Health Transformation: More Than Weight Loss

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The journey to health is not always as simple as swapping candy for kale chips. It goes beyond what we fuel our body with and extends to what we allow to enter or stay in our minds.

Science supports this idea as well, showing that negative emotions and stress can trigger physical symptoms in our body and even suppress the immune system. And as you know, stress is all too common with our fast-paced world today, thanks to never-ending emails, school drop-offs, and pick-ups, work deadlines, etc. But possibly the biggest culprit is fear.

To truly be healthy, we must learn to overcome our fears and negative emotions. No one knows this better than our very own FMTV member, Christine Daniels. Just recently, Christine had an epic transformation, and not just physically, in which she had to face fears and move past them in order to find a breakthrough. She took to our FMTV Members Only Facebook group to share her inspiring story. The responses have been amazing because her story is incredibly relatable yet filled with hope.

This is Christine’s Story…

Hello my FMTV Family. I’d like to share something with you. Yesterday my husband and I started a 3200 km trip down the east coast of Australia. Leading up to our trip I kept waking up in the middle of the night, thinking about a person, doctor that really upset me last year March.

He wasn’t my family doctor but he was close to our house and I only needed him to look at my toe. During the consultation, I mentioned to him that I wake up in the morning with stiffness in my hands. He made me have blood tests and results came back, I have Rheumatoid arthritis. It hit me like a train. He then told me I needed to start medication and see a specialist. He showed me on his computer pictures of people with RA. And told me, one day I can end up in a wheelchair and wouldn’t be able to hold my grandchildren. I left the office shattered, went home, told my husband and cried all afternoon. Just by him saying it in that way, he ruined 2018 for me.

I never ended up taking the really bad medication but took something that wasn’t as bad. Instead of taking the medication, I stopped smoking, changed my diet, run 6 km every day and went to a Naturopath. Two months ago, my blood tests came back normal and the Specialist gave me the clear to stop the medication. Yeah!!

So getting back to the doctor, I needed to do something about that extra baggage on my shoulders. Last week, I happened to watch on FMTV, Menopause and Beyond and Christiane Northrop said when you start menopause, it makes it easier, the transition when you’re not carrying any extra luggage. Since we were leaving yesterday, I knew I had to go and see this doctor and tell him how he upset me last year. As I was driving to the doctor's office, I had mild anxiety, sweaty hands and was terrified. Then I remembered, I did on FMTV a meditation with Emily Spurling, I think it was called Manifestation meditation.

Where you walk on a deserted road and you see a bridge in the distance and see your future self on the other side.
So while driving, I imagined seeing myself on the other side, dancing and waving over to me and telling me to come quickly. By doing that, it took all the stress away and all I was thinking, I can’t wait to get over that bridge and dance with my future self. I waited for nearly an hour in the waiting room. The doctor came out and I asked him nicely if I could have a word with him. In his office, I told him how he upset me last year and I ended my conversation, thanking him because if this last year hadn’t happened, I would have not stopped smoking, eat healthier, found FMTV, and gone to a Naturopath.
He was very nice and apologized to me. I shook his hands and I left the office. When I was back in my car, guess what I was doing? I was dancing in circles with my future self. Running around and jumping up and down. An hour later, my hubby and I went on the road.

That was yesterday. Last night I woke up in the middle of the night. Guess what? No more negative thoughts. Just excitement and a fuzzy feeling in my stomach. I went outside of our camper van and looked up into the clear night sky and saw millions and millions of stars. It was amazing. It felt like the stars were hugging me. And all of a sudden, I felt one with the universe. Thank you again FMTV and family for giving me a beautiful life.

I am so grateful to you. Today we are continuing our 3200 km journey and life’s journey 

Q&A with James and Christina

What was the big push that led you to choose a natural treatment route?

I have never believed much in conventional medicine. I don’t know why. I am 53 now and my grandma (was 93 when she died, 4 years ago) she was a nurse and always suggested alternatives, natural remedies to me. That had an impact on me, I guess too. Ever since I can remember, when I got sick, with something, I went to the doctor but only to find out what it was. When I was given let’s say, antibiotics, I took it for a few days but that was it. I have for some reason always believed that the body can heal itself. So when the day came, that I had to see the Rheumatologist for the first time, it was like a shocking experience, a wake up call or like a nightmare and they told me I had to take those strong drugs, that’s when I thought, I need to change my lifestyle to beat this without medication. I did still have to take some form of medication but I guess, that was the day to choose natural treatment.

What was one thing that you implemented that made the biggest difference?

