Day 3: Still Difficult

The end of day three and the start of day four…  Starting Hump Day for the first week of blend fasting.
Morning weight:  367lbs.  (on Day 4)
I am up / down “2/6”.  As in, 2lbs up from yesterday and 6lbs down from my fasting start weight:  373lbs (morning of Day 1).
Yesterday was a difficult day.  I am still very tired – physically and sleep wise.  I was dreading going to the pool, but when I finished (1hr of treading water), I felt refreshed.  Then, and hour later, exhausted again.  The struggle is maintaining the correct blood sugar level so as not to want to go to sleep, not feel excited and not feel hungry.  It’s a fine balance.  I will be happy when I get my “fasting second wind.”
This time (this fast), I’m finding the sleeping difficult.  I got in a bad sleep habit when Hil was gone earlier in the year and the habit got reinforced with her latest trip.  I’m readjusting, but it’s slower than usual.  I’m sure this is due to the modified alternate day fasting (trying to) and the current juice / blend fast.  I remain amazed at the body’s ability to quickly adapt to changing conditions and then it’s reverse – slow adaptation to returning conditions.  It’s like the body is saying, “Yes!  I can do that!”, but then says, “Wait a minute, we just changed from that…  Why are we going back?”  Eventually, the body comes around, but then it’s even more resistant to the next change.  I think this is the problem with yo-yo dieting (which I am guilty of).
So, the elephant in the room is that I gained 2lbs since yesterday morning.  What’s up with that?  Well, as mentioned in yesterday’s review (post), I dropped 6lbs from the prior day and that was not a sustainable rate of loss.  I said it was probably a combination of stomach content and water retention (loss).  Given I didn’t eat yesterday and I did drink, this means the ratio was probably more than 50 / 50 between water (fluid) loss and stomach content.  As a gallon of water is a little over eight(8) pounds, 8.34 to be precise, a two(2) pound gain is about a quart of water (fluid) retained over what I was carrying yesterday morning.  Not a big deal if the over-all trend remains downward tomorrow and the next day.  This is why many sources recommend only weighing yourself once a week instead of daily.  So I have to remind myself:  “It’s the trend that counts, not the daily drops and bounces.”
Today, (Day 4) should be another “difficult” day as we are going to my sister’s house for a family BBQ to celebrate Labor Day.  We’re bringing the deserts, which my wife stocked up on yesterday.  Every time I opened the fridge to get some juice, cake and chocolate fudge brownies are staring me in the face…   Can I feel some luv???  Or at least a little sympathy…  LoL
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On This Day In:
2021	Back To Paying Dues
	Keep Rollin’
2020	Diets And Lifestyle Changes
	Pay Attention
	Just Not Sure, And That’s Okay
2019	The Right Questions
	Day 3: Still Difficult
2018	A Thought For Those Continuing To Support President Trump
	Day 36: Pushing On
2017	Imagining Humor
2016	So Go On And Deal With It
2015	From A Letter To A Friend
2014	Your Part (Here)
2013	Complements
2012	Sound And Light
2011	Two Politicians Visit A Farm…
2010	Labor Day And Honorable Men

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Day 32: Planning The Future

The end of day thirty-two and the start of day thirty-three…
Morning weight:  315lbs.
I am now down “58/65”.  As in, 58lbs down from my fasting start weight: 373lbs, and 65lbs down from my highest weight ever (two days before I started the fast): 380lbs.  Today’s loss is a 2lbs loss, down from 317lbs yesterday.
Scale Issues:  Some of you may recall back on Day 22, I talked about moving weights around and putting down some new floor mats in my “workout” room.  When I did that, I somehow “messed” up my scale.  It was showing my weight as down about 15lbs below what I had in the morning.  I tried various things to get the scale to “fix” itself, but it would not cooperate.  In the end, I had to reposition my feet to get it to come close to where I was in the morning.  This “new” position was the one shown in the photo on Day 27.  In it, you can see my heels touch and my toes are positioned near the curves of the rubber (at roughly 8 o’clock and 4 o’clock on the face of the scale).  Prior to Day 22, my heels were touching and my big toes were touching at the “0” (zero) on the scale.  This was my way of trying to designate where my feet should always be place for a consistent weigh-in.
Well, to make a longer story short(er), this morning I suddenly gained about 12 to 15 lbs!!  This was with my toes splayed (as in the photo).  The bottom line was the only way to get a weigh-in that was close to yesterday was to go back to the original position with my heels and toes touching and big toes at the “0” (zero).  I don’t have a clue what happened.  I did not move the scale.  I did not bounce on the scale…  I just don’t know.  So, it appears I am back to my original foot positioning.  Which I am happy about because I felt it was a more accurate way of getting my feet in the same position every day for the weigh-in.  Future photos (if I post any) will appear with heels and toes touching.  …Subject to the scale-gremlins and other unknown factors.
Other Thoughts:  My wife said:  “Wouldn’t it be nice if you could break 300lbs!”  I replied that would probably take another 10 days if I continue to lose at the current rate.  She replied she was happy where I’m at and with my breaking the fast this Saturday as she’s tired of it (the fast) and of eating alone.  We then talked about how I’m thinking about food more and more.  She said it is probably because I’ve emotionally committed to ending the fast and I’m losing focus.  I laughed and agreed…  Day by day.   Four(4) days to go.
Tomorrow and Thursday will be two more “Life” days.  (A “Life Day” is what happens when you plan something – a nice, quiet fast, for example – and then LIFE gets in the way to change your plans.)  I have to change my fluid intake to accommodate a clear fluid day due to prep for my colonoscopy on Thursday afternoon.  No “red” juices – grape, black cherry, strawberry, etc.  No veggie-juice with “sediment”.  Plus, I have to drink the “Bowel Prep Kit” mixture to fully flush my system.  It’s actually a two-fer.  I have part one at 5pm tomorrow (plus two 16oz of water within an hour) and then part two (same thing again) in the morning 6 hours before the procedure.  After all that, I should be weak as a newborn puppy…  Well, a 300lbs plus puppy.  So, anyone reading this:  keep me in your positive thoughts and / or prayers…
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On This Day In:
2017	Thinking Out Loud
2016	Fighting Change
2015	Get Change
2014	Trapped (Again)
2013	Someone Else Believes
2012	The Practical Value of Science
2011	Seize Gladly The Difficult Task
	A Constitutional Conversation
2010	The Fierce Urgency Of Now…

