Juice Feast: Day 3 of 3

Woke up about 2 hours before my alarm clock rings. Is that a sign of excitement for what lies ahead of me or what? Unlike Day 2, I woke up craving for more rest, but it didn't feel like dragging myself out of bed. One sight of my packed bag and I'm again reminded of my important meet-up with Him later.

DAY 3, MAUNDY THURSDAY

For the third time this week, I had smoothie from the nearby banchetto. This time, I ordered carrot smoothie. As usual, no sugar and no milk.

Fruit Shakers again for breakfast!


Ate had difficulty with my carrot smoothie

When Ate clarified if I were sure I don't want any sugar and milk with my smoothie and motioned the blender with difficulty, I suddenly realized that there are some things that juicers can achieve easily than blenders. It's too late to change my order.

Sipping my carrot smoothie and Carmela's sugar-loaded buko juice


Van and Carmela's rib eye steak with potato balls


My carrot smoothie and the supposedly tempting revel bar

While my breakfast buddies hungrily consumed their meals, I sipped my smoothie, "juiced" the carrot as if it would melt inside my mouth and spat out the tidbits. My throat didn't seem to welcome the tiny grains that made it inside. We wasted no time when they're done; we headed back to the office. They saw me make hurried stops to throw out the carrot tidbits inside my mouth.

What's left of my 16-oz carrot smoothie. To the thrash can!

The first half of today's shift was my busiest this workweek. Put a great amount of brain activity and unaligned amount of breakfast together and that would spell noisy tummy. Worse, I could feel last night's banapple smoothie wants to make a quick exit while I was here in the office. My mind thinks there's a better time and venue for it.

Lunch dates: Ian and his veggie sandwich, Lady and her pan-fried chicken and mushroom with tortilla


Ian tries to turn me green with envy. Hmmm...


Prepping my lunch


Yesterday's supposed lunch: 15-fruit juice!

Yes, I was very hungry that I was starting to become envious of Ian's succulent lettuce and Lady's mouthwatering mushrooms. As a result, I didn't take my sweet time in drinking my 15-fruits juice. But I soon recovered and started "chewing" my juice. However, I had a pending task waiting for my return. Can't linger in the office pantry.

Inasmuch as I'd like to defer my sausage-making moment, I had to listen to my body. It was in great unease. I made a quick break in the office loo and did what I should had done earlier in the morning. You have no idea how quick it was. Not because I was scared that somebody else would enter and find out the stench, it's just that it didn't require much time compared to the usual quality-time I spend in the tiolet.

I have to conclude this entry right now even if it's not officially end of the day yet. I'm minutes away from doing my much-awaited trek to Antipolo and commence my water fasting. The past 2 days had been successful and this hunger I'm currently nursing is slightly making me anxious about the next 2 days. Please pray for me. Thank you. Bless your heart.

POSTSCRIPT: 10.04.2012

My brekky buddy, Van, happened to bring his car and offered to take me to Touch of Glory Prayer Mountain. After all, he's from Antipolo himself and it's hardly a bother to make a slight detour for me. I noticed I wasn't as energetic compared to my office pals Carmela, Donna and Tatat during the road trip. We made a stopover as Tatat needs to purchase some pasalubong for her family and I found myself drooling for sugar. Lots of it!

Fought the great urge to grab a roll of Brazo de Mercedes!


Roadtrip drink: buko juice!

Luckily, I survived this test and found a buko vendor outside the bakery. The buko juice was placed in a plastic labo and, as Tatat advised, I should consume it right away. Coconut water tends to be corrosive and I might end up drinking the plastic as well if I don't hurry up. But try saying that to someone who's been used to slow drinking for the past 3 days. It was a struggle to guzzle it down, especially that it's far from being chilled. Thankfully, I managed to finish it. I'm just not sure if I drank plastic, too.

How did my 2-day water fasting go? To be continued...

Juice Feast: Day 2 of 3

You'd know it when you fell to a sweet slumber if you forgot to set your alarm clock the previous evening. The funny thing is, my eyes slowly pushed open shortly after someone placed a huge bowl of instant noodles in front of me in my dream. Then I discovered it's already 05:30AM, my new wake-up time, and I didn't feel any heaviness in spite of the fact that I yielded to Morpheus around midnight. I didn't feel starving or thirsty either.

