Raw diet/ Juice fast Day 3

So about a week ago, I started reading about juice fasting and raw diets and all the many health benefits. The weight loss is tremendous (at least a pound a day), also, it detoxifies you and helps you sleep better, lifts your mood and helps give you energy during the day.  All of these things make sense if you think about how hard your body has to work to digest garbage and how little fresh foods the average busy person eats. I have learned about all of this in my nutrition courses over the years, but never was really able to do it with the kids and my busy life. But I started this week easing into a juice cleanse by starting on a raw foods diet. Here is my menu for the first 3 days, going from just a regular diet into the raw foods and then around day 5 I am going to start a 10-15 day long juice only fast. Then I am going to see where I am at and how I am feeling and go from there, probably back to a raw diet for a bit until my wedding. I am going to eat tons of cake on my wedding day. I miss sweets so much already. I almost ate a chocolate chip last night but mustered the strength not to. Just one chocolate chip...

Day 1

6am: 2 bananas
          coffee
          a handful of raw unsalted pumpkin seeds

9am: Large glass of green tea and a few strawberries
      

11am: Turkey avocado sandwich and home fry potatoes ((this was my "last meal")) I honestly have not had any bread or meat since this one. This was "day 1", so I wanted to eat one last thing before I jumped off the cliff of fruit and veggie doom. Only reason I even included this in my food diary is because I didn't want to lie here. I am really doing this. I am just easing into it. Now that I am on day 3, you will notice below that I am pretty well on a full on juice fast, with the exception of a few seeds to make my stomach stop hurting and growling and to give me the fiber I need to cleanse my digestive tract..

5pm:  1 large green juice (kale, celery, cucumber, apples, and black grapes)
          Large handful of raw almonds

I was pretty hungry on this day. I am not used to eating fresh fruits/veggies. I usually get up and have pancakes, waffles, etc. I am still developing a taste for it. When I had the orange, it was the first time I had eaten one since I was a kid. My taste buds go crazy when I eat fruit. But even only after 3 days, I love oranges and have developed a taste for them. I also drank tons of water through the day. I was a little hungry when I went to bed, but not too bad. I had lunch with a friend and it was a turkey sandwich with avocado and breakfast potatoes ("home fries") but this was the last time I would eat anything like this for the duration of this diet. The nuts really help and I don't feel too bad eating them because I need the fiber anyway and they are unsalted. They really help when my stomach is growling, even if I only eat a handful. I want to get the fiber in me so I can help flush out some toxins and get rid of it, so the seeds and nuts are good for that too.

Day 2

6am: coffee (black)
         Large fruit juice (mango, apple, strawberry, lemon)
          A couple rasins
      
12pm: Fresh juiced apples with a little lemon and a few black grapes

6pm: Two large handfulls of raw pumpkin seeds, unsalted
          Large green juice
          A few baby carrots

1 am: 1/2 a pineapple
           Green Tea

Day 2 was a little tough. I was starving to death in the morning, and really wanted carbs,  but after I got that juice in me I felt better. It really perks you up. I know I am supposed to give up coffee, but I cant. I don't want to either. I believe it is good for me. I think every raw diet/juice fast is different and should really be tailored to your needs so you don't give up. So yea, it was a tough day. I drank a lot of water to help me feel fuller. I just didn't want much juice. It didn't sound appealing at all. Chris ordered a Philly last night with fries. It is my favorite food to eat and I resisted. My mouth is watering right now just thinking of it.

Day 3

6am :  black coffee
          Apple, mango, orange juice (large)
          Handful of seed mixture
        
        
12pm      Large green juice, tons of water

3:30pm: Kombutcha (1 bottle) and am going to make a large black grape juice for later.

So this is day 3 so far. I am going to go off the seeds in a few days, but for now I feel like I need them there in those moments when I feel like I am going to loose it and eat a big burrito or something. I have been drinking water all day. I don't like the green juice, so I need to figure that out so I don't deplete my body of nutrients.

I weighed myself 7 days ago and it was 138. This morning at the gym, I weighed in at 131, so that is 7 pounds in a week. I know it is all probably water and bloating from all the meat and fried foods and crap I have been eating. I have just started a workout routine, so I think I shed a little before the diet even started, too.

I feel light on my feet. I have tons of energy. I don't feel sluggish and lethargic like I did before starting this. Today I rode the bike uphill for 10 miles at the gym and then my legs were on fire, so I got on the treadmill and did a brisk 20 minute hike at a 6- 8 incline and a speed of 3.5. I am out of shape obviously. My lungs hurt really bad when I do cardio. Its hard. I didn't do any weights today because the bike killed me. I plan to do abs tonight with the on demand thing I have. I always feel so good after I work out, though. I have an appointment at the Y on Thursday with a personal trainer.

I haven't had any detox symptoms. I feel really good. Just have the mental cravings for real food a lot, but I just remind myself that it is bad for me right now and I need this time to detox. I plan on reading some more on different recipes and stuff tonight. I am just working with the produce I have on hand and using it up so we don't waste it. Chris is making pork chops tonight and I really wish I could eat one. I do not know how people can be vegetarians. They are missing out on orgasmic meat flavor crystals exploding in their mouth. Is it ok if I lick the pork chop? lol. Man I am a big meat eater. That is another thing about this diet. It makes you stare yourself in the face and realize what you have been eating. It makes you "be alone" with yourself because you dont have that little friend (food). It really helps with introspection and learning discipline. The full on juice fast is going to be really tricky and I am now thinking of going down to a 10 day one. We'll see. I feel really strong right now though. I just  need to read a little more about some different recipes and variations of juice fasts so I don't find myself tripping up and not having the food I need to finish this thing.

I slept really good last night without taking my pill, too. I am really hopeful that keeps up. And my mood is great. I feel more patient than I was before. I am really trying to turn in and learn some things and gain some tools from this. I like the idea of re training our taste buds to enjoy fruit and veggies and retraining our appetites by deciding when we really need to eat or just want to for fun/comfort.