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Day 24: Hand Touching Hand

The end of day twenty-four and the start of day twenty-five…
Morning weight:  334lbs.
I am now down “39/46”.  As in, 39lbs down from my fasting start weight:  373lbs, and 46lbs down from my highest weight ever (two days before I started the fast):  380lbs.  Today’s loss is a 2lbs loss, down from 336lbs yesterday.  I have now lost +10% of my body weight from the starting date of the fast.
Hand Touching Hand 20 August 2018
On 25 July 2018, I could only touch the tips of my two middle fingers behind my back.  After about a week, I was able to touch to the first knuckles on my middle fingers and the tips of my two rings fingers.  As of today, I can hold both hands behind my back and actually reach the palms (behind my back).
I went to my gastroenterologist today.  It is time for another colonoscopy (in a couple of weeks) and an endoscopy to check my throat for cancer.  He said it would be a “two-fer”.  That will be happening in the next couple of weeks – after he’s had a chance to clear it with my health insurance company.  I also called to setup my follow-up with my urologist to get my kidney test evaluated (and possibly have my stones busted up).  That follow-up is next week (Monday).  The actual “blasting” will probably be (again) after it’s cleared by my health insurance and a couple of more weeks to get a scheduled time.  Finally, in the afternoon, we had to take our dog to the vet to see about an ear infection.  It feels like I did a lot, so that’s the good side…
The day ended up being another “tough” day.  Not so much because of the fasting, per se, but because I couldn’t relax and enjoy my veggie juices in the comfort of my home.  I ended up making due by topping up my energy levels with repeated 8-oz shots of OJ, until everything which needed doing, got done.  This gave me the required fructose rush to get me through a couple of hours, but it didn’t allow for a level energy day.  Peaks and valleys of energy means weakness – a deep in the bone feeling of tiredness – which, in turn, leads to thoughts of food.  Eating, too.  But, mostly food.  Just plain food.  And tastes…  And smells…  These are the hard days which lead to cheating and ultimately ending the fast before you’re “ready”.  Before you decide to.  It’s hard balancing on the edge of the blade between just enough energy and too little energy;  between feeling clean internally and feeling deep hunger.
In the meantime, tomorrow will be another milestone.  At noon it will be 25 days of veggie juice fasting.  So I take comfort (and a little pig-headed pride) in reaching another “small” milestone.  I’m beginning to wonder if I’m doing this (the fast) for the days or for the lost weight.  It seems setting small goals with each is both empowering and confusing at the same time.
Day by day…  Pound by pound.
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On This Day In:
2017	The Tide Will Turn
2016	Dreamers
2015	Three Roars
2014	Be R-E-L-E-V-A-N-T
2013	Lacking
2012	So Small A Thing
2011	Is Your Time Valuable?

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Day 23: Fasting Visualized

The end of day twenty-three and the start of day twenty-four…
Morning weight:  336lbs.
I am now down “37/44”.  As in, 37lbs down from my fasting start weight:  373lbs, and 44lbs down from my highest weight ever (two days before I started the fast):  380lbs.  Today’s loss is a 3lbs loss, down from 339lbs yesterday.  One more pound of loss and I will have lost +10% of my body weight from the starting date of the fast.  I’m still .3lb shy of 10%.
FitBit Weight Loss as of Day 23.
Please recall as soon as I come off of the juice fast I will (should) gain between 7lbs and 10lbs as this is the “normal” amount of weight contained in a person’s stomach plus a couple of pounds for water retention due to salts and sugars in most foods.  This means my “real” weight loss for the 23 days is probably closer to 30 to 35lbs than it is the 37 to 44lbs indicated by the chart.
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On This Day In:
2017	Still Trying To Make It
2016	One Lucky Man
2015	Food Change ==> Health Change
2014	10 Commandments Of Logical Arguments (Fallacies)
2013	Sociology Of The Future
2012	1010
	There In The Sunshine
2011	Not Enough Time

