Salt & pepper squid, garlic scallops, and sauteed Chinese water spinach.
The end of eating carefully happened on Friday. In Chinatown, at 3 am, after much whiskey and very little singing of karaoke @ Winnie's with Jersey and P.
Everything seems pretty much back to normal. I'm trying to eat less wheat, because it just makes me so gassy and bloated. So far I've been avoiding it fairly well, although I did have some bready/pastryish stuff at brunch on Sunday. Of course, I should give up dairy, too, as we all know. But I'm right back to eating cheese, etc. I spent $4.50 on a yogurt parfait today. $4.50!! Fucking robbery.
I'm trying to keep up the cleansy/healthy/detoxy spirit by drinking GT's Kombucha. P.R. turned me on to it. You may recall an earlier post about the Kombucha disaster. Well, disaster aside, I've sought out more. P.R. and I went to Health Nuts yesterday to buy different flavors. And my co-worker just told me they're on sale at Whole Foods for 2-for-$5! Wow. Sounds like cause for another field trip adventure!
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Friday, January 19, 2007
Post-fast happenings.
This is so weird. Yesterday and today I have had this profound exhaustion. Like I’m so tired I can hardly move my arms above my head to wash my hair. I’ve been sleeping a full 8 (last night around 9) hours of sleep all this week, too. What is going on with my metabolism post-fast???
Last night I had a Kombucha disaster. Kombucha is a miracle product. It's a symbiotic culture of yeast and bacteria. People make Kombucha "tea" out of it, which is a fermeneted beverage with unlimited magical health benefits. The true elixir of life. But very odd-tasting. Anyway, I went to the health food store near Columbia and bought 3 bottles of it yesterday. (My friend P.R. has counselled me to go to a different health food store and get other flavors than the plain variety, so I'll do that soon.) I left one in the fridge at work, and took two home with me. I had a bunch of other crap in my bag - including two bottles of 2-buck Chuck, or 3-buck Chuck, as is the case in NYC (Roommate, please forgive my low wine standards in your absence!) - and had to run several errands after work. At any rate, at some point, one of the Kombucha bottles broke in my bag, probably from getting knocked by the wine, and EVERYTHING was soaked. Including my bag, my gym clothes, my book/magazine/planner/checkbook, and even my coat.
But the worst part is – it smelled SO bad! Or at least, so strangely. Acidic and acrid, a cross between vinegar, beer, and photochemicals. People on the trains would sniff the air, look at me in a very puzzled fashion, glare, and move away. I'm sorry! I did not piss myself or anything, people!
Last night I had a Kombucha disaster. Kombucha is a miracle product. It's a symbiotic culture of yeast and bacteria. People make Kombucha "tea" out of it, which is a fermeneted beverage with unlimited magical health benefits. The true elixir of life. But very odd-tasting. Anyway, I went to the health food store near Columbia and bought 3 bottles of it yesterday. (My friend P.R. has counselled me to go to a different health food store and get other flavors than the plain variety, so I'll do that soon.) I left one in the fridge at work, and took two home with me. I had a bunch of other crap in my bag - including two bottles of 2-buck Chuck, or 3-buck Chuck, as is the case in NYC (Roommate, please forgive my low wine standards in your absence!) - and had to run several errands after work. At any rate, at some point, one of the Kombucha bottles broke in my bag, probably from getting knocked by the wine, and EVERYTHING was soaked. Including my bag, my gym clothes, my book/magazine/planner/checkbook, and even my coat.
But the worst part is – it smelled SO bad! Or at least, so strangely. Acidic and acrid, a cross between vinegar, beer, and photochemicals. People on the trains would sniff the air, look at me in a very puzzled fashion, glare, and move away. I'm sorry! I did not piss myself or anything, people!
Thursday, January 18, 2007
The wrap-up.
First - I'm sorry for my absence yesterday. I was feeling a bit sheepish because I ended the fast early.
