I've finally cracked!
Its the 16th day of the "fast , otherwise known as the "lemonade" cleanse, and Ive finally cracked! Im sitting here, chomping my way through a jar of raw cashew nuts!!
Follow your instincts
"What happened to your resolve?" I hear you ask, or maybe like most of my friends, you think that its about time that I stopped this fast. To be honest, it felt as though my body was saying "enough is enough!" Last night I felt cold, tired and not at all well. I put it down to a new herbal laxative tea that Id tried and which was having a noticeable effect on my insides! It wasnt funny, I can tell you! So last night I followed my instincts and I treated myself to a hot bath and a couple of small bowls of homemade chicken broth (from the freezer)...and I felt much better.
Comfort Food
This morning, after a good nights sleep, I thought that I was feeling OK. Then I burst into tears at the words of a beautiful email , and have felt exhausted for most of the day. I had my usual "lemonade " for lunch. Then this afternoon I succumbed to chicken stock/soup. Delicious!
And now Ive simply given in to the lure of the raw cashew nut! It will be interesting to see if I feel better or worse as a result. Clearly, I needed some food to "comfort" myself.
Emotional Detox
Of course, Im not really telling the whole story here. Whilst I was clearing the "clutter" in my body, I 've also been exploring my emotional balance. Ive been working with an amazing lady called Josephine Airns. Josephine does Resonance Repatterning. In other words, she looks for the conscious and unconscious blocks to my natural abundant vibration and then we work together to clear them.
It is powerful and emotional work,and I have made amazing and very fast progress, no doubt we reckon to the detox in my body. I have literally cleared the space within for the transformation without. Of course, with any transformation there can be a "wobbly" transition period. Think of the poor caterpillar that becomes liquid before he can transform into a beautiful butterfly! The last couple of days could be described as me "wobbling", as I clear old beliefs and blockages that up to now, have been buried by food.
Benefits of Fasting
This fortnight of fasting has achieved a huge amount in my life. I have been more focused on my goals, had higher levels of concentration and gained greater clarity about what is really important. I have also lost nearly a stone in weight and can fit into my jeans again. And I have learnt how good it feels when my body is happy.
Eating Consciously
I feel that the important thing now is to trust that I am the best person to look after my body and to know what it needs most. I have noticed, even today, that I will go for food if I feel cold and/tired and I will go for food to avoid doing a task. Now I recognise this, I am able to make conscious choices. For example, the cashews had to wait til every item on todays "to do" list was crossed out.
Last night, when I felt tired, I realised that my old choice would have been to treat myself to something like a Thai or a chinese takeaway as a way to distract me from my tiredness. I know now that it is better to recognise the tiredness and to choose an early night and a light supper rather than to "pig out".
Raw Food or High Protein
I am still confused, going forward, about whether to stay on 100% raw food or to follow Leslie Kentons "low carb, high protein" diet. For the moment Im planning to move off my "lemonades" for a while (even the best stuff can get boring) and drink more home made soups, gradually moving back to salads. Ill be a lot more conscious of what I eat, whatever it is, and I confess to enjoying the idea of some meat and fish in my salads. But for the moment Im hooked on Chicken Soup. There must be a reason for the old wives tale about Chicken Soup!
I recommend the Stanley Burroughs Master Cleanse
Ill be back to report on how Im progressing and what Im eating once Ive completed my research on both options. For now though, I can definitely recommend the Master Cleanse from Stanley Burroughs as an excellent way to detox.
Go for it!
Thursday, 12 March 2009
Sunday, 8 March 2009
Further insights...
10lb weight lost!
Today I had a chance to weigh myself and the scales show that I have lost ten pounds in weight. Thats quite impressive for thirteen days of "lemonade", although as my mum succinctly pointed out, it is hardly surprising that I have lost weight when I havent been eating for thirteen days!!
Part of me is feeling that I have tricked my body into going beyond a ten day fast and my body was complaining a little yesterday. I also didnt have quite so much energy on the bike today . Mind you , I think that is partly because Ive started forgetting to take the "lemonade" As thats my only food, its a bit of a silly thing to do.
