Post Juice Feast Day 1

Earlier this week I decided I wanted to break this JF for one because it's starting to get uncomfortable to sit on my own backside (there's not much left back there) and because it has served its purpose. This was one of those things I had to do; luckily I wanted to. On the first JF I broke it with a green smoothie--which tasted awful to me. This time it seemed a good idea to break it by eating aloe vera--so today I did.

Of course I have to continue on with a few juices each day. I have noticed when I break a fast my body is so accustomed to liquids that it's a requirement for me to drink still more juices. My body doesn't like the shock of a lot of liquids to limited liquids so I imagine, like the last time, I will continue weaning myself off juices and replace them with other liquids in addition to the solids past the fast-breaking days.

As I became aware I was going to break this fast I allowed myself to become more open to sensations I had shut off.  Throughout the week I've enjoyed the scents of a bakery, the rich colors and textures of paintings and even the feel of a lumpy walking escalator under my feet. This alone was a fascinating exploration.

Day 60 Juice Feast -- Parasite Cleanse

Today is the first day of the parasite cleanse using HealthForce Scram. During the last JF it was the same brand but I think it was called something different; I'm not sure if it's the same formula either. But it's still the same protocol. Day 1: One VeganCap™; Day 2: Three VeganCaps™; Day 3: Six VeganCaps™; Days 4-18: Ten VeganCaps™.

On the first JF, it was the first parasite cleanse I had done. I found out right quickly the power of this cleanse. Thankfully I'm very comfortable sitting Japanese-style because it was an absolute necessity for one day. It proved a worthwhile experience and I've repeated it since the first JF. This time, although I don't mind sitting Japanese-style I'm hoping it's not required.

Seiza (Source)

Day 51 Juice Feast -- Getting Called Out

I'm going to have to start being a lot more careful about what I say (and think). Yesterday I mentioned not clearly remembering what a work out felt like and this morning my friend told me we were running a Marine Corps 10K this fall. She didn't ask. She said I needed to get in shape! It's true--still it's pretty funny. I am not planning on running while on this JF but I do figure it will be a fabulous task post JF to keep me on the straight and narrow. Things like this happened on the first JF too. At some points I would think things and almost instantaneously--they happened.

Day 30 Juice Feast -- Similar Issues Different Resolutions

Last night I had trouble getting to sleep.  On my first JF I also experienced this and I would lay in bed worrying if I would get enough sleep. Sadly, I also used that time to have junk food craving fantasies about food from my childhood. Only once (dang your homemade garlic bread Mom!) have I started down that wrong road and had to work at stopping and turning my speed walker self back to more healthy thoughts. This time around I've just relaxed into my thoughts not worrying if I will get enough sleep or not. Except for one workday morning when I woke up an hour late I usually wake up feeling well enough to get started. In both situations my focus turns to quickly start making juices.

There are very few things I do every day--primarily because I dislike routines, schedules and such. In fact this mindset is how I initially gave up a deeply entrenched coffee habit. After I gave it up in my daily life occasionally, maybe annually when I would travel to visit family I would indulge in a morning cup around a chat but pretty soon it made me sick and I haven't had any since. During the first JF making juices felt like I was racing against the clock. I am working in different organizations but my commute time is very similar as is my start time. Yet I don't feel rushed this time around. What am I doing differently?

Not only do I focus intently on sending love to my juices but I listen to compelling (so far) books and lectures. I mean the stuff that is so good I'm careful to turn the faucet on only partially while scrubbing and rinsing so I can hear every word.  What am I listening to now? The powerful archetypal teachings of Caroline Myss. Here's one gem from this morning about all things in the universe have a purpose: "From a soul point of view, if you cannot see the purpose, your soul is not stretching enough." I've learned focusing on love is much better than fear as is being engaged in learning rather than already thinking I'm late for work.

Day 29 Juice Feast -- My Life is Like a Roller Coaster

Last night I felt the worst I have felt not only on this JF or the previous one, but the worst I can remember feeling without a significant injury. I am always seeking patterns yet I can't find one between last night and the one a few nights back where I was hit with a pounding headache. Headaches for me usually come from annoying people (either their energy or smell) and as I try to avoid them, headaches are rare. I laid down and I felt a strange surge of heat, but I was not physically hot. It was like nothing I have ever experienced. I thought for sure I would have to break my JF.

Somehow I woke up this morning feeling great and I have had a ton of energy all day. I even have energy to do some household chores--so I'd best get to them before my early bed time creeps any closer.

