Day 55

Ultimate Peep Show

Juices in order of consumption
1 quart spinach, celery, orange, coconut oil

1 quart romaine, celery, tomato, cilantro, garlic, kelp

1 quart romaine, apple, celery, sprouts, kiwi

Weight
Starting 173.5
Today 144.5

It is so much better waiting a few days to weigh myself because there is always a change. When I do it everyday there are days where there is no change and that is a bummer. So now I am down 29 lbs! I can't believe it. That's awesome!

Sleep
8.5 hours

Supplements
Probiotic - I have been doubling up or I guess I should say quadrupling up on these. I take 2 in the morning and 2 at night.
Chanca Piedra I have to admit, I haven't noticed anything since beginning to take this. I guess that's not to say that it isn't working, but how do you know? I am thinking about doing a liver/gallbladder cleanse anyway just to see. I don't know though. I am kinda scared.
B 12
B5 morning and evening
Enzymes with each juice
Colon Cleanse

Exercise
None

Physically
I felt pretty good today. My stomach is much better and I have good energy.

Positive changes
Skin smooth
Lost 29 lbs!
Nails seem to be getting a bit stronger. Green, but stronger
Eyes shiny
I am beginning to glow again today

Detox
Coated tongue - It's just as bad as day one and some days worse. Sore is gone though.
Bumps on arms and legs
Wounds still taking FOREVER to heal
Lump of mucus in back of throat

Emotionally
I woke up feeling a bit out of sorts this morning. I was just feeling down and a bit sorry for myself. I decided to spend some time with myself in the bathroom. I took a nice hot/cool shower, lubed myself up with coconut oil while thanking each and every part of my body, and spent time in gratitude. I did a little mirror work where I told myself how great I am and what a good job I am doing. It's amazing how much better I felt when I finished up. Like a new woman.

Cravings
See below

Meditation

Acceptance

"Clearly, what is meant to be, is. The peace is always in that."
Gangaji

Are you finding it difficult to accept things the way they are? Are you fighting your current circumstances, wishing for something different. What if everything taking place in this moment is exactly as it should be? What if you were just to relax?

When you accept that everything is as it is, the natural course of action flows freely. When you continue to fight, resist, rail against what is here, you keep those circumstances in motion.

When you truly relax and let what is just be, the next appropriate action is effortlessly revealed.

Acceptance leads to wholesome right action.

Ramblings
This morning after my relaxing time in the bathroom I decided that I wanted to get to the bottom of these cravings or should I say obsession with food that I have been having lately. I got my Ani Phyo cookbook out and thumbed through every page writing down any recipe that got me going. I did it quickly. I was surprised at some of the things on my list. None of them were desserts.

When I finished I went back and read each one and tried to figure out what it was about that food that I was craving and I wrote down what came up for me. I didn't spend a lot of time on it. I also circled any ingredients that spoke to me. I went back and tallied it all up and here is what I came up with in order of desire:

Salty
Texture
Creamy
Heavy
Garlic
Cinnamon

So I started thinking about what I have been eating, uh I mean drinking and it all makes perfect sense.

Salty: I have been craving more kelp in my drinks but have been trying not to have too much. I had asked in the Juice Feasting Forum if I could have more kelp and they said I could increase it up to 1/2 tsp. It still didn't seem like enough but I stuck with it. I could have added a pinch of sea salt but I didn't have any and I just didn't do it. Well, I guess my body knows so I am going to add some salt. Just a little and see how it goes.

Creamy and heavy: I have also barely had any kind of fat in my juices or in my day for that matter. I have decided that hemp oil is not working for me. It was the only thing that changed in my diet the day I had the horrible gastro issues so I am thinking it is the oil. I haven't had much coconut oil because eating it by itself grosses me out. Let's also think that for 55 days I haven't had any kind of heavy or creamy food so I would think it would be a normal craving. I think by adding some oil I will do better.

Texture: The only thing I can really do for this is to eat some bee pollen. The problem is I HATE the bee pollen I have. It tastes disgusting. I probably should try another kind just to see. I know that local bee pollen is supposed to be better. I will have to research this.

Cinnamon and Garlic: Uh, I guess I'll just add a bit to my juice. Easy!

Today I added a bit of coconut oil to the blender with my morning drink and lo and behold the juice had the slightest creaminess to it. It was divine and made me smile.

