My Fast for Renewed Digestive Health (possible TMI for the squeemish?)

[AdrienneD]

hello all,

This is my first post on these forums and I am very excited about the whole thing. I'm posting this thread in hopes of more concrete accountability during this fast.

I am currently on Day Four of my raw juice fast and feel fantastic. This is my third fast, the first being five days, and the second reaching eight days. I was unfortunately not in a good mind set when I broke those fasts which as many of you know does not do the mind or body any good.

Pulling from those experiences I am completely aware of myself and the commitment I am making this time around.

Whilst in college last year I dappled in a healthy vegan lifestyle (as I am lactose intolerant and my digestive system has never coped well with meat it seemed a natural decision). Now I had already spend the few years before this changing my eating and exercise habits to being as healthy and permanent as possible. I have gone from 210 pounds down to 140 pounds.

About three months into my vegan lifestyle I encountered a huge issue. Because of my daily exercise regime combined with a labour intensive job I had to eat quite a bit to sustain my weight and fitness level.

Now, everyone knows fibre is great, it does WONDERS for our bodies, but I took it too far. I was averaging anywhere from 60-100 grams daily . I did not realize this until I started tracking everything quite diligently, but by the time the pattern had emerged it was too late. My body pretty much stopped being able to digest anything. I had thrown too much at it and nothing could pass.

I cannot recall a time in my life where I have felt worse than those first two weeks. It has been a year since the initial illness (and I am still having to blend or juice higher fibre produce and I am VERY limited with grains :/ ).

I had hoped that in the past year my body would have healed itself. I was wrong. I stayed on a healthy eating regime, continued with my cardio, strength, and stretching exercises, but I still managed to gain twenty pounds. HOW?

I have since learned that my body now either holds on to anything and everything, or it pushes through so fast I retain nothing. You know there's a problem when you can tell EXACTLY what has just come out of you.

Last week I had a wake up call. I had been waking up from abdominal pain for about three days when on the morning of the fourth day I vomited. I thought maybe a flu, maybe, but I have become an expert on my physical goings-ons. The food that came up was something I had not touched in over a week.

That was the first sign last time before I became seriously ill. Though I have been tracking my fibre and am usually quite good, about two weeks ago I hit seventy grams one night. I'd gone on a forty kilometre bike trail ride that day. I felt so disgustingly weak and hungry I just kept eating.

I've learned that even ONE day can re-create my past digestive issues.

I am doing this fast to try and both heal the damage I have done to myself as well as allow my body to safely let food pass without distraction.

On Day Three food finally began to pass with four BM's in total. Day Four has been the best so far, and I know this sounds so ghastly, but food was passed that I had not eaten in MONTHS. To know that food was inside me, being completely ignored, no digestive evidence to it at all is nerve-wracking but also motivating to see this juice fast through to the end.

I am aiming on a Fourteen Day juice fast, but we will see how I feel on Day Fourteen. I am also hoping to make this my transition to my 70-80% RAW lifestyle.

I know I am completely new here but I hope I can receive some encouragement and kinds words from those more experienced than myself.

Thanks for reading my long-winded intro and any questions or comments are greatly appreciated.

- Adrienne

[miabella]

Hi there,
I'm just wondering if you could specify the nature of fibre that you were consuming and how you calculated it?
Hope you juice fast is going well!!

[AdrienneD]

hello there,

Insoluble fibre is my foe. More specifically when it is taking up more than 50% of my daily intake. For tracking I used to use FitDay, but I am also a member of Sparkpeople.com as I find the nutrition tracker layout a bit quicker to utilize.

Day Five is going fairly well. Some intestinal discomfort as I am sure there is still some clearing out to do in my cleansing process. Woke up this morning, made fresh watermelon juice for the first time then hubby and I spent the morning at the park playing a bit of soccer and relaxing afterwards in the grass. We found a cicada emerging from it's case as well. I've been amazed with them since I was very young and had never been able to watch the process of their "transformation". Truly amazing! I've also had apple juice and yellow plum juice. A bit of raw honey ( I am still thrilled about finding this at my farmer's market this week!) with green tea today as well to settle my stomach.

I remember whilst researching before my first fast reading that one should decrease time spent watching television, surfing the internet, and driving around. I understand that now. My mind is exceptionally receptive at the moment and I have never before noticed just how many food advertisements there are absolutely everywhere! It's disturbing..commercial after commercial about chocolate bars and restaurants; why this plate of ribs is better than the competitors, how we should all experience the bubbles in this chocolate bar. GAH!

