Day 54 - Missing the Kitchen

As the end of my feast draws near--just 8 days to go--I realize it's been easier than most people think it could be, I'm not really ready for it to end yet, and I miss the creativity, textures, and tastes of whole foods. I still prepare many of my family's meals, but my inability to sample as I go greatly inhibits my ability to be spontaneous. That's just the way I've learned to cook/prepare food over the last many years.

What I really miss are the times when food prep becomes a loving mediation--Heifetz flowing from the ipod player; a countertop covered in red, green, yellow, purple, and orange fruits of nature, and an end result that pleases my family (most of the time), and makes me feel good about serving them fresh, delicious meals created from the best foods on earth.

Okay, so those meditative food prep days are the exception, rather than the rule. Perhaps a lesson I can take from this juice feast is to make sure those days come more frequently.

Today's Juice:
pineapple/kale/spinach/ginger
watermelon
grapefruit/orange
kale/apple/pear/lemon

Day 50!

It's day 50 of my juice feast, and I'm pleasantly surprised at how easy it's been. After my weekend long walk/jog (about 2 hours), I volunteered this morning at a fundraiser for my daughter's theater school. We threw a fish fry, and the baked beans looked and smelled delicious. After that, I headed over to Whole Foods to use their free wi-fi and get in a couple of hours of work on my novel. All around me people were eating foods I know are delicious, including raw cinnamon rolls and fresh salads. There's was no sense of temptation, especially since I bought 2 juices for myself. Since I started the feast, my biggest treat has been having someone else make my juices for me.

I feel like I should do something to mark the day, but this post is as close as I'll come to celebrating. I can't believe I have only 10 days left in my feast. I'm looking at the calendar to see if there's a chance I can extend it. It's not likely, since I have so much travel coming up, including 4 days in a cabin with a mini-fridge and no access to a grocery store. Hmmm . . . I'll have to think about it.

Today's juice:

pinepapple/kale/mache/ginger

watermelon/orange/berries

(Melon is best consumed alone, but today I walked on the wild side.)

orange/grapefruit

One more TBD

Day 49 - A Juicy Buzz

Not too long ago, a SAD-eating friend came over and we discussed my juice feast. After a round of questions and good natured objections to the whole idea, he jokingly asked, "Can it get you drunk?"

Well, no, but it can get you buzzed. Seriously! I don't know anyone whose intention is to juice feast so they can "get high," --that would be sad--but I've occasionally found I do get a slightly-out-of-myself feeling when I drink certain juices. A few days ago, I made an apple/beet/beet green/ginger/lemon combination for my cousin, and she asked me what I put in it. She was having a similar buzzy feeling.

The beautiful thing about the juice feasting buzz is that there's no sense of being out of control, sick, or destructive. It's more of an appealing lightness.

All buzzes aside, I'm blissed out with my current juicy state. I prefer not to contemplate the end, which is only 11 days away.

Today's juice:

pineapple/kale/spinach

pineapple/orange

watermelon

Final juice of the day TBD

Day 32!

Just a quick note to say I'm still juicing! My original goal was 31 days. Going forward, I'll assess on a weekly basis. For now, I'm committed to finishing out this week, but I'll admit there's a voice in the back of my head whispering, "Just make it the full month." Obviously, I'm enjoying the feast. My energy and productivity have been great for the last several days!

Today's juice:

tomato/basil/spinach

cantaloupe

grapefruit/orange

broccoli/apple/spinach

Day 29 - Sharing the Juice Love

Our landlord and lady dropped by to fix some things today. We're lucky enough to have a friendly relationship with them, so they hung out to chat for a while. It was approaching noon, and because of my morning schedule, I hadn't made my first juice of the day. While we talked I blended apple, parsley, spinach, lemon, and ginger. Of course, I shared a sample with everyone.

Rarely do we have a house guest without one or both of us going off on a healthy eating tangent. There's nothing like a captive audience, especially when we can serve them some yummy-deliciousness as a means of swaying them to our way of thinking. This time we tag-teamed. I did my best to articulate some of the benefits I've experienced since going high raw/very high vegan and since starting my juice feast. I'm hoping we convinced them to replace one meal a day with a green smoothie as they transition to some healthier choices. Heck, I'd love to see just about everyone I know add a daily green smoothie to his or her diet!

