Breaking the fast: Day 4

Brekkie: half a mango
Snack: a piece of my hazelnut chocolate and some a cheezy kale chip
Lunch: half of a Caesar salad, 1.5 slices of the Amatriciana pizza from Osteria Coppa in San Mateo.  It has: Guanciale, Tomato, Red Onion, Chilies, and Pecorino.
Snack: 1.5 nutella filled churrito that I baked, and half a vegan cookie from Trader Joe's
Dinner: half a mango and half a cup of oragnic peach yogurt


HA.  Day Four.  I wouldn't really consider this a part of the easing out period since I believe that I am out of the woods now and can eat my old variety of foods now.  And I went on a splurge today!  I had pizza and chocolate!  All in one day.  Hurray!  I did make a mistake though.   Although I was splurging today, I made a commitment to try and stay vegetarian for as long as possible.  My sister and I ordered an "Amatriciana" pizza which didn't appear to have anything from the meat department.  


Oops.  


Should've asked our server.   Apparently "Guanciale" is bacon.  Straight up bacon.  HA.  My sister ate the bacon but I pulled it off and left it on my plate.  No matter.  It was delicious.  Truly.  I also made some nutella filled churritos.  I HAD to make them.  I found the recipe during the latter portion of my fast and I knew I needed to have them in my mouth.  I made about 24 but I only ended up eating 1 and half.  It was delicious but thanks to the fast, I beleive I have broken (at least temporarily) my habit of scarfing down all and everything chocolate in sight.  I was really mindful of what I was tasting and it gave me a sense so satisfaction.  So much so, that I didn't feel the need  to eat any more.  Here's a picture of them:

Day Four.  I think I'm good now.  Let the (healthy) eating of real food commence!

Breaking the fast: Day 1-3

Ok. So here I am on the third day of easing out of my Master Cleanse.

Here's a synopsis of my ease out so far: Day 1:
Orange juice all day baby. The first sip of that glorious orange juice tasted like nectar ambrosia. I truly enjoyed savoring each particular nuance of flavor it had to offer of me. Compared to the lemonade, this was rich in levels of flavor and texture. Sweet and tangy, cold and refreshing. I sipped on it all day but all I could think about was getting the day over with so that I could finally eat something warm!! But I Finished Day 2 with no problems.

Day 2:
Brekkie - 1 nectarine (eaten over 5 hours)
Lunch - 1 peach
Snack - a few bites of nectarine and a few bites of a raw food cone from the Raw Daddy stand at the Saturday Berkeley Farmers Market.
Dinner - half a mango. The very act of chewing and swallowing is paradise.

Day 2 was great. The fruits were so delicious. I particularly savored the mango. I love love love mango. I picked that up on a shopping excursion to Ranch 99. I doubt that it's organic but I knew I had to have the damn thing. And it was good. TD works at the Farmers Market and the booth next to him is a raw food vendor. He picked up a raw food cone for me. The cone consists of seeds and it was filled with shredded cabbage, mangoes, cashews and a vinaigrette. I only had a few bites but I enjoyed it. I ate everything slowly, only taking a few bites every half hour or so. I just read a website that said that the goal is to eat many many small meals and gradually work one's way to larger meals that are more spaced out. I've been craving something warm and I hope to make an Ayurvedic dish called kitchari in the near future. It is a cleansing food as as well composed of mung beans and basmati rice, flavored with spices.

Day 3:
Brekkie - half a glorious mango Not sure what else I'm going to eat today but I'd like to try something warm. I haven't had a bowel movement yet so I'm waiting for that, too.

 3:42 A lot has happened since this morning.

Ok, well, maybe not a lot but some major things went down (from my perspective).

I had a bowel movement.

Yes!

I think it was the mango. Thank you, mister mango. Thank you so much.