I think this was a good exercise for me. I feel like I put a puzzle together and found some answers. There is a bit of a relaxation that has come with it. I feel more at ease. It's nice.

Tomorrow I am going to Indiana (2 hour drive) to spend time with my family for Easter. I probably won't get much chance to post so I am wishing you all a wonderful and beautiful Easter if you celebrate it and if not, have a spectacular Sunday! xo

Day 54

Photo by Bullish 1974 on Flickr

Juices in order of consumption
1 quart spinach, celery, orange

1 quart romaine, celery, cilantro, garlic, lemon, sprouts, kelp

1 quart leaf lettuce, celery, sprouts, apple

Weight
Starting 173.5
Today ??

Sleep
7.5 hours

Supplements
Probiotic
Chanca Piedra
B12
B5 morning and evening
Enzymes with each juice
Colon Cleanse

Exercise
None

Physically
I am feeling better today. The sore on my throat is almost gone thank goodness. That was a painful thing. I am less fuzzy today. Not quite 100% yet but definitely on the way to recovery.

Positive changes
Smooth skin

Losing weight

Tons of mental energy

Detox
coated tongue

Super thirsty

bumps on arms and legs

pale as the snow that fell today

Emotionally
I am just on fire. My kids weren't home today and I got a ton of stuff done. It feels good. Now I should go and take a shower since I didn't manage to get that done today.

Cravings
Food. I want to chew.

Meditation
None

Ramblings

I chose the above picture for today because I feel that it expresses the juice feast perfectly. It is a ride, just like a roller coaster with it's ups and downs. There is fear and trepidation, exhilaration and excitement. There are periods when you feel like you are on top of the world and then there are times when you feel like you might throw up. When you put all the pieces together you are left with something so fun and wonderful that you want to do it again and again.

When I am in the down periods of my cleansing, it helps me to remember the up times. I know that goes against living in the moment but when the moment sucks it's nice to have something else to keep you going.

I had a comment from someone who said that my detox symptoms are scary. I was kind of struck by it and then I felt like, well, it's kind of true. I don't know why I seem to be struggling more than the majority of the people that are juice feasting. To look at me you would never guess there was this much going on inside this body. I struggle with this because there have been times when I was afraid to post something because I don't want to scare people away who are thinking about doing this. And sometimes I feel like I get sick and tired of posting about how crappy I feel.

But then I remember how important it is to be true to myself and true to everyone out there reading. My journey is just that, MY journey. It has been filled with the ups and the downs and I have learned so much from it. I have grown and shrunk (in size :o) and I am going to come out of this thing better than I went in.

I guess I had hopes that this was going to be it for me. This was my magic bullet and I would go on this juice feast for 92 days and I would be cured of everything that ails me. I think I am realizing that that was unrealistic and that this is simply a stepping stone to learning who I am and learning how to nourish myself and love myself back to health. When I am finished with this feast (in 38 days!) I will keep moving in the direction of greater health and vibrancy.

I read this transcript from Karen Knowler today. It was about the 5 levels of transformation that we go through when we change over to a raw diet. I won't go into all of them but the thing that struck me was that there was no number 6. She said that what she found was that after a person reached level 5 they began again at level 1 this time with new thoughts, new revelations and they can awaken at a different level.

I think it is easy to look for the finish line and to want to be cured or to be thin. Then what? I ask myself this a lot. Then what? There is no finish line. We just keep going, getting better and better everyday. Expanding and becoming more true to ourselves. I like Karen's idea about cycling through again. I feel that I will be beginning a new cycle on April 29th. I will be approaching life with fresh eyes and a renewed spirit for living life to the fullest and savoring life.

Day 53

Photo by Pug Named Roxy on Flickr

Juices in order of consumption
1 quart orange, spinach, celery

1 quart celery, romaine, leaf lettuce, yam, apple
Not my favorite. Kind of yucky actually.

I know, I know, only 2 quarts! It's terrible. I feel terrible though so yuck juice!

Weight
Starting 173.5
Today ??

Sleep
7 hours

Supplements
Probiotic
Chanca Piedra
B12
B5 morning and evening
Enzymes with each juice
Colon Cleanse

Exercise
10 min walk

Physically
I am a wreck today. I feel foggy and tired, weak and groggy. I can't believe the amount of work I got done despite how I feel. I am a rock star!