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Day 22: Step And Hang

The end of day twenty-two and the start of day twenty-three…
Morning weight:  339lbs.
I am now down “34/41”.  As in, 34lbs down from my fasting start weight:  373lbs, and 41lbs down from my highest weight ever (two days before I started the fast):  380lbs.  Today’s loss is a 2lb loss, down from 341lbs yesterday.
My son (James) moved out of the house about seven years ago.  I “inherited” his bedroom.  Over the course of time I’ve turned it into another library storage room for my book collection and I’ve (slowly, slowly) added bits and pieces of workout equipment to make it into a mini-gym.  My wife has been in constant battle with me over this as she believes the room is her personal rent-a-space.  I routinely go in and find she’s moved something into “storage”.  I then have to find some way to organize the new items so I can still walk around and use the room as I want to.  LOL.  It’s a constant battle which I slowly win as she doesn’t care what I do with the things as long as she doesn’t have to see or dust them anymore.
Today I moved a bunch of my weights and barbells around in the room.  I laid down some more rubber floor pads.  (Almost the whole floor covered now.)  And, I (re-)setup my inversion table.  Because our housing association community pool was extremely busy today, I decided to pack in the swim and do some step-ups instead.  I cleared a bit of floor space, and did my 30 minutes.  (That was more than enough to raise a sweat and to remind me how old I am.)  I started using step-ups to workout way back in the 1990’s while we were living in Liverpool.  Step-ups are one of those routine exercises that benefit you by giving you a workout without taking you anywhere.  So you have ready access to as much water as you want and to a toilet if needed.  Just my cup of tea…
After the step-ups, I hopped up on “the rack” and gave it a flip for about five minutes.  I got “into” inversion therapy (“hanging”) back in the early 1980’s.  I had a partially slipped disc in my lower back when I was in high school and I spent a good deal of time in pain, which got substantially worse (severe, chronic and constant) when I left the Army and started getting out of shape.  I heard about hanging on TV one evening and I felt desperate enough to try anything (but surgery).  I went to a store which offered them.  I tried one.  Within five minutes my back “popped” and it felt like an exploding nova in the base of my spine.  And then, nothing…  Absolutely, no pain for the first time in close to four or five years.  I got off the demo machine, handed the man my plastic and I’ve owned and used an inversion table ever since.  Sometimes frequently.  Most times only occasionally (once or twice a year).  Either way, I’ve carried my tables to Europe and back again when we returned.  And, yes, I am a avid proponent, advocate, champion (etc.) for inversion / hanging.
Epiphany:  I just re-read the last paragraph and it just hit me how I’ve spent most of my late twenties and most of my fifties and early 60’s in pain.  Chronic and sometimes debilitating pain.  Between my pinched nerve in my lower back and my kidney and gall stones, I’ve been a mess!  LOL.  It’s amazing to me how adaptable the human mind is.  When you are in pain, it is all-consuming.  When you are not in pain, you can take time to smell the roses (forget about the thorns) and look forward to meeting the challenges of day to day living.  We really are strange creatures.  (Or at least I am.)
Apologies to anyone who came expecting to read about my fast.  Sometimes my thoughts wander…  To tell the truth, other than being a bit tired, it’s been an easy (boring) day – fast wise.  And I think that’s a good thing!
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On This Day In:
2017	Adrift In The Oval Office
	Regrets – The Donald Failed The Test
2016	Just Ask “The Donald”
2015	Did You Pass On It?
2014	Even When It Ain’t, It Is
2013	Still Happens
2012	Possessing Eternity
2011	I Thought We Were Talking About Afghanistan

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Day 16: Looking Ahead (Just A Little)

The end of day sixteen and the start of day seventeen…
Morning weight:  349lbs.
I’ve broken under 350lbs!  The scale is bouncing between 349 and 346, so I am being conservative.  I am now down “24/31”.  As in, 24lbs down from my fasting start weight:  373lbs, and 31lbs down from my highest weight ever (two days before I started the fast):  380lbs.  Today’s loss is a 1lb loss, down from 350lbs yesterday.
Today I did some research:  3,500 kcals equals 1 pound of weight.  To lose 1 pound in a week (which is considered the “safe” rate of loss), you need to have a calorie deficit of 500 per day (average).  For me, this means about a 60-90 dog walk per day, based on 200 kcals per 30 minutes (600 kcals).  For me to continuously lose a pound a day, I have to have that much (3,500 kcals) burned in excess to what I am drinking (in veggie juice and fruit juice calories).  And this is why it is so difficult to lose weight…
Having made it through the weekend, my immediate goal is to make up another batch of veggie juice (tomorrow) to make it through to Friday noon which will then complete three(3) weeks.  Ideally, I’ll drop another 3 to 5lbs by then, which will put me in the 345lbs range.  That’s only 21 days!  LOL  My four(4) longest fasts have all been 30 day fasts.  That seems an eternity from standing at only 16 days…  So I’ll focus on tomorrow and getting to Friday (instead).
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On This Day In:
2017	Tonight
	I Rejoice
2016	Conscientious Courage
	Speaking Of Which…
2015	The Beautiful Snow
2014	Nurtured By The Voices
2013	Précis
2012	Fear And Understanding
2011	Just Being Human

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Day 14: Two Weeks!