I also went to the Berkeley Temescal Farmers Market and visited TD's booth. I hadn't eaten anything since my half a mango this morning so I felt some hunger pangs. He offered me some of his food and I did it. I went for real food. I had: Basmati rice and vegetable curry (two celery slices, two cauliflower stalks, 2 slices of tofu) all in a coconut curry sauce. It was indescribable. I could taste every single spice and the warmth of it in my mouth spread throughout my whole body. That is what paradise must be like. I asked TD to only give me tiny tiny scoops of the rice and curry. He didn't put it on their regular plates but instead scooped it into a small container (think the red and white paper things they sticks hot dogs in at BBQ's). I only ate the veggies at first, being careful to chew each bite thoroughly. It took me about fifteen minutes to eat a portion I could have easily eaten in two bites. Then I thought I would walk around the farmers market for a bit. The thing about the Temescal farmers market is that it's like an organic gourmet version of Costco at lunchtime. Everyone offers free samples. I was already feeling satiated but I just had to try some of the stuff being offered.

So please add this to the food diary today:
 - tiny bite of falafel
- small pita chip dipped in yogurt and chives
- a Balgoni (I think that's what it was called).

Honestly, I can't remember the name but it's some sort of pastry stuffed with spinach that is very tin. It was topped with yogurt and jalapeño jam. Only a small bite. THEN I returned to Tenzin's booth and finished off the basmati curried rice. Everything was delicious. I'm feeling full now. I think it was the rice. I'm not uncomfortably full but I definitely have a feeling that there is stuff in my belly. It's an odd sensation.

I haven't felt this way in a long time and I have lost that light feeling. I may have overdid it but I don't have any regrets. I don't have any cramping or anything of that sort at all. I just feel full-ish.

But wait, there's more.

I went and bought some ingredients for a vegan cutlet I'm going to attempt to make at Trader Joe's and the local natural foods store here. Besides my necessary items, I also bought cheesy kale chips (vegan) and a hazelnut chocolate bar. As soon as I got home, I had one leaf of the cheesy kale chip and it was pretty good. But the highlight of my day was the little piece of hazelnut chocolate that I ate, like, five minutes ago. Creamy with a light crunch from the toasted hazelnut. That was damn good.

Master Cleanse: Day 10 YAYUH

Holy.

This is my last day.  And it couldn't have come fast enough!  Ay yay yay!  I don't know how I was able to go 23 days the last time.  This time around my cravings have been crazy strong.

It's Day 10 and I'm feeling fine.  I'm back from my healing crisis yesterday and my skin is glowing again.  Yes!  This morning I psyched myself out with the SWF.  I knew it was my last day and for some reason I think that prevented me from drinking my usual 20oz.  I only made it to 16oz.  I was gagging and I definitely would have thrown up what I had already chugged.  Didn't make a difference though.  Everything went through the tubes like usual.

I have plans to try to go totally vegan for one week. I don't know if I'll manage it but I'm down to give it a go. I have asked my vegan friends for recipes and have been looking them up on my own.

I'm so excited to start eating real food again.  My first planned "real" meal is to get something at Que SeRaw SeRaw, my local raw food joint.  That will be Day 3 of the Ease out.

I don't know if "proud" is the word to describe how I feel this tenth day.  I was proud of myself the first time I went on the cleanse.  I'm more relieved, I guess.  I'm stoked that I did the cleanse.  I would like to do it again for sure.  It's such an amazing experience for the body and mind.  I am definitely happy and feeling good and really recharged.

But I'm also very happy that it's the last day.  :)

WOOT.

Master Cleanse: Day 9 Ruh-roh

This morning I woke up feeling exhausted.  I also had a really oily face.  I did not feel well at all.  I chalk this up to some major cleansing going on internally.  The glow of Days 7 and 8 are but memories.  Ah well.  Part of the process.

It's Day 9 and I'm so happy I'm almost done!  

My stomach has been especially gurgly today.  Some things are going on down there for sure.  To try to get some relief from all my symptoms, I dry brushed my skin (to get my lymph moving) and took a really nice hot shower.

