Day 23 of 92 - Full Disclosure!

I will start by telling you that I FULLY INTENDED to lie to you all.  I swore  my husband to secrecy, even!  But then I realized that there is no shame in being human.  I am 23 days into a juice feast.  Few people are able to do that.  And I still have 70 days to go!  I am not superhuman!  Period. 

This weekend, I went to Chicago for a getaway with my husband. 

(Here we are!  I'm sporting my new Ann Taylor sunglasses!  Came with a SASSY case!)  GORGEOUS, SUNNY WEEKEND in the Windy City!

 I scoped out juice bars before we left.  I planned how I could successfully stay on tract with my feast.  I COULD HAVE juiced while I was there for a mere 24 hours.  EASY.   But when I talked to my husband about it, (and a few friends) I realized that it would be a drag for him to sit and eat alone while I sip lemon water at unique Chicago restaurants.  He is supportive!  No doubt!  And it's not like I'll never get back to Chicago.  We plan to go again next month, in fact.  But I made a conscious decision to eat in Chicago.  Sensibly.  (I almost stuck to that "sensibly" part!  If it weren't for that damn Garrett's Popcorn!!)

Saturday morning, we had breakfast at West Egg.  I had a veggie egg white omelet. I did not finish it.  I was VERY AFRAID of being in pain, after not eating for 21 days! Fortunately, I felt fine after.   About 6 hours later, hunger set in for Ryan.  My hunger signals have been asleep since about day 5 of my feast.  So I was not hungry.  BUT, I knew we wouldn't be eating again until around 9:00 pm, after seeing a theater production.  So we went to an Armenian restaurant across the street from our hotel.  I ordered a sampler platter which turned out to be tiny!  (That was a GOOD thing!)  I had red cabbage marinated in lemon; two grape leaves filled with rice, dates and humus; and about 6 spoonfuls of white bean and veggie soup.  It was a very small and sensible meal.  Things I would totally eat in my every day, clean eating life.

After seeing the AMAZING show, Million Dollar Quartet, we went to Ditkas for dinner.  (As in... Mike Ditka).  It was a classy joint!  I had a delicious romaine salad followed by Mahi Mahi.  I was stuffed after the salad and only ate a smidge of the Mahi Mahi.  It was lovely restaurant and I felt privileged to be able to go there and enjoy an unique dining experience with my love.  (Did I mention there was wine?!?  I'm counting it as fruit juice!)

This morning was our final eating adventure.  Today is Easter, and the GRAND LUX CAFE has a FABULOUS menu!  We were the second party to enter at 9am.  We got the best seat in the house!   The corner window overlooking Michigan Ave and Ontario.  (A great opportunity for people/fashion watching!)  I enjoyed another eggwhite omelet, filled with asparagus, avocado, onions and mushrooms.  Yum!

THE END.

Back to juicing for the next 70 days.  We stopped at Meijer on our way home and bought everything I need for the week.  I do not consider my juicing efforts to this point lost or wasted. I refuse to feel guilty.   I've juiced for TWENTY ONE DAYS WITH NO CHEATING!  I'm telling you this story so that you don't feel like you could never do this.  Molly is not perfect.  Molly is HUMAN!  JUST LIKE YOU!  My two goals in telling my story via this blog are 1) To inspire you.  2) To hold myself accountable.  I want you to know that YOU CAN DO THIS TOO!  And it's ok to not be perfect!

Best part of the weekend (aside from thoroughly enjoying time with the love of my life!) is that I SHOPPED!!  A LOT!  And I bought SIZE SMALL IN EVERYTHING!!!  (I hope you are happy dancing for me right now!  THIS IS HUGE!)  I was 185 lbs just 17 months ago when I began my Clean Eating Quest.  I am now 133 and dropping.  I bought 4 adorable, classic, somewhat vintage style summer dresses and several blouses.   I tried on size small skirts THAT FIT.   It was SO MUCH FUN!!!!  I can't beging to describe how great it felt to walk into Ann Taylor's Loft and have to ask for smalls off the high racks. It DOES pay to make wise food choices! 

So... that's it.  Full disclosure.  Judge me if you'd like - it makes no difference to me.  I'm 100% committed to this goal.  AND, at the same time, I'm human, flesh and blood. 

