Emily Boller : Disease Proof

Extinguish the pilot light

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Emily Boller

I grew up on a farm. In addition to an orchard my parents always put in a large garden every spring. It produced a bountiful harvest to can quarts of green beans, tomatoes, tomato sauces & juices, corn, peas, beets, and pickles . . . .enough to last a family throughout the winter, with plenty of surplus leftover to sell along the road. From mid-July until school started every fall, snapping beans, shelling peas, shredding cabbage, shucking corn, and washing tomatoes, pickles, carrots and beets for preservation were a huge part of summer.

Most farmhouses had a “summer kitchen.” It was a nifty, second kitchen; away from the main part of the house and used for the stifling hot process of canning the vegetables, making jams and applesauce, and baking fruit pies and apple cakes for the freezer. Since residential air conditioning was practically unheard of when I was a kid, the house stayed cooler by not heating up the regular kitchen.

In the southwest corner of this room was an old gas stove. I was taught from an early age to respect the pilot light that remained continuously lit. As in all gas stoves, the purpose of this pilot light was to serve as the ignition source for more powerful flames; ones that could produce the necessary heat to cook and preserve food.

My mom would strike a small, wooden match and hold it near the burner. Instantly it would ignite into a full, explosive flame.

________________________________

Fast forward about forty years. I’m now a fifty-year-old woman who has lost weight and restored health by nourishing my body with high-nutrient, plant foods. As a result of flooding my body with nutrients, combined with consistently abstaining from the standard American diet, addictive cravings for high fat, high salt, processed & sugary foods have been eradicated from my life.

Because of this, I’m routinely asked:

“How closely do I really have to follow Eat to Live?”

“How many times a month can I cheat and still have success?”

“I’m not hard core, but I follow the plan about 85% of the time; that’s good enough, isn’t it?”

Of which my classic answer to all three questions is, “It all depends on how hard you want to make it on yourself.”

It’s much easier and simpler to give 100% right from the beginning and keep the pilot light of addictive cravings extinguished, than to be continually fighting obsessive compulsions that are brewing beneath the surface. Been there. Done that. And it’s hard, hard work to keep cravings from becoming an all-consuming monster. In fact, it’s exhausting because it’s a next-to-impossible feat to accomplish!

Plus, it only takes the tiniest spark to ignite the pilot light of cravings to full power again, and that’s THE most dangerous place to live!

One can do all the work of routinely preparing and eating high-nutrient foods, and get the majority of one’s health restored; but it may only take an emergency phone call, or a sudden traumatic event, or a stress-filled day with the kids to instantly ignite the raging flame of addiction.

It’s just not worth it.

Give yourself a break today and make life so much easier.

Give 100% and extinguish the pilot light!

image credits: tomatoes, flickr by MaplessInSeattle; match, flickr by Samuel M. Livingston

Tags: Emily Boller, Inspiration, abstinence, addiction, compulsive eating, pilot light

So what's your Jack Daniels?

Posted on September 17, 2011 by Emily Boller

fake food

Every year since 2008, I've made it my mission, once a year, to re-read Drunkard, written by Neil Steinberg.

For those of you who know my story, reading that book was one of my ‘turning point’ moments, because it demolished my concrete wall of denial. It forced me to face the ugliness of food addiction head on . . . smack-in-the-face, kind of head on.

Every time that I've read it something new pops out.

This time, it was Steinberg's description of his moment to unwind after work, at the bar, just before drinking his favorite glass of Jack Daniels. He describes it so eloquently in the following excerpt from page nine:

" . . . .I always pause to gaze for a rapt moment at the filled glass, the ice, the Jack, the square napkin, the dark linoleum bar. The twirling universe stops dead, the Jack its motionless epicenter. I pick up the glass and take a long draw." ¹

When the kids were little and I was obese my "Jack Daniels" was the leftovers after the evening meal. I couldn't wait to be alone in the kitchen. All alone. Totally by myself, kind of alone (while the children were wrestling with Dad in another room) . . . to unwind and soothe my frazzled nerves by eating the slightly burnt & greasy roast and potatoes that were stuck to the sides of the crock pot; or to eat the crusty & gooey leftover lasagna sitting in the pan; or the kids' leftover soggy salads that were swimming in ranch dressing and bacon bits; or the leftover dinner rolls that mopped-up the ranch dressing; or the pieces of cake with melted ice-cream cascading down the sides. The twirling universe stopped at those moments for me.

