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

A Change In Plans

It's racing week!  Yes!  The Pumpkin Pie 5K/10K is only six days away (five if you count today).

Yet in some ways, I'm bummed.  My original plan and goal in signing up for this race was to run my first 10K (or 6.2 miles).  However, the last month has been horrible on any training I've been waiting to due.  Two weeks of a nasty cold that I've just started feeling finally over (my family is STILL battling it - and it's the beginning of week three).  And then there was the ingrown toenails.  Yes, toenails.  A double one on my right big toe after having my nail smashed during a difficult transfer at work (I swear, I'm about to start adding steel-toed boots to my scrubs; this is the 2nd time in eight months that has happened).  Even walking was challenging for over a week!  So I emailed the race coordinators and transferred by 10K entry to a 5K entry.  I'm a little bit sad, but exciting about the winter, as I've put in PTO requests at work to be able to run the Colorado Runner's Winter Distance Series... and two of these three runs are taking place while I am NOT in school.  So while I am not achieving my original New Year's Resolution to run a 10K this year, I am well on my way to tackling it early next year.

A new fun development to my running is that Emily is going to start running with me more.  It's something she's been wanting to do for a while and after her mile race this past September, she's determined to be able to run the whole mile next year.  And for an added bonus, we were introduced by my sister to a non-profit organization called I Run 4 Michael, in which "athletes of all levels and kinds are paired with children and adults with physical, mental, and developmental special-needs ranging from Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy to Autism Spectrum disorders, to physical deformities and disorders, to lesser-known disorders."  Emily and I have applied to be a running pair for a child who can't run themselves, which we are doing in order to create awareness for special needs and building a new relationship/support network!  It's a long wait list for a runner to be matched to a buddy (about fifteen weeks) so in the meantime, we are running in honor of my nephew and those kiddos who aren't matched yet while we pray for the very special someone God is going to put in our lives.  To learn more about them, or to apply to be a runner or a buddy, click on their link above or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/irunformichael.

I promise to post race pictures this weekend!  Emily and Ethan are going to run the fun run (as well as their cousin, who hopefully will be joining us) and then we are going to spend the afternoon after the zoo to celebrate Ethan's 5th birthday (how on earth did my little man get so old?!?) so it should be a fun-filled day.  Check back on Saturday or Sunday for an update!  But in the meantime, we're trucking in the fun and miles.  :)

Embracing the good times,

Debbie

A New Regime

Today I shall discuss what is sometimes the most dreaded word in my vocabulary:  exercise

*shudder*

Now if you knew me at all during high-school, sports were not my thing.  First of all, I was totally uncool.  Second, I have no coordination.  None.  Zip.  Nada.  Where I did okay playing volleyball in middle school, I knew there was no way on earth that I was going to do sports in highschool, with the exception of our forced freshman PE class.  I was glad to see that go!!

Yet if you know me now, you would know that I started running about four years ago.  Well, running may be a stretch - more of a jog/plod but I soon found that I enjoyed it!  I still remember the evening I ran my first mile WITHOUT stopping; I hadn't even been able to do that as a kid.  Now in those fours years, I have stopped and started the Couch to 5K (C25K) about five times, but since the beginning of this year, I've been following Jeff Galloway's Run/Walk/Run training method.  That high ankle sprain I always battled with C25K?  Gone.  Totally absent.  And I'm running more than ever, including a fairly consistent three days a week, and running longer.  Today I knocked out 4 miles.  Four MILES.  There was a day when I could barely manage two, and now 3 is my average mid-week run.   And even with 30 second walking breaks throughout my run today, it is still a better time than I did my first two 5K's using C25K.  Want to check out Jeff Galloway's method?  Go visit his website at www.jeffgalloway.com.  In the meantime, I am entered for my very first 10K (for those not used to the metric system, that is 6.2 miles) on November 21st, only 25 short days away.  I'm not quite ready yet but do or die, I will be there!!

