Pure. Earthy. Allure.

Fasting Chronicles Day 17: The day started off busy. The usual lunches, snacks and breakfasts, but right away I could tell the energy was not there. I think some of it has to do with knowing that this is almost over. I am not going to lie, I am looking forward to it ending. Many errands to run today, so I really need something to get me going. In addition to water, I decided to make coffee to take with me, so I can sip on it. So many stops to make. Health food store, grocery store, stationery store. I was so happy to come home throw myself on the sofa for literally 5 minutes, before starting work. While working and writing emails, I was clear in my thoughts and I felt I conveyed my messages very clearly. The information just seemed to flow and all I had to was type it. As weird as this experience might sound, it is an event many people who fast have confessed to. There is a common misconception that fasting only involves starving yourself and that it entails days and weeks of...

Fasting Chronicles Day 13: Started the day just lying in bed, conversing with the husband, about what else? How fasting makes us feel and that when you are in a long fast, you almost feel like you are in a world of your own. During this fast, I have not and am not getting together with friends, going out socially or anything which requires lengthy periods of concentration. It's not that my mind is not there, believe me, it is very much there, it is just that the energy required to do some of these is taxing. I get tired easily and I know to take care of myself, I need to do what I need to do for me. I have told my friends, and they all have understood. Came downstairs to get some water and season the chicken for tomorrow night's dinner. My balsamic vinegar water routine came and went several days ago. I no longer have it and I just have plain water. Tossing the seasoned chicken took a bit of effort. I had to take a break. Something which I could do with no problem, now took...

Fasting Chronicles Day 12: The day started out pretty emotional. A particular friend has been on my mind lately. I haven't spoken to her in several years, and I think it is time I made a call to her. Whether she will speak to me or not, I don't know, but I owe her and myself that call. Talking about the situation with my husband, I just cried and cried. It felt good to let out all those emotions I (guess) had been bottled up. I actually had a dream last night about this friend, and it brought everything to the forefront. I don't know if I had mentioned it in any of my previous posts, but I had broken out on my face, especially the cheeks. My skin definitely d oes not look like what I am used to. Anyway, daily care, my skin is starting to clear up. It looks pretty good. I also shaved my armpits (I usually keep winter pits - not shaved) but the odour is beginning to kill me and family slowly. I could not contain the smell as deodorant, tea tree oil, nothing has been wo...

Fasting Chronicles Day 11: The morning started with tears. Not for or about anything in particular, just tears that needed to be shed. I am purging, detoxing, cleansing, call it what you want and this process is not just physical, it is emotional. I figure these tears represented things I have inside that need to be released. I welcomed this emotion and I embraced it. My husband reminded me that not all tears are bad, and gave the example of someone who is really excited or surprised - tears of joy. I seized this feeling, allowed the tears to flow as they did and was ready to carry on with my day. You would think that after 4 children and having them in school for as long as they have been, I would be pretty proficient and efficient at preparing snacks and lunches. Nope. It still baffles me, confuses me, frustrates me, even at times, angers me. Not when I am fasting though. Oh no, when I am fasting, lunches, breakfasts, snacks and dinners are all on point. I am clear, I know what t...

Fasting Chronicles Day 9: The day started okay. Breakfasts, snacks, lunches and drop off. After, we made a quick stop to Bulk Barn, or what I imagined would be a quick stop. Conversation with the employees was a bit too long and I really started to feel the effects. I ended buying some teas (orange pekoe, peppermint, apple cinnamon and vanilla rooibos) . I could us e the variety and headed home. I didn't have the energy to make my tea and my husband ended making me two cups of mint tea. I feel awful. I already know how today is going to go and I just have to take it easy. It's funny, but during long fasts, a lot of bargaining with yourself goes on. Should I continue? Can I continue? Why am I continuing? Why am I even doing this? But in the end, you resolve to go on and take it day by day or if the body calls for it, you stop the fast altogether.         Tips for a successful fast: Fasting has a definite start and a definite end Drink wa...

