Corky Cured Her Chronic Urticaria and Lost 35 Lbs.

Name:  Corky
Age: 34
Location: Dallas, TX
Reboot: 30 Days

How did you learn about Reboot with Joe?        
My girlfriend was searching through Netflix one night for something to watch and came across the Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead documentary. Immediately the next morning she said, “You need to see this!” So I watched it, visited the website, and pulled the juicer out from way back in the pantry closet. We both started juicing on January 1st, 2013. My plan was to do a 10 day cleanse, but I felt so amazing after 10 days that I went for 21 and then stopped at 30 days.

What inspired you to do a Reboot?
In October 2012, I was diagnosed with chronic urticaria and angioedema, pretty much the same autoimmune disease as Joe. From October through December I became very ill and suffered from chronic inflammation in my body and in my joints. I would wake up several times a week with swollen lips and eyes, and my body would be covered head to toe in red, itchy hives. It’s like a case of poison ivy that never goes away and keeps you up all night. Thanksgiving morning, instead of enjoying family time, I went to the emergency room because I was in so much joint pain I could barely move, and my face had swollen up like a marshmallow. I had searched all over the internet for a cure, but I found more questions from other people suffering from this disease than there were answers. I started missing work, missing out on social gatherings, and I had to spend a lot of time in bed.

I have always been a very outgoing girl. I love being outside, camping with my friends, floating in the lake, playing sports, running and cycling. About two years ago I discovered a new passion, boxing! I’ve been training with pro boxer Tony Mack and he has taught me a lot about the sport and I began losing weight too, which was a bonus! However, the urticaria started to take its toll on my body and I was starting to not be able to do the things that I love, especially boxing.

I hit rock bottom around Christmas time when I had taken 120 pills in 10 days (as prescribed) just to keep the hives away, and that wasn’t even working. The illness had changed who I was, it was keeping me locked down and drugged up and that wasn’t me. I began to slip into depression as I looked towards the New Year with hopelessness and fear.

How did the experience go for you?
I was motivated to try anything that could possibly help cure me from this illness, but I never imagined how quickly I would see results. By the end of the first week, the hives had diminished so much that I was able to take my prescription down. The process just kept going. By the second week and third week, no hives, less medicine. I was ecstatic! Of course all my teacher coworkers thought I was crazy living off of juice for a month, but they could see how happy I was to be getting better. By the last week of the Reboot, I was on cloud nine. I had done it. I had cleansed my body of the urticaria so that my body could heal itself! I was completely off of the antihistamines and steroids in 30 days and I have not had a single hive since week 1.

How much weight did you lose (even if that wasn’t your goal!)?
I lost 20 pounds in 30 days. I did a second Reboot in April (for my birthday) and lost another 15 pounds.

Did you have any notable health or physical improvements?
I returned to my allergist who was floored when I told her that I had been living off of fruits and vegetables for 30 days. She said that she would have never recommended that I try something like juicing with my condition, but at the same time she was interested in how the Reboot worked. She said she was going to look into “juicing” and watch Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead to learn more about it since it clearly worked for me. I chuckled to myself on the way out feeling like I had taught my doctor something. Fruits and vegetables healing your body? I can see how that might stump a doctor.

What was the toughest part about the Reboot experience?
Whenever I meet someone with some kind of health ailment, I always recommend that they watch the documentary and visit the rebootwithjoe.com website. I tell them to set a goal for themselves, but just know that the hardest part was the first 3-4 days. If you can get past that time then you are home free. The energy comes back full force and your body begins to feel alive.

What habits have you maintained and kept a part of your everyday life?
I remember as a little girl, my father would make me sit at the dinner table until I ate ALL of my vegetables. This became a standoff that would last long after the kitchen was closed. Now I eat veggies all day every day and find creative ways to incorporate them into all of my meals and snacks. I also try to do the 7 day Reboot every three months just to get that recharge that my body craves. I check back in to the website often for new recipes and ideas and share them with family and friends who have also tried the Reboot.

What is your lasting impression of the Reboot experience?
I feel that Reboot has given me that fighting spirit back! It has not only healed me from my autoimmune disease but it taught me the power that proper food and nutrition can have on our bodies. I saw firsthand how fruits and vegetables can “reset” our bodies and give us a second chance. Combining physical activities like boxing along with a Reboot, continues to help me stay grounded, lose weight and become healthier and stronger than ever! I will always be grateful for this experience.