Liquid Feast, Not Fast!

On Monday (June 2012) I’ve started a new chapter in this interesting and incredible healing journey, called a Liquid Feast, an alkaline whole body cleanse, based on the work of Dr. Robert Young

What is a liquid feast you might ask and how is it different to a fast?

What I am doing is different to fasting because as well as drinking lots of alkaline water; I am also drinking juices/pureed food/raw soups/smoothies & a few ‘solid’ raw veggies.

By ‘drinking’ my food instead of eating it, I am literally flooding my body with pre-digested, easy to assimilate nutrients and I am getting twenty times more the nutrients than I would on my normal diet.

The way I look at it, this cleanse is like a massive spring clean (winter more like it!), clearing out the old and unwanted in order to make room for the new.

It is, by no means, just a physical cleanse for me.  It is a ‘whole being’ cleanse, peeling  layers  of old habits, thinking patterns and emotional reactions. Letting renewal and regeneration take place on every level.

The reasons I’ve embarked on this cleanse are:

·  To accelerate the healing process taking place in my body and mind.

·  To take my alkaline lifestyle to the next level,  eliminate toxins/acids whilst getting an abundance of alkaline buffers

·  To give myself a fresh start, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

Having done a one week juice fast last year, I know that I have benefited tremendously, even from just one week.

I gained clarity of mind, felt vibrant, energised and my meditation practice has deepened.

One thing that was most noticeable for me back then was a real sense of connectedness to the spirit, the true nature of myself and others.

Drinking only green vegetable juices for a week certainly came with it challenges, mainly my mind was nagging me about how hungry I was and I experienced some detoxing effects like headaches and tiredness. But by day 4 I started to reap the benefits and I felt great.

What I love about this pH Miracle Cleanse I am doing now is that there is absolutely no deprivation involved in it, as opposed to fasting.

I literally ‘eat’ something every 2-3 hours, be it a warm raw soup, fresh almond milk, a smoothie or and avocado with olive oil & lemon.

On some days I find it is actually a bit of a challenge to 'eat' so much, to fit it all in.

The idea is to constantly hydrate the body with alkaline electron rich drinks and at the same time eliminate toxins in all ways possible.

The protocol for this cleanse is pretty intense.

It involves many things throughout the day and I feel blessed to have the time, space and the opportunity to do it. Who would have thought that being diagnosed with a tumour would be such a catalyst for change!

I am doing the cleanse as part of a group of people from all over the world, each at their own home.  We get coaching and support from a wonderful trainer that works for Dr. Robert Young in the US.

One of the things that really helped me to physically and mentally prepare for the cleanse was that I planned it for quite some time now and I psyched myself up for it.

I was super organised and made all the preparation needed to make it happen.

This included putting up an ad in our local health shops, looking for someone to volunteer a bit of time to help me with food preparation, as my pain still prevents me from being fully functioning in the kitchen.

The response from the community around here has been amazing. I am still getting phone calls from people wanting to help!

 It left me feeling (yet again!) humble and in awe of the kindness and compassion of the human spirit.

Dave is also a huge source of support, as we both have been transitioning to the alkaline lifestyle together.

SO, It is now day 7 on the cleanse and going strong!

I have a real sense of commitment and enthusiasm and day by day I am feeling that this is the best gift I could give to myself.

The first few days went quite smoothly, no hunger at all and I was feeling excited and motivated.

I felt, though, like I am constantly on a mission to drink more and more (7 litres of liquid a day) and of course what goes in must come out....  I became a very frequent flyer at the toilet!

Then came the difficult days, day 4 and 5 with my pain increasing, a constant feeling of nausea, sleepless nights and generally feeling unwell.
I knew I will have days like these and that they can come at different times, but it was challenging nonetheless.

I kept reminding myself that this is all part of a healing crisis, where it gets worse before it gets better.

The acids that are stored in the tissues to protect vital organs are being pulled out to the blood and this is reflective in my urine having an all time low pH of 6 for two days in a row.

But not to worry, this is a good thing! It indicates change is happening.

Day 6 was so much better. I woke up super early (5 am), super inspired, had a long meditation session, then a morning of reflection.

Here is what I wrote in my journal on day 6:

Today is a time of introspection, of going within.

Looking outside the window, the morning has a mystical aspect to it, magical.
It has been raining all night and when the light of day arrives, the fog is rising above the forest floor like a cloud.
There is this glitter and cleanliness in the air.
Looking inside, seeing each breath as a birth, feeling the magic of life, of creation, of being.
It is warm and cosy inside and there is this inner knowing that I am, we all are, part of this magic.

I am feeling more and more, in the last few days, this concept of food becoming a non-craving, non-attachment. It creates more space for being in the present, not needing to invest so much mental time and energy thinking about the next meal or using food for comfort.

This is not to say I am not enjoying my food on the cleanse because I truly am!

A feast isn’t it? Green juice, fresh almond milk and creamy broccoli soup, YES please!

Here is what my typical day on the cleanse looks like (This is not a representation of the pH Miracle protocol)

·     Meditation

·     Deep breathing

·     Visualisation

·    Drinking at least 6 litres of water throughout the day- most of which mixed with green powder and liquid chlorophyll

·     Drinking at least 1 litre of fresh green juice daily

·    Taking supplements throughout the day: pHour  salts, liquid  mineral salts, pHlush powder, pH water drops and vitamin D

·     Journaling

·    Preparing and drinking raw smoothies and soups throughout the day, as well as eating tomato, cucumber and avocado.

·     Having a minimum of 4 avocados per day, either in soups & smoothies or by themselves.

·     Taking big amount of good oils (flex seed, omega 3-6-9, olive oil)

·      Documenting the pH of my urine and saliva throughout the day

·      Having Far infra red saunas once or twice a day

·      Walking

·      Relaxation

·      Reading

·      Guided imagery or contemplation- on some days

·       Restorative yoga- on some days.

    

    One week has passed, let many more follow!