So to say the least we put a movie on instead, I drew for the rest of the afternoon and now I am simply perusing a few of my favourite websites.


Has anyone else seemed to notice a higher awareness of the frequency of these advertisements while on a fast? I do hope that once off my fast I keep this in mind. I am not physically hungry but every time I see or hear them I feel the need to eat! Subliminal much? ha!


I hope everyone else is doing well and thank you for your interest.

- Adrienne

[margoss]

goodness. glad you figured it out..it's amazing once you use to good bm's you expect or you know there's something up there not coming out!!

[AdrienneD]

margoss:

Oh how true that is! I had reached the point where I could time it within an hour every morning! I want that back! haha

Anywho, as I am going be writing in this thread throughout my fast I suppose I should explain how I feel at this moment.

To say the least I feel fantastic inside and out, but it is my mental clarity at the moment that I am loving. I know what I want to do and how I can achieve it. Next year we will be moving once again to go back to school, but this time to a city eight hours away from all familiarity. A completely fresh start. I will be going for an environmental program and my sweetheart will be completing his police training.

Of course that in itself will be a huge mound to get over I am committed to using this year to it's fullest! I am tired of reverting to old lifestyles just to avoid awkward situations with people, I can eat as I wish and be as active as I want to be without feeling judged. I am the type of person that needs to be out in a natural world to feel whole, I recognize that and what I need to work on is embracing it solely for myself.

I'm also compiling a small scrapbook-ish journal. I'm hoping to document the next year with it to show my juice fast, transition back to a near vegan lifestyle and hopefully on to RAW. Hubby and I also are striving to see as many of the 134 waterfalls in and around our new city.

I know I'm a rambler, but when my mind is this clear I have racing thoughts and must put them down somehow. haha

Good night to all and here's to another great day tomorrow!


- Adrienne

[katchmoleen]

When you start eating solids again, you might consider adding digestive enzyemes to your regime. They can help tremendously.

[AdrienneD]

Thank you, I think I will try them. I looked them up after seeing your reply and I am sure with my condition it will help tremendously as you said.

Day Six is coming along very well so far. I had a solid eight hour sleep, woke up, got a good clean throughout the apartment, did some much needed laundry and prepared some produce to be frozen for future meals.

Last night we stopped at a local grocer and had HUGE luck with the reduced section (my second love haha). I still find it hilarious that stores will reduce produce just because an apple has a slight bruise or mark from shipment. Now, I love avocados but they are bloody expensive here, so I was practically squeeling when I saw them on "the rack". I got a small bushel (15 in total!!) for $1.50! They were all perfectly ripe, some with a few bruises, but otherwise perfect. They have all since been "peeled' and sliced and are currently laying in nice little rows on a pan in the freezer so I can package them up all nicely. We also got a decent amount of sweet potatoes! they were all so teeny (which I assume is why they were reduce), but I managed to fill up four bags with chopped ones for hubby and two bags worth of just the peel for me to use on salads after my fast. Hubby has a thing with peels...the silly man.

Exercise felt fantastic today as well, we live on the top (seventh) floor of our building so I managed to get quite a workout on those while waiting for laundry to finish it's cycle. I also just finished a light strength routine while watching a bit of tele.

So now with the apartment clean, exercise done, and all the pets are fed and cleaned I'm ready to settle down with my tea and just peruse the forums for awhile.


I hope everyone else is having an uplifting and productive day as well!

- Adrienne

[AdrienneD]

Day Seven and still going strong!

Yesterday evening I had a bit of trouble and a little bit this afternoon. I have an overwhelming feeling of frustration. the feeling had been building since about Day Three and I cannot shake it! It feels almost physical! I am not hungry in the slightest, I feel light and vibrant pretty much all the time..but this nagging sensation that there's something bothering me is well..bothering me! haha I think I need to sit down and do some serious thinking about what this could be. This is a great part of the juice fast, it really lets you THINK.

I did some combos today! Breakfast was two apples (one green, one red), 1 banana, and four carrots. DELICIOUS! I love how even though only about three or four drops of banana juice comes out but those little dropped are so strong you can taste them over anything! For lunch/dinner I made a rather large amount of juice with an entire head of cauliflower, 2 medium zucchini, and again 1 banana.

