Fast Girls Have More Fun

So it seems that I have almost completed the 3rd day of a juice fast. I didn’t intend to do a fast when I started juicing. It just sorta happened. I started by substituting a healthy vegetable rich juice for my usual breakfast of a bagel with cream cheese. Then I started experimenting with different juice combinations and drinking them and then I made enough for a mid-morning snack and lunch… I had so much juice that I didn’t have time or room for food.

Over the weekend Steve and I watched the documentary, Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead and that was quite an eye opener. So in addition to that and reading a lot of stuff on the internet (you know it’s all true right?) I decided that I was on the right track with this juicing thing. Steve and I talked about doing a full fast (not 60 days like in the movie though!) but he didn’t think he could commit to it because of his work and travel schedule. I thought I could probably do it and would like the challenge. But I didn’t know if I was ready or not.

Monday morning I made my juice and started reading more stuff about juicing and juice fasts and was inspired. I did have a hard boiled egg as a mid-morning snack but that was the last “real” food I’ve eaten this week. I was a little worried about going to my first yoga class on Monday night but I had great energy and felt good.

I didn’t work this week until today (Wednesday) so I had all of yesterday to fast and not worry about energy levels. I was concerned that today at work would be hard but it really wasn’t bad. I  had a bit of a headache this morning and didn’t sleep well last night. But it was only 62 degrees in my room last night and I had the space heater going and it kept waking me up with the sound of the fan.

I made a big container of Mean Green Juice to take for lunch today and I sipped it slowly while reading Facebook on my phone. I did have a bit of a time resisting the candy dish on the counter but I would just get up and go to the back and have a drink of water whenever I would be tempted to go to the candy dish.

I was hungry when I left work, but I quite often am anyway. I got home and made a new juice: Sweet Potato, Ginger and Carrot, for dinner. It was spicy and delicious! I will be honest, I was very tempted to just come home and break my fast. But I have a fridge full of fresh produce now and I’m determined to juice it all!

Right now my plan is to fast through at least tomorrow and probably most of Friday. I think I will break my fast Friday night because Steve will be home and we will want to eat dinner together. But it will probably be something small and plant based. We also have a social invitation for Saturday night and I’m not sure I’m ready to take this thing “public” yet.

But so far I’m pretty happy with myself. No caffeine, sugar, carbs, salt, alcohol or soda since Monday. I don’t feel any more sluggish or tired than usual and actually feel pretty alert most of the time. It has been really cold here this week too and that would usually be an excuse to load up on “comfort food” but I haven’t been tempted. I have also seen a small decrease in the number on the scale but I don’t put much stock in that as it has been about 5# and I’m pretty sure that will come right back when I end the fast. I do sense a change in my taste receptors and cravings. I saw a photo of a big juicy hamburger yesterday and it almost made me nauseous but when I was cutting up cantaloupe for my morning juice I was salivating! I’ve even learned to like savory juices. I never liked tomato juice before (but I love tomatoes!) but now I’ve been craving juices made with tomatoes, spinach and even peppers (I really never like peppers before.) Monday night I had a little sugar craving and just made myself a berry based fruit juice and that gave me my sugar fix without all the bad stuff. I’ve also found that adding peppers or ginger to the juicer helps with salt cravings too.

I found a new juice bar in Geneva via Yelp yesterday so I think I may go have lunch “out” tomorrow!