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Why
Such a Book by Dr Marilyn Joyce?
(Forward excerpted from:
“INSTANT E.N.E.R.G.Y.™: The
5 Keys to Unlimited Energy & Vitality”)
We’ve all heard
the expression, “Nothing ever remains the same. Change is
inevitable!” And that includes all of us – you and
me! If we are not changing – in other words, growing –
we are stagnant – we’re dying. That’s right,
rotting! Have you ever smelled a stagnant pool of water? If we’re
not moving – or changing – we’re stagnant and
rotting, or dying!
So, when I first wrote
my original book, 5 Minutes to Health,
the place I was coming from, in the process of creating and writing
that book, was a far different place than where I am at today.
INSTANT E.N.E.R.G.Y.™ reflects my own shift,
or growth, from a focus on the physical perspectives of health,
primarily nutrition, to a focus on the whole person perspectives
of health: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Being optimally
healthy depends on being wholly healthy – every aspect of
our entire being is in balance.
A tall order, you say.
Absolutely! Is it possible, or even feasible, to believe that
each of us can achieve this balance? Well, why not? Remember the
expression – and you’ll read it again in this book,
since repetition is the mother of learning – “For
things to change first I must change?” And another important
expression you’ll likely stumble upon in this book is: “Change
your mind to change your life.” And you can change your
life in an instant, by changing your mind – or your thought
– in that instant. These are not simply expressions. They
are proven facts, proven by many folks who have applied them to
their own lives! And yes, it does take consistent practice at
first like anything else. There’s that word again: Repetition!
Well, all of that said,
I have decidedly changed – or expanded – my mind about
almost everything since I wrote 5 Minutes to Health.
And my life is completely different today than it was when I traveled
the continent promoting my baby (that book) – yes, it actually
took 9 months to write 55 Minutes to Health!
And I absolutely referred to it, upon completion, as my baby.
As with all babies, it grew up. And, as all of us who have raised
children know, the growing up process takes a lot longer than
the original 9 months of gestation! Hence, over the past almost
14 years, my baby grew up into a very well rounded, multi-faceted,
young adult.
No longer simply satisfied
or fulfilled with meeting only the physical (nutritional) needs,
5 Minutes to Health morphed into INSTANT
E.N.E.R.G.Y™, a book that addresses the
depth and breadth of the various dimensions of the human being-spirit.
All of the basic elements from 5 Minutes to Health are still here,
though completely revised to reflect the wealth of new information,
and expanded learning and experience, I have undergone since that
book was originally written. However, INSTANT E.N.E.R.G.Y™
includes, and expands on, all of the various aspects of the work
I do with my patients and clients today. A whole new, and extremely
comprehensive, section has been added, with more than 20 new chapters
addressing all four dimensions of whole person health –
again, those are physical, mental, emotional and spiritual –
that need to be in balance and harmony in order for us to enjoy
a completely fulfilling, healthy and vibrant life.
And that’s not
all! The, already thorough, References and Resources section has
been completely revised and updated, as well as tremendously expanded
to include a wide variety of new resources, while eliminating
those that have bitten the dust since the mid-90’s. The
best part is that all of the information in this section is compiled
in a much more comprehensive and organized format than previously
provided in 5 Minutes to Health, thanks
to the persistence and genuine commitment of my amazing editor,
Laurie Poel, to make it the most valuable tool possible for the
reader – You!
Wait, there’s
even more value added to this new book, INSTANT E.N.E.R.G.Y™,
than ever provided by 5 Minutes to Health.
Remember: 5 Minutes to Health
grew up! So the focus in this new book is not on overcoming
illness, although all of the strategies and information included
here will prove to be valuable tools in anyone’s journey
back to health from a life challenging illness. However, the focus
of INSTANT E.N.E.R.G.Y™ is on
prevention of illness – and on creating and maximizing your
energy and vitality, anywhere, anytime, using innovative, easy,
quick, and healthy 5-minute strategies, that can be done by anyone!