Carrying on
Im still intending to carry on until the 17th though, for several reasons
-because I said I would
-because Im loving the weightloss and I still have plenty to lose
-because Im too busy to start eating properly again and doing the necessary shopping and preparing of the food
-and because Im still receiving insights.
Fussy Eater
I realised this week that if I chose to adopt the X Factor diet, I would risk becoming one of those nightmare dinner guests who won't eat mashed potato or rice, for example.Horror of horrors, I would overnight become a "fussy eater". We dont "do" fussy eating in our family!! Then I thought a little more about that statement. What is wrong with being fussy about what we put into our bodies? We are what we eat. Is it really OK to let other people decide what we eat ? So often in the past I have eaten what everyone else was eating because it was convenient to do so. It didnt rock the boat. It kept the peace. I learnt as a small girl to eat everything on my plate to keep the hostess happy. Anything less was considered an insult, Maybe it is time to take more responsibility for what actually goes into my body.
Saying "NO"
I walk around the supermarket aisles to find my lemons and maple syrup, and whilst there I check out all the other foods on offer. When I see something tempting, I remind myself that I am committed to my goal and I ENJOY saying "no" to the temptation. One friend that I bumped into in the supermarket recently exclaimed "Oh, I dont know how you can do a fast and still come into the supermarket! I couldnt do that!" But to avoid food all together is a hopeless quest. We have to eat and we will continue to be surrounded by food, particularly unhealthy food. Just think of buying your newspaper or your petrol, and the array of goodies displayed to tempt you. No, the trick is to be focused on what you want and to practise saying "No". Of course, it might get harder when Im actually eating again....
Finding Joy
I have always loved eating food. I eat when Im happy, I eat when Im sad and I even eat when Im ill. Have you not heard the phrase "feed a cold"?! I find joy in the shopping , preparation and eating of food. No wonder that it was an important part of my life. Now that I have not been eating , I am having to find joy elsewhere. In the past when I felt hungry or tired, I would go and cook myself something. Now I run a beautifully scented hot bath and take to it with a good magasine and a cup of tea. Or I grab my bike and go and enjoy some fresh air. Or I have a good chat with a friend over the phone. Or I lose myself in a good book. I might even do some housekeeping or ironing. Occasionally, I might indulge in an hours television if there is a specific programme that I want to see. Thanks to this exercise of going without food, I am finally discovering that food is not always the answer. The phrase "you'll feel better with some food inside you" has lost some of its meaning for me. I feel that I am starting to let go of my addiction to food and in doing so I am discovering so much more joy in my life.
Marie-Claire
Today I had a chance to weigh myself and the scales show that I have lost ten pounds in weight. Thats quite impressive for thirteen days of "lemonade", although as my mum succinctly pointed out, it is hardly surprising that I have lost weight when I havent been eating for thirteen days!!
Part of me is feeling that I have tricked my body into going beyond a ten day fast and my body was complaining a little yesterday. I also didnt have quite so much energy on the bike today . Mind you , I think that is partly because Ive started forgetting to take the "lemonade" As thats my only food, its a bit of a silly thing to do.
Carrying on
Im still intending to carry on until the 17th though, for several reasons
-because I said I would
-because Im loving the weightloss and I still have plenty to lose
-because Im too busy to start eating properly again and doing the necessary shopping and preparing of the food
-and because Im still receiving insights.
Fussy Eater
I realised this week that if I chose to adopt the X Factor diet, I would risk becoming one of those nightmare dinner guests who won't eat mashed potato or rice, for example.Horror of horrors, I would overnight become a "fussy eater". We dont "do" fussy eating in our family!! Then I thought a little more about that statement. What is wrong with being fussy about what we put into our bodies? We are what we eat. Is it really OK to let other people decide what we eat ? So often in the past I have eaten what everyone else was eating because it was convenient to do so. It didnt rock the boat. It kept the peace. I learnt as a small girl to eat everything on my plate to keep the hostess happy. Anything less was considered an insult, Maybe it is time to take more responsibility for what actually goes into my body.