Ahhh . . . . . the epicenter of calm had been visited.

Later in the evening, after baths for the children, brushing their teeth, bedtime stories, and tucking them into bed, I returned once again to the epicenter of calm . . . .the large, ceramic bowl of Frosted Mini Wheat cereal soaked in milk with a couple spoonfuls of crunchy peanut butter on top. Ahhh . . . .

Then I *graduated* to more acceptable ways of escape:

Alone time with a humongous bowl of mixed greens drizzled with balsamic vinegar, sunflower seeds, sliced strawberries, and chick peas; followed by a plate of California Creamed Kale. I'd eat beyond full, stuffed, and then some, and still lose weight!

Scraping the remaining sorbet or banana ice-cream from the sides of the Vita Mix canister and eating it. Whether I was hungry or not had absolutely nothing to do with the growing habit.

Grabbing extra handfuls of walnuts and raisins while working in the kitchen.

If I'm not careful, Jack can still creep into my life ~ ever so slowly now, of course. He's still there if I'm not cautiously aware of his presence.

He's hiding in the dark crevices, but as long as I continue to shine the flashlight on him, and continue to expose him, he can't and won't harm me!

Exposing Jack makes him powerless; he's a coward in the light.

Don't give him the pleasure of lulling you into believing that he will be your calm.

It's a lie.

before and after pics of Emily Boller

The images above were taken three years apart. The picture on the left was taken in the summer of 2008 when I was captive to Jack as my epicenter of calm. The picture on the right was taken this past summer after three years of consistent abstinence AND freedom from food addiction's suffocating grip.

So what’s your Jack Daniels?

"I could never do that!" part 2

Posted on May 28, 2011 by Emily Boller

Not long ago I wrote a post titled, I could never do that! It was about the response I get when I tell others how I’ve lost weight, and their reaction to the idea of eating meals primarily composed of plant based nutrition. From the many Disease Proof readers that wrote comments, that post resonated deep within; solidifying the fact that most all of us could never live with the consequences of eating disease promoting foods.

The topic is beating passionately in my heart now as it's hit close to home. Recently my mother suffered a stroke, and I’ve been experiencing first hand the time, resources, and energy that will now be required to manage the debilitating disease. A stroke results in a sudden lifestyle change magnified by a hundred: immobility due to muscle paralysis, incontinence for some, inability to swallow normally resulting in slurred speech and the need for pureed foods and thickened liquids, multiple medications, therapy, lack of independence and freedom; just to name a few.

Lifestyle change.

Interesting.

Lifestyle change is the very reason why most continue to choose to eat the standard American diet; or worse yet, follow a quick weight-loss gimmick. It takes time, resources, focus, and energy to switch over to eating high-nutrient, plant based foods.

One has to routinely wash and cut up lettuce leaves, fresh vegetables and fruits.
One has to cook a pot of soup instead of order take-out.
Many have to suffer through a period of withdrawal to overcome toxic cravings for sugar, fat, processed foods, and salt.
Some feel socially isolated in a culture that’s fixated with eating for disease.
Some are even ridiculed for eating for health!
Many have to pack their own food if they eat away from home.
Most have to become serious students of nutrition to understand the science behind dietary recommendations, because knowledge is the motivation behind their changes.

No doubt about it, there’s a radical price to pay to successfully switch over to thoroughly enjoy eating plant based nutrition. However, once the toxic cravings are gone, and the taste buds have changed, one never wants to return to SAD. In fact, the psychological trappings of food addiction and eating disorders disappear! It’s a small price to pay for a lifetime of freedom and wonderful health benefits for the rest of one’s life!

As the old adage goes, “Pay the grocer or pay the doctor.”

Have you made the lifestyle change, or are you dragging your feet; waiting for a debilitating disease to radically change your life and make you its prisoner?

Let’s all continue to choose high nutrient foods that will reap the benefits of great health today and for years to come! It’s a small price to pay.

