Just a quick update to say that everything is moving along as it should. I've lost about 15 pounds in the first 41 days. Much slower than fasting, but I'm never hungry. And my chiropractor told me not even to think about losing weight. He said the body has to heal first and then the focus can shift. So I still go once a week for oxygen, to check my foods, and to update any supplements. I'm still doing Vitamin D, and a few other things. Two creams, one for the thyroid and one for progesterone. A protein powder that I drink in almond or coconut milk in the morning. And twice a day I mix in RepairVite to a drink, which is supposed to support digestion and the nervous system. Wow, it sounds like a lot when I type it out like that. But it's easy to maintain.
I'm lucky to live in an area where it's so easy to find gluten-free items in grocery stores. And I can name at least four restaurants within 30 minutes that serve a variety of vegan, gluten-free meals. Even a bakery! (Although sugar is still not a part of my daily life.)
I just bought an awesome new cookbook, Great Gluten-Free Vegan Eats. Tonight I made a pasta dish and stuffed cherry tomatoes. So, so, so good! I can't wait to eat my leftovers tomorrow for lunch.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Monday, August 19, 2013
Healing Hashimoto's: Day 18
So, just an update/warning from my last post: You have to look at every single Soy Boy label. I don't know if they're in the process of making their tofu gluten-free or what, but I just bought a package of smoked tofu from Whole Foods and when I got home I realized it had gluten in it. But the same exact brand and flavor from Wegman's was gluten-free. So check your labels. Always. :(
In other happy news, I know I've said this before but I actually think my withdrawal is over. Every day gets better. I haven't had poke-my-eyes-out-with-spoons cravings in a few days and I'm actually satisfied when I eat. I forgot this would happen. This is how I felt on the fast. It gets better, it gets better, it gets better! It hurts for weeks, but then I swear it will get better.
In other happy news, I know I've said this before but I actually think my withdrawal is over. Every day gets better. I haven't had poke-my-eyes-out-with-spoons cravings in a few days and I'm actually satisfied when I eat. I forgot this would happen. This is how I felt on the fast. It gets better, it gets better, it gets better! It hurts for weeks, but then I swear it will get better.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Healing Hashimoto's: Day 13
The edge is starting to come off, so that's nice. I'm not crawling out of my skin for a pretzel or a cookie. Although, I still imagine eating them sometimes. I'm starting to find some quick-fix favorites. The trip to Vermont forced me to think about portable meals and snacks so now I feel prepared for the upcoming school year. Some great quick-fix lunches I've loved are mostly a variety of salads. I mix chickpeas with salsa and avocado, or coconut and lemon (I'm not a fan of lemon, so I think next time I'll try orange juice), salads with various berries and seeds, or sometimes tempeh, and homemade balsamic vinegarette. And one really simple, really delicious quick lunch is just smoked tofu with balsamic - and I added mixed seeds. Really yummy. Great salty snacks are edamame or nuts. My favorite sweet snack is apples with peanut butter - and the peanut butter is literally just ground peanuts. No sugar really means no sugar - including agave, cane juice, dried fruit of any kind, and some of my favorite fruits, like pineapple.
The biggest challenge is dinner because I'm cooking for two, and one of the two is not a vegan and has a big appetite. I've tried some recipes, some modifications of my favorite meals, and some things just made up off the top of my head. Favorites include a taco - made of walnuts, smoked tofu, mushrooms, and onion with cumin, coriander, and Bragg's amino acids, and I also really loved Chinese night which consisted of Asian-flavored tofu with broccoli, carrots, celery, and onion. I've tried things I've never tried before - brussel sprouts and parsnips to name a few. Yes to brussel sprouts, no thanks to parsnips.
The foundation of a lot of my meals are these amazing varities of tofu by Soy Boy. They have Asian, Smoked, Italian, and Carribean - although the Carribean flavor has gluten in it, the rest are gluten free! Don't be fooled by the online label, they updated the soy sauce to be wheat free. (I learned this after a brief panic attack when I looked at the below picture and then frantically searched the ingredients on the package in my fridge.)
