Day 5

Another day, another gallon and a half of fresh juice. Today was a big elimination day. And man does it feel good. Take it away, I don't want that crap anymore!!!

One of the great things about becoming a member on juicefeasting.com is that every day there are pages and pages of health information, inspiring articles, videos and songs to download. I have spent a lot of time this year reading and learning about health, nutrition, natural healing, Ayurvedic medicine, Chinese medicine, natural therapeutic methods, etc. The juice feasting website is giving me an even greater library to tap into. The more I learn, the more I am struck by our general ignorance about health and our bodies. Before this year if for example I had a headache I would think, "ouch, my head hurts, why is it doing that?" And then I would take a Tylenol. Now my head hurts and I try to think "that's an interesting feeling, what is the message?" Maybe I'm stressed and need to chill out, maybe I ate something that doesn't agree with me...there is always a cause for the pain I feel.

I've been thinking a lot about health and about taking responsibility for ourselves.
I don't just want ok health. I want vibrant health.
People have been saying to me, "that's good you're doing that, I would do something like that if I were sick too." But my question I have for you is: why wait until we're sick? What I've learned this year is that I got sick was because I ignored my body's warning signals that preceded for three or more years. It's like a kid whispering that she needs to pee, then calling out, then screaming and finally peeing her pants. If I had been tuning in enough to listen to the messages earlier then I wouldn't have gotten sick in the first place. I'm done with being just OK, I want to feel GREAT! (picture Tony the Tiger...except minus the sugary cereal) And feeling great doesn't just mean functioning, getting up, geoing to work, making money, coming home, watching TV, going to bed, then doing it all again the next day. Feeling great means getting out of bed and thinking "Shit, i love my life!" It means feeling happy and energized. Having ample creative energy and time for people I care about, having a beautiful home and giving as much as I can to others because my basic supply of energy is limitless.


Today I learned about squatting and the importance of doing it when you go to the bathroom. I know, this may gross some of you out. But come on now, everyone poos, it's a large part of each of our day (or should be...constipation is apparently one of the growing problems in North America), so we might as well start talking about it. Did you know that Appendicitis is caused by improper bowel emptying from sitting instead of squatting on toilets? Apparently people in third world countries don't get Appendicitis or Collitis or Chrone's Disease or Irritable Bowel Syndrome, because they squat over holes like our bodies were designed to do instead of sitting their lazy butts on toilets. Amazing! Who knew that? Not me. There's your fun fact for the day. I dare you to tell five people. I double dare you to start squatting when you poo. You can kill two birds with one stone, proper bowel emptying and yogic leg stretches all at the same time!

And with that note I will leave you for the day! Happy pooing friends! Talk to you soon.

Day 4

Hi everyone!

Thanks so much for continuing to follow this day by day account. How are you all doing? Good I hope. Blogging is funny, it's so one sided. Talk about the perfect invention for our self absorbed society; we can sit here and talk about ourselves till the cows come home. Ahhh, and I am going to take full advantage of that. But really, I am continually surprised and delighted when I hear than anyone is reading this.

Today was a beautiful day. A truly wonderful day.
Why you might ask? Those of you who live in Victoria know that it was another grey, damp, sunless coastal winter day. It was chilly out. Nothing special happened in town. The circus didn't show up, Madonna didn't make a surprise visit...at least not as far as I know.

Well then it must be all the GREEN! So green juice alkalizes our systems. And being alkaline makes us really happy, even euphoric. Now apparently we should naturally be alkaline people, and I guess all be a lot more euphoric. Unfortunately we work very hard filling our bodies with really acidic stuff almost immediately from birth and then to feel good we consume things which give us momentary alkalization and the illusion of balance. Things that make us feel alkalized (but actually create acidity) are: coffee, alcohol, pot, drugs, etc. etc. You know that feeling when you're high and everything suddenly seems more beautiful and just right? Well that's how I felt today. And I haven't had any of those things in my body in almost a year.