What price are you willing to pay to enjoy great health?

image credit: flickr by taberandrew

Tags: Emily Boller, Health, Inspiration, Stroke, disease, illness, lifestyle change, radical change

I could never do that!

Posted on March 17, 2011 by Emily Boller

vegetables In the Fall of 2008, after I had dropped 40 lbs in three months, my peers started commenting and asking questions about the noticeable changes. By the next Spring, when 100 pounds were off, complete strangers such as clerks in stores would comment and ask questions as well.

Everyone’s question was, “How did you lose weight?”

Of which my reply would always be, “By following Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s book, Eat to Live;. . . . basically eating lots of high nutrient, plant-based foods.”

“You mean no meat? No cheese? No pizza? No McDonald’s? . . . . Oh, I could never do that!”

Now, over 2 ½ years later, the majority still say to me, “Oh I could never do that!” in response to anything remotely related to the idea of eating meals primarily composed of plant based nutrition.

Well, the following is what I think in response to, “I could never do that”:

I could never blow the family budget on unnecessary test strips, insulin, medications, doctor and hospital bills, or bypass surgery.

I could never carry around expensive medical supplies and meds while traveling.

I could never ask a loved one to mow the lawn for me due to fatigue and ill health.

I could never turn a child away from playing a game due to a migraine headache.

I could never miss out on the joy of a wedding celebration due to obesity and depression.

I could never ask someone to drive me to kidney dialysis three times a week.

Dr. Fuhrman added:

I could never have heartburn and burping half the night.

I could never sit in the bathroom for 15 minutes trying to painfully squeeze out a hard log.

I could never watch a volleyball game at the beach instead of playing in it.

I could never have rubber bands put on painful hemorrhoids by a rectal specialist.

I could never worry about running to catch a bus, for fear of having a heart attack.

I could never have such severe stomach cramps that emergency room personnel would assume it was a heart attack.

I could never fall down and fracture a hip because my blood pressure medications dropped my blood pressure too low.

I could never be intubated in the ER with a tube put down my throat and hooked up to a breathing machine after suffering a heart attack.

I could never be in a nursing home unable to talk after a stroke or move the left side of my body.

How about you?

What could you never do?

image credit: flickr by Claudio Matsuoka and FotoosVanRobin

Tags: Emily Boller, Health, Inspiration, McDonald's, meat, nutritarian

Supporting a loved one through food addiction

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Emily Boller

Thirty years ago this Valentines Day my husband and I became officially engaged. We were young, naïve, and deeply in love. Little did we know about the dark prison that lie just ahead for both of us with my budding food addiction and resulting binge eating disorder and obesity. While we were dating, I had confided that I had a “food problem,” but neither of us had any clue whatsoever how powerful it was, or how severely food addiction would take over and practically destroy my life. [Back in 1981 food addiction was not openly discussed or understood like it is today.] Since today is a special day for sweethearts, I want to focus on those who are supporting a spouse or significant other through food addiction by inviting my husband, Kurt, to share his thoughts on the topic. Welcome to Disease Proof, Kurt.

What was your initial reaction when I first told you that I had a “food problem” when we were dating?

I thought it was no big deal. After all, in my mind I thought, “Who doesn’t have an extra piece of cake once in awhile?” Besides, you were so special to me that I couldn’t believe there was anything that was a problem.

From your perspective, what was it like to discover and see first-hand the seriousness of my food addiction / binge eating disorder after we were married?

It was hard, especially when it seemed like you were out of control. I could see that you wanted out of the addiction, yet seemed helpless to help yourself. My first reaction was to try to control things, and being a typical guy, I thought it was something that I needed to fix. Unfortunately as I tried unsuccessfully to “fix” it, usually in an unproductive way, it only made the addiction worse.

How did it make you feel?

I felt disappointed and cheated. I realize now that I had very unrealistic expectations and views on life, but unfortunately, my perception was my reality at the time.

What was the turning point for you?

