You HAVE influenced people to change their diet! It only took one tweet of yours for me to start furiously googling “LCHFMP” and I looked up the doctors you thanked in that tweet (Dr Lustig and Dr Fung) and I bought “Metabolical” and I took 2 courses with Dr Westman the author of “End Your Carb Confusion” and here I am 6 months later and MY LIFE HAS NEVER BEEN BETTER!!! I am 60 years old and I finally feel like the best years of my life are ahead of me. I have miraculously quit drinking. I have tons of energy and positive vibes and in my job in healthcare my patients notice and they ask me how I did it, and I risk my job every day by telling them to do the things their doctors are most likely going to disagree with, so your influence is spreading beyond me and I thank you again so much! I hope I run into you someday on a hike, I will most likely burst into tears between this and Letting Go of God. I LOVE YOU!! 💕
Oh my, you have made my day! I love that you took 2 courses with Dr. Westman. I also feel better than I have in years. I have not miraculously quit drinking, but down to about 2 times a week. I love you are spreading the word! YAY
Thank you Julia!!! Well, I guess it wasn’t a miracle since those do not exist, and I was not a super heavy drinker (well depends on if you call a bottle of wine a night heavy lol) but it was enough that it was interfering with my life and my health goals. And then one night a tinder date introduced me to this therapy called brainspotting that gets it thru my thick skull that the consequences of alcohol are not worth the dopamine hit. For anyone that is interested in gaining control when it comes to alcohol but does not want to go to AA, I highly recommend carolynrobistow.net or for any other brain blocks!
Julie, I love watching these videos - they so touch my heart! It's like being with my mom again, or the great aunts in their apartment on Washington Blvd. in Chicago, keeping up on topics big and small.
Anyway, I didn't realize you were writing this book about health, etc. and I so appreciate the information about Dr. Fung, etc. and plan to read those. You know I'm going through a mercury poisoning crisis since February, right? I'm so upset about the state of healthcare today, that I too have started writing about it. An Australian ecological group found my writings and has now published them at the Institute of Ecological Agriculture through this link:
The good news is that my non-traditional, integrative functional medicine doctor has not only diagnosed my poisoning, she has completely changed my diet and supplements and is literally saving my life. My mercury levels have dropped by more than half and I'm about halfway through being done with the treatments.
I now realize that traditional medical doctors have only part of the training they need when they graduate, and by missing out on how critical our nutritional requirements are they are literally performing malpractice. Not only was I eating too much large species fish, but I had two dental amalgams that were leaking mercury profusely that I finally had removed on Wednesday AND NO ONE CAUGHT IT until I went outside traditional medicine.
Now, given our family's genes of curiosity and exploration, I am on a mission to change this. If there's anything I can do to help you, just let me know. I just wrote my state senator, several medical reporters, etc. and will continue to expand this. It is just unacceptable.
Hope the talk goes really well tonight - you'll be great! I'm getting filmed painting outside on Monday at the Biltmore Estate for a PBS documentary and am really glad I don't have to make people laugh - just paint a pretty picture! And here's a laugh: my brother Steve (you remember him, right?) were asked by a writing workshop producer in Vermont to give a lecture about Gertrude Stein. Me? Steve maybe, but I hadn't a clue....we turned him down, thank goodness.
Cannot wait to see you - love you, in good health and honest living.
Catherine, I did know about the mercury. I am interested to know what your symptoms are or were. I'm so glad you're getting help for it! That's fantastic. Right now I'm keeping in my lane of low carbs and keto, even though I am sure there is a lot more to know about lots of other things about the body. I don't think all standard medicine is bad or wrong, but I do think some of it certainly is. It's so complicated.
Because mercury toxicity is systemic, the symptoms range widely and can affect virtually anything in the body; doctors I've spoken with say it varies from patient to patient.
Personally, I had no obvious symptoms, hence my shock at the diagnosis. I’ve come to understand that my cholesterol was affected, the mercury interfered with my bone physiology leading to a loss of bone density, my anxiety/mood disturbances were a real red flag, auditory disturbances such as tinnitus and hearing loss, and finally, hypothyroidism.
