amalgam filling.

Also today, I forced myself to go to the trainer, as I must start to get fit again...small baby steps. He has a really neat programme I can do at home, now all I need are some weights:) Jo came as well and it was the first time she wasn't looking fully confident...

Rod the massage guy, attacked my headaches today full force, interestingly when I started with him I had a 9/10, all over the front to top of my head headache. After some interesting pain... he moved the headache back to to a front right position and dropped it around a 7.5-8...its a start!

I had my first lymphatic massage today, its a very light pressure point type massage, can't say I noticed anything different!

Also I'm drinking charcoal to see if that can slow my bowel down...funny it made my whole mouth black...horrible to drink!

Getting to know the second group of people here really well. one of the guys here is staying here for 6 weeks, starting at 140kgs...wow he has a long road ahead...

Monday 4 May 2015

My lowest day... yay for a great wife

I'm over here, and I'm supported by a hugely supportive team and I'm in pain...a lot of pain...head, bowel, stomach are all at war, no energy, even looking at a beautiful lunch meal is sending me to the toilet...and I had a self pity moment!

When I have self pity:), its rare... so I'm letting off steam to Jo about why the naturopath isn't sorting out a cure for me quicker...I must admit they have been good to me, making a lot more time for me than others...
Jo looks at me, wise lady she is, and says these lovely words - "You've been in the health system for ten years, has anyone ever told you what's wrong, they just medicate the symptoms.".... quietly, gently as she usually does... and that was that:) self pity shelved deep down:)
Love my Wife!

So back to the start of the day...smoothy for breakfast, after a bad night.

I visited a guy who I swear has a gift. He can look at you and all he sees is bone and muscle and how each of them is connected and related. He has worked on me twice and managed to take a way some long standing lower back issues...yay...and has now begun to work on my stomach and head...looking to see if he can bring some respite. He is expensive to go to...and is fully booked till Sept 2016 but I'd plan a holiday around his special ability.

Then a had a facial...yes a facial, not a fan, didn't feel comfortable about the idea. However the radiation left two patches of irritable skin on either side of my head. I was pleased by the fact that my friendly therapist John who after 2 colonics, a massage and a claywrap, 2nd on my all time list of awkward I'm almost naked and you need to treat me again people, did not to my facial!
It was ok, but not likely to go there again!

Then things got worse... sick after steam room, sick after lunch and slept all afternoon, except for more visits to the toilet!

Tonight we had a lecture again on looking at life properly

What is my goal in life?
I think I would answer that by being the best person/husband/father/elder/teacher/friend...that I can be in Christ... in fact "best" is the wrong word, I think I mean "sincere" ... I want to be the most sincere person/husband/father/elder teacher & friend that I can be in Christ... if you get all that.
 This will different for everyone I know.
But I have had a lot of time thinking about the fact that I can't give up on my health for the sake of my wife & children... I want to be old and active, and be a role model they can be proud of! This is probably one of my lowest self areas at the moment...easy to not have the energy to be with them...

This is all a work in progress...

A good quote today;
Don't live in the past, that can cause depression.
Don't live in the future, that can cause anxiety
Treat today like its a gift, that's why we call it the present!

Guilt and shame are no way to change a behaviour.