Day 7 Juice Feast -- How Quickly the Day Passes

Yesterday I thought a little deeper about what it means to age and today a free Coursera course comes to my attention on global aging--I love it! I've signed up although I may only audit the course (I'm forever a student at heart and sometimes I over extend my schedule trying to saturate myself in wisdom). If you're interested see here and check out the brief introduction to the course.

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Today went smoothly enough, if busy. There are only so many hours in the day of a juice feaster! I spent my lunch produce shopping and I'm almost out the door to run a few errands and stop by the library to pick up a couple of books. I've been using the library fairly regularly lately. One reason I love the library is I already have so many books it's slightly embarrassing. Also I like to check out books from the library on health topics like Norm Shealy (cute! cute! cute!), and Sara Gottfried's new book on hormone health because libraries operate on popularity. If books like these are checked out and the demand goes up, the library allocates more resources to stock the library with useful, health sustaining information. I was stunned but delighted last week when I saw a copy of Gabriel Cousen's Conscious Eating in my local library. I wish better information like this was around when I was cruising the stacks when I started out.

I've drunk 3 quarts of juice today and the 4th is sitting there staring me in the eye (ok not really, but it is sitting there). I am a slow metabolizer so it's been a focused effort to get all 4 quarts in me. I am simply not hungry. The juice is particularly important to me in the morning although it's more to stabilize me rather than satiate any hunger. As I thought about it, in part, it's likely because I'm not exercising enough. I like to take long walks at lunch but the rainy weather is difficult to walk in when I have to go back to work. I'm hoping when I wiggle in some exercise my appetite for the 4th or even 5th quart will be more appealing. Right now I'm aware of the issue and letting it go.

My favorite new juice to date? Leaf lettuce, (hard) pear, lemon and ginger. Unbelievable!

Day 6 Juice Feast -- Back in the Real World

What my mind kept telling me all day (Source)

Monday, Monday. I usually have every other Monday off. Today was not that Monday. I woke up and enjoyed the process of getting my juices made and getting ready for work. With graduate school for the last year or so I often wake up late and just as often rush around with barely enough time to get myself ready and out the door. I've been arriving at work and leaving work on a sliding scale of 15 minutes (I arrive 15 minutes late, I leave 15 minutes late) so much that it felt almost odd to show up precisely on time today. That probably has something to do with daylight starting so much earlier. Nevertheless I felt great this morning when I walked out the door laden with 4 quarts of juice, a half gallon of water and a half gallon of fermented lemon cabbage water (didn't get to this one today) and 1 quart of Schizandra Warrior Juice (sipped a little here and there).  By the time I arrived at work I didn't feel so great and not from carrying all those liquids. I am hoping it's just the lethargy I feel from where my energy is right now. One thing this last week off taught me is just how tired I am.


I wasn't hungry today but once I took my JF into the real world I started to feel the old habits to snack popping into my head.  I had funny thoughts like oh...that bag of potato chips won't throw me off a JF. Yeah, "bad" me was in my head--telling lies! I tossed these thoughts aside over a dozen times today. The JF does permit some solids in small amounts. These are blue green algae, 1/4 tsp kelp powder and 1 TBL bee pollen. I am taking these daily, the first two mix well in drinks.  It helps to chew these things. Of course I chew the juice too--but there is little give and take in the process.

Reading about the abundance of the JF linked me back to a book I started this weekend. At a health conference last month Norm Shealy (I am seriously crushing on this cutie!) presented topics from his book Life Beyond 100. In his book he talks about what longevity really is. It was such a good definition I honestly had to stop and ask myself if I want a long, long life. I don't have an answer but I immediately thought about how I would have to reformulate my retirement plan if their was any possibility I live to 140 or 160.  Even the National Geographic is on to this longer life deal. Shealy goes on to to catch me in this common mistake and talks about this as an issue of abundance: "For many decades, the perennial fear of the elderly has been the poverty that seems to be associated with advanced age--another paradox. Overall, those over age sixty-five are, at this time in America, the wealthiest segment of our society. However, those over sixty-five who have not accumulated significant wealth live in states of constant stress, fearing they will outlive their resources." I have more reading and reflection to do but the real world has jarred me into realizing right now with this JF and my potentially long (strike out really long--I smoked) future I do not have an abundance mindset.

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.

Day 2 Juice Feast -- Does that Smell Funny to You?

Day 2 included a trip into the District for another job interview.  More than anything I would like to upgrade my current work choice. I did not lug my juices downtown as I have been making them as I go at home in the Vitamix and straining through a nut milk bag. When I start packing my juices for work or other all day activities I will use my juicer--it's just too much work right now to set it up and clean it several times daily.

So, I took a jug of water.  I took the metro, which is usually not the most fun--however it gave me the opportunity to practice acceptance.  For whatever reason the metro runs in a series of jerking stops and false starts that usually makes me a little sick while riding. Today, on the way home some guy sat down next to me (yes, there were plenty of open seats where he could've sat alone). He smelled like cigarette smoke, bad breath and he tore into his fingers like a starved man.  When I drove home I could still smell him so I started breathing deeply and releasing more than I was taking in.  Still, I think I may need to use the neti pot tonight!

Nevertheless I did not get upset with my fate, as it were.  I have become sensitive to smells over the last few years but it's more prominent when I am fasting or cleansing.  I will manage 4 quarts of juice today, 2 quarts spring water and 1 quart of liver detox tea. Other than this smell issue I haven't felt very different from normal. As I walked L'Enfant plaza today through the food court I thought it smelled nice and noticed the throngs of people, but I felt no desire for the food. It's been a smooth beginning and I am grateful for it.

Not exactly the new career I'm looking for (Source)

Day 1 Juice Feast "Here I Go Again"

It's hard to believe but my second Juice Feast has begun!

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Disclosure: I will probably post some rather personal information as the JF progresses. Let me start this out by breaking, gently into what may be be some pretty frank and embarrassing topics that pop up while doing deep cleanses. For one I used to have big hair so this video still rocks for me. Okay that's about it for today.

Today was a day spent mostly thinking about sleeping, sleeping or resting.  I slept in (of course I stayed up late the night before), took a nap and generally rested much of the day I just woke up and I am ready for more sleep.  I drank 3 quarts of juice, 3 quarts of spring water and 1 quart of Dandelion Detox tea. I sunbathed for 20 minutes, soaked my feet in an ionic footbath and spent some time in the sauna.

I spent sometime reading and reflecting on acceptance. I am reading Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha. I was surprised to find a blatant look at how so many of us feel unworthy.  To preoccupy ourselves and avoid accepting these feelings (created from duality) we blame others, "we embark on one self-improvement project after another," "we hold back and play it safe rather than risking failure," "we withdraw from our experience of the present moment," "we keep busy," and "we become our own worst critics." Quite honestly before I read these things I never considered my predominant view of myself as living in a state of unworthiness.  I am still processing this information, but I found it a fascinating approach to acceptance--first remove the blocks in myself.

So far so good.