Wow. All I can say is that I will always cherish the responses from yesterday's post. I receive it all with gratitude, and I love you guys.
What Day I'm On: 18 out of 40, 45% of the way
How's It Going? Great, and not so. The great part is all the support. I also feel like I have the time management part down, and the actual juicing and supplementing is going great. Thanks to Annette, I'm adding in Zeolites, which are like a micro-porous sieve, filtering out toxic heavy metals in your body. I unfortunately have some silver fillings, so I know there is mercury and other heavy metals in me, and a detoxifying fast (or juice feast) is a great time to get them out.
The only part that's hard, is that the food cravings have come back, in a big way! I think it has to do with my sense of smell, which has suddenly come back after being pretty bad for a long time. I am glad I have it back; I look like a loon, going around and smelling every flower and even opening up my cinnamon and spice jars and sniffing away. But the truth is, a lot of things smell bad in life! lol I never noticed before but boy, howdy, I do now. One thing that does not smell bad to me, at all, though, is FOOD. Food that other people are eating. I never want to eat unless I smell it. Then it slowly tortures me, lol. Unfortunately, I work directly upstairs from the cafeteria in a medical facility, with an open-plan big atrium in the clinic so all the good cooking smells waft up to me as I work!
Don't worry! There is no way I am going to quit now or even cheat! When I smell it, I just try to enjoy the aroma (no harm in that) and tell myself, "That is not for me. I am content with my juice." It just means that my willpower is getting an extra heavy duty workout. I am going to have such big muscles to flex in that regard when this is over! For the girl who had 0% ability to resist temptation before, you can see what a huge miracle is being done in me!
Detox? Nope.
Emotional Detox: Not detox, but really feeling all the love and support and kindness in a profound way. It is kinda sorta incredibly beautiful. I am so glad to be having this experience, even if I walk around with a curious combination of tears in my eyes and a huge silly grin on my face.
Emotional De-Cluttering: This week, I released 3 more pounds (running total of 113 lbs if you are keeping track) and my first thought was, "But I'm not eating anything! It should have been more!" Ok, let's look at that. True, I am not eating, but of course, I am getting 1500 calories of juice or so a day, so I am hardly starving. Also, it is the first week of being on my cycle when I can ever remember having a release instead of adding to my total! I used to have a 10 lb JUMP in my weight every cycle, which was one of the reasons I used to not weigh myself. It would go, just as fast, the next week, but in my cranky hormonal state it would seem terribly tragic and unjust, lol.
But why I put this under emotional detox is because of that limiting thought: I should be releasing weight QUICKLY. There is a quota I need to make each week, or something. What I SHOULD be doing is feeding my body the right things (right now that means veggie juice) and giving it loving movement (I did a ton last week.) And then, (listen closely, self!) how my body takes care of itself is up to the wisdom of my body! It may be ready to release some more weight, and it may choose to heal me some other way. As long as I am doing the right things, I don't need to worry about it. I actually don't need to worry about anything! Good lesson for me to remember.
Physical De-cluttering: The house looks a little better following the great purge. I've got the de-clutter bug and I want more! I am going to try to keep the momentum up during the week if I can.
Advice From Dave: Haven't talked to him in a few days. He is getting so busy with organizing the International Day of Juice Feasting. You're going, aren't you?! You can go in spirit, by streaming it, if you can't make it to Seattle. Tomorrow I'm going to model some outfits for you guys and you tell me which one to wear to the event!
Monday, August 23, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
The Juicy Life--Day 17 of My 40 Day Juice Feast
Today is Sunday, and this post is dedicated to GRATITUDE. Since I have started this journey of getting healthy, and especially since starting my juice feast, I have been the recipient of outrageous kindness and acts of generosity which have left me with such feelings of gratitude, I don't have the words to adequately express them. That is saying a lot for the girl who never lacks for something to say! I am still working on the rare art of knowing when to shut up! lol
But honestly, I cannot help but believe I am on a divinely appointed path, when every step of the way, I am loved, supported, and lifted up. It started when I joined RFR and I got plugged into all the amazing resources in the Rooms. I wanted support to be a Christian vegan; I found it in the Media Room and in the Chapel. I wanted to know more about my curing my health conditions; I found it in the Wellness Center. I needed recipes to support my journey: there was the Kitchen and the Culinary Center. I needed to stay accountable: I immediately locked myself in the Vault and got real with my weight. Every day, Penni's message seemed to be something I really needed to hear. Susan's inspiring blogs left me scribbling down notes in my notebooks, and going around saying, "Yes!" at random times.
Most of all, the love and support I have gotten through blogging and reading others' blogs has been tremendous. Never underestimate what your taking the time to comment really means to someone. For me, it has lifted me up and made me say, "Yes, I can do this. I WILL do this. And actually, I AM DOING THIS." It even gave me the courage to do a crazy thing like decide to live on veggie juice for almost 6 weeks!
This is the hardest part to talk about, but I gotta do it. When I took time off to take care of Joe after his surgery, I was out of paid ill-time at work. I had known his surgery was coming, and horded all my ill and vacation time, but then, I got terribly sick myself in January and had emergency abdominal surgery in February and used it all up. I had no idea how we were going to get through a month with no pay coming in; I only knew that Joe needed the surgery and we had already been on the waiting list for 8 months and I couldn't change the date. I saved as much as I could from February to June, and I am proud to say, we made it through ok. But things are still really tight; I knew that I wasn't going to be able to spend money except food and rent and what my kids needed. I thought I would have to go without the Vault. But then Darlene Knight created her scholarship, and I got to be in the Vault after all! (Thank you, thank you, thank you, Darlene!) You guys, the Vault has been incredible this time; Penni's materials were so helpful and the recipes so good. The conversations and support in the Vault just exploded this time--there has been so much participation and actively helping one another and accountability. There have even been prizes, really nice ones, which has just been the icing on the cake. I would have missed out on all that without Darlene. Bless you and your huge heart Darlene!
Later on I heard Penni talk about juicing and checked it out, and I thought, oh that sounds HARD but interesting. Hmm. Then I met Dave the Raw Food Truck Driver and he inspired me so much (I dare you to talk to that man and not get inspired) and he said, "Hey, I still have some more weight to lose, let's go on a juice feast together!" So before I knew it, I had agreed to go on a juice feast without knowing really what that meant. I needed info fast: then Penni decided to release her book, Real Juice Daily. It was so inspiring and so full of great info and recipes. I was psyched!
Then I came back to reality: this juice feasting is expensive! Can I really afford to spend all of this on just ME? I am a single mom; I have responsibilities. I have fabulous teens who do great things, great things that cost mucho dinero. Plus, my juicer I had seemed to barely be getting any juice out of stuff. My kale would come out looking almost like it went in--I used the so called "pulp" to make kale chips for the kids!
Like an answer to unspoken prayer, someone I only know from Raw Food Rehab got me a NEW JUICER. Like, a nice one! A great one that I love and adore, and one that you know, GETS JUICE OUT OF THINGS! I was floored! I mean, who does such a nice thing for someone they've never met in real life? Who has a heart like that? I won't say, because the person asked me not to. But know that I still get tears in my eyes and a giant face-cracking grin when I make my juice. I know that juicer puts LOVE in my juice, because of the loving energy that came from that incredible person when they did that for me. I hope that person receives a thousand percent return in blessings. I love them and I will never forget them.