In the midst of increasing my cardio endurance, however, I have learned that I have no muscles.  None.  Especially in my arms.  I think Ethan (my almost five year-old) can do more push-ups than I can, and that is with me doing a modified push-up with my knees on the floor!  So I've pulled out a workout CD that I have had for ages, but never really did consistently.  But with an online Facebook group, I've committed to going through all of Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred.  This new daily regime may take me a bit longer than 30 days (I do need a rest day after long runs), but I'm going to get through all 3 levels this time and hopefully, gain some muscle in the meantime!  Today was Day 1 and trust me, I think I would take 30 minute run over her workouts most days.  But I finished it (needed a few breaks, especially on the arm strength movements) but by now I feel good and am looking forward to Day 2 tomorrow.

So there is this word called exercise that I used to shudder at.  But I'm warming up to it.  I still don't like calling it exercise; I've recently started calling it training.  Training to be better.  Training to work harder.  Training my body to be disciplined.

And truthfully?

I'm starting to enjoy it again.

Looking forward to good things,

Debbie

Monthly Weigh-In

I decided last month after my doctor's appointment that I wanted to only weigh-in once a month.  Why, you ask?  In a nutshell, I have a tendency to obsess.  Weekly weighing often turns into daily weighing which turns into an unhealthy balance for me.  So once a month it is. 

For October, while I was happy in losing 6 3/4 inches all over my body, I was initially a bit disappointed in my weight loss.  Only 3 pounds from last month to this month and I've made a lot of food changes for the better.  However, after cleaning out my closet this week of clothes I don't wear anymore, I found a pair of jeans from when I was at my heaviest two years ago.  Of course, I will provide you with a visual comparison:

Please ignore the lack of make-up and a decent hair style

My children had to give their own silly comparison:

Oh my word!  Both my kids could fit into those old jeans!

So while I was initially a bit bummed this morning, this visual reminder made me smile.  I have taken steps to regain control over my health and no longer wear a Women's Size 20.  These jeans are now in a hanger with my "Wear Again" item, my favorite little black dress that I have never worn out on a date with Jonathan first, as a visually tell me of how far I've come and second, to remind me to NEVER go back there again.

As I look back over the last month, I am also looking ahead.  Starting on November 1st, I am going on a 21 Day Sugar Detox with two ladies near and dear to my heart to help fight my natural draw towards all things sweet! (If you want to to join us, please do!  We are using this book as our guide:  www.amazon.com/The-21-Day-Sugar-Detox)  Also, Lord willing, by this time next month I will have run a 10K (yay!), and would like to lose another 2-4 pounds, as well as about 5 more inches, and continue becoming stronger and more disciplined.  I hope my November weigh-in post is a positive one as well!

Trusting in the good things that are happening,

Debbie

Where Did The Time Go?

Today is my 34th Birthday.

That's right.  34 years old.  12,410 days.  That is a lot of time I've spent on this blue and green cosmic ball circling around a bright yellow star.  And for the last 2,920 days (or the last eight years, give or take a few days), I have weighted over 200 pounds.

Just writing that sentence brought tears to my eyes.  *sigh*

The week we found out I had conceived with our now 7 year-old daughter, I went to the local YMCA for my morning workout and in the ladies' locker room, weighed in at 198 pounds.  That number has stayed in my head for a long time.  That is my pre-pregnancy weight and I've come within 15 pounds of it two different times over the past two years but then, life happens.  Illness.  Job change.  A move.  And I gain it back.

It's an ugly cycle.

It's been a year since I last posted.  A lot has happened in that time.  For starters, our family completely uprooted and moved halfway across the country to a rural town in Colorado, just a couple of hours from where I grew up.  We are homeschooling.  Emily is seven and Ethan is nearly five.  My husband no longer works in a formal ministry capacity, but instead enriches the lives of high-school and college-aged students from his office at our local college as the Distance Education Technology Coordinator.  I'm back in school, this time pursing a degree in nursing and working the night shift as a nurses aide in a local nursing home.  We stay incredibly busy but LOVE being right smack in the middle of family - grandparents, great-grandparents, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins... it is quite a list!  We are praying over a burden God placed on our hearts almost three years ago to work with pregnant single mothers and wonder/struggle with wanting to see that come fully to fruition.  But most of all, we are blessed.  In love, in life, in friends, and in family.

