Juice Feast Day 7 of (60?)

Well Hello!!!

Feeling good this morning!!! I had a good day yesterday with a few interesting successes I will share with you in a minute. I just wanted to say that at this point it's really easy. My body feels energized and satisfied as long as I keep the fresh juices running through it. I was able to perform 3-75 min and one 90 min massages yesterday. No major problems doing it and had plenty of Juice on hand.

Of all places I went to the hardware store to pick up some of their paint strainer bags to strain my almond milk and there I found a goldmine in the form of Mason Jars 12 of them for 12.00. I scooped them up right away. I can store my Juices in them and keep them in my Hot / Cold Bag with Ice Packs. Keeps them cold throughout the day. A refrigerator works too.

Yesterday's Success: Had a little argument with the wife yesterday. I was at fault ;-). History has proven 99% of the time that an incident such as this would derail me from my diet plan. However, not this time. I simply went and took a SWIG of almond milk and got mentally back on track. What was different this time? I didn't allow the emotion to consume me beyond what it was. I had a choice and I realized my choice to continue on my journey to wellness or not. And I chose to continue. For me that was MAJOR.

I may have mentioned this before but It's worth repeating. While the true benefit of this Juice Feast is healing the body, resetting the body, losing weight, regaining energy. There is a major side benefit that we often don't think about. The Mind. Getting the mind back in harmony with the Body. The body wants to do the right thing for its survival. But the the mind when out of tune with the body thinks otherwise. It goes after the simple pleasures, the quick fixes. The addictions created from childhood. This process can help to retrain the mind to be in accord with the body. But the difficulty and resistance of the mind is enormous as witnessed by the many times I/we have tried to make changes. It's a constant struggle and I don't know when the breaking/turning point arrives or if it will ever arrive. But until then we will keep on fighting one day at a time.

Well today I have a Thai Massage scheduled into my day. Which will be really good for me as I need it right now. Looking like a long day overall with 4 clients. Tomorrow will be interesting as I have 5 clients all 75 minutes and 3 of them really deep tissue. Tomorrow will be the real litmus test of my strength levels with this Juice Feast. See you tomorrow. Juicing one day at a time...

Challenges for today:

AGAIN Drink more water!

stay on course (laser focus)

Remember just 1 day at a time

Drink at least a gallon of Juice

Schedule a colonic

Yesterday's meals:

Almond Milk about 16 oz

ROBEKS juices about 90 ozs

OJ 16 oz

Water about 64 ozs (im trying)

Vitals:

Weight; Starting 275

Current 265 (Lost 10 lbs)

Goal weigh 220-225

BP; 117/75 (1/6)

Mood: Feel pretty good this morning.

Energy; 1-10 (9.5)

Commitment level 1-10; (10+)

Juice Feast Day 6 of (60?)

Yesterday was Superbowl Sunday. Overall I felt great no really rough insurmountable occurrences. Spent the day primarily in the house. Went out to pick up my Juice from Robeks purchased about 90 oz. Dropped the wife off at Chipoltle while I went to get my juice. A little mental trauma there. I felt a little left out. But nothing overly traumatic. When she walked in the store with the bag I looked at it and my mind instantly went back to all the times we used to go to lunch in at Chipoltles in DC and stand in that long line that was out the door. I always purchased the bowls and would eat until I was stuffed. That was a favorite stop of ours.

With the exception of the Superbowl I watched very little TV. Kept myself immersed in reading and watching raw food/health food related videos. This is certainly mind over matter as I am truly not physically hungry. The Enema yesterday was successful in getting things moving a bit as I had another BM yesterday.

Went to Walgreens yesterday and purchased tongue scrapers. I have a thick film coating on my tongue which is normal from what I have read and heard. Then went to the supermarket. Went straight to the produce isle. Picked up a bunch of oranges about 38 and about 16 pears. I had a taste for some fresh OJ and man that was good and refreshing. Another weak moment was at the register. Four thick powdered fresh home made jelly donuts (or at least they looked home made) which sent my mind into a frenzy. I literally could taste the donuts in my mouth and imagined wiping the powder off my face. The moment was so real... I need mental help!!! LOL

Really excited about my Blood Pressure getting back into the normal range. 117/75. And my weight dropping another two lbs was a good thing also. Looking forward to a rather busy day at work today. Going to do four 75 min massages for the first time since I started the feast (3 on the previous days that I worked). A normal day consists of 5-6 massages. But I have intentionally kept things light while I adapt to this Juice Feast thing. Will be prepared with plenty of Juice. See you tomorrow!!!