To keep myself distracted, I went to my local farmer's market where I bought white peaches and nectarines for my post fast easing out.  I broke my fast with nectarines the last time and everything turned out well.  I am not craving fruits at all, though.  There was a dude selling piroshki and I thought, THAT is what I want to eat.  I immediately googled vegetarian piroshki recipes and found a potato one that I think I'm going to try.

An interesting thing I'm finding out about this cleanse is that old emotions are coming out just as much as old toxins are.  It's refreshing and surprising to be thinking about things that have happened years ago and still feel the same emotions that I felt then.  Both good and bad.  Catharsis.  That said, I found two new white hairs today.  Impermanence.

I've also really solidified a desire to go on a long solitary meditation retreat.  I almost feel like I need to go.  Definitely a life goal.

Day 9 is a detox day for sure.  I feel better than when I did this morning but I'm feeling a little tired.  It's 2:16 pm right now.  I hope  tommorrow is more bliss filled!  But I accept today and am not at all dissatisfied.

Master Cleanse: Day 7-8

SWF, a poem

I do not like the salt water flush.
Force my bowels come out in a rush.
When I drink it I gag,
It's gross. What a drag.
When I'm done, I will have a tight tush.

Day 7-8 (post SWF) were the days I was waiting for.  My skin was glowing.  I felt great! And I had entered the calm portion of my fast.  I can tell that I don't really feel hungry anymore.  And I can watch my mind as I see it affect the functions of my body.  For example, I was looking up a recipe for french toast, and when the picture popped up of the buttery cream maply thing, I watched my mind and then felt my stomach rumble.  I know this isn't anything crazy new but I was more mindful about how perceptions can truly affect our physical body.

I love Day 7 and Day 8.

I don't think I am going to go past ten days on the cleanse. though.  I really would like to eat.  I've been toying with the idea of going vegan for at least a week.  I hope that I can manage it.

Master Cleanse: Day 6 INSPIRED!

My friend posted a video on Facebook last night after I had posted last night.  I was feeling a little down because I didn't realize how much weight I had gained in the last few years until I had weighed myself yesterday.

Then I saw this video:

Inspirational, no?  I was in tears.  I've been quite emotional these last few days.  First the passing of MCA and now, this video.

My SWF went down a little easier today. No gagging. I still only manage 20oz of the stuff though, and not the advised 32oz.  I went on a short run with the dog and I think that really jumpstarted my day.  I feel really good.  The mornings are usually great for me during this cleanse.  By the afternoon, I feel a little tired but I never feel like I need to nap or anything like that.  It's about noon now and I feel great!  So thankful I saw this video!

Master Cleanse: Day 5

I have some serious cravings.  Today I would like to eat:

-a slice of cheese pizza
-fried chicken
-chocolate cake
-tofu.  yes. tofu.

I don't think looking at food porn and watching the Food Network is helping me out so much anymore.  I'm going to attempt to abandon that method of coping with my cravings.

Today is just a lazy Saturday.  My sister and her husband are out of town so I am taking care of their dog while  they're gone.  He seems to have no sympathy for my ravenous desire to eat.  I didn't go out today besides two walks with the dog.  It was nice to get some fresh air.  I wanted to get some alone time so I just chilled.  I went to the Giants game yesterday and my friends were eating fabulous ballpark food: chicken wings, fries, hot dogs.  I realized being around people is a little tough because food is such an integral part of being social.  It makes me want to be alone.  A little alone time is good for the soul.

My boyfriend, T, is at his place cooking right now.  He's an amazing cook, too.  He doesn't really get the idea of cleansing but he's being very supportive.  He lets me smell his dinner every night. I miss him, yes.  But right now I miss food more.  So I'm glad my doggsitting duty allows me some alone time.

My energy is good today but I don't feel like I've hit that "high" where I think I could continue this cleanse.  I don't really have a desire at this point to continue beyond the ten days.  It's mainly because I really want to eat bad food.  Bad bad food.  I am craving healthier things too but, quite honestly, I would love me a bowl of Mac and Cheese right now.