Closing out week 2, I'm ten pounds down and seem to be slowly recovering from withdrawal.
The biggest challenge is dinner because I'm cooking for two, and one of the two is not a vegan and has a big appetite. I've tried some recipes, some modifications of my favorite meals, and some things just made up off the top of my head. Favorites include a taco - made of walnuts, smoked tofu, mushrooms, and onion with cumin, coriander, and Bragg's amino acids, and I also really loved Chinese night which consisted of Asian-flavored tofu with broccoli, carrots, celery, and onion. I've tried things I've never tried before - brussel sprouts and parsnips to name a few. Yes to brussel sprouts, no thanks to parsnips.
The foundation of a lot of my meals are these amazing varities of tofu by Soy Boy. They have Asian, Smoked, Italian, and Carribean - although the Carribean flavor has gluten in it, the rest are gluten free! Don't be fooled by the online label, they updated the soy sauce to be wheat free. (I learned this after a brief panic attack when I looked at the below picture and then frantically searched the ingredients on the package in my fridge.)
Closing out week 2, I'm ten pounds down and seem to be slowly recovering from withdrawal.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Healing Hashimoto's: Day 5
The sugar withdrawal has had me an emotional and physical wreck over the past 5 days. I've been exhausted, taking naps in the afternoons when I can and sleeping as late as possible - which usually means 10am. Chuck and I tried to develop a sugary baked peach by using vanilla, cinnamon, and pecans. It was delicious, although not exactly "sugary." It's amazing how the body becomes dependent on these substances without us even knowing it. I had no idea how much I depended on sugar to get me through the day. As soon as I got into the chiroprator's office he asked if I was in sugar withdrawal. So it's nice to know that this is normal - and he said it should be over soon.
Additions to my program include taking a daily pH test in the mornings, a nutritional supplement mixed in coconut milk twice a day, and drawing the alphabet in the air with my left arm twice a day. That's in addition to my very limited diet, 8000 IU of vitamin D a day, and doing a "cross crawl" every night before bed. A cross crawl is basically just laying on your back and lifting your left knee to your chest while raising your right arm above your head, and then switching sides - like crawling on your back. And I'm also going to the office to have my diet checked and to breathe from the oxygen machine for 20 minutes twice a week.
So that's all the latest news from the exciting world of autoimmune diseases. I made a pretty good black bean and sweet potato burger for dinner. And since I happened to be passing through Bethlehem, I also stopped at Wegman's and stocked up on all my favorite tofu varieties. Tomorrow I get to spit into tubes all day to have my hormone levels tested.
Additions to my program include taking a daily pH test in the mornings, a nutritional supplement mixed in coconut milk twice a day, and drawing the alphabet in the air with my left arm twice a day. That's in addition to my very limited diet, 8000 IU of vitamin D a day, and doing a "cross crawl" every night before bed. A cross crawl is basically just laying on your back and lifting your left knee to your chest while raising your right arm above your head, and then switching sides - like crawling on your back. And I'm also going to the office to have my diet checked and to breathe from the oxygen machine for 20 minutes twice a week.
So that's all the latest news from the exciting world of autoimmune diseases. I made a pretty good black bean and sweet potato burger for dinner. And since I happened to be passing through Bethlehem, I also stopped at Wegman's and stocked up on all my favorite tofu varieties. Tomorrow I get to spit into tubes all day to have my hormone levels tested.
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Healing Hashimoto's: Day 2
I didn't expect to go through any kind of withdrawal symptoms. I mean, I'm a vegan that drinks nothing by water. What kind of an addiction could I possibly withdrawal from? Um . . .gluten! And SUGAR! By noon on the first day, I had a headache and I was exhausted. I took a nap in the afternoon hoping to alleviate the pain but it persisted.
If day one was the physical withdrawal, day two was the emotional withdrawal. I regulate by eating. If I'm too happy, too sad, too angry, too much adrenaline, too little energy . . .anything and everything is solved by eating. My habit is eating for the sensation. Never for health. Never for hunger. So that means two things:
One: I have little desire to eat. I find myself just putting things into my mouth to avoid fainting for lack of nutrition or to stop my stomach from growling. I don't have the food knowledge or cooking experience to really just KNOW what to eat. I know what to eat for a quick-fix good feeling. I know a pretzel will make me forget the flat tire I had this morning. I know a peanut chew will calm the adrenaline high from my first experience practice-teaching a yoga class. So two . . .