Then Annette told me she can get me my veggies at wholesale, and suddenly, I can not only afford my veggies, I realize I am going to save money in the long run after I am off the juice feast! Not to mention that Annette is an incredible lady who has been raw over 10 yrs and has done crazy cool things like climbing giant mountains and doing races from Portland to the Coast. Not only that but she doesn't even live in Portland--she drives more than an hour each way to get the veggies and make sure I get mine. I have offered to come to her, but she always says, no, it's no trouble.
Just yesterday--it happened again. Someone, I don't even know who, this time, donated some money for me for my juice feast! Not only did it come when I really need it--back to school time is here with all the huge costs of having active kids in high school: activity fees, senior pictures, college entrance exam fees, school clothes, school supplies, yearbook, dance team, etc, etc until you can actually hear the wallet screaming. But now, I've got a little bit of money to get what I need and not worry--which is such a huge relief. But even more than that--I have been so inspired again, and walking on a cloud of pure appreciation so complete I feel it at a cellular level. "Some one cares about me that much!" I marvel. "I've gotta see this through. So much love coming my way!" It just blows me away.
So, this post is just going to be thank you.
-Thank you, Penni, for having RFR, for your encouragement, and for being the amazing, inspiring woman that you are.
-Thank you, Susan, for your inspiring posts, and for all the copious amounts of information you add to this website that has made it such a huge boon to my health
-Thank you, anonymous friend, for the wonderful juicer, I love it, and I love you. I think about you every day, and I bless you and remember you in every prayer.
-Thank you, Dave, (though you'll probably never see this, lol) for being my mentor and coach and inspiration. You know how much I love you, and I've got your back, always!
-Thank you, Darlene, for letting me be in the Vault. I want you to know what it has meant to me, what a wonderful lady you are, and also that I think of you and try harder. I really do! I want to make you proud for what you did for me!
-Thank you, Annette, for giving me so much support along with the kale and cucumbers, and most of all for being my friend, and being in this juicy boat with me. We will do it my friend! You rawk hard!
-Thank you, other anonymous friend, for the money, and even more than that, for thinking of me, and helping me, and for your loving spirit. I am so grateful!
-Finally, thank you to you, if you've ever left me a comment, or written me a note, or said a prayer for me or for Joe. Thank you so so much. You inspire me, you feed me on your loving energy, and I feel a thousand hands, supporting me and lifting me up. I love you all!
But honestly, I cannot help but believe I am on a divinely appointed path, when every step of the way, I am loved, supported, and lifted up. It started when I joined RFR and I got plugged into all the amazing resources in the Rooms. I wanted support to be a Christian vegan; I found it in the Media Room and in the Chapel. I wanted to know more about my curing my health conditions; I found it in the Wellness Center. I needed recipes to support my journey: there was the Kitchen and the Culinary Center. I needed to stay accountable: I immediately locked myself in the Vault and got real with my weight. Every day, Penni's message seemed to be something I really needed to hear. Susan's inspiring blogs left me scribbling down notes in my notebooks, and going around saying, "Yes!" at random times.
Most of all, the love and support I have gotten through blogging and reading others' blogs has been tremendous. Never underestimate what your taking the time to comment really means to someone. For me, it has lifted me up and made me say, "Yes, I can do this. I WILL do this. And actually, I AM DOING THIS." It even gave me the courage to do a crazy thing like decide to live on veggie juice for almost 6 weeks!
This is the hardest part to talk about, but I gotta do it. When I took time off to take care of Joe after his surgery, I was out of paid ill-time at work. I had known his surgery was coming, and horded all my ill and vacation time, but then, I got terribly sick myself in January and had emergency abdominal surgery in February and used it all up. I had no idea how we were going to get through a month with no pay coming in; I only knew that Joe needed the surgery and we had already been on the waiting list for 8 months and I couldn't change the date. I saved as much as I could from February to June, and I am proud to say, we made it through ok. But things are still really tight; I knew that I wasn't going to be able to spend money except food and rent and what my kids needed. I thought I would have to go without the Vault. But then Darlene Knight created her scholarship, and I got to be in the Vault after all! (Thank you, thank you, thank you, Darlene!) You guys, the Vault has been incredible this time; Penni's materials were so helpful and the recipes so good. The conversations and support in the Vault just exploded this time--there has been so much participation and actively helping one another and accountability. There have even been prizes, really nice ones, which has just been the icing on the cake. I would have missed out on all that without Darlene. Bless you and your huge heart Darlene!
Later on I heard Penni talk about juicing and checked it out, and I thought, oh that sounds HARD but interesting. Hmm. Then I met Dave the Raw Food Truck Driver and he inspired me so much (I dare you to talk to that man and not get inspired) and he said, "Hey, I still have some more weight to lose, let's go on a juice feast together!" So before I knew it, I had agreed to go on a juice feast without knowing really what that meant. I needed info fast: then Penni decided to release her book, Real Juice Daily. It was so inspiring and so full of great info and recipes. I was psyched!
Then I came back to reality: this juice feasting is expensive! Can I really afford to spend all of this on just ME? I am a single mom; I have responsibilities. I have fabulous teens who do great things, great things that cost mucho dinero. Plus, my juicer I had seemed to barely be getting any juice out of stuff. My kale would come out looking almost like it went in--I used the so called "pulp" to make kale chips for the kids!
Like an answer to unspoken prayer, someone I only know from Raw Food Rehab got me a NEW JUICER. Like, a nice one! A great one that I love and adore, and one that you know, GETS JUICE OUT OF THINGS! I was floored! I mean, who does such a nice thing for someone they've never met in real life? Who has a heart like that? I won't say, because the person asked me not to. But know that I still get tears in my eyes and a giant face-cracking grin when I make my juice. I know that juicer puts LOVE in my juice, because of the loving energy that came from that incredible person when they did that for me. I hope that person receives a thousand percent return in blessings. I love them and I will never forget them.
Then Annette told me she can get me my veggies at wholesale, and suddenly, I can not only afford my veggies, I realize I am going to save money in the long run after I am off the juice feast! Not to mention that Annette is an incredible lady who has been raw over 10 yrs and has done crazy cool things like climbing giant mountains and doing races from Portland to the Coast. Not only that but she doesn't even live in Portland--she drives more than an hour each way to get the veggies and make sure I get mine. I have offered to come to her, but she always says, no, it's no trouble.
Just yesterday--it happened again. Someone, I don't even know who, this time, donated some money for me for my juice feast! Not only did it come when I really need it--back to school time is here with all the huge costs of having active kids in high school: activity fees, senior pictures, college entrance exam fees, school clothes, school supplies, yearbook, dance team, etc, etc until you can actually hear the wallet screaming. But now, I've got a little bit of money to get what I need and not worry--which is such a huge relief. But even more than that--I have been so inspired again, and walking on a cloud of pure appreciation so complete I feel it at a cellular level. "Some one cares about me that much!" I marvel. "I've gotta see this through. So much love coming my way!" It just blows me away.
So, this post is just going to be thank you.
-Thank you, Penni, for having RFR, for your encouragement, and for being the amazing, inspiring woman that you are.
