The journey I am embarking on is for my overall health and wellness

Diary of a Dieter:

Sheryll’s Juice Fasting Journey

Week 7

Day 43

Weight loss: 2 pounds

Purified water with lemon consumed: 4 cups

Purified water consumed: 2 cups

Juices:

· Carrot, sweet potato

· Carrot, parsnip, green pepper, celery, endive, romaine lettuce, hot Jamaican pepper, 3 garlic cloves

Exercise: Push-ups, rebounder, dumbbell plie squats

Other: 4T flax oil; 1T coconut oil; warm-water enema

I noticed the other day that my butt could use a bit of a lift, so I did a little research on the Internet to find the exercises that would target this area. I tried some squats (as if I was going to sit in a chair) using a 10-pound dumbbell and did three sets of 15. I’ll keep you posted.

The addition of flax oil and coconut oil really makes a difference! My hair feels sooooooo much better and has more shine. When I relaxed my hair, I noticed that there was no breakage or fallout. I have to remember this for when I do my next round of juice fasting (mid-Fall). My skin is also improving; I’m not looking ashen, nor is my skin dry.

Last night must have been Obesity Focus Night on TLC. There were three shows that addressed the issue in different ways. The first one was called “The World’s Heaviest Man”, featuring a Mexican man who, after losing a quarter of his 1200-plus pounds, had reached a plateau while on The Zone diet; the second featured Brookhaven Obesity Clinic in New York, which is home to 75 of the USA’s most obese people; the third, which I have seen before, was called “I Eat 33,000 Calories a Day”. My heart goes out to them, and I would like to help them somehow, and others like them. There would be a difference between what physicians, dieticians and other organizations prescribe and what I would do for them. I’m sure I’m not the only one out there who wonders this about those professional groups: Have any of them actually experienced, at the very least, morbid obesity? Have any of them had so much weight on that they had difficulty keeping themselves clean? Concerned themselves with how they would alleviate the chafing between their legs in warmer weather when they walk? Had crippling pain in their knees because of the excess weight? Have had heel spurs because their feet have to carry around so much weight their arches fall? Had to endure stares, whispers, and comments from people who just don’t understand their plight? Been mistaken for being pregnant? I’ve been there. And it’s ultimately more that just losing the weight. It goes way deeper than that. I am an individual with no ulterior motives and am not promoting any products. I understand, on a cellular level, what these morbidly obese people have to face.

One might respond: Well, Sheryll, you are juice fasting. Would you not try to promote that?

No. Everyone is different. Juice fasting is working for me. It may not work for others. There are many options out there. If there was a quick fix, don’t you think everyone would be doing it? Certainly there wouldn’t be so many pills, fat flushers, exercise equipment, diets, addiction groups, weight-loss groups, books, and surgeries on the market if that was the case.

Think about it.

Research is key. A quick fix is very tempting for those that are in despair. One has to look at all sides of the proposed option before acting. At the very least, one has to ask themselves two questions:

What is the worst that can happen if I make that decision?
Can I live with that?

Holy soapbox, Sheryll!

But I can’t keep quiet about this, nor do I want to!

Day 44

Weight loss: None

Purified water with lemon consumed: 10 cups

Juices:

· Carrot, apple

· Apple

· Carrot, parsnip, celery, endive, romaine lettuce, green pepper, hot Jamaican pepper, 3 garlic cloves

Exercise: Push-ups; dumbbell plie squats

Other: B&P shake; 4T flax oil; 1T coconut oil; warm-water enema; coffee enema

A very good day. I’m in good spirits, though the eczema is getting to me. It seems to be getting worse instead of better. It could be because the weather is getting warmer; it could also be that it has to worsen before it gets better. Let’s hope it’s the latter.

It feels amazing to do push-ups and use weights. It’s been some time and I do enjoy the exercise.

Day 45

Weight GAIN: 2 pounds

Purified water with lemon consumed: 8 cups

Purified water with lime consumed: 2 cups

Juices:

· Carrot, apple

· Apple, pear

· Carrot, parsnip, celery, green pepper, romaine lettuce, Swiss chard, parsley, hot Jamaican pepper, 2 garlic cloves

Exercise: Push-ups; bent kick crosses; two 20-minute walks

Other: 4T flax oil; 1T coconut oil; warm-water enema

I’m not worried about the weight gain anymore; it will come off again. I mean, it isn’t like I’m eating anything. Moreover, the strength training I started on the weekend will improve my muscle tone and we all know that muscle weighs more than fat. It is also giving me additional energy. Let’s see if I can keep that up!

