Hello everyone,

I've been umming and ahhing about whether I'm going to start a journal but I've decided I'm justing going to do it, so here I am.

I've been juice feasting for 48 hours now. Was too nervous to start a journal before this - I didn't want to fall off the wagon too publicly, but now I figure if it doesn't all go to plan you guys will be understanding. I'm busting to talk about the fasting experiences I'm having and I could really do with the support as well.

I've got to admit, Berry Bliss has been a big inspiration for fasting. I wonder how many other people you've inspired- heaps I bet. I've been loitering around the forum but not yet ready to post so I've gleaned all sorts of motivations and ideas for you guys, whether you were aware of it or not 

A bit about me: I'm a mum to two beautiful girls - 3 years and 5 months. I found about about raw when I was 18 (I'm now 25) and have made random attempts at it over the years, sometimes 100%, often far from it. On the whole though it's been a gradual trend of increase in raw in my life (and my husbands, he's pretty good about going along with me). My husband went overseas for work for 6 weeks in the middle of August and while he was gone I found it a lot easier to be raw (not so exciting going out for dinner just with the kids). I also bought an Oscar juicer and I'm sooooo in love. I'm very excited to find people here who share my passion for fruit and veggies. My friends just don't get it when I want to rave about the deliciousness of green smoothies.

So, I got my juicer and I've been gradually increasing my juice intake until I just felt called to fast. Bit scared, never made it past 1 day before, but here I am and going well. I'm having GS as well, by the way.

All these exciting detox things are happening to me and I defiantly need a place to ramble on, I don't think my husband is as enthralled by my detox symptoms as I am and I haven't told anyone else I'm fasting.

So let me tell you... 

We went out for a big brunch (all you can eat South Indian  ) on Sunday and it really was all I could eat. The rest of the day I just wanted to juice and decided to just follow when my body was hungry. Boy, I didn't realise it would be so hard. I really wasn't hungry but somehow or other I'd find myself heading for the kitchen. I stayed on juice but it really required concentration. My brain was constantly trying to trick me into eating. I'd think to myself, 'I'm not hungry, this is a good think to not eat if I'm not hungry' and the thought would immediately be followed up by something like, 'It's good I'm trying to take care of myself, I should have a GS, that would make me feel great'. 10 seconds later, 'Heeey, tricky brain- I'm not hungry'. Such a food habit, even if it's healthy food.

So for the first half of yesterday (first full day) I felt great. Really peaceful, I realised the inner monologue was a lot quieter and the world was a lot more peaceful without so much constant babble in my head. It was like meditating but it didn't have to work at it, it just was. Felt great.

My thumb started to hurt in the middle of the morning. About a month ago I was putting up a new sun shade tent thing for my daughter and I got a splinter of fiberglass in my thumb. It really hurt for a few days but I couldn't see it so I figured it would work it self out eventually. Well, I guess it's still in there! My thumbs been hurting and I can feel a little lump under the skin - imagine if I wasn't detoxing, I could have wandered around with fiberglass in my thumb for years. What else is in me? Yuk to think about, but also exciting that it all might start coming out.

I went to the organic shop with the girls and we got heaps of fruit and veggies, yum! Later, I was playing with my daughter and she handed me a teddy. I just wanted to sit and cuddle that teddy! My sense of touch was really heightened and my hands were really sensitive to the fabric of the bear. Was really weird but good. I've heard about people experiencing things like this when fasting but I thought you'd have to be  doing it for a lot longer to feel more than you just have the flu.

I don't feel like I have the flu, by the way. When I first went cold turkey raw I was really sick for at least a week. I don't have that now, just more distinct 'detox' symptoms. Yesterday afternoon I started to feel fuzzy, my tongue went white and I thought, here it comes. Didn't feel like the flu though. My tongue felt 5 times too big for my mouth and trying to talk or move was like wading through treacle. Was very weird but so obviously detox it reassured me, sometimes the flu can just be the flu 

Had been so fine all day, not hungry and no cravings but when my husband came home from work and said he was going to go out and get chicken and chips I was weak at the knees. Over an hour I came up so many reasons why I should break my fast until my husband said he wasn't going to have dinner if it was going to make things harder for me. Then I was mad at him because I really wanted those chips but I had a GS and then I knew I could get through the evening without eating and thanked him . Detox was still really intense, I felt like I was on another planet so I had a little bit of avocado (I'm breastfeeding so I'm trying to keep my fats up) and the effect was instant - I felt better.