I don’t think there was one point as much as a series of turns. I was so frustrated and disappointed that I got honest with God about how I felt. Then I just didn’t care anymore. For awhile I did my own thing, and found ways to detach myself and emotionally escape. It was just easier to give up and not care or try to help anymore. Eventually God pointed out my own “stuff” that I needed to deal with; and even though the food addiction was a terrible situation, He used it to burn up some of my own crud that was an issue as well. We went to a professional counselor, and I learned the only person that I could change was me. That was a huge turning point in the process because I finally stopped trying to change you. I worked on dealing with my own garbage, and then I started to believe you when you’d say, “Someday I’m going to get free.”

What has it been like to see me get free from food addiction and get my health back?

It was like a light came on and good things started happening immediately when you committed to Eat to Live ~ beyond anything either one of us had ever dreamed. It was amazing. To see someone go from getting beat up mentally, emotionally and physically with food addiction to being healthy, confident, and free; and helping others to do the same is indescribable. It’s like watching the movie “Rocky” for the first time; witnessing someone that you love and want the best for finally winning in a war they’ve been fighting for years.

What are your thoughts to share with others who are supporting a loved one through food addiction and resulting eating disorders and diseases?

Be honest with yourself and acknowledge your feelings. Stuffing your frustrations and anger only makes it worse.

Be committed to the relationship. Everyone needs someone solid and a good influence in their life.

Realize you can’t change them. The only person that you can change is yourself.

There may be times when you’ll need to pull back so your “boat” doesn’t sink. A person drowning in addiction can pull others down with them so maintain your own mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical health; just don’t abandon them.

Seek professional counseling for the person as well as yourself. Not all counselors are equal. If a counselor doesn’t help, then keep looking. The key is being willing to be totally honest about the underlying root problems and cut out the destructive issues that psychologically fuel addiction.

Don’t quit. Never give up. Never give in. Never, Never, Never. Like the old adage goes, “When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on!”

Are children the victims of our vices?

Posted on January 31, 2011 by Emily Boller

Mom is tired so she stops by Dairy Queen on the way home from the late afternoon soccer game. She orders a Blizzard for herself and dipped cones for the children. There are some chips and leftover slices of pizza at home if anyone gets hungry before bed. Lately she’s been too wiped out to care.

Junior is sitting in front of the computer munching on Doritos for supper. Dad and Mom don’t mind because they are lounging in their lazy boys watching the news while eating cheddar melts and curly fries. Later on they plan to dig into the two quarts of fudge ripple and butter pecan ice cream that’s in the freezer. Cooking and setting-the-table for dinner are obsolete words in their household.

Baby is teething and cranky but the frazzled Mom has discovered that McDonald’s salted fries do the trick to quiet him down every time. Her two-year-old is also a happy camper when eating a Happy Meal in Playland. Mom has found the perfect place of serenity to escape to while eating Big Macs and chocolate sundaes at the golden arches.

When the new parents held their twins for the first time, they had ideals for excellent nutrition. However, one by one, those ideals were tossed by the wayside in the flood of social events and birthday parties. Hotdogs, donuts, cake and ice-cream took over the best of logic and common sense. The pressure to fit in overcame the desire to be healthy. Today their teens eat chicken nuggets, cheeseburgers, or pizza pockets most nights of the week.

In a study conducted by RAND Corporation, alcoholism increases the risk of chronic illnesses by 12%; cigarette smoking increases the risk of chronic illnesses by 25%; and obesity increases the risk of chronic illnesses by 67%.¹

We have laws established to govern and prohibit the sale of both cigarettes and alcohol to minors, yet gluttonous eating that leads to obesity and poor health is practiced everywhere; especially by adults who are setting the example and leading the way by promoting the dangerous lifestyle.

cans of Pepse An infant is encouraged to eat French fries that develops into an addiction for salty, high fat, processed foods in the preschool years; which snowballs into craving bags of chips and slices of pizza during the pre-teen / teen years. Chronic fatigue from malnutrition is replaced by Pepsi, coffee and energy drinks that become the drugs of choice through college and beyond. Over time, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, fatigue, and depression become the accepted and expected, All-American diseases; stimulating the economy by keeping drug reps employed, pharmaceutical companies in business, and surgical suites well staffed.

When a faulty crib or playpen is recalled a wise parent returns the product.

When crossing a busy street a careful guardian holds a child’s hand.

