My Fast

[AdrienneD]

Time for round four!


I've been having conflicting thoughts and struggles with certain "attachments" while on raw, all of it being psychological/emotional.

I have decided to once again embark on a fast. At first I will be mainly juice, with water fasting as it presents itself. I won't go into too much detail throughout, just daily updates and any important events/information that come about.

I ended my fast too early because I "set" it for 14 days, I felt the need and want to continue, but did not sadly (too excited to begin RAW perhaps?).

I am just going to keep going until my psychological and physical needs are once more in balance.

Tomorrow and Tuesday will be water fast days to start with, then juice for two days, water again, juice after, etc. . This may change depending on physical demands, but I am "planning" to keep my days off work as water days, as my job is physical I feel I may need the juices' energies to keep me going. This may change though!


I'm hoping to keep my juices seasonal as well, lots of apple, squashes, roots, dark greens, etc.

I'll try to update at the end of each day.

My focuses will be on inner balance, increasing flexibility, and on changing the ways my entire being handles stressful situations.

Best to everyone!

- Adrienne

[rawrawks]

Good for you!!! Best to you. Cant wait to hear.

[Loren]

hi Adrienne,

You definitely don't want to be water fasting while doing physical work (or any work, really.) The point of fasting isn't to stop eating but to give the body complete physiological rest; the only way to do this is to stop eating since processing food requires up to 50% of the body's energy. But you also need to be resting as completely as possible to liberate energy for cleansing and healing. If you are working while water fasting, your body will consume more muscle as it looks for the most efficient source of fuel. Better, as you said, to fast only on days off when you can rest completely.

Incidentally, it takes the body 3-3.5 days to get into the most profound part of the water fasting process. Until that point, any cleansing is relatively surface-level. If you can create an opportunity to do it, you might want to set aside several weeks sometime in the future and find a place to do a supervised fast. It's an incredible experience and your health will soar to new levels afterward, assuming optimal diet/lifestyle choices, of course.

[Aleesha Sattva]

Nice to hear you are finding your centre through fasting. I do the same and have found it so beneficial. ;)

I look forward to reading your daily updates. I'm starting another fast tomorrow as well. My last fast (which ended last weekend) was mostly water as well. I don't know where this one will lead me but I'm willing, able and wanting to follow where ever it flows...

[spicyfull]

Have a Fruitful Experience, My Best to you.

[AdrienneD]

Loren- I appreciate your concern. I realize that my job being a physical one will affect my fasting process when water fasting is concerned, this is why I am ONLY water fasting on my days off. I also intend to drink a lot more juice than I have on previous fasts to compensate during working days. It will not quite be a "juice feast" though, not THAT much juice.

Rawrawks- thank you! I too am looking forward to touching the spiritual self during my fast, I love the clarity!

Aleesha- I appreciate your input! I've been lurking a little on your fasting treads lately, very motivating. I especially love your thought process on breaking a fast; always leaving it until the next day just to be sure it's what your mind and body are need/are ready to do. I hope your fast is a healing experience!

spicyfull- Thank you!


I got a decent sleep last night, very vivid dreams, but I am feeling a slight detox already, very puffy and headachey. Today I plan on light cleaning, organizing my closet and lots and lots of reading!


- Adrienne

[Aleesha Sattva]

aren't fasting dreams odd. so vivid and sometimes so weird LOL

all the best to you on your fast.

[Veganforlife]

YES! I remember commenting to you about my dreams. They are not bad or creepy, but very um, interesting dreams...

[Aleesha Sattva]

ya weird stuff... like walking on the rooftops of people's homes - who you don't know... and seeing birds flying in the sky, each one a different vivid colour.

weird stuff is what fasting dreams are made of LOL

[Nubianess]

Good luck on your fast! I'l be joining you on this one methinks. Im starting off with tons of water and some juices to kill my appetite.xx

[AdrienneD]

Nubianess- I'll follow your thread as well! I love reading about fasting WHILE I'm fasting, it's very calming.

Last night was good/bad physically. Bad in the sense that I felt overwhelmed with nausea and aches, but good because I know that this means my body is getting into "detox mode".

This morning I feel much better, still sore and quite puffy, but I can move around and not feel as though I'll be ill.

