Day 1 Juice Fast

Today I started my first juice fast. It's almost bedtime now, and I have to say, I think I did really well today. I started out the day like normal, and went for a 45 minute walk, then showered and got ready, and then instead of eating my usual breakfast, cereal, I juiced. I am following a meal plan from a book "The Juice Lady's guide to Juicing for Health". She suggests drinking 6 juices during the day. She also suggests eating a vegan diet the day you go off the fast. Here is what the plan calls for:

Breakfast:
"The Morning Energizer"
1/2 apple
5 carrots
1/2 beet with tops
1/2 lemon
1/2 inch ginger root

Morning Snack:
"Waldorf Twist"
1 apple
3 celery stalks with leaves
1/4 lemon

Lunch:
"Popeye's Power"
1/2 apple
1 handful of spinach
1 small handful parsley
4 carrots
1 celery stalk with leaves
1/2 beet with tops

Afternoon Snack:
"Santa Fe Salsa Cocktail"
1 tomato
1/2 cucumber
1/4 cup cilantro
1/4 lemon or lime
dash of hot sauce (optional)

Dinner:
"Cherie's Quick Energy Soup"
1 1/4 cup carrot juice-about 6 carrots
1 avocado
1/2 tsp ground cumin
(mix all in blender)

Bedtime Snack:
"Sweet Dreams Nightcap"
2 lettuce leaves
1 handful parsley
4 carrots
3 celery stalks with leaves

So far I have tried everything but the bedtime snack. The only 2 recipes I didn't care for were the Santa Fe Salsa Cocktail, and the Cherie's Quick Energy Soup. The Salsa Cocktail had too much cucumber, and I didn't enjoy the hot sauce I added. The energy soup reminded me of baby food. I tried eating some of it, however I ended up stopping. I know it will give me energy, however, it really wasn't tasty! Everything else I've had today was really good.

A couple of things I have noticed while on the fast:

So far, my urine has had a pink tint to it. I think this is because of the beets I am using. I am still drinking my 64oz of water like normal. (All of these liquids have made me have to go to the bathroom a ton today!)I have had enough energy today, but it is quickly dropping as the night goes on. I am feeling a little light headed, and my eyes are hurting a little. Also, my tongue has a white coating on it. I am very cold right now, not sure if it's the fast or not. I have found myself craving food I haven't craved in a while. Every time I open the fridge to get out veggies to juice, I see other food, and I start to crave it. I've thought a couple of times, that I'd like to quit and eat some food, but I know that I would just binge on what ever I could get my hands on, and that would be very bad!

I have also found myself contemplating a lot. Mainly regarding my food choices in the past, and my eating habits. I realized that when I get hungry, I automatically go and grab the first thing I see and eat it, then I decide what I should eat as a meal. I need to be better about planning meals out in advance, and then I think I wouldn't have this problem.

Today I had a massage, which felt very nice. Hopefully it helped to work out any toxins that are floating around in my body.

Right now I am pretty hungry, since I basically skipped the afternoon snack and the dinner. I'm hoping the bedtime snack helps with the hunger pains so I can sleep. My husband has decided to do the fast with me, which I am very grateful for. I don't think I'd be able to handle doing it on my own, while watching him eat normal food! It was hard enough going to Costco today and seeing all the food in people's carts. There I go, talking about food...makes you hungrier. Who knew food was so physiological!

I wonder how much energy I will have tomorrow morning for my walk, and if I'll be starving when I wake up? Guess I'll find out soon enough.