I had my orientation at the new job today and am so excited! I also feel a wee bit special! My first real shifts are thursday and friday (nice and early too!) then I start a whole new week on monday.

I've been pumping myself up all night about going raw and I am definately going to start sprouting!! I'll start them during the week of breaking my fast so once I am completely on solids again I can cherish them at their peak.

'Night to everyone and I hope all the other Fasters are doing just as well!

- Adrienne

[lisamarieraw]

Adrienne! Another inspiration! I find this forum is filled with the most talented, intelligent, positive, loving, accomplished, introspective people. You make it seem so easy! I am beginning a fast today and have a lot of fear. I fear I will not be able to do this and let myself down once again. This is something I have been struggling with.

[AdrienneD]

lisamarieraw-

I was JUST reading your post! It seems like you're dealing with a lot of self doubt, I can relate on that. Reading around on this forum can make you feel like you're missing out on some key to success, that there MUST be something wrong with you that makes you unable to to complete a fast.

There is not a "secret" or some special method, it is ALL mental! You can do this and feel it's amazing affects. During my previous fasts (Five and eight days) I felt horrible all the time. However, those negative feelings were there before the fast, it's just that when we forgo food to cleanse our bodies we are forced to recognize them in their fullest. For me that is the hardest part. I am a chronic people-pleaser and not once in my life had I thought of myself as a priority. Doing those fasts were bad a idea for me. By not joining in with meals I felt guilty for not sharing the joy of food, I felt that I had no reason to feel like I needed a rest or cleanse. I had moved to a new city for school, was assaulted by a manager at my first job there, then again by a classmate at school, eventually dropped out and entered into a new even more stressful workplace. At the time I was using both binging and fasting as a means to "wipe-clean" all the negatives. That is not a good reason to do them.

What I mean to say is, perhaps the reason you cannot get past those first two days is that there is an unresolved issue that needs attention before you completely let yourself go to the healing powers of a fast.

I have since moved to the same city where my father lives, have begun to actually talk freely about the past abuse and accept it for what it was; a person who needed to express themselves in a negative way, and I just happened to be the one they needed to take that out on, with no fault of my own. I have realized that my career decision does not need to satisfy other people's worries, it is my own, and if that means that I will be moving AGAIN next summer eight hours away then I WILL. It will be for ME.

I have accepted my body for what it is and what it does, most importantly though I have embraced that I do think a bit differently (I am manic depressive) than the average person, but I LOVE that.

I encourage you to keep trying, but please make peace with yourself and the life you have built around you before really diving in. It works wonders for your self-control and commitment. Always make sure you create a little project during fasts as well. I'm doing my little daily "scrap-book journal", along with daily drawings when I go to the park for a walk, I've re-sparked my sewing hobby, and am throwing myself into taking care of my pets.



On other topics! It is Day EIGHT!! And I am excited...a little bit apprehensive however. With today's success I will officially be on my longest fast thus far! I am finally feeling some physical cleansing going on. Lower leg pain this morning and some tightness in my abdomen since last night, but I know what that is....I still CANNOT believe how I can be passing solid BM after EIGHT DAYS of no solid food! Words cannot describe how glad I am I embarked on this fast.

I got my uniform for work last night as well, and I LOVE MY BUTT! We get to wear any black pants we want....so my hubby took me out and bought me two pairs that look sooo good! haha

And I just realized I hadn't once posted any weightloss...though I suppose it's not too important, still satisfying though. I'm down to 142 from 158. I'm happy.

I had coffee last night too...BAD IDEA ON A FAST! With both caffeine and a super clear mind I was unable to sleep until about three in the morning..and have been up since five..ha.....Oh well, it's worth getting up early to make hubby's breakfast, it's too cute to miss how disoriented he is even after and hour of waking haha

So I've just been cleaning, cleaning, and CLEANING! with some juicing too haha All fruit day so far, 4 pears and two apples this morning then a quarter of a watermelon and 2 bananas just now for lunch. OH! and I am now refusing to throw the "left-overs" from fruit juice in the green bin! I'm freezing them now for later use, I can blend it up later as well for sorbet type treat!

The rest of the day will be dedicated to caring for pets! I have three lizards at the moment, one is my big girl and is recovering from laying a huge batch of eggs....and then waited TWO WEEKS to eat again! so heart-wrenching to watch them do that. Then I have my baby boy who has finally taken to eating worms rather than being handfed baby food..

