The Incredible Shrinking Professor

It's been a long time...

2009-04-08T15:47:00.002-04:00

I shouldn't a left you
without a dope ass blog to read to
think of how many days that I sped thru
not writin'
times up
sorry I left you

The weightloss journey continues in earnest
Some days I fell off
but then I tried my durndest
to stay on top of what I put in my mouth
this month is better than last
Last month my waist went
SOUTH

Haha yeah
but that shit ain't funny
all the good work I put into myself
got a little blurry
my schedule got busy
and my rules became lax
I started eating whatever I felt like
Like "I got this'
relax

The fact is:
Yes, my clothes still fit
but I should have been losing weight
not in a holding pattern dammit!
but I'm back on track
once again in control
let's just see how long it is
before I fall off
and have to roll
my fat ass up the hill
one mo' gin

I guess that's enough for now
until next time
friends

Eating food...but am I?

2009-01-28T15:28:00.003-05:00

So, I've come off the cleanse and I am proud of the fact that I am sticking to this 90% RAW FOOD diet. In many ways, it's great to eat again. Don't get me wrong - but I am not indulging in the things that one would assume I'd rush to after breaking the fast. I am trying to maintain the healthy lifestyle & momentum of the cleanse by choosing to ONLY eat:

Raw veggies (aka lettuce, spinach, broccoli, avocados)
Fruits
Nuts
Berries
Seeds
Vegetable Soup (This is the 10% part that's not raw)

I am still dropping pounds and reaping the rewards of clearer skin. I LOVE avocados. I don't like tomatoes. I miss mint chocolate chip ice cream. I still haven't had a Domino's sub. Since I'm eating I don't obsess over it anymore. LOL

I'm off to eat some trail mix...

Day 23 - My last day

2009-01-24T09:38:00.003-05:00

I am proud of the journey I have taken with the Master Cleanse. Tomorrow I will break my fast by drinking fresh OJ and eating home made veggie soup. I am excited and scared to eat. Isn't that wierd? I have a few books on raw foodism like the one in the pic above, that's really helping me focus on what I'm about to do next. I'll give more info on going raw as I feel confident and start learning.

What have I gained after 3 weeks of cleansing?

- Energy
- 20 pound weightloss
- Some devoted readers of my blog ;o)
- Clarity of thought
- The realization that I DO have control over what I eat
- The understanding that I do have discipline
- The confidence of knowing I can decline a social invitation around food & survive
- Blogging skills
- Clearer skin
- The ability to wear my clothes again

Thank you for reading this 23 Day journal of my MC. If you have questions, would like support or just want to discuss it - hit me up. I hope you keep reading as I embark on my next phase of reinvention: raw food.

Day 22 - my cleanse anniversary

2009-01-24T09:23:00.005-05:00

22 days. This is how long I did the cleanse my 1st time. I feel good, but I have to take a moment to gather all of my readers together to share some news: I am breaking the fast. Tomorrow.

No. Don't cray. Don't be sad. Don't call me a quitter (I'd like to see YOU go for 22 days). It's just that I know it;s time to end the cleanse. My body is telling me so. Usually, you can get over bored feelings with the eliminations you produce the next day. Those detox symptoms usually leave you, but not me. I've been feeling like I need to move back to eating and this morning I woke up and spent the larger part of the morning spitting up bile. Sorry if that's TMI - but I really feel like my body is trying to tell me something.

My plan: 90% raw 10% cooked soups. I will continue to blog about my healthy lifestyle and see if I can show folks how to do a healthy transition from the master cleanse to eating food again (albeit raw).

I don't feel bad about my decision. 40 days was a great goal, and who knows? I may achieve it on my next cleanse at the start of the summer (yes I will be doing it again). I plan to break my fast tomorrow on Day 23 with a nice glass of freshly squeezed OJ (no sugar and preservatives) and veggie soup (if I can keep it down).

