Okay….so here we are DAY 18. How was today?? Well I was up most of the night with sick babies, so the sleep factor was very poor. The babies have been sick for a few days and if you have children, you know how life is with sick babies….. From a fasting perspective It does make fasting harder. Food is so comforting, and when we have a bad day we reach for what makes us feel good, and good tasting food does just that. I am not a big fan of the term “juice feasting”. There is nothing feasting about juice fasting. Fasting requires discipline and commitment. Feasting does not. Fasting is a form of self denial. Feasting implies indulgence. Juice does not make you feel like food does when you have had a bad day (or night). It does not have the same “orgasmic effect” as say, In and Out Burger or Bar-b-que chicken and potato salad.

However the orgasmic feeling that goes along with fast food and other unhealthy combinations is similar to that of alcohol or drugs in that it is short lived and has a great potential to cause us long term damage. I say potential, because it is all in the power of each individual to choose what to eat, when to eat it, and how much to eat. We are creatures of habit and program ourselves either by conscious effort or by default which is basically to allow any idea or program to take root in our mind, good or bad. Those ideas (programs) form habits and habits are what shape the quality of our life and perception. Eating is no exception. If I keep the same eating pattern (half way good and half way bad) in 2010 as I have had in the past, no matter how much I work out the environment for disease is being developed on the inside and I am only robbing myself of vitality and strength. Or….is it only me I am effecting???

If my diet/exercise ratio is poor, I lack direction and ambition in life and have a drift wood mentality most likely my children will follow the same program and develop the same habits. I am well aware of what is needed for me, spiritually, mentally and physically. The question is: Will I remain aware of it and take it light hearted? Kind of a luke warm approach to health you could say…..a lazy one. It’s much easier for me to do nothing…. Ahhh yes….the way of ease……How evil it is…..Healthy habits and clean thoughts are contagious and have the potential to effect countless individuals. Juice fasting effects more then just the person doing the fasting. I have always seen how it effects others. Some criticize it and ridicule it, while others take notes and begin to implement the benefits for themselves. One thing is for certain, whatever we do, good or bad, effects those around us.

Day 18 was alright… a bit irritated with no sleep….but that is life with children. I needed some comfort this morning so I had “A” cup of coffee this morning. It was not as comforting as it usually is. I think I was running on habit, because I wasn’t having any withdraws. I also had a taste of coffee in my Tecchino this evening. We are still on schedule for no coffee. One cup in two days is very good progress, so we’ll see how it goes.

General Energy Level – 6/10
Difficulty Level – 2/10
Cleansing Reactions – very mild cough
Weight – 190
Blood Pressure – 130/82
Resting Heart Rate – 76 bpm
Workout – none
Fuel – water, rice dream, vegetable juice, vegetable/shrimp broth, tecchino, coffee
Intestinal Care – Jarrows Probiotics – Psyllium Husk Powder

                        

It has been 2 day since I posted anything and decided to post today and give a brief review of days 15 and 16 in addition to today’s post. the last 3 days have been very good. I still have a little sniffle and am spitting up mucous a few times a day. So far I am happy with the results that I am getting. The energy has been increasing daily and I am able workout harder and recover much MUCH faster.

I have a swimming injury to my left pinking that has bothered me for a year. However, I cannot feel any discomfort from it at all and after a 30 minute heavy bag workout it is not irritated or inflamed as before. In addition, a right knee inflammation from running no longer is a problem. I feel more clear headed today then any other day on this fast. Yesterday I purposely did not put any deodorant on to see what my body odor was like. After an entire day and 45 minute ride on the indoor trainer there was absolutely no foul smell. I do not have bad breath in the morning or a foul taste in my mouth upon waking and family is beginning to comment on the healthy appearance of my skin.

I have taken a break on the colon cleansing products yesterday and today. Sometimes the discomfort that goes along with the regimen is a deterrent. It’s not that I wasn’t getting results…I always get good results from colon cleansing. I just need a break for the discomfort. I will resume the regimen this week. Today is my first day without coffee in a long time. This is huge! I am a 3 – 4 cup coffee drinker a day RELIGIOUSLY and LOVE my coffee. Even last years 20 day juice fast included coffee. However, I am well aware of the the long term problems with such high doses. Coffee has a lot of tannin in it and the drink is very hard on the adrenal glands. It also contributes to hypertension. In any case, I do not know if the elimination of coffee is permanent for me. It is to my benefit to remain coffee free. It has only been one day so we will have to see how I feel in the coming days. I have been drinking green tea to off set the withdraws and if I continue to feels as good as I do, I will be eliminating coffee from my regular diet.

I remain convinced and persuaded that fasting is a gift from God. I only wish more people understood it. It has so many benefits to it and virtually a 0 downside factor if done correctly. Juice fasting and detoxification has often got a bad rap by the ignorant, inexperienced and people who mean well; in all cases I have observed they just don’t have the correct approach and information. I have had many days of inexperienced fasting and know all to well the dangers that can occur without the right knowledge. There is certainly a wrong way to do it AND a right way.