General symptom list from WebMD:
* Tiredness
* Anxiety
* Depression
* Tingly feelings due to damaged nerves
* Weight loss
* Memory loss
* Concentration issues
* Poor peripheral vision
* Difficulty feeling your hands, feet, and mouth
* Poor coordination
* Low muscle strength
* Mental health issues
* Damaged kidneys
* Difficulty breathing
I am so grateful that my traditionally trained, Board Certified doctor also received training in integrative, functional medicine and learned how to test, diagnose and then recommend supplements for my issues, many of which are rapidly improving.
Dentists, doctors and colleagues from around the country, working in well respected medical institutions to small, private practices have reached out with their support, understanding and acknowledgement about the complex, flawed yet fixable system of traditional medicine.
Julia, I paused your video the second you mentioned Dr. Jason Fung. Even though I have changed my diet and health in 2012 (my friend had cancer... I began to research diet) and dumped processed food and sugar, I hadn't heard about Jason Fung until a few days ago. An Uber driver and I got into a passionate conversation about how food is medicine. That driver told me about Jason Fung.
Anyway, I wanted to pause the video (which I'm enjoying so much) and share my experience. I love synchronocities in life.
There are so many Jason Fung books to try! I would start with his fasting book, but then all are great. It's all about getting your carbs down to under 40 or even 20 grams of carbs a day and including times of not eating into your life. That's kind of it. I love that an Uber driver told you about Dr. Fung! I like him so much, he also narrates his own audio books and I find his voice very calming and centering.
Days are so frustratingly limited. I wish I’d known that. I spent so much of my working years with the delusion that once retired, I’d have time for all my interests! So much out of reach, even in the best of circumstances.
It’s funny that you’re imagining your ideal life. This week I was thinking how your Substack videos bring you a bit close to the ideal you mentioned, I think in Letting Go of God, to Sister Wendy’s life of contemplation/host of a tv show!
Aw, Sister Wendy. I loved her. I never thought of us being similar, but if we are, I feel very complimented! Thank you, and yes, the days go by so quickly, I thought my older years would be hours on end doing all the things I ever wanted to do. But no, the time seems to go by faster.
It’s so strange I can barely watch a five minute video (of whatever) on YouTube but I just did 20 minutes with you. I find you to be soothing and funny which is a wonderful combination. Plus I love books. The quilt story DID make me laugh.
I, too, wholeheartedly endorse writing this book! I’m already familiar with Dr. Fung and I’ve cycled in and out of Keto for a while now. The goal is for it to finally stick.
I keep waiting for a Substack notification that you’ve written another post on LCHFMP! But the truth is I look forward to anything you post/write/do.
Back in 2005 I didn’t have a lot of money. I’d given up my life in Boston and moved to Florida to be caretaker to my parents who BOTH had strokes, one right after the other. At the same time I was *also* on the journey of becoming a non-believer. Being a huge fan of God Said Ha, I somehow scrambled the means and time to fly to LA specifically to see you at the Hudson Backstage for Letting Go. During the caretaking portion of my life, it was one of the best things I ever did for myself.
You can tell you are excited about the book. Your conversational approach is winning and if anyone can take complicated scientific mechanisms and make them relatable, it’s you!
re: lose weight fast! Processed food is a Capitalist conspiracy. Food scientists spend ALL THEIR TIME figuring out how to combine sugar/salt/fat to make you addicted. Then the Patriarchy convinces you that you'll ever be thin enough or rich enough. EVERY women's magazine (at least when I was growing up) had the latest diet and the most cravable dessert recipe. The only way to lose weight for good is to get a terrible disease that makes you unable to eat and then you die. Trust me, I'm there. Rachel, just turned 77
Well, I'm not willing to go as far as conspiracy, but I am with you on how the social forces to be thin, the biological forces to eat, and the science to make food addictive is a horrible combination.