Thanks for allowing me to be transparent. :)

Easter Blessings to you!  HE IS RISEN!!!

Juice Feast Day 21 of 92 - Surviving....

Easy has not arrived yet....  but I'm hanging in there!  I know this will be 100% worth it in the end!  (Just 71 more days!)  I think the sunshine today has been helpful.  I've been so cold for the past 4 months!  And drinking cold juice all day doesn't help.  I do enjoy warm tea (decaf) and warm water with lemon on occasion, but I really just need some warm weather to arrive!  

I've decided I don't care for any type of pepper in my drinks.  Not red, green, yellow, or orange!  I've tried them all.  Just not diggin' it in my juice.  I've gotten in a bit of a rut with my green drinks. Time to get adventurous and try something new!  My morning juice routine has become... routine.  And that's good in some ways!  It's easy and I don't have to think about it.  But it's getting a little bit boring.

Watermelon and Strawberry juice was on the menu yesterday.  Yummy!  There is very little pulp involved.  When I strain it through my milk bag, there is almost nothing left in there when I'm done.  I like that!  It means I'm getting my money's worth!

I read an article on juicefeasting.com this week regarding the sun.  REALLY interesting (and intriguing) information!

Sunlight and Sunbathing

Steve Arlin, in Raw Power! writes: A common myth is that the sun causes skin cancer.  The sun doesn’t cause skin cancer, the sun causes all life on Earth!  Skin cancer is caused by toxicity within the body.  When this toxicity is detoxified through the skin (our largest eliminative organ), it is sometimes “baked” onto the skin, bringing forth a cancer condition.  Blaming the sun for skin cancer is like blaming fresh air for lung cancer.

You must have internal protection from the sun’s rays in the form of proper, natural, raw-food nutrition.  External “protection” like sunscreen is an abomination.  The same internal mechanism that keeps a plant from burning up under the hot sun can keep you from sunburning.  A plant is in direct sunlight for hours upon hours every day of its existence.  A plant dries up and dies when it no longer has the internal protection that it requires.  The second best protection from sunburn is knowing when to retreat to shade for a rest.

David Wolfe nicely summarizes some of the health benefits of sun in The Sunfood Diet Success System: 

Sunlight lowers blood sugar. It is a natural insulin. A diet high in sweet fruit must also be accompanied by Sunshine on the skin to help metabolize the sugar. Sunlight helps to store the sugar as glycogen in the liver, muscles, and cells for later use.

Exposing the skin to the Sun stimulates the capillaries and brings more blood to the skin surface. This helps to heal cuts, bruises, and rashes. In World War II it was discovered that exposing abrasions, open wounds, and broken bones to direct Sunlight led to quicker healing.

Fungus is destroyed by direct Sunlight. Candida cannot survive in direct Sunlight. I have worked with numerous people with candida. The first step to overcoming candida is Sunlight on the naked body (reference Lesson 13: How To Use The Sunfood Triangle, Eating To Overcome Candida).

Sunlight increases the strength of digestion. Sunlight increases the body's internal "fire." In Chinese oriental medicine we find the concept of yin-yang balance and we see that "cold" raw foods may be balanced with hot Sun energy.

Sunlight improves the eyesight and regulates the hormones. Occasion­ally bringing direct Sunlight into the eyes just for a brief moment, unmit­igated by glasses, windows, or filters, will help balance the body's hormones.

 I read something similar last summer when I was eating 100% raw.  (I was reading the 80/10/10 Diet.  GREAT book!) I made an effort to be out in the sun more with no sunscreen. My husband was unhappy with this!  He kept telling me I was going to get cancer and I was setting a bad example for our kids.  That's a logical response.  It's what's been preached to us again and again.  But this article makes some sense to me.  I think I'll continue to research this...

Thanks for sharing in my journey!  Don't be afraid to subscribe to this blog (on the right).  By doing so, you'll automatically get a link sent to your email each time I submit a new post. 

Blessings!

 

Day 16 of 92 - Harder Than I Expected!