Two: After today's highs and lows I wanted nothing more than to numb out with my salty sweet gluten and sugar combo. I didn't. But I wanted to. I found myself not knowing what to do with my feelings. So today consisted of lots of tears.
Funny to think I'm crying over a pretzel. But it's more than that. It's fear. It's actually feeling emotion. It's withdrawal. And it's the end of Day 2! Each day in is one day closer to comfort. One day closer to the new normal.
In actual food news - I found an interesting recipe for vegan feta cheese that I tried tonight. The feta base was crumbled tofu and it was flavored with herbs, spices, vinegar, and olive oil. I put the "feta cheese" with steamed spinach into a portabello mushroom cap and baked it in the oven. I thought it was good. And very feta-like. But then again, I haven't had feta in a long, long time.
If day one was the physical withdrawal, day two was the emotional withdrawal. I regulate by eating. If I'm too happy, too sad, too angry, too much adrenaline, too little energy . . .anything and everything is solved by eating. My habit is eating for the sensation. Never for health. Never for hunger. So that means two things:
One: I have little desire to eat. I find myself just putting things into my mouth to avoid fainting for lack of nutrition or to stop my stomach from growling. I don't have the food knowledge or cooking experience to really just KNOW what to eat. I know what to eat for a quick-fix good feeling. I know a pretzel will make me forget the flat tire I had this morning. I know a peanut chew will calm the adrenaline high from my first experience practice-teaching a yoga class. So two . . .
Two: After today's highs and lows I wanted nothing more than to numb out with my salty sweet gluten and sugar combo. I didn't. But I wanted to. I found myself not knowing what to do with my feelings. So today consisted of lots of tears.
Funny to think I'm crying over a pretzel. But it's more than that. It's fear. It's actually feeling emotion. It's withdrawal. And it's the end of Day 2! Each day in is one day closer to comfort. One day closer to the new normal.
In actual food news - I found an interesting recipe for vegan feta cheese that I tried tonight. The feta base was crumbled tofu and it was flavored with herbs, spices, vinegar, and olive oil. I put the "feta cheese" with steamed spinach into a portabello mushroom cap and baked it in the oven. I thought it was good. And very feta-like. But then again, I haven't had feta in a long, long time.
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Healing Hashimoto's: Introduction
So the battle rages on.
Quick update since the 10-miler:
10-mile race was a success! Broad Street was an amazing experience and it actually felt easy. It must have been all the cheering crowds on the sidelines. I'll definitely try to win a spot again next year.
In terms of weight and health, I have to admit that in the stress of being a first-year teacher in Newark, I lost the battle with addiction and turned back to the comfort of french fries, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and lots of crackers, cookies, and juice to get me through my days. I gained back 32.2 pounds, meaning I now weigh 232.2.
And my body feels it. I feel tired most of the time. Very moody. Filled with anxiety, anger, self-doubt, and the disappointingly familiar resistance to looking at any reflective surfaces. Our relationship with food isn't just about physical health. It's mental health. It's spiritual health. Food is God. It permeates every aspect of being alive.
For a long time, I had the feeling of being damaged. Unchangeable. I could find temporary fixes - like the fast. But permanent change seemed impossible. I would lose the energy to keep going . . .succumb to the promise of numbness or aliveness or calmness or energy that a soft pretzel could provide. That a peanut chew could provide. That a dorito could provide. I'm a junk-food vegan. Because that's what felt immediately good. That's what provided immediate relief.
Finally, I went to a chiropractor who specialized in treating Hashimoto's Disease - which I suspected I had, due to my genetic predisposition. I chose this doctor because I knew he would respect my vegan lifestyle and that he would treat the disease nutritionally.
