Lamentations

As I was out for a run the other day I began to ponder the value of life and my struggle with meaning. I had just finished the cleanse with hopes of cleaner living and breaking my hedonistic want of food. Following a celebratory meal of beer and pizza I felt positively ill. My head was congested with gastro-upset and my body was achy. This made me realize, yet again, that the human condition is bent on death. It takes work and dedication to transform decay. The extra energy and focus to implement exercise, healthy nutrition and balanced mental health is an unending task. It takes about three weeks of dedication to create a routine. However it takes a matter of days to revert back to an unbalanced lifestyle.


Perhaps to make this more clear. It takes less energy, focus or effort to enter into a lifestyle that brings destruction, such as poor eating habits, increased alcohol consumption, smoking, drug use or poor financial practice. However to begin proper nutrition, exercise and absence/moderation of food and alcohol are difficult to initiate and maintain.

Further to this, I am beginning to see how we are looking for a “prepared” version of God. My struggle with God is in flux, but we live in a society that looks for quick fixes. I wonder if I am looking for the “microwaveable” religious experience. Something that takes little time, no effort or commitment and is cheap as possible. If I can’t get my deity in a brightly package box then I have no time for this. Relationships are on the decline, why would I put in energy to build on a relationship with God then. This would take dedication and am I really prepared for that? It is also presumptuous to tell God that I will accept him on my terms, who am I really?

These thoughts surfaced while I was running. I realized, again, that I am running slower, with shorter runs and having increasing struggles at maintaining even this. I am bent to decay and my efforts to thwart this are failing.

Last Day

Well people ask if I think the cleanse was worth it. I have lost five pounds and sleeping better. I don't feel as bloated either. It is difficult to talk about energy levels since I have been playing play to 10:30 the last few nights, today included! So more recently I have been dead tired but I did notice a change last week. I am certainly tired of the food though. I nearly cried when my family made these great burgers and all I got was rice and patties!

It was also nice to go for a prolonged period without wine or spirits. I don't know if I readily see a difference in the way I feel and I wouldn't do it again alone.

Day 6,7,8

The trip to the Island went well as always. I am finding that the challenge isn't denying myself what I want, it is being happy with what I have. I am getting really tired of rice and oatmeal. There are only so many ways that I have been preparing it and it is quickly becoming drab. I nearly cheated last night just because I couldn't face more rice. A couple handfuls of almonds saved me however.

Although one of the benefits of this cleanse is an improvement to energy they also say that exercise can be hampered. This was certainly true. I went for a fantastic run on the Lockside trail. The weather was glorious and I must have passed over a hundred runners, not to count bikers and walkers and one woman on a scooter. I was struggling after six and ended up having to walk twice. The rest of the day I was laid up as well with a headache and a generally feeling of unwell. My guess is I was quite de-hydrated.

Anyway it is Day 9 now few more days to go. Now my thoughts turn to maintenance.

Day 5

Well the day started with an early morning run. It is way to hot to be running in the evening. One of the cautions of this cleanse is muscle weakness/fatigue. My quads were achy throughout the run which I found surprising. With the amount of traffic I am not sure if morning running will become my new norm though.

I had andropausal cramping throughout the afternoon, just what you want at work. At times it was very painful. I am not sure if it was the many raspberries I ate last night or the rather mountainous glob of humus I had last night that was the culprit. It sucked though.

My energy is still good and I haven't felt nearly as sleepy or drained as I normal am. It does make me wonder what my next steps will be after this cleanse. I like the results and I could probably live without dairy. I don't know if I could live without yeast and flour.  Anyway it was been a good day indeed. Tomorrow I get to re-connect with my family as well, something I am looking forward too!

Day 4

Nearly nothing to report today. Feeling well, energy is good and nearly made it through the day without flatulence! I think I cheated a bit though. I had several handfuls of raspberries tonight. They were so good!

I am getting a bit bored of the diet. One can have only so much brown rice. For dinner tonight I BBQ'd a pork tenderloin and grilled some baby potatoes. Soo good.

One other thing i have noticed though, I am drinking considerably less coffee. I am not even drinking one mug in the morning. I am having no trouble with removing bread or sugar from the diet. But I am craving salt. I made some kick ass humus and ate that as a snack tonight.

Anyway that was my day, besides teaching diaphragmatic breathing to a group of individuals who couldn't care less!

The end of Day 3

When the "healing Crisis" was most difficult to manage, but by 1:00 I was through the worst. Funny thing is I got about 4 hours of sleep last night but I feel good and energetic! I even went for a run this afternoon, sans water unfortunately.

Things are looking up!

Day 3

Day 3 has not started out well. This cleanse indicates that initially one will experience various symptoms as the body releases the toxins stored in the body. I have been up since 3:30 am with a pounding headache, nausea and body chills. I feel like I am detoxing from heroin. I know that this is something that I must get through but it is hard right now when I feel like I am clearly dying.

Day 2

Well the day didn't start great. Nausea set in pretty good. But by 10 I was rolling. I felt more affected this evening. I played horribly at ball and I feel headachy right now. I made falafel but for some reason skimped on the seasonings...mmmm tasteless balls. The lemon tahinni helped.

Anyway I am beat and I don't feel good right now. The program must be working!

Day 1

Well I am stumped. Why is it that the makers of supplements have no other choice but to make foul tasting pills? And I have to take twelve plus sixty drops of something else.

Anyway. Breakfast consisted of a savory oatmeal. Lunch more oatmeal and hard boiled eggs. Dinner was roasted chicken, brown rice, roasted veggies and a peach salsa that I will certainly be adding to my repertoire of cooking.

Physically I haven't done too badly, I shall spare those details. I have been having hot flashes during the day which have been rather odd.

The kitchen is a mess and I so wish there was someone else to clean it up!

Let's see how tomorrow goes

A challenge

Well I have been convinced. A colleague with whom I work with has gently painted a thought of a healthier way to live. Through the reading I have recently done, she sounds bang on. It would appear as though the human body has difficulty processing yeast, dairy, sugar and flour. These build up in our systems and makes them sluggish. Sluggish is something that I have known for sometime now. It is also a perspective that looks at food as something more than simply fuel to the body. Food impacts our body in possibly several different ways. So I am challenged to do a D-Tox.

Starting on Sunday, I am riding my body of that which should not be, according to its authors anyway. Out with food items that yeast, sugars, flour and dairy. I have my supplements and my meal plans. Toxins out!

On a sad note it means I must also abstain from any alcohol for twelve days. Pray for me!!