Juicy News - The End
Posted on Apr 21, 2008 under Juice Feasting |
Guess what! I ended my Juice Feast yesterday, after 80 days! It’s all over, folks!
I’d been struggling for a while and after listening to Michelle’s audio about self-sabotage on Saturday night, I had a lot to think about. While there were only twelve days left to the “official” finish line, I was not enjoying juice feasting anymore and I believe that once I’d reached that point, there was no benefit in continuing. Life is about living and we need to do it joyfully. Juice feasting is not a punishment, but if you’re doing it because you “have to”, then you’re (a) not listening to your own body, (b) missing your joy and (c) standing in the way of your own progress.
So, by the time I got up yesterday morning I had made my decision. Of course, one doesn’t just stop drinking juice and dig into a plate of food. The feast breaking is an important step and, since my digestive system has been doing other things for 80 days, foods need to introduced slowly and wisely.
So, off to the grocery store we went for some prunes (dried plums). I let them soak in water all day and in the early evening I drank the soak water and bit into my first solid food. It was… nice. I’ve been drinking juice today and will have some more prunes tonight. Tomorrow I get to eat fruit (yay!) and I’m definitely going to have a green smoothie! By Wednesday I’ll be having salad!
The only thing I’m sorry about is that I didn’t take pictures yesterday. We were out on my folks’ farm and I wore the same clothes that I wore in my fat photo’s, so the comparison would have been meaningful. Not that I’m that much thinner. I weighed in this morning - my official post juice feast weigh in:
Starting weight: 157 kg (345.4 pounds)
Current weight: 136.1 kg (299.4 pounds)
Loss: 20.9 kg (46 pounds)
That means that I have left the 300’s behind! That is awesome! I can’t begin to describe how pleased I am about that!
My sister said yesterday that I looked “fabulous”. I feel fabulous, even though I don’t think the weight loss is that apparent. I’m still wearing the same clothes, although they’re much looser. There is still a lot of work to be done, but it was an amazing kickstart and my body is clean and mostly free of toxins. I will be posting extensively about my post-juice feast diet in the weeks to come and believe me, I’m not about to start piling in the toxins again!
Very high on my agenda is physical exercise. I appropriated my sister’s pedometer yesterday, figuring it’s not helping her if it’s lying in a drawer. This morning I walked to the grocery store, which earned me about 5000 steps. I realize that I’m going to have to do better than that, but my legs are quite stiff, since I’ve been sitting on my butt for two months, so I’ll take it slowly. Michelle has challenged me to go back to gym and I’ve committed to going from Wednesday. Hello aqua aerobics and pilates! I also have a free assessment available to me and am going to ask for a weight training program. In due time I’ll be getting on the treadmill as well to ensure 10000 steps daily (since my grocery runs may not take place on foot once the winter rains start coming down). So, I see less computer time and more gym time in my future.
I will continue brushing my body and taking contrast showers regularly, as well as doing the odd enema.
Which reminds me… If you’re wondering how my body coped with the solids, rest assured. My digestive system is working like a newly serviced car and I had a very satisfying bowel movement this morning. That concludes the poop report!
I am happy, proud of my accomplishment and pleased with how well my body responded. Juice Feasting has been amazing. I have learned so much about myself and my body. I am so grateful to David and Katrina Rainoshek, the King and Queen of Juice Feasting, for their vast knowledge and experience. I couldn’t have done this without my fellow juice feasters Ben, Lisa and Penni who were always ready with a word of encouragement and a shared experience. Finally, my wonderful friend Michelle, who has been an amazing inspiration through all of this. And without collusion, totally independantly from one another, but obviously connected through the cosmos, we chose to end our juice feasts on the same day! Happy eating, Michelle!
In the days to come, I will share some of the lessons I’ve learned over these 80 days and how I believe Juice Feasting has changed me. I think I’ve been Around The Universe In 80 Days! And you know what? I like that it’s a round number. If you recall, on Day 40 I wrote about the significance of the number 40. It’s the Biblical number of trial and testing. The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years. Jesus was tempted by Satan for 40 days. In Noah’s time it rained 40 days and 40 nights. Two times 40 to me signifies twice the trial and testing and I am well pleased with how I’ve completed this task.
Thank you, everybody, or your support and for cheering me on!
The journey continues…
April 21st, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Congratulations on making it to the 2’s, Hanlie! A remarkable achievement!
April 21st, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Congratulations on listening to your body and finishing the feast when you were ready. It sounds like it was a great experience. And congratulations on leaving the 300’s and losing almost 50 pounds, that is a wonderful accomplishment!
April 21st, 2008 at 4:15 pm
OMGOSH check out that weight loss! YOU GO GIRL!! I am so proud of you. I am proud of you for doing the juice feast. I am proud of you for STICKING to the juice feast. I am proud of you for how much you have learned about you and how well you have learned to listen to you! I am proud of you for your positive path forward. Incase you didnt notice lol I am super proud of you!! I cant wait to contiune on with you on this journey. You are so headed places girl friend!!
Watch out 50lbs lost here comes Hanlie!!!
*huggles*
=0)
April 21st, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Wow!! Congratulations on the 80 days and on knowing when was the right time to give it up! I look forward to hearing about how things go for you now. I’m sure you’re on your way to a kick-ass food and exercise plan. And, my GOODNESS well done on the weight loss!!
April 21st, 2008 at 5:21 pm
I am so proud of you for completing this. What an accomplishment!
April 21st, 2008 at 5:24 pm
hanlie!
i’m super proud of you too and you made it to ‘deuce-ville.’ you’re incredible.
keep up the great work, and i’m excited to hear about your salad
April 21st, 2008 at 5:51 pm
It sounds like this whole process has been about slowing down, listening to your body and honoring its needs. What a wonderful journey - and look how you’ve grown (and shrunk!) I’m very proud of your tenacity, Hanlie. You did a good thing for yourself!