Yes. I ended the fast. (There's a hallelujah in there somewhere.)
Actually, I ended it on Tuesday evening. I made some fresh vegetable broth (spinach, kale, carrot, onion, mushrooms - no salt, no oil, nothing else), and had a bit of that, plus the juice from an orange. As you know from my last post, I felt really terrible on Tuesday. I was freezing, looked and felt like death warmed over, etc. Couldn't concentrate on anything. After work, I decided to go to the store to buy more supplies for the formula (I was out of maple and very low on lemons), but I also bought the veggies and some fruit. (Also Q-tips, but that doesn't really have anything to do with the fast.) I entertained the notion that I would just keep the veggies in the fridge for a couple of days or possibly make the broth and not have any of it on Tuesday, but save it for a later date when I did decide to break the fast. Yeah right.
So anyway, I made the broth when I got home. And ate it. It was delicious. It was so simple, so fresh. It's funny - had I eaten it two weeks ago it would have tasted bland at best, or even tasteless, or even gross. But it was so good I ate more than I was planning, and even ate a few bites of the veggies. Also, the freshly squeezed OJ (technically, juice from a tangelo, but as a friend asked, what the hell is a tangelo anyway?) was equally delightful.
Yesterday, I thought maybe I would just pick up where I left off and begin with the fast again. I had a lemonade for breakfast. Of course, I also then had a tangelo. So much for that plan. I had more broth and cooked veggies at lunch, and then had a pear later in the afternoon. A banana in the evening. When I got home later, I had more broth and veggies, and even a little brown rice. Once I started eating yesterday, I got ravenous - the hungry beast awakes! Also, I could feel my stomach churning as I introduced food into it. It's so cool when you can feel and become aware of your body's involuntary processes. Well, as long as it's not because you're puking or spurting blood out of an artery or something.
Today I've had some broth and veg in the morning, and an orange. I think at lunch I'll have more broth & veg, but also some brown rice. Maybe some nuts. We'll see what I'm up for tonight. Frankly, I feel like I want to just eat what I want and deal with the consequences. But I know that would be bad, not only for my digestive tract, but also for my ass/hips/thighs/etc. (remember, the metabolism is at a snail's pace these days).
Also: I haven't pooped yet since I've started eating again. Last night I was feeling blocked up, gassy, and generally uncomfortable. Today is better, but if there's been no action by this evening, I'm DEFINITELY taking the tea before bed tonight.
That's it for now. I'll post again. Perhaps.
Yes. I ended the fast. (There's a hallelujah in there somewhere.)
Actually, I ended it on Tuesday evening. I made some fresh vegetable broth (spinach, kale, carrot, onion, mushrooms - no salt, no oil, nothing else), and had a bit of that, plus the juice from an orange. As you know from my last post, I felt really terrible on Tuesday. I was freezing, looked and felt like death warmed over, etc. Couldn't concentrate on anything. After work, I decided to go to the store to buy more supplies for the formula (I was out of maple and very low on lemons), but I also bought the veggies and some fruit. (Also Q-tips, but that doesn't really have anything to do with the fast.) I entertained the notion that I would just keep the veggies in the fridge for a couple of days or possibly make the broth and not have any of it on Tuesday, but save it for a later date when I did decide to break the fast. Yeah right.
So anyway, I made the broth when I got home. And ate it. It was delicious. It was so simple, so fresh. It's funny - had I eaten it two weeks ago it would have tasted bland at best, or even tasteless, or even gross. But it was so good I ate more than I was planning, and even ate a few bites of the veggies. Also, the freshly squeezed OJ (technically, juice from a tangelo, but as a friend asked, what the hell is a tangelo anyway?) was equally delightful.