Today wraps up day 16 and I'm struggling!  I thought that by now some of those cravings would go away - but they seem to be increasing.  I have to admit I've had a few "licks" of things.  Nothing bad -- a lick of salsa and a taste (or two) of guacamole! But I know that's a dangerous path to go down, so I've vowed not to do it again!  My mind has been preoccupied with food the past few days.  It probably doesn't help that I've been spending time on Pinterest - where recipes abound!

I know that the key for me will be to keep learning!  I'm very thankful for juicefeasting.com!  There is an incredible abundance of information to keep my mind going in the right direction.  Also, blogging helps.  Knowing that people are watching me keeps me accountable.  I created a little countdown calendar that hangs on my fridge.  (Visual aides really help me!) Every morning I cross out the previous day so that I can see clearly how far I've come and how far I have to go. Looking at it right now is rather daunting - as I'm still in the early stages!  I have 76 days to go.  That seems like a long time - but I'm trying to remember that 76 days AGO it was the beginning of January, when I was anxiously setting new goals for the year.  That seems like it was just yesterday!  So I know that this time will go quickly and June 8th will be here before I know it.(I'll just keep telling myself that!)

I'm sure I've mentioned that I am training for a 1/2 marathon right now, which will happen on May 2nd.  Four weeks ago I messed up my back shoveling and have not been able to train at all!  I've missed 4 weeks of my training.  After seeking advice from a good friend (and cross country maniac!), I jumped right back in to the schedule where I should be - not where I left off.  On Saturday, I ran 8 miles. I wasn't sure how that would go - especially considering my juice feast. I know that I'm fueling my body with the most nutrient dense foods possible, but making sure I'm drinking enough to sustain distance running is the key.  So I loaded up!  Just before my run, I drank about 12 oz of pure orange juice.  Then I filled my water bottle with fresh orange/grapefruit/apple juice, mixed with a little water, and I set out.  I live in town, so my strategy was to head out into the country for an 8 mile loop, rather than looping multiple times around town.  I knew that if I did that, it would be too easy to quit and go home.  But heading out of town meant I had no choice but to finish.

I had my musical friends from the 80's (pandora 80's cardio) playing on my ipod and I spend most of my run chanting "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength..." over and over!  It worked.  He helped me get through it!  I only stopped 3 times, and each time only for about 2 minutes to stretch/walk and chug some juice.  I'm as slow as a snail!  It took be 1:43 min to do those 8 miles.  But I honestly don't care at all about my time!  I just care about finishing.  Next weekend, I "get"  to run 9!

I made a fun purchase today!  We have an island (counter) in our kitchen and it is always filled with bowls of fruit.  Big bowls... several of them. Very messy looking. (I should have taken a before pix) They take up half the island and it drives my husband batty!  Today we stopped by Pier 1 and I found a three tiered basket that sits on the floor.  I filled it up and still have a bowl of lemons and limes on my counter!  But it looks much better!

Today I've been drinking a concoction I call "Everything but the kitchen sink".  Literally, I put in a little of everything.  I even juiced some green beans from my garden that I flash froze in August.  I pulled them out of the freezer and thawed them before juicing them.  Super tasty!  I also enjoyed a yummy Italy inspired drink.  It was 10 roma tomatoes, a cup of basil, 1/2 clove of garlic and 1/2 bunch of celery.  Very bruchetta-ish. Finally, in the evening I drank a sweet treat of blackberries, blueberries, pears and kiwi.  Delicious!

So, that's where things are on day 16.  I'm holding my own - but I do hope it gets easier. 

Blessings!

Day 9 of 92 - Too Many Parties!

Whew!  I'm glad the "holiday" weekend is over.  It became more challenging as the weekend went on.  After the 50's Party Friday, we gathered with our favorite friends on Saturday.  FOOD.  And Sunday, we had another gathering with church friends. FOOD. 

These are examples of social gathering challenges.   I feel like I did "ok" being in the company of great people without being totally pre-occupied with the food that was everywhere.  Except for that amazing guacamole!!  My good friends who hosted Saturday's party didn't know yet about my fast.  But they do know that I generally eat raw vegan. They graciously prepared a huge platter of organic veggies with me in mind.  Another friend brought my favorite guacamole!  I felt so bad.  Of course, others eat veggies too - but they were so thoughtful and I felt bad that they went out of their way for me. 

Full Disclosure:  I grabbed a spoon and had one bite of that guacamole!  Shouldn't have done it, but it was divine!

