Juice fast: That's a wrap

Originally Rebekka and I planned to fast for 10 days. However, after much conversation, we decided that we would end our fast after today (day 6). I'm not going to go into all the reasons, but just know that we both felt like this was the best decision for us. So now, some final thoughts....

Things I didn't like about my experience fasting:
*It was much more emotionally difficult for me that I was prepared for.
*I really, REALLY don't like drinking my vegetables. I tried all kinds of combinations of veggies and fruit, but never really got to a point of enjoying my juices.
*I never felt AMAZING, like so many other juice fasters said they felt.
*I never stopped being hungry. I read that usually the hunger goes away, but it never did for me.

Things I loved about my experience fasting:
*Physically, I feel great.
*I just went 6 days without eating food, and that makes me feel very strong, disciplined, amazed, the list could go on....
*I now crave very healthy foods. The thought of eating something "bad" has no appeal to me.
*I don't want caffeine.
*I want to cook everything I put into my body, myself.
*I have a very strong desire not to undo what I've done for myself in the past 6 days.
*Oh, and I lost 11 pounds.

It was so unbelievably helpful to go through this experience with my good friend Rebekka. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have had such a rewarding experience if she hadn't been right there at my side.

I am so glad I did this fast. I've learned a lot about myself, and feel like I've truly re-booted. I'm pretty much ready to take on the world at this point.

Thanks for tagging along....

Juice fast: hallucination sensation on our juice vacation

Rebekka and I were hyper tonight while making juices. We started rhyming words with vacation. Rebekka might have even rapped a little...
Today was okay. This morning I was dragging.... and during the rest of the day I had bursts of energy and then low points. It's very possible that I'm not drinking "enough" juice, but I am trying!! It's hard to work while constantly drinking juice.
The GREAT news is that I'm finishing day 5! Rebekka and I made celebratory pretend mojitos:

(we made mint, lime and pineapple juice). 

We're VERY proud of ourselves so far.... and we're both learning so much. This is definitely a difficult journey for me, but when I'm done, I will know I can pretty much do ANYTHING if I can juice fast for 10 days!

Juice Fast: This... isn't so bad

Overall, today has been a pretty good day. I woke up feeling like myself, went to work, got through the day just fine. It was nice to be distracted all day, but seriously, working in a restaurant isn't the best job to have when you're fasting!!
I'm still having a hard time with the green juices. Right now I'm drinking romaine, cucumber, lemon, ginger, apple... it's not that bad. I do tend to like sweeter juices better but I'm trying really hard to get plenty of vegetables.
The worst part is all of the cravings I'm having. I was hoping that would get easier. I guess if it doesn't, there is a lesson in it.
I haven't eaten food in 4 days. Isn't that weird?! 6 days to go!

Juice fast: This SUCKS

I hate it.
Well, right this minute I hate it.
This is hard.
Rebekka, Manley and I went to the movies today, as a distraction. And then we smelled the popcorn. Rebekka said it smelled like dead people. I thought it smelled glorious. But what do I know....
I made the most god awful juice after the movie (kale, blueberry, orange I think.... I've already blocked it from my memory). It was so bad I wanted to cry. I decided to back off of the kale and try romaine. Hopefully it doesn't taste as strong... I think it will be much better. Kale tastes like grass and I'm never juicing with it again. At least not on this fast.
I think I'm done complaining now. As I understand it, day 3 is supposed to be pretty difficult, hence the anger in my writing.
I should add though, that I am not feeling awful, just mostly emotional, a little light headed at times, a little spacey at times, but mostly my body just feels tired. I think I might not be drinking enough juice. So I need t fix that. Oh and I lost 6 pounds the first two days, so that's nice.
I'll leave you with this....

Juice fast: I want to eat EVERYTHING

Today has NOT been easy. I woke up feeling okay. Had a few breakfast Popsicles. Rebekka came over and juiced while I decorated my nephew's birthday cake. Took a 3 hour nap. Drank some juice, watched part of Jane Eyre. Sneezed A LOT. Went to my nephew's birthday party. Wanted to cry when I smelled the turkey burgers with cheese and bacon and tomato and lettuce and pickles. 