Saying "NO"
I walk around the supermarket aisles to find my lemons and maple syrup, and whilst there I check out all the other foods on offer. When I see something tempting, I remind myself that I am committed to my goal and I ENJOY saying "no" to the temptation. One friend that I bumped into in the supermarket recently exclaimed "Oh, I dont know how you can do a fast and still come into the supermarket! I couldnt do that!" But to avoid food all together is a hopeless quest. We have to eat and we will continue to be surrounded by food, particularly unhealthy food. Just think of buying your newspaper or your petrol, and the array of goodies displayed to tempt you. No, the trick is to be focused on what you want and to practise saying "No". Of course, it might get harder when Im actually eating again....
Finding Joy
I have always loved eating food. I eat when Im happy, I eat when Im sad and I even eat when Im ill. Have you not heard the phrase "feed a cold"?! I find joy in the shopping , preparation and eating of food. No wonder that it was an important part of my life. Now that I have not been eating , I am having to find joy elsewhere. In the past when I felt hungry or tired, I would go and cook myself something. Now I run a beautifully scented hot bath and take to it with a good magasine and a cup of tea. Or I grab my bike and go and enjoy some fresh air. Or I have a good chat with a friend over the phone. Or I lose myself in a good book. I might even do some housekeeping or ironing. Occasionally, I might indulge in an hours television if there is a specific programme that I want to see. Thanks to this exercise of going without food, I am finally discovering that food is not always the answer. The phrase "you'll feel better with some food inside you" has lost some of its meaning for me. I feel that I am starting to let go of my addiction to food and in doing so I am discovering so much more joy in my life.
Marie-Claire
Saturday, 7 March 2009
In sexy jeans again!
Achieving my goal
One of my main wishes at the beginning of this fast was to be able to wear sexy jeans again. There is nothing like pulling on a pair of jeans that cling in all the right places and hide the bad ones;a pair of jeans that, once on, make you feel sexy and alive; make you feel like you want to strut down the street and take on the world for breakfast! I hadnt worn a pair of jeans for at least a couple of years. There is a point of weight gain where jeans are no longer flattering , no matter what the make. Instead you opt for dresses , skirts and even worse, my favourite, jogging pants.
In sexy jeans again!
Well this morning I dug out my old favourite pair of jeans and to my delight, they fitted perfectly!! I am SO happy! After just eleven days of this fast, I have achieved one of my main goals! The jeans are even so comfortable that I am sitting in them whilst I type this - and they are not stretch jeans either!!
Maintain steady weight loss
My goal now is to maintain this steady weight loss beyond the fast. Remember my friend Rawia who originally inspired me to do this fast? Before she left on holiday this week I have her words ringing in my ear "Of course, your tummy shrinks during the fast but as soon as you come off it,your tummy will go back to the same size" Mind you , she was drinking guiness at the time! That might go some way to explaining the sudden expansion of a tummy after a fast!!
Clearing my "clutter"
Now I believe that nothing happens by coincidence. My original intention was to reach a certain weight by April. Having set the intention , I then heard Rawia talk of the ten day fast and I just knew that was what I needed to do first. Yesterday I picked up a book that I think will take me forward from the fast, helping me to continue to reach my ideal weight. I am on a quest to clear the excess weight from my body, just as someone would clear the clutter in their homes.
Leslie Kenton
Leslie Kenton is my favourite writer on beauty and nutrition. Having written over thirty books , including my personal favourites, "New Raw Energy" and "the Joy of Beauty", Leslie is rightly considered an expert in the field. So when I spotted "The X Factor Diet" by Leslie Kenton, I knew that it was for me . I devoured the book last night...
The X Factor Diet
Essentially Leslie argues , with tons of research behind her, that we should choose the diet of our ancestors. She puts forward an incredibly powerful case for eating less carbohydrates,e xplaining how the release of sugar from carbohydrates has been the principal cause of obesity in our western society. It makes a lot of sense. The promotion of low fat has lined the pockets of food manufacturers, but it has also been gradually making most of us fatter, through what it is termed as Syndrome X, or Insulin Resistance Syndrome. When we flood our cells with too much insulin, they lose their sensitivity to it and we then need to produce more to make it effective. Too much insulin means food is converted to fat and and the body is prevented from releasing fat to act as fuel. Middle age spread is the result of Syndrome X, - and I suspect a lack of regular exercise!