The end of day fourteen and the start of day fifteen…  Two weeks and counting!
Morning weight:  352lbs.
I went back to my records to see what’s what…  The week prior to starting my fast I weighed in at 380lbs (my personal high / worst).  I bounced up and down for several days between 378 and 380.  Then, two days before the start of the fast (at 380lbs), I started the fasting prep.  I’m not sure “exactly” what I was doing, but on the day the fast started I was actually 273lbs.  So, I’d actually already started losing weight (7lbs).  Since then, with the two weeks of fasting, I’ve dropped down 21lbs, to 352lbs.  I lost stomach content weight and some excess water weight the first few days, but after that it’s been “actual” weight.  I always estimate the starting loss at about 10lbs, so REALLY I’m only down 11lbs for the two weeks of fasting.
How’s it been?  So far, great!  I’m sometimes walking a fine line between veggie juice / fructose and energy crash, but so far I’ve not been seriously tempted by food (or hunger) to break the fast.  Yes, the first three days are always the hardest for me.  But, that is because I both enjoy the taste of food and the eating of it.  I enjoy the sensations of biting, chewing and swallowing.  Now, all I get is the swallowing.  And, it’s definitely not the same!
I seem to be going through phases of wanting to chew and then not.  First it was the smell of Hil (my wife) cooking her meals.  Then it was watching all the commercials on TV.  There is something about the phrases “All you can eat” and “limited time” which makes some commercial breaks seem interminable.  LOL
Really, though…  I’m doing remarkable well.  My heart rate and blood pressure have both dropped.  My hands and feet no longer bloat when I walk or sit too long.  My various fat areas: muffin top, bingo wings, saddle bags, cottage cheese thighs, etc. are all decreasing.  Stomach is flatter.  Clothes are more comfortable.  I’m sleeping better.  So, yes.  All in all, I’m doing well.
Now if I could just get rid of these kidney stones and groin pain, I’d be singin’ in the rain.  LOL  That’s the problem with age…  There’s always something!
Expectations:  I expect to plateau and start having some “0” or only 1lb loss days from here out.  Several days this last week I’ve dropped 2 or 3lbs and, from my experience, that is not a sustainable rate of loss (for me).  But I will be more than happy to go another six days (20 total) and drop 12 to 15lbs of actual weight.  I think that will put me in a perfect position to move over to a lifestyle diet and begin working out.  Then maybe I’ll be able to convert a quick drop in weight into a long term healthier future.
Being realistic, six more days sounds like a long time…  So, I’ll take it day by day and not beat myself up if I don’t make it to 20 days.  After all, my initial goal was 7 days and I’ve already doubled that!
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On This Day In:
2017	Try It, You’ll Like It
2016	Echo Chamber?
2015	Embrace The World Like A Lover
2014	Democratic Beliefs (for the next President)
2013	And Go Now!
2012	A World Safe For Diversity
2011	What If I Don’t Want To?
2009	Restful Sunday and a Movie About Boys’ Dolls (Action Figures)

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Day 13: Ginger / Mint Relief

The end of day thirteen and the start of day fourteen…
Morning weight:  353lbs.  Wow!  Coming up on fourteen days with no solid food and I’m still feeling pretty good (diet / fast wise).  Every now and then I get a twinge of cravings, but it’s been pretty easy today.  Smelling Hil’s meals and watching all the food commercials on TV are the worst.  Of those, I’d put THE worst of it on the smells.  They are starting to cause an involuntary reaction – salivation.  LOL.  Welcome to instant memory land…  I’m not feeling hungry or anything close to that.  It’s just the smell of toast or curry…
And how does one deal with a purely memory induced taste sensation.  Well, I break out another bottle of veggie juice to reset the taste buds.  This is what I was talking about a few days ago when I said:  “You have to have a bottle of veggie juice at the ready, because you never know when you’re going to need it”.  That’s what I normally do, anyway.  And it worked for breakfast.  Hil ate out for lunch.  For dinner, she had food and I hid in my room with a bottle of ginger / mint “tea” which I brew up.  And, then I had my veggie juice.  (Which I am still drinking as I type.)
I’ve been mentioning my kidney stones pain a lot lately.  Well, it turns out I may have stumbled on a palliative (if not a cure).  When I got home from the pool today, I got out a bottle of my ginger / mint tea.  By the time I’d finished the 32ozs, my groin pain was gone!  Not completely, but mostly!  I’d say it’s down from 8 of 10 to 1 of 10 (or less).  At the moment, it feels like a bit of residue “bruise” pain from passing a stone.  Since I haven’t seen any get passed today, I have to assume the drink helped dissolve whatever was causing the pain.  Eureka!  I hope it’s as simple as just drinking a bit of tea.  Only time will tell.  Fingers crossed all…
And tomorrow noon, will mark the end of two weeks veggie juice fasting…  🙂
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On This Day In:
2017	Still Removing Bricks
2016	Namaste
2015	Still Learning
2014	Dark Processes
2013	To The Last Link
2012	Slept In Again
2011	Home Again, Naturally
2009	Thoughts after a long day of OT…

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Day 12: Waiting

The end of day twelve and the start of day thirteen…
Morning weight:  355lbs.  A couple of days ago I mentioned the scale is bouncing around a bit and giving me questionable readings.  A couple of days ago I put my weight at 358lbs and then yesterday at 356lbs.  Both times the loss was 2lbs overnight.  The scale was actually reading 355lbs and 353lbs respectively.  Today, the low was closer to 350lbs, but I’m now sure I don’t trust the scale, so I’m going with 355lbs.  As with any scale, if you move around or lean one direction or another, you can get a different reading.  I’m trying to read from the same place every time to stay consistent.  In my case, that is with big toes and heals touching with toes directly under the “0” on the scale face.  I also try to balance without leaning forwards or backwards.  My feet are too big to fit entirely on the scale, so all of this is a rough estimate / best guess.   The bottom line is this puts me at 15lbs of real weight loss in only twelve days (and 25lbs total).  Oh, yeah…  I made more veggie-juice today.  It should be enough to get me through the weekend (or very close).
Other developments:  I went to the urologist today.  He said my ultra-sounds are not conclusive and I need a CT scan of my kidneys to see if there are stones.  He said it’s unlikely the cysts are the problem and it’s more likely I simply have a very specific groin muscle tear which I keep aggravating.  I can’t see how that is possible (myself), but I will go get the CT just to make sure.  It has to clear the insurance and then get scheduled, so it may be a few weeks.  If it is just a muscle tear, the “fix” is to do as little as possible.  I don’t see how it can be a muscle tear as I don’t know how it would come and go and sometimes be “background” pain and other times feel like it’s going to kill me (double me up / practically in tears painful).  For me, the big problem was the appointment was 11:45am, so I had to go most of the day without topping up my energy with normal amounts of juice.  I got through it, but I don’t like waiting around.  Not drinking enough regularly causes me confusion, dizziness and makes me feel weak.  This is almost certainly just a lack of sugar in my blood system as an ounce or two of juice and I’m good for another hour or so with symptoms completely gone.
Update on the door:  It is still scrapping, but I was able to fix the “top lock” / dead bolt.  I just took off the face plate and chiseled out a bigger hole.  I then reset the face plate and voila – the door locks normally again.  I have to be careful or I might turn out to be a useful handyman in my retirement…  🙂
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On This Day In:
2017	Like When You Can Order Others To Fight For You
2016	Holding Fast
2015	Alms Or Balms
2014	A Day At The Beach
2013	Pillows
	Steppin’
2012	Invincible Summer
2011	Being Objective
2010	First Things First…
	Northwest Passages – Intro
	Northwest Passages – Day One
	Northwest Passages – Poetry
	Northwest Passages – Evening One
	Northwest Passages – Morning Two