The recollection of yesterday's success instantly brought a smile in my lips, hindering any negative thoughts about potential craving attacks today. Surviving the first day felt like earning a badge; I felt more convinced that Day 2 will be a breeze. With this realization, I said a thankful prayer.

And I skin-brushed again. For the first time since Sunday, I took pleasure in the slow strokes and felt as if there's no rush. Does it really mean I'm already stimulating my lymph nodes or is this a by-product of the juice feast?

DAY 2, WEDNESDAY

My usual breakfast buddies, Carmela, Van and their teammates, were nowhere to be found when I arrived. My batchmates Ian and Lady were craving for pan de sal for breakfast and they seemed unwilling to make a long walk. Ian had an urgent pricing task. So I went on a solitary walk along Eastwood Citywalk en route to the banchetto. It's fruit smoothie again for breakfast. It's just a question of what combination this time.

This somehow reminded me that I'm alone in this path. But I don't feel lonely or lost; I know this is a must-do preparation for my set-apart time with Him. He went on fasting for 40 days before, there's no way I can't rise above a 5-day fast. Do I feel weak? Hardly. I feel lighter and more attentive to my body's needs. And that's good news.

Second day in a row in Eastwood banchetto!


Decisions, decisions!


22-oz banana-mango smoothie, meds and water for breakfast

I was occupied with my deal when my teammate She surprised me with her quite overdue yet unncessary reward for me. She probably deferred this, considering how I've been a poster kid of respiratory discomfort for the past 2 weeks. My heart was touched with the thought, but I doubt my gratitude didn't reflect much in my face. I explained I'm on juice feast and I'll probably consume it until Easter Sunday.

She rewards me with Magnum for handling her deals when she was on leave weeks ago. Does it really have to be TODAY?


The only Magnum variant that I am yet to try! Sadly, not today.

My anacondas started to perform this cacophony of grumbles and growls before lunchtime. I actually brought a 15-fruit juice for lunch, but I wanted an energy boost for today. I bought buko juice downstairs and added spirulina powder.

Kuya Aljur, can I have fresh coconut juice please?


22-oz coconut juice + spirulina


Lunch break!


Lunch dates: Ian and his tuna and Lady and her pan-fried cream dory and pesto pasta

As expected, Ian made me feel that I'm missing out on a lot and he even commented he finds my diet pitiful. Watching them made me miss the gestures involved in eating, but I didn't recognize any desire for solid food itself. Again, I was the last to finish my "meal" even if it felt I was guzzling my juice at the beginning. I was told 60% of digestion happens inside the mouth and we must chew our food for 20 seconds before swallowing. This juice feast is an excellent reminder about this lesson.

The workday was supposed to be concluded in the nearby badminton court. One of my colleagues suggested this earlier this week and I was quick to turn down the invitation. I've gone absent to this smash-out parties since I've had sinusitis mid-March and, considering this juice fast, I'm not confident I can handle it. Sweat is welcome, but my mind wasn't curious enough if my body will survive it.

Instead, I finally met up with Waldo for super early dinner. I crave for his support at this adjustment period and I'm aware I owe him apologies for being a monster girlfriend since the onset of my monthly period followed up by sinusitis and, now, the juice feast. My peace offering? Some sort of "royal treatment".

Somebody stole and...uhm...drank my Magnum!


Dinner: Banapple's banapple smoothie


My dinner date at 17:00. He just had lunch at 15:00, hence the empty hand.

I asked him if he noticed any difference since I underwent this feast, like pallor, drastic energy loss or poor posture. He denied any signs of bad changes, but he realized how my right forearm slimmed down when he held it. I didn't weigh in before getting into juice feast, so I can't confirm this. Again, he told me I can do it and I completely believe him. This date unromantically concluded in the laundry shop and grocery. But, hey, I'm proud of how I remained collected in spite of the typically stifling atmosphere there.