The high points of my day were:
-Experiencing no hunger pangs or cravings
-Having steady energy all day
-A feeling of general euphoria
-An uncontrollable urge to dance and sing loudly in public
-The inability to stop smiling
-A juice lunch party with the girls
-A lovely "dinner" with friends where they are yummy raw food and I drank juice
-A nice warm bath after a good cleansing enema (you may say gross, but I say bliss!)

Heather and Stacey and I shot some cute pictures of our juice lunch which I will post just as soon as I figure out where my camera is. Today I saw the other side of going through an experience like this. And that is the chance for fun, learning and inspiration with others. Not everyone thinks what I'm doing is crazy, some even want to join in for a meal!

I end this day feeling more inspired about my choices and proud both of my own strength and of the love and trust my friends and family are showing. People keep saying to me -I should do something like that, but I just love to eat too much and I don't have the stamina or will power- To that I say nonsense! We all have so much more strength than we know. This year I have learned that the depths of my ability to suffer and then pull myself out of suffering are WAY deeper than I ever imagined.

So I am sending you all great big waves of love and strength to take on your own battles in life. Eyes open, feet planted, and with a belief that we can all heal ourselves, create our own happiness and then maybe even share it with the rest of the world.

Day 3

Today was an easier day. The juice went down smoother, my body felt better adapted and I was more calm. Apparently I looked stoned because my pupils were super dilated. Funny, I wonder why that happened?

I've decided to stop giving my list of daily juices 1) because I'm too lazy to take note what I'm putting in as I make them and 2) because they're all pretty much the same. Maybe I'll just mention when I make something truly special. My favorite today was orange celery with the bee pollen in it, yum! It was beautiful chartreuse and tasted like dessert. (I know I know, I'm becoming a juice nerd)

The best part of today was when I was given two bags stuffed with local organic grown kale and chard from a friend's garden. (Thanks Jeremy and Jennifer!) I was like a freaking kid in a candy shop (you would be too if you were buying kale for $3/bunch) Why did I choose winter to do this again? After being given the kale I realized there may be an untapped market of unused produce in the local winter gardens. So I posted a plea for greens on Craigslist. It'll be funny to see if anyone answers.

I could keep chattering away but I don't have any coherent deep thoughts to express at the moment. So instead I want refer you all to a talk I watched today that inspired me SO MUCH! It's a video of a lecture by Gary Null. I had never even heard of Gary Null before today. Please please please watch this video! It's relevant to any of us who have had or have ever known someone with any degenerative disease, cancer, Parkinson's, AIDS, obesity, prolonged menopause, depression...so really that means all of us. Please watch it all the way through. It's a little long but SO worth it!!!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6707428874362219714

And with that I'll end with a couple of the quotes I liked from the talk...oh and some juicy pictures that'll give you a real idea of my GREEN intake.

Thanks so much for saying nice things in your comments. Praise may be cheap but it always works! Sending out love and good wishes to everyone!

" In my world I don't eat things that are not good. I don't do things that are not good. I don't think things that are not good. Everything I do honors me."

"Why are poor happy people in third world countries living longer lives than rich unhappy people in America?"

"What constitutes a long life? The belief that you have in yourself. And sharing with other people who share common values and a common energy...If I'm around positive people I'm supported by their positive energy and it enhances mine as I share with them."

"Love expands, fear constricts
Honesty expands, defeat constricts"






"Everything is a choice. We are a mirror manifestation of the choices we make."

Day 2

Second day. Whoa Nelly!

Juices:

1-Celery, cucumber, lettuce, yam, ginger w. Max Stress B and Hemp Oil
2-Apple, parsley, lettuce, ginger w. 1 Tbs bee pollen
3-Orange, grapefruit, celery w. 1 Tbs MSM
4-Kale, arugula, lettuce, celery, ginger, turmeric w. E3 Live
5-Celery, lettuce, spinach, ginger, apple

Supplements: 3000 vitamin D, 1 acidophilus (30 billion cultures), digestive enzymes

Well it's kind of late and I'm about ready to go to bed. But I'll give a wee update before I rest.