Lo and behold, after a blood test which consisted of 8 viles of blood (seriously!) . . .it was confirmed that I have Hashimoto's. So the short story is, I have a chronic autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks the thyroid. The disorder is not curable, however it is "manageable." But most doctors "manage" the disease by treating the symptom - a constant fluctuation between hypo and hyperthyroidism. They do this by medicating the patient with Thyroid Replacement Hormones - which then makes all the lab tests look great, but leaves the person feeling exactly how they did when they first discovered their disorder. And the autoimmune disease rages on. The chiropractor's theory is that to manage the autoimmune disorder, the immune system has to be supported by impeccable nutrition. I am the opposite of impeccable nutrition. In fact, I see a list of foods . . .and have not one clue what I could even start to do with them.
After being told I could never eat gluten for the rest of my life and that I would be living without sugar for the next 7 months, I sat dazed in the doctor's office while he explained how to lick the vitamin D supplement off the back of my hand and proceded to treat me with oxygen therapy - sticking tubes up my nose and forcing me to watch a documentary on the horrors of gluten while I breathed oxygen for 15 minutes. And then I was told this was my life. Twice a week. For the next 7 months. Really.
And to add insult to injury, I would have to write down every single thing I ate - every single day. Every. Single. Thing. I have to say I was really emotional leaving the doctor's office. I mean, I knew it was coming - but I suddenly felt like my drugs were being taken away from me. How would I function? How would I get out of bed in the morning? How would I deal with stress? What would make me feel good? What would take all the pain away - physical and emotional? I need my fucking Oreos!
It sounds funny, but that's really what it feels like. My most reliable coping mechanism is being torn out of my gripping hands. And there's nothing I can do about it. I have the choice to allow this to happen - make it happen - and ultimately feel better. Or I can pretend I don't know what I know. I can let my thyroid be destroyed by my own body, rendering it completely useless and having to have it surgically removed - forcing a lifelong dependency on prescription medication. And STILL feeling tired, STILL feeling anxious, STILL fighting my own body.
No. I have to do this. So of course, I said my goodbyes to all my favorite things. Chinese food, oreo cookies, pretzels, french fries, cupcakes. It was like a love feast. How long can I make this high last until the last remnants of sugar and gluten expunge themselves from my body? As if eating more means staying high longer. Which of course, is not the case.
So here we go. 7 months. Not sure how often I'll blog, but I know blogging during the fast became a ritual that not only held me accountable but probably was the driving force behind my successful completion of 60 days.
So I'll say goodnight and have my final cookie . . .or 2.
Last Oreo:
Quick update since the 10-miler:
10-mile race was a success! Broad Street was an amazing experience and it actually felt easy. It must have been all the cheering crowds on the sidelines. I'll definitely try to win a spot again next year.
In terms of weight and health, I have to admit that in the stress of being a first-year teacher in Newark, I lost the battle with addiction and turned back to the comfort of french fries, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and lots of crackers, cookies, and juice to get me through my days. I gained back 32.2 pounds, meaning I now weigh 232.2.
And my body feels it. I feel tired most of the time. Very moody. Filled with anxiety, anger, self-doubt, and the disappointingly familiar resistance to looking at any reflective surfaces. Our relationship with food isn't just about physical health. It's mental health. It's spiritual health. Food is God. It permeates every aspect of being alive.
For a long time, I had the feeling of being damaged. Unchangeable. I could find temporary fixes - like the fast. But permanent change seemed impossible. I would lose the energy to keep going . . .succumb to the promise of numbness or aliveness or calmness or energy that a soft pretzel could provide. That a peanut chew could provide. That a dorito could provide. I'm a junk-food vegan. Because that's what felt immediately good. That's what provided immediate relief.
Finally, I went to a chiropractor who specialized in treating Hashimoto's Disease - which I suspected I had, due to my genetic predisposition. I chose this doctor because I knew he would respect my vegan lifestyle and that he would treat the disease nutritionally.
