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My first colonic. (Yes, you read that right.)

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Before you read on, take note. While I will put all of this in the most lady-like manner that I can, be warned: This post is not for the faint of heart or the easily offended!

So… last month I had my first colonic. The backstory (pun intended) is that I’ve been interested in colon hydrotherapy for years. I’ve heard incredible things about the experience—immediate six-pound weight loss; pieces of blockage the size of oranges coming out; miraculous flat tummies; and so on.

Through research, I found that a colonic can be incredibly beneficial to your health. Colon hydrotherapy washes away the toxins that build up over the course of your lifetime, leaving your colon fresh, clean, and non-toxic. I also learned that a colonic can treat irregularity, constipation, indigestion, diarrhea, gas, bloat, hemorrhoids, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, diverticulitis, colitis, parasites, skin conditions, and much more. Although the jury is still out (or outright against the idea) from some of the medical community, I’d heard enough positive accounts to give it a go. Fasting has done tremendous things for me—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—and I was eager try another method of cleansing. As fate would have it, Groupon sent me a fabulous offer for 50% off a colon hydrotherapy session at nearby Wellness Innovations. How could I resist!? 😉

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When I called to make my appointment I received very basic instructions to avoid eating two hours beforehand so that I wouldn’t be digesting. The first thing I noticed, arriving in the office, was the beautiful, calming environment. Sandra LaMorgese was my colon hydrotherapist and she made me feel incredibly at ease. I filled out a short questionnaire and a little while later, Sandra brought me into the room where my colonic would take place.

My experience was as follows:

  1. Sandra explained the entire process, then left the room
  2. I undressed from the waist down, and lay down on a comfortable chair/bed
  3. I put on gloves, lubed up, and inserted the speculum (which is so small that you wonder if it’s even there!)
  4. Then I covered myself from the waist down with a soft sheet and towel
  5. Finally, I texted Sandra and she came back in to turn the water on

Next, the actual process began. I assume it is different for each person, but for me, I could not “release” with Sandra in the room. It was obviously psychological because as soon as she left, I had no trouble.

As for the process, a slow stream of water runs inside and fills your colon. You hold it in as long as you can and then you release it. You repeat the process over and over for the length of your procedure, mine was 45 minutes.

It is non-invasive and (believe it or not!) quite relaxing.

It takes some getting used to, but after a while it seems very natural. I was shocked by how easy it was. There was no pain involved, except for a few brief moments where my stomach twisted. That was mildly uncomfortable, but it felt like a part of the process, like my body was working to eliminate toxins.

There is a hole in the chair/bed where the speculum and water come from. It is this same hole where all of the waste goes down. There is a view-tube beside you so that you can see everything that passes out of you. What surprised me was that after the initial “movement” (which was pretty standard) there was not that much that actually came out of me. No giant clumps the size of an orange, mostly just the clean water coming out exactly as it came in. After awhile, this made me anxious. Why wasn’t anything happening? Then, I had another smaller movement, but that was it for the length of the procedure. If anything else came out, it wasn’t visible. I had the expectation that something major would be removed and there would be a lot of movement over the course of the treatment. In retrospect, I think that having that expectation was detrimental. It caused me unnecessary anxiety during the process.

The process is calming and therapeutic. It’s a shame that I got worked up/anxious about the lack of activity. I think that I would have gotten more from it if I’d just let go of my expectations—come what may. That’s why I plan to get another colonic in the future. Next time, I will go into it with no expectations and truly relax.

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Following the session, I didn’t feel very different. I’d once read a post-colonic account where the writer recalled feeling so clean afterward that she craved nothing other than water and cucumbers. Well, that wasn’t the case for me! I was hungry! Sandra said that I should stick to soft food for the rest of the day so I had some boiled squash and rice, but I was craving a thick slice of pizza. My stomach did feel empty, but not much more than it would after any substantial “movement.”

As for weight loss, the morning after my colonic and saw a 1.5 pound loss—not the 6 pounds I was hoping for, but a positive change. 🙂 Perhaps the greatest effect of the process has been the positive change to my digestive health. A week after my colonic, I left for vacation. Typically I experience irregularity on vacation (with all of the changes to my diet, being in a strange environment, altered sleeping patterns, etc). However, on this vacation, my digestion ran like clockwork! I felt so good the entire time I was away—never bloated or lethargic.

I did have one substantial hiccup in the process.

If you are considering colon hydrotherapy, please take note.

