The Home Stretch of the Fast Diary: Days 6-10

Continued from Diary of a Fasting Woman Part 1

4/9/12 Day 6- More than Halfway Done!

Honestly, today has got to be my best day so far! I woke up after 7 & ½ hours of sleep, on my own and totally refreshed.

So folks, it is time to talk poop. It’s inevitable that it will come up when we’re discussing cleanses. A little basic background first. Our gastrointestinal tract (GI) is designed to “go” when stimulated by a combination of fiber, fat and pressure. Obviously when doing a cleanse such as the master cleanse or a juice fast you’re not consuming much fiber or fat. Because of that, contrary to popular opinion, you won’t be “running to the bathroom.”

This is actually a problem, because even though you’re not consuming any solid food, we still need to eliminate. Our system will still deposit waste in the GI tract as a means of eliminating byproducts, toxins and waste. To make sure that this stuff gets out during the cleanse, I recommend either using Smooth Move senna tea and/or a saline flush (pour a generous amount of salt in a glass of water.) Here’s the disclaimer: The saline flush is very effective, however it tastes horrible. I personally only use that as a last resort. I stick to the tea, which is safe to use occasionally like this, and drink that every other day during the last 5-6 days of the cleanse.

Pain and inflammation scale (1-10) 4- I really feel good. I’m starting to think it is completely reasonable to expect my symptoms to drop to 1 or 2 by day 10.   

Sleep- Slept great, woke up feeling super refreshed after 7 & ½ hours of sleep.

Skin- decided to add this category since I’ve been noticing some changes to my skin lately that are worth highlighting. I’ve been noticing my skin is more flaky and dry than usual. My face is breaking out a bit, mostly in small whiteheads. I’m trying to keep it clean and moisturizing with jojoba oil.

In NYC, it’s almost impossible to go a couple days, let alone 10 days without going out to dinner. So far I’ve turned down 2 or 3 offers for dinner this week. Honestly, I’m craving the social component more than the food. I don’t like missing out on the time together with people I love. So instead I’m trying to socialize in non-food related settings (like having friends over.) And although I don’t mind people eating around me, it does seem to make others uncomfortable. The food smells great! But I know it’ll be there next week when I’m done and ready for it. Right now, my commitment to completing this fast is greater than my temptation to eat. But I am already making dinner plans for post detox ;)

One thing I decided to take away from this experience: I hope that my continued commitment to eating a clean diet and juicing outweighs my temptation to make bad choices and overindulge. I have a better grasp on what tempts me to overindulge and what emotions trigger my cravings for comfort foods.

4/10/12 Day 7- the Home stretch!

My first Master Cleanse was the entire springing board for what would eventually be this blog and Wealth of Health RX. It was what forced me to not only view food and traditional healthcare differently, but also it was what started my transition into nutrition. It should stand to reason, that when I do this cleanse this time around that it might spawn some more inspiration. When I first started to learn about nutrition, It seemed like no matter what I knew, I couldn’t seem to do better. I was trying to understand not only how I could improve my habits, but the reason for my making them habits in the first place.

Of course, like most human beings, my eating is triggered by emotions. That should come as no surprise since the link between emotion and food is as primal as any other instinct. Emotional triggers like stress, insecurity, loneliness, boredom for example, are common reasons that make many turn to snacks and comfort foods. After all, we’ve made these associations for centuries:

• In times of stress we reach for energy to get us through a hard patch.
• When we’re bored or lonely we look for comfort foods that remind us of childhood and family.
• When we’re not feeling fulfilled, certain foods can make us feel more powerful just by triggering feelings of satiety and/or nostalgia. 

So knowing all this, what sets me off? Why can I go 10 days without being tempted by great smelling food right in front of me, but I can’t resist a good piece of chocolate normally? What makes me randomly want ice cream every so often?

