Important update.

I CAN HAVE VEGETABLE BROTH! You guys, I am mentally doing cartwheels on a table right now. I mentioned to my friend Dana that I’ve been craving broth (among a million other things), but that I couldn’t wait for that part of the breaking of the fast. She suggested I juice carrots, celery and onion tonight then heat up the juice. Hmmm. Yeah. Maybe something warm would make all the difference.

So I googled veg broth and juice fasting and found several places that talked about vegetable broth being perfectly safe on a juice fast. Basically, what you do is pulp the veg you want in the broth. Transfer the pulp to a pan and cover it with water. Simmer for a while. Drain. DRINK THE BROTH! BROTH! YAAAAAAAAY! Can you tell I’m excited?

Now we all know what I’m having instead of blargh blechy ugh veg juice tonight (trying to choke down my lunch juice, I can’t pinpoint what in it is bugging me. Maybe it’s the apples?). And according to my calculations, I have: five more fruit juices, five more vegetable juices (or fruit juice replacements once or twice) and dah-dah-dah-daaaaaaah! six more vegetable broths. This week is looking up! I may actually be able to pull off this fast thing without cheating or stopping early for a non-medical reason!

Days 6-8: juice fast

Mood: A bit sleepy
Weight loss: 14.6 lbs (so close to 15, so close!) and dropped 7.75″ around my body
Cravings: Luckily the green bean cravings have left, but they’ve been replaced by naughtier cravings for protein and salty things. I’m glad I don’t have sweet cravings or feel the need for a Diet Coke anymore.

I couldn’t be arsed to open my computer all weekend, so today is a 3-day summary post. I’ll break it down day-by-day for you. Let’s just say that the entire weekend was about cravings, dealing with cravings, trying to convince myself that I should break my fast early, and did I mention cravings?

Friday

Tea party = evil temptation.

The day started off great because I had my delicious pomelo-strawberry-orange juice. Mmmmm! I was proud of myself for making it through creation of a bath of oreo balls without any of it passing my lips. But that was the easy part. Before I left to go to an afternoon meeting, I saw all the other goodies people in the office had made for our tea party fundraiser. Check out the photo. I walked by without grazing. Woot! Another check for the win column.

But the challenges didn’t end there. I had to drive by La Perla for the second time that week, my absolute favorite Mexican restaurant. Then the afternoon meeting had temptation: three giant bowls filled with pretzels, skittles and M&Ms. Peanut M&Ms. My favorite. Alas, I resisted temptation again! Who the hell am I?! Where did this willpower come from?!

I spent Friday night at my friend Dana’s house, armed with a bottle of juice. She’s the one who got me juicing in the first place so I knew should I need some sort of emergency juice to combat a craving, I’d be safe. In addition to playing with her freakishly adorable baby (the freakishly adorable 5-year-old was at his grandparents, dang!), we went to Fred Meyer for some grocery shopping. I had a bit of a list going and know they have great produce. I got some blackberries, ginger root (kept forgetting to pick that one up), chard, kiwi and beets. I had already been dealing with the toughest bout of cravings so far on the fast and the store wasn’t helping. The bakery section smelled amazing. Their hot food deli area has sausages on a stick. On a stick! Why yes, I would like a box of corn dogs. Oh! How about that salad kit! I could use a nice salad with nuts and dressing. Not juiced salad. Please, no more juiced salad. You get the idea. I survived the store. Barely.

I spent the rest of the evening at Dana’s, trying to choke down the veggie-heavy juice I had. It was so tough to drink. I don’t know if it was the cabbage flavor starting to get to me or the sickeningly sweet flavor of grapes, but it was really hard to drink. I’m getting tired of the veg heavy juices. Real tired.

Saturday
I slept way too long on Friday night and decided to be lazy all weekend. My justification was that I’d been hard on

Kiwi and strawberry juice ingredients. Sure couldn't find anything so simple in most grocery stores!

my body with the fast and wanted to let it rest and do it’s thang. Yeah, that’s it. Okay, it is a bit logical and I got to read a lot and play video games. Win-win! I treated myself to another delicious fruit recipe of strawberries and kiwi once my dog, Rufus, and I finally crawled out of bed. It was nice and tart because the kiwis weren’t fully ripe. I liked it. For lunch I decided to eff the veg juice and have more fruit. Hey, it’s the weekend and I knew cravings would be even tougher to deal with because I wouldn’t have the structure or distraction of my daily work schedule. I had a frozen berry medley bag from Trader Joe’s that I had thrown into the fridge in a bowl to thaw the day before. I juiced that shiz up and it was so good! I loved the heavy berry flavor.

