Read about Day 1 here.

Well, now I see why they call it Veg 8. It tastes like a better version of V8. Although I generally don’t prefer tomato in my juices, in this case it seems to mask the taste of the romaine. Always a good thing.

Day 2 is upon me and I will now grace you with the menu:

• LOVE DEEP #1. (approx. 8/9am) Chlorophyll Elixir FYI: An interesting benefit of chlorophyll is its amazing healing effect on cells such as skin and the intestine. Chlorophyll, taken internally, topically or injected, has shown no toxicity what so ever. This means that it can be used virtually anywhere in treating the body. (read article)
• LOVE DEEP #2. (9/10am) Fresh Pressed Grapefruit Juice: FYI: It is well established that citrus and citrus products are a rich source of vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber (non-starch polysaccharides) that are essential for normal growth and development and overall nutritional well-being. However, it is now beginning to be appreciated that these and other biologically active, non-nutrient compounds found in citrus and other plants (phytochemicals) can also help to reduce the risk of many chronic diseases.(read article)
• LOVE DEEP #3. (11/12pm) Fresh Pressed Young Love: (Spinach, cucumber, celery) FYI: Due to its high content of minerals, vitamins, pigments and phytonutrients, spinach supports healthy eye function and can prevent age-related macular degeneration. (read article)
• LOVE DEEP #4. (1/2pm) Masters Tonic: (Lemon, Purified Water, Yacon, Cayenne)
• FYI: Lemon water is a good morning drink to start the process of removing impure chi in the body and cleansing the digestive system. It relieves symptoms of indigestion such as heartburn, bloating and belching. Controls constipation and diarrhea by eliminating waste more efficiently.
• (read article)
• LOVE DEEP #5: (3/4pm) Cucumber Basil Soup (coconut meat and water, cucumber juice, avocado, garlic, basil, sea salt) FYI: Cucumber has a cleansing action within the body by removing accumulated pockets of old waste material and chemical toxins. It might help in the treatment of arthritis since it helps eliminate uric acid. Its liquid has the reputation of being a rejuvenator and makes us feel and look young. (read article)
• LOVE DEEP #6. (5/6pm) Veg 8* (Swiss chard, spinach, kale, cucumber, celery, romaine, carrot, tomato, green apple, lemon, lime) FYI: Celery contains coumarins, phytochemical compounds that have shown to be effective in cancer prevention, as well as in elevating the activity of specific white blood cells. Coumarins also lower blood pressure and reduce migraines. (read article)
• LOVE DEEP #7: (7/8pm) Coconut Water FYI:Coconut: promotes heart health, promotes weight loss, supports immune system health, supports a healthy metabolism, provides an immediate energy source, helps keep skin healthy and youthful looking, supports the proper functioning of the thyroid gland. (read article)

I really like how they vary the menu a little. I am excited to see what tomorrow will bring.

So I left you last night while I was eating my soup. I never did finish the soup. Or Veg 8. Or Coconut Water. Or Masters Tonic. It was past 9:00 and honestly, I wasn’t feeling so hot. I could barely move from the couch. The prospect of bringing the day’s bottles down to the doorman to return to Organic Avenue was more than I could handle. I couldn’t even stand up, let alone make a trip downstairs. The boy said I looked very ill; ghostly. I was crashing. I knew I wanted to run this morning, but how could I if this is how I felt? And I wanted food. And I yelled at the boy for not talking me out of doing a 5 day juice fast. What was he thinking, letting me get involved in this?!

The boy had ordered a salad for dinner and it came with a very little roll. I knew what needed to be done.

Sorry to all of you who were cheering me on. I am human. I took a bite from the roll and it was like heaven on earth. Almost immediately I got some strength back and was able to get up to start packing up the bottles. I’m not sure why I never had this issue with Blueprint Cleanse, but I suspect it had a lot to do with the mental aspect. That one was 3 days. Practically nothing! But the prospect of 5 days, of 4 MORE days of this. More than I could handle. I also suspect it had to do with the deliciously satisfying cashew milk that served as both treat and nourishment at the end of the day. Looking forward to and drinking that milk got me through it. Now, I contemplated quitting. I even started composing emails to Organic Avenue to inform them of my decision not to continue the juice fast.

And then I had another bite of bread. And I felt stronger yet again, and it was such a small piece of bread but it made such a huge improvement in my condition and attitude. I decided I could do this. I was not going to quit. The boy made a great point to me. He said, “why do you need to do this 100%? Why can’t you do 80%? Isn’t that still good? Who says one little piece of bread undermines all the hard work you put in today?” And then he asked, “Is following this perfectly worth how you were just feeling?”

The answer, of course, is no. Although there are some people who would disagree. But the boy was right. Why did I feel like if I let a morsel of food pass through my lips during these 5 days, it meant automatic failure. That is ridiculous! I was setting myself up to fail.