Fasting Chronicles Day 8: It's a school day, so my day started a lot earlier than the weekend. At 5:45am my youngest son jumped into bed with me for cuddle time. While cuddling, I had to remind him that today was a school day. Lying down, you don't really feel the effects of the fast. It's not until you get up, that's when the body starts speaking. The start of the day was pretty good. Took a shower and got ready to greet the day. In the kitchen, I threw back a shot of vinegar water rather than sipping it and got to work on making breakfasts, snacks and lunches. I turned on the broth to warm up in the slow cooker and the thought of having broth today crossed the mind again. Anyway, I will continue to think about it. The plan this morning is to collect water from the spring, get eggs and prepare packages for shipping. I needed to do these things while my energy levels were still high. I dropped off the kids at school, while the husband got ready. I came back from t...

Fasting Chronicles Day 7: I thought I would have a hard time getting out of bed, as my stomach wanted to be funny. As I got out and completed my morning routine (face washing, brushing - I skipped the shower today), I felt much better but during brushing my upper back started acting up. Muscle pain seemed to come out of nowhere and it persisted for the rest of the day. I worked around it by making a mental to do list. Laundry needed to be done and I knew if I did not tackle it today, my week would be a wreck. I went downstairs and had water instead of my usual vinegar water. It was what my body was telling me it wanted. I proceeded to take the rest of the turkey that had been thawing in the fridge and shred it of it's meat and remove any stuffing left in it. I am making turkey broth soup for the husband, but I want to make sure there is as little meat on the bone as possible when I put it in the slow cooker. I don't want his body having to deal with trying to digest pro...

Fasting Chronicles Day 4: The morning started out well, although I didn't take a shower this morning. When you fast, once your body has depleted its glycogen stores, the body now looks for stored fats to get its energy from. These fats that the body is feeding off of, also helps in keeping the skin moisturized. Showering everyday will dry the skin, as it does not help the skin to retain its oils. Honey ginger vinegar water was the drink this morning. It actually took me longer to finish it as usual. The afternoon brought on a really good conversation with my husband on how food is a big part of peoples lives. He shared an experience that he entered the kitchen to do something and he thought he was in there for food. That's what stirred the conversation. Food plays such an important part of our lives and I don't really think we realize how much. Are you sad? Eat! Are you in mourning? Have something to eat! Got a new job? Let's celebrate by going out to dinner. Ha...

Fasting Chronicles Day 2: Woke up and had the energy to take a shower, before getting the kids up for school. Went down to the kitchen and had a shot of honey ginger diluted balsamic vinegar. To take my mind off the stress of deciding what was for lunch, I decided to drop off lunch for the kids. The weather is crap and would like to spend as much time off the roads as much as possible. Slowly feeling the fast set in, although nothing major. No headaches or dizziness. Effects many people complain of in the first few days of a fast. Rested for most of the day, although, I made a quick run to the grocery store again. Interesting thing about grocery shopping and when I fast. I find I am not as tempted to impulse spend, and pretty much stick to my list. Something which never happens when I am eating normally. My grocery items pretty much consisted of things that would make my fast easier. The last thing anyone fasting wants to do is to spend time in the kitchen, cooking an elaborate mea...

 Fasting Chronicles Introduction: Fasting is a great way to obtain mental clarity, spiritual awareness, physical strength, healing, fat and weight loss and detoxification of the body.  I normally fast throughout the year, and have made it a part of my wellness regimen. This month, I am embarking on a 19 day fast. I feel I need this fast for several reasons.  First, I have not worked out in a while. Now, a while for me is 4 weeks. I love working out and is definitely a part of who I am, so to not have done it for 4 weeks, is a bit out of the norm for me. I was also fasting for 3 days and off for 4 days, so I was maintaining myself like that.  Second, I am doing a competition in the summer and need to get the body ready.  If I went into the gym right now, that would just be more work to get my body into shape. This way, having fasted, I will shed a number of pounds before getting into the gym, and I can focus more on gaining muscle, rather than losing fat....