28 the rice diet renewal
responding to the challenges put forth within this book, you will expe-
rience an openness and a willingness that are subtle, yet essential,
for healing at the core. Although other people ’ s epiphanies are
inspiring, you need to participate fi rsthand to get the results you
most want — which are your own. This is not a spectator sport!
When you choose to believe that you are responsible for your
health, you gain a sense of empowerment and control. The follow-
ing Ricer Forum story, from someone who has lost seventy pounds
and has won an immeasurable amount of self - knowledge and inner
peace, captures the essence of this positive domino effect:
For me, the Rice Diet has meant empowerment. I didn ’ t
realize until I had started the program and cleansed my
body — and spirit — that I had lived my entire life powerless
to others. I allowed their emotions to control mine, then
I ate through mine because I didn ’ t want to cause someone
else pain. I had to be the “ happy one, ” but when I wasn ’ t, the
only way I knew to become happy was to fi nd consolation in
food, which I did — almost hourly some days.
I had become a puppet in my own life, waiting for the
next event to happen, but not making it happen myself. I had
never learned to be in the moment and to enjoy life, because
all I had ever learned to enjoy was food, and there is only so
much “ good ” food out there, isn ’ t there?
For the last year, I ’ ve kept off seventy pounds and feel more
in control of who I am, as well as my eating, than I have ever
been in my life. I have had numerous “ events ” and emotional
setbacks this year, but I have not given in — or given up. The
calm of a clean and healthy dieta supports me through these
events, giving me a sense of empowerment I have never felt
before. While I have not eaten “ perfect ” every moment, I ate
those things with mindfulness. If I am going to eat chocolate
or a dessert, I am going to do so and enjoy it, knowing I am no
longer chained to eating this way daily. I have become so “ in
tune ” with my body that when I do eat something outside of the
dieta , I almost immediately feel bloated, light - headed, or just