After my session, Sandra informed me that while the process would improve my digestion, I might not have a movement for a few days as my colon would be empty. However, the very next day I did have several movements and they were not normal. (Brace for grossness.) The movements were loose and bright yellow! I was pretty terrified and immediately jumped online to research. (Thank goodness for Google!) Turns out that bright yellow stool results from a lack of good bacteria in the colon. This made sense to me—while washing the toxicity from my colon (great thing!) I also washed the good bacteria from my colon (bad thing!). I hightailed it to the grocery for some Activia and Kefir (both excellent sources of probiotics [good bacteria]) and by the next morning all was well in my world.

evolutionyou.net | seahorse

Would I recommend colon hydrotherapy? Absolutely. I think that it is a worthwhile endeavour. It’s virtually painless and it’s a therapeutic experience for your body & spirit. I do expect that I will make a habit of having a session every few years. Of course, my one big recommendation is to keep probiotics on-hand and enjoy a nice big bowl of yogurt after your session.

If you have any questions, please ask! Apparently I’m not too shy after all. 😉

If you’ve got a moment, please give us a vote over on Top Baby Blogs! Many thanks. xo

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  • Carousel — 04.09.10

    Hello Dear Readers & happy Friday! It’s been a bit quiet around here this week because I am preparing for vacation. Yahoo! I leave tomorrow morning and will be returning late next week. You will see a couple of guest posts during that time (if I can properly set that up in WordPress) and a guest post from me will be posted over at a friend’s blog. So keep your eyes open for those things, but my apologies in advance as I will not be replying to comments or emails because…

    I plan to be completely disconnected during my trip. That means no Blackberry, Twitter, Facebook, Web, Foursquare, and so on. I need a break from “virtual reality”, my friends. 😉 In fact, we all do from time to time!

    That said, let’s move on to this week’s Carousel. I’ve got some very sweet goodies to share with you this week.

    ———————–

    Every Friday, I post my favourite links, posts, & resources from around the Web. Expect to learn, grow, & be inspired.

    1. Coming across hurting people: Every now & again, I come across a piece that touches me in a deep, profound way. Usually the piece is not too long, but it is always powerful and tugs at my heart strings in a soft, yet poignant way.

    This blog post is one of those pieces. If you read nothing else from this week’s Carousel, read this.

    2. Eco-Bootcamp: The sustainable, savvy heroines over at Your Daily Thread have kicked off a month long going green boot camp in honor of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22nd. Their goal is to turn Eco-zeros, to Eco-heroes even if you’ve never recycled before.

    3. Soda: A Sin We Sip Instead of Smoke? and Junk food ‘as addictive as heroin and smoking’: I am extremely passionate about healthy living & lifestyles. My passion has been really intense lately as I become increasingly aware of the disturbing truths about modern “food”.

    I view the recent elimination of sugary beverages (soda) from school systems as a huge triumph. I look forward to the continuation of this important trend. Education and awareness is crucial.

    4. create luck, embrace chance & tune in to your serendipity: What is it about lucky people? Have they all got horseshoes tucked into their backsides? 🙂 Amber doesn’t think so & neither do I.

    5. 7 Sources of Deep Clutter: Some great advice about how to eliminate the “shoulds, have-tos, and people-pleasing” bad habits that are cluttering your life & soul.

    (And as a side note, the Good Life Zen blog is really fantastic. Each post is insightful, inspirational, and well-written.)

    6. Remaining Calm in Stressful Situations: I like this post because it teaches us something that we can all benefit from (remaining calm) but I love it because it reminds us of something even more important — that mental/emotional stress does cause physical illness.

    7. 40 Belief-Shaking Remarks From a Ruthless Nonconformist: Ah, yes! We can always count on Friedrich Nietzsche to obliterate the complacent, feel-good beliefs that we hold about ourselves. This collection of quotes will stir your pot and get your wheels spinning.

    8. The Top 10 Online Habits That Make My Life Simpler: If you’re like me—meaning you spend several hours a day online—then you know that the Web can be the biggest time-vacuum known to man (if you let it). This post lists lots of simple yet effective ways that will help you make the most of your precious time spent online.

    9. Why You Should Be More Decisive: Truth: I am an extremely indecisive woman by nature. Those closest to me will tell you this.

    I have trouble deciding upon the simplest of things—which restaurant to visit, which shirt to wear, which road to take, whether or not to put salt on my food, which movie to watch, and so on. Well, a couple of years ago I found an ingenious method for dealing with this problem: I started flipping a coin! Yes, that’s my secret.

    While the coin-flipping model has worked well for me, I still really enjoyed this post. It teaches us why some people have so much trouble being decisive in today’s world and why it is really important that we become more decisive overall. Perhaps I should stop relying so heavily on the coin and start aiming to be more decisive myself…

    10. How To Fund Your Travels With Creativity: I have several friends who are currently living outside of the United States, seeing the world, gaining incredible life experience, and living the lives of their dreams. If you want to know how 95% of them are doing it, read this post. It will tell you exactly what they’re doing and how you can do it too.