Day 28 Juice Feast -- Another Massage

As I finish off the last day of a long weekend I've noticed life is starting to pick up speed.  One thing I remember during the first JF was the first month felt like I was running the entire time. I do get so much done on a JF but I still feel myself pulling back on the reins and trying to enjoy every moment. Today I scheduled in a nice treat--a full body massage and skin scrub. Maybe it's all the sleep and glorious naps (seriously Grandpa I totally get why you took regular naps after you retired--and thanks for not making me take them when I was old enough to not know better) I've taken this weekend but I had no tension today on the massage table.

During my first JF I was completely renewed by massage and now I feel good but not much different. Perhaps my body is catching up to feeling great all the time. I am feeling better with each day--I even felt like running today. I didn't run but found it interesting my desire to had returned.

 Juicing and peeing--that's still about the rest of it.

Day 17 Juice Feast -- Friday, Sweet Friday

Something shifted today and I feel great. Yeah, I'm sure it has a little bit to do with the fact that it is a sunny Friday.  I had to pick up a few things at lunch today so although I didn't get in my lunch walk I sunned a little when I came home.

Homegrown Celery Update

I was reflecting on my JF experience today and I was a bit surprised I didn't even know exactly what day I was on--and not because I am so tired, stressed or anything else. The JF just clicked for me and it now feels like a natural part of my life. It's quite different from my first JF where I focused on making it to each day like I was climbing some Himalayan mountain.

Perhaps that will come but my issues are mild this go around. Lately I've noticed I need to brush my teeth more and I'm even considering oil swishing at night too. During the first JF somewhere along the way I felt absolutely nothing on my teeth so I hope this will go away as my body cleans more. Otherwise I'm losing the weight and I feel much better in my body.

It's a great day with a quiet, reflective weekend ahead.

Day 8 Juice Feast -- Juice Feasting at Work

Juice Feast to go

As I did on my first Juice Feast, with this second Juice Feast my tote is a lined cooler that I think is meant for pop cans (yep, I use the word pop).  I use Violiv 1 liter bottles to store my juice to the top and I place four or five ice packs strategically around the 4 liters of juice. In the outside flap I store Andreas Hemp Oil and a bottle of marine phytoplankton (best taken diluted with a mouthful of juice). I use this to take my juices on the go, as needed. I am not one to hide the fact that I am Juice Feasting but I don't necessarily advertise it at work either. This to go kit supports me either way.

The first JF I completed while working in a conservative government organization and I got a few funny looks when I rinsed the bottles out at the sink, but nobody said a word. I can't help but wonder if they thought I was a brazen boozer downing 4 bottles of wine to make it through the work day! Of course my work friends and neighbors were aware I was doing it. They asked a few questions and just watched me as the days went by. After many casual conversations my closest neighbor adopted a one day a week water fast.

My second JF is a bit different. I work in a broken government organization and so far no one has seen me clean my bottles after use or asked why I'm going to the bathroom so many times! I've told a couple of people who invited me to lunch.  Usually they put some effort to finding a restaurant with vegan fare--which now wasn't necessary. And it doesn't bother me at all to be around people eating either at the office or out to lunch. These people just watch me too. One friend I told about my JF is now talking about being open to her youngest, overweight daughter (the father was just diagnosed with diabetes) becoming a vegetarian even though until recently she has denied her oldest daughter that same expressed choice.

It is not easy working for the government. One of the things that keeps me going amidst the trials is my ability to model other ways of being. The part I enjoy the most in this is the dialogue changing from status quo to an openness to explore different pathways. To see others empower themselves with better health choices is a rare but wonderful reward..

Day 5 Juice Feast -- What I'm Doing the Same (pt. 1)

Of course I poured over the Rainoshek's site and watched several of their videos.  I also watched these talks and tips on Juice Feasting here and here. These people glow! I have never met them or seen them in person but I have admired how their glow comes through on camera and photos. It gives me a good sense of how the juice feast works. With other health promoters, often times you have to see them in person or experience their presence before seeing their level of development.
                                                              
From their website they give a fundamental meaning to Juice Feasting:

Juice Feasting is, at its heart, about self-empowerment and abundance. 