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Day 8: One At A Time

The end of day eight and the start of day nine…
My morning weight:  361lbs.  This means I am now only one pound shy of twice the maximum allowed weight (181lbs) for someone my height in the U.S. military (Army).  LOL  I blew through that weight when I was 23 years old and haven’t been within 30lbs of it since I was 29 years old.  My how time has flown…
I’m not sure what’s up.  Today I just didn’t get hungry.  I got up and walked the dog a bit late (after 9am).  It was already hot.   I got home and had a glass of OJ and then about 1pm I had a bottle of veggie juice mixed 50-50 with fruit juice.  I wasn’t hungry or weak.  I just felt like “I know I need to drink something before I start to crash.”  So, I drank my bottle of mix, but I never did get hungry, weak or have the “expected” energy crash.  I did however, fall asleep for 15-20 minutes about 3:30pm.
The saying in losing weight is:  “Eat less, move more.”  I am chewing less.  I’m not sure I’m in-taking that much less in terms of calories.  I am moving more, but not a lot more.  Being retired, I’ve started going to our local swimming pool.  I actually started going way back in early June when my cardiologist said I need to “man-up” and start going to the pool.  Bottom line: I’ve jogged 1 time (2 miles) since starting the juice fast and I’ve been to the pool 6 times for at least an hour each.  I don’t swim for that long.  I just tread water for 60 minutes.  I then “may” do 1 to 10 laps of the pool – breast stroke, side stroke and kick-boarding.  And, of course, I walk my dog each day 30 to 60 minutes – almost always closer to 30 than 60.  I am also doing some walking around the house or in-place to get my FitBit up over 10K for each day.
Without feeling hungry or fed up, I didn’t see any particular reason to break the eating / chewing fast with a meal at noon, so I just decided to push through the rest of the day.  Overall, I’m feeling terrific.  I’m still suffering from the pain in my groin from the cyst, but I’m going to get that checked out this week at the urologist.  So, that is just wait and see…  Other than that, I guess my next short-term goal, (other than day to day,) is 10 days, which takes me through mid-day Monday, 6 August.
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On This Day In:
2017	Trump Supporters Will Always Find An Excuse
2016	More Posts
2015	A Last Request
2014	It Matters
2013	And You Are?
2012	Not Too Late
2011	Persistence
2009	Health Care?

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Day 3: Approaching The Half Way Point