    ———————–

    That’s it for this week. I’ll see you all on the other side.

    In love & light,
    Dena

  • · ·

    3 Simple Changes That Will Save Your Life

    This post could save your life. These 3 simple lifestyle changes saved mine. Today I am going to simply share facts with you. These facts (if you let them) will dramatically improve your quality of life. Making these changes can even increase your life span.

    1. Stop Smoking

    FACTS: According to the American Heart Association, cigarette smoking is the most important preventable cause of premature death in the United States, accounting for 440,000 of the more than 2.4 million annual deaths.

    Cigarette smoking causes lung cancer. In fact, smoking tobacco is the major risk factor for lung cancer. In the United States, about 90% of lung cancer deaths in men and almost 80% of lung cancer deaths in women are due to smoking. People who smoke are 10 to 20 times more likely to get lung cancer or die from lung cancer than people who do not smoke. The longer a person smokes and the more cigarettes smoked each day, the more risk goes up.

    Smoking also causes cancer of the voice box (larynx), mouth and throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, pancreas, cervix, and stomach, and causes acute myeloid leukemia. Source.

    FACTS: One year after passing smoking bans, communities in North America and Europe had 17 percent fewer heart attacks compared to communities without smoking restrictions, and the number of heart attacks kept decreasing with time, according to a report in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. Source.

    FACTS: If you quit smoking, you will:

    1. Prolong your life. According to the American Heart Association, smokers who quit between ages 35-39 add an average of 6-9 years to their lives. Smokers who quit between ages 65-69 increase their life expectancy by 1 – 4 years.

    2. Reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. Quitting smoking reduces the risk of repeat heart attacks and death from heart disease by 50 percent or more. Quitting smoking also reduces your risk of high blood pressure, peripheral artery disease and stroke.

    3. Reduce your risk of developing a variety of other conditions including diabetes, lung cancer, throat cancer, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, chronic asthma, ulcers, gum disease and many other conditions.

    4. Feel healthier. After quitting, you won’t cough as much, have as many sore throats and you will increase your energy.

    5. Look and feel better. Quitting can help you prevent face wrinkles, get rid of stained teeth, improve your skin and even get rid of the stale smell in your clothes and hair.

    6. Improve your sense of taste and smell.

    7. Save money. Source.

    FACTS: What Happens When You Quit:

    After 20 minutes
    o You stop polluting the air
    o Your blood pressure and pulse decrease
    o The temperature of your hands and feet increases

    After 8 hours
    o The carbon monoxide level in your blood returns to normal
    o Oxygen levels in your blood increase

    After 24 hours
    o Your risk of heart attack decreases

    After 48 hours
    o Nerve endings adjust to the absence of nicotine
    o Your ability to taste and smell begin to return

    After 2 weeks to 3 months
    o Your circulation improves
    o Your exercise tolerance improves

    After 1 – 9 months
    o Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath decrease
    o Your overall energy level increases

    After 1 year
    o Your risk of heart disease decreases to half that of a current smoker

    After 5 – 15 years
    o Your risk of stroke is reduced to that of people who have never smoked

    After 10 years
    o Your risk of dying from lung cancer drops to almost the same rate as a lifelong non- smoker
    o You decrease the incidence of other cancers — of the mouth, larynx, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas

    After 15 years
    o Your risk of heart disease is reduced to that of people who have never smoked

    If you smoke again (called a relapse) do not lose hope. Seventy-five percent of those who quit relapse. Most smokers quit three times before they are successful. If you relapse, don’t give up! Review the reasons why you wanted to become a nonsmoker. Plan ahead and think about what you will do next time you get the urge to smoke. Source.

    2. Maintain a Healthy Body Weight

    QUESTION: How many people get cancer by being overweight or obese? How many die?

    FACTS: In 2002, about 41,000 new cases of cancer in the United States were estimated to be due to obesity. This means that about 3.2 percent of all new cancers are linked to obesity.

    A recent report estimated that, in the United States, 14 percent of deaths from cancer in men and 20 percent of deaths in women were due to overweight and obesity.

    Colon cancer occurs more frequently in people who are obese than in those of a healthy weight. An increased risk of colon cancer has been consistently reported for men with high BMIs.
    Source.