We're also picking up my kitty on friday! Her mum gave birth to her in our backyard when I was six years old and we've had her since! When I went off to school my dad kept her, but I finally get my baby back! She's an old girl now, even lost her meow (but is still great at getting your attention!), but still acts like a kitten at heart. I cannot wait to snuggle her everyday again!


WOW..that was a long post! Alas....it feels good to write it all out!

I hope everyone else is doing wonderfully today!

- Adrienne

[lisamarieraw]

Wow Adrienne. I can't even express 'wow' enough here. So funny you mentioned that. I have many unresolved issues that I feel in such a hurry to resolve lately. It feels as though life is passing me by and I have wasted so many years in poor health (emotional, relational, financial, mental,--physically I have been very lucky despite MUCH abuse of my body on my part). This is really the reason I want so BADLY to complete a lengthy fast. I have come so far (SOOO far---if you ONLY knew!) and I really want to expedite the process. I am working on enjoying the process of this transformation (spiritual, mental, nutrition, emotional---basically LIFESTYLE) but this is hard. I feel like I am running out of time! I just want to be 100% healthy in ALL areas NOW! While I have come an immense distance and know I still have quite a way to go. I wish I could just be ok where I am now.
I had an especially great session the other day with my psychiatrist. She is new to me and I just basically told her my whole life. In doing this I was piecing everything together and seeing my progress was quite powerful…but it has made me crave MORE PROGRESS. I heard someone the other day say their goal was progress not perfection…this really resonated with me as I think the goal of perfection has been a thinking error of mine for as long as I can remember. It still is. I am attempting a 10 day fast now and working on being more detached from the results and just keep trying. Many here have encouraged me to do the same. I am grateful for you ALL! What a blessing…
You are doing so well it is, of course, helping to inspire me. Thank you :-) I can feel you glowing from here! (Nj btw)

[miabella]

hi lisamarieraw- my husband always reminds me to "enjoy the path"

[Mary Kay]

Adrienne,

I commend you for taking matters into your own hands! You go girl. I also agree that you may want to check out digestive enzymes. You may even want to do a complete digestive stool analysis --the one I know is from Genova Diagnostics ---once you are eating and pooping regularly down the road. .

Anyway, I have done raw-juice fasts that lasted up to six weeks. (Many feel you do not really begin to cleanse until autolysis begins around day four or five.

At this point, I'm wondering what you are doing for elimination/pooping. I did not like the idea of the poop/toxins sitting there, so I chose to do daily enemas --well about five -a-week, and a once -weekly colonic.

Your other choices are to take special salts (like Dr. Robt Young recommends), or do a salt flush,

or

take some fiber/psyllium etc to clean out your intestines.

When I did enemas, I would often add a little lemon juice or even probiotics. I'd also occasionally do a wheatgrass retention. (Squirt a little wheatgrass up there and lust leave it there for awhile.

I don't like the salt flush because I believe that with the diarrhea that goes with it, you can deplete your body of minerals. I'm not sure about Dr. Young's salts, without more research, but am inclined to think the same.

I don't like doing something like psyllium because it "wakes up" your digestion, and here you're trying to give it a rest.

My feelings are that you should give your raw juice fast at least a month.

When I did mine, I could literally get one to 1 1/2 hrs less of sleep/night due to saving energy without digestion.

How's your pH? Just curious.

I also think (my opinion here!) that after a week or so, it's good to add a tiny bit of good fats. Vary the fats ---They don't call them essential for nothing. This will help keep your periods on track, by keeping your hormones balanced. And you will be doing so little that your body would still be operating at a normal deficit, but not enough to shut down your hormones etc.

Your digestive issues/lack of digestion! issues seem very bizarre to me, and I've never heard of such a thing, although I'd suspect many healers would have.

Pls keep us apprised. Good luck to you.

Mary Kay

[AdrienneD]

Thank you all for your responses!

lisamarieraw-

I understand what you're saying and I am rooting for you in your progress!

Mary Kay-

I personally not interested in enemas. I researched them and have asked my health care provider, and I still am not interested in doing them. When I give my body a chance to cleanse it self it does it VERY well, I've been having BM's almost everyday since Day Three so I feel nothing is actually just sitting there. What HAD been staying put is now coming out, I am confident in my body completing that process for me.