I'm still battling a cold and a goofed up back, and lacked my usual energy today, so enjoyed a nap this afternoon. 

Today I enjoyed approximately 1.5 gallons of liquid.  2 quarts of green juice, 1 quart of pineapple, watermelon, lime juice, 1 quart Master Cleanse and about 6-8 cups of water.

I'm super discouraged about my inability to run for the past THREE WEEKS!!  I have a half-marathon to run on May 5th.  I'm really praying that God will completely heal my back so that I can get back to my training.

There are a few supplements that are highly recommended during a juice feast.  Bee Pollen is one of them.  If you've read my blog back to the beginning of my quest, you may remember when I first bought Bee Pollen.  I had no idea what it was or what it did, but I read I should start taking it - so I did.  Generally, I dump a tablespoon or so into my morning smoothie.  Here is what juicefeasting.com has to say about it:

Bee Pollen is my number one favorite superfood. There are several reasons we include pollen as part of the Juice Feast: ONE: NUTRITION: Pollen is said to contain all the elements necessary for the sustenance of human life.  The San Francisco Medical Research Foundation estimates that pollen has more than 5000 different enzymes and co-enzymes, which is more than any other food in existence.  The high amount of enzymes, such as catalase, amylase, and pectin-splitting enzymes, make pollen an aid to digestion.  Some research suggests that pollen is absorbed directly from the stomach into the bloodstream.  Pollen is a vegetarian source of human-active B12, most of the B vitamins, vitamins A, C, D, and E, rutin, all the essential amino acids, the essential fatty acid called linoleic acid, fats, complex carbohydrates, simple sugars, RNA and DNA, steroid hormone substances, a plant hormone similar to a secretion of the human pituitary called gonadotrpin, 15% lecithin, and many other unknown factors.  According to research by doctors from France, Italy, and the former USSR, pollen is the richest source of protein in nature.  Gram for gram, pollen contains an estimated 5-7 times more protein than meat, eggs, or cheese.  The protein in pollen is in a predigested form and therefore easy to assimilate.  Pollen is also abundant in trace minerals, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, manganese, potassium, copper, silicon, sulphur choline, titanium, and sodium.  These minerals are highly assimilable because they are bound organically from plant metabolism. TWO: COMPASSION: We miss chewing anything on a Juice Feast. This is one thing that you can chew on for the entire Feast, whether it is 7 days or 92. THREE: LIFE PRACTICE: This is a major longevity food. By eating about 1 Tablespoon per day, you will develop a strong positive bond with this food that will last for a lifetime. When buying pollen, get it from a reputable source, organic, and preferably from a refrigerator. It should cost no more than $12-15 a pound, and can cost as little as $6-7 when bought from the beekeeper. On the Juice Feast: 1 Tablespoon per day, maximum. Everyone who is new to bee pollen should start by placing 1 pollen granule under the tongue, to check for an allergic reaction. About 1/2 of 1 percent of the population is allergic to pollen as a food, but please check. If you are in doubt, please consult an allergist. Many people using pollen who have allergies during pollen season find a partial or complete resolution of their allergies by combining a plant-based diet and eating bee pollen as a life practice. I'll be honest and tell you that I don't enjoy the taste of Bee Pollen, though many people do.  Instead of chewing it, I grind it in my coffee bean grinder until it is a powder and then measure a tablespoon of powder into my juice.  Tomorrow begins day 10.  Only 82 days to go! :)

Day 8 of 92 - One Week Down!

Good Morning!

Today I begin day 8 of my 92 day JUICE FEAST!  Aside from a little cold that I developed on Thursday, I am feeling great!  I'm not sure what to attribute the cold too.  I think I'm gonna blame it on detox, as I cannot imagine the nutrient dense foods I'm drinking letting a virus in!  Although, the first weeks of a juice cleanse are said to be very focused on eliminating toxins.  In order to do this, the body takes the energy that would normally be used for digestion and uses it instead to draw out and eliminate toxic matter from the body.  This will be happening until the last day of the feast, certainly.  But there is an increased work load in the beginning.  So, perhaps that is how this cold sneaked in!  I'm not an expert... just guessing.