What I realized is that I don’t have any control over my emotions. Yup, that’s it. Now, mind you, I’m not saying I’m a crazy woman running around having emotional outbursts all over the place. What I am saying that I have emotions, reactions, wants and needs. And I can’t always fulfill them (at least not immediately.) But what I can do, if fulfill a craving for ice cream, chocolate, sweet potato fries- you catch my drift. So for me, when I find something I can control, I give in to it. But when I’m on a cleanse, they’re not an option, they’re off the table, my will power is ironclad.

•  Step 1: Identify cravings- mostly sweet like ice cream and chocolate. Sometimes it’s savory like fries (although I do prefer sweet potato fries, so that’s still kind of sweet.)
•  Step 2: identify cause of cravings- stress, worry and anxiety. It’s times when I just need support, kind words and a hug.
•  Step 3: now what? Now that I can recognize those feelings, I can find ways to sooth them by talking to my amazing friends, continuing to keep a journal or doing more yoga/stretching to help relax.

Pain and inflammation scale (1-10) 4- I had planned on doing yoga this morning, but instead I spent an extra few min in bed- pretty much not doing anything but procrastinating and by then ran out of time. I will say, I’m normally too stiff and achy in the morning to do any stretching without a big warm-up, so this is a plus!

Sleep- Slept well; somewhere around 7 or 8 hours.

Skin- Noticed today that it’s much more clear than yesterday! That was quick. There’s one or 2 blemishes I could do without, but overall skin tone is pretty even. Actually went to work today without any eye concealer- and DIDN’T look like a zombie.

4/11/12 Day 8- Feeling Great

I wake up on Mondays and Wednesdays and I totally indulge in morning ritual. After I work out, I make myself a great breakfast and just hang out on my coach working or reading. So obviously this week breakfast hasn’t been an option- I find myself trying to find other ways to spoil myself.

I slept in an skipped my usual morning class and opted to go to the gym later this afternoon. I’m hoping to use my extra time to get a couple of errands taken care of this morning before my first client meeting.

hoping to get back to running soon

Pain and inflammation scale (1-10) 3- After I sprained my foot in February, I’ve had limited mobility and flexibility in my right foot. Not only has the pain subsided. I have much better range of motion. I’m at the point where I feel like I can start working to strengthen it!   

Sleep- Slept in a little later than usual, got around 9 hours! Woke up once around 5AM to use the bathroom, but fell right back to sleep.

Skin- Skin tone and clarity is pretty similar to yesterday. Down to one annoying blemish.

I’m not going to lie, I woke up thinking it was Thursday at first, and was very excited for it to be day 9.

4/12/12 Day 9- SO Close….

Pain and inflammation scale (1-10) 2- I debated if this was a 1 or a 2.. I went with 2 only because since my foot is still week from my previous sprain, it doesn’t feel 100% better. Otherwise, I don’t have any real pain to speak of. I really honestly feel really GREAT!    

Sleep- Set my alarm to wake up at 6AM in an attempt to get to the gym before work. Woke up after 7 hours of sleep feeling fine… did I get to the gym? See below.

Skin- Skin tone and clarity is pretty good. That annoying blemish from yesterday is smaller, just need it to heel. The bruises on my legs have faded tremendously, the left is still noticeable, the right is pretty much gone.

One question I get constantly about this, is if I’m doing this to lose weight or if I could recommend a detox/cleanse for weight lose. The blanket answer is, no. I have lost weight over the past week and a half, but the weight loss stopped on day 4 or 5. Over all I’ve lost about 9 pounds, and I fully expect to gain back at least 4 or 5 over the next week once I go back to eating normally. So no, this is absolutely not meant to be a “crash diet.”

Cleanses in essence will require you control what you’re eating and drink lots of water- a perfect cocktail for weight loss. This is especially effective when you haven’t been eating a good diet and have a few excess pounds to drop. However, cleanses should never require a drastic drop in calories and you should never consume less than 1,200 calories a day. A drastic drop in your daily caloric intake below your basal metabolic rate will result in a “crash” and any weight lost will be a combination of water, fat and muscle. And since this drastic change is not sustainable, once calorie consumption goes back to normal, the body will try to stabilize and the weight will come right back.