April 21st, 2008 at 5:52 pm
You are amazing! I am so proud of you and so absolutely thrilled for you! Congratulations on getting below 300! What a wonderful milestone to end your juice feast! I think it is very special that we ended on the same day and we didn’t even know. How cool is that.
Love you!
Michelle
April 21st, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Congratulations on completing your feast and hitting the 2’s! That’s a major milestone. I see a rebounder in your very near future!!!
It’s been so great to have you as a feasting buddy and I look forward to your salad blogs.
XOXOXXOXOXOXO
Pixy Lisa
PS. that is way cool how you and Michelle ended the same day. Now THAT’s CONNECTION!
April 21st, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Congrats on finishing the juice feast, and congrats on your first bites of solid food!
I look forward to hearing about your adventures in exercise, now.
I’m so happy for you in regards to your physical, mental, and emotional transformations. Well done!
April 21st, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Awesome for you!! Congratualtions for being in the 2’s!!
April 21st, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Congratulations! I doubt I could have lasted two days.
I know you mentioned the feast taking you back so many days of your life for each day.
Since you were not enjoying the feast any longer do you think it correlated with something from your past?
Have a great day and week.
April 21st, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Also, your weight loss is very inspirational. Congratulations on a 46 pound loss and entering the 200’s.
April 21st, 2008 at 8:32 pm
I am thrilled for you, both for your weightloss and also for your determination in completing your juice feast. That has to feel great, knowing you accomplished something you set out to do. Follow through is the best gift we can give ourselves when we set a task. I think it affirms that we are worth the effort, and sometimes I think we lose sight of that. Kudos! Im looking forward to reading more about your journey. Oh, and by the way, Im sooo making that soup!
April 21st, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Wonderful! I am glad for you. Keep going!
April 21st, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Happy End-of-the-Juicefeast, Hanlie! WOW, you have been and still are a true inspiration to me! Even if I am still feeling my way into Juicefeasting.
Definitely time to post a photo, please.
I visited a gym tonight ~ just to check it out ~ and immediately thought of you when I saw the swimming pool (delicious!) and the Kauai (yum!) and the most beautiful Mind/Body room where they were busy practising yoga. I am a total Non-Gym-Freak … but I’m starting to feel the need. I’ll be right behind you!
Love & hugs
Pippa
April 21st, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Hanlie….I am cheering you on! You have done so well on this feast….I think 46 pounds down is so amazing. What other diet could you have lost over 1 pound every other day and still be so nourished? You have been an inspiration to us all and I know you will continue on this journey of health and healing. I will be staying tuned because I am eager to know what you’ll be eating! After 52 day on juice, I am sure you’re ready for a break and ready for solids. I just want you to know that you’ve been such a great inspiration and example to me.
Much Love!
Penni
April 21st, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Well done Hanlie. Great progress and great maturity shown in knowing when to listen to your body.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:58 pm
WOW!! You’re in the 200’s!! Thats just incredible! I’m glad you listened to your body. Since you didn’t take a photo then, why not take one now?
Glad to hear you’re getting back to your exercise again too!
April 21st, 2008 at 10:46 pm
excellent with the weight loss and glad you are back to solid food.. it will be ineresting hearing your take on eating again ..
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:09 am
congratulations! do you feel like today was the first day of the rest of your life?
can’t wait to hear what happens next…
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:10 am
Good on you for lasting as long as you did! There’s no way i coulda done it!
I love everything about food, including the textures.
Nice loss too! I smiled when i read you were under 300lbs. That is awesome!! :o)
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:13 am
wow you did great! I would definitely think it would take some getting used to putting food in your body so be careful (I know you will). you did something truly amazing in my book!
April 22nd, 2008 at 4:22 am
WOW! I wasn’t expecting THIS post when I showed up; but congratulations for a very successful feasting run, and for the wisdom you have exercised in following your heart and your plan. You are one amazing woman, and now that you’ve left the 300’s behind, I can hardly wait to see where you’re headed next! (((hug)))
April 22nd, 2008 at 4:37 am
Hey!
Congrats on leaving the 3’s behind!!! What an accomplishment!! Huge loss you had..as you gained knowledge and insight on your body and mind! It was a really neat process. Thanks for sharing.
Well done on the 80 days…good luck with the next phase and the exercise. You will be a superstar with that too! ps- I so the pedometer and aim for 10000 steps a day! I started lower though..and built up. Make sure it’s secured well..I have dropped it a whole bunch of times.
April 22nd, 2008 at 5:33 am
I think it’s wonderful that you have completed your juice feast. Wow! on the weight loss to date! That is amazing! For those of us who never heard of a juice feast, your journey makes us so much more aware of the many dimensions to health Thank you!!!!!!!!
Selma
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:45 am
congratulation that Feast was quite and achievement - especially as you learnt to listen to your body!
Good luck with the exercise and I look forward to seeing you in a 5k in the not too distant future as I am sure that if that is what you decide to do you will have no problem in getting there.
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:00 am
Wow. Amazing work, Hanlie. I look forward to following more of your journey. I always enjoy your posts.
oh, and I think our ‘teams’ play each other soon! Go ‘tahs! :o)
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:17 am
Congratulations hanlie…..am so proud of you…..
April 22nd, 2008 at 2:27 pm
What incredible will power and self control! I’ll be interested in seeing what kinds of things you add back into your diet. I don’t think I could do the juice feast, but I do want to eat more healthfully, and you are very inspiring!
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Congrats Hanlie! You are truly an inspiration! Proud of you!
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:42 pm
YOU ROCK! And you’re beautiful!