One more things.  I found a scale in my sister's room today and I weighed myself.

Big mistake.

I wasn't pleased with what I saw.  It's actually not the heaviest I've ever been but considering I'm on Day 5 of this cleanse already, it makes me wonder where I was at before.  Eep.  Maybe I really should go vegetarian.  Now I remember why I don't weigh myself.   I prefer the "do my skinny jeans fit" method much much better.

Oh wait. One more thing really.  I forgot to mention that I abandoned taking cayenne pepper pills!!!  What I do is take apart the pill and ingest the powder with a shot of my lemon drink.  I read that the capsule that holds the cayenne needs to be digested so takes some energy away from detoxing.

It's 8:15 in the evening now so I think I'll wind down by watching TV.  I don't really watch so much TV these days, so it feels sinfully delicious to gorge on on the trashy shows.  I mean, Basketball Wives?!?  I can't look away.

Buenos noches.

Master Cleanse: Day 4 RIP MCA

Today is a sad day.

Adam Yauch aka MCA of the Beastie Boys passed away.  If you know the Beastie Boys at all, the title of my blog is a reference to one of their most famous songs.

I woke up feeling happy and energized.  I dreamt that I was eating fried chicken last night so that may have contributed to me waking up in such a good mood.  I do think, however, that I have passed the hardest part of the cleanse now and am getting over the hump.

I did my SWF and had some movements and started my first drink.  Then I received two simultaneous text messages from friends who love The Beastie Boys and who knew I loved them too, most especially MCA. They informed me of his passing and I cried.  I don't believe I have ever cried at the death of a celebrity, not even Whitney Houston, who I looove.  But MCA was a true inspiration for me.  The Beastie Boys were most definitely my favorite group of all time, and MCA was my favorite in the group.  Not only was he a pioneer in the music industry but his spiritual path and compassionate activism truly gave me an idea of how I wanted to conduct my life.  Minutes after I found out, I sat on the couch and recited a mantra of compassion for him and I was immediately filled with a feeling of peace and well being.   It had always been a dream of mine to meet him and because I believe in the interdependent nature of all things, there is a chance that I indeed connected with him in that moment.   Thank you so much MCA for being an inspiration to me.

OM MANI PADME HUNG

MCA's death reminds me to always have the best intentions and do the right thing.  He always seemed to have such diginity in all his projects while always infusing humor in everything he did.  I strive to do that.

I dedicate this fast to MCA and wish that all good results and benefits from this cleanse may help me to have a healthier body and mind in order to benefit as many people as possible for as long as my body remains on this earth. Or as long as space remains.  Or as long as sentient beings remain.  To dispel their misery.

Rest in Peace MCA.

Master Cleanse: Day 3 (or Dia Tres)

Hola.

I totally forgot that Cinco de Mayo was right in the middle of my cleanse.  I'm a little bummed about that because I love Mexican food.

I looked up a ton of Mexican food recipes.  I still haven't decided if I'm going to commit to going vegetarian after the cleanse, but I looked up recipes for vegetarian Mexican dishes.  Guacamole.  Yum.

My cravings are out of control.  Looking at food porn online makes me crave foods more, but it's oddly satisfying.

I woke up dreaming about eating chocolate cake today. I took a bite and could actually savor the flavor of dark chocolate cake.  I could even feel the cake in my mouth! In my dream I remembered that I was on a fast and I spit it out.  What a disciplined subconscious I have.

Today my SWF produced dark movements.  According to some of the blogs I've read dark = old stuff in the colon.   I was pleased.  I had a little nausea around 5pm but it only lasted about 15 minutes.  Not fun but very temporary and I'm sure it was part of my detox process.

Day 3 wasn't too bad and my energy is picking up!  Yes!  

Master Cleanse: Day 2

What's up readers!  I made it to Day 2!