Challenges for today:

Drink more water!

stay on course (laser focus)

Remember just 1 day at a time

Drink at least a gallon of Juice

Enema and schedule a colonic

Yesterday's meals:

Had about 8 oz of Juice from the evening before to hold me over

Drank about 16 oz of Almond milk

20 oz of fresh squeezed OJ (Awesome!)

60 ozs of Green Drink

Vitals:

Weight; 266 (Lost 9 lbs)

BP; 117/75

Mood: Feel pretty good although it is 4am

Energy; 1-10 (9)

Commitment level 1-10; (10+)

Juice Feast Day 5 of (60?)

Good news!!!

I still feel great. No major temptations or urges to eat solid foods. Didn't watch much TV last night which I think is helping me. Performed three 75 min. relatively deep tissue massages yesterday. Working off of my 32 oz morning drink. Energy level during the massage was good. Got a little tired but overall felt pretty solid.

Went home and made about 64 oz of juice and 32 oz of fresh almond milk. After drinking 32 oz of the fruit/veggie drink, I drank maybe total 16ozs of the almond milk 8 oz at a time and it was very filling. Then I drank another 24 oz of the fruit and veggie drink.

This morning I didn't feel hungry at all. Didn't have the urge for a movement so I must cave in and do the dreaded Enema. I have a deep seeded fear of Enemas. My grandmother used to make me take them when I was a kid. The worse thing ever. So there is a certain resistance to this part of the plan but I know it must be done. I used one of the Fleet laxative enemas from Walgreens. Not sure if this is the recommended or best solution but it will suffice until I read more on this.

One Word: Brutal!!! But amazing the amount of solid stuff that's still coming out after 5 days. Okay enough of that...

It's SuperBowl Sunday. The wife is unfortunately sick so we have no plans on doing anything for the SuperBowl. This actually works in my favor. I can stay home in my little Cave and control all of life's temptations!!! See you tomorrow!!!

Yesterday's meals:

Juice from night before 32 ozs

Drink mix: juiced whole Head of Celery, 3 pack of romaine hearts, half pineapple, 3 green apples, 1 red apple, 1/4 lemon with peel, inch of ginger. then blended with a tray of ice in vitamix to make it cold made about 64 oz...

32oz of fresh Almond Milk.

Vitals:

Weight; 268 (Lost 7 lbs)

BP; did not take

Mood: Very Steady almost feel a little sedated

Energy; 1-10 (8-9)

Commitment level 1-10; (10+)

Juice Feast Day 4 of (60?)

Good morning!! Just wanted to stop by and say hello. Another successful day yesterday in keeping this commitment to myself. I don't know if I will make 60 days but I'm sure gonna try. I feel pretty good today. Slept a lot last night. I think my body is using this time to heal itself. I'm sure it has a lot of house cleaning to do from the last two years. Yesterday had a small unassisted (no enema or laxative) movement. Which I was happy about. Gonna do the enema on Sunday morning (Superbowl Sunday). I think I may attempt to schedule a colonic for next week to really get some of the stuff moving.

Last night I stayed away from the TV (food commercials) pretty much stayed in bed surfed the net and read. I had one moment I felt slightly tempted when I walked by the bags of potato chips in my dining room. But I threw them in the trash at my wife's suggestion so I didn't have to look at them.

Yesterday's meals:

Juice from night before 32 ozs

Apple, Pear, Spinach, celery,

(robeks) I-9 30 0z / Green drink 30 oz/ immune booster 20oz

Vitals:

Weight; 269 (Lost 6 lbs)

BP; did not take

Energy; 1-10 (8-9)

Commitment level 1-10; (10+)

Juice Feast Day 3 of (60?)

It's Morning and I feel pretty darn good. Kept waking up all night about every 2 hours to go to the bathroom #1. Despite that, I feel very rested. Still haven't had a bowel movement since day one. So it looks like the enemas and possibly smooth move tea will be necessary.

Challenges: Yesterday I didn't have enough juice at work so I finished about 80 oz by 5pm. But I had to work until 9pm. Got a bit of a headache that I tried to stave off with water. Overall it wasn't too bad but preparation is key.

Yesterday's meals:

Left over juice from night before.

Apple, Pear, Spinach, celery,

Vitals:

Weight; 272 (Lost 3 lbs)

BP; 130/83

Energy; 1-10 (9)

Commitment level 1-10; (10+)

Juice Feast Day 2 of (60?)

Good morning everyone. I know it's only day two on this wonderful journey to wellness but I feel really good. Alive and full of energy. One of the biggest problems for me in doing a juice fast is the preparation of the juices. I literally dread making the daily juices especially the clean up. I think I may have found the solution. Went to a place in West Hartford, CT called Robeks. They make fresh juiced fruits and veggies 30 oz size for only 7.00. Last night I bought 120 oz for 28.00 and to top it off I had 4 different varieties of juice this is good for me because in the past I had a tendency to drink the same concoctions every day. Also, for the price if I'm not sure I could get that type of variety.