When danger lies ahead a prudent caregiver changes paths.

A victim is one that is [intentionally or unintentionally] injured, harmed, or destroyed by another.

Are children the innocent victims of our vices?

image credits - Flickr: babies by paparutzi; Pepsi Max by Lord Biro

Tags: Children, Depression, Emily Boller, Obesity, disease, harmful food

Nibbling can easily turn into pigging out

Posted on January 17, 2011 by Emily Boller

We all know the expression, “pigging out;” aka binge eating / ravenous gorging.

Addiction is a repeated action that has the potential to evolve into a dangerous and downward spiral that only gets worse. If one continues in daily nibbling, those innocent snacks can easily and quickly turn into pigging out; which will lead to self-sabotage. It's pretty predictable.

When I was in my early twenties, I was athletic, fit and weighed a healthy weight. If someone would have told me that in ten years I’d be 100 lbs overweight, I wouldn’t have believed them! No way in a million years would I ever let myself weigh THAT much! But it happened. One nibble turned into two, which turned into three, four, five, six . . . which eventually turned into a full-blown, binge eating disorder; resulting in obesity and poor health for twenty long years. Those years were like existing in a dark prison cell with no exit sign.

Dr. Fuhrman clearly states that snacking is overeating, and overeating will sabotage excellent health. Those who nibble consume more calories, and snacking is usually done when not truly hungry. It’s easy to reach for that handful of nuts after watching Junior’s soccer game. (If those same nuts are consumed with greens at mealtime, the absorption of phytochemicals is enhanced by 10 fold!) It’s easy to nibble on that package of carrots or dried fruit while putting groceries away. Oh my, and don’t forget those enticing food samples laced throughout the grocery store on Saturday mornings! “Just one bite” never hurt anyone. Wrong. In all truthfulness, if we want to live in optimal health, nibbling and snacking need to be eliminated from our vocabulary altogether. Period. No compromise. No excuses.*

SAY NO TO NIBBLING

Let’s all enjoy the privilege of living in excellent health for the rest of our lives!

waist measurement

Previous posts related to this topic: “The powerful snare of compromise” and "Eating occasions"

* Dr. Fuhrman states that a rare exception to snacking would be if one ate too little at a meal or couldn’t get to the next meal and were truly hungry; in that case the “healthy snack” would be appropriate.

image credit - Flickr: thebittenword.com; lululemon athletica

Tags: Emily Boller, Inspiration, Obesity, binge eating disorder, compromise, snacking

Is pleasing Grandma ruining your health?

Posted on December 12, 2010 by Emily Boller

cookies

Are you currently engulfed in the sea of pleasing everyone but yourself?

Do you help your children and/or others reach their fullest potential, but neglect your own goals?

Are you afraid to “rock the boat” this holiday season and say, “No” to others ~ to the extent that you don’t take care of yourself?

Would you like to eat healthier, but are afraid of hurting someone’s feelings by rejecting their food; especially Grandma’s favorite cookies that she made just for you?

Are you going along with the crowd to blend in at the expense of killing yourself?

Are you straddling the fence? Do you want to eat for health, but are afraid of what others might think so you make compromises?

A people pleaser is concerned with the expectations of others and trying to fit in, even if it means giving up personal goals to do so. Pleasing everyone is emotional dysfunction, and is usually on the side of evil, not goodness. Trying to please others, even if what they are promoting is hurtful, is a deadly snare. Gang members can torture and kill people trying to please their peer group.

Don’t meet the expectations and demands of others if they are unrealistic and disease promoting. Love means having the best affect on others, not acting in a way to be viewed more favorably. The latter is weakness and self-love.

If you are a habitual people pleaser it will take courage to change the dysfunction. Saying no without feeling guilty can be difficult, but for optimal health, you must change damaging behaviors.

Standing up for yourself and doing what is right, not necessarily what is popular or what is promoted by your family and friends, is the best gift that you can give to others!