I probably could have went the rest of the day without juice, my hunger has diminished and stomach is shrinking like crazy. But I needed some veg and to keep my metabolism going. I added some ginger root this time and that really helped, I could choke it down. I also left out the grapes. Saturday evening evolved into a marathon of chick flicks and playing Fallout 3. Which I pwned, in case you were wondering.

Sunday
I stayed in bed for about 12 hours, sleeping a majority of it. I finally got out of bed when my back and ass were tired of being horizontal. Breakfast juice was blackberries, blueberries (which I froze fresh from a crate I picked over the summer and had thawed in the fridge), and strawberries. It was pretty good, but I preferred the taste of the berry medley from the day before.

I did a lot of reading on how to break the fast. And I feel quite intimidated by it. I’ll definitely continue this blog through that process, hoping it will be helpful for those of you following along or who stumble upon this adventure. If I do it right, the breaking of the fast (I feel like I should capitalize that because it sounds so ominous, but the AP Style nut in me REFUSES to overcapitalize things. I refuse, dammit!) will take about another week. I probably should have read more about this phase before I started the fast, but I’m not very patient. The whole idea of doing it super slow is that your digestive system has been pretty dormant during the fast. If you introduce too much food or too many kinds at a quick rate, it will freak the eff out. Also, you’ll probably gain a lot of the weight back. So you have to be very slow and intentional about it. I’m determined not to get sick, harm my body or gain the weight back so I’m going to do it right.

And if I’m being honest to you, dear reader, (and to myself), the fear of breaking the fast wrong and throwing my body in to turmoil has helped me fight cravings. Start reading about it now, you’ll see what I mean. Reminded me of watching a live birth video in middle school, scaring me away from even the thought of having sex. I promise I won’t eat a burger! I PROMISE!

I felt kinda yucky yesterday. My upper stomach/below the chest felt weird. Almost a bit distended and my hunger was different than usual. I was a bit nervous, but just kept an eye on it. I didn’t have much juice yesterday (really hard to choke down the veg), hoping that would calm it. I feel a lot better today.

The weekend’s challenges came to a head on Sunday evening. I had to make a bunch of stuff for a bake sale happening on Tuesday. My kitchen was a war zone filled with oreo balls (yes, I had to suffer through that again), sugar cookies (my Christmas-time kryptonite), and I baked two loaves of break – cinnamon sugar and also rosemary. Oy.

Well folks, I made it through without sampling anything! I went to bite my fingernail and there was a piece of oreo underneath and I freaking, got up and washed my hands. I guess I’m taking this fast thing a bit seriously.

This sort of reminds me of a truffle. A pulpy pomelo-strawberry-orange-spinach truffle

I then made my juice for Monday. I made the pomelo – strawberry – orange combo again, with a handful of spinach this time. And for lunch I have apple, celery, ginger, lemon and chard. I need a break from the cabbage and I want to try the chard. Oh, and a couple of carrots too.

Here I sit, writing this post on Monday morning, drinking my yummy juice and realizing that I only have six more days. On the downhill slope! I’ve been thinking a lot about what I’m going to eat after the fast and how I’m going to get my fruit/veg servings and maintain healthy eating. I think I’m going to stick to juicing for breakfast with mostly fruit and a big hunk of spinach to get most of my servings. I think I’ll need a break from the veg-heavy juice for a while. But I plan to keep juicing daily, it’s such an efficient way to get nutrients! And much cheaper than I’d anticipated.

Day 5: juice fest

I fought the law, and...I won!

Mood: a bit sleepy
Weight loss: 11.6 lbs
Cravings: Oh, a whole lot of things.

Yesterday was tough on the cravings front. There was delicious looking and smelling food everywhere. Everywhere. Cupcakes, sandwiches, veggies not in juice form. The hardest was the lunch my friend Denise brought that she had made the night before. I got a whiff of something in my office and followed the delectable scent. Stuffed bell peppers with all sorts of amazing things that I wanted in my belly. They smelled so so so so good. Let’s just say that after I’m weaned off the fast, I’m gonna make me some stuffed bell peppers. Mmmm.