The end of day three and the start of day four…  Goal in sight!
Get up.  Walk the dog.  Drink breakfast.  Run to throne.  Piddle about the house.  Run to throne.  About house.  Run…  (Sensing a pattern?)  Just before 1pm my stomach settles and I go to the pool for a swim.  The timer clock at the pool malfunctions and instead of an hour treading water and then a few laps, I spend the whole 75 minutes treading water and then come home.  Start in on my second bottle of veggie juice.
Hil went to the store to restock my veggies as I’m going to have to make a new batch of veggie juices soon (tomorrow).  And, yes, I know I’m “supposed” to make it just before I drink it, but frankly, I’m just TOO lazy.  It’s just easier for me to make two or three days worth and then pull them out 2 or 3 a day as needed.  My view is the less time I’m standing in front of an open fridge, the better.  As Oscar Wilde said:  “I can resist everything except temptation.”  After I make up the veggie juice, I’ll probably boil up some water for ginger / mint tea.  I make up about 1/2 gallon and it is very refreshing (after chilling) in the heat of the day.
No headaches today.  My energy level seems okay – even – but, short term.  Good at starting something;  not so good at finishing it.  I’m hoping it’s just more of my normal state of attention deficit disorder.  I’ll know more in two days…
It’s now past 7:30pm here.  That means I’m more than half way through the conscious part of day 4.  (LOL)  I’m currently enjoying a V8 and apple cider mix.  I don’t usually drink V8 – the regular V8, that is.  I like the taste, but it has way too much salt.  Having said that, it is drinkable.  I’ve had the low-sodium version of V8 and it is TERRIBLE tasting.  I consider it undrinkable.  Just my opinion.  But this particular blend is delicious.  Of course, it could just be my veggie enhanced taste-buds talking to my brain.  I’m only drinking the V8 because my wife got it by accident.  She misread my shopping list on which I asked for “V8-Healthy Greens”.  This is a rather bland tasting mixture which is almost bad enough to make you think it must be healthy.  As near as I can tell, it almost tastes good and only has 60 calories per serving, so you get away with about 300-400 calories for a meal (46oz bottle).
With a fresh stoke-up of veggies in the chiller, I may decide to push on past the 7 days and go for a full 10.  I’ll play it by ear and see how my energy levels are.  Generally, I know it’s time to come off the fast when I get “hungry in my bones”.  It’s hard to describe the exact feeling.  For me, there’s: 1)  I notice a clock:  “It’s lunch (meal) time” in my eyes, 2)  “Humm, I could just go a biccie (that’s cookie to non-Brits) or a few crisps (that’s potato chips)” (usually in response to a smell or a TV commercial), 3)  “My tummy’s growling” in my ears and stomach (obviously), 4)  “My stomach thinks my throat’s been cut” – I’m starting to get desperate, 5)  I start to get a headache or my hands and knees start shaking – quick sugar rush time, and then, 6)  I’m hungry in my bones…  “Eat something NOW!”
The last one is the warning sign that my body is going to severely over run my common sense / rational judgement at my next opportunity to eat.  I think this is where the expression “hungry like a wolf” comes from.  And, yes, I have ended fasts on pizzas, fried chicken and other similar less than “healthy” foods in the past.  More often than not, I have broken fasts slowly with an apple, a small salad or a cup of yogurt or some such boring item.  So, no, I’m not always a complete idiot about this.  (LOL)
Right now, it looks like the schedule is for ending Friday noon (7 full days) or Monday noon (6 Aug) which would be 10 full days.  After that, I’ll probably go to the (Dr. Smith) “Fat Smash” diet or combo it with Dr. Fuhrman “Eat To Live” diet for a couple more (at least 6) weeks.  Either will give me a chance to modify my “lifestyle” eating habits to something better for the longer term as I continue to lose weight.  And, (drum roll please) this morning’s weight:  368lbs.  That’s down 1lbs from yesterday and 12lbs from 20 July.
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On This Day In:
2017	Orange Comb-Overs Unite!
2016	Speaking Of Which
2015	Complexity Has A Strict Architecture
2014	Just Support
2013	Wandering Free
2012	Contribute = Paying Taxes
2011	How Will You Be Judged?

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Day 2 – Notes On Progress

I’ve now finished my second 24 hours of cleansing fast and have started day 3.  I guess I’m going to call each day from noon to noon, instead of wake-up to wake-up.  Which means I’m about 6 hours into day 3 as of the start of this post (a little after 6pm).
The day was mentally difficult because I took my wife to my sister’s house so they could spend the afternoon wine tasting and nibbling.  My sister is a member of several wine clubs and this is something they both enjoy spending an afternoon (or day) doing.  Normally, I just kick it at her house with her husband (Art) or whomever is there on the day while the ladies are out and about on their tasting travels.  Per usual, we watched sports.  In this case, the SF Giants beat the Milwaukee Brewers 8 to 5.  (Yea!  Go Orange and Black!!)
Anyway, my sister is a vegetarian and always has “healthy” stuff around the house.  So, yeah, it was a hard visit to get through.  I took a bottle of V8 Strawberry / Banana juice along to get me through.  The bottle is 6 –  8oz servings and each serving is 110 calories, so I had about 700 calories out of it.  Now that I’m home, I’m having a bottle of my veggie juice and later I’ll be having another bottle of blend (3 heaping tablespoons of roughage and about 24oz manufactured juice, “shaken, not stirred”).
The bottom line is I’m tired, hungry and a bit snarky.  Other than that, though, wonderful!  (See, snarky – LOL)  I guess I should stay in the house and try to avoid people until these first few days pass, but that’s not how “real” life is lived.  So, I’m just going to have to muddle through.
Other notes:  I got a calorie deficit headache today (this morning).  When I got home after walking the dog I started to get a powerful (terrible) headache in my frontal lobes (and above both my eyes).  Fortunately, I was able to drink a large (12oz) glass of OJ and it went away.  Obviously, a cautionary message from my body about not having a “breakfast” drink before the walk.  My fingers, wrists, ankles and feet feel great!  No swelling at all during the day.  That’s a good sign for my heart as it means I’m not retaining water (fluids).  Also, my left side (kidney) is much less painful, but I’m still having pain in my groin – although, even that is less than it’s been over the last weeks.  I guess it’s possible all of the pain is some kind of inflammation which the acidic juice is helping with.
And, of course, the good news is the morning scale:  369lbs.  That’s down 2lbs from yesterday and 11lbs from 20 July.  Keeping that in perspective (since 2lbs/day is unrealistic long term loss), I’d say I’m just about out of processing food weight (food in my stomach) and saline overage water weight.  From now on the weight loss per day should be leveling out at 1lb/day, but this will be “more” actual weight loss which won’t suddenly come right back as soon as I begin eating again.  From experience, my “normal” weight re-gain is about 1lb/week.  So, a 20lbs loss would take me about 5-6 months to regain.  Again, this does not include the 5-7lbs of processing food weight which I re-gain almost immediately (2-3 days).
As for drinking juice – my primary physician, my wife and my brother are all convinced drinking fruit juice is bad for me.  They are convinced juice fructose is just as bad for me as drinking sugar water.  My head agrees with them (mostly) because I understand chemistry.  My body does not.  Nor does my personal experience.  If I drink sugar water, I feel “sweet”, eventually sickly, and then bloated and craving pure water.  This is also what happens when I drink any kind of “soda drink”.  This rarely (almost never) happens when I drink juice (not “juice drink / added sugar to flavored juice”) or whole milk.  If I drink too much juice, I pee and I get fluid diarrhea.  What I’m saying is although my head recognizes the chemical similarities, by body somehow recognizes they are different.  I do not dispute the amount of calories.  Only that they are “worthless” calories.  I have a feeling when all is said and done, this argument will end up being like the eggs will kill you / no they won’t, whole milk will kill you / no it won’t arguments which have happened since the 1970’s.  Anyway, I drink manufactured / processed fruit juices – as well as juices and smoothies I make at home.
So, those are my thoughts after day 2 and in the middle of day 3…
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On This Day In:
2017	Happy 8th Anniversary
2016	Happy 7th Anniversary
2015	Happy 6th Anniversary
2014	Happy 5th Anniversary
2013	I Resemble That Remark!
2012	Happy 3rd Anniversary
2011	Is America Safe Tonight?
2009	Hello world! (See how it all began…)