Today's juice:

apple/parsley/spinach/ginger/lemon

watermelon/strawberry/apple

grapefruit/orange

Since I missed what would've been my 2nd green juice for the day, I supplemented with lots of chlorella. I should've had a green powder, but lately Vitamineral Green just tastes too strong to me, and that's the only one I have. I have a strict policy of not eating or drinking things I don't enjoy!

Day 28 - My Emergency Stash

I work from home, so I've never gotten into the habit of making my juices in advance. Lots of juice feasters make 4 jars of juice when they start their day, but I'm a one-juice-at-a-time girl. I keep chlorella, kelp granules, or green powder in my purse. If I'm away from home longer than expected, any of those will get me through.

Great energy today, though I only slept about 5 and 1/2 hours last night. I got in two workouts and spent most of the day shopping with my girls. Shopping isn't my favorite activity. It usually leaves me feeling depleted. I did take a half hour afternoon nap, but the running from store to store didn't wear me out.

Today's juice:

parsley/spinach/apple/lemon

cantaloupe strawberry

watermelon

grapefruit/orange

spinach/apple/ginger lemon

I don't keep track of the amount of greens I juice. I'd like to have about a pound and half each day, but I usually just keep blending them in until I have enough juice. I'd guess that I'm closer to a pound lately, so I'll try to be more aware in the coming days. Looking forward to a great weekend!

Day 27 - My First Casualty

Wrapping up my 27th day, my first mason jar bit the dust. I made a beautiful cantaloupe juice, but I was rushing to get my daughter to karate, and the jar was wet, and a quart of juice isn't super easy to clean up. Getting up the shards of glass is the real challenge!

Anyhoo, after that I decided to cheat and have fruit juice for my final juice of the day, rather than green juice. I did take lots of blue/green algae to assuage my guilt.

As for the benefits of juice feasting, my energy and concentration seem to be growing by the day. I sleep deeply and without much interruption. Even when I don't get enough sleep (Hey, it happens) I can power through my work. I'm really enjoying checking things off my to do list! Workouts are easier both mentally and physically.

Today's juice:

apple/fennel

watermelon

orange/grapefruit

orange /grapefruit

Turning in soon!

Day 26 - Exercise is Key

On the days when I get enough exercise, I manage stress and any negative emotions much more easily. Whether it's a powerwalk, a jog, a dvd, or some time on the bike, anger and sadness may roll in, but I can remind myself to give them over to God, or simply change my focus. Makes sense. After all, the human body was designed to be in motion for most of the day. A nice endorphin release never hurts, and feeling strong and physically confident can elevate my mood for the whole day.

Today's juice:

kale/apple/lemon/ginger

watermelon

grapefruit/orange

kale/beet/apple/celery/ginger/lemon

I'm 5 days away from my baby step goal of 31 days. I know I haven't done all the mental, emotional, or physical cleansing I'd like to do on this feast. Seriously considering going longer. If I do, I'll continue to set baby step goals and re-evaluate at each one.

Day 25 - Food & Managing Emotions

Anger seems to be a common theme amongst juice feasters. Looking at various blogs and forums, I find that many people have a fairly peaceful feast, and many others experience surges of anger that seem out of character. Today, I experienced just such a surge.

At one point in my life, it wouldn't have seemed so out of place, but over the years I pretty much dealt with my anger. I learned to use faith and compassion to diffuse anger at people around me, anger at life, and anger at my self. The journey wasn't always forward-moving, but I progressed just the same. I still get angry, but usually it's for real reasons and I handle it fairly well.

Though I've been eating high raw for some time, I now have to wonder how much the foods I consumed masked or quieted negative emotions. Raw desserts and other foods in my diet could've had just such an effect. It's foolhardy to assume a high raw eating-style couldn't include crutches for coping.

I've felt the anger building over the last few days (at various times of day) and it seemed to peak this afternoon while I dealt with issues big and small. Fresh vegetable and fruit juices don't provide the masking effect. This, for me, is where the rubber hits the road. Without the calming effects of certain foods, I need to find and use internal resources to manage negative emotions.

If I'd attempted this juice feast years ago, before I learned those tools, I could've encountered real problems. It's something anyone planning a juice feast should consider.