A detox/cleanse is meant to clean your body, and reset, physically. Please remember a detox/cleanse is great time to reflect on your diet and to set your intention and make a promise to yourself that you’ll take better care of your body. Don’t use it for the wrong reason solely to lose weight. If you need help taking off extra pounds, seek the help of a licensed nutritionist ;)

Honestly, I couldn’t be happier with my progress... I’m going to go ahead and pat myself on the back! Despite all the obstacles and the temptations, I was pretty committed and stuck to it! I have to say, this journal has been largely to thank for that. Your support though Facebook and Twitter has been unbelievably encouraging! And those of you that shared that you’re starting your own cleanse... greatest of luck! 

4/13/12 Day 10- Finish Line

Pain and inflammation scale (1-10) ONE! – Unbelievable… Sure it’s easier to pop an anti-inflammatory than go through a 10 day cleanse to be pain free. But constantly popping ibuprofen isn’t my thing (it’s got some serious GI side effects) and still has NEVER produced these kinds of results. This is actually correcting the problem- not just dulling the pain sensation and inflammatory response. 

Sleep- Slept pretty well, got to sleep in a little bit more than yesterday, but got up and got a great workout and stretch in before I started on my busy day.

Skin- A little disappointed that my skin isn’t as clear and bright as I’d like- Hmm I think a visit to a spa for a facial (with organic products of course.) is in order. I think this would fall into the “pampering myself” category ;)

I feel like this girl!

WOW! I am done! I feel so accomplished and energized. Technically, tomorrow would be my first day chewing- but I’ve decided to have a modest dinner tonight to celebrate with two of my good friends. Since I can’t just jump into eating full meals, I started with a grapefruit. I ate it 2 or 3 slices at a time and it took me about 2 hours to finish the whole thing! Next, I grabbed a ripe avocado since I’ve also been craving protein- a great source of vegetarian protein (5g) and healthy Omega 3 fat. I was able to eat one half at a time over the course of a couple hours. In between, I continued to drink my lemonade and veggie juice.

Dinner was also vegetarian: Bok choi and shiitake mushrooms in a fresh ginger coconut sauce, over lentils and quinoa. OMG! It was so good… easy to digest, made sure to chew extra well and take my time. I was really craving the protein, and this way I was able to pack in about 35g in this meal:

• Lentils ½ cup 25g
• Quinoa ¾ cup cooked 5g
• Shiitake mushrooms 3-5 g

Easy to digest and satisfying! And even better, I got to enjoy it with great company.

So what happens post detox? I get that question a lot these days- both from my clients doing their own detox and my friends. Well I’m craving the weirdest things, like avocados and lentils- and feeling great without caffeine. So far I’m going to stick to giving in to my cravings, a few grains and avoiding processed food (as usual.) I’m also going to keep up juicing in  the morning, since now I’m in a committed and very serious relationship with my new juicer. I’ll keep posting more updates on my progress over the next few weeks as I transition back to my daily routine.

Stay updated here, on Facebook and Twitter!

Diary of a Fasting Woman: Part 1

Daily Account of my 10 Day Cleanse/Fast

I have decided to start a 10 day Master Cleanse. Wednesday will be my start day, officially, but my cleanse really started four days prior (on 4/1.) I’ve been avoiding caffeine since Sunday and trying to eat as clean as possible. I’ve also been eating extra protein to prepare my body for the fast. 

I have multiple reasons for deciding to do this powerful and challenging cleanse/fast, both physical and psychological. Physically, I am very inflamed from various injuries I’ve incurred in the past 6 months. I wake up in the morning very stiff (especially my ankles) and often go to bed with swollen joints. There's also a few issues with my complexion that I'm hoping will clear up: I have noticed my skin has been breaking out more often than usual and I’m hoping it will clear up and even out my skin tone. Besides that, I've noticed the circles under my eyes getting darker. On my left shin, I have an old scare that I’m hoping will lighten or even clear up.