Positive changes
Skin smooth
Losing weight

Detox
Coated tongue
Bad sore on very base of tongue. It's all red and it hurts really bad
Headache
Clear fluid filled bump back again
Weird fuzzy feeling
Mucus in throat
Sore throat

Emotionally
Oh man I am a crabby and impatient bitch today. I feel like taking someones head off. I don't like it. I miss my happy, peaceful feeling. I actually think it might be PMS! I am due in 8 days so it makes sense. It bums me out though because last month it was pretty uneventful and now this. Oh well.

Cravings
Chinese food

Meditation
I created a meditation/hypnosis audio for myself today. It was on self love. It's funny because as I read these things I find myself talking myself into a deep state of relaxation. It feels so good.

Ramblings
I spent a lot of time revamping my website that I have had for a while. I went back and looked at it and it bummed me out so I got busy and made some changes. It's been dormant for a while and probably will remain that way for a bit longer but I want to get it closer to being ready when I decide to re-launch it.

I usually drink my morning water and lemon cold but this morning I couldn't bear the idea of drinking it so cold so I warmed it up. OK, I didn't like it. In fact, it made me feel a bit nauseous. It took me forever to drink it, so much so that it was cool when I finished it.

That's really all I have to say today. Sorry to be so boring. I am just riding out this latest healing episode and waiting to be rejuvenated.

One Minute Shift

Here are some short, one minute videos that I found on One Minute Shift.

Day 52

Photo by Marry Anne Thygesen on Flickr

Juices in order of consumption
1 quart orange, celery, spinach

1 quart romaine, cilantro, collard greens, tomato, garlic, kelp

1 quart romaine, mango, pineapple, cilantro

Weight
Starting 173.5
Today 148

Lost 25.5 lbs

Sleep
6.5 hours

Supplements
Probiotic
Chanca Piedra
B12
Enzymes with each juice
Colon Cleanse

Exercise
None

Physically
Ugh. I am not feeling too good today. I still have loose stools and I got some heartburn. I went out to the health food store and stocked up on all the things I was out of so I can get back on track.

Positive changes
Skin smooth
Losing weight

Detox
Burning eyes
Coated tongue
Sore spot on back left side of throat
Tired
Bumps on skin as before

Emotionally
I had an amazing Journey process today so despite feeling poor on the physical front I felt really fantastic on the emotional front. I found myself in this large, dark, and cavernous part of my body. It felt very lonely, cold and sad. I only needed to talk with myself and forgive myself for all the times I didn't take care of myself or like myself. It was very powerful and in the end the area that was once dark and lonely was filled with warm, golden light that poured out of me. I was uplifted and felt fantastic. Good stuff.

Cravings
None. I didn't spend as much time surfing the net looking for food but I did wander around Whole foods to see what was going on. I was there to find the magazine Get Fresh that was supposed to be in stores. Unfortunately, my Whole Foods didn't have it. ;o(

I looked at all the prepared food and smelled it while I was there though. It was weird because I didn't crave it. I was just really curious. Then I went next store to the bookstore and bought Ani Phyo's book called Ani's Raw Food Kitchen . I went through the whole book slowly, page by page and I can't wait. I didn't feel compelled to stop though. It's like I am just getting myself ready.

Trash Bag Tango
None

Meditation
My Journey

Ramblings
Today is St. Joseph's Day. When I was young this was a really big deal for me. I would always dress in red and have Italian food. I didn't grow up with any kind of religion especially not Catholic so it didn't have anything to do with religion. It was a way for me to connect with my Italian heritage. The funny thing is that my dad is 100% Italian and 1/2 Sicilian where St. Joseph's day used to be big but he couldn't have cared less about it. It was my thing, just for me. So here is to my Italian side and to St. Joseph.

I had some bananas that were just about to get overripe so I decided to try making some crepes or leather or something. I blended them up in the Vitamix and spread them out on my teflex sheets. I am about to go and take them off, cut them and maybe try to roll them up. We'll see. I had my husband try them and he said they were really good so I think my kids will like them. I hope so.