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First Step: Starting Cleansing (Again)

[Disclaimer:  Please do NOT take anything I say in this post (or the next few days) as medical advice.  I am NOT a physician or health specialist and have NO formal training in medicine, diet or nutrition.  I do have lots of personal experience dieting (and failing) and losing weight (and finding it again).  Please consult your doctor before you start a diet, work-out plan or any significant change in your physical lifestyle.  A word to the wise should suffice…    —    kmab]
Okay…  I have just finished the first 24 hours of my latest cleansing fast.  What is a “cleansing” fast?  Basically, every so often, usually once a year, I go through several days of not “eating” – that is, masticating / chewing.  The longest fasts I’ve been on were 30 days.  I’ve done these four times in my life.  Once (each) in my 20s and 30s and twice in my 50s.  The two early one were veggie broth and herbal tea fasts.  The later (and latter) two were in the last 7 years (I’m currently 63 yrs old).  I’ve also done multiple cleanses of 10 to 21 days during this time frame.  These were not so much to diet as to try to initiate lifestyle changes.  Generally, they work for “a while” (a couple of months), before I slip back into my old ways / habits.  The two long ones were the results of watching the films “Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead” (1 and 2).
Procedure:  I run a bunch of veggies through a juicer and drink the results.  This normally results in about two 32oz bottles of “veggie” juice to drink.  It also results in a large amount of “waste” roughage which I sometimes use and sometimes dispose of.  I don’t have a composting area, so if I’m not intending to use the roughage for blending or brothing, I’m afraid I haven’t been able to think of much else to do with it.  When I am just intending to juice for a day or up to three, I toss it.  If I’m intending to go longer, I keep it.
My current plan is to go for a week and see how I feel.  As such, I’m holding onto the roughage to use in a blend.  As I mentioned, “my” cleanses tend to be both veggie juice and veggie / fruit blends.  I try to go about two and three days of each, alternating.  I do this because I’m not a big fan of enemas and after two days of just veggie juice, I don’t have anything solid to pass.  The alternating between juicing and blending seems to work for me to keep the plumbing working (to put it politely) comfortably.  So, no, I’m not doing “pure” fasting.
Dieting / Weight-Loss:  I personally do NOT believe juicing (the way I do it) is an effective form of dieting or of losing weight and keeping it off.  Why not?  Because the normal adult body holds about 5 to 7 pounds of food “in processing” at any time.  You eat.  It works it way through your system.  You poop.  That 5-7 pounds is the “in system” stuff.  When you (I) begin the juicing, the first couple of days is getting rid of all of this.  This means I normally drop 7 pounds in the first three to four days of a juice fast.  This is NOT true weight loss, because as soon as I eat an apple or salad coming off the fast, the weight is right back there in my stomach being processed.  Interestingly, this period also roughly corresponds with the snarky, tired, miserable mood period most people experience when they start a juice fast.  It is only after this initial period that I begin to lose real weight.
On my last 10 day fast (just juice), I lost 20 pounds.  Thirteen if you discount the stomach weight.  On my last 20 day fast (juice and blend), I lost 25.  On my last 30 day fast (juice and blend), I lost 30 pounds.  Again, you’d have to subtract 7 pounds to get the real weight (18 and 23, respectively).  There is a law of diminishing returns – for me anyway.  It starts to fall off more slowly once I get past the 15 day mark.  I’ve never averaged less than a pound per day over the course of a fast.  But, I’ve also never had a “really” long fast (over 30 days).
So, what’s the difference between “blending” and “brothing”?  Blending (for me) is using either water or purchased fruit juice in a blender with the roughage to make a “smoothie”, which I then drink.  Brothing is simply boiling water with the roughage to make broth.  You boil for a few minutes and then pour the mixture through a sieve to get the vegetable broth.  It’s pretty good on a cold winter day and vaguely stirs memories of eating stew (“scouse”) – but only VERY vaguely.  LOL.  A couple of points to mention:  1)  I try to use the roughage within two days (unless it’s been frozen);  and, 2)  brothing boils away a lot of the water soluble vitamins which were left after the juicing process and leaves very little soluble fiber.
And a few closing points, in addition to my regular heart meds (I suffer from irregular / non-symptomatic AFib), I also take a regular one-a-day type of multi-vitamin pill, a one-a-day D3 (specific) vitamin pill and three fish-oil pills.  I walk our family dog (almost) every day, for at least 1/2 hour (about 1 mile) and I try to do some other form of exercise.  In the summer (starting this year), it’s been treading water, which I do for an hour.  I’m currently averaging about three times per week on this.
Finally, long term weight loss (and keeping it off / maintenance) is about making a lifestyle change, not just getting through a cleansing fast.  Having said that, every thing you do to make yourself healthier – no matter how small – is a good step on the way to being just that – healthier.  So, I’m starting today and I’ll try to provide daily updates to let you know how it’s going.  Wish me luck…
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On This Day In:
2017	Effective Stimuli
2016	Dave’s Not Here, Man
2015	Blink
2014	The Struggle To Educate America Continues…
2013	On Elections
2012	Warm Smiles
	Pick Your Poison
2011	Straight Shooters

