92 Day Juice Feast

Monday, March 09, 2009

Global Juice Feast 2009 - Day 8

So I've been on a Juice Feast for 8 days today. Yay me. Many other people around the world are doing this as well and planning to go for 92 days as part of David Rainoshek's "92 Day Global Juice Feast" . The Rainosheks have 2 websites that offer support during this extended feast - one is free and has a large community of members who offer support to one another through advice and shared experiences. The other site is a pay site (a little over $30 a month $36 for us Canadians) and is well worth the money for the wealth of information provided. The pay site gives guidelines, day by day support and inspiration as you go along. I'm finding this to be an invaluable tool in my quest to feast long term.

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Tuesday, March 10, 2009 Radish for Thyroid Regulation - Day 9

Did you know that Radish are said to be one of the most beneficial vegetables for regulation of the thyroid? Radish contain "Raphanin" (a sulfur) which is responsible for balancing the body's production of thyroxine and calcitonin. With enough radish juice the thyroid won't under or over produce these hormones (good news for people with Hashimotos.)
I'm on day 9 of my juice feast and have been juicing a good number of radish daily. I'm not sure if it is the radish juice or just the fact that I'm giving my body a rest but, I'm feeling pretty stable energy wise.

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Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Plow Position - Thyroid Stimulator - Day 10

My yoga instructor told us the other day that the plow position is one of the best yoga moves a woman can do. It massages the thyroid gland which is situated in the lower part of the neck. This move also alleviates backaches, stress, sinus pain, and headaches

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Friday, May 08, 2009 Day 68

I'm feeling so positive and full of energy. I don't know if it is juicing or Holosync (using around 9 days now) probably a bit of both. I find more and more that I'm living in the moment which is exactly what I've been hoping for. I'm still experiencing frustrating moments but, I seem to be dealing with them better.


I'll be finishing the feast June 1 and have decided to go to my parents farm June 3 until the end of the month while I transition back to solid foods. Things just seemed to fall into place that I should go in June. I've decided to look at this trip as an opportunity to be surrounded by moral support and to test my resolve in social situations.


I've been a bit of a hermit for the past few months totally focused on my Juice Feast - spending every spare moment I have educating myself about nutrition and health. I had a friend yesterday who told me to think cocoons and butterflies because saying I've been a hermit seems negative and cocoon implies change/growth and healing - which was the perfect thought because one of my biggest challenges has been to heal my thyroid (the butterfly shaped gland :) - My plan has been to celebrate the end of my feast with the purchase of a vitamix on day 92 but now I'm thinking I may need a little butterfly charm as well too remind me of why I am doing this and who I'm becoming.


:)

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Day 73

I decided to water fast this past Saturday and it went really well. No headaches or nausea just a little tired which was expected so I spent the day reading and lounging about. I've been taking the Intestinal Parisite Formula that was reccomended since day 65 and not to get into the disgusting details but... today there was a worm ewwww! I was feeling really grumpy and like something was going on starting Monday - I thought it might be because of the water fast the day before. Yesterday I was exhausted and went to bed around seven - still feeling grumpy and fighting off a headache. Then today the worm (and yes I'm 99% sure that is what it was). I know I should be feeling happy that it is out of my body but, I'm feeling a little more disturbed by the whole thing than thankful at this point. I'm sure I'll get there but, at this point eww is the best I can do.

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Sunday, May 17, 2009

Day 77

I haven't posted about my feast in a few days because I'm experiencing some anxiety over ending it. I know I still have 15 days to go but, always looking ahead I'm worried I'm not prepared for the next step. I realise that coming off this feast in a healthy way is in many ways just as important if not more so than the feast itself. I plan to take a full month to fully transition back to solid foods because I think it will take me that long to establish the new healthy eating patterns I hope to adopt. I broke it down and think I will do 8 days of each of the 3 steps that David suggests for coming off of the feast (instead of 6 days in total) - just because I think knowing myself that I'll need to go more slowly so I can stay in control.... sooo here is my plan

• 8 days juice and prunes + soak water
• 8 days green smoothies/juice juicy fruits
• 8 days green smoothies/juice juicy fruits, olives and salads

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Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - Day 79

I'm feeling really good today. My brain is buzzing with a million projects I want to start. I had a woman laugh this weekend when I told her what I've been up to - she said "You don't do things by half measures do you?" - I was telling her that I'm juice feasting, meditating and trying to "wake up" on a personal level. I decided to take her comment as a compliment.