Yesterday, I thought maybe I would just pick up where I left off and begin with the fast again. I had a lemonade for breakfast. Of course, I also then had a tangelo. So much for that plan. I had more broth and cooked veggies at lunch, and then had a pear later in the afternoon. A banana in the evening. When I got home later, I had more broth and veggies, and even a little brown rice. Once I started eating yesterday, I got ravenous - the hungry beast awakes! Also, I could feel my stomach churning as I introduced food into it. It's so cool when you can feel and become aware of your body's involuntary processes. Well, as long as it's not because you're puking or spurting blood out of an artery or something.
Today I've had some broth and veg in the morning, and an orange. I think at lunch I'll have more broth & veg, but also some brown rice. Maybe some nuts. We'll see what I'm up for tonight. Frankly, I feel like I want to just eat what I want and deal with the consequences. But I know that would be bad, not only for my digestive tract, but also for my ass/hips/thighs/etc. (remember, the metabolism is at a snail's pace these days).
Also: I haven't pooped yet since I've started eating again. Last night I was feeling blocked up, gassy, and generally uncomfortable. Today is better, but if there's been no action by this evening, I'm DEFINITELY taking the tea before bed tonight.
That's it for now. I'll post again. Perhaps.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Day 6, cont. Slow metabolism
Hi all.
I'm almost through the workday. Just under an hour left.
I have not been too productive today. My attention has been very short. I am very tired and feel very out of it. Also, I think my metabolism has slowed way down - I'm freezing cold, so my co-worker lent me her space heater for under my desk AND I've put on my heavy, shearling winter coat. I look ridiculous. Also, I look like shit. I'm pale with dark dark circles under my eyes. (My appearance is probably not helped by the fact that I skipped the shower today. Thank god my hair is once again long enough for a bobby-pin assisted ponytail.)
I have a nasty taste going on in my mouth. And my tongue is finally starting to get a little gnarly. The coat is getting thicker and yellowish, particularly on the sides towards the front - which is weird. I would expect the coat to get thick and gross in the back near the root. But actually, now that I think about it, the Liver is reflected on the sides of the tongue, right? (TCM, yea!) So if the coat is coming out on the sides, it means my Liver is releasing toxins. . . ?
I was not able to do the salt flush this morning, as I had to be out of the house no later than 7 am today. So I just did the tea last night. Amazingly, stuff actually came out of me this morning without the assistance of the 32 oz of salt water. Nevertheless, I think that I might feel poorly today in part because I didn't do the flush this morning and get everything squeaky clean. I'm going to salt flush tonight when I get home from the office. That is, after I stop at the store and buy more lemons and maple. I feel like it's nuts to keep going, but I'll still try.
My tummy/intestines hurt today. They are not thrilled with the cayenne action. Also, the past couple days I've been getting some gassy-ness/bloating in my intestines, which I find really weird. What could possibly create gas, and why now?
Big thanks to P.R., R.S., and M.F. for their support and encouragement today.
I'm almost through the workday. Just under an hour left.
I have not been too productive today. My attention has been very short. I am very tired and feel very out of it. Also, I think my metabolism has slowed way down - I'm freezing cold, so my co-worker lent me her space heater for under my desk AND I've put on my heavy, shearling winter coat. I look ridiculous. Also, I look like shit. I'm pale with dark dark circles under my eyes. (My appearance is probably not helped by the fact that I skipped the shower today. Thank god my hair is once again long enough for a bobby-pin assisted ponytail.)
I have a nasty taste going on in my mouth. And my tongue is finally starting to get a little gnarly. The coat is getting thicker and yellowish, particularly on the sides towards the front - which is weird. I would expect the coat to get thick and gross in the back near the root. But actually, now that I think about it, the Liver is reflected on the sides of the tongue, right? (TCM, yea!) So if the coat is coming out on the sides, it means my Liver is releasing toxins. . . ?