I did give in and use the medicated cream for the eczema this morning. The itchiness interrupted my sleep quite a few times last night.

I just read a disturbing article in today’s Globe and Mail. The writer blamed his best friend, David, for destroying their friendship because of David’s obesity. Because David did not act on “demands” to do something about his weight, the author became verbally abusive and ended things. In my world, friends support each other’s decisions, whether one agrees with them or not. In a loving and caring way, a person can express their own views.

How many relationships have ended because of one person’s view of how another should look?

In the 1990s I went out for four years with a man who wanted to transform me into Halle Berry. HA! I don’t care how much weight I lose, other than having her (once) short hairstyle, I will never look like her. Anyway, this man would constantly show me pictures of his favourite female celebrities: Halle, Vanessa Williams and Whitney Houston (before Bobby Brown), to name a few. When I did start to lose the weight, he said, “I’m glad you’re losing weight, Sheryll, because if you had gotten any bigger I would have left you.” First of all, who said I was losing the weight for him? Second, unconditional love means accepting the person for who they are right now. I ended the relationship two weeks after that. Five years later, I met Gary, who is the love of my life and will always be so. Six years strong and counting. He definitely was worth the wait!

On the way home from work I stopped to pick up some vegetables; I was running desperately low on just about everything I like to use. There wasn’t a very good organic selection, so I bought the regular produce.

I got quite a bit done this evening. All my clothes, except those I will be wearing over the next five days, are packed, as well as all the linen. I had energy to spare today!

Day 46

Weight loss: 2 pounds

Purified water with lime consumed: 10 cups

Juices:

· Carrot, apple

· Carrot, parsnip, celery, parsley, Swiss chard, romaine lettuce, cabbage, hot Jamaican pepper, 2 garlic cloves

Exercise: Push-ups; two 20-minute walks

Other: 4T flax oil; 1T coconut oil; warm-water enema

Unfortunately, I once again went to bed later than usual (1am) and didn’t make any time to prepare my Mason-jar meals, nor was there time to make them this morning. Because I was short on funds, I had water all day at work and had to wait until I got home before having any juice. I was quite cranky this evening, snapping at my Mom and to my good friend in Flamborough (my apologies to you, both). Even though I’m not consuming any solids, I still get grouchy when there’s nothing in my system (who wouldn’t?).

I’ve been telling everyone that I look forward to having my sushi pizza around 16 May. Why one week after I’m done the cleanse? I would get quite sick if I just ate that right away. My system has to get used to the idea of solids again after being without for two months. For the first three or four days, I’ll have raw fruits and veggies. Days 5 to 8, I can reintroduce cooked veggies (Potatoes – yummy!). Days 9 to 12, seeds and rice. Days 13 to 16, legumes. Days 17 to 20, fish. Days 21 to 24, all other meats. Okay, it will be more like 26 May before I can have my sushi pizza, but I can have vegetarian sushi on 18 May. I’ll take it any way I can get it, I miss it so much.

Can you believe it? Day 46 and I’ve lost 44 pounds, which makes a total of 73 pounds between the two juice fasts (76 days). Woo hoo! And two weeks left on this one!

Day 47

Weight GAIN: 1 pound

Purified water with lime consumed: 8 cups

Juices:

· Apple

Exercise: 20-minute walk

Other: B&P shake; 4T flax oil; 1T coconut oil; warm-water enema

Trust me; I was going to make my favourite veggie juice after the enema. While in the middle of things there was a phone call; I let the machine pick it up. Naturally I checked for messages afterward; Gary had called, stating that he had been in a serious car accident (he’s fine, by the way, though he sustained minor cuts on his hands and he is a bit shaken). When I hear something like that, how can I “eat”? I was on the phone for most of the evening. Gary called again and told me the whole story. He’s lucky to be alive. He returned home just ahead of midnight; my focus was totally on him. The car is totalled, which is very secondary.

How can one have an appetite after news like that?