But...

This is one area of my life I am still struggling in.  The past month or so has been difficult for me as I examine my health.  I'm facing a surgery in the next few months to repair a small issue that's been progressively nagging me since my appendectomy/cholecystectomy in 2013.  I have develop some severe food allergies, including an anaphylactic reaction to soy products.  And since I work nights, my normal body rhythms are completely out of wack ALL THE TIME, but at this point I would not trade the time I get to spend with my kiddos during the day.

So now what?  I've been making strides towards better health.  I saw the doctor two weeks ago and I was down nine pounds since my last visit.  Learning to say no to foods that contain 1) soy, 2) gluten, and 3) nuts has been a trial for me and has really made me see my addiction to food.  Do you want to know what contains soy?  EVERYTHING.  If it comes in a box, can, jar, bottle or is in the deli or freezer section of the grocery store, it probably has soy.  And in a small town, it is a challenge finding simple items such as salsa or coffee creamer or a salad dressing that doesn't contain soy is hard.  Fast food is out of the question, unless it is oatmeal from McDonalds or Potato Ole's from Taco Johns.  So a LOT of freshly prepared foods is what we do now.  But this isn't a blog about my food allergies - I will post more on that on another day.  Where I meant to go with that rabbit trail was that this journey with food allergies has made me see my emotional and even spiritual connection with food and God is working on my heart.

Today I want not to say "New Year, New Me" like a broken recording January 1st recording, but a time to look forward to the next 365 days.  God is doing a new thing and I look forward to sharing that with you.  There will be ups-and-downs on this journey to better health, but I am excited to see what I will be posting on October 16, 2017.  Will you join me?  There may be days of joy and victory and days of tears and defeat, but it is my goal to regularly chronicle this year as I journey around the sun towards the age of 35.

Good things ARE happening,

Debbie

Fasting & Feasting Follow-Up - 3 Weeks Later and Goals for September

My deepest apologies that I didn't do a final "fast-breaking" post; with school back on in session, blogging while on-duty with ten kids in the house and homeschooling Emily is nearly impossible.  I feel like I ended it well, and had great results from the doctor with my lab work.  My glucose fasting level is back to normal, and my A1C came down from a 6.1 to a 5.9.  Yay!  My next set of lab work will be done in February and my goal is to try to get my A1C below a 5.7, which would put it back beneath a pre-diabetic level.

So after 3 weeks of liquid feasting, my final results were thus:

Starting Weight: 224
Week 1 Weight:  219.4
Week 2 Weight:  216.2
Ending Weight:  215.4
Total Difference:  - 8.6 pounds

Since then, I've lost a bit more and am now down to 213 pounds.  I'm looking forward to September!  We are having a short vacation back to the Savannah area at the end of the month, and while we are there, I'm running a 5K.  I hope to have an new PR for this one for under 40 minutes.  I'd also like to lose 5 more pounds before the end of the month, which I think is very doable.

This is going to be short, but hopefully I will post more again on my next off-duty shift!

Lab Work is Done - The Joys of Feasting & Fasting - Day 16

Hard to believe I'm already past two weeks into this thing - it's a bit crazy to me!  Some days it seems super long, some days it feels like it is a normal part of my regular routine.  Hard to believe it is nearing an end, though I have been considering extending it one more week to make it a 30 day fast, but I don't know yet if I will.

Lab work was done easy-peasy this morning, and I will get results next Thursday.  Praying for good news - and good blood sugar numbers!  A big answer to pray was that it only took two sticks to draw blood today (I'm a horrible stick) and no veins blew or collapsed.  Yay!

I realized that I hadn't done a weigh-in post when I hit week two, so here is where things stood after two weeks: 

Starting Weight: 224
Week 1 Weight:  219.4
Week 2 Weight:  216.2
Total Difference:  -7.8 pounds

Physically, I'm feeling good - a bit tired mid-day at times, but my energy level is actually pretty good.  I've also started exercising more strenuously again (besides just walking) and am working out about an hour every other day and have had no problems with being light-headed or dizzy.  In fact, my energy level has been pretty high.