I am sooooo excited because it seems that I found a place to have my husband's party. The plans have changed a bit and are closer to my original idea that I never told you about. We are going to go camping for the weekend. I found this campground that is only 30 minutes from my house. I am going to reserve a large campsite that is right on the river. The campground has a spring fed swimming hole, fishing, pool and playground. We can bring in a volleyball net and any other kinds of games too.

I talked to some of my friends and they are on board with the Survivor thing. I think I found my host and one of the best party planners and the best builders to help with whatever I need. I sent out an email to friends and family to let them know about the plans and to have them save the date. I heard back from many who are equally excited. One of hubby's old friends is even going to fly in from DC. I think it is going to be awesome!

The best part is I hate camping! I love all the fun stuff you do while camping, I just hate sleeping in a tent so hubby is going to appreciate it even more. Plans are in the works to be an unforgettable weekend. Yeah!!!

So I am off to roll banana leather that I won't be eating and then I will be dropping in bed fast asleep. Sweet dreams.

Challenge of Love

The other day for my meditation I pulled the Self Love Card from my Journey Deck.

Self Love

Often we are so busy - there's so much to do, to accomplish, to achieve - that we overlook our own self. This card is inviting you to take some time to honor your self.

Often we are quick to forgive others, quick to see their talents and their beauty, but much harder on ourselves. Take a moment to sit quietly in gratitude for all that you are. Make a list of all the qualities, talents, moments of giving, caring, kindness, beauty, brilliance, creativity that your own self has given you. Let the list overflow.

Ten make a fresh page of praise, expressing your gratitude for being yourself. When was the last time you praised yourself or acknowledged your beauty? It's time to be reckless: lavish yourself in self-love. Then find a gift, something significant, just for you. It can be a flower, a piece of music, something meaningful that says, "I honor you, I cherish you, I'm grateful." It's time to honor your own self. You deserve.

This got me thinking what a great idea this was for me to do and what a great idea it would be to share with my blogging friends. So I decided to make it a bit of a challenge. Instead of sharing fun facts about yourself, I am inviting you to spend some time doing the exercise above and sharing it on your blog. You can invite others to do the same and soon we will have a community of people who are appreciating and loving themselves.

Now I know it may seem awkward for some of you to "brag" about yourselves (because it was for me too). But I encourage you to push past that uncomfortable feeling and really give yourself some love. It isn't bragging. It is sharing your gifts with the world and more importantly giving yourself a much needed boost of confidence and a dose of self love.

Here is how it works: Do the exercise exactly as described above for yourself and then choose 3 things from your list of qualities and traits, and 3 from your list of self praise to share. At the end, post an online gift in the form of a picture, song, or video that honors you. Have fun with it. Here is mine:

Qualities and Gifts
1. I have beautiful eyes - for years people have commented on them. Strangers have come up to me and told me how beautiful my eyes are. Even when my skin and body where looking worse for the wear, my eyes still looked beautiful. I feel especially blessed that my children seem to have inherited my eyes.

2. I am a good communicator and public speaker - I am not sure what it is but when I am on, I am on. I am able to communicate in a way that is down to earth, simple and effective. I have taught people how to do many things over the years and I always get comments on how much they enjoyed it. It is definitely one of my strengths.

3. I am always willing to help out a friend in need- I have helped many people throughout the years with many different things. When I was divorced and living in a house with my 2 small children I let one of my friends stay with me. She also had 2 small boys about the same age. I had a small house so all 4 boys stayed together in one room. It makes me feel good to be able to help out when someone is going through something tough.

Praise and Honoring:
1. I honor myself for continuing to learn and to grow. It was easy to get comfortable inside my own little world and just stay there but I have expanded beyond that and am always learning new things. I have changed so much that sometimes I don't even recognize the old me. It is so awesome because this is the TRUE ME! Not what I think people will relate to, only what I relate to.

2. I honor myself for looking beyond "me" and doing what is right. When I got divorced and my ex-husband had a child by another woman I could have easily held onto the hurt and anger but I made a vow to myself that I wouldn't do it. I would not blame that innocent baby for being born into this situation and I would encourage a healthy relationship between my children and their brother. I used to babysit him on a regular basis, take him out with us, and we have even taken him on our family vacation with us. It is a healthy relationship for everyone and one that I am proud of.

