From Bar Owner to Professional Juicer

Not long ago, I was deeply involved in selling and promoting beer and alcohol, and regrettably, I was also misusing it. What led to a change in my life?

We all find ourselves engaging in self-destructive behaviors or forming bad habits for various reasons. In my case, the reasons seemed entirely justified at the time. From 2003 to 2019, I was constantly under the scrutiny of various audits. It was a relentless cycle for 16 years, involving everything from the IRS and New York State Income Tax to Unemployment Insurance, the Department of Labor, SLA, and the Department of Health—to name a few. It felt as though as soon as one audit concluded, another would begin. My escape during these challenging times was alcohol—beer, wine, and shots became my solace, a way to momentarily forget and escape the pressure.

I was the owner of RJS Janitorial, the largest privately owned janitorial business in Buffalo, NY, from 1994 until 2018. The business was a success, employing 13 subcontractors and 49 employees who cleaned over 200 buildings, including stores, factories, schools, car dealerships, and churches. I sold RJS Janitorial at the end of 2017 and continued to assist the new owner until June 2018.

In 2009, I acquired a local bar in Kaisertown, NY, named the Tuscan Inn, and transformed it into The Schu-Shine Inn. The establishment became a place of joy and camaraderie, where I forged many close and dear friendships. The Schu-Shine Inn operated until 2013 when I relocated to a larger venue on a busier street, complete with a parking lot, banquet area, and outdoor patio. This new place, named Roy's Place, continued to operate until February 2019, when I decided to sell it due to health issues, which were primarily stress-induced and exacerbated by my alcohol abuse. Being deeply involved in the day-to-day operations of the bar meant frequently drinking with customers, staff, and friends, coupled with consuming unhealthy "bar food."

After selling the bar, my goal was to take a step back and enjoy some much-needed relaxation. Since a weekend getaway to the Thousand Islands in 2005—which itself was stress-laden due to work-related calls—I hadn't taken any vacation. Running the janitorial service and the bar, both of which required my attention seven days a week, made taking any break virtually impossible, especially in the year leading up to the sale of the bar.

The Interim Period: Around the end of 2013, I began to document all my injuries, weaknesses, flare-ups of pain, and various problems in a notebook. The reason for this documentation remains unclear to me, but I believe it was an attempt to discern whether my pain and issues were localized to one side of my body or if they alternated from the right to the left, and so forth. I plan to share these journal entries on my website for the world to see, hoping to help others identify and avoid the years of anguish, pain, and suffering I endured unknowingly for so long.

2010-2013: These initial years were marked by confusion as I would retire to bed feeling fine only to wake up with severe, inexplicable injuries. It astonishes me now to recall the array of wrist splints, elbow and knee braces, and medical walking boots I accumulated, all without understanding the cause of my consistent soreness and pain. These weren't the aftermath of any traumatic event like a car accident or a fall; I simply woke up in immense pain after a normal night's sleep, varying from foot to foot or affecting different parts of my body like my wrist, knee, or even my thumb. Visits to the doctor would typically end with an X-ray, assurances that nothing was broken, and prescriptions for pain and swelling.

2013: During this year, I experienced a severe lower back injury that I believe was initiated during a move from my home in Cheektowaga to my former bar, the Schu-Shine Inn. Interestingly, the actual onset of back pain was triggered by something as mundane as a sneeze while I was working at my computer. This injury persisted for over three years, with doctors recommending surgery—a route I was adamant about avoiding due to my prior experiences witnessing the aftermath of back surgeries during my tenure as a claims clerk at the New York State Insurance Fund. My strong, healthy back today is a testament to my decision against surgery. Initially, emergency room visits provided temporary relief through medication, but it was the advice against chiropractic care that nearly led me down a more invasive path. However, refusing to give in to my fears, I sought chiropractic treatment, which, after a few trials and errors, led me to excellent care that included laser light therapy, spinal decompression, and tens electrotherapy. My journey to wellness was significantly influenced by my massage therapist, Jeremy, who introduced me to Dr. Robert Morse's teachings. This was a turning point, leading me to realize the profound impact of diet on my health. Jeremy's recommendation to watch Dr. Morse's Protocol video on YouTube was invaluable, and I now urge everyone to do the same—it could be a pivotal moment in your wellness journey and I hope my teachings can serve as to be highly beneficial as well. 

2014-2022: I have a total of 14 pages of handwritten journals mapping out and identifying so many different issues during these traumatic years.