Lo and behold, after a blood test which consisted of 8 viles of blood (seriously!) . . .it was confirmed that I have Hashimoto's. So the short story is, I have a chronic autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks the thyroid. The disorder is not curable, however it is "manageable." But most doctors "manage" the disease by treating the symptom - a constant fluctuation between hypo and hyperthyroidism. They do this by medicating the patient with Thyroid Replacement Hormones - which then makes all the lab tests look great, but leaves the person feeling exactly how they did when they first discovered their disorder. And the autoimmune disease rages on. The chiropractor's theory is that to manage the autoimmune disorder, the immune system has to be supported by impeccable nutrition. I am the opposite of impeccable nutrition. In fact, I see a list of foods . . .and have not one clue what I could even start to do with them.
After being told I could never eat gluten for the rest of my life and that I would be living without sugar for the next 7 months, I sat dazed in the doctor's office while he explained how to lick the vitamin D supplement off the back of my hand and proceded to treat me with oxygen therapy - sticking tubes up my nose and forcing me to watch a documentary on the horrors of gluten while I breathed oxygen for 15 minutes. And then I was told this was my life. Twice a week. For the next 7 months. Really.
And to add insult to injury, I would have to write down every single thing I ate - every single day. Every. Single. Thing. I have to say I was really emotional leaving the doctor's office. I mean, I knew it was coming - but I suddenly felt like my drugs were being taken away from me. How would I function? How would I get out of bed in the morning? How would I deal with stress? What would make me feel good? What would take all the pain away - physical and emotional? I need my fucking Oreos!
It sounds funny, but that's really what it feels like. My most reliable coping mechanism is being torn out of my gripping hands. And there's nothing I can do about it. I have the choice to allow this to happen - make it happen - and ultimately feel better. Or I can pretend I don't know what I know. I can let my thyroid be destroyed by my own body, rendering it completely useless and having to have it surgically removed - forcing a lifelong dependency on prescription medication. And STILL feeling tired, STILL feeling anxious, STILL fighting my own body.
No. I have to do this. So of course, I said my goodbyes to all my favorite things. Chinese food, oreo cookies, pretzels, french fries, cupcakes. It was like a love feast. How long can I make this high last until the last remnants of sugar and gluten expunge themselves from my body? As if eating more means staying high longer. Which of course, is not the case.
So here we go. 7 months. Not sure how often I'll blog, but I know blogging during the fast became a ritual that not only held me accountable but probably was the driving force behind my successful completion of 60 days.
So I'll say goodnight and have my final cookie . . .or 2.
Last Oreo:
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Pre-Race Reflection
I started to panic on Friday night. Regretting every skipped workout, every morning I wanted to sleep an extra 30 minutes, every late night pretzel, every french fry. In just 8 short hours, I'll be standing on Broad Street in Philadelphia with 40,000 other runners. Panic-induced fears include not being able to finish the race, lots of self-conscious body bullshit, weird stuff like worrying someone will yell at me for using headphones, or worrying that a contact lens will fall out of my eye. Or that I'll fall down a set of stairs and break my ankle before I even get on the course.
So letting all of that stuff go . . .
18 months ago, I was 70 pounds heavier. I drank nothing but diet coke. I ran a 15-minute mile. I struggled to wrap my hands around my knee on the yoga mat. I couldn't step forward into a lunge. I lost my breath walking up the hill on Northampton Street to the yoga studio. Cheese was a major food group.
Today, I'm still 70 pounds lighter. I drink nothing but water. I run a 13-minute mile long distance, and I can run a 10-minute speed mile. I have a bigger range of motion on the mat, and I've even managed to hover in crow for a few unstable seconds. I haven't had dairy in 18 months. And my favorite thing of all . . .what hill on Northampton Street?
I imagined that my body would look different on this day. I would have liked another 70 pounds gone. I would have liked another 10 mile trial run. But I'm trying to let go of all the attachments to outcomes . . .the shoulds, the expectations. My goal is to enjoy the experience. The run. And if the course closes before I'm done, then I move to the sidewalk and enjoy the new perspective. And if I walk, I walk. And maybe it's important for bodies like mine to be out there. So other people with bodies like mine will know that amazing things are possible - exactly the way they are.
So letting all of that stuff go . . .
