12/01/16 8:30 p.m.

After feeling ill for far too long I’ve decided to take control of my health. I can’t remember a time when I felt well. I’ve had tummy troubles since I can remember, many mystery symptoms/illnesses, many food intolerances and diagnosed with at least one autoimmune disease possibly a second.

My husband and I bought a NINJA Blender for Christmas 2013.  Since then I’ve made smoothies on and off for the last 3 years.

In May 2016 a coworker said she was doing a 10 day detox (using recipes and instructions from JJ Smith’s book). I offered to join her for support. Of course, I knew I needed to detox also. I followed this detox religiously. The 11th day I was heading on vacation to Las Vegas with 2 girlfriends. I felt like I was coming down with a cold. I was miserable in Vegas, I could barely eat and could barely stay awake half of the time. I mainly lived off bananas and hot green tea with honey. When I got back from Vegas I missed a few more days from work. I went to the Dr. who said he thought I had a virus and it just had to run it’s course. I had a low grade fever, cough, sore throat and an excessive amount of mucus/phlem.

I was messaging with a member (we’ll call him “G”)  of a FB group who has the same autoimmune disease as I do. I was telling G  how ill I was. He said he had just joined another FB group about detoxing/fasting. He believed that what I was going through was a “healing crisis.” A healing crisis is when you’re flushing out toxins in your body and you feel ill as you’re healing. After doing my own research, I believe he was correct.

I joined the same FB group that G joined. I’ve read all the literature at least three times that has been pinned in the group and I’ve researched this detox/fast. I  have read many members stories and followed them on their journeys. I read post after post every day. Their stories vary so much, often very intriguing and inspiring. I see suffering and healing and so much inspiration. I am beginning my journey with so much confidence thanks to this group of people who bare their souls with no shame, sharing so much so the next person can be successful.I bought the herbs and tinctures over a month ago, knowing I would begin this journey, just unsure of when.

I am slowly easing into this detox/fast,  preparing my body by fasting 10-16 hours every day/night,  consuming less food and eating/drinking healthier food. I am hoping to minimize the affects of the healing crisis. I am now going to call it the healing process. I believe I have already started the healing process. For the last month I’ve been drinking a detox smoothie at least 5 days a week and after one week started to feel like I was coming down with a cold. I have a runny nose,  a lot of phlem and my skin is breaking out all over my body-minor break outs. My healing journey has just begun.

Bea Jan