Today was an intense day. There is no getting around that. There are many challenges about these sort of experiences and today I was tested. There was:

1. "The Cold" It is winter and not the most ideal time to do a cleanse like this. I am managing to stay warm if I keep bundled and don't sit for too long and have hot baths or go to the sauna, but the cold is definitely a challenge. For some reason Victoria decided to try out winter this week, which just does not fit with my schedule damn it!

2. "The Greens" I have heard green juice called "Liquid Plumber." Now I know why. It's been a bit like having snakes in my intestines. But oh man, does it feel nice when it's all...well, um, out.

3. "The Critics" Perhaps the greatest challenge so far. I don't really know what to say about this. I know that everything people say is based in love and concern from that love. And I understand how some might feel concerned or confused as to why I would go through something like this. All I can hope for is trust and faith on the parts of those who are in doubt, and put out a request that even if they have concerns that they continue to support me because that's what you do for the ones you love.

Sometimes it can be more exhausting to explain myself and justify my decision making, that to actually go through the process itself. At one point today I thought that I should just stop this blog, that if putting out what I was doing made the whole process harder than I should just shut up, keep it to myself and get on with it.

But then I thought; the point of writing this blog is to share my experience. Whatever it is. And so I'm not going to stop because some may feel uncomfortable and I'm not going to stop just because I have to deal with that discomfort. I want to be open and honest, to say when it's hard and to share when things go well. So that's my plan.

And if you don't like it. That's ok. I'm ok with that.

Love to all. And thanks to everyone who IS being supportive. Actually thanks to those who aren't as well, because you put me to the test and help me know that I really want to do this. It wouldn't be a proper journey without some good ol' walls and pitfalls.

my favored quote today:

-work smarter, not harder-

oh, one final little notee: Thanks Dad for calling at the end of Day 1 and playing a song on your guitar. It made my night.

Day 1

Well it has begun. Day 1 is coming towards an end. And I made it through. I don't have anything earth shattering to write just yet. But I'd call the day a success.

Should I tell you how my day shaped up so you can get an idea of -a day in the life- dealio? Well alright then.

-I woke up.
-Meditated for about 5 minutes (usually I try for an hour but today I was too excited to start juicing)
-Drank 1 quart of water with half a lemon juiced in and a Tbs of MSM
-I scraped the goo from my tongue with a tongue scraper (pretty original name I know, but this is very good for helping your liver cleanse)
-Then I did my first enema, and guess what, it was easy! I won't get into the details, to read how you can look it up on juicefeasting.com
-Next I dry skin brushed and then had a nice hot shower, alternating with cold for 30 seconds each a total of 7 times, and finishing on hot, because it's winter here.
-Then I made my juice. I made 3 quarts to start. Later in the day I made two more, but only drank one.
-This all took about an hour and a half and then I got on with my day.

In total today I drank:
4 quarts juice
1st: celery, parsley, cucumber, lettuce, ginger w. E3live (live blue-green algae), a digestive enzyme (for my poor deprived system), an acidophilus (to kill the Candida and help the good crawlies multiply), and 3000 IU of vitamin D (because it's winter here and lately I've forgotten what sunshine is)
-2nd: celery, grapefruit, cucumber, green apple, lettuce and Max Stress B ( a live plant based B vitamin that will help my adrenals), and MSM
-3rd: kale, apple, cucumber, lettuce, ginger, 1 Tbs hemp oil and 1 Tbs spirulina
-4th: soaked goji berries, orange, celery, ginger, lettuce and 1 Tbs bee pollen

I quart of water with lemon
1 quart warming tea
-this has: ginger (warming and good for stomach), cinnamon (warming), cardamom pods (warming), cloves (warming, stimulate circulation and metabolism), anise (warming and good for clearing sinuses and clearing mucus), astralagus (feeds the body's basic energy,antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and diuretic), burdock root (blood purifier and liver cleanser), goji berries (blood builder) and licorice root(good for warmth, stomach and low blood pressure-a problem of adrenal fatigue) yeah baby!!! I know it sounds weird, but it's actually some darn good tea.