I read an interesting article last night on "greens" and their healing power.  We all know that greens are the best thing we can put in our bodies.  Even those who refuse to eat them would likely agree.  But check out this chart, borrowed from Dr. Joel Furman's book, Eat to Live.  We have a very high rate of heart disease in the U.S., and we eat very little plant matter. Is there a connection between our processed diet and high rates of heart disease and cancer? It seems obvious.



 This is why my juice feast includes a minimum of 2 pounds of juiced greens every day.

I've also discovered Master Cleanse Juice this week.  This is a simple concoction that can replace one quart of fruit juice during the feast, or, can just be added and consumed as much as desired.  I just went ahead and made a gallon of Master Cleanse and keep in in my fridge.  You may already be aware of the cleansing power of lemon - which is why I start every day with a class of warm lemon water (a practice I began more than a year ago).  Master Cleanse also include raw organic honey and cayenne pepper.  Here is the recipe:

The Master Cleanser is a simple recipe: For 1 Quart:

6-8 Tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice
6-8 Tablespoons Raw Honey or Agave Nectar (Light Amber)
1/10th tsp 90,000 Heat Unit Cayenne Pepper

This is a great drink to make on the go, or for traveling/busy schedule during any cleanse. I call this my "I didn't have time to make juice" juice.  It is also excellent  for removing mucus from the body, reducing inflammation, and healing the digestive system.

If you have a chance, so some research on the nutritional (systemic) benefits of cayenne pepper.  Incredible information!  You'll notice with your first sip that the honey is important to offset the bite of the pepper!  Of course, raw honey can certainly hold it's own on the "nutritional benefit" scale.

In terms of detox, the only symptom that comes around on occasion is that headache.  Any hunger that I might have experienced the first few days (which was minimal, as this is a feast of abundance!) has gone.  My digestive system seems to have gone to sleep - which is important for cleansing!  This is one reason why a feast like this is recommended for people who suffer from intestinal disease, such as chrones or colitis, or even IBS. Juices allows the digestive system to rest and heal.  Healing will come quickly when you're taking in nutrient dense juices with anti-inflamatory properties.

Ok - now for the real, practical stuff.  Yes - food still looks and smells good.  But I'm craving nothing.  Last night I was faced with several "challenges".  I was at a 50's Diner party where a catering company served up big, juicy burgers, fries and ice cream sundaes.  I haven't eaten a burger (or any meat) in about a year.  But when they put the tray of lettuce, tomato and RED ONION on the table, my senses woke up and took me back to burgers on our grill in the summer as a kid.  Fortunately, I was on the planning committee for the event, so I was able to keep busy  - which was my excuse for not sitting and eating. Later, I went to the movies with the family.  I don't even have to say it. You know.  POPCORN!  But here's the thing - I never once thought about it.  My husband and son sat right next to me eating it and after the movie, I realize that my mind was not consumed with it.  That is huge progress for me!  Normally I wouldn't have been able to even focus on the movie because my brain would have been pre-occupied  with the big bowl of popcorn next to me.  Victory!

My juices these  past few days have been delicious!  I'm even beginning to develop a taste for beets - which have never been my favorite.  

Today will be a busy Saturday and I'll be on the go a lot!  So I better get in the kitchen and start juicing! OH!  I almost forgot!  My beloved VITAMIX was returned to me last night, beautiful and perfect!  So today I will begin juicing with that instead of my juicer, and straining the juice through a milk bag.  (Quicker and less clean up, I'm anticipating!)  I'm so thankful to the wonderful Vitamix company for being so quick and efficient!  I shipped my blender to them last Friday and it came back to me exactly 1 week later, repaired for free, including a brand new pitcher, and shipped both ways for free.  

Thanks for tuning in... :)  Have a blessed day! 

Day 4 of 92 - HAPPY Juicing Day!

Gazpacho...Cappu-green... and Tropical Bliss were the flavors of the day.  And DANG they were good!  Such a change from yesterday's less than appetizing choices.  Of course, trying them out is the only way I'll know what I like and what I don't.

I spent about an hour in the kitchen this morning preparing the day's juice.  Seems like a long time - but I didn't have to spend any time on lunch or dinner.  And when I was hungry, my juice was dutifully waiting for me! (I think it was even smiling at me!) So I've decided it was, and will continue to be time well spent!