I stopped smoking. I never thought I would say that. But I can’t say what the biggest thing was. There are a few more things that I implemented. One thing is not enough. It’s a whole lifestyle change. ONE thing doesn’t work. I needed to look at my whole lifestyle. So smoking was first. And you always have to remember, BABY STEPS. Nothing happens overnight. I went to a Naturopath. The Naturopath gave me some supplements to take and that’s when my health really improved. After about 6 months, that’s when my blood tests came back normal (no more inflammation) and I was able to stop my medication. Mind, it’s so important too. Being positive, have a sense of humor. Don’t sweat the small stuff. And say to yourself “I can do it “, don’t listen to other people, who think they know best and think they know you better than yourself. YOU are in charge. Then exercise, but I was lucky, I’ve been doing that for 6 years. Running 5km, every morning. So next is the diet. My eldest son Tyler is vegetarian and funny enough, I always told him it’s not good because he’s missing out on meat like protein. Now I think different and I’m with him all of the way. Look, mother listening to son. Haha, I still sort of like meat but don’t need it. I eat it maybe only twice a month. And last, that made a huge difference is the Wim Hof Method. The cold showers. I hated the cold, PERIOD. Anything cold but since I’ve been doing them, after the warm shower and then cold, my pains have gone away and my hair has gotten much thicker and I feel amazing. I got my younger son Spencer onto the cold showers and he likes them too now. Can’t say that about Tyler. Haha. Have to work on that

What is your favorite film on FMTV?

Transcendence! I loved E-Motion because it talks about how your emotions affect your health. I totally believe in that. Back in South Africa, 20 years ago, I studied PNI, psychoneuroimmunology. It’s so true.

Also, I love The Grounded and Average Joe on Raw because it talks about the food, which I never knew about. Basically, FMTV has so many great documentaries, I like them all. I love the guided meditations as well.

What is your favorite recipe on FMTV?

I love Thai food so the Paleo Spaghetti Squash Pad Thai and the Mushroom Stroganoff.

What is your go-to smoothie recipe?

Protein Power Smoothie. I like it because it’s great for muscle recovery and it keeps me fuller for longer.

If you could give any advice to someone who is where you were before this journey, or maybe early on in their health journey, what would it be?

• Mind, body, and spirit. It’s all about baby steps. Slowly, one step at a time.
• Don’t be too hard on your self and don’t beat your self up if something isn’t working. Make time for yourself and listen to your inner self. If it doesn’t feel right, don’t do it. If it feels right to you, even when everybody says, don’t do it, DO it!
• Don’t be too hard on your self and don’t beat your self up if something isn’t working. Make time for yourself and listen to your inner self. If it doesn’t feel right, don’t do it. If it feels right to you, even when everybody says, don’t do it, DO it!
• The journey never ends. Our whole life is a journey. It’s YOUR journey.
• One of the best things for me was when I joined FMTV. I get so much out of FMTV. It has taught me so much. Food and mind.
• Exercise is a big one for me. It doesn’t have to be huge. Just get moving. I always hear people say, “Oh I can’t exercise because of this, because of that, because, because. I have/had Rheumatoid arthritis. That didn’t stop me from exercising. That made me even more determined to beat it. Even when I had the pain and stiffness. I refuse to give up. And surprisingly enough, I always feel amazing after my run. Pain and stiffness are gone. So... It must be working.
• I also started the Wim Hof Method. Cold showers after the warm shower. And breathing. First I didn’t like it because I don’t like the cold and I always thought it’s not good for you but surprisingly enough, it has made a huge difference. It has helped my pain and stiffness.
• My husband and I love food and I love cooking. So that was easy for me. We make it a social affair. Sit around, talk about our day and cook. The juices on FMTV are great. I still have to try more of the other ones.
• And last is humor and laughter. We always try an pick a comedy movie before anything else. Laughter is so important. Drama and sadness have no seat in my life. I still watch and acknowledge it but I don’t get sucked into it.
• Smile more. Smiling at someone has an amazing effect. You don’t realize what a smile can do. I do it on my Runs in the morning. Next time you walk somewhere and see someone, smile or say good morning, you’ll make them feel great and hopefully, they’ll do the same to someone else.

With so many people struggling with their health these days, and stress being the health epidemic of the 21st century, we're thrilled to hear how FMTV is positively impacting the lives of our FMTV members!

With so many inspirational health and wellness documentaries, guided programs, recipe series, and meditation and yoga classes at your fingertips, you too can have a positive transformation and share this life-saving information with those you love. 

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