    FACTS: Research has shown that as weight increases to reach the levels referred to as “overweight” and “obesity,” the risks for the following conditions also increases:

    * Coronary heart disease
    * Type 2 diabetes
    * Cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)
    * Hypertension (high blood pressure)
    * Dyslipidemia (for example, high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides)
    * Stroke
    * Liver and Gallbladder disease
    * Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
    * Osteoarthritis (a degeneration of cartilage and its underlying bone within a joint)
    * Gynecological problems (abnormal menses, infertility) Source.

    3. Eat Whole Foods, Not Processed

    FACTS: The statistics are alarming:

    – One in three people will get cancer at some time in their life

    – Heart disease is the leading cause of death

    – Poor nutrition and physical inactivity together are the second
    actual cause of preventable death in the United States

    On the other hand new evidence shows that:

    – Eating five or more fruits and vegetables per day cuts cancer
    risk in half

    – People who eat more fruits and vegetables have a 30% lower risk
    of premature heart attack than people who eat a few

    – About 25% fewer strokes are projected for adults who eat 8 or
    more servings of fruits and vegetables per day

    – Fruits and vegetables may help keep blood sugar down and control diabetes.” Source.

    FACTS: Processed meat consumption results in 67% increase in pancreatic cancer risk.
    Source.

    FACTS: Inorganic phosphates are found in a variety of processed foods, including meats, cheeses, beverages and bakery products. They are added to increase water retention and improve food texture. Studies suggests a diet high in inorganic phosphates could speed growth of cancerous tumors and contribute to the development of tumors in those predisposed to the disease. Source.

    FACTS: Carcinogens in foods that may be naturally-occurring, caused by preparing or cooking certain foods, or added to it, include safrole, estragole and benzene. Processed foods such as sausages, bacon and canned meats contain high amounts of the preservative nitrite, another known carcinogen. Other carcinogens to look for in food products include:

    * acetaldehyde
    * acetamide
    * azo color and compounds
    * benzidine
    * bis (2-Chloromethyl) ether
    * cadmium
    * chlorinated parraffin waxes
    * 3,3-dichlorobenzidine
    * dichloromethane
    * hexachlorobenzene
    * polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
    * polychlorinated dibenzodioxins
    * polychlorinated dibenzofurans
    * sillica
    * trichloroethylene

    Though it is impossible to avoid every known carcinogen, to decrease risk of cancers and other illnesses, a balanced diet with more unprocessed, whole foods can decrease risk of some cancers and other diseases such as type two diabetes and heart disease. Source.

    FACTS: Nutrients in Whole Foods that Protect Against Cancer:

    1. Vitamin A: Strengthens the immune system. Essential for mineral metabolism and endocrine function. Helps detoxify. True vitamin A is found only in animal foods such as cod liver oil; fish and shellfish; and liver, butter and egg yolks from pasture-fed animals. Traditional diets contained ten times more vitamin A than the typical modern American diet.

    2. Vitamin C: An important antioxidant that prevents damage by free radicals. Found in many fruits and vegetables but also in certain organ meats valued by primitive peoples.

    3. Vitamin B6: Deficiencies are associated with cancer. Contributes to the function of over 100 enzymes. Most available from animal foods.

    4. Vitamin B12: Deficiencies are associated with cancer. Found only in animal foods.

    5. Vitamin B17: Protects against cancer. Found in a variety of organically grown grains, legumes, nuts and berries.

    6. Vitamin D: Required for mineral absorption. Strongly protective against breast and colon cancer. Found only in animal foods such as cod liver oil, lard, shellfish and butterfat, organ meats and egg yolks from grass-fed animals. Traditional diets contained ten times more vitamin D than the typical modern American diet.

    7. Vitamin E: Works as an antioxidant at the cellular level. Found in unprocessed oils as well as in animal fats like butter and egg yolks.

    8. Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA): Strongly protective against breast cancer. Found in the butterfat and meat fat of grass-fed ruminant animals.

    9. Cholesterol: A potent antioxidant that protects against free radicals in cell membranes. Found only in animal foods.

    10. Minerals: The body needs generous amounts of a wide variety of minerals to protect itself against cancer. Minerals like zinc, magnesium and selenium are vital components of enzymes that help the body fight carcinogens. Minerals are more easily absorbed from animal foods.

    11. Lactic Acid and Friendly Bacteria: Contribute to the health of the digestive tract. Found in old fashioned lacto-fermented foods.

    12. Saturated Fats: Strengthen the immune system. Needed for proper use of the essential fatty acids. The lungs cannot function without saturated fats. Found mostly in animal foods.

    13. Long-Chain Fatty Acids: Arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) help fight cancer on the cellular level. They are found mostly in animal foods such as butter, organ meats, cod liver oil and seafood.