So that's it. I know folks are reading this blog, and I hope you continue to read it as I take on my next challenge: going raw. My goal is to eventually transition from 90-10 to 100% raw. If I can do the MC I should be able to do this too ;o)

Day 21 - Bored

2009-01-24T09:18:00.003-05:00

I felt very bored by the cleanse today. I guess my thoughts towards raw food are waaaay more interesting than focusing on if I have enough lemons or maple syrup to make it through the next couple of days. I think today is a major detox day. It's 3 weeks on the cleanse and I feel like I have very little to celebrate!! Blah.

Day 20 - Cruise Control

2009-01-24T09:08:00.002-05:00

I can't believe I'm at Day 20. It's a really nice milestone to reach. I feel very good and I'm starting to think about how I will resume eating and what will change or be different. I an seriously considering a raw lifestyle. Basically raw is eating just that raw fruits, veggies, seed, nuts & sprouts. Sounds limiting but it's a helluva whole lot more to eat than just drinking lemonade. I am very interested in maintaining the wonderful health benefits that have come my way with the cleanse and I know I have alot of disciplining left to do when it comes to me & food. I think stepping into a mostly raw lifestyle will help keep me on the path as I continue to fall in love with myself and living a healthier lifestyle. I have been giving it a lot of thought because I know I can't very well go back to my old eating habits (nor do I want to). I say a mostly raw diet, because I'd like to include soup. I know you're thinking, you can;t include soup on a raw food diet? No. Anything cooked over 113 degrees is NOT considered raw. I could do a cold soup like cucumber soup - but I think that's disgusting!!

Day 19 - It's a beautiful day

2009-01-24T08:56:00.005-05:00

BARACK OBAMA is MY president! I am so thrilled today! I don't have words to express how much. I have been following politics closely for the past 3 years. I am proud to say I started to 'wake up' before this promising leader stepped on the scene. I was growing tired of the Bush administration and very excited by the opportunity to vote 2 years ago for new representation. I was hella excited when the Democrats regained control of the House in 2006 and kicked out so many ineffective Republican incumbents. It was a major shift for the American people. Folks came out in overwhelming numbers to show their disapproval. I realized there WAS hope for a change and people were mad enough to use their vote to do something about it(myself included). Then Barack came on the scene and my interest in politics not only grew, I listened and watched like it was my job. NPR (national public radio), MSNBC, conversations with family and friends, it all helped ignite my passion for political action. Now that my president has called on me to help in whatever ways I can - I will take up that charge. Gladly. For one of the first times in my adult life, I am proud to be an American.*

Day 18

2009-01-24T08:48:00.002-05:00

It was easy to cleanse today. I was too excited about Barack Obama to think about anything else. I am doing good with the LA Definitely in a rhythm now. I'm glad I didn't give into the Domino's sub craving that's been tormenting me. I am growing a little tired of the lemonade taste. I think I'll make a batch with limes instead of lemons tomorrow.

I'm down 3 more pounds & a couple of inches. My skinny jeans are now my semi-baggy jeans. I vow not to buy new clothes until the clothes I have are impossible to wear b/c they'll be too big.

2009-01-19T10:37:00.003-05:00

I feel wonderful today for so many other reasons aside from cleansing. It's Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday and tomorrow, Barack Obama will be sworn in as our country's 44th president.

MC websites & boards

2009-01-18T18:59:00.003-05:00

On my 1st MC I found MC message boards incredibly helpful. I just lurked on them. It was really helpful to read the stories of hundreds of other folks with the similar questions, eye opening experiences and folks ready to quit. With the world wide web, we truly are not alone. Check them out:

http://www.therawfoodsite.com/forum/
I spent a lot of time on this site. It was started by Peter Glickman, the author of the book I read.

http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/mb/lemonade
Visited here too. More of the same like the 1st website.

http://www.youtube.com/user/genipha4life
This is a video journal of a woman named Genipha on youtube. I found her video journal incredibly helpful. You can really see the changes in her face, weight, personality, etc. It's very inspirational. If you're thinking about doing the MC you should definitely watch some of her video clips.