3. I honor myself for learning how to love myself. This post would have been impossible for me to write before. I didn't really like any part of who I was. The funny thing is that nothing about me has changed, I now simply allow the truth to be heard by myself. I am proud that I have taken time for me, that I have learned that it is OK to think I am pretty cool. I am proud that I have learned to balance loving myself with loving those around me.

My gift to myself:
I thought long and hard about what gift I wanted to give myself. I began searching the Internet for a beautiful picture, I thought of all the moving songs I know that touch my heart and all the inspirational videos I have watched that have moved me to tears.

In the end, I decided on the following pictures of my children. As soon as I saw them I knew they were perfect. The first is the official Christmas card picture I sent out in 2007. Wow, they are beautiful and they take my breath away.

The second is the funny picture they got to take as a reward for posing so nicely for mom. It cracks me up and helps me remember the simple joy in life, the childhood innocence that I have long forgotten but is being awakened in me. It reminds me of the true gifts that I have been given in my life and the joy that I have everyday, right here, under my roof whenever I am present enough to accept it.

Love to all of you!!!

Day 51

Photo by Josef.Stuefer on Flickr

Juices in order of consumption
1 quart orange, celery, spinach

1 quart celery, romaine, cilantro, tomato

1 quart celery, spinach, pineapple

Weight
Starting 173.5
Today ?

Sleep
7.5hours

Supplements
Chanca Piedra
B12
Enzymes with each juice
Colon Cleanse

Exercise
None

Physically
I am having a bit of stomach stuff going on again today. I have some diarrhea, gurgling and yuckiness. I feel drained and a bit crabby.

Positive changes
smooth skin

losing weight

Detox
coated tongue

mucus

red bumps on legs

bumps on upper arms

tummy stuff

Emotionally
I am tired and drained. I really just want to go to bed or veg in front of the TV. I will be keeping it short tonight.

Cravings
Raw food.

Trash Bag Tango
None

Meditation
None

Ramblings
Not much happened today. I felt lousy and sat in front of the computer for as much time as I could looking at raw food pictures and raw food recipes. I know, I know, it is crazy but I just can't help it. It's like my new addiction. I am enjoying it so much. I even bought a raw food ebook. You would think I was ending this feast this week by the way I am acting. I just really want some food.

The funny thing is that I have been doing this for about a week and it hasn't bothered me but now that I am not feeling so good I am struggling with it. Just another obstacle and if today is anything like the past healing episodes I have had (which I am sure it is) then it will be over soon. I will just hang on wait.

I am going to keep it short tonight my friends. I can't wait to lie down although I am sure I will be up and running to the bathroom a million times. ;o)

Amazing Ants

I got this video from my aunt and I think it is amazing. I hope you enjoy it too.

Day 50

Photo by m.a.x on Flickr

St. Patrick's Day is an enchanted time – a day to begin transforming winter's dreams into summer's magic.-- Adrienne Cook

Juices in order of consumption
Shot of hemp oil
1 quart orange, celery, spinach


1 quart romaine, celery, pineapple


1 quart romaine, tomato, garlic, celery


1 quart celery, orange, apple


4 quarts again. I am a rock star. I think looking at all those raw food recipes and pictures is making my stomach growl so I get hungry. Whatever works!
I have been a naughty girl in regard to the hemp oil. I was having such a hard time getting it in because it makes me sick to drink it with my juice. I tried drinking it between juices but I didn't know how long it took to get through my system and a few times it upset my stomach when I drank my juice too soon. So I just wasn't drinking it.

Today I decided to have it in the morning after my lemon water and before my first juice and it seemed to work out pretty good. Of course I forgot to take the MSM. :o)

Weight
Starting 173.5
Today 149.5

Woo hoo! I dropped below the 150 mark. That feels good.

Sleep
7 hours

Supplements
Probiotic -out
Chanca Piedra
B12
zinc -out. I finally noticed a taste after drinking the whole bottle. I have to get another one and see how it tastes.
Enzymes with each juice
Colon Cleanse

Exercise
None - I thought my yoga class was in the evening but it was at 8:30am. I had to get on the phone to get an appointment for my son so I couldn't make it. Never quite got around to doing anything else.

Physically
Another wonderful day on the physical front. Feeling good, feeling good. The body seems happy. Here at 8:00 it is a bit tired but still feels good

Positive changes
Skin smooth
Losing weight
Hubby says I'm glowing
People are commenting on my appearance

Detox
Coated tongue
Mucus in nose and throat
Red bumps on legs
Bumps on upper arms
Clear filled bump on lower lip is back again

Emotionally
Good day. Feeling happy and light.

