The Omega campus was filled with devotees of Joe Cross and his documentary, Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead (FS&ND), all ready to take on a “reboot” that for some is a regular occurrence and others was their first life-changing step into juicing. I am one of those devotees, crediting Joe and his movie with providing me inspiration and a new approach, which were a pivotal part of my health recovery. Holed up with the entire Reboot Team, including Joe, my favorite nutritionist, Stacy Kennedy, MPH RD CSO LDN, presenters and visiting guests including Kris Carr of the documentary Crazy Sexy Cancer, and Alex Jamieson author of The Great American Detox, was about to be as memorable and affecting as you can only imagine with this line-up.
Armed with enthusiasm and eagerness but coupled with calm as a four-time rebooter, I headed to the first ever Camp Reboot at the idyllic Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY with two clients who wanted to give juice fasting a try. Their trepidation, mixed with excitement and trust, was typical of the 200 participants who were about to take a big giant step toward health and Mother Nature.
Still strangers on Sunday eve, soon-to-be rebooters milled about Omega getting settled into their simple cabin-style accommodations. At the buffet-style dining hall, they feasted for the last time on the organic and mostly plant-based meal. Although some would do the reboot in a modified format, juicing breakfast and lunch and then eating a simple plant-based dinner, the majority was throwing caution to the wind and about to stop chewing for the first times in their lives. Why not? In this environment anything was possible.
At orientation the masses assembled and took the first step in supporting and admiring each other. The excitement filled room was brimming with a mixed bag of people – sure there was a lot of extra “energy or reserve” in the room (how Joe taught all of us to view the extra padding a person carries) but there were plenty of slim, healthy looking folks too. It would take getting to know each other to understand their journey and why they were at Camp Reboot. It clearly wasn’t just about weight loss.
Joe started our orientation as he did the only other time I had previously met him in person – by first asking about who had seen Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead – everyone had -- and then by surveying the audience about their reboot experiences, which ranged from none to considerable. Step-by-step the number of days rebooting increased and one-by-one bodies sat down - from 3 days, to 7, to 15, to 30, to 60 – with a handful still standing. In the end, two participants stood out as marvels – one who had juice fasted for 120 days and another who had not juiced as long uninterrupted but had already lost 200 lbs.! Murmurs of astonishment were replaced with thoughts about how doable the next five days would be especially with the agenda in store. The seeds of possibility had been planted!
In the main hall, the Camp Reboot program unfolded, starting with a basic wellness screening used primarily as a comparative point between Sunday and Friday, which included weight, body measurements and blood pressure. Now, the group was abuzz. Never before have I seen people happily step on a scale or get measured. Good-bye old numbers.
Monday morning the energy was notable, and rebooters lined up like soldiers for their early morning water, lemon and ginger (to alkalize and cleanse), and their first juice ‘meal’ of the week. I noticed, having done this before that Team Reboot was going easy on them – this was not a heavy duty Mean Green – the drink of healing from FS&ND - but a lighter concoction. Clearly a well thought out strategy; it would take time to acquire the taste buds for mean green. On schedule at 8:00, 12:00, 2:00, 5:00 and 8:00, oversized coolers brimming with liquid sunshine, micronutrients, and phytonutrients, were ready to dispense. (And yes, protein and soluble fiber was in those drinks!) In between, water and coconut water flowed to keep the rebooters hydrated and stabilized with electrolytes. We were on our way.
Yards away in a nearby tent, the juice kitchen buzzed with the small army of staff needed to provide 200 rebooters with 80 ounces of juice each, per day. By rough calculation, more than 16,000 ounces of juice was created every day and in a variety of rainbow colors that would give us the full range of nutrition only nature could adequately deliver. In Omega style, spiritual blessing of the juices ensured that our elixir also carried the vital energy that comes thru happy and caring preparation. Everything was on our side.
Our schedule was full but flexible. Each day included morning and afternoon sessions, with the exception of Wednesday – the often dreaded ‘day #3’, which was left open for rest and recovery from the inevitable detox symptoms that accompany most cleanses. During off hours, rebooters could attend Omega’s free classes in meditation, yoga, movement, and tai chi, to walk or run with classmates, or to visit the wellness center for any number of services. Everyone partook; going to Omega without trying what it has to offer would be missing half of what made the week so special.
Lecture sessions progressed logically from reboot basics and health conditions, to movement, the mind/body connection, and even a session dedicated to saggy skin. A small panel discussion showcasing successes was a highlight, as each story brought to life the critical decision point to change and then the joy of a healthier, more fulfilled life. Equally inspiring, though, were the stories of fellow rebooters that were shared with each new acquaintance. I have never experienced a stronger sense of hope, dedication, and awakening as with this incredible group of people.
Guest speakers brought to life our learning plus the messages from nightly movies about using food to regain health. Kris Carr shared her incredible story about fighting cancer and becoming the CEO of her own health. There is no better lesson – take charge, be involved, don’t out-source your health. Similarly, Alex Jamieson talked of her own battles, supporting Morgan Spurlock during/after the documentary Super-Size Me, and her transition to becoming a holistic health coach (like me!). These incredible women reminded us that the heath-thru-food revolution is real and we are part of it.
By Friday, rebooters were veterans and had overcome most of their immediate detox symptoms but the next challenge on minds was how to continue and then transition back to chewing food. Stacy along with her husband Russ Kennedy, Psy.D., teamed up to explain the right way to get back to chewing and caring for our emotional selves. The week was now officially over.
Plenty of hugs were exchanged – getting everyone to their necessary daily quota of eight hugs (per Russ). Photos were snapped with Joe, the entire reboot team, and each other. Numbers and emails were exchanged and plans were hatched for returning next year or whenever another Camp Reboot would happen. I will be there, as will those two clients I accompanied to Omega and 200 former strangers, now friends, who are GLAD that they are on their way to a much healthier life through juice and food.
Camp Reboot 2015 is scheduled and planned! This year it will be at The Omega Institute, from JULY 26-31. I will be there as a Wellness Coach and teaching a class on Creating a Vision Board. I am so excited to be returning and would love to see you there!
Get info about Camp Reboot 2015 here.
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