Success Stories

Before joining the program I slept in till 9ish then back to bed after lunch and slept till around 4.30, ate dinner and back into bed around 7 pm. I wasn’t seeing much daylight. But in those few hours in the morning I was able to leave the house. My main symptoms were Fatigue, sore throat, poor quality sleep, IBS, always felt sick, I’ve had several crashes were I stay in bed for 7-10 days at a time.I’d seen all the Doctors you can think of which not much help. The frustration of not being able to live a normal life. Doctors dismissed me for a long time, years in fact. They’d say I was overweight so that’s why I was fatigued. Or because I’m a Mum I must be stressed.. etc. It was very very frustrating. When I joined Toby’s program in July ( I think ) of 2018.. I wasn’t great. Certainly there are others worse off but I felt I was missing out on so much and I felt robbed of the life I wanted to live. Every where I turned, I was told recovery was not possible and anyone who tells you it is, is only after your money.

So I waited a whole year before I joined Toby’s program and in that time I watched all of his videos on youtube. Then one night I thought “ if my kids had CFS I would absolutely give this program a go…. “ how often as Mums do we put ourselves last.. ? I don’t do that anymore! I’ve learnt through the program that self care has to be a high priority (that was a hard lesson for me to learn).

The first thing I discovered about the program was in the inner circle… people seemed genuinely happy and were posting happy stories of their “ Hell yeah” moments. People were talking about holidays they were taking. People were saying their health was improving. I had never heard such positive stories.. that in itself was worth the cost of the program to me.

Fast forward to March / April 2019 and I am posting my “ Hell Yeah “ moments and inspiring other members. I’m currently in the middle of a 2 1/2 month.. yes month.. holiday exploring the UK… definitely something I could never imagine doing last year.

My health has improved out of sight. Now, it’s not difficult but it’s work and it takes time and dedication. I was determined to follow the program and do the recommendations.. which I did and continue to do.. it’s just how I live now. I no longer sleep during the day. I say yes to social opportunities. In September I walked a 5km fun run. I was so emotional during the walk. My legs hurt and it seemed to go on and on but I did it. It was a very special milestone to reach and a big step in my recovery.

Improvements are possible. Follow the program, improve your diet, cut out as much stress as possible, gently start moving again, think positive thoughts, set goals.. you can make a big difference in your own life. Take back control of your life.

Before I started the CFS Health Program, I was utterly exhausted both physically and mentally, and was sleeping 16 hours a day.

My most distressing symptom was severe brain fog, which relentlessly clouded my mind with cotton wool, making it hard to communicate effectively or locate memories and knowledge.

I was sensitive to light and sound, and found I couldn’t enjoy reading, listening to music, writing, watching movies or doing anything much else that one might find productive when bedridden. I found that any small increase in activity or exertion would leave me completely wiped out for days afterward, with increased aches and pains through my entire body.

One day I was in a hurry to catch a bus, but when I urged my legs to start running, they completely disobeyed me. No matter how I tried, my legs faltered and I couldn’t lift them to run, which was terrifying. Prior to joining The CFS Health Program, I had already achieved some improvements in my energy levels and reduced my hours of sleep through nutritional supplements and herbal medicines, as I had a great team of naturopaths behind me.

 I was lucky in that I knew recovery was possible and that there were treatments that could help, but I was still missing part of the puzzle, and didn’t have anyone in my life who truly understood how I was feeling.The worst part of the overall experience for me was when I started indulging in the hopeless idea that maybe I really wouldn’t recover, and began slipping into a dark depression.

I was lucky in that I knew recovery was possible and that there were treatments that could help, but I was still missing part of the puzzle, and didn’t have anyone in my life who truly understood how I was feeling.The worst part of the overall experience for me was when I started indulging in the hopeless idea that maybe I really wouldn’t recover, and began slipping into a dark depression.

It has been a number of years now since I recovered from CFS, and most of the time I forget that it was ever part of my life. I now run my own business as a naturopath and eco makeup artist. I moved to southwest Australia, a naturally beautiful region of fairytale forests and stunning beaches which I love to get out and explore. I have a very active and cheeky 3 year old red heeler who keeps me on my toes and needs a lot of exercise every day. The biggest measure of recovery for me was getting back into playing netball. I run the whole court as Centre and I love it. It’s a possibility I could barely imagine at the worst point of my illness. I am back in the gym and these days, I really enjoy running – while listening to music. I am currently writing a book, living a happy and active life, planning an overseas holiday and looking forward to experiencing all the magical possibilities my time on Earth has to offer me!

The first thing to know is that you can recover. CFS is tricky because in my understanding, it is an illness that will not simply heal by itself given the time. You must do the work, and there are subtle differences between doing it the right way, and doing it in a way that sends you backwards. Stop listening to any doctor, well meaning relative or written word that tells you that you can’t get better, and instead seek out the success stories. Talk to the people who have been where you are and come out the other side. If you want to find gloomy, cheerless sufferers there are plenty out there, but they have nothing to offer you. If you believe you can’t recover, you will be right, just as they are. If you believe you can recover, keep going for it and don’t let go until you find what works for you. Celebrate the small wins because in the end they snowball into the big ones. I, for one, don’t believe you were put on this Earth just to suffer. It can be terribly hard to see it while you are in the midst of it, but in the end, this is going to be one big, crazy learning experience that taught you how strong and spirited you really are.

