My Beautiful JuiceFest/Fast Day #3
It’s not exactly
a juice kind of day…It’s been pouring out all. day. long. And I am cold. And hungry. I’m starting to really want food. Grilled salmon for example. That’s sort of a good sign, right? I’m not craving anything junky or non-foodlike.. I’m craving a little protein and fat.. maybe the omega 3’s? Anyways, the point is moot because when I ask myself if I really want to break the juice fast, the answer is that I don’t. I want to keep going.
I have been surprisingly free of most detoxification symptoms. I’m not a big caffeine addict. I gave up coffee over a year ago because I gave up the dairy that was the entire reason for the coffee (coffee was simply a vehicle for the cream for me). Green tea is something I put in my mug most mornings but don’t love enough to drink much of. It sits there and gets cold almost always. So, no big caffeine headaches this week for me.
I’ve made sure to drink lots of water in addition to the 64-80 ounces of juice I’m drinking daily.. lots of flushing action. Plus I mix some coconut water into my juice concoctions for the electrolytes and just because I like it. All of this has made a big difference, have had no symptoms other than feeling hungry. Which I am.
Today I departed from my standard green juice recipes and decided to use the rhubarb in our garden that is so abundant this time of year. Rhubarb is really tart and needs to be offset with sweeter fruit, which is why you always see it mixed with strawberries in pies and cobblers. I decided to juice it with watermelon, cucumbers, celery and some romaine. The rhubarb is so fibrous and stringy that it started to jam my juicer.. not sure why the celery never does that they seem similar in texture. Loved this..but seemed so summery that wished I was drinking it on a sunny day in my backyard instead of inside on during a torrential downpour.
IntuitiveBody Watermelon Rhubarb Juice:
*Use organic produce as much as you can
2 cucumbers, peels on
1 bunch celery
1 small head romaine
6 stalks rhubarb
1 small personal size watermelon, minus rind
It’s always interesting to me the beautiful gifts that we get when we lean into the “hard” thing that we’ve been avoiding.. the thing we know we need to do, and yet are afraid to do. That very thing that you know in your heart will set you free, and yet you continue to avoid or ignore or minimize.. that’s the thing that will light you up.. but pretty much every single time.
I’m not saying that three days of drinking juice is a miracle. Believe me, I’m not saying anything like that. What I am saying is that when we are uncomfortable enough about something that it gets our attention on a regular basis, and continues to whisper to us to take action, to do something, to make a change, to pay attention.. and we don’t… it’s painful.. so painful. It takes SO much more energy to not take the action, to continue on as we are. Switching things up, taking the plunge, facing the thing that we think we can’t do and yet know will change things in some helpful positive essential way.. is so much easier. The minute we commit to the harder thing something shifts and we feel the support coming in to meet us.
Releasing some addictive eating patterns, putting some very clear boundaries in place (as in juice-only.. that’s pretty clear, right?) is hard, it definitely is. But not as hard as slogging through another day feeling stuck, sluggish, allergic and frustrated with myself for not sustaining more pristine self-care. That was much harder.
What are you not doing because you’re worried that it will be too hard? Maybe afraid that you’ll fail and then feel even worse? Email me and tell me what’s on your mind, that you wish you were doing more of, or that you wish you were doing less of and let’s talk. I promise I’ll have some ideas for you that you can use right away.
Much love from my heart to yours..
Theresa | The Tarot Lady says
I love reading about juicing and raw food adventures. I am not ready to take the plunge and try this yet – I love to cook and chew food – but at some point, I may give it a whirl. Hearing about how great others feel after doing it is inspiring!
Lisa says
hi Theresa.. I love to chew too.. missing it right about now, but feeling happy about the commitment I made. Love to you- Lisa
Teresa says
Well, juicing is definitely not one of those things calling to me and I’m not resisting it … but other things I have been resisting are starting to get some traction….
I’m thinking solidly about, and beginning to write, a book. As I’ve promised myself always, it won’t *just* be a book, but it’s kind of a relief to be thinking in terms of book rather than the unknown. Freeing, really. Even with the huge sense of responsibility it brings.
Lean in. That’s how we get there.
Hugs and butterflies,
~Teresa~
Lisa says
Teresa.. definitely.. leaning into whatever it is.. facing the call that you intuitively know is for you is the big deal.. my body was calling to me.. juice was just the easiest vehicle right now. Write the book.. it’s an amazing discipline and gift to yourself and others.. I did it a few years ago and it was worth it.
Love to you, Lisa
Dana Lisa Young says
I’ve been interested in doing more juicing, but know that I don’t have the stamina for a juice fast. What was so interesting to me is that here I was, reading about juicing and then it turned into something that moved me more deeply about working through the difficult stuff, and our resistance, in order to manifest change. Thank you for that.