Cravings
Baked potato
Raw delightful dishes

Trash Bag Tango
Cleaned kitchen drawer


Meditation
I am saving this for a future post. Stay tuned.


Ramblings
Well, my sweet Cody broke his finger and got his cast today. He has to wear it for 3 weeks. He was so disappointed. You should have seen the face he was making when I tried to snap this picture. I had to make him laugh to get a decent one.



His baseball season is in a precarious position. He was given a starting position as a pitcher and a leadership roll on the team. He was thrilled and excited about it. I don't know what will happen when he is able to go back. I hope he still has a spot.



So it seems that today is the perfect day to be on a juice feast. I mean, come on, green juice all day. Woo hoo. It beats the days of green beer right? I do kind of miss corned beef and cabbage with carrots, potatoes and Irish soda bread. Oooh yum.




Here is a picture of the Chicago River that the dye green every year for St. Patty's Day. It's so weird isn't it? It makes for a pretty cool picture though. I have never actually gone into the city on that day. It is usually too cold for me. Today it actually snowed again!



Today I have reached day 50! Day 50 and St. Patty's day all in one. How awesome. Only 42 more days to go. Ha ha, when I say it like that it seems horrible. One day at a time right? I know the picture of 50 is odd for a juice feasting blog but I am in a huge sporting family so it's just right for me.



My oldest son has his first volleyball game tomorrow so that is pretty exciting. At least it is inside and I will be toasty warm.



I am thinking of taking a nice relaxing bath tonight. I wonder if I will get a chance. Good night all.

Week 7 Review

Before

Week 4

Week 7

It really has been a wonderful week for me. It seems something has shifted. I feel like while I am still detoxing and cleaning out I feel as if I have moved on to a more productive stage. The first part of this juice feast I feel like ALL my energy was being spent to heal and to clean and there was little left for me. Lately I have been feeling quite a bit more energy and this new found sense of excitement. I want to do things. I want to do everything. I am excited about my future and have a sense of clarity that I am enjoying immensely.

I have felt that everything I have been doing for the last few years was so perfect and that there was something that it was all leading up to. I have been trained in hypnotherapy, nutritional consulting, The Journey, and Anne Wigmore's detox method. I know that there is something big that is going to come out of all this for me and I feel that I am nearing the end of this part of my life and that everything is going to be coming together soon, perfectly.

I have decided to take a raw chef course that is held here in Chicago. I will take the first one in June when I have completed my juice feast (gotta taste that food ya know!) and go from there. I can see myself teaching raw "cooking" classes (you know I have all that restaurant experience :o)and I know that even if I choose not to go that route I will have learned a lot for myself and who knows, maybe my family too.

I am also thinking seriously about becoming a juice feasting consultant. It seems right to me and I will probably go ahead and do it. I just haven't got that perfect "yes" answer that I like to get. I think it is coming though.

I have begun writing some things down that I have been thinking about for a book of sorts. I have been thinking about it for about a year now and suddenly it has started to take form right here on my lovely computer. I just feel like the time is right and things seem so easy.

As I write this I still feel a bit of hesitation and fear about putting myself out there. I had this voice that said, "Who are you to write a book? You can't write a book?" Notice how instead of saying I began writing a book, I wrote, writing some things down for a book of sorts. Ha ha. I think that is funny. Well, I know what I need to do to move past it, just like every other obstacle I have come across. Meet it head on.

So there is a lot of change and excitement going on here for me. I am feeling hopeful and productive and so grateful for this time. I have never taken time to care for myself and to care about myself. This juice feast hasn't just been about the physical healing. It has been a wonderful emotional and spiritual journey for me. A journey into loving myself and believing in myself. What a true gift!

Penni asked:

Do you have an ultimate goal in mind of what you'd like to weigh, or does that even matter to you at this point?

I don't really care about the weight portion. Well, I guess I shouldn't say that. I do care. I want to look good. I just don't know what the number will look like. I know 130 on some looks great and others, well not so good. I tend to be rather flabby and lacking muscle since I have been sedentary for so long but I imagine this will change when I begin to rebuild my muscles. I will just wait it out and see what happens.