The challenges continued. Today we’re having a fundraiser at work, selling seatings at a tea party. My contribution was to make oreo cream cheese balls dipped in chocolate. That meant I had to suffer through the food processing of oreos, which meant filling my kitchen with the smell of fluffy oreos. I teased my friend Jo who was hanging out with me (or I’d like to think, being a bodyguard to stand between me and the sweet stuff), that now I knew what Edward felt like being around the smell of Bella’s blood. Yeah, I went there. Deal with it.

So then I had to mix the oreo dirt with cream cheese. Next step was to roll those in to balls. This meant getting the evil oreo mixture under my fingernails. I became a compulsive handwasher. I did not want the chocolate on my body. No temptation. NO TEMPTATION! Then I had to melt chocolate and dip the oreo balls in it. Jo was kind enough to lick the utensils clean to keep the temptation from me.

I succeeded in avoiding all temptation all day. So I decided to treat myself in two phases. Phase 1: juice a can of green beans. It had to happen. It helped my craving a bit because the juiced green beans were not good. Really thick like baby food and super salty. Phase 2: Make an amazing breakfast juice using the strawberries and pomelo I’d been saving for Mel and I. I made a veg-free juice of strawberries, pomelo (tastes tart like grapefruit, but a bit sweeter), and orange. I’m drinking it now and holy bologna it is amazing. Definitely a nice treat on my sixth day of the fast.

Day 4: juice fast

Mood: Super happy, will detail why below
Weight loss: 10.6 lbs (as of this morning, day 5 – I forgot to note that I weigh myself the day I write the blog, not the day I’m writing about)
Cravings: Still the @$%@%@ green beans! Not cake, corndogs, or cookies. Green beans?!? I’m going to nom the hell out of some green beans when my fast ends on Feb. 18. Green beans for breakfast on Feb. 19!

I’ll start with the juice fast related stuff. Something I learned last night? I’m already making a healthy habit. Something I’ve always struggled with is making healthy habits, whether it’s getting in to a routine of regular exercise or preparing my meals the night before, or drinking plenty of water all the live long day. Last night I got home from a long day at about 10. I was exhausted, it was a stressful and also exciting day. I thought, eh, I’ll make the juice in the morning. I just want to go to bed. But then out of habit I went to the kitchen and made the juice. Woot! I hope this means I’m making changes for good.

Just a bit excited after I got Prof. Mike Parker Pearson to sign my book.

The exciting part of my day was getting to meet an archaeologist I greatly admire, Professor Mike Parker Pearson from England. His book, “The Archaeology of Death and Burial,” was really influential for my undergraduate thesis and helped shape my anthropological goals. Most of his work involves Stonehenge and other henges and monolithic monuments and such. He’s awesome! It was a lot of fun. I was worried that I’d feel like crap from the fast, but I felt fine. I was alert and attentive at the talk. Probably moreso than I would be without the fast

Day 3: juice fast

Mood: energetic
Weight loss: 8.2 lbs
Cravings: I want the green beans in my belly. Neaoooooow!

Last night (evening of day 3) was a false alarm. I thought the healing crisis was going to start because my legs were super achey, but alas, it didn’t. Other than some tongue things, there have been no signs of the detox/healing crisis.

From what I’ve learned about a healing crisis, this is when your body accepts the fast mode and begins to heal itself. Old injuries may be bothersome again while your body goes back and tries to heal what it didn’t finish before because it was busy fighting off toxins and bad food choices. Others will get flu like symptoms and mucous discharge.

I got nuthin’. I’ll probably eat those words soon, but so far so good. I’m glad I’m in good spirits today with a lot of energy because an archaeologist I greatly admire will be in town tonight giving a presentation. I’m so excited to go to a talk by Prof. Mike Parker Pearson! I just hope I don’t make a fan girl fool of myself.

Also, tried the new Breville last night. I like it! Quieter than the GE and was pleased with the amount of juice it produced. It also comes with it’s own juice container and the way the pulp holder is used is more functional than other juicers that have an external pulp catcher. I am excited to try it again tonight!

Day 2: juice fast

Spinach, kale, celery, cucumber, apples, grapes for lunch juice.

Mood: chipper
Weight loss: 6.8lbs
Cravings: green beans. I REALLY WANT SOME GREEN BEANS.

My tongue felt real weird yesterday. I mean real weird. It felt really thick and dry toward the end of the day. That was an interesting experience. Otherwise, I feel pretty damn good! Except for the caffeine headaches, but that is to be expected when I stop drinking Diet Coke – fasting or not. In addition to feeling chipper and happy, I have also lost 6.8 lbs already. Thank you water weight!