Because these were so delicious, I must share the recipes!

For breakfast, Sophie and I had Cappu-Green (as opposed to Cappu-cino)! 
1 bunch kale
1 bunch parsely
3 huge hand fulls spinach
1 bunch celery
2 apples
1 whole lemon (with peel)
6 carrots
a smidge of ginger (remember... I decided yesterday that it's not my favorite!)
2 cucumbers

This was super satisfying and it made 3 quarts!  So it was breakfast for both Sophie and me, and dinner for me!

Lunch was Gazpacho Juice  (SOOOO yummy!)

5 campari tomatoes (any tomato will do fine!)
1 cucumber
2 stalks celery
1 red pepper
1/4 small red onion
1 bunch parsley
1 whole lime (with peel)

Felt like I was at an Italian restaurant - without the bread and pasta! ( I know... that's where I just lost most of you! :)

Finally, my mid-afternoon treat was a pint of Tropical Bliss!  (All that was missing was the vodka!)

1 1/2 cups pineapple
1 orange
1/2 cup coconut water

I have felt good today!  That pesky headache is back this evening, but it's tolerable.  My biggest gripe is my back.  It "went out" 2 1/2 weeks ago.  Which means I haven't run in 2 1/2 weeks :(  I've been to the Chiro 10 times in the past 12 days.  It was the 9th time (this past Friday) that they finally took xrays, figured out the problem and adjusted me to correct it.  It was like magic!  It has been better and better the past couple days.  Today, I decided to go get one last adjustment -just for good measure.  I should have left well enough alone - because now it hurts again.  Not like "I just got adjusted" pain; but more like "crud!  It's kind of messed up again!" pain. :(  Ugh!  So I'll likely be back again tomorrow.  And my 1/2 marathon training continues to patiently wait for me.

This evening I'm on the couch watching LOST with my honey.  (Season 1, episode 2 - in case you were wondering)  Naturally, I'm craving popcorn!  It's that time of night.  I'm confident that my popcorn craving will cease eventually. 

Overall, I'm feeling great and so happy to be on this journey!
One last thing... if you're enjoying following along with me, feel free to subscribe to my blog (on the right).  This will allow you to receive all new postings to your email.  Thanks!

Day 3 of 92

I spoke too soon. :(  Just minutes after posting last night, a headache hit me in the left side of my noggin.  Still, I fell asleep quickly and slept well.  But I was stunned when I woke up and it was still there.  I noticed it before I even opened my eyes. 

I quick drank a quart of warm lemon water and then took a shower, using the Hot/Cold shower method - which is designed to aide the detox process.  Here's how it goes:

HOT    shower 5-7 minutes
COOL  1 minute
HOT    1 minute
COOL  1 minute
HOT    1 minute
COOL  1 minute
HOT    1 minute
COOL  1 minute and out

I've never done this before today - but I think it was beneficial!  My headache was gone within about 20 minutes.  (It did return for a little while early this evening, but it only visited - it didn't stay long)

Somehow I managed to rouse at 5:30 this morning.  After dealing with my headache, I got to work on my juice for the day. (My daughter's, too.)  I didn't write down my concoctions, as I was in a hurry and thought I'd remember.  (Mental clarity has not arrived yet, I guess!)  But I can tell you this... it wasn't my favorite day of juicing ever.  I was ok with my morning green juice, which I can tell you included Rainbow Chard & Parsley (lots of it!) as my greens.  There was also cucumber and celery, of course.  And I'm sure an apple...  I sucked it down just fine, but later this morning when my daughter finally dragged her bootie out of bed, she texted this to me: "I am literally drinking the earth right now".  I cracked up!  I guess it wasn't her favorite either.  (PS... she has already decided that this will be a ONE week feast for her, rather than two.)

A also made a recipe I found online which included a pretty sizable chunk of ginger, yellow pepper, carrots, pears...  It was harsh!  I don't think I like that much ginger!  But I was already at work when I discovered this.  My solution was to add some water.  It worked.  Much more palatable.

This evening I made one more juice.  I used papaya and collard greens.  OH MY GOODNESS!  It was horrendous.  WOW.  But juice ain't cheap, so I added a hunk of pineapple, an orange and some coconut water.  Ta Da!  MUCH better!   In all, I drank about 1.5 gallons of liquid today.