In all seriousness though, I don't feel awful. I don't feel good either. Just tired and spacey. A little light headed.

Rebekka and I decided to make a list as to why we're doing this. I'll get that to you tomorrow. I need help remembering.

Two reflections though: last night I was laying in bed and my stomach was growling and I told myself- this is nothing compared to the suffering so many people face. All those starving children and adults....it humbled me. Secondly, when I cut into a pear this morning I thought- I just really really want to eat this pear. I've never wanted to eat a pear. I hope that this feeling of valuing fruits and vegetables really stays with me throughout this process.

Juice Fast: Eggs and Bacon

Juice fasting is not easy. It's even more difficult when you work in a restaurant known for it's southern comfort food. Someone was eating eggs and bacon for breakfast today. Who thought this was a good idea again?

Oh yah, me. 

All in all, it hasn't been bad. I've had plenty of energy throughout the day (although I'm starting to feel a little tired and it's only 5:30, but what's new). I've been a little hungry all day, but mostly it's just the temptations around me. On that note, 

My good friend Mikayla had this for lunch:

(um, yum)

And this is what I had for lunch:

(kale, cucumber, celery, lemon, apple juice)

I just keep reminding myself I'm doing this for a lot of good reasons.... not to punish myself but actually to make my life better. 

I'm baking my nephew's birthday cake right now and it smells like heaven probably does. Good thing I have this to chew on:

(strawberry, blueberry and kiwi popsicle I made from the juice)

What the KALE?!

Tonight Rebekka and I went shopping for our produce. I'm so DELIGHTED that a good friend of mine is going through this fast with me.

We stocked up on kale mostly, because that will be going in most of our juices. When we were leaving the grocery store, we both kind of squealed and decided it was kind of like going on vacation. Don't ask me how, we're just going to go with it....

Wish us luck. I know I'm going to need it!

Juice Fasting

Today I had a candy bar for lunch. You heard me. It was one of those fancy organic kind. Like that makes it any healthier. It wasn't my intention to replace my lunch with chocolate. But I was impatient, and then I was full, and then I didn't want to eat lunch anymore.
A few nights ago I watched Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead. I recently bought a juicer and my sister and brother-in-law suggested watching the film.
I was mesmerized. Not by the pounds that the people shed in the film (although that was cool). But by the feelings they were describing. The energy, the lack of pain or headaches or allergies. How after a few days of juicing, their cravings subsided. How they felt clarity.
I've been longing for several years to feel that way. I was one of those people who didn't have to worry about their weight. I could eat ANYTHING. I drank so much beer in college I could have gotten a degree in it. I was skinny. Then I turned 25. I never had to develop healthy eating habits, so I just kept eating and not exercising the way I had been my whole life. When I look around me, I look like an average 31 year old woman. There are people who are bigger and smaller than me. I'm about somewhere in the middle.
But that's not good enough for me anymore. To be clear, I'm not saying the actual size of my body isn't good enough. What I'm saying is that feeling tired, sluggish, and foggy most of my day is not how I'm going to live my life anymore. I deserve better. I deserve to feel good. To chase my nephew around the yard. To eat a healthy meal and feel satisfied and good about what I ate. To go on bike rides or hikes regularly without it hurting. I'm not proud of the position I've gotten my body into. But it's reversible, and I love myself enough to take care of it.
I've been inspired to do a juice fast. I intend to start with a 10 day fast, but may go longer if I feel like it's a healthy choice. I've done TONS of research the last three days (and will continue to do more) and have decided to start next Friday, April 27. That way I have the weekend to adjust as much as possible before going back to work on Monday. I will be updating my blog everyday to let you know my progress, etc, if you feel like checking in.
This is going to be one of the hardest things I've ever done. I'm not an advocate of drastic diet changes. I don't really agree with doing something desperate for the short term and then going back to old habits. Supposedly, this fast will help reset me so that it's easier and more desirable for me to make healthy choices.
I'm also doing this fast for spiritual reasons. Fasting is one of the spiritual disciplines, and I expect this experience will make me feel closer to God.
So there you have it. My big announcement.
Today, I made a practice juice. The recipe is here. I chose to drink it out of my one fancy wine glass. Just because it's more fun that way.

Cheers.
I'm only changing my life.