I do not condemn you though for using them! It seems to really work for you so all the more power to you.

oh..and I cringed at the lime juice suggestion....I am severely allergic to citrus fruits..just the thought of it! haha....ow..

and on the mention of periods that has been quite interesting so far! This happens during every fast I've done so I'm not worried. I spot almost continuously from Day Four onward. In very small amounts, but just thinking of it all not being passed during my monthly cycle is bothersome.

Has anyone else experienced that?



Anywho..for my daily update!


It is DAY NINE!! Officially my longest fast to date! Today has been great! I slept very well all snuggled up with hubby and a hot water bottle haha (freezing last night!), but I felt exhausted when I woke this morning!

I completed my first shift today as well at the new job, GREAT! A very odd coincidence is that the woman that is my trainer/supervisor worked with my mother for five years! Weirdest coincidence....and not something I'm happy about. A great woman to work with nonetheless though!

Only bad part of today is the coconuts we got last night were rotten! I was so looking forward to coconut milk! Oh well :/ .

Pets are great, baby boy is getting fat and lazy, big girl is finally putting on weight as well, and in only twentyfour hours I will have my kitty!

*edit*


I just went out for a ride, and not ten minutes into my ride I found a man stumbling at the corner and his bike and cigarettes were laying across the ground going into the road. Some driver not paying attention smacked right into this man! It's a terrible corner, always has been, but you'd think driver's would LOOK before they turn! This man was not even crossing yet, he was waiting at the corner to go down a different road, so not only was the driver not paying attention for pedestrians but they also had the nerve to drive over the curb! You can't even back up if you have a bike there, the bus stop is right behind you, there was no way he could have moved out of the way fast enough.

I will never understand some people.

I picked up his bike, propping it up for him away from the road and gathered all of his cigarettes and put them in his case for him. He was able to walk away from the road at least, though I think he may have a serious injury to his side, he could not stand upright..

The driver BEHIND the one who hit this man was wonderful enough to write down the license plate and bring it back to the injured man. We got some help for him and he went on his way.

It made me think. This man was so grateful to us, and in so much pain! To think that if neither of us had stopped for him..I watched so many people walk and drive by the entire time. How can you see someone and not care? I doubt that he could have picked up his bike on his own and without a doubt it would have been smashed to bits in the road. I know what it feels like to have your bike as your only transportation...if you were to lose that...

I am still trying to wrap my mind around the thing, I am in awe of this man. I only hope he does call the police with that license number.

I am also grateful for the man who provided it, he gave me hope that there are a lot of good people out there, the look we shared was overwhelming.

I'm off to think some more..


Have a good night everyone!

- Adrienne

[lisamarieraw]

adrienne what an angel!

[lisamarieraw]

hi lisamarieraw- my husband always reminds me to "enjoy the path"

miabella! your husband is wise!!

[AdrienneD]

thank you!


Day Ten of fast...


Today and and yesterday early afternoon have been just water fasting. I am freezing and am having a very hard time warming up. I was in the freezers a lot today at work doing inventory so that aggravated it a LOT. I have always had problems with my temperature, constantly cold during summer and too warm during colder months. The water fast just makes it feel that much worse.

Today has been otherwise good, I've got my soy sprouts started! I was shocked how much they swell during soaking..I'll have a lot more than expected.

I'm dreading tonight a little. Hubby is getting picked up from work from my father and bringing him to my parents house, I'm heading over shortly after.
They know nothing of my fast and I do not want to tell them (my sister is anorexic and it would be their first thought that I was too :/ even if I did try to explain it all). SO I have to make excuses on my I'm not hungry and do not want to eat the huge dinner they'll have cooked, not unhealthy food, just not things I eat....

I'll have my kitty soon at least and I got a decent schedule for work next week so I cannot complain.

I just hope I can perk up a little before I head over to visit..

Hope you're all having a good day,

- Adrienne

[Laura_nz]

Hi Adrienne,
Am really enjoying reading your post. Keep up the awesome work and I hope you get more from this fast than you quietly considered possible.

All the best, Laura

[AdrienneD]

thank you!


Today is Day Eleven of my juice fast.

It's been....lacking of energy. I jumped out of bed this morning, showered, cleaned and made hubby breakfast before he even noticed I was awake, so THAT part was nice, but it went downhill afterwards. My parents left this morning for their vacation further north so we have a car for those two weeks they're gone.