-Thank you, Susan, for your inspiring posts, and for all the copious amounts of information you add to this website that has made it such a huge boon to my health
-Thank you, anonymous friend, for the wonderful juicer, I love it, and I love you. I think about you every day, and I bless you and remember you in every prayer.
-Thank you, Dave, (though you'll probably never see this, lol) for being my mentor and coach and inspiration. You know how much I love you, and I've got your back, always!
-Thank you, Darlene, for letting me be in the Vault. I want you to know what it has meant to me, what a wonderful lady you are, and also that I think of you and try harder. I really do! I want to make you proud for what you did for me!
-Thank you, Annette, for giving me so much support along with the kale and cucumbers, and most of all for being my friend, and being in this juicy boat with me. We will do it my friend! You rawk hard!
-Thank you, other anonymous friend, for the money, and even more than that, for thinking of me, and helping me, and for your loving spirit. I am so grateful!
-Finally, thank you to you, if you've ever left me a comment, or written me a note, or said a prayer for me or for Joe. Thank you so so much. You inspire me, you feed me on your loving energy, and I feel a thousand hands, supporting me and lifting me up. I love you all!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
The Juice Life--Day 16 of My 40 Day Juice Feast
What Day I'm On: 16 out of 40 (40% of the way)
How's It Going: Yesterday was much better. The migraine faded to a dull ache that came and went throughout the day, and that made it so much more tolerable. I got in a good workout at the gym. Throughout my juice feast, I've chosen to keep working out with my usual workout: I hit the gym about 5:30 a.m. every day and walk on the treadmill for 40 minutes (there's that 40 again!) and then lift weights for another 20 minutes, 3 times per week, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I've noticed a definite serge in energy for working out doing my juice feast. In addition, I walk on my lunch hour every day, not at "work out speed" but slower and more contemplative; a walking meditation and prayer time. I listen to Christian music on my iphone and watch the squirrels and the birds play in the park across from my job. Even though it is not for the purpose of exercising, I think the more movement I can get in, the better for me, and the more calories I'll burn, too. We humans were designed to move it, move it. Walking is one of the very best things you can do. It doesn't need any fancy equipment, you can do it any where and any time, and it's free. It's easy on your joints, great for your circulation (get that blood and lymph moving!) and at least for me, there is a clarity of mind and spirit that I get while I am walking that is unparalleled by anything else I do.
How awesome is it that my 17 yr old daughter, who loves nothing in the world as much as a good sleep-in, has gotten up with me at 5 a.m. this whole summer to work out with me? I know there were times when I would have just as soon rolled over and gone back to sleep, but I got up and did it because otherwise I would hear about it from Nora! She is a great kid. This is her senior year and I am just enjoying the heck out of her, and my son Joe. They have really grown into neat people; ones I would be friends with, even if they weren't my kids. I'm feeling really blessed and grateful today.
What I'm Drinking: The word of the day is tomatoes! I got the attack of the killer (but in a good way) tomatoes yesterday! The crew at Limbo saved me bags and bags of them for my juice feast! Since I go in there almost every day, they know me, if not by name, but as that crazy raw vegan who buys up all their dollar bags. I haven't told them I am on a juice feast--I wonder if they think I am eating all of this? lol Anyway, there will be red, juicy goodness today! Oh yes! (Of course I will add celery and greens, lots and lots of greens, gotta have the greens!) Kale and romaine and spinach on tap today. I am looking forward to this one!
Detox: Nothing to write home about.
Emotional Detox: Feeling good today, and felt pretty durn good all yesterday. Life is sweet!
Emotional De-cluttering: Here's another scary trip into the deep recesses of Mallory's psyche to uncover and release her limit beliefs. (Don't be afraid--I'll hold your hand!) Today's limiting belief is around being a "fat slob." I have been overweight all my life, and I have heard that phrase over and over again, not directed at me (except maybe in elementary school when kids basically tortured me about my weight.) That phrase resonates with me, down in my soul, in the dank, smelly recesses where fear and loathing hang out. And it is time to clean house! The thing is, while I crave order, I do tend to be a messy person. On top of that, I am a busy person, so often when I have an abundance of good intention, I don't have an abundance of time, and the execution suffers. There was a time, not that long ago, when I was so depressed about my weight, I let everything slide: my house, my person hygiene (not horrible but I wasn't great about making sure that I was looking my best.) I let my hair go too long between cuts, I wore clothes that had stains on them or small holes sometimes. I never even bothered with make-up; to me it would be like lipstick on a pig. (Ouch! More harsh limiting beliefs!)
During my juice feast, I've been putting a lot of emphasis on choosing things I like to wear and that I look good in. (Sometimes hard to find since my closet is full of clothes that are way too big for me now. Time to bless someone else!) I get a shower after the gym, every day, and take time to brush and floss. I put coconut oil on after my shower to be nice to my skin and be dewy soft. I'm going to get a haircut and get my eyebrows done--something that makes me feel great. Although I can't believe I pay good money for a nice Vietnamese lady to lovingly rip my eyebrow hairs out by the root! lol
I also have hoarding tendencies--which I fight hard, and have made great strides in my life, the FlyLady really helped there--but behind them is that other limiting belief, "I will need it and I won't have it." This is the ultimate poverty thinking, and in a way, it is a slap in the face to God, who has provided so well for me every moment of my life.
But my bedroom is cluttered up right now with big cardboard boxes. Why? Ironically, so I can fill them with stuff to give to charity! But they are messy and in my way right now. Procrastination is a bad thing.
So this morning is going to be dedicated to order and self-care. I am going to fill the boxes and get them out of there.
The fat slob will please exit the building, and oh yeah, my life. 'K thnkx bai!
Physical De-Cluttering: This week's plan: too big "good" work clothes go to the resale shop; the rest go to charity, along with all the stuff I was saving for a garage sale that probably isn't going to happen. I hate having garage sales anyway! They are such a pain. I would rather bless the Salvation Army! A few things will get listed on ebay.
Advice From Dave: The International Day of Juice Feasting is coming up, and all of y'all need to be there! If you can't be in Seattle, you can stream it live on your computer on September 12, from noon to 4pm PST. Just look at the line-up: Dave The Raw Food Trucker, Matt Monarch and Angela Stokes-Monarch, Elaina Love, and even some of your friends from RFR, like me and Annette and Thubten will be there. Maybe, just maybe, there will be another surprise guest or two that will definitely make you squeal. I put all the details on the events section, so check it out. It's going to be great!
How's It Going: Yesterday was much better. The migraine faded to a dull ache that came and went throughout the day, and that made it so much more tolerable. I got in a good workout at the gym. Throughout my juice feast, I've chosen to keep working out with my usual workout: I hit the gym about 5:30 a.m. every day and walk on the treadmill for 40 minutes (there's that 40 again!) and then lift weights for another 20 minutes, 3 times per week, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I've noticed a definite serge in energy for working out doing my juice feast. In addition, I walk on my lunch hour every day, not at "work out speed" but slower and more contemplative; a walking meditation and prayer time. I listen to Christian music on my iphone and watch the squirrels and the birds play in the park across from my job. Even though it is not for the purpose of exercising, I think the more movement I can get in, the better for me, and the more calories I'll burn, too. We humans were designed to move it, move it. Walking is one of the very best things you can do. It doesn't need any fancy equipment, you can do it any where and any time, and it's free. It's easy on your joints, great for your circulation (get that blood and lymph moving!) and at least for me, there is a clarity of mind and spirit that I get while I am walking that is unparalleled by anything else I do.