18 months ago, I was 70 pounds heavier. I drank nothing but diet coke. I ran a 15-minute mile. I struggled to wrap my hands around my knee on the yoga mat. I couldn't step forward into a lunge. I lost my breath walking up the hill on Northampton Street to the yoga studio. Cheese was a major food group.
Today, I'm still 70 pounds lighter. I drink nothing but water. I run a 13-minute mile long distance, and I can run a 10-minute speed mile. I have a bigger range of motion on the mat, and I've even managed to hover in crow for a few unstable seconds. I haven't had dairy in 18 months. And my favorite thing of all . . .what hill on Northampton Street?
I imagined that my body would look different on this day. I would have liked another 70 pounds gone. I would have liked another 10 mile trial run. But I'm trying to let go of all the attachments to outcomes . . .the shoulds, the expectations. My goal is to enjoy the experience. The run. And if the course closes before I'm done, then I move to the sidewalk and enjoy the new perspective. And if I walk, I walk. And maybe it's important for bodies like mine to be out there. So other people with bodies like mine will know that amazing things are possible - exactly the way they are.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Juice Fast 2013: Day 5
Last day of juicing! I broke the fast tonight with some grapes. I felt good all day. Plenty of energy. No headaches. My whole body ached, though. I was definitely dehydrated. I could feel my muscles stretching and cramping - in my back, my legs, my sides. I'm used to drinking at least 60 ounces of water a day - minimum! But yesterday I realized once I got home that I hadn't had a single ounce.
My training plan for the next few months is as follows:
Meal Plan
Breakfast
1 banana/apple
1 teaspoon of nut butter
Mid-Morning Snack
16 ounce fruit smoothie
(frozen fruit, soy milk, spinach, agave)
Lunch
Salad
(mixed greens, chickpeas, corn, black beans, 2 tablespoons salad dressing)
Afternoon Snack
1 cup of fruit
Traffic Snack
1/4 cup nuts
10 chocolate chips (vegan!)
Dinner
1/2 cup grains
1 cup steamed or roasted veggies
Evening Snack (if needed)
Edamame
Exceptions to the Rule
4 rule-free meals a month
2 vegan treats a month
A pre and/or post workout snack on long distance days from this website.
Running Plan
2 miles Monday/Wednesday/Friday nights on treadmill
Tuesday/Thursday - one yoga day and one day off
Saturday - either long distance or speed mile
Sunday - yoga and long distance or speed mile
Long Distance Plan
Feb 23 - 3.2 miles
March 2 - 5 miles
March 9 - 3.2 miles
March 16 - 5 miles
March 23 - 10 miles
March 30 - 3.2 miles
April 6 - 5 miles
April 13 - 10 miles
April 20 - 3.2 miles
April 27 - 5 miles
May 5 - Broad Street 10 miler!
So that's the plan! Any tips, recommendations, comments?
Thanks to the following resources:
50 Awesome Pre and Post-Workout Snacks
Cris Sardo: The Very Hungry Xfitter
Gary Gibson: The Vegan Effect
No Meat Athlete: The Vegetarian Athlete Diet
My training plan for the next few months is as follows:
Meal Plan
Breakfast
1 banana/apple
1 teaspoon of nut butter
Mid-Morning Snack
16 ounce fruit smoothie
(frozen fruit, soy milk, spinach, agave)
Lunch
Salad
(mixed greens, chickpeas, corn, black beans, 2 tablespoons salad dressing)
Afternoon Snack
1 cup of fruit
Traffic Snack
1/4 cup nuts
10 chocolate chips (vegan!)
Dinner
1/2 cup grains
1 cup steamed or roasted veggies
Evening Snack (if needed)
Edamame
Exceptions to the Rule
4 rule-free meals a month
2 vegan treats a month
A pre and/or post workout snack on long distance days from this website.
Running Plan
2 miles Monday/Wednesday/Friday nights on treadmill
Tuesday/Thursday - one yoga day and one day off
Saturday - either long distance or speed mile
Sunday - yoga and long distance or speed mile
Long Distance Plan
Feb 23 - 3.2 miles
March 2 - 5 miles
March 9 - 3.2 miles
March 16 - 5 miles
March 23 - 10 miles
March 30 - 3.2 miles
April 6 - 5 miles
April 13 - 10 miles
April 20 - 3.2 miles
April 27 - 5 miles
May 5 - Broad Street 10 miler!