Let me say this right now..I HATE cars..always have, and I always will. I've been in one accident when I was very young, and was hit twice when I was in my young teens walking to school. So there is the fear factor, but I also an unable to drive as it is GUARANTEED that I will be fall asleep within five minutes of being in a car.

So I am not happy, which is unfortunate as hubby absolutely LOVES just driving for the sake of driving. I gave in after breakfast this morning to DRIVE to the grocery. I have not DRIVEN to get food in a good three years. I walk, ride my bike, or if I know I'll be getting too much to carry from the downtown farmer's market I'll walk there then take the bus back.

It felt so wrong....yes it helps to not have to carry it all, you can get so much more all in one trip, but there ends the positives.

Once we were home I was a little shaken so I simply concentrated as much as I could on packaging up foods to be frozen or made into meals for the next few days, cut up lots of produce into little bags so I know exactly what and hen to eat for the week following my fast.

I played with the "new" kitty a lot as well. You would not believe how energetic this old girl is without two huge dogs poking and bugging her constantly! I felt a little bad about not taking her sooner though. While feeding her she would cower and look up every few seconds as if she expected the dogs to run at her! She's happy now at least!

A nice beach trip was fun as well. Built some very bad sandcastles haha we even bought a Magic Bullet blender on the way home! I can make some awesome green smoothies now after my fast! I made hubby a watermelon and banana smoothie with already, apparently it was great!

Sprouts are fantastic as well! each bean has a good centimetre long already! I am amazed how fast these little guys grow! I have a good sized bag full of mixed beans/grains that I am going to try and sprout after this, just to get a feel of how long each different kind takes to sprout.


Physically I'm great, I actually downed the juice of an ENTIRE 12 lb watermelon this afternoon! And just a half cup of carrot juice a few moments ago. Strength training was great last night, though I think after friday's shift I pushed myself too hard.

I'm feeling a bit drained mentally, I've been moody and feeling possessive all afternoon. I've been practically begging hubby to let me do for for him, I even got snippy that he did the dishes after I offered to. THAT is not normal.


Hopefully tomorrow will be better and a heck of lot more productive.


'Night to everyone and have a pleasant day tomorrow.

- Adrienne

[AdrienneD]

Day Twelve..


Today has been relaxing. It is FREEZING though. I could barely walk this morning on our little trip to the park. Hubby got me a nice peppermint tea on the way so that helped a little bit.

All afternoon I've just been cleaning, trying to keep warm, and chopping corn kernels off their kobs and bagging them up for the freezer. I am currently wrapped up in a blanket with a hot water bottle, a mug of white blueberry tea and a nipped out kitty on my side. I'm slowly thawing :) .

I am having the ODDEST cravings today though. As I said I am freezing, but all I have appetite for is frozen watermelon cubes and frozen PEANUT BUTTER of all things! I've never had it frozen...but goodness does it sound good right now haha

I think I'll make some raw peanut butter next week and try it frozen :).

The only juice I've had today is from half a watermelon. I cannot even think of ingesting anything else.

I'm off to warm up some more and we're trying to find a good place for a hike later on this afternoon.


Have a good day everyone!

- Adrienne

[Laura_nz]

Day 12!
What awesome stuff Adrienne. Well done, you are an inspiration!

[AdrienneD]

Day Thirteen...err...Fourteen really by fifteen minutes, but oh well.

Today was...good for mental purposes. I went for a bike ride in the park today hoping for a relaxing morning....but was interrupted.

You see..there is a movie being filmed in my city at the moment, just some low-budget canadian film like all the rest ( I AM canadian..so I don't mean for that to seem so negative..but there is the stereotype haha). Normally this would not bother me but the first two weeks of filming were in the my NIEGHBOURS apartment! That got me quite fed up pretty quick, what with elevators out of service (I do NOT mind carrying my bike up seven floors, but dragging it down is horrid on my back and kness :/), trucks filling the entire lot, and having to listen to camera equipment banging against the door all...day...long..ah!
Anywho...I got over that once they left...and I even got over my annoyance at them shutting down the streets that hubby has to take to work. but MY PARK? Did they really have to invade my perfect serene place of escape with trucks and cameras and people everywhere?? I was told five times during the first lap around to stop and wait since they were about to run the cameras. I tried to not let it bother me though, I simply locked up my bike and walked around the grassy perimetre instead to stay out of the way.
Bloody annoying though, makes you think of where they'll pop up next!
Third day on the new job was...productive. My main supervisor started her vacation over the weekend so I got to work with the person that doesn't know I'm replacing..I felt a little bad..at first.