I’ve also been noticing an increase in sugar cravings and comfort foods (I wonder if this is tied to increased inflammation and breakouts, hmm). And the more I give in to them, the more difficult it has been to control them. The Master Cleanse has been one of the best tools that I’ve used to correct sugar cravings/addiction, as well as a powerful tool in overcoming food addiction in general. I feel like it’s more of a fast, because of psychological aspect. The time you have to spend with yourself, nurturing yourself with things that are not about food: reading, meditating, walking, yoga.. etc. It’s so easy to forget and go back to old habits of food, caffeine and alcohol to seek comfort when we’re frustrated, tired, sad, bored or lonely. It is a good habit to check in every once in a while.

Now here’s my debate: Do I do a pure master cleanse? Or do I incorporate a juice? Every Master Cleanse authority will tell you not deviate from the standard cleanse. But I have other ideas ;)

I was just doing a little research on some of my favorite juice ingredients. I’m looking for ingredients that won’t alter the purpose of the Cleanse. The two main points to focus on are: 1. Inflammation 2. Sugar. So I’m using ingredients with the lowest glycemic index, and high anti-inflammatory properties. I found an awesome search engine from Self Magazine at http://nutritiondata.self.com. (not gonna lie, pretty impressed! nice job Self!)) Here are some of my juice options:

•  Wheatgrass- my first and most obvious choice because of its detoxifying and energizing qualities (GI*= 1).
•  Kale- Well known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Also a great source of Iron and very low glycemic index (GI*=1).
•  Cucumber- Adds a little sweetness without overpowering (GI*= 3). Also detoxifying.
•  Ginger- known anti-inflammatory and detoxifying agent. No glycemic load (GI*=0)

Just as a reminder, here are the ingredients for the Master Cleanse:

• Lemons- Very mild Anti-inflammatory properties are a plus, but mainly used for enzymatic cleansing qualities. Low Glycemic index (GI*=3).
• Maple Syrup (grade A or B)- The only ingredient that at first glance doesn’t make sense because of the very high glycemic Index. However, its main use is as a source of calories and invaluable energy, as well as many minerals like magnesium, potassium, calcium and iron.
• Cayenne pepper- The most powerful anti-inflammatory in the whole bunch! It also works synergistically with the enzymes in the lemons to cleanse and detoxify.

Think you’d like to join me? Email me and find out how a cleanse (like this or others) can help you. It can be difficult and dangerous to do this without the proper support, so don’t be afraid to ask for my help!

*GI- glycemic index.

4/4/12: Day one (officially)

I woke up this morning feeling a little guilty about the Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream I had last night. I had decided last minute, that if I’m not going to be able to have ice cream for a while, I should grab some while I can. I normally allow myself the occasional indulgence, but last night I felt like I was cheating. See, I had promised myself that my cleanse really started on 4/1, and I was supposed to eliminate all sugar and processed junk since them. Yesterday was not a banner day for me. But, I can honestly say, I can leave that behind me and move forward. 

Since I decided to incorporate juice into my fast, I start my day with a juice I had made yesterday. It contains: Apple, cucumber, kale, parsley, lemon and wheatgrass. It was leftover and I didn’t want it to go to waste. But today I’ll make a fresh batch for tomorrow’s “vitamin juice.”

This am I weighed myself and was surprised I’d lost 3 pounds since Sunday (water weight?) I was not as inflamed as yesterday (maybe because I slept better?) so that could have contributed to the weight loss. 

Pain and inflammation scale (1-10) 7 – stiff (especially ankles,) muscles soar and a little tender (especially hip flexors) 

Sleep- 9.5 hours. Woke up to phone ringing (would have slept longer I was exhausted). Woke up once during the night. Feel very refreshed this morning.