So that's the plan! Any tips, recommendations, comments?
Thanks to the following resources:
50 Awesome Pre and Post-Workout Snacks
Cris Sardo: The Very Hungry Xfitter
Gary Gibson: The Vegan Effect
No Meat Athlete: The Vegetarian Athlete Diet
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Juice Fast 2013: Day 4
I had a relatively easy transition back to work. No headaches, no hunger . . .the day went by quickly. Moments of ease and moments of lusting after food.
I'm going to spend tonight constructing a healthy plan for the rest of this year's "cleanse." Because I'm hungry! And I'm starting to worry about the less appealing physical side effects of the fast . . .like dizziness, urinary tract infections, constipation. All the fun things I totally forgot about in the euphoria of having completed the fast.
Another thing the fast brings out is all the unhealthy ideas I have about eating. I worry that if every bite I eat is not carefully planned and measured, I'll gain weight. I'll lose control and go right back to pre-fast habits. I imagine a single bite of food will make the scale jump up a number. I have to be able to see weight loss without fasting.
The fast felt like freedom. There WAS some freedom. But I don't think doing it again will bring the same sense of freedom. The fast will become the prison. Freedom to me now means eating - eating for health, eating because I'm hungry, eating because we HAVE to - and still being able to lose weight. Freedom would mean not fearing the act of eating.
But it's just like the classroom. If I want freedom, I need structure. So if I want to eat tomorrow, I need a plan tonight. So here I go . . .
I'm going to spend tonight constructing a healthy plan for the rest of this year's "cleanse." Because I'm hungry! And I'm starting to worry about the less appealing physical side effects of the fast . . .like dizziness, urinary tract infections, constipation. All the fun things I totally forgot about in the euphoria of having completed the fast.
Another thing the fast brings out is all the unhealthy ideas I have about eating. I worry that if every bite I eat is not carefully planned and measured, I'll gain weight. I'll lose control and go right back to pre-fast habits. I imagine a single bite of food will make the scale jump up a number. I have to be able to see weight loss without fasting.
The fast felt like freedom. There WAS some freedom. But I don't think doing it again will bring the same sense of freedom. The fast will become the prison. Freedom to me now means eating - eating for health, eating because I'm hungry, eating because we HAVE to - and still being able to lose weight. Freedom would mean not fearing the act of eating.
But it's just like the classroom. If I want freedom, I need structure. So if I want to eat tomorrow, I need a plan tonight. So here I go . . .
Monday, February 18, 2013
Juice Fast 2013: Day 3
Day 3 is notoriously the worst day. I didn't feel too bad, but definitely started really feeling hunger. I was also tired. Never made it out to see Argo. I ended up spending most of the day lounging around under the covers.
I stocked up on my make-it-through-the-day V8s for school tomorrow. But - in a happy turn of events, I won the Broad Street Run's lottery and got a spot in the 10-mile race. So I have to adjust my fasting plans.
I could continue fasting until March 1st, then drop the fast for heavy training. I could adjust the fast, continuing to juice except before and after workouts. I could create a really mindful eating plan and turn the fast into a whole food, training combination that would last until the race. The last idea is inspired by Cris Sardo. Everything she eats is planned according to what her body will need for her workouts. I'm leaning toward that one . . .but still not totally sure what's going to happen next. So until then . . .happy fasting.
I stocked up on my make-it-through-the-day V8s for school tomorrow. But - in a happy turn of events, I won the Broad Street Run's lottery and got a spot in the 10-mile race. So I have to adjust my fasting plans.