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Day 4 – Blending

Despite a multitude of temptations, I’ve made it through another day.  (Does anyone else begin to salivate at the smell of freshly microwaved popcorn in their work environment?)  Today’s morning weight was 332 lbs.  That’s down about 10 lbs from Sunday (the day before I started the blending fast).  That sounds good for just four days of juicing, until you remember a full belly is about 5 to 7 lbs and excess water retention is another 2 or 3 lbs.  So, 10 lbs is about right for four days of no chewing.  More good news:  I’ve also lost an inch on my waist – as judged by my belt.
The hardest part so far has been a severe kidney pain flair up Tuesday at work.  It was so painful I had to leave work mid-day and come home.  I drank lots of extra water (with lemon concentrate) and stayed off on Wednesday.  I was back at work today, but I feel pretty bruised inside on my right side.  Sometimes kidney stones are like a light switch and as soon as it moves from where it’s hurting you, you are suddenly pain free.  Other times, it’s like today, where it aches.  Still, that is much better than excruciating pain.
For whatever reason, this batch of “juice” isn’t nearly as acidic as some of the batches I’ve made in the past.  Sometimes, I almost get the feeling the juice is burning the lining of my mouth.  Then I have to wash it down more frequently with plain water (which I always keep handy).  It works, but it means having to “go” even more frequently.
I’ve not been hungry so far, but I have gone through the caffeine withdrawal headache phase.  The problem is when I do come off the fast I know I’ll be right back on the java.  I’m afraid it’s one of my last personal allowances and I’ll give up chocolate and salt before I give up my hot coffee with Bailey’s Irish Cream.
Well, the weekend is fast approaching and so a young man’s fancy turns to “Widow-maker” pizzas and BBQ ribs…  Just kidding.  4 down and 26 to go…  After that, who knows.  My better half is already planning the mostly meatless remainder of my life.  Keep me in your prayers.
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On This Day In:
2022	For A While
2021	The Cautionary Tale Of 6 January 2021
	When I Needed Sunshine
2020	65K
	Burst Buds
	Faux News Viewers
2019	Tomorrow’s Bread
2018	Impeach 45: Make America Great Again
2017	Training Shoulders
2016	You Just Have To Care
	Day 4 – Blending
2015	My Slow Education
2014	Great Service
2013	You Really Should Wear More Sweaters
	Here I Am God
2012	The Serenity Prayer
2011	The Victory Of Life

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Day 2 – Blending

Today is the end of day 2 of my blending fast.  Basically, I run a bunch of (mostly) vegetables through a juicer, then I take a blender to the roughage and add juice, beans, some walnuts and a couple of tablespoons of ground flax seeds.  The vegies were: 2 bunches of kale, 2 bunches of spinach, 2 bunches of celery, 1 red onion, a half-pound of frozen broccoli, 1 avocado and 2 large (18 inch) cucumbers.  The juices were: pineapple, apple, Naked Green Machine, Bolthouse Carrot juice and about 4 fluid ounces of lemon concentrate.  Most times, I’ll throw in bananas, tomatoes and some frozen mixed fruit, but I didn’t in this batch.   I make seven 64 FL OZ bottles of blend, which tends to last me from four to six days depending on what else I mix in during the week.  Sometimes it’s just 4 oz. of lemon concentrate in 60 oz. of water.  Sometimes I’ll mix in a bottle of cranberry or one of the other “Naked” juices.
When I did my first juice fast a couple of years ago, I lasted about 10 days on “just” juice.  Then I got tired of feeling like I was wasting all the perfectly good roughage.  I also found by including the roughage I didn’t have to worry about enemas or hemorrhoids.
My longest blend fast was 21 days, which I’ve done twice.  I’ve also done a hand full of less than a week.  I’m not good at coping with more than one “big” thing at a time, so if my heart (AFib) or kidneys (stones) flare up, I pretty much drop the fast and just try to feel better.  Of course, this results in a weight yo-yoing, but it is what it is.  My goal this time is 30 days.  As this is only day 2, it feels like a long ways off, but in the grand scheme of things it’s only ’til the end of April.  So, we’ll see…
Sunday night (before I started), I weighed in at 342lbs.  My waist is 50 inches.  I am compulsive so I will weigh myself everyday.  I know I’m not supposed to, but like I said, I don’t like to fight on more than one front at the same time, so for now I’ll blend and I’ll worry about my obsessive behavior later.  I’m walking 30 – 45 minutes each day and after about a week, I plan to start adding in a bit more vigorous exercise.  (But again, one thing at a time.)
Wish me luck and keep me in your prayers (or positive thoughts).
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On This Day In:
2022	Completely Reasonable To Worry
2021	Seeking Happiness
	Check Your Watch
2020	Expectation For The Near Future
2019	Indian Myth
	Did He Even Have The Courage To Ask?
2018	Nothing
2017	Approval First
2016	In Search Of Words
	Day 2 – Blending
2015	At What Price?
2014	Intricate And Subtle Order
2013	Attention To Detail
2012	Aequanimitas!
2011	Consider This

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