Besides getting reacquainted with the protocol my similarities to my first JF are:

(Source)

• Peeing, peeing and more peeing. The first JF frustrated me with the number of times I had to go to the bathroom. Especially at work, worrying about traffic (seriously you have to plan your liquids and fiber into your commute around here) and even while sleeping. I almost never get up during the night to go to the bathroom--not so true now though.
• Detox footpatches. I've found the concept fascinating--a simple way to pull out toxins from the feet. These were one of the things I started using around 6 years ago when I started out (slowly) on regaining my health. I have found success with them although nowadays I typically only use them (when I remember) on fasts or deep cleanses. Right now I'm using this one. This is another tool I use to tell how much I am cleaning. They are usually very dark in the beginning and like the ionic footbath they fade as the JF goes on. The picture here is what they look like after they've been on all night. A good foot scrubbing with soap is needed to get this gunk off the bottom of your feet. My feet are one of the places I still regularly clean with soap.
• Not worrying about cleaning the house. Ok, this isn't such a positive one but I figure with time I will work this one in too.  There is a rhythm that comes with juice feasting and I'll get it. In the meantime I dabble here and there, but I would love a sparkling clean house!
• 3 to 4 quarts of freshly made organic fruit and vegetable juices.  I've changed the types of juices I'm drinking to a degree--because over time I've learned to like green juices more than fruit juices. 
• Drinking herbal tea. I am big on herbal tea. In undergrad while studying late into the night I trained myself off coffee and onto decaffeinated green tea with honey. Over time I weaned myself off the honey. Now I do herbal teas all day at work and while I am studying or reading.

It's not nearly as gorgeous out today as it was yesterday, but I still need to get out there and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air.  Today I'm going to take a nice walk. I keep my door cracked (with screen door shut--the flies are already out) most of the day and if the weather permits, into the night to let in fresh air. Along with my ionic air purifiers and houseplants it helps keep the air nice in here. This morning my face was looking a little worse for the wear, sometimes detoxing will do that, so I put on a face mask and it's time to remove it--this one dries awfully quick.

Day 4 Juice Feast -- What I'm Doing Differently (pt. 1)

The first Juice Feast was a challenging experience and despite the ups and downs I knew I wanted to repeat the experience.  Juicing often goes in and out of vogue, however popularity is not one of those things I concern myself with.  I wanted to do a second JF because I want to master the process (the discipline of a long term liquid diet), to gain further awareness and to stretch my limits.  I have come to look at my life as one big day of school. If I'm not learning or experimenting, my life feels blah. What I am doing may seem extreme to others but that's not the whole picture of my life. To name a few unsuccessful experiments: I have pages and pages of immunizations that have gone in my body, I smoked for many years and I had an unbelievable Dr. Pepper habit. My body has paid the price for these choices. Now, I'm seeking to experiment in new ways--what happens if I put my health and well being first?

Life for me is often about successive improvements. So after my first JF it stands to reason I'm trying to do it better this time around. What am I doing differently on the second JF?

• Using probiotics with most juices. Okay, here is going to be one of those gross and embarrassing things I mentioned would be forthcoming. When I did a 3 Day Green Juice Feast On one day I regularly took powdered probiotics and enzymes with each juice.  I also did a coffee enema that morning. I released some brown sludge (think spent motor oil, but brown) and then this 9 inch or so piece of slime came out with 3 little cocoons spaced out a few inches apart. It was painless physically to release it but to see that it had come out of my body grossed me out. I get a little squeamish thinking about those things in my body.
• More green juices. Either I really didn't know how to make green juices that I liked or my body was not cooperating with me. I drank entirely too many fruit juices throughout the first JF. I've learned to use more lemons and add ginger (this seems to make any juice taste good) to each juice. On this JF I am adding liquid probiotics to each green juice as well.
• Relax. I am a lot more relaxed about this JF. I am gentle and loving with myself and my juices. Before it felt like I had taken a giant leap and I was unsure if a safety net was secured below me. I prepared for months in advance for the first JF but preparation does not substitute for experience. I think one of the best things I did to prepare for this JF was to set weekly challenges for myself so new health practices were already familiar to me. Also the mini fasts and feasts were very helpful as well as learning to break a fast more gently. I am more confident in my abilities to manage this process.

There's more I'm doing but hey it's a beautiful day outside here so it's time to go and get some sunshine!

Day 3 Juice Feast -- Types of Juices and Specialty Liquids

Last night I made up two different types of fermented juices.  I've found fermented beets to be just about the only way I can drink beet juice. I used to juice them but found them too strong on my body. It was like my liver became a punching bag and beet juice was a world champion boxer. So, one of the fermented juices is a combination of beet, celery, cabbage with a bit of Celtic sea salt and one stick of kombu seaweed. I shred or chop finely the beets, celery, and cabbage and add all items to a gallon jar.  Then I fill it with spring water and set it in the closet. Here it sits and ferments for about  3 days (my house is fairly warm) and I then harvest it through a strainer and drink and store the excess in the refrigerator.  This mixture can then be filled again with water for a second harvest, although I usually let it sit a little longer (maybe 5 days) this time.  The second fermented juice I made was taken from the Jubbs book Lifefood Recipe Book: Living on Life Force. It's made with shredded cabbage, lemons with the rind cut off and I throw in a pinch of sea salt.  This one need only sit for a day or day and a half before the single harvest. I will drink these in addition to the 4 quarts daily.

