Today’s weight: 188.0
10:00 AM: Feeling really sluggish today. Could just be a case of the Mondays, but i’m hoping for some productive eliminations tonight…
Later: As the day went on, i continued to feel more and more weary and exhausted. I suppose this is probably to be expected during a fast, but quite frankly i’m too busy to be slowed down mentally, right now.
Eliminations actually yielded some pretty good results. I expelled some pretty serious demons, and i definitely found that i had a lot more energy afterwards. This is in step with the results i’m supposed to see, so that pleased me greatly (still being a skeptic myself.)
Socially, we’re being met with unreasonable bias and anger. It’s so strange. People whom i’ve known for a long time and whom i would normally say have no problem what anyone else does with their bodies are suddenly persecuting us as though we are standing on their doorstep, telling them that they have to change their view of nutrition and health, OR ELSE. Clearly this is not the case.
These are also people that i would have said are pretty bright about doing their research, or at least realize that i do mine (vigorously.) Yet, the types of things they say show no sign of having looked beyond the first paragraph of the Wikipedia article, which is pretty unforgiving, to say the least.
To me, though, these social lessons are exactly the kind of thing that i set out to learn when i resolved to do this. There’s a strange irony here: that their bitching and moaning about this fast being bunk are actually validating the fast for me. Of course, most of them don’t even realize it actually is a fast, and they attack the lemonade as if i’m somehow worshiping the stuff as a miracle drug that precludes medicine and a healthy diet. (As a comical aside, i started calling my juice “jenkem“, because it’s really damn funny.)
More tomorrow!
Yo. I am really suprised about the whole diet thing, and with the weight loss. Looking like college days again huh! Only thing is, I am curious about amount of weight loss over time, and whether it is healthy. Not sure about the pace, just watching the numbers here to find out. Anyways, amazing that you can give up the red meat, as it does taste so good! BUT, I am actually very impressed that you have such conviction to this diet(drinking salt water, lemon juice, syrup, pepper… is serious!). It is good to see things going so well.
Later man.
Comment by Dan — May 13, 2008 @ 5:46 pm
It’s a fast, not a diet!
No, the weight loss isn’t anything to be excited about, i’m only noting it in my posts for posterity and for the curious. In terms of the overall healthiness, there are certainly risks, but after doing exhaustive research, i believe i am prepared for it.
Yeah, this thing’s pretty serious. I’m doing it as a challenge to myself in hopes of getting some new perspectives. Not everyone can say that they’ve gone 10 days without food. In 6 more days, we’ll see if i can!
Comment by loren — May 13, 2008 @ 6:33 pm
putting the arguments involving hard science aside (kidneys, schmidneys!), i think that people may judge people on this “cleanse” and a lot of other cleanses because they’re diets but people insist on calling them something else, and insist they’re not doing it to lose weight. “toxins,” etc etc. just a thought. i admit though, i am glued to your coverage.
Comment by zb — May 13, 2008 @ 9:53 pm
Hopefully i’ve got more going for me in terms of credibility, considering the fact that i changed my diet drastically about 6 months ago and have lost 40 pounds while maintaining an almost sedentary lifestyle (ie zero exercise.) My BMI still suggests that i am “overweight”, but meh. I guess you’ll just have to trust me that the thought of “crash diets” to lose weight is absolute anathema to me.
The juice is basically “food in liquid form”, if you look into the ingredients, so perhaps it isn’t fair to call this a fast as all of the nutrients are there. Still, i will be very proud if i can make it 10 days without solid food (and it has certainly been a challenge thus far!)
I’m glad you like the coverage, i have been skeptical as to whether this is a stupid idea to attach my online persona to. Thanks for the validation, i’ll keep it up.
Off to write up Day 4, now!
Comment by loren — May 14, 2008 @ 7:57 am
Yo. Not saying the fast is a diet, I mean more the diet you have taken for the last 6 months. I don’t really care what you call it now, a diet or fast all the same to me, you are not really eating anything either way.
Keep it up man, you can break 10 days… then maybe 15, or 20 for good measure
Comment by Dan — May 14, 2008 @ 11:22 am
Yeah i definitely stopped eating very much meat (red meat entirely.) It’s about health, it’s about the environment, it’s about the fact that i wouldn’t actually kill the animals myself, but mostly, it’s about the power of education in changing your behaviors.
I believe it is a sign of one of the highest forms of intelligence to be able to routinely seek information, process it, break bad habits, and incorporate good habits. How simple does that sound? But if you measure humanity against that yardstick, you’ll probably find that you don’t know very many adults at all.
Comment by loren — May 14, 2008 @ 11:30 am