    14. Co-enzyme Q10: Highly protective against cancer. Found only in animal foods. Source.

    In closing: I truly hope that you will begin living these simple lifestyle changes. If you are non-smoker, not obese, and already eating whole foods, then I challenge you to help to spread this message to as many people as you can. All of the suffering and the disease mentioned above is not necessary. It can be prevented.

  • · · · · ·

    The Courage to Confront Your Dream

    What is a personal calling? It is God’s blessing, it is the path that God chose for you here on Earth. Whenever we do something that fills us with enthusiasm, we are following our legend. However, we don’t all have the courage to confront our own dream. —The Alchemist

    Are You Aware of What You’re Doing?

    I’ve been thinking a lot about dreams lately (as if you hadn’t noticed). One of my most urgent ambitions/dreams is to live an entirely purposeful life. I see people around me everyday, sleepwalking through life, on autopilot. Alarm clock, shower, breakfast, commute, zombie work, commute, dinner, television, sleep. Repeat. Day in and day out. It breaks my heart. What hurts more are the moments (sometimes hours) when I catch myself falling into that terrible haze. Of course I snap myself out of it as soon as I realize it’s happening. The way that I snap out of it is simple enough: I ground myself. I literally take notice of my feet on the Earth, carpet, tile (wherever I am). I recognize my breathing. I acknowledge that I am a human being walking the Earth, beneath the sky, on a great big planet, floating in the Universe. It’s really important to do that, to ground yourself in reality at least once a day, probably more. If you don’t do it you will get caught up in the trivial — the fight with your spouse; the disappointment over your kid’s report card; the scratch on your new car; the ever-growing pile of papers on your desk; your unappreciative boss — you get the picture.

    Proactive vs. Reactive Living

    When you ground yourself, you pull yourself from the depths of the trivial, unimportant, little details that tend to take control. When you ground yourself, you become aware. The only problem with grounding yourself this way is that it is reactive rather than proactive. There is actually a much better way to avoid autopilot and that is proactivity. I am going to start talking a lot on this blog about reactive vs. proactive thoughts and actions. So let me take a moment to define what I mean by each of these terms.

    Reactive—Something happens and triggers you to take action.

    Example 1: You get on the scale one morning to realize that you’ve gained ten pounds. Your reaction is to begin a diet and start breaking your back in the gym until you lose the ten pounds.

    Example 2: Your marriage has been falling apart for the last two years. You fight with your spouse daily or more. You are both unhappy. You put everything before each other — work, friends, hobbies, etc. The marriage is your last priority. As a last resort you decide to attend marriage counseling.

    Proactive—You consciously prepare and act in ways that will produce certain desired outcomes in your life.

    Example 1: You are aware that you want to be physically healthy. You continually live a lifestyle that promotes health. You always take the stairs instead of the elevator. You run a mile each morning before work. You feed your body foods that it craves & needs and avoid “junk” whenever possible.

    Example 2: Your marriage is one of your top priorities. You make “alone” time and set dates with your spouse at least once a week. You plan vacations together to explore places you’ve never seen. You participate in each others favourite hobbies. You fight, as all healthy couples do, but you practice open communication and work through arguments before they become significant problems.

    If you analyze all of the actions and thoughts in your life, you will find that each one is either reactive or proactive. The goal is to make all of your thoughts and actions proactive. The problem with practicing reactive thinking or action, is that it is usually too late. And even when you do succeed, it is usually a short-lived success because reactive thoughts and actions do not treat the causes of problems; they only treat the symptoms.

    Let’s take the reactive approach to the extra ten pounds for example. You notice the excess weight, you starve yourself, you go to the gym religiously — within a few months, the pounds are gone. You feel great for a little while, but soon you go back to your old habits. A few months later and the pounds are creeping back on. On the other hand, if you had made a decision to begin taking a permanent proactive approach to maintaining your health, you would have achieved long-lasting, sustainable progress and results. These same principles would apply to the example of the troubled marriage and any other example that you could think of.

    Proactivity is a crucial element to a happy, fulfilling, successful life.

    Follow Your Legend, Confront Your Dream

    Now, I am going to tie this whole thing together and tell you how you can live a life of constant proactivity and sheer joy. Ready? Have another look at the opening lines to this post. What is a personal calling? It is God’s blessing, it is the path that God chose for you here on Earth. Whenever we do something that fills us with enthusiasm, we are following our legend. However, we don’t all have the courage to confront our own dream. (If you are not religious, replace the word God with the word Universe. What is a personal calling? It is the Universe’s blessing, it is the path that the Universe chose for you here on Earth. Whenever we do something that fills us with enthusiasm, we are following our legend. However, we don’t all have the courage to confront our own dream. To me, the words God & Universe mean the same, beautiful, powerful thing.)

