Michael's Experience: Keeping It All In Balance

I came to the Rice Diet Program believing I understood how the program worked. Within a week it became apparent to me it was much more than I thought.

For me the program is made up of three parts. As a three legged stool, all three parts should be practiced for overall good balance.

Part One is of course the diet. From Phase One to Phase Two and finally to Phase Three at home, the information given to me was clear and concise.

Part Two is the understanding of the diet. The knowledge I received on salt, processed foods, menu selections, menu planning, cooking meals, how to read food labels, a field trip to a supermarket, the emotional ties of food, planning for success and how we react from food are just a few of the topics that I learned about in Part Two.

Part Three was the leg of the program I never saw coming. It was the leg I never realized I needed. It is the part of the program where I was encouraged to make time only for myself without any outside influence. Programs offered where I was encouraged to attend included, Mindful Meditation, Rehabilitation Yoga and T'ai Chi. Exercise is always encouraged and strongly recommended. My level of exercise started from walking in a pool and swimming one lap over an hour. I progressed to being able to swim 25 laps. My bad back completely disappeared (weight loss?), and this allowed me to be able to walk three miles on a treadmill. Any type of walking is strongly encouraged. All of these activities allowed me the time to reflect on my life, why I was here, what I must do to be successful and happy. This "alone time" was very instrumental for me.

After six weeks it was time for me to leave. I had lost 25 lbs. I no longer needed blood pressure medicine and have not thought of my bad back in three weeks. My blood sugar has been reduced from a pre-diabetic level to a normal blood sugar level.

Thoughts on going home? I strongly urge a participant of the Rice Diet Program to remember there are three steps to this program. Follow all three with equal commitment and intensity. As a stool needs three even legs to stand for the best balance, I believe all three regimens are needed for strong and everlasting success.

Michael S. Janin
July and August 2010