But it is impossible to hold ourselves to standards of perfection. Always remember that. All we can do is our best.

That got me through the rest of the night, and I slept deeply and well (I noticed the same thing from BPC). This morning I woke up feeling great. I recalibrated my Polar on a track and then I went on a much more accurate 2 mile run! And I was back on the juices! A minor setback was not going to toss this entire week down the drain.

I started with a grapefruit juice which wasn’t bad at all, although it took me a long time (read: 4 hours) to finish. I once again loved the Young Love – cucumber, spinach, celery juice. That one I drank quickly because it was just so delicious. And I waited until the afternoon to attempt the chlorophyll again, since I had a filling put in this morning and was concerned about the greens mixing with my gums! I also sipped it through a straw to lessen the impact to my mouth.

Now I am drinking the Veg 8. It is going slowly, but it is going. I am VERY excited for the cucumber basil soup, with coconut meat. Mmmmm. I don’t care for coconut water though, but I found someone willing eager to take it off my hands. And while my stomach is still bloated, it does not hurt.

Only 3 more days. 3 more days. I can do this. Even if it means having another small roll tonight. 3 more days. I can do this.

And what are you waiting for? Just one week left to take my survey for a chance to win a Physique 57 or Core Fusion DVD!

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This morning was the first of my Organic Avenue five dayLOVEdeep and I have to say, the timing could not have been better. My stomach started hurting yesterday after breakfast and the discomfort hit me so hard I had to just go to sleep. When I woke up 2 hours later, I was feeling a little better but definitely not 100%.

This morning I woke up early feeling so uncomfortable, so much pain, that I didn’t know what to do. I felt like tiny Ringo Starr in Shining Time Station was standing inside my stomach practicing the opening chords of A Hard Day’s Night.

At that moment, I knew without a doubt that I made the right decision to lay off the foods for 5 entire days. Food causes a tiny drum player to practice his art in my belly. Food – at least right now – is not my friend.

When the boy opened the door, the case of juice was sitting right outside. How nice! I thought I would have to go downstairs to get it. The sight of the juice excited me out of my Beatle-induced lethargy, and I jumped out of bed to examine the contents.

I had received a menu via email last night, so I knew what was coming my way. My menu for today was as follows:

• LOVE deep #1. (approx. 8/9am) Chlorophyll Elixir: FYI: Chlorophyll is what absorbs energy from the sun to facilitate photosynthesis in plants. Chlorophyll to plants is like blood to humans. It is important in many plant metabolic functions such as growth and respiration. (read article)
• LOVE deep #2. (9/10am) Fresh Pressed Pear Juice: FYI:Pears are one of the most fiber-rich fruits available, weighing in at 5.1g of fiber per serving, which increases satiety and promotes health. They also contain potassium and vitamins B and C, which help regulate blood pressure and may reduce the risk of high blood pressure or stroke. (read article)
• LOVE deep #3. (11/12pm) Fresh Pressed Young Love: (Cucumber, spinach, celery) Cucumbers are a natural diuretic and can support the health of the liver and pancreas. (read article)
• LOVE deep #4. (1/2pm) Masters Tonic: (Lemon/Lime, Purified Water, Yacon, Cayenne)
  FYI: Lemon water helps unblock stagnant and clogged chi in the body. Chi needs to flow effortlessly and harmoniously if the body is to be in a healthy state. Lemon water is a good morning drink to start the process of removing impure chi in the body.
  (read article)
• LOVE deep #5. (3/4pm) Raw Green Soup: (Cucumber, onion, avocado, lemon, garlic, cilantro, parsley, cayenne) FYI: The mild acids that fruits (such as avocado) contain dissolve unwholesome substances, cleanse tissues, and stimulate metabolism in the human body. (source: The Hippocrates Diet, Ann Wigmore)
• LOVE deep #6. (5/6pm) Fresh Pressed Veg 8*: (Swiss chard, spinach, kale, cucumber, celery, romaine, carrot, tomato, green apple, lemon, lime) FYI: Kale’s sulfur-containing phytonutrients prevent cancer, several researchers point to the ability of its glucosinolates and cysteine sulfoxides to activate detoxifying enzymes in the liver that help neutralize potentially carcinogenic substances. (These detoxifying enzymes include quinone reductases and glutathione-S-transferases).
• LOVE deep #7. (7/8pm) Coconut Water FYI: Because the short-and medium-chain fatty acids of extra virgin coconut oil and coconut milk are easily and quickly assimilated by the body, they are not stored as fat in the body like the long chain triglycerides of animal products. Studies have shown that populations in Polynesia and Sri Lanka, where coconuts are a diet staple, do not suffer from high serum cholesterol or high rates of heart disease. (read article)

Lots of great information here!