You HAVE influenced people to change their diet! It only took one tweet of yours for me to start furiously googling “LCHFMP” and I looked up the doctors you thanked in that tweet (Dr Lustig and Dr Fung) and I bought “Metabolical” and I took 2 courses with Dr Westman the author of “End Your Carb Confusion” and here I am 6 months later and MY LIFE HAS NEVER BEEN BETTER!!! I am 60 years old and I finally feel like the best years of my life are ahead of me. I have miraculously quit drinking. I have tons of energy and positive vibes and in my job in healthcare my patients notice and they ask me how I did it, and I risk my job every day by telling them to do the things their doctors are most likely going to disagree with, so your influence is spreading beyond me and I thank you again so much! I hope I run into you someday on a hike, I will most likely burst into tears between this and Letting Go of God. I LOVE YOU!! 💕
Oh my, you have made my day! I love that you took 2 courses with Dr. Westman. I also feel better than I have in years. I have not miraculously quit drinking, but down to about 2 times a week. I love you are spreading the word! YAY
Thank you Julia!!! Well, I guess it wasn’t a miracle since those do not exist, and I was not a super heavy drinker (well depends on if you call a bottle of wine a night heavy lol) but it was enough that it was interfering with my life and my health goals. And then one night a tinder date introduced me to this therapy called brainspotting that gets it thru my thick skull that the consequences of alcohol are not worth the dopamine hit. For anyone that is interested in gaining control when it comes to alcohol but does not want to go to AA, I highly recommend carolynrobistow.net or for any other brain blocks!
If you haven’t already, see The Quiet Girl, the movie of Foster. It’s a masterpiece, so affecting. Claire Keegan, I love everything she has written.
I will watch The Quiet Girl, I have to find out how.
THANK YOU.
You can rent it on Amazon or Apple TV. I hope you like it!
IT'S PAT! seems more and more like it was a Disney World of Tomorrow that came true.
Thanks so much.
And--- you're beautiful--- one heretic to another.
Julie, I love watching these videos - they so touch my heart! It's like being with my mom again, or the great aunts in their apartment on Washington Blvd. in Chicago, keeping up on topics big and small.
Anyway, I didn't realize you were writing this book about health, etc. and I so appreciate the information about Dr. Fung, etc. and plan to read those. You know I'm going through a mercury poisoning crisis since February, right? I'm so upset about the state of healthcare today, that I too have started writing about it. An Australian ecological group found my writings and has now published them at the Institute of Ecological Agriculture through this link:
https://www.ecoag.org.au/campaigns/view-campaign/NA_ZVrH6MS3l1Ox8pG4RrILOxqN5EzVyZtOlXBXAu5Ac1ljDkkA8E_LkMV9PV9vI3VLJNt9fP6gJh-Q4TBulzLxV-ChKjHgi
There are also two articles on my website. I plan to add to them as time allows:
https://www.catherinetwomey.com/medicine-health
The good news is that my non-traditional, integrative functional medicine doctor has not only diagnosed my poisoning, she has completely changed my diet and supplements and is literally saving my life. My mercury levels have dropped by more than half and I'm about halfway through being done with the treatments.
I now realize that traditional medical doctors have only part of the training they need when they graduate, and by missing out on how critical our nutritional requirements are they are literally performing malpractice. Not only was I eating too much large species fish, but I had two dental amalgams that were leaking mercury profusely that I finally had removed on Wednesday AND NO ONE CAUGHT IT until I went outside traditional medicine.
Now, given our family's genes of curiosity and exploration, I am on a mission to change this. If there's anything I can do to help you, just let me know. I just wrote my state senator, several medical reporters, etc. and will continue to expand this. It is just unacceptable.
Hope the talk goes really well tonight - you'll be great! I'm getting filmed painting outside on Monday at the Biltmore Estate for a PBS documentary and am really glad I don't have to make people laugh - just paint a pretty picture! And here's a laugh: my brother Steve (you remember him, right?) were asked by a writing workshop producer in Vermont to give a lecture about Gertrude Stein. Me? Steve maybe, but I hadn't a clue....we turned him down, thank goodness.
Cannot wait to see you - love you, in good health and honest living.
XOXOXO Catherine
Catherine, I did know about the mercury. I am interested to know what your symptoms are or were. I'm so glad you're getting help for it! That's fantastic. Right now I'm keeping in my lane of low carbs and keto, even though I am sure there is a lot more to know about lots of other things about the body. I don't think all standard medicine is bad or wrong, but I do think some of it certainly is. It's so complicated.
Because mercury toxicity is systemic, the symptoms range widely and can affect virtually anything in the body; doctors I've spoken with say it varies from patient to patient.