Day 48

Weight loss: 2 pounds

Purified water with lime consumed: 8 cups

Juices:

· Carrot, apple

· Carrot, parsnip, celery, Swiss chard, romaine lettuce, parsley, green pepper, hot Jamaican pepper, 2 garlic cloves

Exercise: Two 20-minute walks

Other: 4T flax oil; 1T coconut oil

Unexpectedly, I have the day off. I went into work as usual; when my director arrived I told him what had happened to Gary the night before. His only question was, “What are you doing here? Go home!” I’m glad I’m able to be with Gary to support him through all the tasks surrounding the accident. I also managed to make sure I had some juices today. Too bad I didn’t get to do the enema. I’ll deal with that tomorrow.

I crack up when I hear people speak of low-fat and low-sodium foods. I took a look at the ingredients in these “healthier” choices; they are loaded with sugars and things I cannot pronounce. Nothing like consuming packaged foods that say they are better for you; actually they contribute to one’s allergies and food sensitivities. They also help one to pack on the pounds because of the sugars and “spices” (MSG in disguise) that are added to make the products taste good. I buy very few boxed or canned goods now. If I do, I read the ingredients very carefully. If I cannot pronounce the ingredient or it has “spices” listed, I won’t buy it. After all, what are those ingredients, anyway? Xanthan gum. Guar gum. Natural and artificial flavours.

Let’s talk about natural and artificial flavours for a minute. How “natural” can a flavour be if a company won’t tell you what it actually is? A number of people have done their research around this and interviewed people at food companies that use these ingredients. They won’t give up their secrets. Look at the labels on fruit juices and drinks as an example. What are you really drinking?

You may remember that I no longer eat any gluten products. Why, you ask? Do you ever feel bloated after eating pasta, bread, or baked goods? Do you get backed up? I used to experience these things, yet I would gorge myself with them. It’s the wheat protein, or gluten, that is creating this feeling. Once I stopped eating regular bread, pasta and oatmeal (oatmeal would give me major heartburn), the bloated feeling went away. Now I will only consume gluten-free products. Sprouted grain products are very good to eat, as well. Just as it sounds, the grain is left to sprout before using in bread or other baked goods. Sprouting destroys the gluten and turns the grain into a “live” food, full of nutrients and enzymes.

I now realize that you really are what you eat!

Day 49

Weight loss: None

Purified water with lime consumed: 10 cups

Juices:

· Carrot, apple

· Carrot, parsnip, celery, Swiss chard, romaine lettuce, parsley, cucumber, hot Jamaican pepper, 2 garlic cloves

Exercise: None

Other: 4T flax oil; 1T coconut oil

This morning was FABULOUS! I went to a meeting related to my industry and met up with some of the people I haven’t seen in about two years. The meeting took place in a breakfast bar (new concept to me) and had every breakfast item you can think of: many different cereals, oatmeal, pancakes, waffles, fruit, yogurt. I didn’t think of taking any money, so I asked for a glass of water. Ick!!! After drinking filtered and bottled water for so long, I can taste the chemicals in tap water. What a turnoff! Anyway, the conversation was very lively and revolved around the weight loss of another member and me. All were surprised and fascinated, not only by my appearance, but also the state of health I have achieved through this cleanse. Three of us were left in the café (we closed the place!) and we discussed how I can get this message out to those who would benefit from it. The conversation was so enriching!

One of the women shared a story that saddened and angered me. A 45-year-old Hamilton-area man who was over 400 pounds had applied to have gastric bypass surgery. In Ontario, one is put on a waiting list; apparently the wait time is very long. Anyway, this man had waited so long he died due to complications from his weight. The day after his funeral, letters came from the government approving him for treatment out of country for gastric bypass surgery.

Too little, too late.

I still don’t believe that surgery is the answer; however, it may be the answer for some. On one program I had watched recently it focused on a number of super-morbidly obese people who were at a New York hospital that specialized in treating these people. One woman had gastric bypass surgery, and while at the hospital, she was caught on video surveillance getting fast food from a delivery person. Surgery, exercise, and diet, each on their own, will not solve one’s weight problems, in my opinion. There is a psychological element that has to be explored in depth and I believe that can be done effectively only by someone who has been in the situation.

The rest of the day was a mass of confusion. I was lucky to have my juices at all! As it stands, we have no moving truck for tomorrow. We reserved one (and paid for it) a month ago from the most popular of rental truck companies on the continent; just because the company’s name is the one that comes to mind for many people doesn’t mean the company’s business practices have to be shoddy. Needless to say, Gary and I will not be using them again in life.

I made my two juices for tomorrow; there will be no time tomorrow to do that and get the rest of the place together. Wish us luck!