and did okay. It actually wasn't as terrible as I thought it would be. And yes, I even juiced some beets along the way. Had to buy a new juicer though...the old one finally died.
I don't think I had the amazing results that you read about when you research a juice fast. I'd already dropped the initial water weight you get with any dietary changes. I did lose 7 more pounds, but quickly put back on 3 of those when I started eating again. But I lost those 7 pounds in 7 days and still ate my favorite Chipotle meal (yes, w/guac & chips) 3 times in those 7 days.
Here's a few things I learned:
1. Your stomach shrinks very quickly on a juice fast. With each attempt to eat Chipotle, I could eat less and less & took the leftovers home to my 7 year old that now loves the veggie burrito bowl, guac & chips!
2. When you've fasted and your system is empty, if you put something into your body to which you are sensitive...your body will purge itself very quickly and thoroughly! 'Nuff said! (BTW, I will be very cautious about how much soybean oil I ingest from now on.)
3. While I did struggle with fatigue during the day & was completely ready for sleep by 10 p.m. each night, I woke each morning between 6-6:30 a.m. with energy and a readiness to get going on whatever needed to be done.
4. It's very difficult...but possible to shop & cook for your family when you are the only one on a juice fast.
5. When you're drinking veggie & fruit juices all day long, you really don't crave sugar!
6. When you haven't had coffee (of course I only drink decaf!) for 10 days and try to go back...even loaded with coconut milk, white chocolate mocha (that's not dairy free!) & Torani syrup...it just tastes plain awful! My normal mug which is probably a good 16 ounces didn't even get 1/2 drunk!
7. When you haven't had processed refined sugars for 3 weeks and only natural sugars found in veggies & fruits for 7 days, one chocolate chip cookie can give you a massive sugar high!
8. It is possible to eat well at a pitch in when you've realized how great it feels to be meat & dairy free!
9. When ending your fast, you really should follow the advice of others and only eat raw foods for 1/2 the number of days that you juice fasted. Cooked foods really slow down your digestion after a fast and sit like a brick in your gut.
Did I get all the benefits of a juice fast? Probably not. I know I didn't do it long enough to rid my cells of the extra fat they contain. But the amazing energy that I now have was a great byproduct and I'm thankful I did it. My biggest hurdle, was that I mentally couldn't fathom continuing the fast through Thanksgiving. I really didn't relish the thought of explaining to extended family why I was juicing for food. I set myself up for failure by thinking that I'd have to stop fasting for the holiday & not be able to eat raw while away from home. So for now, I'm trying to hold steady, eating the vegan way & I think the weekend after Thanksgiving, I start giving it another chance. Now that I know what to expect, there is no all day commitments to interfere and no birthdays/holidays for 3 weeks, I really think I could go longer, exercise more and enjoy the process instead of dreading it. Stay tuned...we'll see!
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