Personally, I had no obvious symptoms, hence my shock at the diagnosis. I’ve come to understand that my cholesterol was affected, the mercury interfered with my bone physiology leading to a loss of bone density, my anxiety/mood disturbances were a real red flag, auditory disturbances such as tinnitus and hearing loss, and finally, hypothyroidism.
General symptom list from WebMD:
* Tiredness
* Anxiety
* Depression
* Tingly feelings due to damaged nerves
* Weight loss
* Memory loss
* Concentration issues
* Poor peripheral vision
* Difficulty feeling your hands, feet, and mouth
* Poor coordination
* Low muscle strength
* Mental health issues
* Damaged kidneys
* Difficulty breathing
I am so grateful that my traditionally trained, Board Certified doctor also received training in integrative, functional medicine and learned how to test, diagnose and then recommend supplements for my issues, many of which are rapidly improving.
Dentists, doctors and colleagues from around the country, working in well respected medical institutions to small, private practices have reached out with their support, understanding and acknowledgement about the complex, flawed yet fixable system of traditional medicine.
Julia, I paused your video the second you mentioned Dr. Jason Fung. Even though I have changed my diet and health in 2012 (my friend had cancer... I began to research diet) and dumped processed food and sugar, I hadn't heard about Jason Fung until a few days ago. An Uber driver and I got into a passionate conversation about how food is medicine. That driver told me about Jason Fung.
Anyway, I wanted to pause the video (which I'm enjoying so much) and share my experience. I love synchronocities in life.
PS You look so healthy. You're glowing.
There are so many Jason Fung books to try! I would start with his fasting book, but then all are great. It's all about getting your carbs down to under 40 or even 20 grams of carbs a day and including times of not eating into your life. That's kind of it. I love that an Uber driver told you about Dr. Fung! I like him so much, he also narrates his own audio books and I find his voice very calming and centering.
Thank you!
P. P. S. Whatever story you tell tonight will be fun. Your enthusiasm and facial expressions even made quilt making exciting hilarious.
Days are so frustratingly limited. I wish I’d known that. I spent so much of my working years with the delusion that once retired, I’d have time for all my interests! So much out of reach, even in the best of circumstances.
It’s funny that you’re imagining your ideal life. This week I was thinking how your Substack videos bring you a bit close to the ideal you mentioned, I think in Letting Go of God, to Sister Wendy’s life of contemplation/host of a tv show!
Aw, Sister Wendy. I loved her. I never thought of us being similar, but if we are, I feel very complimented! Thank you, and yes, the days go by so quickly, I thought my older years would be hours on end doing all the things I ever wanted to do. But no, the time seems to go by faster.
It’s so strange I can barely watch a five minute video (of whatever) on YouTube but I just did 20 minutes with you. I find you to be soothing and funny which is a wonderful combination. Plus I love books. The quilt story DID make me laugh.
I, too, wholeheartedly endorse writing this book! I’m already familiar with Dr. Fung and I’ve cycled in and out of Keto for a while now. The goal is for it to finally stick.
I keep waiting for a Substack notification that you’ve written another post on LCHFMP! But the truth is I look forward to anything you post/write/do.
Back in 2005 I didn’t have a lot of money. I’d given up my life in Boston and moved to Florida to be caretaker to my parents who BOTH had strokes, one right after the other. At the same time I was *also* on the journey of becoming a non-believer. Being a huge fan of God Said Ha, I somehow scrambled the means and time to fly to LA specifically to see you at the Hudson Backstage for Letting Go. During the caretaking portion of my life, it was one of the best things I ever did for myself.
You can tell you are excited about the book. Your conversational approach is winning and if anyone can take complicated scientific mechanisms and make them relatable, it’s you!
re: lose weight fast! Processed food is a Capitalist conspiracy. Food scientists spend ALL THEIR TIME figuring out how to combine sugar/salt/fat to make you addicted. Then the Patriarchy convinces you that you'll ever be thin enough or rich enough. EVERY women's magazine (at least when I was growing up) had the latest diet and the most cravable dessert recipe. The only way to lose weight for good is to get a terrible disease that makes you unable to eat and then you die. Trust me, I'm there. Rachel, just turned 77
should be "never" be thin enough...
Well, I'm not willing to go as far as conspiracy, but I am with you on how the social forces to be thin, the biological forces to eat, and the science to make food addictive is a horrible combination.