Today I'm still white tongued but not feeling as crap, felling pretty good but keep having to make food for my daughter and the cravings are hard. Trying to read up on fasting though and it's helpful to read supportive encouraging articles. I don't know how long I'll fast for, bit scared it could all go to pieces at any moment but I'm trying. 30 days seems insane so I tell myself even one day is good. Then maybe two days will be ok, and we'll see where I end up. I'm not going to feel a failure when I break my fast, even if it's early, but I have promised myself that if I feel like breaking it I will drink a GS and wait an hour or so (or overnight) and then see how I feel.

Weird detox symptom of the moment (I was going to say of the day but I'm sure I'll come back with more  ): I had a lip piercing which I took out about 6 years ago. There was a tiny scar but you would have to look to know it was there. I just looked in the mirror and I've got a hole in my lip! It looks like the piercing was only taken out yesterday. I guess it needed to heal differently. Very excited about all this healing!

So that's what I'm up to. I promise to update even if I fall off the wagon. The juice fasting isn't the be all and end all for me, although I would like to do it. I just feel ready to move into a new stage of health (and make some friends who understand). Any suggestions or advice for juice feasting enthusiastically welcomed. 

Hi aliceyesterday, welcome to the forum and congratulations on all those amazing detox benefits u are experiencing, just awesome! My friend and I are also doing a waterfast/gsfeast, it's day 2 on water and I'm definitely feeling it, i can relate to your experiences :-)

Keep up the great strength, if u need extra inspiration to keep u on track there is a great website www.freedomyou.com that has helped myself and many others during their fasting adventures.

Enjoy!! lovefreelea xo

Hi Swami, FreeleaRaw and Kelly,

Thanks for taking the time to write in my journal and keep me motivated 

Swami, thanks for the encouragement and for reminding me to stay positive. Every raw meal I have is a cooked meal I didn't have, right? So every day of juice feasting, even if I only make one (again) gives my body a break it wouldn't have otherwise had. So whatever happens I've done well (hopefully as long as I don't break my fast on chips  ). Maybe I'll even end up with the fiberglass out of my thumb Good luck on day two raw again. I bet you feel good though, hey?

Hey FreeleaRaw, good luck with your fast. I can imagine a water fast would be very intense. I must have hit on the right website by accident, I've been reading up on freedomeyou all morning. I bet its easier doing it with a friend. I'm hoping that I can get my husband to fast with me in the summer. I think it would be easier when you've got someone to talk to about it and support each other.

I don't know how long I'll go just juice, it might only be a few days as amazing as 30 days sounds. I might break it with raw and stick to raw for a while to detox more slowly and then have another juice feast over the summer. Maybe I can do one juice day a week. I think a few people on here do that. Anyone? How have you found it?

I don't mind the detox taking longer if I alternate short fasts and mostly raw, knowing myself I'll have less chance of rebounding. Are short fasts worth it? They must be worth something, hey?

Well, I was seriously thinking I was going to break my fast this afternoon. I was wandering around thinking, 'I miss food. Being raw is enough for now, why am I doing this? I miss food'. Actually my main reason for doing it is to break (or at least dent) my attachment to food which will go a long way to detoxing myself emotionally but you can't tell me that when all I can think about is pizza. Not even raw pizza! I was seriously worried that I'd bitten off more than I could chew (see, food is on my brain- even in my metaphors) by doing a fast. That I was setting myself up for a fall, feeling like I was being denied, and that I would swing really hard back against it. This is not unusual, I've learned to be very gentle with myself and take baby steps or it all comes crashing down. I make progress and it usually sticks when I go slowly with myself, was I jeopardising this by trying to do a fast? 

It's ok folks, vanity saves the day! I stuck to my deal of having a GS and waiting before breaking my fast and decided I should just get out of the house while I waited. I took the girls for a swim. I still wasn't hungry (still not hungry at all, I'm quite astonished actually) when I got back so I thought I'd leave it go a little longer. When my husband got back from work I went to have a shower (yucky pool water). I was just about to jump in the shower when I caught sight of myself in the full length mirror and thought, 'Oh!'. All my thoughts of breaking my fast today disappeared. My tummy is flatter! I've still got 5kgs or so to go until I'm back to my pre-pregnancy weight but ideally I'd rather be 10kgs less than I am now. Getting back into my jeans isn't a huge deal at the moment, I know I'll get there in the end and it wasn't a major reason for my fast, but gee it was nice to see a change!