Low Carb Diet
In the quest to shed all my excess weight, I am intending to transfer gently from this fast to the X factor diet ( even though I detest the word diet!). There are two versions of the X factor diet,Ketogenics( for rapid weight loss) and Insulin Balance(for maintenance). Both diets are essentially comprised of well balanced meals containing the following nutritonal mix: 20% low glycaemic carbohydrates, 30% good fats and 50% high quality proteins. What I love about it is that the diet is based on the principles of raw food and contains much of what I already love to eat. The major changes for me will be eating more protein, controlling portion sizes and incorporating some strength building exercises into my weekly routine. All sounds good though. It also sounds a lot more sociable that what Im doing at the moment!!
Anyway for now I am still on this fast , until the 17th March , and I remind myself again of todays result, - I can wear my sexy jeans again!! It was definitely worth eleven days of "lemonade". I feel proud of what I have achieved and excited about the future!
Thank you again for keeping me company,
Marie-Claire
One of my main wishes at the beginning of this fast was to be able to wear sexy jeans again. There is nothing like pulling on a pair of jeans that cling in all the right places and hide the bad ones;a pair of jeans that, once on, make you feel sexy and alive; make you feel like you want to strut down the street and take on the world for breakfast! I hadnt worn a pair of jeans for at least a couple of years. There is a point of weight gain where jeans are no longer flattering , no matter what the make. Instead you opt for dresses , skirts and even worse, my favourite, jogging pants.
In sexy jeans again!
Well this morning I dug out my old favourite pair of jeans and to my delight, they fitted perfectly!! I am SO happy! After just eleven days of this fast, I have achieved one of my main goals! The jeans are even so comfortable that I am sitting in them whilst I type this - and they are not stretch jeans either!!
Maintain steady weight loss
My goal now is to maintain this steady weight loss beyond the fast. Remember my friend Rawia who originally inspired me to do this fast? Before she left on holiday this week I have her words ringing in my ear "Of course, your tummy shrinks during the fast but as soon as you come off it,your tummy will go back to the same size" Mind you , she was drinking guiness at the time! That might go some way to explaining the sudden expansion of a tummy after a fast!!
Clearing my "clutter"
Now I believe that nothing happens by coincidence. My original intention was to reach a certain weight by April. Having set the intention , I then heard Rawia talk of the ten day fast and I just knew that was what I needed to do first. Yesterday I picked up a book that I think will take me forward from the fast, helping me to continue to reach my ideal weight. I am on a quest to clear the excess weight from my body, just as someone would clear the clutter in their homes.
Leslie Kenton
Leslie Kenton is my favourite writer on beauty and nutrition. Having written over thirty books , including my personal favourites, "New Raw Energy" and "the Joy of Beauty", Leslie is rightly considered an expert in the field. So when I spotted "The X Factor Diet" by Leslie Kenton, I knew that it was for me . I devoured the book last night...
The X Factor Diet
Essentially Leslie argues , with tons of research behind her, that we should choose the diet of our ancestors. She puts forward an incredibly powerful case for eating less carbohydrates,e xplaining how the release of sugar from carbohydrates has been the principal cause of obesity in our western society. It makes a lot of sense. The promotion of low fat has lined the pockets of food manufacturers, but it has also been gradually making most of us fatter, through what it is termed as Syndrome X, or Insulin Resistance Syndrome. When we flood our cells with too much insulin, they lose their sensitivity to it and we then need to produce more to make it effective. Too much insulin means food is converted to fat and and the body is prevented from releasing fat to act as fuel. Middle age spread is the result of Syndrome X, - and I suspect a lack of regular exercise!
Low Carb Diet
In the quest to shed all my excess weight, I am intending to transfer gently from this fast to the X factor diet ( even though I detest the word diet!). There are two versions of the X factor diet,Ketogenics( for rapid weight loss) and Insulin Balance(for maintenance). Both diets are essentially comprised of well balanced meals containing the following nutritonal mix: 20% low glycaemic carbohydrates, 30% good fats and 50% high quality proteins. What I love about it is that the diet is based on the principles of raw food and contains much of what I already love to eat. The major changes for me will be eating more protein, controlling portion sizes and incorporating some strength building exercises into my weekly routine. All sounds good though. It also sounds a lot more sociable that what Im doing at the moment!!