I'm so glad I decided to make meditating, practicing yoga and self examination a large part of my plan during this feast. Having these other things to focus on has really helped me through some difficult times. Life becomes very interesting when snacking/food isn't an option when you are bored, frustrated or need to be comforted. Physical detoxing I expected. It wasn't until 14 days or so into the feast that I was introduced to the idea of emotional detoxing. Having to face the lies I was telling myself about why, when and what I was choosing to eat has been eye opening.

In this last stage I'm starting to realize I'll never view food the same way again. I've been reading "Diet for a new America" this past week because I was thinking about what Anthony Robbins says about associating massive pain to a behavior you want to change. I think the book is working - I've been crying/angry through large parts of it. The "Omnivor's Dilema" is next... I feel like Alice in Wonderland -I've passed into this amazing new world - I hope things stay this vibrant and alive for me when I start to eat solid foods again fingers xed...

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Monday, May 25, 2009 Day 85

I'm counting down the days. I feel it is time to stop but, I told myself 92 days so 92 days it will be. I've been craving solid food for about a week now. No weight loss (or gain) for two weeks - I think this may be due to work/home stress more than anything else. I'm really seeing how much stress affects my body and working to change some of the things in my life that seem to be causing it. I'm looking forward to my vacation. I feel like I need some space and time to centre myself while I come off my juice feast. I keep thinking of the Jimmy Buffet song "Changes in latitude changes in attitude." - I know leaving my routine/home while I do this will be a challenge but, I think in the end it will be a good break and a chance to take my resolve out for a test drive.

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Friday, May 29, 2009 Day 89

I've been feeling more and more like staying away from my computer lately - which doesn't work out well for someone who depends on a computer for her livelihood. I'm looking forward to my 3 weeks off. I can't believe I'm here only 3 more days to go.

A short run down of what the feast has done for me...
• My allergies are under control (and I'm now convinced most of the issues I was dealing with stemmed from the food choices I was making)
• I've released 27lbs
• I feel more grounded
• My creative fire is in overdrive
• I find I'm more present in my life (enjoying the moments more)
• I feel healthy and on most days energetic
• I know a lot more about how my body works and responds to stress, food & environment
• I've learned a lot about nutrition and health - and am deeply inspired to learn more and share with others what I"m finding out.
• I feel in control of my body again - I didn't feel that way for a long time after I was diagnosed with Hashimotos - my weight went up, my emotions and energy levels were all over the place, I didn't know what to do to feel normal again. Eating a raw food diet and following a TCM regime of Herbs really helped but, I still had issues - weight, fear that the problem would resurface, energy highs and lows.
• I've been experiencing Synchronicity (not just a raw food/juice hype - it is true!) - divine guidance call it what you will - it is happening.


I found a really interesting New York Times article today by Michael Pollan (author of the Omnivore's Dilemma ) titled "Unhappy Meals" - worth a read.


"Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.
That, more or less, is the short answer to the supposedly incredibly complicated and confusing question of what we humans should eat in order to be maximally healthy. I hate to give away the game right here at the beginning of a long essay, and I confess that I'm tempted to complicate matters in the interest of keeping things going for a few thousand more words..."
Here is the link to the article
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/28/health/28iht-web.0128foodMAGAZINE.4372043.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1 

Tuesday, June 02, 2009 Day 93 (Day 1 Post Feast)

So the prunes - I have to admit the first prune was a little scary - what it represented, how it would make me feel. I sat and looked at my bowl of soaked prunes for at least 10 minutes before I could bring myself to eat one of them. Let me just say this about prunes - prunes work - I'm glad I was full after 4 and stopped (plenty of fiber in that many for me). I broke my feast via video chat with a supportive friend. I think because I took the time to make a ritual/event out of the prune eating - the whole feasting process has been reinforced in my mind as a big event in my life. I know a lot of people say they feel they aren't ready to stop at 92 days. I woke up yesterday elated. I've been feeling like it was time to stop for a little over a week now but, wanted to make it to 92 days and am glad I waited. I'm in transit tomorrow - off to the prairies. I'm excited and nervous to take my feast breaking on the road. A challenge but, I'm sure it will be a good one. 

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How I came off the Feast - Postings are in May, 2009...