I could continue fasting until March 1st, then drop the fast for heavy training. I could adjust the fast, continuing to juice except before and after workouts. I could create a really mindful eating plan and turn the fast into a whole food, training combination that would last until the race. The last idea is inspired by Cris Sardo. Everything she eats is planned according to what her body will need for her workouts. I'm leaning toward that one . . .but still not totally sure what's going to happen next. So until then . . .happy fasting.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Juice Fast 2013: Day 2
Tip #1: Definitely start a fast when you have no other obligations. I chose this weekend intentionally because I have 3 days to get over the initial side effects of fatigue, hunger, cotton mouth, and more! But conversely, the days are long. I get to spend all day thinking about not eating. It's rough. I went for a mile-loop again today to distract myself - and finally put away the Christmas tree. Thinking about going to see Argo tomorrow to lose time on Day 3. I also have to cover all my word wall words in contact paper since there is no convenient access to a laminating machine in my life.
It's amazing how life-consuming food can be. I still haven't decided the parameters of this food-experiment . . .so a pure fast is still in effect. Working my way through my pineapple - yum. I discovered the art of juicing the pineapple in chunks instead of spears. Less stringy build-up on the blade.
It's amazing how life-consuming food can be. I still haven't decided the parameters of this food-experiment . . .so a pure fast is still in effect. Working my way through my pineapple - yum. I discovered the art of juicing the pineapple in chunks instead of spears. Less stringy build-up on the blade.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Juice Fast 2013: Day 1
Since last year's fast I have remained vegan, gone to yoga at least once a week, and been a regular runner. When I started running, I was doing about a 15-minute mile and I was building up to a 5k. Now my fastest mile is under 11 minutes and my longest distance has been about 10.5 miles.
But after one too many nights of skipping a real meal in favor of a pretzel and a bag of chips, I decided I needed to revisit the fasting experience. Being a first year teacher has definitely taken a toll on the scale. I've gained 10 pounds since September, which means I'm starting the 2013 fast at 205 pounds. (Which is 65 pounds lighter than last year!)
I'm not calling this a 60-day fast. I'm open to the possibility of changing this to a juice "feast" - which would mean eating as many fruits and veggies as I want in addition to juicing. I'm not in the same place as I was last year, so I don't think my body needs the shock of a 60-day fast. And hopefully, I'll win a spot in this year's Broad Street Run. If that happens, I'll need to constinue running long distances regularly, so I may add some protein before and after runs. But until I decide exactly what I want to do, I'm fasting.
The most life-altering thing about last year's fast was the way I felt about food and the way I felt about my body post-fast. And that's what I'm trying to get out of this year's experience.
Today's menu looks very much like last year's Day 1. I started with my favorite - a pineapple-spinach-orange-strawberry juice. I also had a sweet potato-carrot-orange-cinnamon juice and a romaine-carrot-apple juice. Feeling tired, hungry, a little fuzzy, and debating whether or not to hit up yoga in the morning.
I did do a mile loop around Hackettstown tonight before the sun went down. It felt good to be outside, good to be using the juicer again, good to be back at the Farmer's Market.
But after one too many nights of skipping a real meal in favor of a pretzel and a bag of chips, I decided I needed to revisit the fasting experience. Being a first year teacher has definitely taken a toll on the scale. I've gained 10 pounds since September, which means I'm starting the 2013 fast at 205 pounds. (Which is 65 pounds lighter than last year!)
I'm not calling this a 60-day fast. I'm open to the possibility of changing this to a juice "feast" - which would mean eating as many fruits and veggies as I want in addition to juicing. I'm not in the same place as I was last year, so I don't think my body needs the shock of a 60-day fast. And hopefully, I'll win a spot in this year's Broad Street Run. If that happens, I'll need to constinue running long distances regularly, so I may add some protein before and after runs. But until I decide exactly what I want to do, I'm fasting.
The most life-altering thing about last year's fast was the way I felt about food and the way I felt about my body post-fast. And that's what I'm trying to get out of this year's experience.
Today's menu looks very much like last year's Day 1. I started with my favorite - a pineapple-spinach-orange-strawberry juice. I also had a sweet potato-carrot-orange-cinnamon juice and a romaine-carrot-apple juice. Feeling tired, hungry, a little fuzzy, and debating whether or not to hit up yoga in the morning.
I did do a mile loop around Hackettstown tonight before the sun went down. It felt good to be outside, good to be using the juicer again, good to be back at the Farmer's Market.
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