Stephanie's Journey to Wellness
I grew up in your typical Standard American Diet (SAD) home eating some of the best American comfort food and spending my allowance on junk food, donuts and soda. Now, don't get my wrong, Mom made everything from scratch, including bread, biscuits, gravy, home-raised pork, chickens, eggs and the works. I didn't even know what Dinty Moore meant when somebody from school asked about my soup. That said, despite Mom's best efforts, it was tough to get me to eat veggies and I rarely enjoyed fruit. I predominately ate meat and carbs. Even though my mother tried to limit my intake, soda was a daily beverage. I was never very active but wasn’t exactly lazy either. (*** at the bottom of this page is a wonderful addition to this story, but for now ... keep reading***)
In June 2003 at 23 years old, I was diagnosed with Dermatomyositis, a rare Autoimmune disease. I struggled with reaching my feet and lifting my hands above my head due to severe connective tissue inflammation. My menstrual cycle was so irregular I at one point went 70 days between cycles. At 5’7″, I was 175 pounds, a SAD eater and struggling to find the strength to be an active person. I enjoyed dance, hiking and the occasional yoga class but I was far from routine and needed a lifestyle change. So I quit my corporate job, moved back home with mom and took my savings to see a Naturopathic Doctor. He put me on several herbal concoctions and a high protein, low carb diet. I avoided all things packaged and processed and completely stopped ALL sugar intake, including fruit. I was overridden with Candida from the inside out. I began losing weight quickly. I maintained this system steady for 3 months until I couldn’t afford it anymore. I had rid my body of all yeast overgrowth, walked around 20 pounds lighter, and started hiking and doing yoga regularly.
That Christmas I was in a horseback riding accident and broke my back in 4 places. I was bed ridden for quite some time, wearing a lovely designer body brace (insert laugh here) and unable to continue my new found physical independence. During my recovery, I began reaching for comfort foods again. Due to the lack of physical movement and the foods I began eating, I gained 25 pounds and battled with the disease and Candida once more.
With a little more than a year of limited mobility, I had moved to Germany and started to incorporate walking and yoga into my lifestyle again. I ate rich German food and comforts of home for the first year until I started attending the American College of Healthcare Science in the Holistic Medicine program. My first class was a Certificate in Nutrition, Bodycare, and Herbalism. Then in January 2006, I did a 30 day juice fast (click here to read more on my fast) and became vegetarian thereafter. During my fast, I lost more than 25 pounds and achieved a sense of empowerment over eating. Yoga was a daily routine and food was a part of nutrition rather than comfort. I have since made juice fasting a yearly routine.
Life was coming into balance at this point. I no longer suffered from back pain and inflammation was in better control so I started the Bare Necessities Cafe online. The more I learned about our intrinsic abilities to heal, the more I researched the power of nutrition. It was in June of that year, I discovered The Garden Diet and Pear Magazine. I ordered The Garden Diet books and became 100% raw immediately. It took the first part of life to develop disease and I believe it could take years before I’m completely disease free; however, I firmly attribute my excellent health to eating a Raw and Living foods diet.
I now have regular menstrual cycles; I maintain my weight in the 140′s; I have taken up running; I suffer less inflammation; my hair is back; my circulation has improved and I no longer have Reynaud’s Syndrome, a side affect symptom to Dermatomyositis. My complexion seems more balanced; and above all, I feel EMPOWERED. I suffer NONE of the normal muscle weakness associated with the disease but I do have the common Heliotrope rash on my face and Gottron’s Papules on my hands. Recently, I saw one thumb completely restore to normality though this seems to fluctuate! Even though I still show symptoms of disease, I no longer suffer. I know by giving my body everything it needs to restore, rejuvenate and repair my cells, I will in time be symptom free and living proof that nutrition is the best medicine.
Being 100% raw wasn't always easy. I would crave certain foods and fall into a routine lacking variety. This doesn’t help the SAD food cravings but I get stronger everyday! Fruit/Veggie Smoothie or juice for breakfast, salad with mixed veggies for lunch and often the same for dinner. Nuts or fruits are my snacks. I recently received a dehydrator for my birthday and I can’t believe what tasty opportunities that opened up. I have made fantastic desserts, the occasional bread, and wonderful fruit roll ups!