How awesome is it that my 17 yr old daughter, who loves nothing in the world as much as a good sleep-in, has gotten up with me at 5 a.m. this whole summer to work out with me? I know there were times when I would have just as soon rolled over and gone back to sleep, but I got up and did it because otherwise I would hear about it from Nora! She is a great kid. This is her senior year and I am just enjoying the heck out of her, and my son Joe. They have really grown into neat people; ones I would be friends with, even if they weren't my kids. I'm feeling really blessed and grateful today.
What I'm Drinking: The word of the day is tomatoes! I got the attack of the killer (but in a good way) tomatoes yesterday! The crew at Limbo saved me bags and bags of them for my juice feast! Since I go in there almost every day, they know me, if not by name, but as that crazy raw vegan who buys up all their dollar bags. I haven't told them I am on a juice feast--I wonder if they think I am eating all of this? lol Anyway, there will be red, juicy goodness today! Oh yes! (Of course I will add celery and greens, lots and lots of greens, gotta have the greens!) Kale and romaine and spinach on tap today. I am looking forward to this one!
Detox: Nothing to write home about.
Emotional Detox: Feeling good today, and felt pretty durn good all yesterday. Life is sweet!
Emotional De-cluttering: Here's another scary trip into the deep recesses of Mallory's psyche to uncover and release her limit beliefs. (Don't be afraid--I'll hold your hand!) Today's limiting belief is around being a "fat slob." I have been overweight all my life, and I have heard that phrase over and over again, not directed at me (except maybe in elementary school when kids basically tortured me about my weight.) That phrase resonates with me, down in my soul, in the dank, smelly recesses where fear and loathing hang out. And it is time to clean house! The thing is, while I crave order, I do tend to be a messy person. On top of that, I am a busy person, so often when I have an abundance of good intention, I don't have an abundance of time, and the execution suffers. There was a time, not that long ago, when I was so depressed about my weight, I let everything slide: my house, my person hygiene (not horrible but I wasn't great about making sure that I was looking my best.) I let my hair go too long between cuts, I wore clothes that had stains on them or small holes sometimes. I never even bothered with make-up; to me it would be like lipstick on a pig. (Ouch! More harsh limiting beliefs!)
During my juice feast, I've been putting a lot of emphasis on choosing things I like to wear and that I look good in. (Sometimes hard to find since my closet is full of clothes that are way too big for me now. Time to bless someone else!) I get a shower after the gym, every day, and take time to brush and floss. I put coconut oil on after my shower to be nice to my skin and be dewy soft. I'm going to get a haircut and get my eyebrows done--something that makes me feel great. Although I can't believe I pay good money for a nice Vietnamese lady to lovingly rip my eyebrow hairs out by the root! lol
I also have hoarding tendencies--which I fight hard, and have made great strides in my life, the FlyLady really helped there--but behind them is that other limiting belief, "I will need it and I won't have it." This is the ultimate poverty thinking, and in a way, it is a slap in the face to God, who has provided so well for me every moment of my life.
But my bedroom is cluttered up right now with big cardboard boxes. Why? Ironically, so I can fill them with stuff to give to charity! But they are messy and in my way right now. Procrastination is a bad thing.
So this morning is going to be dedicated to order and self-care. I am going to fill the boxes and get them out of there.
The fat slob will please exit the building, and oh yeah, my life. 'K thnkx bai!
Physical De-Cluttering: This week's plan: too big "good" work clothes go to the resale shop; the rest go to charity, along with all the stuff I was saving for a garage sale that probably isn't going to happen. I hate having garage sales anyway! They are such a pain. I would rather bless the Salvation Army! A few things will get listed on ebay.
Advice From Dave: The International Day of Juice Feasting is coming up, and all of y'all need to be there! If you can't be in Seattle, you can stream it live on your computer on September 12, from noon to 4pm PST. Just look at the line-up: Dave The Raw Food Trucker, Matt Monarch and Angela Stokes-Monarch, Elaina Love, and even some of your friends from RFR, like me and Annette and Thubten will be there. Maybe, just maybe, there will be another surprise guest or two that will definitely make you squeal. I put all the details on the events section, so check it out. It's going to be great!
Friday, August 20, 2010
The Juicy Life--Day 15 of My 40 Day Juice Feast
I want to try to answer questions along the way, so if you have them, shoot them my way. I am by no means an expert, but I love doing the research and sharing it.
There was a question about MSM. Here are some highlights I found on the net:
MSM is biological sulfur, which may...
Remove inflammation; permit muscles and joints to heal more rapidly
Increase energy, alertness, mental calmness, and ability to concentrate
Reduce muscle cramps and spasms
Plays a role in collagen synthesis: skin becomes softer, more resilient, hair and nails grow faster and stronger (the beauty mineral)
Help to normalize stomach function
Help relieve heartburn and GERD
Help relieve allergies to foods and pollens
Help create an internal environment unfriendly to many types of parasites
Helps with diabetic neuropathy of the extremities and gastrointestinal tract
Speed wound healing, reduces scar tissue
Stimulate immune function
Next to oxygen, water, and salt, MSM is the fourth most needed
element in human and animal nutrition. Sulfur is involved in nearly
every metabolic process in the body, and is essential in the
regeneration and nourishment of healthy cells.
Penni said that all the MSM on her juice feast made her nails go from peeling and thin to strong as the other kind of nails. To absorb the MSM optimally, it is best to take it with a citrus juice. That is why everyone seems to take it with lemon water or citrus punch (a mix of orange, grapefruit, and lemon or lime juice.)
What Day I'm On: 15 out of 40 (37% of the way)
How's It Going? Yesterday was tough. I had a migraine all day, and I chose not to take any drugs. I should tell you, I used to have a virtual pharmacy in my bathroom. I did not believe in suffering. I had an over-the-counter remedy for any condition you can name. As I have been getting more healthy, I have stopped all the OTC's, and been able to get off of my prescription drugs too. The only thing I was still taking, prior to the juice feast, was one blood pressure med which had a side effect of stopping my migraines. I had cut it down to a half-dose, but I was still taking it. (I monitor my blood pressure VERY regularly! Please do NOT go off your BP meds without your health practitioner's approval! I got approval from mine!) I also took a lot of ibuprofen, because being this heavy causes enormous amounts of pain in your body: sore feet, back aches, knee pain, etc. I had really cut back on the ibuprofen, but not cut it out until the juice feast.
So here came my monthly cycle, and like it has since I was 12, a migraine came with it. I thought I was "over" them because the blood pressure medication was preventing them. Now, I was hoping that my substantial weight release (110 lbs or more) had balanced my hormones enough that I might not get one. I have to say, it was not as severe as I have had in the past.
Anyway, I am proud of myself for not giving in and taking pain medication. I am really trying to do a full detox, and to make drugs a part of my past. I still have some remnants of the headache today, but not as bad. I am going to the gym so maybe I will sit in the hot tub and see if that helps.
What I'm Drinking: I tried adding some jalapeno to my juice because Penni talks about a Pico De Gallo juice in Real Juice Daily that sounded really good. Plus, I am getting in a rut with my kale, romaine, cucumber, tomato, and red bell pepper. I decided I do not love jalapeno! But it did taste like salsa, which was bomb. I am going to try half as much today. I am a wimp when it comes to hot! lol
Detox: Migraine, probably due to hormones rather than detox, but who's to say there isn't some detox going on?