Lisa says
Dana.. thank you for being moved.. i knew that the juicing would just be the platform for everything else that would come up once I drew the line in the sand..and just for the record.. not sure we ever know what we have the stamina for until we start but understand this is not the right choice for everyone and I don’t recommend it unless somebody is really interested in it for themselves.
Blessings, Lisa
Lisa says
I’ve done the whole gammut of cleansing and juicing, so I related. The one thing I stop myself from doing is a regular yoga practice. I do worry it will be too hard, since I’m already busy, already have a workout program, already have spiritual practice, etc. See, my excuses. Yet, yoga helps when I do it. I feel more energized. Thanks for the questions…helpful to get me out of ego.
Lisa says
Hi Lisa! I love hearing somebody else’s excuses about yoga..it’s something that’s so good for me and yet I struggle to get there and have written blog posts devoted to the struggle in hopes of out-ing my own craziness.. and yet. I do believe that the juice or the cleanses aren’t worth much without the supportive spiritual daily practices, for me.. The juice for me is just the platform, that quiets everything down and lends a little simplicity to my life for a bit..
xox
Lisa
Marita Rahlenbeck says
I would never have thought that a blog about a juice fast could have so much outright WISDOM hidden inside it! Wow, girlfriend. Amazing.
This gem: What are you not doing because you’re worried that it will be too hard? Maybe afraid that you’ll fail and then feel even worse?
at the very end…is it for me!
Lisa says
Hi Marita..thank you so much.. so nice. I am noticing that simplicity and a lot less food open my intuitive channels and lead to a fair amount of clarity this week. It doesn’t surprise me but the experience of it has been wonderful.
Love to you..
Lisa
Hilary Parry | Tarot by Hilary says
“The minute we commit to the harder thing something shifts and we feel the support coming in to meet us.”
I completely agree! What is so wonderful about this post is that it extends so far out from simply a juicing diet, fasting, nutrition, etc. It tells us that if you do make the effort in something that you find difficult or a challenge, the Universe finds ways to meet you halfway or offers up support that you didn’t think you had available. Excellent post!
Lisa says
Thanks Hillary..have loved the process so far, not the hunger so much, but definitely the process!!
Love to you-
Lisa
Amy Zellmer says
I am always so envious of those who can follow juice/raw/vegan lifestyles and give themselves dicipline to stick to it. I feel so overwhelmed cooking a hotdog for dinner, let alone something more involved. You go girl, proud of you!!!
Lisa says
hey Amy! I am not sure this is about discipline or even that any of us has more of it than others.. for me it’s been more about timing, intuition, trust… and some other good things. If you lived nearby I would come knock on your door and bring you something better than a hotdog for dinner!!
Love and xox
Lisa
Inga Deksne says
Thanks Lisa for sharing your experience. I was curious and read your Day 1 and Day 2. Your juice recipes sounds very tasty and I will try them out.
I can relate to many things in your story, when I tried to eliminate cakes and pastries from my every day menu, my mind persuaded me that “this is going to be the last cake and I will start cake free diet from the following day”, as you may guess the following day never came.
I love this part “…The minute we commit to the harder thing something shifts and we feel the support coming in to meet us.”
I’m looking forward to reading how your juice fast adventure continues.
I think it’s a very brave decision to do it for 10 days, I will try to do it for a day as soon as I move into a new house, it will be very symbolic new house, new healthy lifestyle.
Lisa says
Hi Inga.. I very much understand those moments and it’s tricky when setting an intention. When we are angry with ourselves and vow not to do something “ever again” it’s not as powerful,it’s not coming from a place that’s clear or grounded.. it’s more reactive and it doesn’t stick. When we create an intention from a more inspired place, when we have a vision and a desire for something and can feel it calling to us we can make the decision and move towards it with more commitment and likely success.
Starting with a day is a great idea.. love that, let me know how it goes!
Love,
Lisa
Bri Saussy says
Love this Lisa-juice sounds amazing and I want some right now!
Lisa says
Bri.. you know I would be there with glorious green juice on a tray just for you if Massachusetts and Texas were remotely closer together.. someday! Love to you my friend.. xox Lisa
Courtney Weber says
I’m a big proponent of fasting. I’ve previously done them yearly and with good results. I normally end up craving that which I need more of in my daily life. I didn’t fast this year, but I might do another one next year!
Lisa says
Courtney.. would love to know more about your fasting practices.. what you like about them and how you’ve benefited. Love to you.. xox Lisa
Sammi Johnson says
I really applaud your dedication into this Juicefest. Good luck on this healthy process, Lisa. Thanks for sharing the Rhubarb Juice ingredients, who knows I might have to try that one. Xoxo
Lisa says
Hey Sammi.. thanks so much..the rhubarb was fun b/c it was growing right in my yard although so stringy that it wasn’t the greatest for juicing.. loved the pink color though.. Love to you, Lisa