Fast Forward (cleaver pun ;)

Got through the rest of the day pretty well! I wasn’t feeling hungry or deprived, in fact I was very motivated and energized. I did my usual workout and didn't even have so much of a headache. That surprised me a lot. I’m usually most miserable the first 2 or 3 days (takes a little time for the toxins to clear out and your body to get used to not eating/digesting.) My theory: Maybe I’ve psyched myself up so much about the benefits that I just kind of got over it.

4/5/12 Day Two

OK, I’m hungry! I woke up ready for some breakfast… and then realized I was still fasting. So instead I got myself excited about having the juice I made yesterday. What did I juice?

• Apples- Didn't plan on it, but I had one left, so I figured what the hell (GI=3)
• Cucumbers
• Kale
• Parsley- pretty good anti-inflammatory and great for detoxifying (GI=2)
  
• Ginger
• Wheatgrass
• Lemon

I gobbled that right up first thing this morning. Now I’m sticking to the lemon/maple syrup juice the rest of the day. 

It’s noon now, and my stomach is growling. But otherwise, I’m alright. Not actually “hungry,” just trying to get to the point where my body catches up to what my mind already knows. Still feeling good, but not as energetic as yesterday, but that could also be the fluorescent lights - no, seriously, has anyone else noticed their energy or mood change when trapped under them for a while?

Pain and inflammation scale (1-10) 6 – still stiff (especially ankles,) muscles are not as soar even though I worked out pretty hard yesterday. 

Sleep- a little less than 8 hours. Woke up on my own about 10 minutes before my alarm- that doesn’t mean I got out of bed! I waited for my alarm, hit snooze a couple of times before I finally decided to get out of bed. The big motivation… getting me some of that green juice! 

Have a 10 hour work day today, then planning on meeting up with a friend later after work. Guess we’ll see how the day goes!

4/6/12 Day Three

I did end up meeting up with friends last night after work. I was fine though, had the most spectacular sparkling water and lemon wedges thanks to my barkeep Lourdes. I expected it to be more tempting with food and beverage options galore dangling in front of me. But I am proud to say held my own (insert pat on the back here.)

Most delicious sparkling water with lemon ever!

Pain and inflammation scale (1-10) 6 – still stiff, I did notice my left side body was tighter than usual and my knee was bothering me. I am so very in need of some good stretching and yoga. Also noticed, the scar on my left leg is lighter AND the old scar on my right shin has completely faded!

Sleep- only slept about 6 hours before I woke up naturally. Feeling alright though. Would love to squeeze in a nap!

In light of making this a more holistic and balanced experience, I wanted to make sure I got some time in for yoga. I worked with Natalie today, and got to really work out all that tightness in my left side. Incidentally, My knee feels better! After yoga, I decided to be brave and stick around for a booty kicking workout with Paige- I wasn’t sure if I could hang considering I had also done yoga. But even after warning her I might leave early, I stuck it through and surprised myself! 

Beach yoga! Not quite today, but in 3 weeks I'll be there!

Just goes to show how amazing the human body is. Once it’s aligned to work properly, it can work through anything. I think that it helped doing the Metagenics Cleanse a couple months before and eliminating most metal toxicity. I also think that preparing for a few days before starting has helped me tremendously in being able to jump right in and avoid the fog and fatigue of the first few days.

I’m going to have an extra glass of juice since I worked out a little more today, but otherwise sticking to the plan. I have noticed that my cravings have gotten better since yesterday. At the end of a long day, I usually look forward to a good dinner or at least a snack. Now I find myself having to fill that void. But  I’m filling the emotional space of food with other things… taking care of myself by doing my nails, making my space more comfortable by cleaning my room, socializing with my friends etc. This fast has been so helpful for me in making that realization. 

4/7/12 Day Four

I was just thinking and I have to say, I’m extremely lucky to have such supportive friends! Having people I my life that I can talk to about what I’m going through (cleanse or otherwise) is a huge part of what makes me able to do this fast and get so much out of it. I just wanted to start by saying thank you. 