What more could you ask for? And who better than The Vitality
Doctor™ to provide this information for you?
Well, let me first
state that I was not always The Vitality Doctor™!
The person you go to for simple, quick solutions for creating
energy surges in an instant when you’re experiencing a “personal”
energy crisis! And we’re not talking about lack of fuel
in your car! So, please allow me to take you on journey –
my journey – that led me to where I am today, and to the
writing of this book…
In 1984, I, Marilyn Joyce, had the world by the tail! Or so it
seemed! On the surface, everything looked like it was working.
I had my own nutrition consulting business, demanding a high fee
for my services. I was living in a beautiful home which I owned,
driving the car of my dreams, traveling extensively, dating very
successful, and generally interesting, men in the business world,
and was basically writing my own ticket in every aspect of my
life.
My peers, my employers,
my clients and my audiences alike, had only great things to say
about my work and my pleasant, friendly, accommodating (people
pleasing) nature! I would bend over backwards to make sure that
I had covered every possible detail, and more, in the name of
my work. It was not uncommon for me to work around the clock for
days on end in order to meet unrealistic deadlines. My resume
was full of letters from satisfied clients stating that, "Marilyn
always gives at least 130% to every challenge she is faced with."
But, after all, this business was my baby, and that's what one
had to do to get ahead! Or so I thought!
For about two years
I rode the crest of that wave, and believed on some level that
I loved every moment of it. Though, quite frankly, I did spend
a lot of time marveling at my seemingly great success. And spent
many sleepless nights wondering how I had managed to pull this
off, and how long it would last before something would bring it
to a crashing halt. You see, I did not really enjoy the feeling
of success! I was too busy worrying about it coming to an end!
And, end it did! Suddenly
my world shattered around me. In other words, I was so focused
on what I did not want (everything good coming to an end) versus
what I did want (joyful and continued progress and success)!
Guess what I created. My business contracts, which were primarily
government based, ended overnight, with sudden cutbacks in spending
in the particular arena of my focus. My car was totaled in the
first major accident of my driving career. Somehow, I and my friends,
who were in my car at the time, were only slightly bruised, if
at all. Yet that did not deter a lawsuit by one of my passengers.
A nasty ending to a so called friendship!
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There's
more! One of my closest friends, for reasons unknown at the time,
committed suicide a week later. Her business was at its greatest
height of success at the time! And we, her closest friends, all
envied her wonderful marriage to one of the most loving, demonstrative
men we had ever known! Something in this picture did not fit!
What appeared to be
unfolding into the relationship of my dreams, ended about the
same time as the suicide occurred. One day we were speaking about
marriage. The next day, without any explanation, "the love
of my life", called the whole thing off!
And, of course, as
a result of this whole sequence of events, I was faced with a
monthly mortgage that was now beyond my means. So I began the
process of selling my beautiful home with all of the amenities
I had come to enjoy and cherish. I knew it couldn't get worse
than this! After all, nothing that I had worked so long and so
hard for, was still available to me. My world seemed to be disintegrating
around me.
Wrong! To coin a phrase,
what happened next was, literally, the straw that broke the camel's
back!! An unusual looking, hard, shiny black mole appeared on
my face. My vanity took me to the doctor. The shock of the diagnosis
sent me spinning. Melanoma! I'm sure you could have, literally,
knocked me over with a feather. Though I had no idea, at the time,
how serious this diagnosis could be, it represented the “C”
word – the word we all whispered about when someone we knew
was marked by it.
However, I was assured
that we got it early, and that there was probably no cause for
concern. Out of hospital a week, I was rushed back into the hospital,
with tremendous pain in my uterus. You can probably guess by now
what the diagnosis was.
Here I was 36 years
old, and given a death sentence. After all, in every hospital
or nursing home I worked in, the moment a patient or resident
was diagnosed with any kind of cancer, we began preparing him
or her for "the end," in other words, DEATH! It is not
uncommon to hear a doctor or a nurse state that "It's only
a matter of time!" And, at the time, I bought into that belief,
hook, line and sinker, so to speak. Who was I to believe that
my odds were any better than anyone else's?