When I got in the apartment, I busied myself with the laundry and pack-up for Prayer Mountain. Decisions, decisions! The soothing dry skin brushing earlier inspired me to do a repeat before I went for a poop (YAY!) and shower. Applying what I've learned from this source, I started from my feet and worked my way up in vigorous and counter-clockwise motion. I preferred this morning's brush.

It was already around 22:00 but I don't feel washed out or drowsy yet. I spent this time to draft this mushy blog entry until the body finally asked for repose by close to midnight. It was unbelievable that this juice feast allowed me to pen down my thoughts in great lengths for the past 2 days! Amazing!

Juice Feast: Day 1 of 3

When I first heard my best friend Lakapati's profound reason for going on a 30-day juice fasting one Sunday noon, I was impressed with her determination and immense preparation for this mission. I even found it clever that she re-branded this seemingly food deprivation journey as "juice feast" because, after all, it's enjoyment of bottomless and energy-giving juices all month long. This idea made me curious about my own inner strength and, at that time, I felt I was far from ready to jump into such experiment. Little did I know that I will undergo the same challenge this Holy Week.

Along with my small group friends, I will spend this year's Maundy Thursday until Black Saturday in prayer and (water) fasting in Touch of Glory Prayer Mountain in Antipolo. In preparation for this commune with the Lord, I deemed it necessary to slowly re-introduce higher percentage of raw food in my diet during the weekend and begin this week with juice feast. I know the first 3 days would be the hardest and it's wise to hold the onset of such diet on my rest days, but I really have no choice but to just do it on a manic Monday. Unlike Lakapati's, this all-liquid diet wasn't carefully thought out and I had no guidelines to follow for my consumption all week. I'll drink whatever's healthy and available.

My plan to go completely food-free yesterday backfired; I started the day with brewed coffee and nilagang saba, had fruit platter comprised of grapes, oranges, ripe mangoes, strawberries and dragonfruit for lunch (hey, you've got to laud me for turning down the birthday girl's offer to feast on pizza, pasta, ice cream, chocolate ice cream and soda), fell prey to emotional blackmail and had meatless tomato-based pasta for merienda and vegetable soup for dinner. With this amount of food intake, how else will I prepare for the big challenge that awaits me today? I started with a tearful prayer.

DAY 1, TUESDAY

For the first time since I went on day shift, I deviated from my usual wake-up drink. I went past the usual breakfast spot to look for smoothies. No sugar, no milk. My breakfast buddies were astounded to see my cold drink. Tatat even ordered French-pressed coffee, assuming that we'll share it just like yesterday.

While my colleagues ordered coffee in Starbucks, I joined the queue for a smoothie in banchetto


Decisions, decisions!


That's my tall smoothie surrounded by hot coffee


Closer: 22-oz watermelon + mango + papaya + pineapple smoothie

How did my body welcome this switch? I don't think it protested, considering my inclination to cold drinks and special thanks to the humidity these days. Besides, my theoretical breakfast when I was still in graveyard shift involves green smoothies. Not daily, but still the anacondas can remember how we enjoyed smoothies after waking up.

Unfortunately, I forgot my mug (a recycled Amazon blueberry white tea glass) back in the apartment. I am yet to have my own locker so I tend to lug it around with the rest of my gold bars everyday. Anyway, I had to settle on my batchmate's long-abandoned mug and had to constantly remind my clumsy self to be mindful of it. No spill, no problem!

Today's borrowed mug and my prescribed medicines.

Like I mentioned in the prior entry, I was recently diagnosed to have bacterial sinusitis and advised to undergo medications for 2 weeks. This poses a problem as we can't take antibiotics, antihistamine and congestant in an empty stomach. Should I bring fruits for my stay in the Prayer Mountain?

If there's anything I'm grateful for about this illness, I noticed that my body doesn't like being bloated anymore. It just wants to be satiated frequently in moderate amounts. Plus, the drug intake made me crave to sweat and pee more often. Out you go! It really paved the way for this juice feast to be easier. Also, it made exposure to secondhand smoke a sensory overload experience. Hence, I didn't stay long in Starbucks earlier. Besides, I had an urgent deal to work on.

