Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Day 24

The last couple of days have been kinda tough. I've said this before, but it's really tough living with cooked fooders and preparing food for them while fasting. Maybe that's why I've been thinking of cooked food so much lately. I wish this feast wasn't so hard mentally to do at this point. I keep thinking about a lot of my favorite foods I used to eat! Even the crappy stuff like Cheeze Its. What do they add to them that makes them smell so cheezy? I was really tired and cranky yesterday! I hate being cranky! "What's the matter Dad?" ;-( I guess it's a combination of a lot of things. I went out to my car today and napped for 20 minutes around noon time! I'm feeling better even after such a short nap. I woke up feeling depressed yesterday morning as well. It doesn't help that I wish I could afford to quit my job and go to school full time! That'd be a dream come true...I have some ideas about what I'd like to do to make me happy to get up and go to work!

Day 25

It's amazing what a 20 minute nap can do--Wow! I watched a great series of videos yesterday that We Like it Raw posted of Daniel Vitalis. I want to be like this guy when I grow up! Seriously! When I start thinking about eating my "favorite" cooked foods again then I watch a video like this guy, it really inspires me to strive to a higher level consciousness! I know it's only an emotional attachment I will let go of! I'm confident the longer I stay on this fast the stronger I will be when I'm finally ready to get back to ingesting whole foods again!

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Day 21

2:50pm

I'm really stoked to be here on Day 21! Tomorrow will be the longest I've ever fasted! I'm very proud of myself for getting this far and look forward to getting another week behind me! I'm also proud of the and the other feasters out there! THIS IS NOT EASY!

I feel like I'm just about acclimated to pacific time. I went to bed at 9pm on Friday night and slept until 7am the next morning. Ahhh.....blessed sleep! Yes it was wonderful to get some awesome rest. I felt so good, I got my butt back to the gym and worked my chest, bis, abs, and lower back. I was planning on going to yoga as well, but I got a pretty decent workout and decided against it! I'm glad I made that decision as I was quite tired last night by 9pm and could barely keep my eyes open.

Saturday weigh in: 177lbs (Very cool! 4lbs in seven days.)

I need to post a photo of myself just before I started this fast. You can see these two pronounced fat pockets just below my rib cage! They totally piss me off and are a huge motivation for me to stay on this fast until they are GONE--NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN!! Oh yeah, they will not be back! I will have that six pack I've always wanted! Yes, I admit it; I'm just slightly vain! Here's the photo:


This was actually taken on Day 2 of my fast, 1/2/08. Oh yeah! I'm sucking it in here. I'd have a nice little pot belly if I wasn't. I think I took a side pro of me back in November I'll have to search for and post. It's awful! And it's my motivation to stay thinner! I think I'm close to 194lbs here and yesterday I was 177lbs! I know I may have been closer to 196 or something, but didn't want weigh myself and get any more discouraged/disappointed with my weight than I already was! I know it's weird! Some men have the same issues as women when it comes to our weight! Anywho....

I got another solid 9 hours of sleep last night. I got on the stair master straight away and had a great sweat. It's a great way to start my day. I can feel I'm getting stronger and more in shape. Since I've started back on the stair master I've been on a level 1 (customized) and feel like I'm ready to increase the intensity a bit.

I have to give respectable shout out to David and Katrina Rainoshek juicefeasting.com! I was blown away with the data they have compiled as part of their juice feasting program! Very very cool! I have a few of the books they have referenced and posted for download on their site, but it's awesome the way it's format and compiled in one place! Bravo! I was hesitant to take the plunge and purchase the 92 day program, but I my curiosity got the best of me! I think it's well worth the money.

Friday, January 25, 2008

Hellacious Travel Day

Day 18
5:17pm PST

I just arrived at home! Have to write now before I finally run out of steam. OMG, I had my last 32oz of green this morning at 7:30am EST. Just before I walked into the security checkin at Boston Airport.

The flight was supposed to arrive in SFO at 11:37am. No problem, I thought! I can handle this! I did great! I just had water, about ~32oz during the flight! The weather in the Bay Area was NOT GOOD! They had to reroute our plane to land in Oakland because SFO had dense fog and wind shear? I finally got to my car in long term parking @ 3:15pm PST! OMG, I was so ready for some nourishment. It's really storming outside and the commute to my neighborhood was a bear! I went straight to the produce stand! Got my veggies and made a b line for Jamba Juice, "I'll have a double shot of wheatgrass and a Power OJ please!" It had been ~12 hours after my last juice intake! I made it! I'm really stoked to be home! What an adventure! I have to say it was a breeze until about 3pm. Then I really started to poop out and was craving FOOD! No flippin way! NOT NOW! NOT YET! ;-)

Yahoo!

