Hi Jenny I'm sorry that I haven't written to you sooner! Mostly, it is because I've been so busy enjoying myself and doing lots of the things I have not been able to do at all, or in more than small doses, before the Lightning Process course.

I have done so much since I saw you last, it's fantastic! The first weekend after the course I travelled down south to my mother in law, to meet my husband and the rest of his family. I went on the train by myself with only a HUGE suitcase as company, and walked the distance between stations in London without assistance - which felt fabulous! I was socialising almost every waking minute of the next couple of days, and still had energy to spare. For instance, on the Saturday we went shopping for hours (walking so much that I got blisters on my feet!), then I (I repeat: I) made food for everybody for the barbeque we had in the late afternoon, before my husband and I met some friends in a pub, where we stayed until one am. The next day I felt fine, and we had a lovely time with the family before we went to the airport. At the check in desk I was very, very pleased to decline the pre-booked wheel chair. My husband and I must have been the only ones who were happy to hear that the flight was delayed for a couple of hours - it gave us more time to explore the tax free shops!

One of the first days back home I went for a long walk, longer than I have walked in nearly three years. Seeing familiar places for the first time in such a long time made me feel so happy I that almost wanted to cry! It was well worth the muscle ache and sore feet (a natural consequence of physical exertion of this stature for any extremely unfit person like myself). I have bought a public transport monthly pass, but next month I will save myself the money, as I hardly ever use it. I walk almost everywhere! I have bought myself one of those shopping trolleys that old ladies - and lots of young and rather trendy people here in the city, I've noticed - have, and there are now hardly any limits to where I can go and the amount of shopping I can bring with me (to my husband's despair, ha-ha!).

This weekend we had a big party at ours to celebrate Norway's National Day. I did find myself doing stress in the two days prior to this party, and I was also doing difficulty in applying the process in the midst of the cleaning, baking, and flag decorating. The evening before the big day I felt worse than I have felt since doing the LP course. I then managed to do a proper STOP, and cancelled my plans to spend the evening with a friend in order to have a lazy night on my own (as my husband was out watching football with his mates). I felt good the morning after, no abnormal pains or fatigue. Lots of people came to the party, and by using the process I managed to get out of the pit every time I found myself doing stress. I ended up having a fantastic time! The party began at two pm and the last guests didn't leave until after eleven pm, and I still felt great!!!

I have been doing IBS for more than four years, and for the last three I have had to follow a very strict diet. Since learning the process I have been a little bit less firm on my regime, but I have still mostly avoided the things I have been intolerant to for so long. But at our party I had a little bit of everything: cake, chocolate and a glass of champagne. It tasted fantastic!! But I have been doing a sore and bloated tummy since then. Considering how much stress I was doing the days before the party, this is not really surprising. I will let my tummy heal, then ensure that I am doing well before I again try to introduce food I have not tolerated, and then only one item from my no-list at the time.

have not taken any vitamins, magnesium or B12 injections since the course, and I still feel better than I have in years. I received the quarterly magazine from Action for ME, but didn't even open the envelope. Instead I called them and thanked them for their support over the past few years, told them about my recovery due to the Lightning Process, and cancelled my membership.

That felt really good. I do get aches and pains if I do a lot more than I have done in ages, but these are very different to the sensations I have had during my illness. It is hard to describe without going to much into pit-language, but it really is not the same type of discomfort. The tremors and cramps are almost completely gone, for instance. And now I know that when I've done a lot, the muscles will recover, the blisters will heal, and I will feel fine the next day.

I do still get myself into the pit, and sometimes I do difficulty in using the process. But I am getting better at being nice to myself and continue to work on staying out of the pit, instead of doing the opposite. I now know that I am recovering. Staying ill is no longer an option, as I know how to be well.

Apart from the actual steps of the process itself, to me the most valuable knowledge I got from the course was the knowledge that I can do a lot - even work up a sweat, walk until my feet ache, read until my eyes are sore, if I feel like it - and STILL FEEL GREAT AFTERWARDS. Knowing that it is normal to feel tired when I have done something strenous, that I will feel good again as soon as I have given my body a chance to recover - just like any healthy person does when having tired themselves out - means so much to me.

The fear of 'overdoing' things has been replaced with a growing confidence that I can do whatever I feel like doing. My friends and family are so pleased for me, they say it's like having the old Vencka back. I have had several comments that I even sound different when I speak on the phone! Thank you again for teaching me the process!! Vencka

Jenny Gilmore is one of the most experienced Advanced Lightning Process Practitioners and  works across Yorkshire and internationally.  She has taken more than 250 people through the lightning process and works with groups and 1 to 1 at home for those unable to travel.  She has worked with people with M.E., CFS, Fibromyalgia and a variety of other conditions including anxiety, insomnia, M.S., OCD, chronic pain and depression.

For more information about the Lightning Process with Jenny Gilmore click here.

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