Day 17 - Getting ready for another week

2009-01-18T18:28:00.008-05:00

My job has extended more dinner invitations to me in the next 3 weeks, than there will be people at the inauguration! (OK maybe not that many - but A LOT!!) I have repeatedly smiled and declined when invited, sharing that I am fasting, and thus, unable to dine out. Why oh why do they forget and keep re-inviting me?

*sigh*

I wish I could have dinner with Nikki Giovanni (guest speaker at my Univ. this week). I would love to eat at a couple of posh restaurants with my colleagues as we conduct a candidates search or even do lunch with them. Alas! So many social events revolve around food. Instead of putting myself in a position to fail, I choose not to - no matter how difficult.

I plan to have a serious health food coming out party on February 10 (last day of 40 Day fast)...or maybe February 13 (I should continue to drink liquids like OJ & soup when I break the fast). I have visions of a fruits, veggies, fruits and nuts. I have a sincere desire to eat healthy...except for that Domino's sub that is still in the back of my mind.

23 more days.

Thankfully, I'm in rehearsal for a play I'm directing, so I don't have to think about food much M-F, as I am so busy. It's all I can do to make a cup of LAX tea when I come home.

I am losing inches!! Clothes are very loose now and I am no longer scared of my closet. I stood in my closet today and looked at all the clothes I can't wait to donate!! I am ready for many changes. Hell! I would love for someone to nominate me for What Not to Wear as I am definitely in need of a fashion overhaul! (I can see Clinton & Stacy coming to my class right now...)

Well, I'm off to drink my LA slushy ;O)

Have a great week silent readers.

Day 16 - Not enough lemonade

2009-01-18T18:23:00.002-05:00

Today was hard. Igot a late start and ran out of supplies today, so I was only able to do 3 glasses of LA before I had to run out and get more. By the time I did that, got back and made more it was already 6pm!

Enter cravings.

By 6:30 I was ready to let all my hard work go down the drain. I went through all my cupboards looking for something...ANYTHING to justify breaking right there and then. I couldn't do it...although the multi grain spaghetti looked very tempting.

But I didn't break!!!!!!!!!!!!

I drank the LA (7 in total) and kept it moving.

I know the importance of drinking the lemonades early and often, but I was lazy. Never again. Cuz I don't think I can survive another night like last night.

Day 15 - In the zone

2009-01-16T11:52:00.004-05:00

I am down 16 pounds in 15 days. Nice. Feeling a little sluggish today but not as bad as yesterday. Wow. I am thankful those heavy detox days are only every couple of days because I truly was not myself yesterday. I'm on auto-pilot with the cleanse now. Preparing the LA is routine, knowing when to pick up lemons and syrup is second nature and it's getting easier to drink the SWF every morning. I can't wait to get to Day 20 when I will be halfway to my goal. That will be around the time people start telling me I'm crazy for continuing the fast & I need to stop. Someone asked the other day - "Why 40 days?" I answered "Because Jesus did it & that's who I want to be like." Needless to say, that was the end of that conversation.

Day 14 - 2 weeks already???

2009-01-15T20:23:00.005-05:00

Wow. Where does the time go when you're not eating food?

OK, so this was not the best day for me. I woke up at 6 with a bad headache. How do you wake up with a headache? I knew Day 14 would be tough because it's a major detox day. What's that? When you're cleansing, your body eliminates the toxins in cycles, so some days are very hard to get through like Days 1&2, Day 8, Day 14, etc. This is according to Peter Glickman's book, and I tend to agree.

So I woke up, and just started having one of those days. I dropped my phone. It was ok, but bruised. I was ambushed by a student trying to get in a class of mine, so naturally, I was late to my 1st class. I had meeting after meeting before my next class. Somewhere in the course of the afternoon, I got my phone wet (the lemonade bottle opened in my purse).
Damn, damn, damn!!!!
At least it's good to know my impulse to turn to food when stressed has been squashed. I know I can sip some mint tea and still go about my business. I hope tomorrow's a better day.

If you like what you're reading

2009-01-15T20:22:00.002-05:00

PLEASE comment!
Become a follwer...
Let me know I AM NOT ALONE!!!

Nah.
Seriously.
I'm lonely.