I was not able to do the salt flush this morning, as I had to be out of the house no later than 7 am today. So I just did the tea last night. Amazingly, stuff actually came out of me this morning without the assistance of the 32 oz of salt water. Nevertheless, I think that I might feel poorly today in part because I didn't do the flush this morning and get everything squeaky clean. I'm going to salt flush tonight when I get home from the office. That is, after I stop at the store and buy more lemons and maple. I feel like it's nuts to keep going, but I'll still try.
My tummy/intestines hurt today. They are not thrilled with the cayenne action. Also, the past couple days I've been getting some gassy-ness/bloating in my intestines, which I find really weird. What could possibly create gas, and why now?
Big thanks to P.R., R.S., and M.F. for their support and encouragement today.
Day 6. Argh.
Okay folks. I'm about ready to throw in the towel. I'm cranky, I'm back at work, and I'm OBSESSED with Joe's Pizza. I was hanging out with a friend yesterday evening and we went to see Tears of the Black Tiger (psychedelic-technicolor manneristic Thai western) at the Film Forum. But he was hungry. So we stopped at Joe's Pizza on Bleeker/Carmine where he got two slices. Two PERFECT New York slices with crispy crispy crust and orangey oil on top of the bubbly cheese. Goddamn, it smelled so good. He says that the pizza sucked, but I don't believe him. As soon as my digestive tract is up for it, I'm taking a field trip to Joe's to prove him wrong.
Today I am cranky. Already mentioned that above, but it's worth repeating. I feel tired, too. I think I may get a fresh squeezed juice today at lunchtime. The signs are pointing to breaking the fast. . . I ran out of maple syrup today, and I'm down to my last two lemons.
Also: I hate my fucking job.
Today I am cranky. Already mentioned that above, but it's worth repeating. I feel tired, too. I think I may get a fresh squeezed juice today at lunchtime. The signs are pointing to breaking the fast. . . I ran out of maple syrup today, and I'm down to my last two lemons.
Also: I hate my fucking job.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Day 5. and definitely counting.
The salt flush just gets harder and harder to take. The small amount of saltwater is fine, but it's the 32 oz of liquid that has to fit into my shrunken stomach that's a problem. I want to vomit just because of the volume issue.
My resolve was wavering yesterday, and still is today. Yesterday afternoon & evening I was feeling physically hungry again. Today not, so far. But I just keep thinking about food: restaurants I want to go to (Da Andrea in the W village), meals I want to have (brunch), individual food items I'm craving (crepes, of all things). I think part of the problem has been that I haven't been active/out of the house enough. It's been a pretty rainy weekend, so I've spent much of my time holed up in the apartment. I did go out to that concert on Saturday night, and I went to a concert in my neighborhood yesterday afternoon w/Roommate and South American Physicist-Musician (SAPM) #1. (Sadly, SAPM #2 is still in Argentina, or perhaps he arrives back in NYC today?) But that's about it for excursions. Today, however, I'm off to the planetarium at the Museum of Natural History. And then maybe I will go to see the psychedelic Thai western that's playing at the Film Forum. Or I might be watching kung fu movies in an apartment right above Dumpling Man.
Does it defeat the purpose of the master cleanse and/or will it totally fuck me up while fasting to smoke pot tonight? Because that is something I really enjoy doing while watching kung fu flicks. I think the answer to both questions is probably yes, but it sounds really tempting. Although if I did smoke, the fast might end immediately and badly with uncontrollable munchies and a heapin', steamin' helping of dumplings. So probably best to avoid the temptation.
Tongue coat: fairly thick and fully covering my tongue, but still totally white. I take this to mean that I'm not that toxic, and therefore can quit the fast early.
My asshole is raw. Fucking salt flush.
I'm off to go for a jog.
