One week later...

I've been out of "the cleanse" for one whole week and celebrated today by having a mini cleanse!  One day, today, Monday's moving forward I will plan to let my digestion rest and take in only lovely fresh veggie juice. 
I've enjoyed the day and of course will look forward to eating my lovely zucchini squash pasta with tomato cream sauce (soak cashews (1/3 cup) and sun dried tomatoes (about 5 or 6) , puree with the soaking water, salt and a tomato sauce herb/spice mix to taste).  I spiralized 4 zucchini to generously be coated by this sauce.
Then without rinsing my blender I added water, vinegar, olive oil, hemp seeds more herb/spice mix and used this for creamy herby tomato salad dressing.  Haven't eaten either yet but G said the salad dressing was delicious!
Looking forward to hearing more success stories of completion!

The morning after...

I thought I'd be beyond anxious to eat something this a.m. but I feel quite calm about it.  Yesterday, day 7 without food, was fascinating... I felt a little bit outside of myself and both day 6 & day 7 I did not feel hungry - fnally!   

My plan to exit the cleanse....
I will take my herbs 3 x/day until I run out of the parasite candida combo herbs then I wil transition to
herbs 2 x/day (as G is doing now) until we're getting low and then down to 1 x/day.

I will have a smoothie breakfast and vegan raw lunch and vegan dinner, I might induldge in some cooked vegetable soup this evening.

I don't want to go on too much about food since some of you are in week 4 and are perhaps not eating food... it really does get easier.   I found drinking plenty of green juice and warm broth in the evening that G prepared made it much more do-able.  Having my mate complete the cleanse with me made it way easier too.  A brillinat shared transitional experience!

All in all a really great adventure and one that I shall treat my body to every spring...

Greens, Greens & more Greens + a kiwi or 3

We were notably greedy at the farmers market this morning but wanted to be sure we had enough veggies to both juice and EAT since we get to start that glorious activity of eating on Monday!   I know the kiwi will taste beyond amazing...

Interesting that last year when I competed a cleanse, not Ejuva, one of the main things I was craving was chocolate and I indulged in some raw cacao paste gently melted on a quinoa amaranth patty and then drizzled with agave nectar.

This year I'm craving zucchini "pasta" with curried cashew "cream" sauce, hearts of romaine and cucumber spiralized with a touch of sesame oil and raw apple cider vinegar.  Oh and I got English peas at the market today, can not wait to gobble those up!  G wants goat curry?!!?  Additionally, he just clarified, he wants lots of veggies with that curry! Each to our own...

As discussed, this cleanse is not just about what we put in but what comes out and I think it's noteworthy to say there is an awful lot coming out considering how little is going in.  And not to be too graphic the consistency is not what one would expect either, if you get my down low on the download!

Happy cleansing...

Day 26

Ahhh... I am feeling fine!  Hard to imagine that suddenly it's almost over.  I will say I'm looking forward to that Monday morning smoothie... I will use super foods and all raw ingredients for a gentle re-introduction to non juice nutrients!  Everyone seems to have gotten rather quiet?

Day 25

Here I am on my 4th day without food and it's way easier than I imagined it could possibly be!

Talking to some cleansee's today symptoms that have been noticed include: less toxic smelling workout sweat, less gas, more energy, clearer brain function, less or NO inflammation, smoother calmer energy - not wanting to kill anyone even whilst driving in San Francisco!

Pounds have been lost and more importantly inches!

All seems very well in our little cleansing world....

Day 24

I'm really glad to be doing this and really glad I feel way better than yesterday!  My energy is good, downloads sufficient and not too weird yet, head clear... I do feel a bit hungry but not ravenously or obsesssively so!  I hear it's easier not to eat any food after three days... that you go into some sort of zone?!?!  I'll keep you posted!

Additionally my brain is occupied with thoughts of my relationship with food, my habits, any addictions (not just to food but to t.v. watching, shopping...) and how this new awareness will translate for me post cleanse.

Some book recommendations that have come up in the above context:

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
Life Management by Elizabeth Wilson
50 ways to soothe yourself without food by Susan Albers, PSY.D.

I'm also thinking about the best way to re-introduce food and health maintenance ideas. 

For health maintenance I may steal an idea from Natalia Rose (Detox the world) and designate one day per week for a mini cleanse and consume only green juice.  She suggests Monday and I like that idea.

More on food re-entry tomorrow...

Day 23...

Wow, the time is flying by.  Day 2 of no food was more challenging for me and less for G.  I felt a bit pinched & headachey... More green juice didn't seem to be doing the trick.  Brandi reminded me that I felt this way on day 1 or 2 of each new phase and that reminder gave me the where with all to re-commit! 

Since Brandi is training 2 hours/day she had a great idea that some of you other zealously active people might want to consider.  She blended green juice with some ice and raw protein powder to give her that extra workout boost.  Word is that it was delicious and good fuel for the energy intensive day.

Jason is going full bore on phase four even though his job is quite physical, that inspires me... 

Sheri is seriously taking back her closet and then some... sounds like there may be alterations in her future, or at least in the future of some favorite clothes in her closet!

So all in all we are an amazing lot aren't we?!?