Cleanse lessons... Day 28

I can't believe the 28 days are done.  Late starters... do not forget the importance of listening to your body and stay in or go back to the phase your body can thrive whilst cleansing.  Ayurveda and Chinese medicine frown a bit on going long periods without eating, and while my energy is good and I'm getting shed loads of nutrients via green juice I have decided to break my juice cleanse tomorrow and not continue for 10 days.  I will likely break the fast with some of those ruby red fragrant strawberries from Rose, "the carrot lady", at the Farmers Market!

Cleanse lessons:

1. Consume, eat and drink, veggies in abundance.  Make them the base of my food pyramid.
2. Chew really well.  "Those people" who suggest chewing your food until it liquefies are on to something.  Chewing well, because your saliva mixes with the food, starts the digestion process thus streamlining the complicated endeavor of well digested food!
3. On an emotional level with food, I do NOT need as much food as I think or desire or like and if I stay within the 80% full zone I avoid increasing greed.  I'll try and remember that next time I'm faced with an amazing feast.
4. SPROUTS!  How could I have forgotten to grow and consume these regularly?  They are tasty, satisfying, nutritious, and a great source of vegan protein that we can grow ourselves for pennies.  Plus they are high in vitamin C!?!  Additionally because they are a living food they are super easy to digest.  We've been sprouting mung beans and lentils and I'm able to purchase sunflower sprouts/greens in bulk locally. But even though these are live and easily digested, one must CHEW!

So... on that note happy cleansing and let me know what lessons you've learned for yourself that you will bring along!

Thanks for joining me on the adventure....  I will be experimenting with other mini cleasnes before next years big spring clean and shall keep you posted so stay tuned.

DAY 27 Going going gone....

Going going gone... hard to believe that "it's" almost over.  I feel remarkably good: clean, clear, light, bright and truly euphoric!  G came out of juice only today based on a comment from our acupuncturist combined with listening to his body.  I truly still have not decided if I will extend juice only for additional days.  If I choose to extend I want to be sure it's for my health not my ego.  Hmmm... those English peas and asparagus from the farmers market looked remarkably tasty.  Consume food Monday vs food Thursday?  The cleanse party is quiet.... perhaps, like me, they are ruminating on their most valuable cleanse lessons?  I'll get back to you on that!

Yowsa! Day 24... or day 3 of NO FOOD!

After I got through that challenging day 1 of phase 4 I'm feeling mighty fine!  I am re-convinced I will consume just juice for 10 days, rather than 7, a' la "Fat Sick and Nearly Dead".  G suggested miso soup instead of the cooked veggie broth we had last year and I jumped on that warm delicious soup wagon yesterday.  A lovely soothing evening treat, miso, because it's fermented, contains good belly flora probiotics.  If you choose this path, be sure that you are getting a good quality non GMO miso paste, then sip and ENJOY.

I found a lovely new blog: www.theholykale.com and don't forget the fabulous and inspiring http://sweetroots.blogspot.com/ with amazing recipes and photos. 

Happy cleansing and keep green juicing!

oh yeah... editorial comment about phase 3 for anyone still in that realm!

Because I went silet for so long, I realize looking back it might be beneficial to metnion how I sorted out my 1 meal/day during phase 3.  I started out having the meal in the evening and decided early afternoon, when possible, worked well.  It is a personal preference... G had his one meal late-ish in the evening and liked that.

Day 22 and I've been neglectful!!!

April 22 2013 and I'm nearly done with the first day of phase 4!?!?!  As usual, my first day of each new phase is a bit "painful" and typically that pain is a pinched headache feeling.  Additionally, I feel a bit dull.  In keeping with last years eve of phase 4 launch we watched "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" and felt VERY inspired.  So inspired that I thought, "I'm gonna stretch my 7 days into 10 days" of juice only.  Maybe I should watch it again tonight based on how uninspired I feel at this moment!   One day at a time right?

I did invent a new "treat" drink today to mix things up.  I took a bundle of fresh mint I'd gotten at the farmers market, because it looked and smelled delightful, and tossed it into a large stainless bowl with a big pinch of stevia leaf and poured boiling water over it.  After it steeped for a while, I filtered and chilled it and had a delicious fresh minty herbal beverage.  I realize this will work with hibiscus flowers (Jamaica) or any teas - preferably loose; herbal or otherwise for a delicious sugar free and healthy drink.  In addition to helping control blood sugar, dried stevia leaf, (not the refined white powder) is said to help lower cholesterol & blood pressure as well as boost your immune system.

So Happy Cleansing... be in your moment!

Phase 3 already? Day 16!!!

Here we are on day 16 and the time is really just flying by.  Other than my emotional breakdown last week, this cleanse has been pretty smooth.  G had a bit of a struggle with low energy yesterday, day 1 of phase 3 but seems back to his normal today. We've elected to have our 1 meal in the evening, and that seems to work well.  We both notice we are tired at the end of the day but I noticed the last 2 nights that my sleep is better/deeper.
Some of y'all are doing spectacularly well turning from temptations that are looming right in front of you (chocolate tasting, deep dish pizza, gorgeous chef prepared meal(s)), ... Carry on and keep up the good work!

Day 14 some are done and I'm finally feeling in the zone!

The 14 day-ers are on their last day.  If that's you and you're done, think about backing out of the cleanse sort of how you came into it. 
The 28 day-ers are half way there and I'm just now starting to feel the deeper effects.  I'm feeling lighter (finally) & enthused about eating this way forever - which of course is slightly unlikely!  I feel calm and smooth.
Tomorrow begins my phase 3.  I'm not 100% sure about what time I will eat my one meal.  I do know more green juice is in order. 
Not shed-loads of feedback from the group other than it's HARD!  And it is HARD, but it's getting slightly easier for me?!?!  We shall see.  The 1st day of each new phase is the day I feel most likely to do something drastic, like toss my computer out the car window or rip all of my hair out or perhaps the hair of someone else... I'll let you know if my current calm smooth mood can withstand the first day of the new phase!
Happy Cleansing!