So I think I'll stick to my fast for the rest of the night. We'll see, I might break it tomorrow.

hey Alice
welcome! im glad u started a journal! who cares if u "fall of the wagon" u should have seen my journal at the start.. it went something like this
"hi everyone im fasting"
"ok not fasting anymore i couldnt take it and pigged out"
'well im gona try juice feasting"
"oh no, just fell off the wagon big time"
"im gona eat 100% raw for 10 days - i can do this!"
"i didnt even make it thru one day"
haha i tried so many differnt things im sure everyone got sick of my little plans. oh well, so long as I get there in the end. hehe there's nothing like the mirror for inspiration is there?
your doing so great. YOU've LASTED 2 DAYS!!!!!!!! thats fantastic! keep it up

 

Congratulations Alice, that's fantastic about 2 days, and about the flat tummy, and the unsore thumb

I'm so pleased for you

I love the way you write, has me smiling constantly as I read.  Well I've been raw since the last day of Jan this year and didn't think I'd ever fast because of all my food and deprivation issues, but reading BBs journal I am actually starting to consider it.  *Starting to consider* mind LOL

All the best as you continue, and I'm very proud of you already!!!

Love
May

Hi everyone,

Thanks for visiting my journal.
Rstar, I'm glad you said that, sounds a lot like me 

Yummymummy: good luck with your fast. how much do you love your juicer?! I'm so obsessed, one of my friends just bought one last week after all my raving about it. I haven't tried to make pasta yet but I've done icecream (a lot!) sooooo good. Frozen banana, pineapple and blueberry is a huge hit with my 3 year old.

Thanks for the welcome and the hugs, Organic mama. Nice that there are so many mums here. Great for the kids too!

Hi May, would you believe my thumb is sore again? I guess it will have to wait until summer. I'm glad I made you smile. Since I can't claim the fiberglass coming out anymore, I'll take 'made may smile' as a positive thing that came of my fast 

So I broke my fast the very night I said I wouldn't  . Felt fine though, felt right. I got up yesterday and had another day of just juice and then dinner with the family in the evening. I'm actually really enjoying not having to think about food or my next meal. Its such a break to just wander through my day not eating anything. There is usually a real sense of concern there, you know - 'We've got to out, should we eat before or when we get back? Should I eat out or take something with me? What if I get hungry?'. Its nice to be able to do whatever whenever and just have my drink bottle.

That said, if I am only going to have one meal a day in should be in the morning but I really enjoy sharing a meal with my husband and kids, its our coming together time now that he's working full time. Thats what was making the fast hard. It wasn't really anything else but being really sad to miss out on that sharing time. I guess its because this job is only new and usually he worked at home (and he only just got back from 6 weeks overseas). I miss him and so I found it hard shutting myself away because I didn't want to eat with him. I think maybe I'll try again over the summer when we're more used to this new routine.

My brother is a monk in Thailand and he is only allowed to eat before 12pm everyday. After 12 he can have juice, tea or water (or dairy free chocolate strangely enough  ) He's been having one meal a day for a few years now. I guess being that clean all the time would really help with the constant meditation (and there is definitely no pizza delivery in a Thai forest to tempt him )

Hi Alice.  Nice to catch up your journal, which I haven't visited again since you first wrote.

I'm fascinated to hear that your brother's a monk in Thailand, and laughed a bit at the dairy free chocolate allowance!  How strange!!  Hope you send him lots of Tropical Source chocolate...vegan and yummy.

Snowy winters...oooh, it's hard!!!  OK, I should clarify.  I tried to go raw in the middle of a European winter and found it hard, but in all reality, it could have been the middle of summer and I would have found it hard.  I had not prepared myself to go raw and was doing it for the wrong reasons.  I think if you are close to being raw before you go to the US, it will be the way you are used to living and you'll just keep doing it.  Also, houses in the the US are better prepared for winter than our Australian houses in terms of warmth, and I think if you're cosy in your home then preparing a raw meal is not difficult...it's not like you're eating cold food and feeling cold as well, in which case it would be hard.  Food supplies may be more difficult during the winter months (such as no mangoes etc.) but there'll be other great foods you can eat, and if it all gets too much, you can jump on a plane and head to somewhere tropical for a cheap, warm weekend away!  How exciting for you...I've only recently stopped clicking on those ads for green cards when they flash on my screen...I've always wanted to spend some time living in the US. 

I have "12 Steps To Raw" from the library at the moment.  It will be my third time reading it, but I like surrounding myself with raw books to keep me focused,  and her explanation of food addiction is so interesting.

Wishing you well,

swami xxx