Emotional Detox: Feeling kinda down, again, I blame Aunt Flo, my least favorite relative
Advice from Dave:
The extremely awesome Momdebbie commented yesterday with some great advice from her talk with Dave, and I wanted to make sure no one missed it because I know I don't always read all the comments on other people's posts. A huge shout out to Momdebbie for being on day 6 of her own juice feast! She is building her discipline muscles and curing her diabetes and I could not be more proud of her!! This is what she wrote:
1. Never - EVER be without your juice! Dave said this is especially imperative to those like he and I who have had diabetic issues or other health concerns. He prepares 3 gallons of juice at a time to take with
him on the road and drinks a gallon per day. He also takes juicers on
the road with him along with a super long extension cord so he is ready
to juice whenever and wherever he is. Again, he can't stress this
enough. Keep your juice next to you in the car, on your desk at work, in
the fridge, next to your computer while surfing the web or enjoying our
own Raw Food Rehab. Wherever you are -- your juice is there too!
2. Don't ever feel badly or like you have failed if you have to end your juice feast earlier than you had planned. Listen to YOUR body. Dave
said that because he had been overeating the SAD diet for soooo long and
to the point of weighing 430 pounds and had never eaten organically -
he suffered through some major detox when he went on his first juice
feasts. He had to slow things down a bit and would intersperse his
feasts with phase 1 of Gabriel Cousen's plan as outlined in "There is a
Cure for Diabetes". He may had to slow things down at first but as most
of you know, Dave went on to be a champion of and for juice feasting and
lost over 200 now pounds in the process!
Oh and Dave wants to give a huge shout out and send his love to Penni and RFR! He is really jazzed to hear about how many of us are juice
feasting now and even more thrilled to hear about how we are supporting
one another! Penni, Dave says it's time to come to Gods' country and pay
him a visit!
There was a question about MSM. Here are some highlights I found on the net:
MSM is biological sulfur, which may...
Remove inflammation; permit muscles and joints to heal more rapidly
Increase energy, alertness, mental calmness, and ability to concentrate
Reduce muscle cramps and spasms
Plays a role in collagen synthesis: skin becomes softer, more resilient, hair and nails grow faster and stronger (the beauty mineral)
Help to normalize stomach function
Help relieve heartburn and GERD
Help relieve allergies to foods and pollens
Help create an internal environment unfriendly to many types of parasites
Helps with diabetic neuropathy of the extremities and gastrointestinal tract
Speed wound healing, reduces scar tissue
Stimulate immune function
Next to oxygen, water, and salt, MSM is the fourth most needed
element in human and animal nutrition. Sulfur is involved in nearly
every metabolic process in the body, and is essential in the
regeneration and nourishment of healthy cells.
Penni said that all the MSM on her juice feast made her nails go from peeling and thin to strong as the other kind of nails. To absorb the MSM optimally, it is best to take it with a citrus juice. That is why everyone seems to take it with lemon water or citrus punch (a mix of orange, grapefruit, and lemon or lime juice.)
What Day I'm On: 15 out of 40 (37% of the way)
How's It Going? Yesterday was tough. I had a migraine all day, and I chose not to take any drugs. I should tell you, I used to have a virtual pharmacy in my bathroom. I did not believe in suffering. I had an over-the-counter remedy for any condition you can name. As I have been getting more healthy, I have stopped all the OTC's, and been able to get off of my prescription drugs too. The only thing I was still taking, prior to the juice feast, was one blood pressure med which had a side effect of stopping my migraines. I had cut it down to a half-dose, but I was still taking it. (I monitor my blood pressure VERY regularly! Please do NOT go off your BP meds without your health practitioner's approval! I got approval from mine!) I also took a lot of ibuprofen, because being this heavy causes enormous amounts of pain in your body: sore feet, back aches, knee pain, etc. I had really cut back on the ibuprofen, but not cut it out until the juice feast.
So here came my monthly cycle, and like it has since I was 12, a migraine came with it. I thought I was "over" them because the blood pressure medication was preventing them. Now, I was hoping that my substantial weight release (110 lbs or more) had balanced my hormones enough that I might not get one. I have to say, it was not as severe as I have had in the past.
Anyway, I am proud of myself for not giving in and taking pain medication. I am really trying to do a full detox, and to make drugs a part of my past. I still have some remnants of the headache today, but not as bad. I am going to the gym so maybe I will sit in the hot tub and see if that helps.
What I'm Drinking: I tried adding some jalapeno to my juice because Penni talks about a Pico De Gallo juice in Real Juice Daily that sounded really good. Plus, I am getting in a rut with my kale, romaine, cucumber, tomato, and red bell pepper. I decided I do not love jalapeno! But it did taste like salsa, which was bomb. I am going to try half as much today. I am a wimp when it comes to hot! lol
Detox: Migraine, probably due to hormones rather than detox, but who's to say there isn't some detox going on?
Emotional Detox: Feeling kinda down, again, I blame Aunt Flo, my least favorite relative
Advice from Dave:
The extremely awesome Momdebbie commented yesterday with some great advice from her talk with Dave, and I wanted to make sure no one missed it because I know I don't always read all the comments on other people's posts. A huge shout out to Momdebbie for being on day 6 of her own juice feast! She is building her discipline muscles and curing her diabetes and I could not be more proud of her!! This is what she wrote:
1. Never - EVER be without your juice! Dave said this is especially imperative to those like he and I who have had diabetic issues or other health concerns. He prepares 3 gallons of juice at a time to take with
him on the road and drinks a gallon per day. He also takes juicers on
the road with him along with a super long extension cord so he is ready
to juice whenever and wherever he is. Again, he can't stress this
enough. Keep your juice next to you in the car, on your desk at work, in
the fridge, next to your computer while surfing the web or enjoying our
own Raw Food Rehab. Wherever you are -- your juice is there too!
2. Don't ever feel badly or like you have failed if you have to end your juice feast earlier than you had planned. Listen to YOUR body. Dave
said that because he had been overeating the SAD diet for soooo long and
to the point of weighing 430 pounds and had never eaten organically -
he suffered through some major detox when he went on his first juice
feasts. He had to slow things down a bit and would intersperse his
feasts with phase 1 of Gabriel Cousen's plan as outlined in "There is a
Cure for Diabetes". He may had to slow things down at first but as most
of you know, Dave went on to be a champion of and for juice feasting and
lost over 200 now pounds in the process!
Oh and Dave wants to give a huge shout out and send his love to Penni and RFR! He is really jazzed to hear about how many of us are juice
feasting now and even more thrilled to hear about how we are supporting
one another! Penni, Dave says it's time to come to Gods' country and pay
him a visit!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
The Juicy Life--Day 14 of My 40 Day Juice Feast
How Far Along I Am: Day 14 out of 40, 35% of the way
How's It Going? I felt really, really tired yesterday. Driving to my mom's after work to do her wound care, I almost felt like I should pull over and nap. Last night, I didn't sleep too well so I don't feel too much better this morning. I'm not sure what this is all about, and whether it is related to my juice feast or not. Hmm....any of you experienced juice feasters ever have this happen?
