One Week

I made it a week! That's exciting! Today I went to the grocery store again to buy Robb some lunch food, and it was still TORTURE. I think my nose is smelling more than it used to, and the problem is that seeing the food that I love makes it more tempting. At the grocery store, and when Robb is cooking are the only times I'm hungry. He's going to have to do the shopping, I can't stand it. Today, I felt pretty ok. Woke up with a little tummy ache, but after some supplements and juice was fine the rest of the day. On to week 2!

Fact of today: The molecular composition of chlorophyll is identical to the human blood cell, so it is often referred to as "green blood." In human blood, the nucleus of it's molecule is iron, while in chlorophyll the nucleus is magnesium. SO drinking chlorophyll purifies and cleans the blood! With all the chlorophyll I'm drinking, does this mean I'm some sort of "green vampire?"

Day 6

Well, so far, I've made it to day 6. Actually, amazingly, it hasn't been that bad so far. I no longer feel hunger, which left on day 3. My stomach is kinda nauseous here and there, I get hot and cold, don't have much stamina when it comes to exercise, and I no longer have any solids in my body- all to be expected. The crazy thing, is that I haven't had my "cleansing crisis" yet. By now, most people would've gotten pretty ill, as the body is starting to release it's toxins. Either, this is a sign that I already eat very clean (which I think has to do with me on day 6 still feeling ok), or the worst is yet to come...

Today, I shopped at Mustard Seed Market to but only organic vegetables and fruits to take my cleanse to the next level. Although drinking juice is good no matter what you use, not putting any herbicides or pesticides in my body,which is some of what I'm trying to clear out, can only help the process further.

The absolute worst part of the fast is not being hungry or feeling sick, it's smelling and seeing food. It's almost too much to take. Once my nose smells, or eyes see, I have to literally leave the room. Last Thursday, Robb made chicken with cheese and tomato sauce, with cavatelli, and coleslaw, and I had to go outside and garden while he cooked and ate. Today he got a turkey wrap, coleslaw, and pasta salad from Mustard Seed, and ate in the car with me. Luckily, I had something to do (drive) while he ate, so I made it through, but oh my gosh! As a cook, this is hard!!!

So we'll see how this goes. I'm looking forward to day 20 when I reach my maximum clean to see how I feel. I've decided to break my fast on day 20, go back to eating vegan until after my shower, and then start the fast to continue my cleansing until October 1st.

What to expect on a juice fest

The Different Juice Fasting Stages of Detoxification

The Different Juice Fasting Stages of Detoxification
A single cell within the human body is more complex than the most modern supercomputer. The process of removing a hundred thousand antigens, each with unique molecular properties, from trillions of functioning cells is indeed a complex process. Imagine three trillion cells being repaired during the function of countless biochemical processes needed for life. Even the best mechanics have to turn off the engine. Yet, the body has millions of micro mechanics that do this with ease.

One of the body’s automatic maintenance processes is the destruction of foreign microorganisms. When looking through a dark-field microscope, countless parasites are clearly visible. I observed parasites living inside blood cells. Several could be seen eating cholesterol, and I was amazed to see one swim. Watching lymphocytes moving in the blood was like a science-fiction movie. These complex, lymphocyte organisms attached themselves and engulfed toxins. As they did, their colorations flowed into fascinating patterns leaving me with a sense of wonder and respect for the miraculous ability and infinite complexity of the human body.

Fasting Detoxification Stages
Here is an overview of the detoxification stages during a juice fast. The time periods are a general estimation.

Stage 1 (Day 1 To Day 2)
On the first day of fasting, the blood sugar level drops below 70 mg/dl. To restore the blood to the normal glucose level, liver glycogen is converted to glucose and released into the blood. This reserve is enough for half a day. The body then reduces the basal metabolic rate (BMR). The rate of internal chemical activity in resting tissue is lowered to conserve energy. The heart slows and blood pressure is reduced. Glycogen is pulled from the muscle causing some weakness. The first wave of cleansing is usually the worst.

Headaches, dizziness, nausea, bad breath, glazed eyes and a heavily coated tongue are signs of the first stage of cleansing. Hunger can be the most intense in this period unless the enema is used which quickly assists the body into the fasting state by ending digestion in the colon.

Stage 2 (Day 3 To Day 7)
Fats, composed of transformed fatty acids, are broken down to release glycerol from the gliceride molecules and are converted to glucose. The skin may become oily as rancid oils are purged from the body. People with problem-free skin may have a few days of pimples or even a boil. A pallid complexion is also a sign of waste in the blood. Ketones are formed by the incomplete oxidation of fats. It is suspected that the ketones in the blood suppress the appetite by affecting the food-satiety center in the hypothalamus. You may feel hungry for the first few days of the fast. This effect is temporary. The desire to eat will disappear. Lack of hunger may last 40 to 60 days, depending on whether you are on water or juice.