I now offer Holistic Health and Nutrition Consultations through the Bare Necessities Cafe while working in our local Health Foods store.
here for your well-being,
Stephanie Austin (2009)
In June 2003 at 23 years old, I was diagnosed with Dermatomyositis, a rare Autoimmune disease. I struggled with reaching my feet and lifting my hands above my head due to severe connective tissue inflammation. My menstrual cycle was so irregular I at one point went 70 days between cycles. At 5’7″, I was 175 pounds, a SAD eater and struggling to find the strength to be an active person. I enjoyed dance, hiking and the occasional yoga class but I was far from routine and needed a lifestyle change. So I quit my corporate job, moved back home with mom and took my savings to see a Naturopathic Doctor. He put me on several herbal concoctions and a high protein, low carb diet. I avoided all things packaged and processed and completely stopped ALL sugar intake, including fruit. I was overridden with Candida from the inside out. I began losing weight quickly. I maintained this system steady for 3 months until I couldn’t afford it anymore. I had rid my body of all yeast overgrowth, walked around 20 pounds lighter, and started hiking and doing yoga regularly.
That Christmas I was in a horseback riding accident and broke my back in 4 places. I was bed ridden for quite some time, wearing a lovely designer body brace (insert laugh here) and unable to continue my new found physical independence. During my recovery, I began reaching for comfort foods again. Due to the lack of physical movement and the foods I began eating, I gained 25 pounds and battled with the disease and Candida once more.
With a little more than a year of limited mobility, I had moved to Germany and started to incorporate walking and yoga into my lifestyle again. I ate rich German food and comforts of home for the first year until I started attending the American College of Healthcare Science in the Holistic Medicine program. My first class was a Certificate in Nutrition, Bodycare, and Herbalism. Then in January 2006, I did a 30 day juice fast (click here to read more on my fast) and became vegetarian thereafter. During my fast, I lost more than 25 pounds and achieved a sense of empowerment over eating. Yoga was a daily routine and food was a part of nutrition rather than comfort. I have since made juice fasting a yearly routine.
Life was coming into balance at this point. I no longer suffered from back pain and inflammation was in better control so I started the Bare Necessities Cafe online. The more I learned about our intrinsic abilities to heal, the more I researched the power of nutrition. It was in June of that year, I discovered The Garden Diet and Pear Magazine. I ordered The Garden Diet books and became 100% raw immediately. It took the first part of life to develop disease and I believe it could take years before I’m completely disease free; however, I firmly attribute my excellent health to eating a Raw and Living foods diet.
I now have regular menstrual cycles; I maintain my weight in the 140′s; I have taken up running; I suffer less inflammation; my hair is back; my circulation has improved and I no longer have Reynaud’s Syndrome, a side affect symptom to Dermatomyositis. My complexion seems more balanced; and above all, I feel EMPOWERED. I suffer NONE of the normal muscle weakness associated with the disease but I do have the common Heliotrope rash on my face and Gottron’s Papules on my hands. Recently, I saw one thumb completely restore to normality though this seems to fluctuate! Even though I still show symptoms of disease, I no longer suffer. I know by giving my body everything it needs to restore, rejuvenate and repair my cells, I will in time be symptom free and living proof that nutrition is the best medicine.
Being 100% raw wasn't always easy. I would crave certain foods and fall into a routine lacking variety. This doesn’t help the SAD food cravings but I get stronger everyday! Fruit/Veggie Smoothie or juice for breakfast, salad with mixed veggies for lunch and often the same for dinner. Nuts or fruits are my snacks. I recently received a dehydrator for my birthday and I can’t believe what tasty opportunities that opened up. I have made fantastic desserts, the occasional bread, and wonderful fruit roll ups!
I now offer Holistic Health and Nutrition Consultations through the Bare Necessities Cafe while working in our local Health Foods store.
here for your well-being,
Stephanie Austin (2009)
CLICK HERE for A WONDERFUL ADDITION TO THIS STORY - HOW DID WE GET HERE?
UPDATES
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As of March 2013, I am in the 130's, eat a plant-based, whole foods diet with plenty of raw foods. I recently completed a 60-day juice cleanse and suffer little to no symptoms of dermatomyositis. I am on the Board of Directors of The Wellness Kitchen, am a published writer and continue to do my wellness business. I attribute my success and energy to holistic living!
As of August 2011, I still maintain my weight in the 140′s, eat a raw food diet of at least 80-90% and partake in routine fasts throughout the year. The redness of my face is even more reduced after having completed several water fasts and there is zero tenderness on my hands. The only area of ‘pain’ I feel associated to the disease is my scalp which remains swollen and tender. I can handle the sunshine much better than in the past where I’d receive hives from a mild sunburn. I use homeopathics, herbal teas and nutrition to stay healthy. Director of Education for The Wellness Kitchen January 2011 - January 2013.
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