(Crap! Now I've got to make juice!)

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

I Am Legend...

...is such a cool movie! OMG, it was soo good! I had a great time--even without popcorn and a soda! I did enjoy a Kombucha tea during the movie, however. It was a nice treat!

I finally remembered to purchase some Kombucha tea from whole foods on Monday! Very very interesting elixir I must admit. I've heard so many people talk about it and sparked my interest some time ago. My first experience with it was on Monday morning--terrible timing. I got a little nauseous. I think it was because I just had some pasteurized apple juice then Kombucha; after not having anything for 7 hours! Not a good combo ! I didn't think I was going to try it til after my fast was over, but I felt really energized all day today and thought I'd give it another try. Funny smell, but I liked twangy taste and the carbonation! I'm not sure if it was a coincidence or what, but it seemed to perk me up a bit. Hmmmm.................

I had a weird morning because I'm still on Pacific Standard time. I got eight hours of sleep but couldn't figure out why my eyes were so heavy. Then it dawned on me that it's 3am in California right now. Oh well, off to a weird start, but gained momentum early and was very productive for work today!

I was in the kitchen again and I think I made enough juice for tomorrow. I sure miss my Breville juicer!

I need to stay on this fast. I need to stay away from cooked foods for as long as I possibly can! I don't want to go back to my old eating habits. The longer I can fast the stronger I'll be when I get back to whole foods again. Before I started this fast I had a hard time NOT eating out! I was driving to the theater tonight and I couldn't help looking at all the pizzerias and other eateries. I think it's just habit too!

Still feeling strong, but getting tired so I guess I'll wrap up this post.

Day 17
[3:17pm]

92 days! Man that sounds like a long flippin time to not eat. I feel like I'm on such a roll right now, that I could totally do it! Can I do it! I totally have a strong desire to get there!

For me, it's not just about detox and weight loss. I'm also doing this for spiritual and emotional reasons as well! I'm such an addict when it comes to so many things in my life. Actually, the really bad stuff I gave up some time ago! However, those addictions were only replaced with certain foods--not so bad, comparatively speaking some might say!

First I gave up alcohol almost 2 years ago, 4/1/06! I didn't think it was a problem for me until I tried to quit and realized I couldn't! OMG, it was true...I had become a pickle! A little less than a year later I gave up smoking cigarettes, 12/31/06! I also gave up all meat and tried to go mostly vegan! I ate some meat, experimentally speaking, a few times within the last year, but my body paid dearly every time I indulged! After not eating meat for so long it was so taxing on my body to process! It's truly amazing what our bodies get used to!

I want to be healthy! I want to have abundant energy! I want to be able to go backpacking and climb mountain peaks again without my knees hurting for days afterwards. I want to be able to work in the garden for hours on end without my lower back hurting. I want to run a marathon, and a triathlon. I want to LIVE for a long long time! I want to have the time and energy to play and be present with my children! I want to figure out what I'm going to do with the rest of my life! I want to get to figure out who I am and where I'm headed spiritually! Slowly and confidently I know I'm heading in the right direction!

Alpine Cheer

Day 18
[12:30am EST]

I did an amazing job on the amount of produce I purchased on Monday for exactly 4+ days of juice. I impress myself sometimes! ;-) Besides missing my family and being couped up in an apartment testing SW, this was a good trip for me! It was really easy to stay focused on my feast! I've got about a quart left over to down just before I get to the security gate at the airport. My flight is just under 6 hours back home! I'll be looking for Jamba again! ;-)

I just got back from seeing Juno. It was a great movie. I saw the Atonement last night. It was OK. I was expecting more however.

I can feel emotional detox starting to simmer in me! Hmmmm...............It will feel good when I get to release it! Not sure when it will happen!

Monday, January 21, 2008

Day 16

The last 2 days have been very tough! Sunday I was low on juice with lots to do on the schedule and no time to make any juice. Thank God for Jamba Juice! I had 3 Power orange/carrot (3 quarts) and 8 ounces of wheat grass total as well as the last bit of my own juice. I guess I planned it pretty well because I'm still here doing this thing.