My tummy was very rumbly all day. I could feel and hear the gargling endlessly.  It made me a little nervous, to be honest.  Not to mention my tiny bladder trying to manage all that liquid!  I was constantly on the move!

Word is out at my office that I'm doing a 92 day juice fast.  (Could it possibly be because I'm running up and down the halls every five minutes to use the ladies room?!)  Naturally, they all think I'm a little "off"!  But they are supportive, nonetheless!  (Until I bring them all green juice on St. Patty's day!) 

I have tons of recipes to work with so I'm sure tomorrow will be much better. :)

Blessings!  

Day 2 of 92 - Very Chill Day

I'm settling in to the evening of my second day of juice feasting.  Things are going quite well so far.  My 16 year old daughter has joined me (for 2 weeks), which is quite fun for me! (Makes me think maybe my family has been learning something over the past year and 1/2 - despite their resolute stance to continue to eat as they please.)

Today I've enjoyed:

1 QT Basic Green Juice ( 1 lb spinach, 1 lb kale, 1 bunch celery hearts, 1 cucumber, 1 apple, 1/2 c. coconut juice)

2 C herbal decaf tea

2 C Basic Green Juice

1 QT Peach Pie Juice (YUM!) (3 sweet potatoes, 4 peaches, 2 apples, cinnamon)

2 C Mango juice mixed with coconut water, 1 juiced lime and 1 tsp bee pollen

1 QT Master Cleanser (28 oz water, 5 T lemon juice, 5T raw-local honey, tiny dash cayenne pepper)  I warmed it slightly as a soothing night time concoction.

That equals 4 qts, 2 cups of liquid.  (1 gallon, 2 cups)

After church and a quick stop at the Natural Health Center, I came home and have virtually done nothing since.  And I've LOVED it!  A very chill day for me!  The past couple of months have included very busy weekends.  (I love to be busy!)  But it sure was nice to lay in bed like a lazy butt and watch 2 movies back to back, while intermittently reading juicing blogs on my ipad.  Ahhh....
I've known for years (since preparing for my first juice fast) that many people really suffer from the process of detoxification which comes with a juice fast/feast.  I have really never experienced those symptoms.  But I've warned my daughter that it could happen.  Symptoms include flu like symptoms, headaches (sometimes from giving up caffeine), listlessness/lack of energy.  But those who push through the first few days generally see those symptoms pass.  It helps tremendously to cleanse the toxins from the body via enemas at home.  I won't dwell on that topic - for now.  But know that it is easy and extremely beneficial!

I learned something today while vegging in bed with my good friend FX (channel) -- there are a LOT of commercials about food!  I'd say 3 out of 5 easily.  As I watched one of the commercials for an Italian restaurant, I wondered if the desire to eat those things would ever completely go away.  I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that white pasta with creamy, heavy dairy laden sauce is NOT good for my body.  And still, I know how wonderful it tastes!  I've managed to avoid such things (mostly!) since my quest began.  But the question is... will I ever completely lose the desire?  I guess time will tell.

My one complete and total addiction is POPCORN!  Popped in a pan on my own stove in coconut oil with a little sea salt.  OH MY!  When I say addiction, I am not exaggerating.  This is something that I've eaten (with my family) almost daily for many, many years.  Since childhood, really!  And I don't eat a little - I eat a huge bowl!  In addition to LOVING it, it also serves as that mindless crunching that we seem to need in the evening when we're chilling out.  The GREAT NEWS  is that popcorn cooked in coconut oil is a very healthy snack!  But not every day.  That is far too much fat - even healthy fat- for a body.  It will surely be the thing I struggle with the most during this feast.  (Only 90 days to go! lol!)  My hope is that this feast will cure my addiction (this and many others) so that when I return to a plant based whole foods diet this summer, I'll be able to keep the popcorn treat to a couple times each week. :)  **As I was just proof reading this paragraph, my son yelled from the kitchen "Popcorn anyone?"  Lord help me!

I'll sign off now- as tomorrow is my first work day on the fast - which means I need to get up quite early to prepare juice for two of us for the day!

Blessings!

Here She Goes Again! 92 Days of Juice Feasting!