I unfortunately have been called in to take a shift tonight, so today will be a half water, half juice day.

My plan for the day includes lots of beet and carrots juice, with a smidgen of ginger. LOTS of water as well. Since I will not be working until late this afternoon, I'm going to take this opportunity to do laundry, and bike to the grocery while I wait between cycles so I can stock up! HUGE sale on 10lb bags of carrots right now...so excited!

Water wise I had 3 cups during the night (I felt so dry!), and just finished off 4 more cups upon waking. I'm going to follow Aleesha's thinking and drink the same again once I pee, then start to taper off after noon-ish.

I have also ensured no boredom or restlessness during my fast! haha I do a lot art and illustration, both realism and somewhat "cartoony", and have just sent out a message to friends/family to give me requests if they want something done. I've got quite a list here already! I'll post them as well of course, my fasting art tends to get interesting. haha

My best to all the other fasters!

- Adrienne

[Nubianess]

Sounds like you're doing great Adrienne, Ill be cheering you on as well!

Good that you have a back up plan for fasting boredom, I think its time to get out my pencils and sketchbook again too.

xx

[AdrienneD]

Thanks Nubianess!

I just finished juicing about five pounds of carrots for today. I bought 30 pounds in total, so they should last me the week, MAYBE. haha

I'm going to be "juicer in advance" a lot to compensate for work. I know it is not ideal, but it's better then nothing at all!

While out shopping I even bought healthier versions of most of hubby's regular foods. Since moving to our new city he's been eating crappy food that happened to be super cheap that week. Now that I am working as well I'm taking the issue into my own hands! He's gained a bit and spoke up last night that he wants to be into his old healthy mindset. No, it's not raw, nor vegan for that matter, but I want him to do the best he can for now. He IS about 50 % or so raw, so at least I know he's getting some goodness into him. Now just to help him get excited about strength training again *ponder*


I'm off to grab the laundry then I can FINALLY sit down and not be "waiting" on something that needs to be done!

- Adrienne

[AdrienneD]

Hello all,

This morning is going well so far. I juiced an entire honeydew melon for breakfast, and I plan on juicing some apples before work.

Yesterday I ended up drinking ALL of my carrot juice before leaving for work, so from 3 pm last night 'till I woke up this morning was all water. I had this insensate need to just chew before work, and I kept going to the fridge, so I kept grabbing my little bottles of juice to keep my hands and mouth busy.

I felt horribly bloated and "wide" all night, such a strange feeling. This morning I am still a little puffy (my fingers always swell the first few days, but this is so uncomfortable!).

My skin is starting to clear and not be as oily, my head is becoming clearer, and I am working on keeping my hunger down. I woke up terribly hungry this morning, and was last night, but I have pushed through with a LOT of water and pure juices. Some drawing tonight should help me settle.

Work will just be lots of water, I will be working with a rather difficult employee for the first half of my shift today. Drinking only water keeps me very focused, so I hope I can keep control of my emotions near her today.

It's a short shift at least today, which gives me a fantastic opportunity to go to go hand in my resume at a new company. I've been fighting myself all month over this. Part of the reason I have been feeling down lately is that I feel like I am betraying my "purpose" every time I go to work. I work with animal products, and it DISGUSTS me. I took the job when hubby and I were struggling terribly and could not afford our place on his income alone if we wanted to eat. They just happened to be the first one to call me back.
It is also a very negative work environment, it is the sort of place where you can do everything perfectly, or even beyond the expected, and yet at the end of the day, or as soon as you arrive for your next shift they berate you with what a terrible job your doing. It just makes me feel so inadequate!

I've been saving up as much as I can, so hopefully we'll be alight if I snap and just quit! haha I doubt I'd do that though, or at least hoping I won't have to.

I'm off to finish polishing my resume and make some apple juice!

- Adrienne

[AdrienneD]

UGH!

That's how I feel.

I haven't touched, let alone LOOK, at SAD crap in an appetizing way in THREE MONTHS.

So WHY after work, even when I'm feeling pretty decent and excited about my evening juicing do I suddenly grab something and eat it? then continue eating no matter how many times I tell myself I can stop now and continue on my fast. I broke the fast with RAW at first..then didn't stop...and once I ran out of my favourite sweet fruits I grabbed hubby's food...