Even before lunchtime rolls around, Ian had been asking who else wants to indulge on ice cream. He's been fixating on FIC. I reminded him about my juice feast and offered to join him go down and hunt for his desired flavor. I was up for some sunshine and leg workout. FIC, to my shock, happens to be inside the Eastwood Mall. Ian sounded so sure it was just in Eastwood Citywalk, not too far from our building. Could you just imagine the long aisle of restaurants that seduced my taste buds every step I made?

To pass the ice cream test or to pass the ice cream test?

But the real test happened when I stood in front of the wide array of ice creams. It's no secret I'm a sucker for such and the bipolar weather made it so easy for us mortals to forget the calories. To my surprise, I didn't feel my mouth water at all. In fact, I silently wished Ian would make up his mind which variant he'll purchase so we can head back to the pantry and have lunch. Pronto!

Typically mouthwatering. But, not today!

But Lady didn't prepare her lunch today and she had conditioned herself to have chicken inasal. When I saw the long queue, I can't help but feel impatient for the further delay. I started feeling dizzy out of hunger and out of intolerable heat. Before heading back, Ian wanted to make a last-minute visit in Pan de Manila but changed his mind upon hearing my bratinella spiels. THAT I don't like to happen in Prayer Mountain!

As expected, my lunch dates took turns to quiz me on this decision. Ian was far from being supportive, motioning how delectable his steamed chicken was. When Cel and her baon arrived, the memory of the forbidden pasta yesterday resurfaced. I found myself stare at her plateful of red pasta then turn away. Noooo!!!

My lunch dates: Ian and his steamed chicken and veggies, Lady and her chicken inasal


Me and my lunch!


145-g grape juice


More lunchdates: Wini and his tocino and She and her garlic longganisa meal


Cel and her tempting pasta from Ristorante Bigoli

After shift, I dashed to Ortigas to seek for second opinion about my periodontitis. The Intellicare-accredited dentist who performed my oral prophylaxis 2 weeks ago recommended a surgical procedure to re-countour my gums that amounted to P10,000. No way! Anyway, the sun was punishing us commuters as if it were still high noon. By the time I made it to Robinson's Galleria and supposedly looking for the dental clinic, my throat was looking for a thirst-quencher. First things first!

And I made it to the dental clinic!


The BEFORE photo


The AFTER photo. How bloody!

The deep scaling procedure (without anesthesia, mind you) lasted for approximately 2 hours. To my relief, my blood clots on time and I survived the pain. After applying the last solution to my teeth, she advised me not to eat anything for the next 30 minutes. It could be the pain coupled by how sticky the solution felt inside my mouth that trigged this emotional eater to look for a reward. After mentioning my juice fast, the dentist responded I should use a straw for my drinks so it would be directed to the passage without bothering the teeth and gums. She also advised me to replace Gumtect with Lacalut Aktive and start using PerioGard. I think I'll go oil pulling before I switch to those. What do you think?

On my way home, my feet led me back to the mall and I was once again exposed to various aroma that tickled my olfactory nerves. Sinigang na hipon to the left, pasta to the right. It was maddening! Thankfully, there's a smoothie bar at the end of this long jungle. I asked for pineapple-banana-blueberry smoothie. Again, no sugar and no milk.

The much-deserved stopover!


Straws for my drinks? Check!


Closer: 16-oz pineapple-banana-blueberry smoothie!

When I made it to Cubao, I felt unease consume me again. The sun is already out of the question. I felt compelled to hurry up; today's breakfast and lunch must make a graceful exit! As soon as I arrived in the apartment, I made my second discharge for the day. And it was a rarity for a constipated fellow like me. I felt so ecstatic I was THIS close to post a photographic evidence!

My boyfriend Waldo had earlier asked if we can meet for dinner (that's midnight snack for us normal people). We've had conflicting schedules recently and we haven't seen each other for the past 7 days. Much to my chagrin. He wanted to see how I'm doing after this difficult day and I intended to exaggerate my stomach's demands and dizziness to earn a big hug. While waiting for him, I was writing this entry in longhand. When he finally called, my body thinks the hug can wait. Morpheus wins tonight.

My bedtime company