    That’s it, my friends, if you want to live proactively, if you want to live the life of your dreams, all you have to do is confront your dreams and follow your legend.

    Ask yourself these questions: What fills me with enthusiasm? What is the one thing that I could wake up and do happily every single day for the rest of my life without even being paid? When you have the answer, then you have your personal calling. It is the path that is meant for you. When you do this thing, you will follow your legend and you will confront your dreams.

    Next month, it will be one year since I discovered my own personal calling. I will never forget the moment. It hit me like lightning — to help people by sharing my journey & the lessons I’ve learned along the way — so simple, but so amazing. That is what compelled me to start this blog eight months ago. That is what has kept me going ever since. And I know what you are thinking now: Dena, I can’t do it. You are making it sound so simple, but it’s not. I can’t afford to quit my job. I have a mortgage to pay. My mother is sick. I am not talented enough. I’m too old. It’s not practical. And the list of excuses will go on and on and on. Well, I am sorry, but none of your excuses are good enough! No matter how stuck you think you are — no matter how dire your circumstance might seem — there is a way out!

    Take it from me. I was depressed and anxious for the first half of my life. I spent much of that time wanting my life to end. I was seventy pounds overweight. I was $40,000 in debt. How much further down could I have gone? I could have used a lot of excuses to keep myself in that state; but I didn’t. I made a decision to change my life. I lost seventy pounds. I overcame anxiety and depression. I’ve cut my debt in half and continue to pay it down every day! I figured out my personal calling and I am doing it. I am following my legend, confronting my dreams. I am making it happen — and you can do it, too.

    Before you get started with your excuses again, I’d like you to imagine something. Imagine being born a young girl in Alabama in 1880. Imagine then growing up to understand French, German, Greek, and Latin. Imagine then going to Harvard, at a time when few women from your town did anything other than get married and raise kids. Imagine then writing a book that was translated into twenty-five languages and inspired two Oscar-winning movies. Imagine then meeting every President in your lifetime and being awarded the highest civilian honor—the Presidential Medal of Freedom. That would be some accomplishment, wouldn’t it? Now imagine doing all of that whilst being blind, deaf, and barely able to talk for your entire life.

    It’s not impossible, friends. In fact, it’s very possible and there is a woman who did all of that, her name was Helen Keller. She accomplished all of those things, and more, because she believed in herself and she had a good teacher. (Taken from How to Be Rich & Happy.)

    “Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It’s perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we’ve learned something from yesterday.” —John Wayne

    Every single day is a new opportunity for us to begin living the lives of our dreams. Today is called “the present” because it is a gift. Take it and do something with it!

    I would love to hear your thoughts about this post. What is your personal calling? What obstacles are standing in your way? How are you going to overcome them? What can I do to help you get there? Let me know in the comments.

42 Comments

  1. I get colonics every six months. I usually do them in three sessions increments. I love them. I have heard over doing them van be bad as they do flush out good bacteria but I think doing them as part of a spring cleaning and cleanse is very beneficial. I would highly recommend them. You just reminded me that it’s time for me to schedule my series. I’m glad you tried it. I’ve never done it for weight loss so I have never actually weighed myself. I will have to try it. I do feel like I have more energy and almost cleaner. If you can even feel that! Ha! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

    1. I know exactly what you mean about feeling “cleaner.” I don’t know if it’s a mental thing or if it’s physical — but there is definitely this sense of cleansed. 🙂 I am definitely looking forward to my next session. Every six months actually sounds like a good idea. I am so glad to know someone else that has actually done this and has something great to say! So far I’ve just been getting a lot of raised eyebrows. 😉

      XOXO

      Reply

    1. Haha! That is exactly the kind of response I was expecting, James. Don’t know it ’til you try it. 🙂 lol

      Reply

  3. I know several people who SWEAR by these treatments (some like the water ones, some like the juice/smoothie-only cleanses.) They participate more frequently, though, seeking a cleanse with the change of seasons. The only reason to really avoid it is if you have a suppressed immune system to begin with, which is not a problem for you! Congratulations for being brave enough to write about the experience. I didn’t find it it to be very “gross” at all, but then again, I may have a high threshold for bodily functions.

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Kristin! It was a little nerve-wracking at first, but I am so glad I was able to share the experience. I’m always excited to try new things. I could definitely see myself going in for a–Spring & Winter cleaning–so to speak. 🙂

      Reply

  4. Thanks for the info.  I’m mentally prepping for my first flushing.  However, in the interest of accuracy, I think it’s important to point out a couply of things.  Colonics don’t release anything that wouldn’t have been coming out anyway and there are no toxins removed during a colonic other than your normal feces.