Well, on to week 8! Thank you all for your support, well wishes and uplifting comments when I need them the most. You always make my day and bring a little smile to my face and a pitter patter to my heart. Wishing you all a juicy day!

Day 49

Photo by KandyJaxx on Flickr

Juices in order of consumption
3/4 quart orange, pineapple, mango
Oh my gosh!!! You want to talk about heaven in a glass? I almost cried, it tasted so good. It was a bit too sweet for me so I gave the last 1/4 quart to my hubby.

1 quart Boston lettuce, celery, tomato, alfalfa, garlic, kelp

1 quart spinach, pear, kiwi, alfalfa, lemon

1 quart romaine, carrot, cilantro, collard green

4 quarts for me (well almost)! Yea me!

Weight
Starting 173.5
Today ???

Sleep
7.5 hours

Supplements
MSM
Probiotic - I am out.
Chanca Piedra
B12
zinc
Enzymes with each juice
Colon Cleanse

Exercise
None

Physically
I was feeling a bit tired today but it could have just been because it was a nice, lazy Sunday. My body is still sore from the yoga. How out of shape am I? Isn't that crazy? I am hoping to go back tomorrow.

Positive changes
Skin smooth
Losing weight
My husband keeps telling me that I am glowing as he kisses me. xoxo

Detox
Coated tongue
Mucus in throat and nose

Emotionally
I feel like I was on a bit of a roller coaster today. One minute I was feeling this deep bliss, contentment and joy and the next I was pissed and wanted to rip someones head off. Then I was back to joy and happiness. It was strange. It wasn't like my normal PMS. Usually I am just a bitch the entire time and don't feel loving or nice until the day before my period arrives. This was up and down, up and down. I just let it come though.

Craving
Movie theater popcorn
Macaroni and cheese

Trash Bag Tango
None

Meditation
I pulled this card from my Journey Cards:

Mystery

Those who know, don't know.
those who don't know, know.

Has a 'need to know' been arising lately? Have you been spending time trying to figure out the mysteries of life?

Give up the need to know. Cease asking 'Why?' Asking 'Why?' only leads you deeper into mind talk. If your thinking mind could have figured things out, it would have done so long ago.

Just take a big Mystery Bucket and throw all your questions, all your striving for answers into the bucket. 'Why did someone I love behave that way?' Don't know - into the bucket. 'Why do I feel the way I feel?' Don't know-into the bucket. 'What will happen tomorrow?' Don't know- into the bucket. In fact, throw all questions into the Mystery Bucket. Life is a mystery, unknowable and divine. Be content to rest in this mystery.

Ramblings
My husband and I took the kids to see Horton Hears a Who tonight. It was a cute movie and I really enjoyed it. The animation was fabulous and I couldn't get over what a good job they did making Horton look like Jim Carey. I mean the expressions were so spot on. Very cute.

It did get the hubby and I talking about life a bit which was cool. On the way home we talked about living on the speck, multiple realities, and What the Bleep Down the Rabbit Hole . It is pretty cool when a cartoon gets you thinking.

So you may be able to tell by the picture above that I had a bit of a lazy Sunday (just substitute the glass of wine for a jug-o-juice). I pretty much took it easy. I caught up on some posts on the computer, sent out some info on the green smoothie cleanse for my friend, read a bit, took a loooong shower and then went to the movies. It was nice though.

Today, day 49 brings me back 16 years in my retracing. 16 years ago I was 22 and pregnant with my first son. I was working in my dad's bar as a manager and living with my first husband. Times were not the greatest. He was very volatile and would explode at any moment. Huh, I just started thinking that maybe this is where my roller coaster behavior is stemming from. That is exactly what my life was like back then! Wow, it is amazing to figure stuff out as I type. It's like therapy and you guys are my therapists. Ha, pretty cool. It makes total sense.

I imagine that I should have some pretty good liver detoxing going on for the next 24 days. That will take me back to 14 years old when I started drinking. I would have to go back to 11 years for when I started smoking cigarettes. Yes, I was in 6th grade. I can remember it like it was yesterday.