LOL

Day 13

2009-01-15T20:15:00.003-05:00

This entry is a day late - but have no fear! I am still cleansing. Yesterday was pretty good. I was really busy at work & rehearsal so I didn't have time to think about food. I actually think cleansing during rehearsal is beneficial. I have so much to lead as a director, I don't have time to think about that damn Domino's sub lurking in the back of my mind. (It's still there.)

Other than that, the SWF is getting easier to drink every morning. I hate the taste of it...but at least I don't gag when I drink it.

Day 12 - Alright now!

2009-01-13T18:08:00.002-05:00

I am on day 12 and I have no signs of stopping this fast!! I never thought going back to work would be a good thing, but since I'm cleansing - it's a Godsend. I have been so busy since I started back yesterday - it's all I can do to drink the lemonade. My weight is in a holding pattern due to mother nature, but I know I'll have a terrific loss in a few days.

I've talked to a few folks who really admire & respect what I'm doing - how refreshing.

Day 11 - Feeling great

2009-01-12T18:12:00.002-05:00

I started back to work today and I really appreciate being so busy & away from the TV. I was starting to doubt if I'd be able to swing the cleanse past Day 10. (Just read my recent post about wanting to break the fast.) But I think I'll be ok. I'm directing a play in the evenings, so all I want when I go home is my LAX tea. I also got my first compliment today. I walked into a colleagues office and he greeted me with "Hello Miss Skinny." I smiled broadly. Inside I was doing cartwheels. I also had a friend swear I got a facial because my skin is so bright. Nope just them lemons :O)

Day 10

2009-01-11T18:40:00.002-05:00

How I feel today: connected to the universe

weight 202

I don't know how I did it, but I made it to 10 days. I have been on top of my LA intake today and away from TV, so my cravings have been at a minimum today. Last night, I really thight it was over. But that's what this cleanse does, brings you to the edge & it's up to you to pull yourself back. I'm still losing weight, but I honestly don't care. I am more focused on just trying to put one day in front of another. Here's to Day 11.

Help! I'm going to cheat on my master cleanse!

2009-01-10T19:03:00.004-05:00

204 (holding)

It's Day 9 & I'm still here. Got 1/2 my LA intake to go. I've already drank 2 peppermint teas today (past my quota) I'm sure. I REALLY need to stop thinking about food. I think all the TV I watched today had something to do with it. I got tired of switching away from the endless food commercials, and I saw too many. Now I have visions of Domino's subs dancing in my head. GET IT OUT!!!!

Hahaha. Then I googled the following search: Help! I'm going to cheat on my master cleanse!
And visited this wonderful site.

I read helpful advice like:

"I hate to tell you this but...officially, those three little pretzels ended your cleanse. Once you eat something solid, even a piece of fruit, the body has to re-start digestion. The cleanse is broken. If you continue, you must continue as if you are starting on Day 1. If you choose to not continue, congratulate yourself, as we congratulate you, on a job well done for 9 days and then you can cleanse again later on for longer if you choose."

How ironic that I am on Day 9 & feeling like I want to break. Reading this means I need to be strong. Gonna go drink sum lemonade and repeat 'mental toughness' to myself 100 times.

How do you make the lemonade?

2009-01-10T11:55:00.008-05:00

I could tell you, but I'd rather stop here and encourage you to pick up one of these books & learn for yourself. The Burroghs book (yellow) is the original, the Glickman book is the same information updated & includes testimonials. I use Glickman. If I told you how it';s made, yes you'd know that, but you wouldn't truly understand what you were doing and WHY. The Peter Glickman book really helped me on my 1st cleanse. It was a friend when I needed it, a voice of reason when I wanted to be completely unreasonable, and a great resource when I got lazy, tired or just plain ol' wanted to break the fast.

Proper preparation for this cleanse includes a willingness to comply completely with the instructions in the Master Cleanse book and the mental/emotional readiness to commit to at least 10 days of totally abstaining from solid food.