    Reply

    1. Surely one of the main benefits of colonic irrogation is that it also removes a build up of mucus substances and other material that can stick and build up on the colonic wall and which are full of bad bacteria and toxins. This ‘material’ is not passed with your normal feces hence the benefit of colonic hydrotherapy.

      Reply

  5. Do you get really badflatulence after the colonic for 48 hours???? This is the only reason I’m avoiding going since I have house guests and would be soooo embarrassed .

    Reply

  6. Thanks for sharing! I’ve been interested in colonics for quite sometime now. After ready you’re positive experience I’m going to find a clinic to try this. Is it weird that I’m really excited!?

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    1. Not weird at all! It’s a really cool experience. I’m glad I did it and wish you the best of luck! Here’s to happy, healthy digestion. 🙂

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  7. I am considering getting a colonic and I’ve always had this thought of lying down on a table with my hiney exposed during the process. I never followed through because of that. Thanks for easing my anxiety.

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  8. The two colonic l have had have been really good after two I can now go to the bathroom every day, I have always suffered with constipation and I would go three days before l could go to the bathroom now I am going every day. I am having my third one tomorrow and l am really looking forward to it, the person who does it makes me feel at ease l was very not sure about having a colonic but now l say to everyone go for it

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  9. I actually feel better about getting a colon hydrotherapy at first I was scared but I went ahead and schedule my appointment. Is their anything besides not eating a few hours before to get myself ready

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    1. Hi Kim! You should definitely check with the center about preparation as every cleansing center is different. Good luck! 🙂

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  10. Thanks for all this information. I also have a Colonic Irrigation session booked through Groupon and you have made me feel more relaxed about it. My hairdresser has had a few and excuse this but she said its possible to see undigested foods like sweetcorn come out! not sure what to expect but ha a weight loss would be good!

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  11. I have always been interested in doing this due to my IBS and irregularity. I am very anxious about my comfort level as well, but my MAIN fear….is there any pain? I would imagine there would be significant cramping? I have an opportunity to an offer from Groupon as well and am eager to do so. Just a tad uneasy….

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    1. Hi Jennifer! No — no pain at all! The most uncomfortable thing was some gas passing through (yuck I know) at the beginning of the process. Other than that it felt like a normal bowel movement. Nothing to be worried about. Good luck.

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  12. I’ve had colon hydrotherapy on and off for a few years now. The place I go to in Las Vegas normally puts healthy bacteria in the final part of the session. Foot and hand massage are also performed if wanted. They also massage the stomach to help loosen areas/help water flow. At the end as you are leaving, they provide a cup of emergen C mix and cup of homemade vegetarian soup to complete your session.

    Great place, makes you feel very welcome and at ease…staff is awesome. My first time I was very nervous like everyone else says…but you learn that it’s not as bad as you first thought!

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  13. Hi Sharon (and anyone else who reads this), just wondering if you got to visit your physician about your situation? I am curious because I have been researching whether I want to try this colonic or not. I really want to try, but when I read this, it concerned me. I am a relatively healthy person, and have always thought about trying this, but I wonder if a colonic can do harm to those who are healthier with less fecal matter in their intestines or is I am reading too far into this.
    Hope to hear from you soon! Thanks!

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  15. Maria — Every person’s body reacts differently. You should discuss with your provider if you have additional questions. Generally, colonic irrigation is a very safe practice. Best of luck.

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  16. I just experienced my first colonic.. Let’s just say my experience was almost as you described except towards the end.. I started cramping and had the extreme urge to push.. I had to request for the technician to stop the process. . And ran like holy hell bathroom. . During my purge. . I prayed to porcelain gods to see me thru. And vowed never again to do this.. 10 flushes later and gum.. I vacated the bathroom to hear the hysterical laughter of my friends. . Apparently I prayed very loud. After another 5 minutes I started to feel better. Enduring an hour train ride home (why did I pick a center in Washington heights.) Upon reaching home, I called the center to book another appointment! ! I definitely am going back.. And yes I feel 10 pounds lighter!

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  17. My experience with colon hydrotherapy involved the reverse tube taking it all out for you…and when I did the hydrotherapy, I CRIED LIKE A BABY…it was very emotional and releasing…probably also because I felt very nauseous throughout..but I did feel lighter afterwards. Pretty traumatic though.

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  18. Colonics are supposed to be most effective if you eat nothing but apples 3 days before the process. From what I’ve heard, the pectin helps clean the walls of your rectum. Going to try next week!

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  19. I have horrible stomach problems and i am constantly constipated. I have a movement about every week or week and a half. Would this still work for me? Thank you for writing this btw. I have been thinking about doing this for months but i have been too scared to do it and reading this really helped.

