100 days in the life; 5 weeks and counting.

Well, so. It's been five weeks (or is it 6?)since I began the process of "liquifying/alkalinizing my 'innards'";as I like to say. :)

There have been a few good days, more bad ones, but I keep on keeping on. 

Not entirely sure what else to do, actually. 

In this blog, I want to list the ways in which I am doing well, though, in order to keep things a bit more positive.

I have gotten to the point where I can do two loops (about 1 and 1/2 hours of hiking), around Chipman Hill, at least 3 times a week (as well as stretch, afterwards, for 20 minutes). If I don't get up and around, I usually walk the dog for at least that long, on the streets, so I like to think it works out about the same, fitness wise.

I have given up dairy, entirely. I don't really miss it that much, and in truth, I get full on liquids quite easily now. 

My usual day of intake, is this:

Breakfast is usually (not always), 2 giant mugs (total of 32 oz.) of nut/seed milk with 2 tblsp of raw cacao, and one or two, tblsp. of honey or a mix of honey and agave. (Sometimes, (but no more then 3 times a week), I have tea).

I am not very good about measuring. 

I go by taste. 

Brand of cacao makes a huge difference. 

I've noticed the one from Essential Living Foods seems to require more sweetener; the one from Sunfoods, less. 

In truth, my taste buds seems to change depending on how hungry I am, on a given day, so that's probably the  more important variable. 

I go by however I happen to feel, that day. 

Seems like the best strategy for me, in general, given where I am at, health-wise.

Then I go for a walk. 

Like I said, I try and make it a good one. 

Doesn't always happen. 

Too many variables, and I am often too tired to do all I'd like. 

I like to think it averages out, for the week.

I haven't lost much weight. 

Maybe 6 pounds in all that time. 

This concerned me, so I went to get a bunch of blood-work done. 

Won't know much about that, 'til next week.

I walk, (and I drink a lot of water, before, during and after), then I have lunch (which is generally a whole host of vitamins and Hibiscus/Rose-Hip/Tea).

Pretty exciting, hey?

I usually do errands or work some, (on my designs), in the afternoon. 

The chickens like to come out, so if I haven't got car errands to run, then I let them out. 

They tend to beat up my yard pretty well, so I'm not as generous in this regard, as Rich is. 

Probably why they seem to favor him.

You think? lol.

Then I have to rest. 

Just a given. 

I've gotten better, sure, but only because I have to be pretty rigid with the "every-two-hours I rest", habit. 

It's been pretty essential. 

If I don't do it, I am trashed for at least two days. 

I've learned this the hard way. 

Hence the need for rigidity. :(

Dinner is gathering veggies from the yard, and juicing them (usually about 32 ounces). 

I try and make sure I've got either burdock leaves or dandelion leaves, in the mix, as well as a beet. 

Then I mix the juice with a Tblsp of Miso (I use a variety of types), heat it on low/medium and have a type of "hot" soup, for dinner. 

It's not really hot, of course; more tepid then anything, but it's what I like, especially with the cooler weather coming, so that's what I have.

Then if I'm really hungry (days after I exercise, I usually am), I have another mug of "hot" cacao, for a bedtime snack.

I do better (in general) with some light proteins, (I simply get far too tired without them), so I've allowed myself to use partly organic soy milk (for my hot cocoa), despite the fact that it's not truly "raw".

I figure I'm having acid for breakfast, (especially on the days when I have tea), but alkaline for lunch and dinner, so I should be good.

Because most of my health issues are nerve related, I've also allowed myself to have those ginger/peanut nibs (but no more then 6 a day), and the honey/ginseng slices (no more then 2 pcks).

I don't believe either of these are organic, being of commercial origin, BUT, they are incredible adaptogen/nervines, so I've consoled myself with the idea that they are necessary to my overall wellbeing.

It's just too bad that none of the over 200 ginseng plants I've planted over the last seven years; seem to like my yard very much. 

Or, perhaps it's just me they don't prefer, same as the chickens? lol.

Had the same trouble with wild ginger.

Geez, what on earth am I missing, exactly?

Well, there ya' go. I'm stuck (for the immediate future, looks like) with the commercial types. Sad.

Tonight, though, I took matters in my own hands.

I don't care for ingesting the types of sugar in the ginger candies, so I made my own, with our own honey. 

I also used a jar of the raw jungle peanut butter I had hanging around.

It's organic ginger, organic honey, and raw peanut butter, so it's GOT to be better then the store-bought.

Doesn't it? :)

Anyway, here's the recipe:

2 lbs of organic ginger.

Filtered water.

3 cups of organic honey.

1/2 jar of jungle peanut butter 

(or more, to taste).

Basically, you peel, slice and cook the ginger, in 3 changes of fresh water, for 10 minutes of boil, each cook time. 

Drain well the last time. 

I let mine cool slightly, and processed it into finely diced pieces. 

Then back in the pan with the honey. 

Boil at a rolling boil (medium on my stove), for 20 minutes. 

Let cool slightly. 

Whisk in the peanut butter very quickly and pour into a wax paper lined brownie pan. 

Cool on counter, score, and then refrigerate, until it breaks apart easily. 

Wrap and store in a closed container, in the fridge.

So, that's one hurdle I've conquered. 

As I said, there have been some bad days when I missed food, badly. So bad, in fact, that I turned to the left-over drugs I've got in the medicine cupboard, to alleviate some of the D.T' like symptoms I kept getting.

They worked, for a bit.

Then they gave me a headache.

Sort of defeats the point of the liquid fast, anyway, doesn't it?

I've decided to take it one day at a time, just like the 12 step groups talk about. 

Also, what I did with every other addiction I've ever had to get on top of.

It's about all you can do, isn't it?

So, here's one more day gone. 

It was a beauty, weather-wise. 

Fall is definitely arriving, but subtly and gracefully. We haven't had that happen in awhile.

That Mother Nature, she works in the most mysterious of ways, doesn't she?

For now, this is Monaraehill; signing off, from the House of Found Goods, with these last words.

Enjoy the candy.

Ignore the chickens, they'll come around.

Don't forget to smile.

Tomorrow is a new day; we get to practice everything again, and ain't that just grand?