Anyway for now I am still on this fast , until the 17th March , and I remind myself again of todays result, - I can wear my sexy jeans again!! It was definitely worth eleven days of "lemonade". I feel proud of what I have achieved and excited about the future!
Thank you again for keeping me company,
Marie-Claire
Friday, 6 March 2009
Gammon, Egg and Chips
Gammon Egg and Chips
I met my friend Jo for lunch today. As she has only an hour for lunch,we met in a little cafe near her offices. I got there first and ordered a mug of hot water - whilst looking on as the assistant dished out a perfect "two poached eggs on toast"! Thats one of my favourite meals! I could resist the "big english breakfast" (yes, it was that sort of cafe) but the poached eggs looked so healthy and appetising! My poor body was expecting to be preparing for solid food right now and instead I am deciding to wait another ten days!
Speed eating
Anyway I sat down , amongst the smells of bacon and chips, and topped up my hot water with my "lemonade" concentrate. Jo came in and ordered gammon egg and chips ...and I wondered how I was going to react as I watched her eat her lunch. We both chatted "nine to the dozen" knowing that she had less than an hour before she was back at work, and that we had a lot to cover in that time! In due course, her meal arrived ...and Jo continued to chat whilst she hastily "demolished" the plate of food in front of her.
Point of clarity
The question for me was ,"How often have I gobbled down food without paying it any attention?" and how wise is it to cram eating with another activity, whether it be talking to someone or watching the hyperactive TV screen?
Jeans one size smaller!
After "lunch" I took a stroll to the bank to bank some cheques. Along the way I tried on some jeans and was delighted to find that I had gone down one size! Mind you, I couldnt resist walking through Tescos and being away of a new "Wok To GO " restaurant in Chester. Im still finding the idea of food attractive ...
Listening to my Body
To be honest , I felt a bit bored on the fast today, and a little tired. I have been working very hard this week. I am very focused. This weekend I have a book to edit and so for now , im signing off for some well deserved rest and relaxation. After all, I am at last starting to listen to what my body REALLY wants.
Thanks for staying with me on my journey!
Marie-Claire
I met my friend Jo for lunch today. As she has only an hour for lunch,we met in a little cafe near her offices. I got there first and ordered a mug of hot water - whilst looking on as the assistant dished out a perfect "two poached eggs on toast"! Thats one of my favourite meals! I could resist the "big english breakfast" (yes, it was that sort of cafe) but the poached eggs looked so healthy and appetising! My poor body was expecting to be preparing for solid food right now and instead I am deciding to wait another ten days!
Speed eating
Anyway I sat down , amongst the smells of bacon and chips, and topped up my hot water with my "lemonade" concentrate. Jo came in and ordered gammon egg and chips ...and I wondered how I was going to react as I watched her eat her lunch. We both chatted "nine to the dozen" knowing that she had less than an hour before she was back at work, and that we had a lot to cover in that time! In due course, her meal arrived ...and Jo continued to chat whilst she hastily "demolished" the plate of food in front of her.
Point of clarity
The question for me was ,"How often have I gobbled down food without paying it any attention?" and how wise is it to cram eating with another activity, whether it be talking to someone or watching the hyperactive TV screen?
Jeans one size smaller!
After "lunch" I took a stroll to the bank to bank some cheques. Along the way I tried on some jeans and was delighted to find that I had gone down one size! Mind you, I couldnt resist walking through Tescos and being away of a new "Wok To GO " restaurant in Chester. Im still finding the idea of food attractive ...
Listening to my Body
To be honest , I felt a bit bored on the fast today, and a little tired. I have been working very hard this week. I am very focused. This weekend I have a book to edit and so for now , im signing off for some well deserved rest and relaxation. After all, I am at last starting to listen to what my body REALLY wants.
Thanks for staying with me on my journey!
Marie-Claire
Thursday, 5 March 2009
I did it! Ten days without solid food!
Have I lost my hunger?