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    1. It’s worth a shot. I’m not a health professional, but sounds to me like you’ve got problems with your diet. Check out the documentary — Fed Up. Good luck to you!

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  20. Thanks for writing this – trying my first one on Friday! Kind of nervous, but this definitely eased my anxieties. Besides wanting to try out a new cleanse, did you have any prior diagnosed digestive issues, like IBS? Did you notice any positive long-term effects after the treatment?

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  21. So glad I found this, Iv been thinking about it for a while. I have probably got IBS. Going in for a colonoscopy because of constipation and runny bowels plus lots of bleeding. I will wait till after my results of course but I will definitely give it a go now. I imagined it would be lying on a bed with my butt sticking out for all to see and somewhat uncomfortable and maybe a bit painful. But after reading this Im not worried at all. Thanks for sharing your experience.

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  22. I do my Colinics is 3 sessions. I’m actually going for my last session this morning. Thus far, I’ve lost 3 lbs but also feel so much cleaner. I don’t feel bloated like I used to anymore which is awesome. While doing this, I’ve learned a lot about changing my eating habits. Each session I go to, the nurse always informs me of the what and what not to eat. My first session felt like I was giving birth again along with all the cramping. I literally asked for a epidural 😝. But the 2nd session was much better. I had a technique that eliminated the cramping by doing a mid sit up. By doing this it pretty much shot everything out lol. More came out in the 2nd session than the 1st. Can’t wait to see what the 3rd session will bring. Would I recommend this to anyone? YES.

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  23. I have been getting about 2 colonics each month for almost 8 years. It started when I had to go to the ER because I hadn’t gone number 2 in 3 weeks. Loooong story short, after following all the doctor’s instructions I still couldn’t go. The doctor said that the next step was surgery. That’s when I got desperate. I was in Las Vegas and went to the same place as the earlier reader (where they give you home made soup at the end). They saved my butt (literally)! I am so grateful that colonics exist for people who can’t go regularly, especially when bowel surgery is a real option. A few tips before getting a colonic would be to avoid anything that gives you gas, take a good probiotic supplement, drink a lot of water, and don’t eat 2 hours prior. While you’re getting the colonic: RELAX and BREATHE, let go of the physical and emotional waste, and remember that what comes out is better out of your body than in. Enjoy!

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  24. I’ve had a few and agree that they’re very relaxing. The place I went to turns out the light and plays nature sounds set to soft music. They also give you a small cup of water with probiotics (in powder form) mixed in after the procedure.

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  25. Thank you Dena for posting all this. I was having major anxiety about going and having one done next week. But you and everyone else has helped calm me about doing.
    I have been having stomach and bowel problems and my Dr. says this will really help.
    Thank you all so much, I feel so much better about going and doing now! Bless you all!

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  26. I have been having colonic s for years, they are amazing and so good for you I would highly recommend them but make sure it is from a experienced person

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  27. Ok so I am having my first ever colonic tomorrow and although I am slightly nervous I am also strangely looking forward to it, I feel way better reading everyone’s comments and glad there’s lots of you out there that’s gone through this experience, fingers crossed it all goes smoothly lol

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      1. Hello,
        I am a current fitness competitor and I’m prepping for a show on June 30th.. t Minus 24 days. I have very bad constipation, and blaotinh from my caloric deficit which is not showing my stomach as it should due to build up.. which I have in my head. Will this help or hinder my progress? K can’t afgord to hold water weight as I’m cutting for stage.. I feel it would clean me out and make my stomach flatter along with feeling better. What are your thoughts?

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  28. I had my first colonic today after my doctor’s recommendation. SO uncomfortable and painful! My abdomen was cramping badly each time stool exited my body. It felt like the worst menstrual cramps ever! Also felt nauseous and hot/cold. I have IBS, parasites, Epstein-Barr Virus, and possibly endometriosis.
    I will call my doctor tomorrow to see if I should do a 2nd colonic session or not. My body might be too sensitive at this point. I’m feeling extra bloated now and still a little crampy/nauseous. Also had some mucousy blood in my stool after the session.

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  29. Just came back from my first colonic. I could relate to many of the above comments. It did not hurt at all, chatted away with the therapist whilst she massaged my stomach. Not much came out after what was a promising start from the first flush but at the end of the session I was on the loo for a while. Basically I will try anything to relieve my symptoms of bloat gas and abdomen pain. So in for a penny in for a pound booked the second session already. According to the lovely therapist this is when I will start to see better results. Feeling quite light headed and very sleepy so going to have lie down after an eventful day.

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