My resolve was wavering yesterday, and still is today. Yesterday afternoon & evening I was feeling physically hungry again. Today not, so far. But I just keep thinking about food: restaurants I want to go to (Da Andrea in the W village), meals I want to have (brunch), individual food items I'm craving (crepes, of all things). I think part of the problem has been that I haven't been active/out of the house enough. It's been a pretty rainy weekend, so I've spent much of my time holed up in the apartment. I did go out to that concert on Saturday night, and I went to a concert in my neighborhood yesterday afternoon w/Roommate and South American Physicist-Musician (SAPM) #1. (Sadly, SAPM #2 is still in Argentina, or perhaps he arrives back in NYC today?) But that's about it for excursions. Today, however, I'm off to the planetarium at the Museum of Natural History. And then maybe I will go to see the psychedelic Thai western that's playing at the Film Forum. Or I might be watching kung fu movies in an apartment right above Dumpling Man.
Does it defeat the purpose of the master cleanse and/or will it totally fuck me up while fasting to smoke pot tonight? Because that is something I really enjoy doing while watching kung fu flicks. I think the answer to both questions is probably yes, but it sounds really tempting. Although if I did smoke, the fast might end immediately and badly with uncontrollable munchies and a heapin', steamin' helping of dumplings. So probably best to avoid the temptation.
Tongue coat: fairly thick and fully covering my tongue, but still totally white. I take this to mean that I'm not that toxic, and therefore can quit the fast early.
My asshole is raw. Fucking salt flush.
I'm off to go for a jog.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Day 4
Good morning.
Yesterday, I slept until about 4:30. I got up in the morning, then went back to bed. I felt so tired I was almost delerious - having surreal and anxiety-ridden dreams, but feeling sleep so heavily upon me that I could not bring myself awake. When I did get up, I felt much better. Did a little exercise, took a shower, and left to go to the concert (which was great). Came home, chatted for a bit with Roommate, watched a movie, drank the tea and went to bed.
So now it's Day 4. You know, the tea is supposed to take 8-10 hours to work, but for me, it takes about 3. The nights between days 1 & 2 and now between 3 & 4 it's woken me up in the middle of the night just a few hours after taking it. I don't know if I'll continue to take it anymore. . . or maybe I'll take it in the early evening so that it works just before I go to bed.
I figured out why the salt-flush didn't work very well yesterday: I accidentally only put in half the amount of salt required. I forgot that I was using a 1/2 teaspoon measure instead of a full teaspoon measure, so I only put two of those in, instead of the required 4. Duh. Anyway, today I did the full amount and it is working as it should. It's created some bathroom conflict with me and Roommate. Seems she wanted to take a shower this morning. Too bad, sucka! In the hour+ post salt flush, I have dominion over the loo! So, she's off to brunch shower-free: stinky and greasy. Whatever - all is fair, since at least she gets to HAVE brunch. I'm off to go make lemonade #1.
Yesterday, I slept until about 4:30. I got up in the morning, then went back to bed. I felt so tired I was almost delerious - having surreal and anxiety-ridden dreams, but feeling sleep so heavily upon me that I could not bring myself awake. When I did get up, I felt much better. Did a little exercise, took a shower, and left to go to the concert (which was great). Came home, chatted for a bit with Roommate, watched a movie, drank the tea and went to bed.
So now it's Day 4. You know, the tea is supposed to take 8-10 hours to work, but for me, it takes about 3. The nights between days 1 & 2 and now between 3 & 4 it's woken me up in the middle of the night just a few hours after taking it. I don't know if I'll continue to take it anymore. . . or maybe I'll take it in the early evening so that it works just before I go to bed.
I figured out why the salt-flush didn't work very well yesterday: I accidentally only put in half the amount of salt required. I forgot that I was using a 1/2 teaspoon measure instead of a full teaspoon measure, so I only put two of those in, instead of the required 4. Duh. Anyway, today I did the full amount and it is working as it should. It's created some bathroom conflict with me and Roommate. Seems she wanted to take a shower this morning. Too bad, sucka! In the hour+ post salt flush, I have dominion over the loo! So, she's off to brunch shower-free: stinky and greasy. Whatever - all is fair, since at least she gets to HAVE brunch. I'm off to go make lemonade #1.
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