Food?!

I am eating real food! 

Well, it may not be real by normal people standards but I can sure tell you it feels real to me after two and a half days of fasting.

I’m feeling a whole bunch of other unexpected things as well. On day four:

-I woke up with the aftertaste of Billy Goat Supreme. A sign it’s the day to start eating again.

-Having tangy things like lemon juice feels like putting my throat through electrotherapy.

-I feel like I’m moving slowly, but more clearly. I think the speed to clarity ratio will balance out after lunch.

-I’m releasing a lot of snot….and other things.

-I’m beginning to understand what hungry is.

Part of my apprehensions as I entered into this cleanse had been related to the confidence I have in assessing my own body. How will I know if things are changing?! Perhaps it is the fiery Saggitarrian in me but I tend to get mentally wigged out if something new isn’t feeling dramatically new. However, this radar for “BIG” indicators constantly has me overlooking “BIG” indicators.

Three days sounded itsy bitsy to me. It wasn’t.  And the week to follow sounds like a synch. Veggies? Ha! I laugh in the face of Veggies! Hahahaha! Translation being, Lion King reference aside, I eat a lot of veggies. How will this week be any different.

These blinders I put up have allowed me, for better or worse, to launch into a myriad of new endeavors because its only after I’m in them that I start to consider the full scope of what it required me to do to get here. Its like a delayed pat on the back from a preoccupied parent. “Oh! Oh my, dear! The house is looking gorgeous! When did you do that?”

Its not that I don’t read about what I’m launching into. Its just that I don’t do a lot of mental preparation. Mostly, my outlook is “well, if its gonna happen, its gonna happen.” Like I said, I need things to hit me BIG.

So now on day four, I am gradually starting to appreciate the scope of this contract I’ve signed onto. Almost as though unbeknownst to myself, I have cut out Coffee, Honey, Apples, figs, my daily Kombucha fix, hot sauce and baking endeavors. And those are just what normally make up the staples of my life. A more comprehensive understanding of what I’ve cut out is actually expressed better by what I’m still allowed to have.

A la the guidelines of Candida, I am to consume only items from the following menu for the next week:

Veggies:

Artichokes

Asparagus

Avocado

Beet Greens (the beets are too starchy)

Broccoli

Brussel Sprouts

Cabbage

Cauliflower

Celery

Collard Greens

Cucumber

Dandelion Greens

Eggplant

Endive

Garlic (raw)

Green Beans

Kale

Kim Chi

Leeks

Lettuce (all)

Okra

Onions

Radish

Sauerkraut (raw)

Seaweed

Snow pea pods

Spaghetti Squash

Spinach

Summer Squash

Swiss Chard

Zucchini

Herbs and spices/Seasoning

Basil

Black Pepper

Cayenne

Cilantro

Cinnamon

Cloves

Cumin Curry

Dill

Garlic

Ginger

Nutmet

Oregano

Paprika

Rosemary

Tarragon

Thyme

Tumeric

Sea salt

Lemon juice

Oils

Virgin Coconut oil

Olive oil

Going into this, I wasn’t thinking how much that meant I would actually be cutting out. But it really is a lot for my body to be letting go of. I am sure I’m in store for something BIG.

9:20pm

I am feeling more patient and alert with people. However, my muscles are moving in slow motion. I am going to have to learn the meaning of taking it easy.

Also, at this point in the day, I seem to take a 180 from the earlier parts of the day. Why am I doing this? How is this good for the soul? Damn, even those oreo cupcakes look good right now.

I am foreseeing that this is not my style. I think the drastic difference that a month without sugar will make will be wonderful. But I don’t think its going to make me make me cut anything out completely. Its all about moderation. I am just never going to use the holidays as an excuse to put that by the wayside anymore. And I’m going to keep a more varied active life.

Also, while I vouch to stick out this month, I have reached the first line I will not cross. Tonight was supposed to be my first dreaded “liver detox” drink. Just thinking about it had me squirming all evening, not wanting to arrive home. The concoction consists of a cup of water (my new best friend), a small chunk of ginger (okay, a little zesty) a tablespoon of oil (that sounds slimy….) and a clove of Garlic (yes, that magical cleansing pearl of a bulb that makes me absolutely nauseous). In my anxiety over the garlic, I overcompensated a bit on the ginger. It’s amazing how a cup of water can look so small by itself but poured into a glass with these guys, its like someone asking you to drink a gallon of milk. I got three sips in.

 So. Dear Liver, I love you. I understand you are a vital organ that works day and night to put all my nutrients in check and do some fab internal housekeeping. But really, your going to have to find another favorite food. I take you out to eat at some pretty great places. I think you will find, over time that the properties you so admire in garlic can be obtained in a number of alternative ways. And I promise to give you hugs and praise every day. Love is all about connection, not food - right?

So lessons learned today:

-There is nothing I won’t crave after like, 6pm.

-Liver drinks, be gone

-don’t take this so seriously and you’ll get through it