Yesterday was the last day of my ten day fast. I completed ten days without solid food! If you knew me well, you might realise how incredible this feat is! I LOVE my food! Whether its poached eggs on hot buttered toast or gravalax dipped in dill sauce; oysters , spiced with tabasco or a large spinach salad with avocado, red pepper, black olives and pine nuts, drizzled with olive oil, I can always find some tasty reason to eat. The idea of going without the bliss of these culinary experiences would seem to me to be at the very least "crazy" and at the worst, I would question the very point of living! Gosh, did I really say that? Yup.
A liberating experience
Well , the experience of ten days without food has been totally liberating. As I wrote out above some of my favourite foods , foods that would normally have me salivating at the thought of them . I was Ok. I didnt feel any urges or physical responses. I didnt feel the rush to stock up my fridge and start "stuffing my face "again. I apologise for the rather vulgar expression. However when I think back to how I would eat , its not really that far from the truth.
In the morning I would grab my cereal of homemade granola , but then I would sit in front of either the TV with the morning news or in front of the computer, and I would "unconsciously" shovel the food down, whilst distracted by the screen. Lunch wasnt much better. If working from home, Id take a break at lunchtime and eat my lunch whilst "glued to" "Loose Ladies" on TV. The large bowl of green salad would be "demolished" without even realising it! In fact sometimes I d think I was still hungry afterwards, no doubt because I hadnt paid any attention to the fact that Id already eaten!!
Free from the Tyranny of Food
These last ten days have freed me from the tyranny of food. As I mentioned in an earlier blog , I have had more energy and I feel much more focused. I have found levels of concentration and perserverance that have been absent for a long time. I am getting so much more done in a day and I really feel that I am living life to the max again! I havent been slowed down by food. I havent checked my weight again but my friends are starting to comment on how well Im looking. In fact , quite a few of them are now thinking of giving the ten day fast a go themselves!
Stanley Burroughs Master Cleanse
If you fancy doing the same thing ,the technical name for my ten day fast is the Stanley Burroughs Master Cleanse. Its been around since 1941 and so you ll find plenty of info on it when you google it. (Incidentally, I wasnt a big fan of the salt water flushes - they were the only times that I didnt feelwell on the fast)
The three week Fast
So what now? Well, the original plan was to come off the fast very slowly , drinking orange juice for the next couple of days, easing into a vegetable soup broth by the third day....but why would I do that when I am feeling SO good on this fast? Stanley Burroughs suggests that the fast is follwed for a MINIMUM of ten days and it can be followed for up to thirty to forty days. Im not ready to stop it just yet. I feel too good ,and Im getting too much achieved!
So , after some consideration, I am going to be continuing until the 15th March. That will make it a total of 21 days. Three weeks can be enough time to break a habit. Three weeks will leave me with five clear days to return to normal food in time for a couple of major social functions week commencing 21st March. And, lets be honest here, three weeks might lead to further weight loss!
So watch this space ...there'll be more blogs as I continue my journey!
PS If you are following this blog , please do sign in. I thought I was only writing to an audience of one (thank you Helen for logging on to the blog) but then several of you have since told me that youve been following. Please do make yourselves known. Its so much nicer when you can see the faces of your audience!!
Thank you ,
Marie-Claire
Tuesday, 3 March 2009
A whole day without thinking about food!
Break through
Ive just realised that I didnt update my blog yesterday. I just didnt get the chance! Now that is a breakthrough for me ! It means that I went a whole day without having a moments thought about the fast. In fact Im starting to wonder how I ever had time to fit food into my day!
Finding Clarity and Purpose
Im feeling better every day too. I feel lighter , full of energy and purpose! My work involves me speaking a lot about how we need to clear our clutter. I believe that underneath our clutter lies our true essence and when we get back in touch with our real selves, the magic starts to happen. In the same way, food has been cluttering up my thoughts. Its been a distraction from my true purpose and clarity.
Just as a smoker lights a cigarette in the middle of a tricky job , so I will have run to the kitchen for something to nibble. The art of concentration and focus has been lost. Its time for me to rediscover it. Increasingly , I am finishing outstanding tasks, facing up to things I didnt want to face and perservering with tasks outside of my comfort zone.