Not once in all my other fasts have I done this..

I know tomorrow is a new day, and I DO intend on continuing my fast, I just feel so disappointed in my actions tonight!

I'm going straight water now. It's not a "punishment" for tonight's binge, but more as a personal way of grounding myself to my cause. I feel a complete emotional disconnection to food when I'm water fasting. I will inform my employer that I'm not "feeling well" to compensate for temporary weakness, so that will ensure that I do not have to do the majority of the heavy lifting.

I am going a minimum of 7 days of fasting, mostly water, maybe juice on day four or five. I KNOW that once I have a few solid days under my belt I'll be sailing through it all, so I still hoping a little bit for my 14-21 days fast.

I spoke to hubby tonight about my difficulties with this fast. I've asked him to be as supportive as he possibly can, even if it's not overly interesting to him. I just need him to ask how I did on my fast that day, how it made me feel, what juices I made if any, etc. I know he will, but I also know he worries when I fast.


I WILL be successful, I AM successful.

I am going to sleep in tomorrow, as much as my body could possibly want to, then I will go to the park and do some photography of the squirrels there that I love to watch. I have work in the evening again, so I have a drawing planned for afterwards. I'll shower, grab my blanket and draw until I cannot stay awake!

Have a good day everyone!

- Adrienne

[AdrienneD]

OK, so today was GREAT....until the end of my shift, which I will explain.

I had only water and raw honey today, and I had SO much amazing energy and positivity!

I took my bike to my local health food store to buy the raw honey (last jar in stock! YES!), and a jar of coconut oil for my hair and skin...and to consume after my fast. Good price too for a decent sized jar.

Work started great, I got to talk to a lot of coworkers so that helped the day go by, but then the last hour came.

As you can tell just by me being on this forum as a vegan I care about animal rights and all things nature. My life's passion is to be an environmental technician. I will be attending school next year to achieve this.

Words CANNOT describe the passion I feel for saving the those species who cannot defend themselves against the human species.

Though even in knowing this I was NOT prepared for just how I deeply I could feel for these animals until today.

A young raccoon managed to scamper into the stock room today. This is understandable, the two delivery bay doors open right next to a thicket of trees, and the doors are often left open.

What should have been the proper response? Perhaps close off the ONLY two doors that go to the rest of the store before he could get through? baracade the majority of the area to contain him? Call the humane society, or simply leave the door open for him to get back out? YES! those would have been great actions.

But no, my IDIOTIC and SICK managers and coworkers decided the best thing to do to the poor baby was chase it around, throw objects at it, then shove it in behind a skid, where they CONTINUED to throw things at him! I could hear the poor thing screaming from across the entire stock room. When I went to go see what was going on I was greeted by my HEAD MANAGER laughing his head off and screaming as loud as HE could to further scare the little baby. I have never felt such a surge of anger come on so quickly! I asked him what the hell they thought they were doing, to which he replied, "It's just an animal! it's roadkill, stop getting upset!".

So I wonder if I'm going get "talked to" on my next shift for replying with, " YOU sir are 'just' and animal, and if I decide to run you over with a car and leave you on the road no one should care because that makes YOU just roadkill, right?". It was disgusting, how can a person be so detached that they think it is ok to torture another living being?

They DID end up calling the SPCA. DO you want to know what the even sicker thing is about this? The man who came in to get the baby out, ALSO thought it would be HILARIOUS to stand there, with the animal by it's neck with a "harness", and talk about how he's going to wait for a train and put him down on the tracks.

THIS IS A MAN WHO IS EMPLOYED BY A HUMANE SOCIETY.



I can never, and will never understand how people grow up with that sort of moral belief system.


I intend to send in a very sever complaint about the man from the SPCA.
I also plan on quitting soon. I cannot work for people who do not deserve respect.

I feel anger, but I also feel power in this situation.

I am resolved in my life's mission to care for this earth, the power of my emotions today prove this. I only hope this little baby is able to live.

- Adrienne

[Nubianess]

Hey chic, hows it going? Ive been a busy bee so have not had time to come on here. SOunds like you are doing great!

