Feasting & Fasting - Days #4 - 5

Let me tell you the truth - I love to eat.  And I enjoy good food.  For the last three months I've been following a form of intermittent fasting where my hours of fasting to eating has been around 20:4.  So I usually make myself a light snack when I get home from school to break my fast, then eat super with the family... and sometimes dessert.  We typically follow a menu plan from a company called The Fresh 20 and it is healthy, nearly-gourmet style foods.  Since I typically only eat one substantial meal a day, I've turned a bit into a food snob.  If I'm going to eat, I want it to be good food, not junk.  I like it when my taste buds do a little dance in happiness.  And that first bite after fasting all day is a little piece of divinity in my mouth.

Now, enter Day #5 of nothing but liquids.  I enjoy fasting - I really do.  But today, my mouth is missing food.  The crunch of tortilla chips in homemade pico de gallo.  The texture of a well-cooked piece of beef or pork.  In a nutshell, my mouth wants entertainment.  So this is where I really have to examine my motives for eating.  I'm not hungry and I'm getting plenty of nutrition, so what am I craving when my mouth wants to crunch.  Where am I nourishing my soul from?  Food?  Or God?

In a nutshell, today's been a struggle.  I don't want soup. Or tea. Or juice. Or a smoothie.  But it's a good day to work on sacrificing my flesh.  This is the spiritual aspect of fasting and even though the body is adjusting, the mind and spirit struggle.  So pray for me in the struggles today!

Feasting & Fasting - Days 2 & 3

Happy Sunday to you!

I would say good morning, but I worked a twelve-hour night shift last night, so *yawn* it's good night for me.

But I digress.  Back to the topic at hand.  How did yesterday go in regards to the fasting and how is today progressing?

Overall, very well.  A few annoying things that are typical of starting a fast: insomnia, being cold, some extra mucus in the sinuses, and many visits to the porcelain throne while the guts are clearing themselves out.  I've also popped up a cold sore.  I HATE COLD SORES!  But my essential oil arsenal of tea tree oil, lavender, eucalyptus, and peppermint are quickly remedying it.  Some people complain of flu-like symptoms during this time, but I really haven't had any this time around.  I think the reason behind that is I have been following an Intermittent Fasting protocol for the last few months to help NOT gain the typical 30-40 pounds that most nursing students pack on while in the program.  Because of that I have adapted to the fasting protocol much more quickly than I have in the past when I have done a long fast.

The best part of the fasting so far is my energy level!  Normally by 1:30 in the morning on a night shift, I am dragging and desperately needing a power nap over my thirty minute lunch breaks.  I also am usually chugging black coffee like it's keeping me from the brink of hell.  Yesterday, however, I was out of bed at 6:30 in the morning after only four hours of sleep, did housework or schoolwork all day, didn't need a nap, and then worked a full night shift.  Usually I take two power naps over my two lunch breaks.  Yesterday I finally went on break at 3 AM without feeling like I needed it and even though I laid down, I did not fall asleep and simply rested.  I also only drank two cups of coffee and instead drank and refilled my water bottle twice and a mug of jasmine green tea during my shift and kept myself busy.  About five o'clock I was starting to feel a little light-headed, but I'm not sure if that was from fasting or sleep deprivation.  Once I got home, I drank some hot water with a pinch of sea salt and headed to bed.  Once again, only four hours of sleep.  I didn't pop out of bed like I did yesterday, but even when I laid down for a bit in the afternoon, I rested, but didn't sleep.  Hopefully the insomnia will be short lived as I'm starting to feel it today.

So what has my menu looked like this past couple of days?  Besides the typical water, broth, light smooth soups, and teas (it's COLD in Colorado right now), I made a triple berry warm smoothie yesterday and liked it so much I'm drinking another one while I'm typing this.  Takes a bit longer to make, but it is delicious!  I saute a cup of frozen berries in a teaspoon of coconut oil and a hearty dash of cinnamon, then add a tablespoon of chia seeds and a cup of coconut milk.  This then simmers on the stove for fifteen minutes.  I pour it all into my Nutri Ninja and add a serving of Amazing Grass Berry Blast greens powder, blend, and drink!  Word of advance when drinking smoothies or juices when you are fasting - drink an equal portion of water before hand.  Makes it easier on the digestive system and diluted 50/50 juices and smoothies just don't taste as good!

If you made it this far in this rather long post, thanks for reading and watch for another update (and another favorite fasting recipe of mine) tomorrow.

