Losing Weight And Dr Oz Part Three
Without Prejudice
Then one miraculous day my brother Dave sent me weeping and wailing to Camp Eden in Currumbin on the Gold Coast. My other brother George had grabbed me out of a freezing cold winter in Melbourne, dragged me unwillingly onto a plane and took me to the sunny state of Queensland. I cried almost the whole way.
Dave took one look at me and booked me in to Camp Eden straight away. I cannot thank my brothers enough for their kindness to their cranky Sister. But at the time I wanted to murder the both of them. Dave had been the year before and loved it. I couldn't have cared less. The thought of being around a bunch of " fucked up strangers" ( my thoughts ) would be hell for me.
I thought they would all be rich, spoilt and arrogant. I was just a stay at home Mum and Grandma living in what I thought at the time was a basic life of bills, kids, problems, never enough money, no goals other than getting through the next drama filled day. I couldn't even pay my rego at that stage. Georgie paid it for me. I was so ashamed but grateful at the same time.
At Camp Eden, alone and with no phone reception, cut off from the world I at last had to face all my fears. One of our biggest fears --change -- had never bothered me when younger, in fact I loved change and willingly changed dwellings, partners, even states. Since Lauren had died I had lived in 37 different dwellings. I know now that was called "running".
I had recently moved into a one bedroom unit behind my daughter with the most kids. The unit was fixed rent, mine for life and was not the smallest I had ever lived in but it was small. And I had lost interest in doing it up or improving it. My life was spiralling out of control and I figured Camp Eden would be "nice " but not life changing. I was the same person after all.
Within the first few hours I had gained the most massive headache I had ever had. Caffeine withdrawal. Thanks to Dave who had fed me expressos made on his brand new coffee machine before he dropped me off. He had said the food was 5 star and healthy and he sure wasn't wrong about that. I looked forward to it as soon as my withdrawal headache desisted. It raged all night and I wept and cursed and wanted to kill him even more after a sleepless night.
I thought all the other guests, 16 in total, were a bunch of fit dweebs who had nothing to do with me with their expensive fitness clothes and bottles of water. I was ready to ring Dave and beg him to come get me. The first day I had barely been able to climb the " easy track " to my cabin or the dining hall and had to stop 2 or 3 times on the way up, ready to heave into the grass. Others were climbing the "hard track " of concrete, one old lady with a bung knee and walking stick. I wanted to heave then with envy.
But I knew Dave was trying to help me so I gritted my teeth and persisted. One lady found me some Disprin at last, the headache finally budged and I felt better. My appetite returned with a vengeance and the food really was delicious. Little piggy here went back for seconds and thirds. But I stood alone against all the ra ra and Yoga crowd. Exercise was not conditional, optional only but after the second day, bored, I joined in.
Let's face it I had nothing else to do" no Internet, no phone. There was both options in the Office but that involved a trip down " killer hill " and worse still, back up. So I started walking the rain forest, doing the gym work, swimming, and joining in with others. I wish I had kept my mouth shut about the whole thing being funded by my brother. Some people had pulled money out of their Super or taken out a loan.
One man was their recovering after his second bout of stomach cancer, a sweet South American who was quiet with impeccable manners and could play guitar like a demon. Him and the ever agitated young millionaire who had been home invaded by two men with baseball bats, played a duet together that would have outdone Steve Earle. And I was thrilled as it was me that introduced them to each other.
I had heard of the "life coach" before I had met him. Every one was talking about him in an excited way, but they also were exalting about the 400 dollar massages so I wasn't about to get excited. I was of the mind set anyone that paid that sort of money for a simple massage was not to be believed. I did my exercise, broke bread with the others but I was about as much engaged with them as I was with my exercise. I would do it but I was not going to enjoy it.
Was I about to be taught a lesson !
Then one miraculous day my brother Dave sent me weeping and wailing to Camp Eden in Currumbin on the Gold Coast. My other brother George had grabbed me out of a freezing cold winter in Melbourne, dragged me unwillingly onto a plane and took me to the sunny state of Queensland. I cried almost the whole way.
Dave took one look at me and booked me in to Camp Eden straight away. I cannot thank my brothers enough for their kindness to their cranky Sister. But at the time I wanted to murder the both of them. Dave had been the year before and loved it. I couldn't have cared less. The thought of being around a bunch of " fucked up strangers" ( my thoughts ) would be hell for me.
I thought they would all be rich, spoilt and arrogant. I was just a stay at home Mum and Grandma living in what I thought at the time was a basic life of bills, kids, problems, never enough money, no goals other than getting through the next drama filled day. I couldn't even pay my rego at that stage. Georgie paid it for me. I was so ashamed but grateful at the same time.
At Camp Eden, alone and with no phone reception, cut off from the world I at last had to face all my fears. One of our biggest fears --change -- had never bothered me when younger, in fact I loved change and willingly changed dwellings, partners, even states. Since Lauren had died I had lived in 37 different dwellings. I know now that was called "running".
I had recently moved into a one bedroom unit behind my daughter with the most kids. The unit was fixed rent, mine for life and was not the smallest I had ever lived in but it was small. And I had lost interest in doing it up or improving it. My life was spiralling out of control and I figured Camp Eden would be "nice " but not life changing. I was the same person after all.
Within the first few hours I had gained the most massive headache I had ever had. Caffeine withdrawal. Thanks to Dave who had fed me expressos made on his brand new coffee machine before he dropped me off. He had said the food was 5 star and healthy and he sure wasn't wrong about that. I looked forward to it as soon as my withdrawal headache desisted. It raged all night and I wept and cursed and wanted to kill him even more after a sleepless night.
I thought all the other guests, 16 in total, were a bunch of fit dweebs who had nothing to do with me with their expensive fitness clothes and bottles of water. I was ready to ring Dave and beg him to come get me. The first day I had barely been able to climb the " easy track " to my cabin or the dining hall and had to stop 2 or 3 times on the way up, ready to heave into the grass. Others were climbing the "hard track " of concrete, one old lady with a bung knee and walking stick. I wanted to heave then with envy.
But I knew Dave was trying to help me so I gritted my teeth and persisted. One lady found me some Disprin at last, the headache finally budged and I felt better. My appetite returned with a vengeance and the food really was delicious. Little piggy here went back for seconds and thirds. But I stood alone against all the ra ra and Yoga crowd. Exercise was not conditional, optional only but after the second day, bored, I joined in.
Let's face it I had nothing else to do" no Internet, no phone. There was both options in the Office but that involved a trip down " killer hill " and worse still, back up. So I started walking the rain forest, doing the gym work, swimming, and joining in with others. I wish I had kept my mouth shut about the whole thing being funded by my brother. Some people had pulled money out of their Super or taken out a loan.
One man was their recovering after his second bout of stomach cancer, a sweet South American who was quiet with impeccable manners and could play guitar like a demon. Him and the ever agitated young millionaire who had been home invaded by two men with baseball bats, played a duet together that would have outdone Steve Earle. And I was thrilled as it was me that introduced them to each other.
I had heard of the "life coach" before I had met him. Every one was talking about him in an excited way, but they also were exalting about the 400 dollar massages so I wasn't about to get excited. I was of the mind set anyone that paid that sort of money for a simple massage was not to be believed. I did my exercise, broke bread with the others but I was about as much engaged with them as I was with my exercise. I would do it but I was not going to enjoy it.
Was I about to be taught a lesson !