I say to myself, its okay to fall down, but its NOT okay to stay on the ground! Glad you picked yourself up and continued fasting. I did the same, and im on day 4. Onwards and upwards!

Im doing mainly water and lemons, Carrot juice sounds yummy though, but my body just doesnt want to see this as I had carrot juice nearly everyday for the last 2 months!

Its disgusting how some people are so inhumane! hope the racoon survived.

Keep up the good work!
xx

[AdrienneD]

hey there! I just finished reading your post over on your thread!

I'm the same way with the "mono-juicing" haha. All my body is craving is apples and butternut squash juiced together. You would NOT believe how delicious it is!

Yesterday was all water as I said, and today has been water and raw honey again....sad to say though, I polished off the honey! It was a small jar..but still, it makes me giggle a little.

I may have the apple/squash juice in the evening.

I know how you feel about the "falling". I've been wandering around all day, and I keep telling myself that YES, am terribly hungry right now, and YES, I COULD break my fast right now, but I am choosing not to. I know in the morning I am going to feel wonderful about choosing to stay on my fast, making the next day that much smoother to go through. Why restart every couple of days instead of just sticking to it and have the detox complete itself uninterrupted?

That said, I feel euphoric today! I only slept for about four hours, but I am SO full of energy! This morning I had so much raw emotional I didn't know what to do! My kitty stayed on my lap most the morning as I relaxed, and I was near tears when I began to focus on just how much I love her! She's 13, so she has been in my life for so long, and she loves ME so much.

I even found myself wiggling in anticipation to watch the sunrise! It's been a good day...

Once the sun was up and I got some chores done I took my bike out to the grocery, picked up things for hubby, and raw fish for my kitty (I'm trying to get some raw in her, she even accepted some raw shrimp this morning!). I then went to the farmer's market, got an another 22 lbs of apples, and a few little butternut squash. Let's just say I must have really good balance..I had a full hiking pack on my back..and was balancing two huge bags on my handle bars lol. I must have been quite a sight!

I am currently making hubby some pasta sauce that will last him quite some time, putting off folding laundry, spoiling my skin with coconut oil,doing some gecko photography, and researching the NEW gecko I hope to be getting in a few months time.

Oh! and I've had 3 bowel movements so far today, even more yesterday. That day of SAD crap really must have done a number on my intestines..sheesh!

I hope everyone else is having a good day!

[Nubianess]

wow 3 Bms!! Your body must be doing some major clearing out!!

yeah, whenever I feel like eating something i.e a craving, and im not really hungry or im fasting, I tell myself, I have the rest of my life to eat .............. whatever it is, but for now im choosing not to.

Cravings usualy dissapear in 10 minutes anyway.

apple and sqaush, unusual, I might have to try it.

wow cat and gecko. I love animals, always had pets growing up, I miss that.

I can feel a headache brewing, all that lemon must be working. Im off to lie down for a bit I think.

Keep going strong! xx

[AdrienneD]

Nub-

I hope your headache is feeling better this morning! I really wish I could use lemon during my fasts as so many people seem to! I'm allergic to a lot of citrus fruits sadly. I've been experimenting since going raw though with that particular allergy. I can handle clementines, tangerines, and tomato now. I'm hoping a couple raw years down the road I can have oranges and lemons again.

Last night I opted for a HUGE serving of apple/carrot/celery juice. I really wanted that celery. I felt so great after I had this! I also had more honey as a "snack". It really helps me on my fasts.

1 more BM last night, and another this morning, but they are not nearly what they were yesterday! I'm feeling very "light".

As for animals go, I have LOTS. I have never lived without an animal companion, I cannot imagine it! At the moment I have 2 bearded dragons, 1 leopard gecko, my kitty, and I have a shepard and a husky as childhood pets. The pups live with my dad unfortunately for me though, an apartment my size is just unsuitable for two large dogs! They're just down the street at least!

I've got a shift this afternoon 'till closing. I'm going to go into with a positive attitude..but there is still that foreboding feeling of "the talk".

Just water and honey so far today, in an hour or so I'll have more apple/carrot juice, OR have some apple/ginger juice. I'm trying to be nice and quiet for hubby right now. He's been working such long hours this week, so he's sleeping in today..still snoozing away! My juicer is pretty noisy, and I'm sure I'll survive a couple hours haha.