Emotionally and spiritually, these past few days have been trying.  My female hormones are singing in high octave, so I'm dealing with that, and God is working mightily in my heart.  Also, Jonathan and I are praying over several areas specifically (some which are a bit terrifying for my security-loving heart), and I hope to see change there soon - either in our hearts or our situation that our prayers pertain to.  However, I am loving the extra time with my kids and the homeschooling lifestyle - I love it!

Speaking of homeschooling, it's time to get started!  I think we may school down in the pavilion today; got to enjoy these low-80's days while we can!  :)

Days 13 - 15: The Joys of Feasting & Fasting

Tomorrow is a big day for me!  It's my six month check-up since I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic, and so it is up early in the morning to get lab work done (I will get the results next week).  Pray they are good numbers!

The fasting and feasting continues to go well; I honestly struggled a lot these last couple of days, but I think it was more from boredom (we were off duty) and hormones.  Now back at work, I hardly think about it - we are pretty much on the go all the time, so I don't have time to think about.  My biggest thing is that I have to remember to drink, drink, drink!

This is short tonight because it's been a long day and I have to get off to bed; I will try to post more tomorrow!

Days 11 & 12 - The Joys of Feasting & Fasting

It's hard to be believe I am at the end of Day 12.  Days and meals are pretty much falling into a standard routine - I start and end each day with two cups of warm lemon and cinnamon tea, then green juice for breakfast, a veggie broth soup or smoothie for lunch, a fruit-based drink mid-afternoon, and another veggie broth soup or smoothie for supper.  I can tell my stomach has shrunk - about two cups of liquids is about all it takes to get me to full point.  Since I am off-duty this week, I did weigh myself this weekend (I keep the scale at the off-duty house, so I don't obsess over weighing myself at the main house - something I've struggled with in the past.).  I've lost a tad over three pounds over the last five days, so I'm continuing to stay on the same weight loss track of a little over half a pound a day.

At this point of the game, I'm starting to think and pray about the best way to break the fast without going off the deep-end!  This is the area I've always struggled with and truly, what I've found is that breaking the fast is the hardest part of the journey.  It will be five-to-six day journey to break the fast and hopefully, I'll be able to keep up my new and healthy eating habits.

This week, I've also adding back in more exercise besides walking.  Tonight, I walked a mile, interval jogged/walked two miles, and then walked a fourth with very little problems.  No weight-training at all (not advisable during fasting), but I want to get back in the habit of regular exercise, so walking, jogging, and yoga is what it is going to be for the next two weeks.  Truth be told?  Tonight's hour of exercise was wonderful.  Upbeat praise and worship music blasting and a great time of communion with Him while enjoying the twilight and sounds of crickets and frogs while disciplining my body.  For the first time in a long time, fellowship with God and prayer is coming and flowing all day long.  In and out, just like breathing or a heartbeat.

In that, I am content.

Days 9 & 10 - Gearing Up to Halfway!

It is hard to believe that I'm pressing up on the halfway point on this season of fasting.  Truth be told, I let pride get to my head a bit after I finished the first week; yesterday and the first part of today were very hard.  Pride and a.s I look back, I know I was drinking enough, either - neither of which made a hard, long, stressful day any better. 

Due to the fast, I am cold all the time, and have been avoiding juices (cold) and favoring hot soups, broths, and teas (hot).  However, the juices have more nutrients and so today, I've tried to me proactive in getting the juices in my system.  For supper tonight, I even got creative with fruit - sauteed peaches and raspberries in cinnamon and coconut oil, then threw them in the blender with some vanilla and a bit of almond butter.  My word, it was delicious!  I ate every single bite with a spoon and savored it.  After supper I got the best rest (I'm not calling it a nap, because I didn't sleep); just stretch out on the bed on top of the overs, pulled my throw over me, and just "was" with God for a bit - a time of mental praise and prayer.  Warm covers on a soft bed with a full and warm belly - I was very content.  But it made me sad - how many people tonight went to bed with empty stomachs?  No roof over their heads, let along warm blankets and beds?  Children?  Mothers?  Families?  Today was a huge reminder of how blessed I really am.

