Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Juice Fast

My latest journey begins 2 months ago. We were discussing with Ms. Julie what films we wanted to show for the first 4 months of 2012 in the Peace Project Film Series. We had all been recommended "Fat, Sick and nearly Dead." Julie watched it, and said we need to show it. So we put it on the calendar.

And then she said, since it's a film about juice fasting, we should do a juice fast too. We could host a 5 day juice fast.

Fasting has intrigued me for last last few years. Since college, I have had a deep and growing fascination with spirituality. It has led me down many paths, collecting many ideas, joys, and bigger concepts of Love. I think it started with my trips to Wyoming, where I felt such a connection, and even as a child, I could sense something calling to me from those mountains, and this led me to an interest in Native American spirituality. In all of these ideas, fasting was a reoccurring theme.

I kept saying, someday.

So this opportunity, pushed me at the right time, and I leaped.

The movie was deeply inspiring, and my excitement for this adventure was palpable. The universe was also on my side. You see, a juicer made it's way to me, shortly before the juicing was to begin.

The night before my first day of juicing, I went out and bought fruit and veggies enough to make a large batch that would last for about two days.

Kale, cucumber, spinach, carrots, apples, oranges, pineapple, cantaloupe, watermelon, mango.

Mmm!

The first juicing experience was a little disheartening, shall I say. Not in the product, but in the fact that it took over an hour to juice. That was more time than I was expecting. I was able to whittle that down to about 30 min, including washing the juicer.

But the juice was good. And by day 2 and 3, I was feeling a little difference. A little more open to understanding myself. By day 4, I was noticing a few less pounds, and feeling pretty good overall.

Day 7 was difficult for me. The whole of the two week, I never felt hungry. I was comfortably full. Satisfied, if you will. But on Day 7, my habits reared their head, and I found I was deeply itching to have hummus and pita throughout the day. You see, I typically would have hummus and pita as I worked online during the day, and/or if I watched TV, etc. I munch a lot. Not that it's a bad thing, necessarily. But I think it is when you dont have control over your actions.

For both Day 7 and 8 there was great temptation to break my fast. But this being a spiritual adventure, I was not about to let my habits break me down. All of my will power was summoned, and I was determined to find a way over my habits.

This issue of my munching habit, while I knew that I did it, became very clear to me at this time. It was the first time I was looking at a habit of mine, and seriously, deeply looking it, in hopes of changing or overcoming it.

The empowerment in this choice and insight was profound, and Day 9 brought the best Id felt yet! And I mean yet. It was the best I have felt that I can remember in all of my 30 years in this skin.

Just before my juicing, I came down with a nasty head cold. And it took several days into the juicing for it to leave. As soon as it did though, I was back into a yoga routine. My energy was rising and feeling great!

My daily juice was typically a fruit-based juice in the am, and then a more veggie-based one in the pm. I was making large quantities so that I could take it with me as I traveled to meetings and shows, etc, so I wasnt really following recipes. My veggie drink was a mix of kale, carrots, cucumber, spinach, apples, grapes, beets, and ginger. My fruit drink was a mix of apples, pears, oranges, grapes, kale, mangoes, watermelon, pineapple, cantaloupe, plums, carrots, and sometimes strawberries. I added to this by having a carrot-apple-beet juice at Ms Julies Kitchen once in a while, fresh orange juice, fresh cranberry juice, and the random juice at Mustard Seed or another fresh fruit bar.

A big misstep: Earth Fare ... does not have very good juice options. They have komboucha on tap, but their mixed juices are sort of weird combinations. The one I tried had garlic in it, and was so disgusting, I nearly vomited. I tell you, so you dont make that same mistake. It took me hours to get that taste out of my mouth.

So now here I sit, at the end of this stage of the journey, forever changed. My eating habits will never be quite the same. Ive lost a good 15 pounds or more and feel exceptional. Juicing will be in my diet and lifestyle every week if not every day.

I walk on from this with a greater understanding of my body, and a greater connection to my self.

This has also led me to the next step, which is real fasting. My goal is to undertake a one day a week fast.

I highly recommend juice fasting to anyone. Be it for just before noon, or one day a week, or 2 weeks, or 30 days. Its a great adventure, and you will walk away more powerful and confident and energized.

Om shanti!