Was I depressed? You're
darn right I was! Did I show it? Not a chance! The world was only
going to see me at my best. By this point in my life, it was ingrained
in me that I must never let anyone see my vulnerabilities, my
weaknesses. I was known, by most people who knew me, as a survivor.
And furthermore, I was a Dietitian, who talked about health and
how to achieve it. So, it was critical that I put up a good front,
until the bitter end. If people were aware of my condition, I
would lose my credibility! At least that was my belief at the
time.
Several years into
my struggle with cancer, someone in a nowhere town in mid somewhere
USA, really summed up the entire story of my life, at least until
that point in time: "Lookin' good! That's all you care about,
Marilyn! Your only concern is what you and your life look like
to the onlooker! Make sure you don't let anyone get too close
now, just in case they get to know who you really are." So
you might say that I was at an impasse in my life and with my
illness.
Without going into
the gory details of my illness, suffice it to say I went progressively
down hill. At the point at which I was given only a short amount
of time, the realization that "Lookin' good!" was not
cutting it, hit like a lightning bolt! I was not looking good!
And the myriad of excuses I used to explain my tremendous weight
loss and extreme fatigue were growing old, and not very believable.
I had tried everything!
Every diet and every program I could find or stumble upon. Every
idea anyone suggested. Every vitamin and mineral supplement ever
written about, whether in scientific or popular lay publications.
Every herb and every tea anyone talked about. My own personal
library of books and information filled every shelf in my home
and covered every available space on my floors. And let's not
forget that I was a trained dietitian with a major emphasis on
biochemistry. If anyone should have the answers, I should! Right?
Wrong!
Well, if I had remembered
my biochemistry, I might have had some answers sooner. However,
cancer, like all illnesses, is a teacher. And my lesson was about
learning to listen. It was obvious that I did not have all of
the answers. Yet, in my effort to hide my own challenge, I would
attempt to find a solution for everyone else's challenge or health
crisis, as a way of avoiding dealing with my own situation. Of
course, the day of reckoning always arrives! And fortunately it
saved my life!
A Home Show, a Vita
Mix machine, a young man knowledgeable about things I had forgotten
about, and a Bernie Siegel workshop. Love, Enzymes
and Miracles! (My own summation of this cumulative
set of events.) As I began to research and remember about enzymes
in food, and the need for that food to be alive and wholesome,
filled with all the nutrients necessary for the biochemical functions
of my body, I saw the need for a drastic change from foods that
simply provided calories, to foods that had a lot more than calories
and fat to offer.
With a lot of help
from a couple of devoted and true friends, and the implementation
of very basic and quick to prepare recipes, my health began to
improve. The focus was mainly on raw foods in more bioavailable
forms. A wide variety of fresh vegetables and whole grains formed
the basis of my diet, with the addition of a little fruit and
a small portion of fish every day. I added green things, such
as spirulina, barley grass, chlorella, various seaweeds, and GMO-free
(no genetic engineering) protein powders.
To begin with, however,
I had almost no energy to even eat. Sucking on ice chips was,
initially, the extent to which I was able to ingest anything.
However, little by little, I was able to consume more foods in
this ice chip form, and later, foods in liquid forms. Using a
Vita Mix Machine, which is a high powered blender, food processor,
grinder, grater, chopper and mixer all rolled into one machine,
I got all of my foods in the whole food state, but in a much more
bioavailable and digestible form. Within a few months, I was able
to tolerate more solid foods. Just for the record, I have continued
to use my Vita Mix machine (see Equipment, in the Resources Section
of this book) simply because of the speed with which a delicious,
wholesome meal can be prepared, and because of the amazing taste
and consistency it provides.
As well, I realized
throughout my own healing process, that the most productive practices
I employed, were also generally the simplest, least time consuming
practices! Whether they involved the physical, mental, emotional
or spiritual aspects of getting well again, simplicity was, and
is, always the key.