The big difference I noticed aboutmyself in those two situations is that I did not give in to the negativity. Rather than getting pissy and riding back home to pout, I walked instead. and rather than let my coworker's poor work ethic bring me down to her level I let my own values be known in a respectful way and got my job done. This fast has truly allowed me to re-evalute my initial reactions.

Within the first hour of the shift she told me FOUR times that, "you should never do more than you absolutely have to", and "never lift the heavy stuff, get the men to do it."!!! Can you believe that? I understand why they're replacing her now. After she left I had to spend the entirety of my shift, plus a bit of overtime, just to go back and fix everything she did on her shift..and try to do my day's jobs during it. I'm glad to say I completed it all though!

For sustenance today I have had the juice of 8 carrots in the morning then sipped the juice of half a watermelon after work this evening.

Yesterday and today have been a little unpleasant physically. Let's say my digestive system seems to know that my fast is over in just another day so it's conducting a last ditch effort to REALLY clear things out. It's a positive though! I now truly know the extent of my "digestive retention" haha. Fourteen days strong and still going!

I'm off tomorrow and I plan on going somewhere quiet and relaxing to read or draw. The park if the film crew is gone, or I may bike to the beach again and find a shady spot to relax under. Lots of cleaning (laundry..darn) as well, finding a new dinner for hubby after work, and lots of pet snuggles both furred and scaled!

Night everyone and have a great tomorrow!

- Adrienne

[Laura_nz]

Only one more day? Wow that's awesome Adrienne.
I am interested in what you plan to do for your transition diet? I am beginning to put together some thoughts myself so would love to know what you have in mind.

Laura

[AdrienneD]

thanks for replying and following my thread, it really has been an encouragement.

DAY FOURTEEN!!!!

For my transition diet I will be doing a solid week of smoothies and very light/soft fruits and veggies. Over the past two weeks I have been saving some of the pulp from my juicer and mixing it with the juice it came from. It's all frozen and ready to go in separate containers in the fridge. I'll be taking them out and blending them smooth twice a day.

Each day I'm going to add about 100-150 calories a day so as to not shock my metabolism. I'll be adding some fresh coconut milk on the third or forth day, and then afterwards a splash of olive oil each day so get my body used to breaking down fats again. I will also be blending in some of my sprouts to reintroduce proteins (My soy sprouts are two inches today and have little wee leaves! So excited haha).

I think the transition will be harder than the fast itself. It's a good thing I have work now to keep me a bit more distracted. I do believe that this fast has proven that I DO have self-control. It is always a personal choice to eat or not, to eat well or not. I know how to choose now.


Today I did not get a chance to go out and have a long relaxing time, but I at least went for a short walk, grabbed an apple-cinnamon tea and enjoyed the sun for a bit. I had a disgusting amount of housework to do though so that was how I spent my afternoon. I felt so weak though! I water fasted until 5pm and I felt it. Normally the stairs in my building do not faze me..but today I would have killed to use the elevator with all my laundry! OF course there were two tenants moving in today...so for the two hours I was doing laundry the elevator was out of service to other tenants.

Oh well, I remember my move in day and I feel better now so none of that matters. All my laundry is done too :) .

The only thing that is a little off is my digestive activity. It seems that within about 30 minutes of drinking water it's coming out, or flushing out seems more appropriate of a term. The last of it all has come out and I feel so clean! I'm going to take it as a sign that fourteen days was the perfect length. My digestive track has "re-awakened" so to speak and is running full tilt. Perhaps it is a mental connection, knowing that tomorrow morning there WILL be fibre to pass and it wants to be prepared.

I love the human body! I hope when I go back to school I can take an elective course on this sort of topic.

I must admit though..tonight I DID eat three mints...but it's silly dwell on and with all the other cleansing I'm sure those little guys aren't going to do much.

Now I'm off to guzzle some more water, have a tea, and watch a bit of tele with hubby.

Thanks to everyone who has supported me during my fast! I'll be posting about my transition week as well, then just generally about my RAW lifestyle afterwards.

Have a great night everyone!

- Adrienne