Today's juice:

tomato/cilantro/onion/garlic

Avery thought that savory juice was quite strong. I found it mild and delicious. Go figure.

grapefruit/orange

cantaloupe/blueberry

Haven't decided on my dinner juice yet.

Day 24 - Sidetracked a Bit

My exercise was sidetracked by some back pain. My hope is that it was just incidental, and not related to the recent car accident my youngest and I were in. I did train arms and abs, but only did light cardio on my stationary bike.

It was a good juice day. I convinced my oldest daughter to prepare my mid-day juice for me. It's always a treat to enjoy a jar of juice prepared by someone else's hands. As I get closer and closer to the end of the month, I'm torn as to whether or not to continue the juice feast. My heart says go for it, but I don't want to have a negative impact on the family budget. I also don't want to mislead anyone. With good planning, the feast doesn't have to be prohibitively expensive. Planning and smart shopping are key.

This afternoon my Lovely Boyfriend, Avery, threatened to join me for the next week of juicing! That would be really awesome! I'd love for him to experience even a fraction of the benefits I'm experiencing. Though I'd have to double my juice making, he's always good for helping out in the kitchen. I may have to figure out a way to make this work.

Today's juice:

apple/beet/spinach/ginger/lemon

orange/grapefruit

apple/pear/ginger/lime

tomato/basil/bok choy/oregano/onion/garlic/kelp granules

I'm rather bored of the apples in my green juices, but I'm really enjoying the tomato based combinations. Pizza in a glass!

Day 20 - Easy Does It

Today was super easy, perhaps because I only used the Vitamix and nutmilk bag for two of my four juices. Although I've gotten that down to a neat little system, I sometimes don't have enough interest to go through it. I used my citrus juicer to make a nice orange/grapefruit, and also threw chunks of watermelon into a nutmilk bag to squeeze out that pretty red juice.

I ate my bee pollen first thing this morning, though from what I understand it's not really necessary until some time after the 30 day mark. I've been working out a lot, so I figure I may need that little extra protein. The experts at Juice Feasting say it can slow down the cleansing, so I'll probably take small amounts as an ocassional supplement until I pass 30 days.

Speaking of time-frames, I'm still not sure how long I'll continue on my juice feast. I set a minimum intention of 31 days, but I'm taking a wait-and-see approach to deciding whether or not I'll continue after that.

Today's Juice:

apple/kale/ginger lemon (Made this one waaaaay too strong. Easy does it on the kale next time.)

orange/grapefruit

watermelon

cucumber/celery/apple

Day 7 - Ups and Downs

Because of all the red tape with the accident, the day was really busy. I didn't get to start my juice until some time after ten, and even then it was difficult to get it all in. The blessing of such a nutrient-rich diet is that I don't have all the "normal" crankiness, blood sugar drops, and weakness typically associated with skipping or delaying meals.

My head and nose still hurt from the accident, and this afternoon I noticed seatbelt abrasions on my shoulder and chest. I'm so grateful that there weren't more serious physical injuries, but today I had some ups and downs in thinking about the whole thing. I avoided the freeway a couple of times, and I had to go deeply into prayer to move past some anger that welled up against the man who caused the collision. The truth is that it could happen to any of us on any given day. It only takes a moment's distraction.

Today's juice:

cucumber/celery/parsley/spinach/Thai chili

grapefruit

coconut water/Vitamineral Green

beet/beet greens/apple/spinach/ginger/lemon

I bought a watermelon, and I'm looking forward to that juice on tomorrow's menu.

Day 6 - And a Real Bump in the Road

Today I found out what a real bump in the road looks like. Ray and I were driving up to hit Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, tooling along on the freeway. The car in front of us slowed to a stop. We slowed to a stop. The car behind us didn't. He slammed into us, pushing us into the vehicle we followed. The airbag deployed and drama ensued. Four vehicles were involved, but everyone was able to walk away, thanks be to God. Whether or not our car will be totaled remains to be seen.

Happy to be off the freeway, we walked up to Whole Foods and ordered a juice and a smoothie, and waited for a friend to come and get us. (Thanks, friend Fern!) While we waited for our order, I chatted with a truck driver. This sunny gentleman has been exposed to a toxin from a previous job. The result is that he gets headaches if he uses a cell phone or spends too much time around wireless internet. Yikes! Wireless internet is pervasive in many cities. The cool thing: in spite of his burden, he radiated positivity and gratitude. Loving it.

