I
have been on the road for thirty-plus years and have never lost a
pound while traveling. My biggest worry whether I am on a
business trip or a vacation is how much weight I will gain.
This
past week I took myself on a healthy vacation to one of the most
incredible places I have ever been, and believe it or not I ate
really well and lost two pounds. I went to Sanoviv Medical
Center and Health Resort, where they teach you that people are
responsible for their own bodies. It isn’t up to a pill or a
shot.
I
flew into the San Diego Airport, where I was met and driven to
Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico, about 30 miles from the
USA/Mexican border.
As
I arrived a big gate opened, and when I got into the resort I thought
I had gone to Paradise. Once I was registered I
went to my room on the eighth floor, which looked out over the five
pools at the resort, and a beautiful walking path to the Pacific
Ocean. Every night I opened my glass doors to a patio so that I
could enjoy the sound of the rolling waves as they came into the
shore.
Here is the view from the eighth floor.
My
first stop was to visit the chiropractor. Last time I was at Sanoviv
I shared with him an ache that I had in my shoulder. He gave me some
exercises to do in the pool and it went away. This time it was a
muscle in my foot that had been driving me crazy for the past two
years. I had gone to all sorts of doctors in the States, but none of
them could do a thing to help me out.
After
he checked it over he gave me some more exercises. He then gave me
the bit of advice that I will never forget. He said, “The body
responds to consistency.” I got it. The bottom line as far as
the body is concerned is up to me, and if I do not do my part the
body will not do its part.
As
we talked I told him that I had been so busy that I had neglected
some of my exercises since January. He then gave me the next gem.
He said, “Time is a tool not and excuse.” That one hit
me square between the eyes. How many times have I said I just did
not have enough time.
Since
I have gotten home I have said no to a lot more things so that I
could say yes to what I need to do to take care of myself. As I
learned at the clinic, I’m the one who has to do the work to
keep myself healthy. It isn’t up to a pill or a shot.
While
at Sanoviv I attended every class I could about how to create a
healthy lifestyle. Every day I could go to yoga, meditation,
exercise programs, food preparation and more. Each night one of the
professionals (medical doctors, dentists, chiropractors,
nutritionist, physical fitness and psychologists) gave a presentation
about his area of expertise.
One
of my favorite classes was given by Dr. Lance Agorda. He took us on
a journey through the digestive system with the descriptive photos so
we could see what happens when food enters our mouth. After his
presentation I work to chew every bite 30 to 50 times so that my food
is soup in my mouth mixed with all the good enzymes that will break
it down in the body.
He
said if you do not eat healthy food, all the supplements if the world
will not make you healthy. I thought that was right on. I know we
do not know about all the good things in healthy foods.
He
suggested that before I eat something I think about it as if it were
an investment. Now I say to my self as I go by the candy rack, “You
are not a good investment for me.”
David
Gonzalez came in and demonstrated massage. He had a man lie face
down on a massage table. He then pulled both of his legs down to see
which leg was longer, and one leg indeed hung down longer than the
other. David had also marked the height of the man on a paper taped
to the wall. He told us that his spine was to the right side.
He
then went about moving the spine over bit. Then he pulled his feet
down again and they were even. When he stood up we could see from
the marks on the wall that the man was about a half inch taller.
I
said to myself, “I want that done to me.” I made an
appointment with David. When he pulled my feet down, he said that
there was about an inch difference in where they ended. No wonder I
have limped for so long! I thought it was because of my bad knee.
After he straightened my spine he checked my feet and they were even.
My limp went away because I was straight again.
The
program that I attended lasted five days and my schedule was filled
with opportunities for me to learn. Some of the food demonstrations
that I enjoyed were sprouting, juicing, and how to make tortillas
with yellow pepper, squash, and flax seed flour.
One
new exercise for me was earthing, which is a practice of
walking barefoot on the grass. I felt like I was a kid again as I
went out to walk on the grass to get the good energy that comes from
the earth. I came home I googled it. Sure enough, there were a lot
of articles on the benefit of walking in the grass with bare feet and
reconnecting with the energy from the earth.
After
my five days of taking in good health, I came home with a renewed
desire to put myself at the top of my priority list. I know that
when I do nothing I rust, and if I take care of myself I will enjoy
the wonderful life that I can create with a healthy body, mind, and
spirit.
For
more information about Sanoviv email info@dianthomas.com.
Dian Thomas was blessed with the good fortune to be born near and raised in
the remote, breathtaking Manti-La Sal National Forest in southeastern Utah,
where her father was the forest ranger. She took the skills she learned in the
outdoors and turned them into a New York Times best-selling book, Roughing It
Easy. Her appearance on the NBC's "Tonight" show with Johnny Carson
boosted her into the national media scene, where she became a regular on
NBC's "Today" show for eight years and then ABC's "Home Show" for six years.
After more than 25 years of media exposure and 19 books, she now shares her
practical insights and wisdom with audiences who want to savor life.
A former Relief Society president, Dian is currently serving as a visiting
teacher. Visit her website at www.DianThomas.com