Oh! I even got new jeans last night! Value village jeans..but two of them still had the original store tags on them! Awsome! 1 fits perfectly, the other two are a bit snug. The good news, I'm down 3 sizes now since I've become Raw!

have a peaceful day everyone!

- Adrienne

[AdrienneD]

SO I've been posting more on my fasting thread than originally planned, but it's helping, so I shall just continue on!

I feel better on a muscular level at the moment, but work absolutely drained me. They decided NOT to schedule someone in yesterday on my day off, so I got to make up two days worth of stocking and filing in the first hour of my shift. BLARG! Oh how it hurt!

I did all water so far today and honey. I'm starting with juice tomorrow and continue on as a juice fast for the remainder, unless my body urges for purely water.

I have yet to have my usual fasting headaches, which is brilliant! Slight twinges in my back from a past injury, but barely noticeable at all.

The one thing I AM concerned with is some slight regurgitation. You know when you can feel it coming up and it pricks the back of your throat? THAT feeling. It's been on and off all day, and some last night. Normally not an issue, but since ALL I have had it water, it feels like undiluted stomach acid burning my throat. I'm hoping this passes once I'm fully into juices.

There has been digestive noises going on all day, but only very slight bowel movements, I would barely count them as real BM's.

I woke up hoooouurs before my shift today, and I actually got a little pissy because I had SO much energy but couldn't go out for one of my super long trail rides. I pretty much pranced around the apartment, tidied, and went through a LOT of thread on RFT.

I intend on staying quite still in my nest of blankets for the rest of the night haha I've got tea, honey, and lots of water, I'm all set!

Night everyone!

*edit*

OH! and I have planned an ENTIRE day of hiking for monday! There is a shuttle bus that goes to the largest conservation park in the area every few hours each day, so I have planned to go just at sunrise; spend the entire day exploring with my binoculars, camera, sketch pad, and journal; then hop back on the bus heading home at 4 or 5 pm to be home at the same time as hubby. There is a pair of bucks that I have seen traveling together since I was in my teens, and I am hoping to find them once more. Last year was the only year I didn't see them, so I am very excited! There is a beautiful look out post that is great for shorebirds and ducks.so excited!!!!

-Adrienne

[Nubianess]

Hey A,

hope the regurgitation issue is better? Ive never experienced that so dont know what to say. I read somewhere that 1 day of water fasting cleans you out as much as 3 days of juice fasting. So maybe you are releasing toxins quickly. ( dont quote me on this! lol)
When I fasted last time, I only needed 4 hours of sleep a day! its great! you get soo much done... it does get a tad annoying when everyone else is asleep and your eyes are still wide open and you're trying some sleep! lol . Hows the artwork coming along?

Im gonna try your apple/buternut squash juice, Im making a list of produce to buy,. so Ill let you know how I like your juice.

Keep on going girl, Im cheering you on! xxx

[AdrienneD]

I haven't had any regurgitation yet today, some late last night though.

Hubby is being GREAT. Last night all I wanted was something solid to settle my stomach, so he said "One word. JUICE." then set up my juicer for me haha I'm so happy he's keeping me in line *giggle*.

Today is fantastic! I was up at 5:30, got everything ready, and was on a bus by 7 or so. 30 minutes to down town, then a 40 minute walk to the conservation area. I hiked until about 12:30, walked back into downtown, and took the bus home. it felt soooo good. I brought a couple bottles of carrot juice, and one of cucumber juice just for the hydration aspect of it. It was beautiful and incredibly peaceful. I focused more on seeing/watching as much nature as possible, so my hike was more "stop-and-go". I forgot how silent I could be in the forest..and how quiet wildlife can be too! TWICE today a pair of does snuck up on me..I could have reached out and touched them they were so close. Deer are honestly the most beautiful animal on earth, they exude peace and calm...

I got the back end photo of the third deer, I was so focused on them I forgot I had a camera..

Since getting home I've just had about 4 cups of water and a few tbsp of rawhoney mixed with bee pollen.

I added some photos from today for you all.

-Adrienne