Let’s dialogue. In what practical ways do you need to change this holiday season in order to be emotionally and physically healthy? (Feel free to use a nickname if you wish to remain anonymous.)

image credit: flickr by jencu

Tags: Emily Boller, Inspiration, emotional dysfunction, holiday challenge, pleasing people

The Six Week Holiday Challenge

Posted on November 4, 2010 by Emily Boller

In America there’s a mindset that it’s totally acceptable and expected by well-meaning friends and relatives to gorge on decadent, rich foods during the holidays; aka the “Six Week Holiday Binge.” It’s been taught and modeled to most of us since childhood, and for many, it’s hard to break free from the culturally engrained habit of eating for disease during that period of time.

Norman Rockwell's Thanksgiving painting I don’t know about you, but I’m fed up with being pulled into the culture’s holiday eating traditions:

traditions that are excuses to eat (and drink) for disease; planting seeds of toxic addiction and premature death

traditions that cause one to feel “blah”

traditions that result in the accepted norm of waking up on January first ~ lethargic, bloated and depressed; necessitating the need for New Years’ dieting resolutions

Whether one has many pounds to lose and needs to overcome toxic food addiction by following Dr. Fuhrman’s six-week eating plan as outlined in Eat to Live; or just wants to fine-tune a healthy habit like: eating only when hungry, or make a new, health promoting recipe each week, or increasing exercise intensity; most all of us can commit to a health improvement during the holidays.

To help us get and stay motivated, I’ve invited several guest contributors, (including faculty from the Nutritional Education Institute, founded by Dr. Fuhrman), to share their expertise and practical tips to help us successfully navigate the holiday season ahead. For example, they will instruct on such topics as why moderation fails, sidestepping sweet seductions, eating for health while away from home, and the wonderful benefits of daily exercise.

The change of one is a transformation ~ the change of many is a revolution. Invite your family, friends and co-workers to jump on-board with you! Let's all band together and intentionally challenge and change the cultures’ status quo by wholeheartedly committing to eating and exercising for health during the holidays.

The six week holiday challenge will begin on November 20th and go through December 31st; with the official kick-off on Saturday, November 20th. Stay tuned to Disease Proof in the weeks to come to be inspired and motivated by the line-up of guest authors!

We are in control of our health destiny; not the medical industry and pharmaceutical companies, and definitely not the holiday traditions! It's time to celebrate the holidays feeling well, and wake up on New Year's Day feeling our very best!

Let’s hear from you. What will be your six week holiday challenge?

"Freedom from Want" painting by Norman Rockwell

Tags: Emily Boller, Exercise, Inspiration, Weight Loss, binge eating, holidays, wellness

Radical changes produce radical results

Posted on October 25, 2010 by Emily Boller

For years I suffered from binge eating [aka Binge Eating Disorder]; usually after episodes of restrictive, deprivation dieting. I read plenty of self-help books and occasionally went to therapy for it. The standard advice given was not to have a radical, “all-or-nothing” mindset concerning food choices. The reason being perfectionism can lead to binge eating as a coping mechanism for dieting failure and resulting false guilt. I totally agree that perfectionism can produce a false guilt that can lead to eating everything in sight; however, radical changes are absolutely necessary for the food addict to get free!

cooked vegetables Anyone prone to binge eating can overcome it by focusing on eating high nutrient foods for optimal health. There’s no false guilt when one is actively nurturing and giving his/her body the best care possible. When ETL is viewed as a restrictive dieting plan, binge eating most definitely will result for those who have been previously entangled in deprivation/bingeing/guilt cycles.

Dr. Fuhrman strongly urges that moderate changes produce little to no results, but radical changes produce radical results. When one experiences radical improvements of health in a relatively short amount of time, it produces momentum; both psychological and physiological.

The standard American diet is radical and dangerous, and its popularity does not make it less destructive; it is slow suicide. Dr. Fuhrman likens making gradual changes with food to making gradual changes with cocaine. For both the food addict and the cocaine addict, merely cutting down just fuels an overwhelming desire to use more.

berries A nutritarian diet is sensible, scientific, logical, and produces great results. I encourage anyone struggling with bingeing to view eating a high nutrient diet as a boundary fence of safety and freedom to enjoy optimal health. The eating plan will enable anyone to successfully get through toxic food cravings and see and feel radical results relatively quickly. If one fills up on nutrients, the cravings for junk will eventually disappear. Guaranteed.