The other types of juices I'm making are green juices with either spinach, swiss chard, kale, lettuce I picked up from the farmer's market, 1 head of celery, 1 cucumber, 1 inch of peeled ginger, and two lemons with the rind cut off. I have two of these each day.  I fill the Vitamix up with these items, add in a minimal amount of spring water, blend and strain through the nutmilk bag.  After I did the 3 Day Green Juice Feast I've found I have a greater taste for green juices. This was not the case during the first Juice Feast. I have also had Spirulina Blue Eyed Goddess juice, one quart of pineapple with liquid probiotics added (my favorite!) and small amounts of grapefruit juice mixed with Chlorella Manna or Warrior Greens and fermented spirulina. While making my juices I like to think of the most loving, positive thoughts I can. I usually say my mantra over the juice but when I'm spending extended time with food and making juices I listen to monks chanting Om Mani Padme Hum with a forest (a favorite place of mine to be) background.  The mantra is complex but in simple terms it is said to alleviate the suffering of all sentient beings. I like to listen to it on some nights too as Eknath Easwaran  has taught those who use mantras should try to embed the mantra deeper and deeper into their being.


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I had my first colonic this afternoon. Afterwards I felt so relaxed I could take a nap. Too bad I had to deal with Friday afternoon traffic. During the first Juice Feast I regularly woke up early Sunday morning and drove for my weekly colonic. I don't remember exactly how many weeks (maybe 6 or 7) I went but I stopped once I felt nothing was coming of it. I usually do a castor oil pack the night before I do a colonic but I didn't last night. So today about an hour and a half before the appointment I rubbed magnesium lotion into my abdomen. I haven't done that before so I don't know what will come of it.  My plans for the evening are a trip to the sauna and more sleep.

Dealing with Cravings on the Juice Feast

During my first Juice Feast in the first few weeks I had intense mental cravings for junk food.  I thought it rather harmless, my nocturnal junk food cravings for McDonald's (where I worked as a teen) and other vile "food" I hadn't thought about or touched in years. It reminded me of Larry Groce's  old song Junk Food Junkie.

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I often resolve tough situations with humor--or maybe humor is such a fundamental part of my life (I find it intellectually stimulating to make others laugh) that it arises without much needed thought or incentive.  Nevertheless I deal with these false psychological cravings for junk food by recognizing them as phantoms from my past. Some say it is a form of detox. The Juice Feast did funny things to me emotionally--at times my emotions were like a wild roller coaster ride.  This was foreign to me as I'm a pretty even kind of person. I often found myself talking myself down from the ledge of irrationality.  Don't get me wrong life is often irrational but I make sense of it (most of the time) through rational means.

In the first JF I'm fairly certain I didn't meditate once. I wasn't a regular back then. Now that I have meditation working with me I intend to use it to help me clear my mind of cravings during the second JF. I also keep a journal of the days. I find much of what I wrote to be repetitious nonsense and that's okay as it is really an outlet for my mind to stop thinking about things. I find that when I write things down my mind is triggered to let go--I won't forget the message because I've written it down.  Another tactic to deal with cravings is to accept them as they are.  When I quit smoking I did a lot of reading on addiction. The books I read all indicated a craving lasts no more than seconds. I knew I had the willpower to outlast cravings despite the mind doing funny tricks on me. I would usually notice the craving, count for the seconds it lasted and be amazed how it disappeared.  On occasion a craving would return three or four times in one hour and I would repeat the process--but this was rare for me.

I recognize cravings will come and go on the JF.  With any luck they will amuse me--and quickly go away.

I am Vegan--Do I Still Have Parasites?

After completing my first parasite cleanse during the first Juice Feast I quickly realized my body's ecosystem was still harboring "unwanted guests." Although I am comfortable talking about almost anything, parasites make me squeamish. Therefore this post will be written as delicately as I can.  In an earlier post I mentioned I regularly use cinnamon and cloves to ward off parasites. Last month I attended the Take Back Your Health Conference here in Northern Virginia. One of my take-aways came from a spotlight on parasites. The speaker mentioned that parasites mate on a full moon. She recommended to take a parasite cleanse that covered the full moon to stop the next generation in its tracks.

Parasite Cleanse 

I also read in Donna Gate's book on The Body Ecology Diet to cleanse after menstruation or to help clean up yeasts, to saturate an organic tampon with organic tea tree oil and use overnight.  I now do this, especially on the full moon. By completing parasite cleanses I have discovered I am not parasite-proof because I am vegan.