What I'm Drinking: I'm kind of in a rut: romaine, kale, cucumber, tomato, sweet red bell pepper. Lemon water and MSM upon rising. Things taste a little better to me, so I must be getting used to it,
Detox? I'll just say, I still don't need any enema! Keeping close to restrooms is a good thing. :)
Emotional Detox? Nope. Just cranky from being tired.
Emotional De-Cluttering: I am saying these affirmations: I love and approve of myself. I deserve love. What I seek is seeking me. There IS someone out there for me, and when the time is right, I will meet him!
In the mean time, I will keep working on myself, so that when I do meet him, I will be the kind of girl he can fall in love with. :) Penni gives me hope. She ended up with a great guy. :)
Physical De-Cluttering: I need to get back to this. I've not been great about it, for the same old reason, time. If I even get rid of one thing a day, I will be making progress, right? Annette came over yesterday to bring me veggies and the kids had camped out in the living room the night before, just for fun, and they had the house a wreck. Sorry about that, Annette! We do not generally live like a pack of wolverines! Plus I had boxes all over full of things that I am giving away but have not taken to Salvation Army yet. Sometimes, when you're decluttering, your house looks worse at first. Looks like that's today's mission.
Advice From Dave: Missed my call with Dave yesterday; I have a feeling he's super busy organizing the International Day of Juice Feasting with Matt and Angela and all the other speakers. So I'll share some stuff I've researched elsewhere. Dry skin brushing is a technique that you can do all the time, not just during a juice feast, to get your lymphatic system moving and circulating, and to assist detox. The lymphatic system is a series of glands located around your body, and a super high way that is like a river running all through out your body. The lymph's job is to get rid of toxins, transport fatty acids, and move immune cells from your bones all through out your body where they are needed. It is a one-way high way going toward the heart. Lymph can get congested under our skin, and then it doesn't circulate properly, we can swell up and get edema, like what happens when your feet swell in the heat. If your lymph is congested, your immune system is compromised, and you can't metabolize stored fat properly. Dry skin brushing really helps move lymph! All you do is get a dry, natural bristle body brush, and brush in little circles all over your whole body, starting at your feet and and hands and going in toward your heart. Obviously, you don't brush your face! But you can do a gentle facial massage, circling downward, always toward your heart. The brush can feel a little scratchy and leave you a little pink, but to me it has started to feel really good. It is supposed to be really good for your skin, too, and some people report that it helps you to not have saggy extra skin after taking off a large amount of weight. You know it's part of my plan! lol
Brush away your health concerns!
How's It Going? I felt really, really tired yesterday. Driving to my mom's after work to do her wound care, I almost felt like I should pull over and nap. Last night, I didn't sleep too well so I don't feel too much better this morning. I'm not sure what this is all about, and whether it is related to my juice feast or not. Hmm....any of you experienced juice feasters ever have this happen?
What I'm Drinking: I'm kind of in a rut: romaine, kale, cucumber, tomato, sweet red bell pepper. Lemon water and MSM upon rising. Things taste a little better to me, so I must be getting used to it,
Detox? I'll just say, I still don't need any enema! Keeping close to restrooms is a good thing. :)
Emotional Detox? Nope. Just cranky from being tired.
Emotional De-Cluttering: I am saying these affirmations: I love and approve of myself. I deserve love. What I seek is seeking me. There IS someone out there for me, and when the time is right, I will meet him!
In the mean time, I will keep working on myself, so that when I do meet him, I will be the kind of girl he can fall in love with. :) Penni gives me hope. She ended up with a great guy. :)
Physical De-Cluttering: I need to get back to this. I've not been great about it, for the same old reason, time. If I even get rid of one thing a day, I will be making progress, right? Annette came over yesterday to bring me veggies and the kids had camped out in the living room the night before, just for fun, and they had the house a wreck. Sorry about that, Annette! We do not generally live like a pack of wolverines! Plus I had boxes all over full of things that I am giving away but have not taken to Salvation Army yet. Sometimes, when you're decluttering, your house looks worse at first. Looks like that's today's mission.
Advice From Dave: Missed my call with Dave yesterday; I have a feeling he's super busy organizing the International Day of Juice Feasting with Matt and Angela and all the other speakers. So I'll share some stuff I've researched elsewhere. Dry skin brushing is a technique that you can do all the time, not just during a juice feast, to get your lymphatic system moving and circulating, and to assist detox. The lymphatic system is a series of glands located around your body, and a super high way that is like a river running all through out your body. The lymph's job is to get rid of toxins, transport fatty acids, and move immune cells from your bones all through out your body where they are needed. It is a one-way high way going toward the heart. Lymph can get congested under our skin, and then it doesn't circulate properly, we can swell up and get edema, like what happens when your feet swell in the heat. If your lymph is congested, your immune system is compromised, and you can't metabolize stored fat properly. Dry skin brushing really helps move lymph! All you do is get a dry, natural bristle body brush, and brush in little circles all over your whole body, starting at your feet and and hands and going in toward your heart. Obviously, you don't brush your face! But you can do a gentle facial massage, circling downward, always toward your heart. The brush can feel a little scratchy and leave you a little pink, but to me it has started to feel really good. It is supposed to be really good for your skin, too, and some people report that it helps you to not have saggy extra skin after taking off a large amount of weight. You know it's part of my plan! lol
Brush away your health concerns!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
The Juicy Life--Day 13 of My 40 Day Juice Feast
What Day I'm On: 13 out of 40, about 32% of the way
How's It Going? It's going pretty well, over all, I have to say. I did find it encouraging that I am about 1/3 of the way there. There are two main challenges to juice feasting for me:
1. Time- I don't always get all my juice made before I end up having to go to work. As long as I have two quarts, I know I'll be ok. Juicing is not difficult, at all, but it is time consuming. You're washing and chopping and juicing, and then cleaning up and packing the juice into jars, and reassembling the juicer. I tend to underestimate how long all of that takes. I also have way more to say in my posts than I ever get in, but I run out of time.
2. Cost- Juicing is not cheap. Of course you want organic veggies--why in the world would you add toxins back in while you are working so hard to get them OUT? And you need a LOT of veggies. To get my 4 quarts of juice I use: 1 head of romaine, 1 head of kale, 6-8 cucumbers, 1 head of celery, 10-12 roma tomatoes, 1-2 sweet red bell peppers, and a couple of lemons. That's a PER DAY amount. I didn't know it would be so much produce before starting my juice feast, and if I had, I might not have done it.
I have to say, it is so worth it so far for the benefits I'm getting: 18 lbs of weight release, my skin is softer than it's ever been, I have a lot of energy, my belly is getting much flatter, not only from the weight release but also because the candida are dying off and not making me all bloaty looking "9 months along."
I also find it so incredible how I keep getting "lucky" on this challenge, like meeting Dave to encourage me, Penni writing her great book Real Juice Daily to inspire me, an incredible friend buying me a new juicer, and meeting Annette who was willing to go the distance with me and has just become an incredible friend. Then she tells me she can get me my organic veggies for wholesale cost, and I almost cried for gratitude. I am making so many friends along the way, and so many people have said I was able to inspire them, I feel a huge tidal wave of love and support just washing over me!