I was supposed to make cookies for a bake sale fundraiser last night (Monday), but I didn’t have it in me. Between the caffeine withdrawal and wanting to avoid temptation, I thought it would be best to pass. The big test will be on Thursday when I have to make chocolate truffles. I think I’ll be able to avoid the chocolate stuff just fine, this is less difficult than I thought it would be.

One thing I’ve learned, don’t get too crazy with the juice. I have a tendency to want to throw in a little of everything. But I think what will work best is a sweeter citrus juice for breakfast (orange, grapefruit, carrot, spinach, lemon, tomato). Then a more veggie heavy juice for lunch and dinner (kale, spinach, celery, apples, cucumber, other green stuff I have, lemon). I had kale for the first time in my dinner juice last night. It was sort of nutty? I couldn’t place the flavor, but then I decided it felt like I was drinking carbs so I was happy. Mind over matter.

My new juicer arrived this morning. I can’t wait to try the Breville out tonight. Since my used Juiceman II broke, I’ve been using a GE juicer. It juices, but it’s super super super loud. I keep waiting for my neighbors to tell me to STFU. I’m hoping the Breville will be more like the Juiceman II in that it’s less loud. Since we’re talking, okay since I’m talking, about juicers, I’ll tell you a bit more about the GE. It’s a good priced one at Walmart for $50. But, don’t buy it. Not only is it loud, but the juice spicket is pretty low on the device and short. It’s hard to get a container close enough so juice doesn’t spill. Also, with it being short you have to use a small container, which means you have to dump that container several times into a large one. I’m making juice for two people every night, for the next day’s breakfast and lunch. I have to make a lot of juice dumps into a bigger container and it’s annoying. Let’s just say I’m glad I bought that cheap funnel at IKEA last year. Another thing that bothers me about the GE? The pulp is really moist. I know it’s leaving a lot of juice. Makes me want a masticating juicer, but that will be a reward way way down the road. I’ll post about my initial thoughts of the Breville I bought in tomorrow’s post.

I’ve become obsessed with this whole juice fast thing. Not just because I fervently believe in the health benefits, but because, well, I often have a hard time finishing things I start. Those who know me well know I LOVE to jump in to projects and hobbies. But…finishing them is a challenge. Start a new workout routine? I keep with it for a while, then it fades away. New eating plan (not diet, eating plans are permanent, folks)? Old habits die hard. I want to finish something. Something meaningful and beneficial. This fast will be it.

It’s only two weeks right? And it’s just food? Well you’d be surprised how food is a part of so many aspects of our lives once you’re doing something where you really have to take notice. We have food associations we people, places, come across it while reading books, stores, it’s intertwined with activities. When I started this, I didn’t feel like it would be a big accomplishment to other people. Just like for some jogging a mile non-stop is nothing, but for other’s it’s a HUGE deal. That’s how I thought juicing would be. But I’m surprised by the number of people who have told me they could never do it. That has made me feel good and has added to my determination to finish. I also decided I want to do this a couple of times a year. Maybe to kick off the summers and close out the holidays?

Day 1: juice fast

First shopping trip of the fast

I survived the first day of the juice fast! It went better than I expected. I took it easy yesterday, just sat around reading mostly. I took a nap, which was probably the downfall of my not being able to sleep at night, but oh well. I drank much less juice than I had expected. But that could be just because it was the first day and hunger hasn’t really set in yet. I am starting to realize how much of a thoughtless and automatic habit food can be. We eat when we think of it or because we see food. I find it’s often more out of convenience than planning. Well, that’s what I’m hoping to fix with this fast. I want to be more intentional and conscious of my food choices. I want to think of eating healthy less as deprivation of “the good stuff” and more that I’m treating myself with good quality things. I’m almost 30, I gotta get my shit together, folks.

Embarking on the fast, this is what I expected of the first few days. Day 1 would be filled with hunger and being hyper conscious about not being able to eat food. Day 2 would be pretty crappy (pun intended) and would be filled with headaches, shakes and all sorts of detoxing symptoms. Day 3 would be a lot of the same. Then days 4 and 5 would be closer to a euphoric feeling, hunger subsiding, stomach shrinking, healthier skin, etc. Well day 1 was different than I thought, I felt less hunger. I only had about 24oz. of juice – I expected to have 60-70oz.

I also weighed myself yesterday morning, took measurements around my body and make a spreadsheet to keep track. I weighed myself again this morning and I’ve dropped 5 lbs. Oh the joys of water weight! That is like the bonus round of the fast, wewt.