It is extremely helpful for you to insure in advance that you have sufficient supplies (lemons, maple syrup, cayenne, pure water, herbal laxative tea and sea salt) to carry you through to the end...It's also good to include as much fruit and raw veggies in the diet for a week or so prior to starting, which will help immensely in reducing the intensity of the initial detox symptoms; as will eliminating processed foods, refined sugars, hydrogenated fats, meats and concentrated proteins as much as possible.

Of primary significance is the realization that this cleanse will be made much easier if you are willing and able to change your way of thinking. If you think you'll fail, you will probably fail and the reverse is also true; if you think you'll succeed your chances of successfully completing this cleanse will greatly improve. Think thin, not fat; think strong, not weak. By remaining positive you will prove to yourself and to others that you are a victor, not a victim. Post notes throughout your house and workplace stating "I CAN DO IT!"

<><>Your relationship with food will be seriously challenged while doing the MC/Lemonade Diet, so be prepared for that. Learn to distinguish between real physical hunger and emotional/mental appetites and cravings. When tempted to cheat, just say NO! then have a sip of lemonade, busy yourself with some positive task, go for a walk, anything to take your mind off eating solid food. AND, rest assured the lemonade formula supplies all your nutritional needs throughout the course of this cleanse. So it really boils down to a "mind over matter" thing.

Things I learned on my 22 Day cleanse

2009-01-10T11:26:00.004-05:00

1. Measure, measure, measure!

It will help keep you honest and it's a great habit to get into as far as portion control goes, when you start eating foods again. I religiously measured out everything & it was a big help.

2. Find tools/cups that make prep easy

On my 1st cleanse I has a juicer that sucked, the sticky lemon juice & seeds would get everywhere. This time around I found a much beter juicer.
My 20 oz water bottle that I used for lemonades was horrible my 1st time. It was too small and the lemonade, maple syrup & water would spill on the counter, on the sides of container, etc. it was very messy. This time around I found the right bottles: 32 oz & 72oz containers, and I use this to ease up on a messy, sticky countertop.

3. Carry peppermint tea with you

You never know when you might have to be social (at least you can drink your tea)
It also helps with breath odor.

4. Experiment with drinking the SWF

Some folks say drink cold, others say heat it up.
I have found it easier to drink my second time around but I hate the taste.
Remember, for the SWF (salt water flus) it's 2 teaspoons of non-iodized sea salt, not 2 tablespoons! Folks make that mistake alot.

Master Cleanse -- TIP

2009-01-10T11:15:00.005-05:00

Drink your lemonade!!

After you've been cleansing for a while, your appetite really does shut off (as hard as that may be to believe). Make sure you get in your 6-12 LAs (lemonades). If you don't you may find yourself suffering through unwanted fantasies of breaking the fast & cravings. If you stay on top of your LA intake you can avoid this all together.

So drink up!

Day 8 - Happy & Cold

2009-01-09T13:06:00.007-05:00

weight 204

It's the afternoon and I've only had my SWF (salt water flush - 32.oz spring water & 2 teaspoons of non-iodized sea salt). I don't feel hungry at all, but I know from experience that I need to drink the lemonade - otherwise I'll have cravings in a few hours.

I made the LA with limes yesterday & then put it in the freezer until it was a slushy. It was SO good! Gonna do that again today. I don't know if it was because the taste of the limes is different or what, but it tastes great.

The weight is coming off. I'm averaging a pound a day & feel SO much better in my clothes. I plan to throw up some before photos to track my journey. I can already see my skin improving. It's clearer & brighter - I can only imagine what it'll look like in 32 days.

Finally, it's 80 degrees in my apt. but I have chills! I'm not complaining. I know my body is detoxing and it could be worse, I could be getting hot flashes or something. I hate being hot.

2nd entry: It's later in the day and I slept most of the day. I wasn't feeling energetic. I curled up with my cat Tyson & woke up 5 hours later. In Peter Glickman's book, he talks about Day 8 being a major detox day. I agree. I am not hungry, I'm...just...slow. Gonna go make my "dinner" - 30oz. of lemonade & a cup of mint tea (yum!)

Day 7 - Who want what?!!

