Monday, July 28, 2008

Juice Feast-Day 72

Fasting vs. Feasting

Yes There IS a difference!

FYI: People use the terms "feasting" and "fasting" interchangeably when on detox program involving juice, but they are really two very different things. Juice FEASTING is a term coined by David Rainosheck, creator of the 92-day juice feasting program. Juice Feasting refers to a cleansing and detox program where feasters drink nothing but 3-5 quarts of juice of fresh organic fruit and vegetable produce daily (plus water) over extended period of time-as long as 92 days. FEASTING is about abundance. Your body stays well hydrated, filled with nutrients, and you still get 1200 to 1500 calories per day. Energy levels are high and detox is less pronounced. There are no hard and fast rules when juice FEASTING, but well researched programs do exist that are designed to give you maximum cleansing and detox benefits should you decide to follow them (hey, following the rules is working for me).

Juice FASTING happens when you drink less than 3 qrts of juice per day. Bodily systems slow down as you enter a fasting mode, energy levels drop, and detox tends to be more pronounced. Juice FASTING should never be done for more than 3-5 days without supervision. Both methods have their place, but I just wanted to clear up the differences.

Juice Feasting Is No Picnic

At least not psychologically...

Recently, a few people have told me that I make doing a 92-day juice feast look pretty easy. Let me assure you. It isn't. Here's why. It's summer. And here in northeastern Minnesota, summer lasts (if the weather cooperates) a glorious grand total of about 72 hours (trust me, this is only a slight exaggeration). So for those of us who live the bulk of our lives with the mercury hovering near 0 degrees F, summer is a time of fun and frolic, time for relaxing picnics by the lake, and impromptu backyard BBQ's.

Drinking nothing but juice, day after day, while everyone around you is scarfing down charbroiled burgers and sipping cold ones on the back patio ain't no walk in the park folks. Really, it's not. I've been drinking juice for 72 days now. And despite seeing it, smelling it, and yes, even cooking it for other people to consume (that seven layer salad at my folks nearly killed me), I haven't eaten solid foods since May 18th. MAY 18TH! That's crazy talk! And while it's true that I have chosen this path of health for myself, there certainly have been days where all I wanted to do is belly up to the bar for basket of O-rings and a Two-Hearted Ale in a frosty mug.

*sigh* ....takes short break to daydream about not so distant past....

Ahem. Anyway...Take last night, for example. My husband works at a restaurant. He came home at the usual time, only this time he had a to-go box with him that was filled to the brim with saucy chicken wings. In his usual, thoughtful way, he asked if it would bother me if he ate something as we sat and watched some shows we tivo'd. (he never gets a break at work and it had probably been nearly 9 hours since he had last eaten). "Absolutely not! Go right ahead! Won't bother me a bit!" I replied (and at the time, that's how I felt). Within 5 minutes I was cranky and miserable. I was nearly beside myself. I had to excuse myself and go upstairs to avoid watching him eat. I WANTED SAUCY CHICKEN WINGS! I wanted ANYTHING BUT JUICE! If I had only been two years old, I would have thrown the biggest tantrum...And before he came home, I wasn't even hungry!

Yes, it's true that I've weathered a bachelorette party, a wedding, a family reunion, 2 birthday parties, and a 4-day visit to my parent's house. And I still have another wedding, 2 more 4-day visits, and a 3-day sail boat adventure to go (and possibly a short camping trip). But you see, although taxing, social engagements are doable because you're mentally prepared going in. It's the little everyday moments in the middle of the monotony that will derail you if your not careful.

The hardest part about juice feasting (besides dishpan hands from cleaning the *amn juicer twice a day) isn't the detox. It's the psychological aspects of giving up eating. It doesn't matter if you're coming from a raw diet, or a SAD diet, animals are wired to eat things.

Juicy Diary-Day 72

(today's juices & supplements)

32 oz water + MSM + parastroy + b12
24 oz rooibos tea + 2 tbsp raw honey
15 oz water

34 oz pear/grape

32 oz water

74 oz green juice (Italian parsley, red lettuce, rainbow chard, celery, carrots, cucumber, black Spanish radish, red onion, garlic, cayenne, assorted hot peppers, red bell pepper, cilantro, dandelion greens) + parastroy

Total Juice = 108 ounces (0.84 gallons)

Total Water = 103 ounces (0.80 gallons)
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Sleep & Dreams: I was woke up prematurely by hungry cats this morning. Grrrr....Got about 6 hrs I think. Dreamt about my junior high boyfriend.

Exercise: 2 mile hike with dog

Sauna: 20 minutes

Energy and mood: good energy, but generally feeling crabby and on edge today. Grrrrr.....

Comments: I'm really starting to research how to successfully break this feast when the time comes. So far, no one I know that has recently broke their feast/fast has made a completely successful transition back to solid food. I see a pattern emerging among feasters where once back on solid foods they over eat or binge on SAD foods and then find themselves juicing a short while later in order to "feel good" again physically and mentally. This scares me a little as I could see myself having a tendancy to use juice feasting as a crutch- a way to avoid dealing with any residual food issues I might have.

Binge, juice, binge, juice, is NOT a pattern I want to get trapped in. I know me. It could happen. I'm grateful to be able to learn from the struggles of others who have complete their feasts ahead of me. Hopefully I can learn from their successes and thier mistakes and make the transition easier on myself.

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