This remains to be my journal for a single fast. It is not a “how to fast” guide but merely a public record of my fasting experience for Jan 2010. For that reason, I won’t get into the “why fasting is good” speech and refrain from making this a tutorial, but because this is a public journal it wouldn’t be right to fail sharing how AWESOMELY liberating juice fasting is.

Juice fasting simply ROCKS!!!!!

General Energy Level – 6/10
Difficulty Level – 2/10
Cleansing Reactions – very mild cough
Weight – 190
Blood Pressure – not taken
Resting Heart Rate – not taken
Workout – 45 Heavy Bag Workout / Weights / Push ups / Crunches
Fuel – water, rice dream, lemonade w/honey, celery/carrot juice, vegetable/shrimp broth
Intestinal Care – Jarrows Probiotics – Psyllium Husk Powder

                        

My stomach didn’t give me any problems until this evening. However this is because the products I use are doing what they are suppose to do. The discomfort is a minor price to pay for intestinal cleansing. As I complete the end of another day, I feel very clear headed and refreshed. Sleep has been very good the last couple of days and I actually feel rested when I arise in the morning. Prior to this fast, I was having some serious insomnia issues. I am glad to see the insomnia go.

I still believe that I need to fast a bit longer then what I normally do. We’ll have to see how I feel when we get to the end of 30 days. I have yet to get what I am looking for spiritually from this particular fast. However we are really just beginning, so we’ll keep expecting.

General Energy Level – 6/10
Difficulty Level – 2/10
Cleansing Reactions – very mild cough
Weight – 191
Blood Pressure – 120/72
Resting Heart Rate – 80 bpm
Workout – 30 run/walk
Fuel – coffee, water, carrot/orange, almond milk, lemonade w/maple syrup, celery/carrot juice
Intestinal Care – Jarrows Probiotics – Arise and Shine Chomper with Cayenne – Psyllium Husk Powder w/Hydrated Bentonite Shake

                        

I can still very much feel the impulse to eat. I am a total snacker. I snack while I am cooking and snack through out the day. When I am around certain types of foods I can still feel the impulse…or the “pull” to snack. This is a bad habit and one that I am hoping to eliminate this time around. It’s interesting to see how the body behaves from a fasting perspective. It seems like all the little habits come to light….kinda like accounting in way. You just don’t realize how many calories you have consumed or the amount of food and junk you take in until you really stop and look. Interesting…

I had a wonderful conversation with my barber this morning. We talked about balance in business and family life and how much of challenge it can be. Jesus said “What good would it do a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?” I certainly try to take that to heart. There are a few times in life where I didn’t realize the value of the time I had until it was gone. I remember them well and try to apply the lessons to my present and future life. Time is so precious. The clock never stops ticking. God help me to make every second count.

General Energy Level – 6/10
Difficulty Level – 3/10
Cleansing Reactions – mild cough, headache, ears popping
Weight – 193
Blood Pressure – 118/78
Resting Heart Rate – 74 bpm
Workout – 30 minute heavy bag work out
Fuel – coffee, water, carrot/orange, almond milk, lemonade w/mape syrup, green tea w/honey
Intestinal Care – Jarrows Probiotics – Arise and Shine Chomper with Cayenne – Psyllium Husk Powder w/Hydrated Bentonite Shake

                        

Some areas of the race are better then others. But ultimately it is crossing the finish line on your feet having raced a good race that is most coveted by the participants. Keeping your health is very much like being in a contest. There are always more spectators then participants. Those who participate often sacrifice a great deal and bare the burden of the continued effort. But no one argues with a well deserved victory and the benefits that go with it. It’s just that everyone is not willing to pay the same price.

General Energy Level – 5/10
Difficulty Level – 5/10
Cleansing Reactions – cough, sneezing,
Weight – 193
Blood Pressure – 110/80
Resting Heart Rate – 76 bpm
Workout – none
Fuel – coffee, water, carrot/ornage, soy milk, vegetable/chicken broth
Intestinal Care – Jarrows Probiotics – Arise and Shine Chomper with Cayenne – Psyllium Husk Powder w/Hydrated Bentonite Shake

                        

It is only built up by consuming alkaline forming foods. However, starting a fast with no transition period, no alkaline reserves built up and immediately changing to 100 percent alkaline forming juice is not the right approach. This is why while transitioning I try to consume as much alkaline forming juice as possible so that I have sufficient reserves to buffer the toxic load and minimize the cleansing reactions. I don’t ever remember doing a juice fast without having some bad days. The bad days have always been followed with good. But getting through them can be tough.

As I write this evening I feel much better. This juice fast ranks as one of my worst for cleansing reactions. Note that the cleansing reaction did not take place in full force until AFTER I came out of transition. That simply means that I did not have sufficient alkalinity to handle the “rate” of detoxification….ugh!! Maybe I should be doing this twice a year!

General Energy Level – 4/10
Difficulty Level – 8/10
Cleansing Reactions – headache, body chills, sore throat, cough w/mucous, sneezing, ears popping, low energy
Weight – 194
Blood Pressure – 118/80
Resting Heart Rate – 72 bpm
Workout – none
Fuel – coffee, water, apple juice, goats milk, vegetable/chicken broth
Intestinal Care – Jarrows Probiotics – Arise and Shine Chomper with Cayenne