A nice touch this weekend is that Jonathan is juicing with me this weekend - yay!  Makes this four-day off shift more pleasurable.  Pray for the both of us tomorrow, as Jonathan leads our church's Awana training, and I am prepping lunch for everyone.  I will have juices with me, but I still anticipate it to be a bit difficult.  In light of that, I'm off to bed; busy day tomorrow!

Day 8 of Feasting & Fasting

It's hard to believe I've been on this journey for a week now and 1/3 of the way through this season.  In so many ways, life feels so normal - the back-to-school run-a-round, cleaning and organizing of the house, lesson planning for our first year of homeschooling.  Yet in so many ways, it's been very different - I feel like a huge part of my heart is waking up again.  A yearning for God, a yearning to read and study and learn... in reality a learning to find ME again, if that makes any sense.  As a wife, a mom, a minister's wife, a house-mom, it is very easy to lose your identity, to bury your own loves and dreams for the sake of everyone else.  I feel like this hibernation stage is coming to an end and I love it.  I'm excited to share it, too - I don't know who is more exciting about learning and learning to learn this year, me or Emily!  Jonathan and I are studying a book together for the first time in a very long time and I've missed that with him.

In the meantime, I continue to deal with some of the unpleasant side effects of a body in healing mode.  I've popped up a cold sore, have digestional upset from time-to-time, am forgetful, get tired a bit more easily, and sometimes get annoyed more quickly that I usually would.  But other things are great - my sense of smell is sharpened (I can smell every flower and crape myrtle in bloom), my ingrown toenail is healing, and a nagging pain in my lower abdomen at an incision site that I've had since my appendix and gallbladder were removed is completely gone.

Truthfully, it's been a bit harder day today than the last couple, though I'm not sure why.  More irritable, rougher food cravings (though I did a lot of cooking for the house today), I've been cold all day, and when I got home from church, I was really craving salt, so I drank two mugs of warmed broth, and that seemed to help.  It's also 10:30 and I'm WIDE awake - sleep isn't coming any time soon.  I guess that is my payback for an 8 hour night last night!  So I'm off to work on lesson plans for next week... and maybe watch a new episode of Continuum on Netflix.  ;)

First Week Accomplished!

Sorry for Day 7's post happening this morning, not last night.  I'd been fighting a headache with my residual toothache all day and was FREEZING cold, so I curled up into bed in a light sweatshirt, socks, and an extra blanket over the comforter and went to sleep.  Slept great, too - first 8 hours in a VERY long time.

Even though this juice feasting and fasting is NOT centered around weight loss, I did do a weight and measurement check-in after seven days of just liquids.  The results?

Starting Weight: 224
Week 1 Weight:  219.4
Difference:  -4.6 pounds

Losing at an average of .65 lbs a day is pretty good on a liquid fast, and I'm fine that it's not more.  Means I'm drinking enough and I'm very happy with that.  I've also lost anywhere from .5 inch to 1 inch all over, which I already knew from the way my clothes have been fitting.  Thank you, sweet Lord, for every pound  and every inch struggled for and lost this week.

However, I was really please to see I was under 220.  220 is pretty much my weight plateau that I bounce around at regularly.  Last time I was in the teens was a year and-a-half ago and I'd really hoping (and yes, I'll admit, praying) I can stay under it for good now.  It is time to get back to ONE-derland (under 200 pounds) again - I haven't been there since 2007.  It's time to get there again!

The Joys of Feasting & Fasting - Day 6

The morning did NOT start well.  Nothing to do with my sleep or stomach, but with my teeth.

Three hours in the dental chair.

Three hours!  For three cavities.