You see, I remember watching TV and movies where the characters were stressed out, having a rough time and unhappy. They would always seem to grab a cigarette and start smoking and it looked like they got some relief from it and felt better. My home life was very stressful. My parents were both very volatile and fought A LOT! So one day I left for school early and by myself. I went to the senior center that was on the way to school and went in and bought a pack of cigarettes. I walked a little further to the church steps where I sat down and lit up. I was so hoping it would make me feel better but alas, it only was disgusting.

It didn't stop me from smoking though. Word got out that I was one of "those" kids and the other kids like me started wanting to hang out and smoke after school. Sure, why not. I was cool. I was actually reported for smoking on school property. They came and confiscated my cigarettes out of the rosin compartment in my viola case.

My dad was pissed! He came into the school and spanked me in front of the gymnasium filled with kids, dragged me out, and drove me to the store where he sent my mom in to get a pack of camel non filtered. He took me home and made me smoke them until I was so dizzy I couldn't walk and threw up. Didn't matter. I continued to smoke on and off for the next 14 years.

Hmm, I guess I just spilled the beans about something way ahead of time. Now what will I tell you when I get back to the age of 11? Don't worry, that was a rough year so I will have plenty more stories to tell.

Sweet dreams my juice feasting friends.

Day 48

Photo by Darkmatter on Flickr

Juices in order of consumption
3/4 quart orange strawberry

1 quart romaine, Boston red lettuce, tomato, celery, cilantro, garlic

1 quart romaine , carrots, apple, celery

That's it. We had people over til late and I thought I would get another juice in but my stomach just couldn't do it. Gassy and bloated doesn't make you want more juice. I have to do better.

Weight
Starting 173.5
Today 151

Sleep
9 hours

Supplements
MSM- I decided that I want to try taking my MSM again. I gave it up very early on in the feast because of my upset stomach. I really want to try and incorporate it back in so here we go. Probiotic
Chanca Piedra
B12
zinc
B5 morning and evening - I am out. I have to make a trip to the health food store.
Enzymes with each juice
Colon Cleanse

Exercise
My body was so sore that I couldn't hardly walk much less exercise. I needed to rest it. Just bending over to sit was so painful. UGH.

Physically
Once again, I am sitting here trying to come up with something to say about how I felt physically and nothing is really coming to me. I felt fine. How boring is that? I didn't feel spectacular and I didn't feel horrible. Just fine.

Positive changes
Smooth skin
Weight loss
Friends are beginning to comment on how much better I look

Detox
Coated tongue
Red bumps on legs
Bumps on upper arms
I know you probably don't want to read this but I have been passing things in the bathroom that I know I am not injesting. Possibly undigested food or...I don't know what. Gotta love that cleansing.

Emotionally
I had a rather up and down day today. I was feeling pretty serene and happy for much of the day. I was either running a kid to an event or relaxing and reading. I managed to clean my house too. It was pretty good. Then my 2 teenagers got into a physical fight. This is not new. They do this often. My oldest came down crying and I talked to both of them. It didn't go well and I found myself in a funk. My husband came home from being gone all day and I was in a pissy mood. We had a bit of a run around and I just felt like shit.

The funny thing is that I found myself thinking; "What the hell is wrong with you Michelle? Snap out of it. You don't want to feel like this." But I really couldn't seem to get out of the funk. My husband left and went to the store and by the time he got back things settled down a bit and shortly after our guests started to arrive and I was fine. We had a lot of fun in the evening playing cards and talking.

Cravings
There was an onion dip with pretzels, some cheese spread with crackers and a tortilla dip put out on my counter for the whole evening. I don't know if I was craving it or just craving the idea of it.
Trash Bag Tango
None

Meditation
None- It is the weekend you know ;o)

Ramblings
One of my friends who was over told me that she wants to start juicing on Monday. She doesn't know how long she will do it for but she wanted my help. I know she wants to do it strictly for weight loss so I am thinking about forwarding this post from Hanlie. She also doesn't have a juicer or a Vitamix and is coming from a SAD diet. I suggested that she start with a Green Smoothie cleanse and see how that goes until she gets a way to make the juice. It should be interesting to see how this plays out.

I have to admit that I am getting bored with my blog posts lately. There doesn't seem to be much excitement going on and I have been so busy with other things that I haven't had much introspection. I don't want to stop posting about my day because this is a record for me as well. I will have to try and mix it up a bit. If there is anything you would like to hear more about or something you enjoyed, please let me know so I can get a little guidance.

xoxo