12: 45 pm
Yesterday was not fun.  Around 3pm I got really nauseous and had a headache which kept me bedridden until it was time to go to sleep.    The nausea faded after about an hour.  I have never experienced anything like that on previous cleanses and I got a little worried so I googled it.  I guess it is considered part of the detox process.  I'm just glad it's over.  Today I feel a whole lot better.

I woke up feeling a little tired but not exhausted.  Upon waking, I did my SWF and I gagged. But I chugged on. As on previous cleanses, I only made it to 20oz.   Apparently, for my body that is adequate.  Not more than 40 min later, did I receive my first urge to...move.  I had "movement" two times after that as well.

My superhuman smell is back.  All my bath soaps, shampoos, and scrubs were a little overwhelming to me today.  My sister cooked some fried eggs, brown rice, and veggies this morning and I could smell each of the individual vegetables.  Dang.  It was still in the frying pan a few hours later, and I put my nose up to it to smell it.

I got one crazy craving about an hour ago for roasted sweet potato slices tossed in olive oil and sea salt.  I was looking up food on the internet to satisfy my cravings and I came upon this:

It's from Bon Appetite Magazine's 2012 Food Lover's Cleanse Diet.  Doesn't it look amazing???

I've discovered that looking up recipes and foods on the internet doesn't really help with my cravings, but I do it anyway.I'm mostly wanting savory things, which is funny.  Normally, I crave sweet carbs: ice cream, cupcakes, cookies, carmel machiattos, etc.  I don't really want those things right now.  

I was also flipping through the channels and landed on the Food Network.  Paul Deen was doing her thang and she created an amazing side dish for her post roast.  It was called an onion pie, which was cheesy and gooey and had some sort of crust.  I changed the channel because I could feel my tummy grumbling. 

I am still doing the cayenne pepper capsules, but I'm wondering if that has anything to do with my nausea yesterday.  I'll try it again today and see.

6:15PM
I'm a little tired.  That's about it.  Nothing crazy to report so far.  I don't think I was ever in danger of breaking the fast on my last two cleanses but this time around, it has come up as a thought a few times.  I don't think I considered it an option before.  I won't quit though.  It's almost the end of Day Two so I'm almost to the good part of this cleanse anyway.

I really want a grilled cheese sandwich right now.

That is all.

Master Cleanse: Day 1 (all over again)

Everything is impermanent.

Including all good habits.  I used to be a decent vegetarian.  I also used to eat more consciously.  I have pretty much gone back to old ways of eating and living.  All my bad habits have come back.

But bad habits are impermanent as well.  I've decided to halt some of them with this cleanse.  According to this blog, the last  time I attempted the Master Cleanse, it was 2008.

Dayam.  It's been awhile, homies.

I didn't even bother to blog much that time around.  I'll try to be more on top of things in 2012.  Do people blog anymore, though?

Well, I've tried to go vegetarian unsuccessfully a few times since 2008.  I usually make it about a week or two before I eat meat again.  Usually, it's a burger that does me in.  Man, I love burgers.  I have also been eating a lot of sugary goodness. I've been loving me some cheesecake recently.  I haven't been careful at all about what I've been putting in my body as of late.  And it's showing.  I feel heavier and more sluggish and I do not like it at all.  I definitely am aiming for a recharge with this cleanse to jump start me into getting into a more healthy lifestyle.

I've been doing Bikram Yoga for the last few weeks, and I enjoy it!  I'm going to hold off  the first few days of this cleanse though.

Today is Day One.  And I must say that it definitely feels like Day One.  I feel lightheaded, tired, and the cravings have kicked in. My thinking doesn't seem to be very clear either.  All in all, I don't feel my best.  But honestly it's not that bad.  I don't feel like quitting.

I am doing one thing a little differently than the last two times I cleansed.  Instead of adding cayenne pepper to my lemonade, I am taking cayenne pepper pills that I found at Whole Foods.  It definitely makes drinking the lemonade much more manageable.

So it's Day One.  Let's get this party started...