Since my recovery,
I have continued to incorporate the 80 20 principle in all areas
of my life. In my diet, that principle translates into the foods
I eat being predominantly free of over processing and over preparation.
Once in a while, when I go out with friends, I may indulge in
foods that are not as close to natural as the foods I eat at home.
But "fast food" is never an option! It is simply not
on my menu! And left to my own devices, I will choose a restaurant
that serves a variety of healthy food choices, versus the opposite.
I steer clear of the rich desserts and items prepared with heavy
cream sauces. In this day and age, you just never know what might
be lurking in those “fancy” foods!
In my work with patients
and clients, it became evident to me that those who incorporated
a similar pattern of simple healthy eating and lifestyle habits
began to see major improvements in their health. Their energy
and vitality, within a short period of time, were dramatically
improved. Getting back to basics in all aspects of our life seems
to be the key to outstanding health, and boundless vitality, regardless
of age! The minute we move away from a simple, somewhat basic,
lifestyle, we begin to complicate our lives and to create tremendous
stress on our bodies, which in time, leads to a breakdown of the
overall efficiency of our immune function. And then our bodies,
in turn, become susceptible to, and fall prey to, an attacking
illness.
So you see, this book
is the result of my own journey back to wellness from a life challenging
illness, as well as the results of my extensive work with a wide
variety of degenerative illnesses in my nutrition and lifestyle
practice. It is at the request of my patients and clients, to
put all of the basics and strategies I teach them, into a form
they can refer to at any time, that this expanded book, became
a reality! And it is written, as I previously stated, as much
if not more, with prevention of illness, versus overcoming an
illness, in mind!
It is important to
state here, that when it comes to creating, maintaining, and optimizing
whole person wellness, there are no magic bullets. There is no
one thing that will be the answer for everyone. Yet a simple,
high quality diet together with a balanced, harmonious lifestyle
program, fully addressing the physical, mental, emotional, and
spiritual aspects of wellness, will, at least, give a person a
solid foundation for the creation of the highest degree of health
and vitality possible. For a more individualized program, designed
specifically for you, it is important to seek out reliable, credible
professionals to work with you.
NOTE:
Do take a moment to check out our 4-week teleseminar series: Your
5 keys to Instant E.N.E.R.G.Y™ outlined in
the back of this book (where we have also provided a bonus
discount coupon for anyone in possession of this book), as
well as other valuable resources available at: www.marilynjoyce.com
Furthermore, be assertive!
Take nothing at face value. Ask questions. Become involved, and
be a participant in your healing process – or in your illness
prevention program. Choose health and wellness over illness! Choose
quality over quantity. Choose natural, whole foods over processed,
denatured foods. Choose simplicity over complexity. Choose to
be self reliant, taking responsibility for your own health and
vitality, versus depending on your doctor or other healthcare
providers to "make" or “keep” you well.
Seek out the kind of support you need, and use it! If you are
ill, or not quite up to par, see your illness or malady as your
teacher, not your friend or enemy, and pay attention to what it
is trying to teach you. In other words, be proactive (the stance
of a responsible (response-able, self-determined individual),
versus reactive (the stance of a victim) in all areas of your
life!
Most importantly, think
of this road that you are about to travel on, as an adventure.
It is an opportunity to explore your options and to try new approaches
to the way you live your life. It is your chance to fully take
charge of your body and your life.
With love, I offer
this book, to assist you in making some of the changes necessary
to insure your continued health, as well as renewal and expansion
of your energy and vitality. Or, perhaps the strategies and tools
provided here will assist you in overcoming a life challenging
illness, should that be the journey you happen to find yourself
on at this time.
I will leave you, at
this point, with two statements that I have internalized over
the years, and now embody in my own consciousness, as a result
of my personal journey back to wellness and vitality. And yes,
you may be very surprised by their absolute simplicity!
"If it doesn’t flow, it doesn’t go!"
However, it is important to remember that, from time to time,
there may be rapids along the way!
And remember:
"It
ain’t over ‘till it’s over!"
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