Day 26

Didn't make it to the blog yesterday- apologies if you checked in. My day got away from me.
I'm happy to say that I'm down to 232.6 pounds this morning, a loss of 27 pounds. Clothes are beginning to become more of an issue, but I'm really trying to hold out on buying any new clothes until I'm done with the fast entirely. If I bought anything else now it would likely fit for a month and then I'd have to donate it. That's a good problem to have as I see it though.

I'm finding that as I get deeper into this, and closer to my goal, the fast is getting easier and easier. The first weeks were very tough with my body adjusting to the diet and re-formatting itself to burn fat instead of calories. Now that I have my juice plan under control and am no longer subjecting myself to tweaks and changes, it's getting much easier. There's a lot to be said for consistency. And it is really nice not to have to spend gobs of time every day preparing for the following day. I am spending less than 5 minutes a day on food preparation, which now basically involves pouring my Naked juice and heating up chicken broth. The low maintenance of this diet makes it ideal. I can focus my attention elseware.

I am still hungry often, but it is not the dominating force that it used to be. My brain has been re-trained with new habits that reflect my fast, and I easily refuse any food temptations now. In fact, I have come to enjoy smelling food without ingesting it, so I can still enjoy what is being cooked, or what's being served up at a restaurant without participating in the eating part. Kind of weird, I know, but it's working for me so I'm sticking with it! The hunger that I do feel is small, constant, and in the background for the most part. Just like a small constant pain, you forget its there after a while. I think in another way, this is good training for me for after my diet as well. I will be much more able to stop myself from eating too much or from responding to cravings for foods that smell good before it's too late. I think people call this manifestation of one's will "self-discipline" if I'm correct?

As I approach the half-way marker next week I am beginning to turn my attention to how I will continue on in a healthy life style after the fast ends. I have to make a lot of mental changes to avoid returning to my old habits. This will be a new lifestyle for sure. I would love to hear from anyone else that has had success in this area... What changes did you have to make? How did you balance your lifestyle change with the occasional splurge? Shoot me an email if you like.

In celebration of this new season in my life:

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

² a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
³ a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
⁴ a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
⁵ a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
⁶ a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
⁷ a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
⁸ a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

If I might add for myself:

a time to be fat, and a time for being healthy.


~Until tomorrow