I believe that God is blessing my challenge and is clearing my path before me, taking obstacles away. He always wants my highest good. Because the main focus of my challenge is to build a closer relationship with Him, He is smiling down on me and making it easier. I am so incredibly grateful! Thank you, God!
Detox? "When you're sliding into first, and you feel a soggy burst, diarrhea!" Not too bad, lol. To be honest, I hate enemas, so if I'm going on my own, woo-hoo! Just as long as I make it to the bathroom in time!
Emotional Detox? Getting better. I still have the "poor me's" sometimes. I am also having a visit from Aunt Flo, so who can say what is detox and what is my normal hormone fluctuation roller coaster ride?
Emotional Decluttering: Wow, I am making some break-throughs around recognizing my limiting beliefs. This stuff is deep down personal, but I will still share it in the hope that it can help someone else. I have been "unlucky" in love all my life. I had only 2 relationships before I met my ex-husband, when I was only 17. He is a great guy, but he developed a mental illness in his 20s (when it often hits) and his behavior at that time became abusive and I had to leave for the children, and for me. I have stuck by him and supported him all these years, however, and now he takes medication that helps him have a mostly normal life, and he is a good dad. He still has challenges, like anyone. When I made my vows, in sickness and in health, I meant them, and I was prepared to stick by him (but not live physically with him). He ended up asking for the divorce about 8 yrs into our marriage; he fell in love with someone else. I was pretty relieved because adultery is the only out the Bible gives you for divorce. Even before I met him, I had this limiting belief, "There is someone for everyone and nobody for me." I felt so unlovable, due to my weight, that I thought no one would ever truly love me. Then I found men who incapable, because of their own problems, to really be able to love me and be a full partner in the relationship. Later, after my ex, I met a guy online and we fell in love, but he promptly moved to California, and even though we tried to make it work, it didn't. So it kept reinforcing my limiting belief. Now, I am seeing that I must really, truly, honest to Bob love myself before I will ever be able to draw to me someone who can be a life partner. You need to BE who/what you want to attract. Want a fit, healthy, successful partner? Be fit, healthy, and successful. Want someone who's positive and emotionally stable? Get positive and emotionally stable yourself. Like attracts like.
I am willing to open up to the possibility that there is love out there for me. I'll be honest, I don't believe it yet, but I am working to detox that limiting belief.
Advice From Dave: We didn't talk last night, so I will give advice I got from another health practitioner, who is a friend: CHEWING. The not chewing while juice feasting is a problem. The act of chewing actually helps you produce serotonin, the mood elevator. Chewing also helps you get saliva going in your mouth to help you digest your food. You should always "chew" your juice, to get the full benefit from it. I find I need supplemental chewing while doing my juice feast. I will chew on a piece of celery and spit out the pulp. This is kind of gross, so when I get the chance, I chew on my jawcerciser, something Victoria Boutenko invented to do jaw exercises as a substitute for gum, which is full of chemicals. Of course, the jawcerciser looks really weird, so I can only do it in private. It is really satisfying while I am juice feasting and really seems to elevate my mood. Try chewing if you are feeling down.
Have a juicy day!
How's It Going? It's going pretty well, over all, I have to say. I did find it encouraging that I am about 1/3 of the way there. There are two main challenges to juice feasting for me:
1. Time- I don't always get all my juice made before I end up having to go to work. As long as I have two quarts, I know I'll be ok. Juicing is not difficult, at all, but it is time consuming. You're washing and chopping and juicing, and then cleaning up and packing the juice into jars, and reassembling the juicer. I tend to underestimate how long all of that takes. I also have way more to say in my posts than I ever get in, but I run out of time.
2. Cost- Juicing is not cheap. Of course you want organic veggies--why in the world would you add toxins back in while you are working so hard to get them OUT? And you need a LOT of veggies. To get my 4 quarts of juice I use: 1 head of romaine, 1 head of kale, 6-8 cucumbers, 1 head of celery, 10-12 roma tomatoes, 1-2 sweet red bell peppers, and a couple of lemons. That's a PER DAY amount. I didn't know it would be so much produce before starting my juice feast, and if I had, I might not have done it.
I have to say, it is so worth it so far for the benefits I'm getting: 18 lbs of weight release, my skin is softer than it's ever been, I have a lot of energy, my belly is getting much flatter, not only from the weight release but also because the candida are dying off and not making me all bloaty looking "9 months along."
I also find it so incredible how I keep getting "lucky" on this challenge, like meeting Dave to encourage me, Penni writing her great book Real Juice Daily to inspire me, an incredible friend buying me a new juicer, and meeting Annette who was willing to go the distance with me and has just become an incredible friend. Then she tells me she can get me my organic veggies for wholesale cost, and I almost cried for gratitude. I am making so many friends along the way, and so many people have said I was able to inspire them, I feel a huge tidal wave of love and support just washing over me!
I believe that God is blessing my challenge and is clearing my path before me, taking obstacles away. He always wants my highest good. Because the main focus of my challenge is to build a closer relationship with Him, He is smiling down on me and making it easier. I am so incredibly grateful! Thank you, God!
Detox? "When you're sliding into first, and you feel a soggy burst, diarrhea!" Not too bad, lol. To be honest, I hate enemas, so if I'm going on my own, woo-hoo! Just as long as I make it to the bathroom in time!
Emotional Detox? Getting better. I still have the "poor me's" sometimes. I am also having a visit from Aunt Flo, so who can say what is detox and what is my normal hormone fluctuation roller coaster ride?
Emotional Decluttering: Wow, I am making some break-throughs around recognizing my limiting beliefs. This stuff is deep down personal, but I will still share it in the hope that it can help someone else. I have been "unlucky" in love all my life. I had only 2 relationships before I met my ex-husband, when I was only 17. He is a great guy, but he developed a mental illness in his 20s (when it often hits) and his behavior at that time became abusive and I had to leave for the children, and for me. I have stuck by him and supported him all these years, however, and now he takes medication that helps him have a mostly normal life, and he is a good dad. He still has challenges, like anyone. When I made my vows, in sickness and in health, I meant them, and I was prepared to stick by him (but not live physically with him). He ended up asking for the divorce about 8 yrs into our marriage; he fell in love with someone else. I was pretty relieved because adultery is the only out the Bible gives you for divorce. Even before I met him, I had this limiting belief, "There is someone for everyone and nobody for me." I felt so unlovable, due to my weight, that I thought no one would ever truly love me. Then I found men who incapable, because of their own problems, to really be able to love me and be a full partner in the relationship. Later, after my ex, I met a guy online and we fell in love, but he promptly moved to California, and even though we tried to make it work, it didn't. So it kept reinforcing my limiting belief. Now, I am seeing that I must really, truly, honest to Bob love myself before I will ever be able to draw to me someone who can be a life partner. You need to BE who/what you want to attract. Want a fit, healthy, successful partner? Be fit, healthy, and successful. Want someone who's positive and emotionally stable? Get positive and emotionally stable yourself. Like attracts like.
I am willing to open up to the possibility that there is love out there for me. I'll be honest, I don't believe it yet, but I am working to detox that limiting belief.