2009-01-08T19:13:00.000-05:00

weight: 206

You ever wake up & just feel amazing! I mean jump out of bed like "Who want what?!!" That's me today. I've had great mental clarity all day. No intense food cravings like yesterday (thank you!!!) I just feel good.

I made a 72 oz. bottle of lemonade today since I went into the office. It was nice to see how easy it was to prep & go. I did the whole thing in under 3 minutes in a cooking show segment to my cat Tyson. (I have a kitchen with an open wall, so it's easy to play to a captive audience of one.)

I am alive, alert, awake, enthusiastic & motivated! Love it.

Day 6 - Visions of BREAKING the fast

2009-01-08T08:28:00.000-05:00

weight: 209

Today was mentally tough for me. I had visions of breaking the fast between the hour of 12:00 - 1:00 am. Somehow I rationalized if I eat it won't count. (Yeah right!) I've tried to start the cleanse a few times after my first successful fast for 22 days and I always broke it after 3 or 4 days. Last night I was determined not to let ~~all of my hard work~~ 5 days go to waste.

So, I remembered how bad I felt after breaking:

- Regretful & Sad
- I didn't even like the bad food I was eating
- Like a failure & wanting to eat more as a result

What wasn't I doing enough of to trigger these bad feelings? Drinking my LAs (lemonades). When my cravings started to hit hard, I realized I was than 1/2 through my LA quota for the day & needed to catch up. I CHUGGED my lemonade hoping it would kill my cravings...Nope. I was having visions of craisins & walnuts by now. Haha. So I made my Laxative tea, sipped & went to bed.

As result of the fast, I've discovered the joy of the Internet and doing work I've procrastinated on (what else is there to do right?) LOL

Day 5 - Gold for Maple Syrup

2009-01-07T08:37:00.000-05:00

weight: 210

Pound by pound, I'm getting this weight down! I feel really good today. I woke up with a clear mind and lots of energy. Energy to do some of the things I've always meant to do, but never had the time for. For instance, I've always wanted to see what I could get for gold jewelry that I have & don't wear. Today I gathered it all up, went to a local jewelry store that advertised buying gold & and traded in what I had. I got over $160 for stuff I had for years!

Then I went to the grocery store and stocked up on...Grade B organic maple syrup. Anyone doing the Master Cleanse knows how important it is to always have this stuff in stock. I bought a couple of 32 oz. bottles @ $15 ea. (expensive right!!) But well worth it. I also scooped up some limes in addition to organic lemons.

I feel so wonderful today. The horrible bloated feeling I had a week ago is GONE! I can actually walk past my closet and know by next week not only will I be wearing my clothes again, I may be swimming in some of them. Yeah! I said it.

Another thing I was meaning to do that I finally did - I bought 2 inexpensive video cameras. I plan to use them to document a class I'm teaching this spring ~~AND create a vlog (video blog) of my weight loss journey~~ see what else I can do with it. I know this will keep me motivated and in the future, hopefully it will help & inspire others considering a similar path.

stay tuned....

Day 4 - Principles to fast by

2009-01-07T08:29:00.000-05:00

weight: 211

Today was very good. No headaches to speak of. I felt energized and did a lot of work around the house - cleaning, organizing and just taking the time to think about things my mind normally pushed to the side. I did want to eat some things today - but it was more because my mind kept playing the idea of getting in my car and going to Popeye's over and over. Argh! After a while, I jumped online to view before and after pictures of folks who fasted and came across a few interesting websites having to do with fasting. I really liked the site fastin g.ws because it reminded me that I am not alone on this crazy Master Cleanse journey.

Some key tips on fasting that I think make a lot of sense:

1. Do Not Advertise Your Fast

When you make your fast public, you will set yourself up for failure and disappointment. Most people will believe that you are crazy. You look as if you have AIDS! Are you under a doctor’s supervision? You’re going to become protein deficient! If you do not fear fasting, they will supply all the fear you need, and the last thing you need on a fast is fear. It can defeat us before we start or cause us to quit when victory is hours away. If you tell everyone you are going on a 30-day juice fast, you will also feel really bad if you only make two days. Tell one or two people who understand and are willing to support you. Once you get your first fast down pat then be bold for the second fast.