Aside from my friends, this diary has also helped provide an added support. Most times I’ve done cleanses, I’ve done them with a group or lead others. This time I’m doing this alone, and as I expected, it is much harder. As I mentioned, my friends have been supportive and helpful, but it’s always nice to share the experience with; someone to both commiserate and celebrate with. I suppose that’s true of life, but it truly is motivating to know you have someone on your team. 

Pain and inflammation scale (1-10) 5- Actually woke up this morning, and in my grogginess, didn’t notice that I walked, as opposed to hobbled, to the bathroom. There’s very little noticeable swelling in my ankle (yay inflammation reduced!) 

Sleep- slept around 8 &1/2 hours. I was exhausted from my long day yesterday, so would have definitely loved to stay in bed longer rather than get up and go to work, but what else is new?

I didn’t wake up particularly hungry, in fact I didn’t “eat” for about an hour & half after I woke up. I had a wheatgrass shot (I had some extra time and was near a juice bar, so figured why not) and my juice. That was around 8:30AM. I honestly wasn’t hungry till almost 1PM, when I decided to have my lemon/maple syrup drink. Interesting, I think. 

In yoga yesterday, with Natalie’s help, I was able to figure out why my knee has started to hurt again. Not only is my left hip and IT band tight (pulling my knee out of alignment) but my whole left side is tight! This might be aggravated by my lower back or hip problems, issues that I had been seeing a chiropractor for these things in the past (and should really start again). But this has given me motivation and direction of what to work on. I think I’m going to go to the gym after work tonight (if they’re open, hmm,) do a gentle warm up, some abdominal work and try to stretch a whole bunch. I’d like to start stretching daily, maybe at night or in the morning when I wake up.

We’ll see tomorrow how that goes!

4/8 Day Five (half way!)

Let me start off with a confession… I didn’t go to the gym last night. Instead I took a nap; an uncharacteristically long 2 hour nap. And it was splendid. I was exhausted and my body really needed it. Even I have to remind myself: during a cleanse you need extra rest. Our bodies are doing extra work by both metabolizing differently as well as trying to eliminate toxins; so rest is very important. 

After my nap I did a little yoga and stretched. It felt tremendously good! I think I’m going to try to start making this a habit. Question is, first thing in the morning, or at night before bed? We’ll have to see how that works out.

reminding myself, beach yoga in Nicaragua in 2 weeks!

So today is Easter Sunday (happy holidays to those who celebrate.) I had a great quite day at home. I made it to a spin class (yay me!) It was definitely a challenge, but what spin class isn’t? I was careful to listen to my body and not push myself too, too hard. It felt great to get a good sweat on!

 I have 6 bags to donate!

I spent the rest of my day cleaning my room and sorting through my clothes deciding which to donate. My very good friend, Touline, came over to help and brought with herself a bottle of wine. I poured my lemon/maple syrup drink into a matching wine glass, and we got to work! We took one dinner break, as she ate her veggie wrap, I juiced myself a fresh green juice. Once we were finally done, it was so gratifying to see how much I was able to clear out… and without her help and sternness, I would not have been nearly as productive. Thank you, Touline! 

I also realized, without being on this fast, it would have been so very tempting to go grab dinner and another bottle of wine somewhere. In a way, cleansing my body has helped me focus and cleansing the clutter around me as well!

Pain and inflammation scale (1-10) 4- I think the stretching last night helped. I was able to flex and point my foot with some limited range of motion, but more freely than before. My knee feels better also. Although I did notice if I keep it bent for too long, it does start to stiffen and hurt a bit.  

Sleep- Since I napped so long and so late in the day I didn’t get to bed till pretty late (around 2AM.) I woke up around 9AM feeling pretty good.

I have noticed that I’m not urinating as often as before and it’s not nearly as watery. That’s normal as the body gets used to the extra consumption of water and releases the stored water in the extracellular compartments (this is when you’ll notice less bloating.) I’ve lost another 7lbs since I last weighed myself on Wednesday. It’s probably mostly attributed to the water weight.  

It was a nice day off today, tomorrow back to work/reality!

For the last 5 days check out the Home Stretch!