On Sunday, we also had a social engagement I had to attend with the rest of the family. We went to see our god son, whom we haven't seen in 2+ years! (Way overdo) The mom had quite the spread (food) out when we arrived! Everyone was eating and drinking and drinking and eating and as I was watching them, drinking my pelligrino. I swas trying to focus I really tried to be present and enjoy their company; and I did! I think the worst part was the aroma of fresh baked bread she pulled out of her bread oven and the baked ziti! Oh well. It's over and I toughed it out! I kept thinking about how tired all of them are going to be later after the heavy foods everyone was consuming.

Later in the eve; I packed my Omega 8005 juicer in my suite case along with my trusty knife, a cutting board, and a wash cloth! I caught the red eye at 11:10pm and arrived in Boston 4.5 hours later. I got a little shut eye, but not much. I had explicit directions from google maps to the closest whole foods from the Boston Airport! Thank god for the Garmin navigator I got with my rental vehicle; otherwise it would have totally sucked trying to navigate that city! I think I got enough produce for the 4.5 days I'll be here for! I picked up some pasteurized apple juice which held me over until I got settled and was able to prepare some fresh juice for today and most of tomorrow! Ahhhh.............you gotta love the greens BABY!! I was totally running out of steam, but the green juice saved me. I was pretty tired all day. I could have totally taken a nap,but I had to get some worked done, so I just worked through being tired and hit the hay early.

I'm feeling much better after a good nights rest.

Be well!

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Day 13

Day 13

10:49pm

My wife asks me, "how many days do you have now?" I tell her, "13", matter of factly. You guys are crazy! Referring to me and her mom! I remind her I've got quite a few online friends that have about 20 days!! It doesn't seem to impress her! I don't care! I think she was a little cranky tonight!

Today was rather tough for me! I don't like weekends. There was too much weekend food eating around our house today. It's way easier for me to make it through most of my day when I'm at work! We went for a walk today and the aroma of barbecue was very desirable to me. I was a big barbecuer and I still associate that to weekends and good times. I realize it's the burning flesh of some poor animal and will try and think of that next time I catch a wiff of someone's cue. I watched a disturbing video this evening that reminded me why I quit eating meat. Thank god I'm a raw vegan!

I need to keep fasting. I need to keep up with my momentum! It's getting pretty easy; I guess I'm just bored with only drinking juice. I was stoked to EAT some bee pollen tonight! ;-)

I went to the gym today and weighed in. I was 184lbs last Sunday and 6 days later I was 181lbs. Not bad. I think I'll weigh in every 6 or 7 days. Looking forward to getting into the 170 range! I think I was there earlier this year but only for, maybe, a few days! I also had a great workout. I did the weights again as well as work on my abs, I also had a really tough yoga workout! It was awesome. I'm looking forward to being fit and in shape again!

Anyway.....more later!!

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

More good energy today!

1/16/08, 9:53pm

I was very inspired by Courtney's beautiful post today! It was the perfect beginning to what transpired to be another fine, fine, fasting Wednesday. I had good energy all day!

The only complaint that I have right now is that I've got "The Tongue"! That's what I've dubbed my tongue when I wake up and it's has that whitish film that stays there ALL DAY LONG! It really doesn't matter if I brush or not, it's always there. Actually, I take that back, brushing does help; but it's just short lived. I do hope "The Tongue" clears up soon. (I'm sure it will. I just felt the need to complain about something. lol)

The weather today was awesome, the sky was so blue and clear! The wind was steady most of the day! I love the wind! I took a break from the cubicle and went for a nice brisk walk. The wind was cutting through my jacket, but I warmed up quickly. Ahhh....it was great to get some fresh air and sunshine! I'm grateful for my life and where I'm at today!

1/18/08
Day 12

So far so good today; I actually had a low point around 2:00pmish. I think I was just hungry. I couldn’t help but think about how bored I was just drinking juice. I finally had some green juice and I got positive again. I’m so looking forward to eating something……SOMEDAY………….not so soon in the distant future!! It’s really too bad I’m so committed to doing the juice feast especially with work sending me to the east coast. Alissa Cohen’s new restaurant, Grezzos, just opened in Boston!! I’ll be working about 45 minutes from Boston! Since work pays for my meals while I’m away, they will only be paying for my organic produce from Whole foods! Oh well! I’m sure I’ll be back! I’m only SLIGHTLY disappointed!

Made juice again for 2 this morning! I think we made enough for 2.5 days only! I’m tired of making juice! OH Well! I’m happy though! My body is slowly transforming! My mind is certainly clearer! My eyes are finally getting whiter. I still have some redness, but not nearly as much as I used to! I sooooo want clear white eyes; I don’t think I’ve ever had totally white eyes.

OK…just wanted to get this post out tonight.

Happy Friday!