Needless to say, I didn't juice before my appointment to get three cavities filled today, as sometimes Novocaine makes me queasy.  But by noon, my stomach desperately wanted something in it besides salvia and water.  I've never had to have leg-stretch breaks during dental procedures before.  However, my stomach helped distract me from the nerves that would not numb and the last tooth was a labor-style breathing, clenched hands in my lap with nails making my palms bleed, and tears leaking from under my eyelids.  It isn't my dentist - I simply don't numb well, be it my teeth or childbirth.  They kept me as numb as they could!

I survived though, and came home to take pain meds, a nap, and then, make something for lunch.  Guess what I had?  :-)  That's right - I enjoyed another Mexican avocado soup/smoothie.  Had one for supper tonight, too.  I'm wondering if it is the avocado I'm craving or the complex seasoning?

As I'm typing this, I just realized I haven't had any fruit-based juices today, since I normally do those for breakfast, unless pumpkin is counted as a fruit.  I make a dairy-free pumpkin soup today that I really enjoyed, but it would have been better if I could have added a bit of cumin.  Maybe with tomorrow's leftovers for lunch.  And tomorrow - seven days!  I will weigh myself in the morning - though I'm not doing this for weight-loss, I'd still like to keep an eye on.

Arrivederci and happy drinking!

The Joys of Feasting & Fasting - Day 5

Today I learned an important lesson:  listen to your body!

This morning I woke up after a full 5 1/2 hours of sleep (much better than the three or four I've had all week, so I will take 5 1/2 any day!) and where I was not hungry at all, my stomach just felt raw and empty.  I drank my normal morning lemon water and my stomach just felt queasy, and continued to the next couple of hours.  However, I felt like I had to drink something besides water to get through church, so on the drive over, I drank 16 ounces of my standard green veggie and fruit mix. 

Big, big mistake!

Instead of waiting for my stomach to settle before I put juice in it this morning, I missed most of Sunday School and the first part of church.  Yuck.  It was almost three in the afternoon before my stomach gave me permission to drink more than water, and the carrot/orange blend settled very well with no yucky aftereffects.  That's a win in my book!  But lesson learned - I will listen better to my body and what it is telling me.

Thankfully, my hunger pains are starting to go away, which is a big blessing, though I am still battling the occasional food cravings.  Remember last night's Mexican spread?  Well that was today's supper and it smelled so very good as I got this ready for tonight's supper taco bar; my V-8/Vegetable broth blend seemed so bland compared to what I was serving.  But God answered my very humanly (and honestly, selfish) cry of "I want it, dear Lord, but need you to help me be faithful" by giving me a smoothie inspiration.  I don't know why I haven't thought of it before!  I poured my broth blend into the blender, added a generous scoop of guacamole, some pico de gallo, and some additional spices.  Can we say A-M-A-Z-I-N-G????  I think it is the most delicious Mexican soup I have ever made.  I know what I'm having for lunch tomorrow!

Keep posted for more tomorrow - I'm coming up on a week very soon!

The Joys of Feasting & Fasting - Day 4

It was truly a harder day today.  I woke up hungry and stayed hungry all... day... long.  Even with nutritious juices and broths, I just couldn't seem to fill the hole in my belly.  The hunger pains should pass in another day or two, but it was truly a rely-on-God type of day.  And get through we did - through a group grilling for lunch, a birthday party this evening, and a full-blown catered Mexican dinner that arrived on our doorstep late this evening (I LOVE Mexican food).  At that point, I had to cry out to Jonathan to deal with the food coming into the house - I just couldn't handle another cookie, cupcake, or burrito on the counter anymore!

As for detox symptoms?  Pretty good today, and I upped my water intake as I felt like I didn't get enough yesterday.  The headache is gone, but a new side effect to me was my calf muscles just aching by seven pm, enough so that I took two Motrin to help get through the evening.  I think I'm going to take a bit of extra magnesium at bedtime tonight to see if that will help (I can't do bananas in my juices - they give me horrid sores in my month).  I also have found my gums being extra sensitive today and am not sure why, so I've been rinsing with salt water a couple of times today.