Before joining the CFS Health Recovery program, I had been ill with CFS for 10 years the most recent 4 of these years I had been mostly in bed. I didn’t have the energy to stand or to sit up. Light and sound were very difficult, so I spent most of my time in the dark and in silence. In addition to the fatigue and cognitive impairment, I had very bad headaches which were not relieved by pain killers. I got out of bed to bath and to eat. I didn’t see friends or family and I didn’t talk on the phone much, I was very isolated.

In the 10 years that I had been ill, I had tried everything, multiple conventional and alternative practitioners, specialists and many remedies. I had spent over $30 000 on ‘cures’. The last treatment that I had tried had made my CFS far worse, so I was extremely hesitant to do more.

I was at the point where I didn’t want to try anything else and I had accepted that it wasn’t possible for me to get better. I had become very down and at times I had had thoughts that I didn’t want to go on.

There were so many challenges with CFS, other than the physical symptoms and the impact on my life, the loss of my self worth and misunderstanding from others were the most difficult. possible for me. Prior to getting ill I had been working as a senior executive in a large corporation, I had an active social life and was physically very fit, going on rafting trips and trekking for my holidays. When I became incapacitated with fatigue, headaches and cognitive impairment, most people in my life did not believe I was sick. Multiple, well intentioned practitioners reviewed the latest diagnostic tests and told me that I was fit and healthy, some suggested I was depressed. Even when I received the CFS diagnosis, most people around me did not understand the physical, mental and emotional impact of my invisible illness. A leading Australian immunologist that specialises in CFS told me to ‘hang in there until they found a cure’.

When I joined the Program, I finally had the hope and belief that I could recover and the knowledge on what to do, to recover. CFS Health gave me a comprehensive set of lifestyle strategies and tools that have enabled me to regain my health. The online modules which I could do at my own pace, included step by step tuition on diet, relaxation, techniques to create energy, breathing exercises, graded movement, stretching, strengthening and cardio exercises and most importantly mindset. The modules were supported with webinars, coaching with Toby and other coaches that not only truly understood the impact of the condition on my life, but had the knowledge to help me recover. Finally, the closed member facebook site gave me a global community of people that were experiencing the same thing, we supported and encouraged each other, and we watched each other recover.

In the past 18 months my health has gone from strength to strength. I am enjoying the simple things again like being able to plan a meal, shop for ingredients and cook. I can make a date and be confident that I can keep it. I am going out for meals again, going on holidays, meeting new people and making new friends. I recently went out for NYE for the first time in 8 years. I have also commenced online study and look forward to returning to work in the future. It makes me very happy to be able to help my elderly mum and uncle, and other people in my life that I care about. I enthusiastically recommend this program to everyone that I meet with CFS or fibromyalgia. For a condition where there is so little understanding and so few solutions, CFS Health made recovery

Before joining the program, I had been housebound for 5 years. At my worst I was completely bedridden for 4 months. My main symptoms were extreme fatigue, brain fog, sensitivity to light, nausea, IBS, muscle and body pain. I had very little stamina. Things like trying to go for a short walk or socializing would leave me in bed for days or weeks, and those were the good days where I actually had a little energy to attempt those things. There were many times I wanted to give up. I was really anxious, depressed and had low self esteem. It was heartbreaking to feel as sick as I did and to not be believed by doctors, family members and friends. I was 22 years old when this started. I had been to at least 10 doctors and tried many holistic therapies. I wasn’t making progress.

When I would get energy I would crash shortly after. The program was a key component to recovery. It helped me rebuild my health. It was so challenging not to over do it when I had energy.

I met some of the most wonderful people in that group that I still keep in touch with today. It was so healing and helpful to have kind and positive people to talk to that were going through the same thing.

The program gave me structure, focus and hope. Learning to get a baseline for myself was essential and I don’t think I would have been able to figure that out on my own. The other main component was the support group. i moved out on my own to a little beach town, full of surfing and yoga which I absolutely love! I was able to work again! I got a job selling yoga clothing a few years ago and I currently have a job doing healthcare marketing! I am traveling internationally almost every year which I was told I might not ever be able to do again. I am enjoying practicing yoga, surfing, and skiing.

Never give up and don’t listen to anything negative. One doctor told me to just accept that I would never get better. You have to believe in yourself. No one can do that for you.

One of my favorite quotes is, “Greatest pains, lead to greatest strengths.” This journey is one of the most challenging things to go through, but I can’t image going through life without the perspective and lessons I gained from it.
Wishing boundless love and peace to all.

When joined the program I was over the acute phase of the illness and was no longer bed-bound as I had been the first 6 months of my illness but was pushing and crashing and had no idea if what I was doing was helping or making me worse.