Ability to concentrate on a task
At the weekend, I spent a total of eight hours working out how to post out my monthly emailed newsletter via Aweber! Normally my web designer does it for me for a fee but I wanted to learn how to do it myself. I was well outside of my comfort zone. I am a speaker and not used to detailed work on a computer that takes hours to complete! Ok to be honest , I threw in the towel at 2am on Saturday night ...only to pick it up again Sunday evening. When I finally cracked it, I found that it was something easy that Id missed along the way. My amazement is that I stuck at it! I didnt have the normal distraction of a meal to cook and eat.
Penultimate day of Fast
Today is the penultimate day of the official ten day fast. I am a little bored of the drink but I am nervous about being able to control my portions when I start eating again. I am not in a rush to return to normal eating. Why would I be? I am feeling fantastic , energised, focused and clear, and I am losing weight. Mind you ,its not very sociable ...
The real challenge
If I carried it on for 30 days, it would mean that I was still on the fast when my sister and husband come to stay for the weekend. And this is where I meet my major challenge. The very idea of not joining in the celebration of a family meal together seems wrong. Anti -sociable . unloving. And yet, this might be the very root of my problem with food: that I would rather eat and fit in, than choose what is best for me and my body. I wouldnt want to rock the apple cart.
Mind you, there have been evenings when I was the only person not drinking alcohol and that was OK . It was wonderful in fact.
The challenge for me would be honouring my desires , even when they may not fit in with others. Actually the real challenge for me would be QUIETLY honouring my desires! That is no doubt the route to improved self esteem and the freedom to be all I that I wish to be! Wow!
PS If you d like to hear me talk about clearing clutter, and hear one of my coaching tips, check out my video and vote for me in http://www.britainsnexttopcoach.tv/contestants/Marie-Claire-Carlyle
Thank you! xx
Ive just realised that I didnt update my blog yesterday. I just didnt get the chance! Now that is a breakthrough for me ! It means that I went a whole day without having a moments thought about the fast. In fact Im starting to wonder how I ever had time to fit food into my day!
Finding Clarity and Purpose
Im feeling better every day too. I feel lighter , full of energy and purpose! My work involves me speaking a lot about how we need to clear our clutter. I believe that underneath our clutter lies our true essence and when we get back in touch with our real selves, the magic starts to happen. In the same way, food has been cluttering up my thoughts. Its been a distraction from my true purpose and clarity.
Just as a smoker lights a cigarette in the middle of a tricky job , so I will have run to the kitchen for something to nibble. The art of concentration and focus has been lost. Its time for me to rediscover it. Increasingly , I am finishing outstanding tasks, facing up to things I didnt want to face and perservering with tasks outside of my comfort zone.
Ability to concentrate on a task
At the weekend, I spent a total of eight hours working out how to post out my monthly emailed newsletter via Aweber! Normally my web designer does it for me for a fee but I wanted to learn how to do it myself. I was well outside of my comfort zone. I am a speaker and not used to detailed work on a computer that takes hours to complete! Ok to be honest , I threw in the towel at 2am on Saturday night ...only to pick it up again Sunday evening. When I finally cracked it, I found that it was something easy that Id missed along the way. My amazement is that I stuck at it! I didnt have the normal distraction of a meal to cook and eat.
Penultimate day of Fast
Today is the penultimate day of the official ten day fast. I am a little bored of the drink but I am nervous about being able to control my portions when I start eating again. I am not in a rush to return to normal eating. Why would I be? I am feeling fantastic , energised, focused and clear, and I am losing weight. Mind you ,its not very sociable ...
The real challenge
If I carried it on for 30 days, it would mean that I was still on the fast when my sister and husband come to stay for the weekend. And this is where I meet my major challenge. The very idea of not joining in the celebration of a family meal together seems wrong. Anti -sociable . unloving. And yet, this might be the very root of my problem with food: that I would rather eat and fit in, than choose what is best for me and my body. I wouldnt want to rock the apple cart.
Mind you, there have been evenings when I was the only person not drinking alcohol and that was OK . It was wonderful in fact.
The challenge for me would be honouring my desires , even when they may not fit in with others. Actually the real challenge for me would be QUIETLY honouring my desires! That is no doubt the route to improved self esteem and the freedom to be all I that I wish to be! Wow!