As I have cleaned up my ecosystem I have learned the hard way that parasites can rule my cravings, steal my nutrients and really creep me out! For me, I take precautionary measures and try to align my life to make my ecosystem unfriendly to parasites. Tonight, a few days before the full moon I started my third parasite cleanse.  I may only be able to report back that I feel better and more in control of my food choices because I refuse to look in the toilet and see if any parasites have come out. Louise Hay reminds us parasites take hold metaphysically because we are giving our power away to others. With each parasite cleanse that I do I regather my strength and take back ownership of my healthy body.

The Sun and Juice Feasting

I have been blessed with warm sunny weather this fall.  It's been so deliciously inviting I've thrown on a bathing suit and tanned 5 unexpected times in the last two months. In fact, I just came in. I intend to start my second Juice Feast come the spring which means I will be able to lay in the sun for added benefits.  When I started out improving my health I can tell you what I know now and what I knew then seem light years apart. I imagine this theme will continue the rest of my journey.

Credit and Story of Chemical Treatment

In my life I have gone back and forth about what is healthy for my skin. Should I suntan? Should I use sunscreen? I was shocked the first time I saw a photo of a sun-loving celebrity in her 20's with her décolleté full of freckles. I need the benefits of the sun yet I don't want to damage my skin and health. In my life I could find few examples where I could see sun exposure improved overall health.

During my first Juice Feast I spent workdays with 20 minutes around noon walking everyday outside, soaking in the sun. I  noticed my skin tan a bit (I am fair-skinned with a history of burning) but there were no marks left behind. In fact being on the Juice Feast and suntanning erased several freckles which had been with me for years.

What I experienced is what the Health Ranger describes in The Truth About Sunlight, Cancer and Vitamin D. The sun is healthy when the body is nutritionally fueled. On the Juice Feast I found the sun detoxed my body through my skin. In essence it's a direct pull of what is in your body. If you have garbage in your body, it will pull out garbage. If you are being very pure in your diet (for me that's organic, plant-based, superfoods, super herbal teas, etc) you may be flushing out the old and creating a more healthy ecosystem for the new cellular life.

I know I don't want to freckle-up.  Right now it's my understanding (which I'll test on the upcoming Juice Feast) that it goes along with the saying--if you keep doing what you've always done, you'll get the same results. I don't tan regularly, but when I can I do. As I embrace the healing power of the sun during the second Juice Feast I hope to satiate my curiosity about how a more targeted use of the sun will improve my health.

Cinnamon and Cloves

I've been jerked around by marketers who claim blueberries are high in antioxidants, until another marketer comes along and says green tea is even higher. In every instance there is a chart which shows several common healthy whole foods on the bottom followed by the marketer's food which is blown off the chart. Just like a tasty bowl of SNL's Colon Blow!


So I thought the best idea should be to go to the ORAC chart and see exactly which foods were at the top to consume for potential anti-aging benefits.

Top 20 ORAC Foods
Chart created from USDA 2010 report

I dash cinnamon and cloves on just about everything. I now delight in the familiar numbness as cloves touch my lips. I remember back to my first parasite cleanse on the Juice Feast (an absolute, if alarming success); I believe Jameth Sheridan's products are top of the line. I think no differently with the parasite cleanse, the only problem was my backside burned so hot one day I could not sit straight!

During my first Juice Feast I decided to add a dash of cinnamon and cloves to all fruit juices for continued measure against parasites. It tasted great and seemed to help with times when the full quart of fruit juice was too sweet and also for a variation in taste. One issue I had during the Juice Feast was to make the same juices over and over, for whatever reason I didn't explore as much as I intend to this time.  Using cinnamon in juices has been a practice I've continued post-Juice Feast. I have even taken to cinnamon tea every now and again. Of course good cinnamon is true,  sweet Ceylon cinnamon rather than the typical store bought cassia.  I buy it here, it comes in chips which I add to my French press along with hot water to enjoy a surprisingly delicious cup of tea. Cinnamon tea is also wonderful cold and mixed with other teas and recipes to bring in sweetness.

Chinese herbalist Ron Teeguarden recommends cinnamon for abdominal stagnation, male and female fertility and reproductive health issues, and poor blood circulation. Cinnamon is also well know for killing yeasts and as an antimicrobial. A more indepth look at the benefits of cinnamon can be found here. Like the Juice Feast, in the world of nutrition and healing sometimes the greatest gains can be achieved by the tiniest but most potent changes in strategy.