Advice From Dave: We didn't talk last night, so I will give advice I got from another health practitioner, who is a friend: CHEWING. The not chewing while juice feasting is a problem. The act of chewing actually helps you produce serotonin, the mood elevator. Chewing also helps you get saliva going in your mouth to help you digest your food. You should always "chew" your juice, to get the full benefit from it. I find I need supplemental chewing while doing my juice feast. I will chew on a piece of celery and spit out the pulp. This is kind of gross, so when I get the chance, I chew on my jawcerciser, something Victoria Boutenko invented to do jaw exercises as a substitute for gum, which is full of chemicals. Of course, the jawcerciser looks really weird, so I can only do it in private. It is really satisfying while I am juice feasting and really seems to elevate my mood. Try chewing if you are feeling down.
Have a juicy day!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
The Juicy Life--Day 12 of My 40 Day Juice Feast
What I'm Excited About: I "came out" to my family over the weekend about my juice feasting. My ex-Mother-in-law has us over for dinner once a week, and God bless her, she tries. She can barely manage to cook vegetarian, and doesn't fully understand the whole vegan thing at all, so we get some interesting meals that make me smile. On 4th of July we had "hot dogs" that were Morning Star soy breakfast sausage links in white bread buns. lol Needless to say, I stuck with the fruit salad and corn on the cob. But she had already told me she thinks the raw food diet is "dangerous" and she "had a tennant who got very sick on it." I could have told her all the amazing stories of people I know who have gotten very well on it, like oh, you know, ME, but I know I would be talking to a very well-meaning brick wall. So I mostly just hush my mouth and do what I need to do. So I was worried that she would flip out about the juice feast. And yet, I had to tell her, because she would wonder why I wasn't eating her food. So I presented it to her this way, "I am on a spiritual fast. I appreciate all you do for us so much, I just wanted you to know so that you would not think I don't enjoy your food, because I really do. I will enjoy just having your company and your love." Luckily, she is a very religious woman, and she approved of it completely! She especially liked that I am doing it for 40 days. "That's doing it just right, like Moses and Noah and Jesus." I was all, "I know, right?!" People can really surprise you.
Contrast that with me telling my own mom and her reaction: "Oh I figured you were doing something weird. You always are. You know I love you. You look great, you tell me you feel great, just do what you need to do." Good old Mom!
What Day I'm On: 12 out of 40
How's It Going: It's going good again. I am getting used to the strong-tasting juice. I am also adding more flavoring like basil and ginger (not together!) and carrot juice, just a little, for sweetening. This has helped the flavor a lot.
I'm not getting hungry any more, which makes things much easier. (haha as I wrote that, my tummy growled. Ok, I am not getting SUPER hungry any more, which helps.)
One huge side benefit: All this low glycemic juice seems to really be starving my candida overgrowth. I have struggled with candida for a long time, easily getting painful, stinky skin outbreaks (sexy!) For years and years I would just manage, taking probiotics, keeping the areas really clean and dry, using zinc cream, etc. Now, I can tell it is just going away, period. My skin has never felt softer or looked better.
What I'm Drinking: Lemon water and MSM upon rising. 4 quarts green veggie juice: romaine/cucumber/celery, kale/cucumber/lemon, tomato/red bell pepper/basil.
Detox? Not so's you'd notice.
Emotional Detox? Better today. Dave had some good perspective on this.
Emotional De-cluttering? Talking to Dave and just processing all these feelings.
Advice From Dave: Dave and I talked about emotional detox. He said that he thinks that it is worse, the heavier you are. This can be for several reasons. For one thing, if you are really, very heavy, as Dave and I were, you are most likely a compulsive eater. So you may have been stuffing emotions with food. Having no food to stuff means you are just having to deal with the emotions with no numbing compounds to soften them. This can make it feel very strange and more intense. Try to just roll with it, don't get rocked by every wind.
Another theory that he and I share is a little more "woo-woo" but I will present it here for your consideration. When we ate the food to stuff down the emotions, the emotional energy got stored in the fat cells, along with toxins and everything else. When we are releasing the fat and the toxins through juice feasting, the emotional energy is released also. This can be really helpful to understand, especially when the emotions you're having now don't seem to have anything to do with what is happening now. I had a couple of days where I was mad as a wet cat, for no reason at all. This could explain it.
The last theory, which I think has a lot of merit, is that toxins stored in fat cells are very psycho-active. They mess with your brain, in other words, including your emotions. While it's better to have that stuff out of you for sure, while you're processing the junk out of your system you can suffer the ill effects again.
Dave said that especially men are sensitive to the emotional detox symptoms, and get more freaked out by them in his experience. Women, because our hormones mess with us on a regular basis, seem to do better with it. Dave says remember it is nothing to be ashamed of or worried about, and most important, the cleaner you get, the more it will GO AWAY. Amen to that!
Make it a juicy day!
Contrast that with me telling my own mom and her reaction: "Oh I figured you were doing something weird. You always are. You know I love you. You look great, you tell me you feel great, just do what you need to do." Good old Mom!
What Day I'm On: 12 out of 40
How's It Going: It's going good again. I am getting used to the strong-tasting juice. I am also adding more flavoring like basil and ginger (not together!) and carrot juice, just a little, for sweetening. This has helped the flavor a lot.
I'm not getting hungry any more, which makes things much easier. (haha as I wrote that, my tummy growled. Ok, I am not getting SUPER hungry any more, which helps.)
One huge side benefit: All this low glycemic juice seems to really be starving my candida overgrowth. I have struggled with candida for a long time, easily getting painful, stinky skin outbreaks (sexy!) For years and years I would just manage, taking probiotics, keeping the areas really clean and dry, using zinc cream, etc. Now, I can tell it is just going away, period. My skin has never felt softer or looked better.
What I'm Drinking: Lemon water and MSM upon rising. 4 quarts green veggie juice: romaine/cucumber/celery, kale/cucumber/lemon, tomato/red bell pepper/basil.
Detox? Not so's you'd notice.
Emotional Detox? Better today. Dave had some good perspective on this.
Emotional De-cluttering? Talking to Dave and just processing all these feelings.
Advice From Dave: Dave and I talked about emotional detox. He said that he thinks that it is worse, the heavier you are. This can be for several reasons. For one thing, if you are really, very heavy, as Dave and I were, you are most likely a compulsive eater. So you may have been stuffing emotions with food. Having no food to stuff means you are just having to deal with the emotions with no numbing compounds to soften them. This can make it feel very strange and more intense. Try to just roll with it, don't get rocked by every wind.
Another theory that he and I share is a little more "woo-woo" but I will present it here for your consideration. When we ate the food to stuff down the emotions, the emotional energy got stored in the fat cells, along with toxins and everything else. When we are releasing the fat and the toxins through juice feasting, the emotional energy is released also. This can be really helpful to understand, especially when the emotions you're having now don't seem to have anything to do with what is happening now. I had a couple of days where I was mad as a wet cat, for no reason at all. This could explain it.
The last theory, which I think has a lot of merit, is that toxins stored in fat cells are very psycho-active. They mess with your brain, in other words, including your emotions. While it's better to have that stuff out of you for sure, while you're processing the junk out of your system you can suffer the ill effects again.
Dave said that especially men are sensitive to the emotional detox symptoms, and get more freaked out by them in his experience. Women, because our hormones mess with us on a regular basis, seem to do better with it. Dave says remember it is nothing to be ashamed of or worried about, and most important, the cleaner you get, the more it will GO AWAY. Amen to that!
Make it a juicy day!
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