PS If you d like to hear me talk about clearing clutter, and hear one of my coaching tips, check out my video and vote for me in http://www.britainsnexttopcoach.tv/contestants/Marie-Claire-Carlyle
Thank you! xx
Sunday, 1 March 2009
One whole week of Fasting
Seven days fast ,five pounds weight lost!
OK ,I know I said that I wasnt doing this to lose weight, but I am human, and female !! (sorry girls but men just dont seem to have the same fixations about size) And obviously I wouldnt have felt that I needed to master my reaction to food, if I could still fit into my tight jeans!
So today was "Good News Day!" . Because I am rarely hungry on this fast, and the "lemonade" contains sucrose, I was beginning to think that Id actually put on weight! But "No" , the scales confirmed that I have lost a total of five pounds since the start of the fast. Yippee!
Mind you, I still have a long way to reach my perfect weight! Despite the size of the end goal, I am resisting the temptation to extend this fast for 30 days . On the advice of my nutritionist friends, ten days for a first attempt is good. Anymore might be foolhardy. Instead Ill be focusing on weening myself off the fast VERY SLOWLY. In the end it will ressemble a fourteen day fast.
Eating Less
To be honest the next stage will be the most challenging. Avoiding food is relatively easy, once you've made your mind up to do it. Sitting down at a table to eat and then eating only what you have planned to eat ,will be the next challenge. The best book on the subject is Gillian Rileys "Eating Less". It is all about becoming conscious of what we are eating. I am hoping that this fast will help me to say "no" more easily to food and to behave more like a slim person.
The good side effects
On a positive note about this fast , I have been filled with energy to get on with things. I sleep well and wake up truly refreshed. My days have been longer than usual and filled with activity. Instead of "wasting time " eating , I've had time to enjoy so much more! Im surprised, and so are others. I thought I might be sleeping more as a way of avoiding mealtimes. Others thought Id be wasting away from lack of nourishment. I have to say, that was a never a concern of mine . I know the size of my fat reserves!!
In all honesty, I would recommend this fast if you are feeling sluggish and tired . If your body is full of toxins or if you simply fancy a new lease of life. Im told that Im looking happier, slimmer and more alive, after only seven days. Mind you, thats probably because I can now hold my tummy in again !! heehee!
So are you tempted, I wonder?
OK ,I know I said that I wasnt doing this to lose weight, but I am human, and female !! (sorry girls but men just dont seem to have the same fixations about size) And obviously I wouldnt have felt that I needed to master my reaction to food, if I could still fit into my tight jeans!
So today was "Good News Day!" . Because I am rarely hungry on this fast, and the "lemonade" contains sucrose, I was beginning to think that Id actually put on weight! But "No" , the scales confirmed that I have lost a total of five pounds since the start of the fast. Yippee!
Mind you, I still have a long way to reach my perfect weight! Despite the size of the end goal, I am resisting the temptation to extend this fast for 30 days . On the advice of my nutritionist friends, ten days for a first attempt is good. Anymore might be foolhardy. Instead Ill be focusing on weening myself off the fast VERY SLOWLY. In the end it will ressemble a fourteen day fast.
Eating Less
To be honest the next stage will be the most challenging. Avoiding food is relatively easy, once you've made your mind up to do it. Sitting down at a table to eat and then eating only what you have planned to eat ,will be the next challenge. The best book on the subject is Gillian Rileys "Eating Less". It is all about becoming conscious of what we are eating. I am hoping that this fast will help me to say "no" more easily to food and to behave more like a slim person.
The good side effects
On a positive note about this fast , I have been filled with energy to get on with things. I sleep well and wake up truly refreshed. My days have been longer than usual and filled with activity. Instead of "wasting time " eating , I've had time to enjoy so much more! Im surprised, and so are others. I thought I might be sleeping more as a way of avoiding mealtimes. Others thought Id be wasting away from lack of nourishment. I have to say, that was a never a concern of mine . I know the size of my fat reserves!!
In all honesty, I would recommend this fast if you are feeling sluggish and tired . If your body is full of toxins or if you simply fancy a new lease of life. Im told that Im looking happier, slimmer and more alive, after only seven days. Mind you, thats probably because I can now hold my tummy in again !! heehee!
So are you tempted, I wonder?
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