I had very intense crashes with migraines, terrible brain fog, body pain, intense fatigue and gut problems. Some days I couldn’t spell my own name and I used to work as an editor! Fatigue and brain fog were the main constant symptoms with everything else flaring up in crashes. I couldn’t work and was very low emotionally. I had tried “graded exercise” on my own once a doctor suggested it but was doing way too much and it made me worse. I’d tried Chinese medicine, seen specialist doctors but was getting nowhere. The fact that Toby understood exactly what I was going through because he had been through it was so important.

I felt understood, that I wasn’t making it up, and I felt hope. I found learning to pace myself and find a baseline very hard but so important.

 I didn’t realise I was doing too much even though I was barely doing anything compared to pre-CFS life. The goal setting was very helpful too. I found the solidarity of the inner circle phenomenal, their support was so valuable. I’m fully recovered and currently looking for a full time job. I’ve been running my own small business these past two years (something I started when I was unwell) and doing a few different admin jobs but feel confident in my health to return to full time work. I went overseas last year for 3 weeks to France where I went hiking, swimming, bike riding and walked a lot, all with no symptoms. I am back skiing, horse riding and slowly getting back into running (pacing myself like I was taught!). I am an aunt to two little girls and can finally play with them with no fear of crashing! It can get better. It will take time. There is hope.

Before Toby’s program I was beat, fatigued physically and emotionally. At that time, I think I was about 25 years old and was struggling for over 10 years at that point. At my worst I was bed bound. My life was a constant battle where I have to push myself just to walk from room to room. The little things in life seem to be an obstacle course. I remember sitting in my car at a grocery store because I was too exhausted to get out and buy myself food. I had a difficult time socializing with friends, struggling in school, and I couldn’t keep a full-time job. This was my norm. I’ve tried every specialist under the sun from rheumatologist, chiropractor, acupuncture, bio-feedback, pharmaceutical, diet change, meditation, you name it!

One of the first things that captivated me about the program is that someone believed me and also experienced what I was going through. This was important to me because often times the doctors were in disbelief especially my lab results were normal. Having going through Toby’s program taught me life long lessons. It shifted my perception of the disease to approach recovery from a different angle. What I mean by that is being self-aware. Till this day I am conscious of how I function, what I eat, who I allow in my space, how I think. All of this to minimize triggers and flare ups.

These days I am working full-time as a nurse and enrolled for graduate studies. I’m travelling around the world and am truly enjoying life in ways I couldn’t even dream of. The little things are easier now. For example, I can go grocery shopping in the morning, go home to clean and have dinner with a friend later. This is a big win for me because I can now function like a normal human. Toby’s approach played a huge part of that success.

To anyone struggling I’d like to say that it is NOT all in your head.

To anyone struggling I’d like to say that it is NOT all in your head. You my friend are capable of recovering. You have to commit to changing your whole way of life but it is very possible. Lastly, I want to say don’t give up. Take the tools that Toby sets out for you and utilize it to your advantage. Sometimes all you need is a little spark shift your method that will lead you on a path of recovery.

Before joining the program I was at my lowest. Excruciating Fatigue and wide spread body pain was the worse symptoms I had. I felt like I had tried everything as I was suffering from both Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia. I was taking a heap of medication. I was mostly bed bound. I could only make it to the toilet. The thought of having a shower was a nightmare. It was many ups and many more downs for the previous 5 years.

The hardest part of this illness was the loss my independence. Loss of my life as I new it and guilt because every doctor

I saw told me I was fine and there was nothing wrong with me. I saw told me I was fine and there was nothing wrong with me.The hardest part of this illness was the loss of my independence. Loss of my life as I new it and guilt because every doctor I saw told me I was fine and there was nothing wrong with me. After 5 years and trying everything and researching it all I honestly thought I wasn’t going to get better

Then I found the CFS Health recovery program. When I joined I was excited but skeptical, I thought it might just be another one to tick off that doesn’t work but I had hope only because Toby understood what I was going through and he knew what I was saying and how I was feeling. It made a huge difference. I started making small progress as I implemented baseline into my life.

I noticed my energy levels going up. I could cook dinner and walk more. Something I couldn’t enjoy before joining the program. Before the program I was mostly sleeping on the couch because there was no way I could walk up my staircase to bed after a few months in the program I could finally walk upstairs and sleep in my bed. That was a huge moment. I started crying was so happy.

The biggest thing I learnt was to accept where I was at and to take baby steps consistently. The program taught me to be hopeful, it gave me my life back. Now I’m working full time, I do a Little bit of drag racing for fun on the side. I still look after myself and do the right things. There’s nothing I can’t do anymore If I just plan it out before hand.

I have loved getting back into drag racing, party’s and events, sewing, gardening, doing the simple things and most importantly spending time with my family. I have a grandson now so I need all the energy I can get. If you are struggling with M.E/CFS or Fibromyalgia, don’t give up. There is hope!