This is the 1st day of the feast that I didn't use my Vita-mix.

Today's juice:

cucumber/celery/spinach/parsley/lemon (from Whole Foods)

apple/beet/ginger/wheatgrass (from Whole Foods)

grapefruit

coconut water with Vitamineral Green

So grateful for the health and safety of my daughters and the privilege of being here to guide them through life.

Day 5 on Juice!

I hit some personal bumps in the road today, the kind that can knock your whole day off course if you let them. Luckily, I had love and light pouring in from the fam. I had so much energy. I ran my errands, hit much of my to do list, and did 34 miles on the stationary bike. Not bad.

Today's juice:

celery/apple/watercress/ginger/lemon (Didn't need the ginger.)

grapefruit

coconut water/Vitamineral Green

collard greens/apple/lemon (A little too sweet.)

I'm still having trouble getting the full 4 quarts down, but I'm forcing myself to do so. I don't want to fall too low in nutrients or calories. Avery's visiting his mother in Chicago, and he took her a nut milk bag and made her a green juice tonight! They called me on speaker phone and we talked about the advantages of disadvantages of green smoothies vs juices. I love that conversation!

Chamomile tea and bed . . .

Day 4 - Minor Breakouts Continue

A good day, but it's late, and I'm tired, so I'll be brief. Tiny breakouts on my face seem to be the detox symptom of the moment. I'm not too concerned, since these aren't like the big, painful, scarring bumps I'd suffer if I ate a bit of wheat. Of course, I'm great friends with my tongue scraper and toothbrush these days. My energy was great. The morning was very productive, and I got in over an hour of exercise.

I do enjoy my little quarter-teaspoon of kelp granules, but I haven't found any food particularly distracting or enticing. I'm still preparing meals for the family, but for now I'm content in the knowledge that all that yummy goodness will be available when I'm done with the feast. Still craving lots of quiet time though.

Today's juice:

collard/beet with greens/apple/ginger

grapefruit

rainbow chard/celery/apple

water with 2 teaspoons Vitamineral Green

Current supplements to the juice:

kelp granules

hemp oil

coconut oil

bee pollen

green superfood

Vitamin D-3

Probiotics

Enzymes

Cascara Sagrada

MSM

(OMG-osh! That seems like a lot of supplements, huh? Some are actually foods, and some I take anyway, so no worries.)

I promise myself to get back to video tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing what these days of juicing bring!

Chamomile tea, and off to bed.

Day 3 On Juice - Still Napping

I had a lot of energy this morning, so I got in a 90 minute workout (stationary bike, and abs), but by late afternoon I needed a n,ap. That's 3 days in a row of sacking out on the couch, but I've either been up late, up early or both, so I can't say that it's definitely the juice feast. I have a few tiny breakouts on my forehead, but otherwise I feel great.

Ray keeps offering me food she's made. Bless her. She keeps forgetting I'm doing juice, but I appreciate her thoughtfulness. I'm hoping the girls will do all my juicing for me on Mother's Day. That would be the best Mother's Day ever!

Today's Juice:

beet with greens/apples/spinach/ginger/lemon

coconut water/Vitamineral Green

Grapefruit

celery/tomato/parsley/Thai chili pepper (Loved the spice!)

I'm still having a bit of a hard time consuming the full 4-5 quarts, but I force myself to get in at least 4, so I don't fall too low in calories and nutrients. On with the feast!

Day 2 On Juice - Temptation?

My eleven year old daughter, Ray, and I went to meet her friend at an early Cinco de Mayo celebration. Her friend ran into a problem and couldn't make it, but Ray and I walked around for a while. There were lots of people, lots of corporate sponsors, and a decent band. Fortunately none of the food was anything I'd eat, so I wasn't tempted. I carried a quart of grapefruit juice in my purse, and was satisfied.

Other than feeling a little tired, and taking another nap, I haven't yet had much in the way of detox symptoms.

Today's juice:

celery/cucumber/apple/spinach/lemon

grapefruit

yellow beets/spinach/apple/ginger/lemon

red beets/beet greens/apple/ginger/spinach/lemon

Looking forward to an increase in energy!