Blessings,

Debbie

Day #1 - Feasting and Fasting

Yesterday I posted a section about goals that I would like to achieve in 2017.  I'm not huge into the New Year "Resolutions" for this year.  Instead, I want to focus on renewing myself.

Spiritually.

Emotionally.

Physically.

Mentally.

In light of my focus towards renewal, yesterday I began Day #1 of a 30 Day Fast/Feast.  Yes, it's an oxymoron.  But yes, in fasting in regards to food, you have the opportunity to feast spiritually.

Now I do not follow any extreme do this/don't do that rules when I embark on a season of fasting.  I still drink coffee.  I am not a slave to the juicer.  I will drink protein/instant shakes.  I AM in love with our Nutri Ninja and use it several times a day.  In a nutshell, I stick with something similar to a full liquid eating plan while in this season.  Some days it's pretty light with the broths and juices.  Other days I need a bit more substance.  So for an idea of what is pretty normal for me, here's what I ate yesterday:

Breakfast:  Chia seeds soaked overnight in coconut milk, then blended with some flax seed, coconut oil, and a shake packet of dark chocolate Carnation Instant Breakfast, which I warmed and ate with a spoon out of a mug.  Oh yeah, and a cup of black coffee.

Lunch:  Two cups of leftover ham, vegetable, and bean soup (with some extra broth) put through the Nutri Ninja until smooth.  Morning vitamins (which I forgot to take at breakfast).

Afternoon Snack:  1 mug full of blended coffee (coffee, coconut oil, unsalted butter, and half-and-half).

Supper:  Tomato soup and jasmine green tea.

Throughout the day:  88 ounces of water, multiple cups of herbal tea, and many trips to the bathroom to account for all the liquid!!

As for the spiritual side of things, I am reading through Psalm 119 and James.  No digging in deep today, but just reading through these two passages for an overview, as I plan to focus on these more during the next thirty days.  When the stomach gets to rumbling, I grab my water and my Bible.  I know from the past, the first 3 days are typically the hardest so send me good thoughts and prayers!

Watch for a Day 2 update tomorrow!

Blessings,

Debbie

427 Days

427 days.

That is a LOT of days to go without a post.

I can blame it on a few things.  Two kids, three moves (one which was cross-country), another devastating miscarriage, two and a half years of homeschooling, four semesters of prerequisites to get into nursing school, and one finished semester of nursing school.

However, a new year is upon us.

Again.

Truth be told, I feel like 2017 is going to be a life-changing year for me and my family.  2016 sucked.  It really did. I have never been so ready in my adult life to put it behind me and move onward to bigger and better things.  So while this is not your typical "New Year, New Me" post, there are a few things I would like to accomplish this year (in no random order):

• Finish my first year of nursing school with no C's
• Pass my NCLEX-PN the first time and start working as an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse)
• Take a family vacation this summer
• Continue working toward a minimalist wardrobe, for both myself and my kids
• Stay on top of the housework!!
• Get back into a regular Bible study regime.  With my extreme homework schedule, I've been hit-or-miss with this over the last few months.
• Have someone(s) over once a month for dinner.  I love opening up my home to others and have lost sight of that. 
• Laugh more!
• Enjoy life more!

And as this is predominantly a blog in regards to my health and weight loss, I have a few goals for that, too:

• Lose 30 pounds and maintain that so I can stay in One-derland.  I'm at the lowest weight I have been at since we moved to Colorado two years ago and I have no desire to put any of that back on again.
• Complete a 30 day liquid "feast" (I have done even attempted a liquid feast in three years, where I used to do at least a 21-day feast annually)
• Become stronger!!  My goal is do be able to do 10 perfect pushups in a row by the end of the year and at least one full pull-up and chin up.
• Continue developing my strategy of using Intermittent Fasting in my every-day life.  I love the health benefits of it (and the energy I have during the fasting hours), but applying it during the school year has been a challenge.
• Pursing some form of exercise, even if it is short, every day.  Exercise is key for me at keeping my chronic depression in check.
• Run at least one 5K.  I haven't run consistently in over a year (pregnancy last winter, followed by a late miscarriage, followed by a four month doctor-induced restriction on jogging or any "jumpy" exercise).  This KILLED me and being out of a regular exercise regime was awful!  
• Climb a 14'er this summer!  I attempted Quandary Peak with my sister and her now husband this summer but I was out of shape and miserable.  I want to do it again and finish this time!

So I have lots of things I want to do this year, apparently!  However, I think my goals are manageable and I'm looking forward to re-evaluating where I am at in all these areas each quarter.

You will hear from me again soon!

Blessings,

Debbie