I should mention that I currently have a cold which is causing all kinds of sneezing and sniffling, but I'm hoping that all this healthy juicing will aid in that healing process as well.

Hunger pains were nil today. I did start having a little craving for white bagels with avocado and cream cheese which is funny because I haven't eaten white flour or cream cheese for almost a year. Weird things happen with cleansing though and I have heard that sometimes you crave stuff when the toxins from them are leaving your body. Well if that's true then bye bye white flour!

And...I think that's it. I'm feeling a bit chilly today, what with the cold windy rainy day and this bug I have, but I've been keeping warm by moving my body, drinking warm things and bundling up.

Have a great night everyone!

-within every adversity is an equal or greater benefit-

(don't know who said it but I like it!)

Day 0

Why hello!

Welcome! So somehow you ended up on this funny little page of mine. You probably know me and I told you about it. Or maybe you stumbled here through my photography website. Or maybe you were just surfing the net looking for something interesting to read. Who knows how these things work? I certainly don't. I've always been a skeptic about the whole blog process. More because it seemed like too much work to continually tell the world all about myself and I figured; really, who's interested anyways? But, as so often happens, I have changed my mind now that I have a purpose to my blogging.

This blog is going to be a day by day account of my long term Juice Feasting adventures which begin tomorrow. Essentially I am going to be drinking nothing but juice, at least a gallon a day of green organic vegetable juice, for 30+ days.

As I go I will try to include as much useful information about Juice Feasting and natural healing as I can. But I'll warn you now, this blog is mainly going to be daily accounts of my personal experiences. This is because a) I'm not nearly knowledgeable enough to sound smart talking about the scientific aspects of Juice Feasting and b) when I read blogs I'm most interested in what the person is thinking and feeling.

Let's start by giving you the link to the site where you WILL find the hard data and helpful how to-s of Juice Feasting: www.juicefeasting.com

The site is run by David and Katrina Rainoshek, who are both accomplished Juice Feasters and run juicefeasting.com, their Juice Feasting coaching business out of Arizona, USA. They have kindly offered to coach me through this process and are full of knowledge and information, so please send your Juice Feasting queries their way!

Ok, now that that's covered I will give you a brief description of my past and why I decided to do a Juice Feast.

There is a long, a really long and a shorter version of this story and I will try my best to tell the shorter.

For the past year I have been sick. Well actually it probably started before that when I was at university and living in Toronto. In essence I am your typical North American mid 20 year old. I am an over-achiever with a need-to-help complex and a bit of a grass-is-greener outlook, who took on a long list of things (university + jobs + relationships + big city + commuting + perfectionism + a need to prove myself to the world) and ended up completely burning out last May.

I could go on more about how I got there but that would be boring. Most of you probably know the story anyways, and if you're really that curious...well maybe one day I'll write a book.

So let's get on to my adventures in ill health:

It all began one hazy summer while riding horses in the mountains and gallivanting through the heat waves of BC. That's when I got strep throat and my hormones shut down. Then the weight gain started. Then the indigestion (oh well the indigestion had been going on since university when I was sure I had an ulcer because my stomach hurt for two years straight). But the indigestion got REALLY bad and my stomach swelled up like I was six months pregnant. Then the acne began (I mean I'm 26, wasn't that supposed to be over 10 years ago?!). At that point the depression kicked in, with a dab of low self-esteem and a sprinkling of body image issues just to make it nice and spicy. Finally, the all encompassing fatigue: head grinding, body soaking, 1000 pound fatigue that made it hard to walk for more than a few minutes, let alone up a hill and caused me to fall back asleep, sitting up, at the breakfast table an hour after getting out of bed. Oh and the low brain power. Let's not forget that. I'm pretty sure I forgot my own name a few times.