After doing some reading I found that, in the past I probably wasn't drinking enough Juice to sustain me at the level I needed to be at. This time it's really important to maintain a level of strength and endurance because of my daily needs at work (massage therapy)and also my desire to work out. This will be one of the determining factors of how long I can last on this "Juice Feast".

I woke up at 3am and had to go to the bathroom (#1). I swear I had to have gone for two minutes straight. It was pretty impressive to say the least. Another new area of this feast that I'm trying to wrap my head around is doing daily enemas. I'm not there yet. Although I do at a minimum plan on having a few colonics done (the number depends on how long I go).

So, what's my goal with all of this? I guess there are a number of things:

1. Give my system a much needed rest so it can do some internal repair and house cleaning
2. Eliminate cravings so that it's easier to sustain a "raw food" lifestyle
3. Lose weight
4. Normalize blood pressure
5. Eliminate the aches and pains especially in the joints (knees)
6. Challenge that which I call myself to control addictive behavior concerning foods
7. ... more to come...

Yesterday's meals:

33 oz of viva coconut water

32 oz of of natural lemonade sweetened with fruit (didn't have access to juice yet)

30 oz of the V-9 (from Robeks) see picture above for ingredients

About 64 oz of water starting with 32 in the morning

Vitals:

Weight; 274 (Lost 1lb)

BP; 130/83

Energy; 1-10 (10)

Commitment level (1-10); 10+

Juice Feast Day 1 of (60?)

Well Hello!!! It's me again!!! It's been almost two years since I have posted here. I have to say I'm happy to be back again. It's been a rough journey. I spent the last two years eating and drinking whatever and whenever I wanted. I attempted to get back on the wagon a few times but unsuccessfully so.

So hear I stand, getting ready to begin a juice fast. I watched the movie, "Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead" and I realized that his story was my story in a nutshell just a slightly different version.

Here's my version: Once upon a time ... (insert excuses here) ... and then I gained weight and felt horrible and had to make a change. The Beginning (pressing reset button).

Although I have been doing pretty good since the beginning of the year. Eating a lot of fruits and veggies consuming, smoothies almost daily I still don't feel like I am quite of the right mindset to take this all the way home to get back fully on my journey to health and wellness. It seems like such a long journey and committing to it while I know it's the best thing for me feels like the beginning of the end. Like I have to give up something a part of me.

I was sharing with a client what I wanted to do yesterday and the first thing she pointed out was that it's going to be Super Bowl Weekend. UGHHHH! Not only that I plan on spending Saturday with 3 of my best friends from Home (New Jersey). That always entailed me drinking alcohol and eating plenty of Junk food. Usually at some point consuming copious amounts of WHITE CASTLE BURGERS. Well I shared with them what I plan on doing and they were probably a little disappointed. I actually felt a little guilt for selfishly starting this a few days before our "fellas" outing. How dare I think of my health and well-being at the expense of my guys. I even considered putting it off until Monday that way I can enjoy the SuperBowl also.

As easy as this sounds, there was a catch. I spontaneously opened my big mouth in a group I participate in on Facebook Winter/Spring Body Makeover Challenge/ Food Eater's Anonymous about doing a 60 day juice fast just like the guy in the movie. Well, I didn't expect anyone to agree to join me. But at least 5 people agreed to do at least a five day Juice fast (starting FEB 1, 2012). But didn't know how and requested help. UGH!!!

I thought well I can allow them to do it and secretly start on Monday, who would ever know right? Wrong!!! As I watched the excitement and anticipation for the start simmer in the room I felt more and more guilt come over me. How can I mislead these friends some old some new who are looking to do what I know I should be doing. And to top it off I started this CRAP!!!! $*$*$&

So I decided that I will DO IT! I'm committed not sure about an entire 60 days but I am committed to one day at a time with the hopes that I can make it to at least 60 days and hopefully to 90 days. I am going to go out with my friends on Saturday and do whatever I decide on Sunday but I plan on tugging my juice along with me. STAY TUNED!!!

As you may have read in early posts I like to start a health plan in an unconventional way. Instead of easing my way into it I like to just go for it cold turkey. So yesterday I indulged in a few foods and drinks ceremoniously (a sort of last supper) which led to a serious bout with the bathroom. My stomach was not very happy with me at all!!! I will spare you the details. So let the journey Re-BEGIN.

Starting weight: 275 lbs.

Diet Type: Juice Feasting