On 3/26/98 10:18 AM, Phyllis Walker said:

>Hello, my name is Phyllis, and I'm a recovering vegetarian.  In those 5
>meatless years I watched my weight shoot up 30 lbs, my strength lessening,
>and my energy levels drop to nothing.  Why did I keep at for so long, you
>ask?  Because it was so "good" for me (I read a whole bunch of books
>testifying to that fact), obviously the problem was that I wasn't doing it
>right.  I experimented: cut out dairy, eating raw veggies, eating only rice
>etc.  I stayed constipated, low energy, constant heartburn, and chronic,
>stinky "gas" (sorry, but it's true).  So at the end of 1997, I thought here I
>sit, a failure, what is wrong with me!? Why can't I get this right!?
Dear Phyllis,
    Congratulations!  I was a vegetarian for a long time also, and
experienced the same things you did.  My skin looked very pale, and I
usually felt bad.  My husband and I went to a nutritionist/cleanser once
(about seven years ago) and he took us off all grains-(good), all meat,
all dairy, and had us do several fasts, after three months I was way too
thin and felt like I was going to die.  And now, after learning more
about fats, I probably was close to death...  It was hard at first to eat
so much meat, and fat, but after just three weeks I feel so much better
than I have in a long time.  I haven't had gas in so long, I forgot how
bad it was until you mentioned it again!  We've actually been doing a lot
of research, and are on a no carb diet (or way of eating) now, and I feel
so much better even than before. Only a no carb diet stops insulin
production - insulin being the main culprit which damages arteries, ages
the skin, and is responsible for the loss of collagen in the connective
tissues.  Plus, we're trying to find a diet which will not contribute to
caries, and actually help heal cavities already started (my husband is a
dentist).  Eskimos who only consume fats and meat have no degenerative
diseases.  Socially it's not easy, but our friends (except for a few
exceptional ones) think we're strange anyway, so this doesn't surprise
them - they just roll their eyes, and suck down their oatmeal, rice,
pasta, and pie, and blow their noses constantly...

>To "enlighten"
>them (I try to squash my zealot tendencies, but you know, when you're right,
>you're right!) I'll try to explain a bit of physiology, but if they're trying
>to understand but attack, I just stop and smile (they say my teeth are
>whiter, no coffee I guess), and say I refuse to lead a life unexamined.
 Great retort!
Thanks for sharing, and welcome to the "club".
Jacki