Right now, my biggest struggle is sleep.  I seriously can't sleep... and I'm freezing!  I was in the bathtub at 1 AM this morning to warm up and try to relax enough to fall asleep.  I'm exhausted, but shifting my body from tiredness to sleep isn't happening very well the past two nights.  Usually taking magnesium at night puts me out, but it hasn't helped at all.

So overall, day four was a struggle - praying that day five will be a wonderful day of worship and focus!

The Joys of Feasting & Fasting - Day 3

Today started off with sweet time in my Bible study in Isaiah 43 and 61, which my soul really needed this today.  I was a bit nervous starting this first all liquids day, but praise Jesus!, it went really well.  I really wasn't hungry at all, which was a blessing.  Supper was the hardest time for me, but I quickly put the food up after the meal (I usually leave it out for the guys to browse on later) and scraped the kids' plates as soon as they were done to avoid the urge to nibble.  But a morning green smoothie, lots of water, juice (Kroger had some of Boathouse Farm's juices, including their kale/spinach/celery/lemon juice, on sale for BOGO), and some broth got me through the day.  I even survived the ice cream social this evening - most of the campus knows I'm watching my sugar, so there was no question as to why I just had water.

As for detox symptoms, they've been very minimal today.  Slight headache, but I'm guessing it's more from lack of caffeine, a bit of light-headedness when I got up too quick, and I was a bit tired by early afternoon, but other than that, it was a good day and I'm actually struggling to wind down tonight.  I forgot how I will eventually move to a bit of less sleep as these three weeks move on. 

Speaking of sleep, I need to ensure our guys are going to get some tonight, so adios!

Joys of Feasting & Fasting - Days 1 & 2

Don't freak out at the word fasting, though the first time I ever fasted, I certainly did!  My heart wasn't in the right place and I was miserable all day.  I hated it.

Fast forward to just after college:  I started an online 60 day Bible study called The Lords Table at www.settingcaptivesfree.com.  This study is focused on looking at God to fill the needs that we run to for food and to help break the strongholds of laziness and gluttony.  After the initial sixty days, there is a 2nd study that is an intensive 21-day liquid fast.  It was in those two studies that I found the biblical joy in fasting, and since then, have done three long-term liquid fasts, ranging from 5 to 21 days.

I'm continuing to follow their model, though I've not doing the fast through their study, as I have not since the first time.  They recommend the first two days as prep days, eating fruit for breakfast and raw veggies for lunch and supper.  Then 16 days of liquids (no dairy, protein shakes, etc) such as juices, non-meat broths, smoothies, etc, then the last two days with raw fruits and veggies to wake the digestive system back up again.  Personally, I drink more of a fruit based juice in the morning, and then veggie juices, vegetable stocks, and herbal teas for the rest of the day (my favorite lunch and dinner is vegetable stock mixed 1/2 & 1/2 with V-8 and spiced with garlic, cumin, pepper, and chili powder).

Now Day 2 is drawing to a close and I'm feeling pretty good.  Fruit for breakfast (strawberries yesterday, a pear today) and veggie salads for lunch and dinner.  Today's cucumber/tomato salad was delicious!  Jonathan slept poorly last night, and i woke up around 1 AM with bad hunger pains.  Yet God is good as I prayed over them and was able to fall back asleep.  I was a bit tired this afternoon and have a bit of a headache, but we'd been traveling, too.  I didn't get any exercise in today, but enjoyed a walk yesterday and hope to walk again in the morning.  In the meantime, the fridge is stocked for juices (fruit and veggie) and I made a gallon of my vegetable broth soup while washing dishes this evening.  For now, I'm sipping tea, blogging, and getting ready to put kids to bed and do my evening Bible study.  I'm been enjoying working through Cynthia Herald's "Becoming a Woman of Simplicity" and Beth Moore's "Breaking Free", and for the first time in a very long time, am hungering for the Word in a way that I have not in quite some time.  I'm sure I will blog more on this later in the days to come.  For now, though, I need to put munchkins to bed, so good night!