I'm not going to get into the myriad of tests, doctors, other cleanses, etc. that I went through. Let's just say that if I was paid to taste test medicinal specialists and natural healing practitioners I would be a very rich lady right now.

Some of the labels I have heard for what I have are as follows:
Candida overgrowth, leaky gut syndrome, autoimmunity, adrenal burnout, adrenal fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome. Take your pick, I don't mind, whatever one sounds the neatest to you.

The biggest lesson I have learned this year is: Ask my body what IT is feeling and then LISTEN to the answer. I know this sounds simple, but it has been the most difficult learning experience of my life. And probably the most important.

It was when I finally slowed down and then actually stopped "doing", that my recovery process began. I quit my job, packed my stuff, and moved to a beautiful little cottage in a beautiful little garden in my parent's backyard. And can I just mention that without the support of my mom, my step-dad Paddy, my dad and his wife Susan as well as many friends and family, I might never have made it home to get better. So thank you thank you thank you lovely lovely family. It's experiences like this that teach the power of human love and connection.

Here is a list of things which have helped me heal:
Sitting still
Meditation
Journaling
Counseling
Yoga
Jin Shin Do
Qi Gong
Massage
Vipassana 10 day silent meditation course
Healing affirmations
Walking
Time with friends and family
Life affirming books and literature

AND: diet changes. I always thought I ate healthy. Compared to most of North America I did. My so-so healthy diet become unhealthy when my body could no longer process the refined and denser foods. So, over the past year I have gone from eating a diet of whole grains, high sugar (yes even honey is sugar), high carb, some well raised meat and dairy included...to cutting out in stages:

Alcohol and caffeine
Refined sugar
Refined starch
Wheat
Cow dairy
All dairy
Meat
Most cooked food

For the past three months I have mainly been eating a diet of live foods, very high in leafy green vegetables and low in fats and sugars. There has been some definite improvements from these changes. My digestion is getting better and my energy levels are increasing. But the healing process is a slow one.

And so, after much research, thought and discussion I have decided to move on to the next stage in what I have been told is my own little hero's journey. And that is a Juice Feast. It is time to give my digestive system a break, let my organs do house cleaning and support the whole process by filling my body with nothing but nutrient- filled, enzyme-rich, vitamin-packed juice. Oh, and lots of love.

Let's review the stats, which is ugh, kind of scary, but needed in order for us all to track this process and see how things change.

-Currently I weight 150 Lbs. I am 5"7, my ideal weight is 130 Lbs. In university I weighed between 120-125 and was probably underweight at times from all the stress. At my most ill I got up to 160. The juice feasting should help normalize my weight again.
-My hormones are much better and more regulated but continue to dip from time to time
-My blood sugar is much stabler, but at times I still experience those lovely, panicky attacks of hypoglycemia
-My skin is still breaking out and my digestion still acting up on and off
-My energy is hit and miss. Some days I can do a full 90 minute Ashtanga class, other days it's still tiring to walk for more than 30 minutes. I have yet to be able to do any really sweaty exercise.

These are all things which I hope to see improve while juicing. I am going to start with 30 days and see how I feel. Others have gone for 90-100 and had phenomenal results, it just depends on the depth of healing that needs to take place.

Phewf! Well, if you're still with me, you're brave. This was a very long entry. But now that we've got it out of the way we won't have to talk about it again. Tomorrow I'll explain more about what I'm actually Doing on this Juice Feast.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. I hope that in the least you are amused and at most maybe even inspired.

I'll end with a photo so that we can do that before and after thingy everyone loves so much. Please excuse the baggy eyes, they are as much in part from the salsa dancing last night (though I was in bed by midnight) than from being sick. But it's good to start with a bad picture, that way the after shot will look even better!



Have a great day everyone! Let's wrap it up with a good ol' affirmation.

In an easy and relaxed manner, in a healthy and positive way, in its own perfect time for the highest good of all I am now creating beautific, shining health