Those who know me know that I am a doer.  When an idea inspires me, I'm off and running.  I don't spend time thinking and pondering and contemplating.... I just go! I also have a tendency to tell people about it.  Knowing that people are "watching" me is a great accountability measure.  I attribute much of the success of my Clean Eating Quest (Oct 19, 2011 - October 19, 2012) to just letting people know that I was doing it.

Now that I've planted that little seed, let's talk about juicing.  I currently juice a couple of times each week, just for variety in  my diet.  Mostly,  my diet consists of green fruit smoothies, huge, satisfying salads and some nuts and seeds. Early on in my healthful pursuit, someone asked me if I was into juicing.  The answer was no.  Up to that point, the research I'd done wagged it's finger at juicing, shouting "too much sugar!!  You need fiber!"  So I stuck to whole foods, smoothies loaded with nutrients and fiber and juice just occasionally.  Since then (17 months ago), I've learned a tad more - and my perspective has changed.  Fruit and whole fruit juice are not the devil.  While they do have a heavy sugar content, it is natural sugar.  Therefore, my body knows exactly how to process it and use it.

I've done juice fasts before.  Several years ago, I did a 30 day fast.  Though, at that time,  it had nothing to do with my physical health.  Rather, my spiritual life.  Just prior to Christmas this year, I did a 10 day juice fast - this time for health!  I wanted to reboot my system and eradicate any and all cravings and addictions that were tempting me - particularly because Christmas (the season of  endless eating!) was coming.

While I make wise food choices that vast majority of the time, I am human!  So there is an occasional taste of this, or indulgence in that.  It's amazing how fast addictions and cravings can return when you open the door - even just a crack.

Unfortunately, my 10 day juice fast before Christmas didn't have the lasting effect I'd hoped it would.  The cravings and temptations still popped up now and again, so I moved on - back to my mostly raw vegan lifestyle and my occasional indulgences.  Three months later, I'm really feeling the need for a total system reboot! A new goal!  A new challenge!  (Because training for my first 1/2 marathon isn't enough...)

Juice Feasting  is done for varied lengths of time; 2 weeks, 1 month, 60 days.... I'm shooting for a 92 day juice feast.  (juicefeasting.com)  Feasting on fresh, juiced fruits and veggies for 92 days has the power to regenerate every cell in my body and release toxins that have been stored up since elementary school.  A feast of this length is not common, but it has been highly researched and achieved by many.  After devouring every bit of information I could from juicefeasting.com and rebootwithjoe.com, I've decided to go for it.  Today, March 9, 2013, is DAY 1 !!

I am not expecting this to be easy.  But like my first quest, I have no doubt that it will be worth it!  I am not the same girl that I was 17 months ago.  I will, do doubt, be different once again in on June 8th, when my feast reaches completion.

Certainly one of the greatest struggles will be the constant presence of food in my environment.  I hoped my family would agree to not eat for the next 3 months, but they declined - as did my friends and co-workers.  Darn.  But I see that as a simple issue of resolve - as it was when I gave up sugar, bread and all processed food.  There are, however, a few specific "obstacles" that are in the forefront of my mind.

1. Cost.  YES!  This will be costly.  But I am willing to give up other things for a while in order to complete this task.  It will be worth it!

2. Social Situations.  This won't be a problem for ME - but it tends to be a problem for others.  They "just feel so bad for me" - not being able to eat with them.  Trust me when I say, I don't consider this to be a sacrifice.   I can go out with friends and enjoy a cup of tea or glass of water while they eat.  It's no big deal.  I've been EATING (and eating and eating and eating) for 41 years.  I'm pretty sure I'm not going to miss any once-in-a-lifetime eating opportunities over the next 92 days. :)

3. Time.  I'm going to have to start getting up earlier.  Ugh!

One thing I'm NOT concerned about: Being hungry.  This is a juice FEAST!  If I'm hungry, I'll simply drink more! :)

Here is how you can help me, if you're so inclined.  Pray for me!  Ask me how it's going once in a while.  Be my cheerleader. :)

I'm hoping to blog regularly over the next 92 days.  I'd love to promise that I'll blog every day, but it's just not realistic.  I'll do my best to stay current.

Thanks, in advance, for your support!