The body embraces the fast and the digestive system is able to take a much-needed rest, focusing all of its energies on cleansing and healing. White blood cell and immune system activity increases. You may feel pain in your lungs. The cleansing organs and the lungs are in the process of being repaired. Periodically, the lymphatic system expels mucoid matter through the nose or throat. The volume excreted of this yellow-colored mucus can be shocking. The sinuses go through periods of being clogged, then will totally clear. The breath is still foul and the tongue coated. Within the intestine, the colon is being repaired and impacted feces on the intestinal wall start to loosen.

Stage 3 (Day 8 to Day 15)
On the latter part of an extended fast, you can experience enhanced energy, clear-mindedness and feel better than you have felt since childhood. On the downside, old injuries may become irritated and painful. This is a result of the body’s increased ability to heal during fasting. If you had broken your arm 10 years before, there is scar tissue around the break. At the time of the break, the body’s ability to heal was directly related to lifestyle. If you lived on a junk-food diet, the body’s natural healing ability was compromised.

During fasting, the body’s healing process is at optimum efficiency. As the body scours for dead or damaged tissue, the lymphocytes enter the older, damaged tissue secreting substances to dissolve the damaged cells. These substances irritate the nerves in the surrounding region and cause a reoccurrence of aches from previously injured areas that may have disappeared years earlier. The pain is good as the body is completing the healing process. The muscles may become tight and sore due to toxin irritation. The legs can be the worst affected, as toxins accumulate in the legs. Cankers are common in this stage due to the excessive bacteria in the mouth. Daily gargling with salt and water will prevent or heal cankers.

Stage 4 (Day 16 to Day 30)
The body is completely adapted to the fasting process. There is more energy and clarity of mind. Cleansing periods can be short with many days of feeling good in between. There are days when the tongue is pink and the breath is fresh. The healing work of the organs is being completed. After the detoxification mechanisms have removed the causative agent or render it harmless, the body works at maximum capacity in tissue proliferation to replace damaged tissue. While a short fast will reduce the symptoms, a longer fast can completely heal. Homeostatic balance is at optimum levels. The lymphatic system is clean except for a rare discharge of mucus through the nose or throat. After day 20, the mind is affected. Heightened clarity and emotional balance are felt at this time. Memory and concentration improve.

Stage 5 (Breaking the Fast)
The sticky, toxic, mucoid coating on the intestinal wall is loose, and the first meal frees it from the intestinal wall. Toxins enter the blood through the colon. The gallbladder dumps its waste in a heavy discharge of bile. This can cause an instant bowel movement upon eating followed by intense diarrhea. If the symptoms are too uncomfortable, an enema will help.

This article was written by, Mr. Tom McGregor, author of Eating in Freedom.

Happy Birthday Stacy!

Happy 30th Birthday to my best friend Stacy! I hope you have an awesome day, and can't wait to celebrate soon! Finally, you're as old as me! :o)

This picture was from Stacy's wedding rehearsal dinner six years ago. She looks just as beautiful today! Love you!

My juicer in action!

Here's a cool video that shows my juicer in action!

Juice Fest 2011

This month, and possibly into next, I will be doing a juice fast. I call it a juice fest instead of a fast because I won't be missing anything (but chewing), and will be getting so much nutrients in the way of juice! The theory is to give your digestive system a break, and cleanse your body. Juicing will clear any toxins out of my body, making me clean and healthy! The first week will be extremely rough, as this is when the toxins come out full force, and after that it's smooth sailing, feeling better every day. I will be drinking several juice blends every day for all of my nutrients, as well as taking psyllium husks and bentonite clay. Psyllium husks swell 60 times it's weight and gently scrape out all the stuck toxins in the intestines and colon. It ensures that toxic materials are passed through the colon quickly and effectively. Bentonite clay absorbs and draws out the toxins for extraction by the psyllium husks. In combination with dry skin brushing, drinking lots of water, and taking Epsom salt baths, I should be feeling much cleaner real soon. I'll post updates along the way!This is my new juicer! It's a Breville Juice Fountain Plus. Robb got it for me with some extra money he made working last Saturday. My sad little Juiceman Jr was broken yesterday when I went to start my fest. It melted plastic and smelled like it was burning, so we got this beauty last night! It's amazing! It can juice whole apples, whole, beets, and whole cucumbers, and it does a great job on all the stringy greens. I love it!!

Ruff Wear Story

A long time ago, I submitted a story to one of our favorite dog companies, Ruff Wear, about Koby hiking with his pack. It was one of the best times of all of our lives! I didn't think it got published until I randomly searched for "Koby" and saw our article just today! Here's the link to the post. Check it out!

http://dogblog.ruffwear.net/2009/09/01/september-dog-tale-of-the-month-koby-gears-up-for-east-coast-adventures/