2. Mental Relaxation

Mental relaxation is done through deep relaxed breathing. If you are distracted by sounds that cannot be silenced, use some earplugs. Do not fight with your thinking; just let it go and return to focusing on the one single thought. Stay aware of your breathing and the tension in your body. Breathe deeply and try to relax your muscles. If you can spend 20 minutes of time in relaxing your mind each day, you will be more at peace throughout the day. If you lie on a bed, you will most likely fall asleep. Sitting upright in a chair is good. I prefer kneeling on a cushion and leaning over a chair or my bed as in a position of prayer.

3. Walk in Nature

On a fast, walking in nature is an awe-inspiring experience. It is like seeing for the first time. Colors are alive and vibrant. The skin tingles with a breeze. Clear sinuses detect the most delicate fragrance. Unlike draining electronic TV imagery, connection with nature brings peace to the soul. Even in the worst time, a good walk can bring a sense of balance to chaos.

4. Take a Phone Break

I find it almost impossible not to answer the phone. I always think every call is important and to take the phone line out of the wall is being totally irresponsible. The world clamors for our attention and so to get time uninterrupted, you have to push for it.

5. Sleep

The first few days of a fast your body will want to sleep a lot. Most of us live on the edge, rarely getting enough sleep. During a fast, the body demands more sleep as part of the healing process. Do not ignore it. Take time just to laze around and nap. Pretend you are on vacation. Don’t feel guilty; you are healing. The most vivid dreams are during fasting.

6. Avoid Social Occasions

Birthdays, parties and gatherings always have food and the pressure to eat. I have broken many a fast overestimating my will power and underestimating the power of temptation and pressure.

Day 3 - Feel good? Check. Got friend's dog? Check.

2009-01-05T11:05:00.000-05:00

Today I woke up and got dressed and picked up my friend's dog Jack. Jack and I headed over to my university's college campus to go for a walk. We walked the 5K trail. He was a great walking buddy. He walked off leash 10 ft. ahead of me - always glancing back to make sure I was there & OK. He kept a great pace. We ended our walk with a peaceful rest in the middle of a soccer field. It was picturesque, relaxing and beautiful. I can't wait to it again (neither can Jack).

I had 6 lemonades today, 1 cup of peppermint tea, the SWF and lax tea. I need to drink more water!!! Will start tomorrow. The scale read 210 today. A 5 lb loss (all water I'm thinking).

In the evening my headache came back again. I wonder what it is about that time of day that's triggering my toxin release. Anyway, the headache was much shorter & I didn't feel compelled to take multiple showers. I did decide to put music in my bathroom. I figure I'll be spending a lot of time there taking showers & relaxing baths instead of eating food, so why not make it pleasurable?

Day 2 - The pain will be worth it

2009-01-05T11:00:00.000-05:00

Today was fine...up until the evening. I started to get a bad headache. I took a total of 4 showers in 3 hours to try to alleviate the pain. It worked, I had cravings a couple of times for food - but it was more because I knew the food was in my pantry & fridge. What did I do? Gave the food to my neighbor. Out of sight, out of mind & I did not waste it.

I drank 6 lemonades & according to the scale I'm down 1lb (215).

I know this is just the beginning...

Day 1 - 2009 is mine

2009-01-05T10:44:00.000-05:00

I weigh 216 pounds. Sad but true.

And while I managed to maintain my weight loss from my 1st master cleanse in March 2008 for most of the year; unfortunately, during the holidays everything went south or...east and west depending on your perspective.

I am grateful for the new year and doing another cleanse. I want the physical, mental and spiritual benefits that the cleanse gives. I'm ready to go the distance.

On my 1st cleanse, I did it for 22 days. 10 days is the minimum, but I felt so good doing it I stayed on for another 12 days.

This time my goal is 40 days.

The Master Cleanse Diet is a fast during which no solid food is consumed.

This is the book I read to keep me on the straight & narrow during the cleanse. It is full of guidance, advice & testimonials to help get you through.