I couldn’t stomach anything at the moment, so I brought all the juices to work with me with the exception of #7, which I left at home for my evening meal.

On my way into work, I walked past someone with food in her hands. I hated her. “Doesn’t she know how good she has it,” I thought. “Being able to eat whenever she wants and not feel sick?” Sorry. I was feeling a bit bitter. And hungry.

When I got to my desk, I started with #1, the chlorophyll elixir. It came in a tiny glass bottle and I was not sure if I was supposed to take it as a shot, mix it with water, drink it slowly? I decided to take a sip and determine the appropriate next step. I braced myself and put the little bottle to my lips. I took a sip . . . and I was pleasantly surprised! Chlorophyll tastes like seaweed salad! Yum!

I drank it slowly, had some water that accompanied it in an icy water bottle, and headed to the bathroom. Thank G-d I didn’t stop and talk to anyone on the way. What Organic Avenue doesn’t warn you is that chlorophyll turns your lips, tongue, teeth and in between the teeth a dark, murky green.

I am so relieved that I saw myself in the bathroom mirror before anyone else did, because I had no idea! I would have brought a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss had I known! I got to work with a wet paper towel and did the best I could. There are still some slivers of green in between teeth that I need floss for. Gross. I decided that tomorrow morning, I will not be drinking the chlorophyll first, as recommended, being that I have a dentist appointment at 10 am. I did buy emergency floss before meeting up with Melissa for a fitness class.

Once the mess was taken care of, I got started on juice #2 – fresh pressed pear juice. Sounds yum, right! And I love pears. But it wasn’t as great as it sounds. It took me a long time to drink this one, but I might have just been full from the chlorophyll or still having stomach aches from last night. At the same time, I also searched far and wide on my floor for a working water cooler. I was freezing from these cold juices and wanted some hot herbal tea. The combination of the tea and the juice likely filled me up quickly as well.

When 12:00 hit, I was reminded of something I learned during Blueprint Cleanse – just because it is “lunchtime” does not mean you have to eat. Eat when you are hungry, not when the clock tells you it’s time. I was not hungry at all and even though the clock said lunch, my body did not crave food as it usually does at this time.

# 3 on the list was fresh pressed cucumber, spinach, celery. LOVED IT. It tastes just like the juices I make at home each morning. I hate celery in real life, but hidden away in a juice is fine by me. The cucumber – which I love – had the dominant flavor. This juice went down nicely and easily. If only I could say the same for the next one…

WHY IS EVERYONE ON TWITTER TALKING ABOUT FOOD‽

Juice # 4 was the ever popular masters tonic. Think Master Cleanse. BPC had this on their menu as well and I was never once able to finish it. One time I didn’t even start it. Unfortunately, the same will be the case this time around. As much as I want to drink this lemon cayenne blend, as much as I know it is good for me, I simply cannot finish it and retain the glorious feeling of not being nauseous.

I was also starting to seriously miss chewing. I knew this would happen. It sucks.

All throughout the day I just kept telling myself, “Today is almost over, only 4 days left. One day down, just 4 days left. 4 days is nothing, it goes so quickly. After tomorrow, it will only be 3 days left.”

The strange thing is that I am not hungry. I feel nourished and full, but I miss and crave actual food. That is the hardest part of this. Not hunger, but wanting to eat. I think I will be strong enough to make it through this week. I hope. It is not easy but when I think of quitting I remind myself that I am doing this for my health. I am doing this to try and feel better.

And when that doesn’t work, a quick glance at my pregnant-looking tum usually does the trick. This is for my health. I want to feel good after this week is over. I want to feel good for a long time. I want to eat cleaner and improve my health and maybe, hopefully, be able to eat salad and oatmeal again one day.

I want to not be sick. I want to be able to make plans. I want to not cancel on people, I want to attend weddings, I want to have vacations and I want to wear clothes to work without feeling a sense of dread at wearing clothes.

Juice #5 is a really delicious raw green soup. I am loving it.

It is already 9:00 pm and I don’t plan to keep drinking much more, so I’m not sure if I will try #6, Fresh Pressed 8 and #7 coconut water. Just goes to show you that I haven’t been starving. I’m generally not a fan of coconut water, so there is no love lost. I am curious about Fresh Pressed 8 though. Maybe I will substitute today’s for tomorrow’s lemonade.

Speaking of tomorrow — the menu just arrived in my inbox. Tomorrow’s menu has lots of new facts for you. I love how the menu varies a little each day! It makes this so much less monotonous. I’ll go over tomorrow’s juices in the evening, but let’s just say I am VERY excited for the soup.

Be back tomorrow with another recap. For now, take my survey so you can win a Physique 57 or Core Fusion DVD!

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