Juice-ly 23rd - FLASHBACK: Halfway home.

NOTE: These entries were originally posted on Facebook during November 2014, a month in which I embarked on my first super-extended juice. I began the month with some significant health problems and ended it some 40 pounds lighter! 

Since then, I have eaten a whole-food, plant-based diet and lost a total of 125 lbs. and counting. I hope you are able to benefit from my struggles. Enjoy, and feel free to leave a comment! 


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Well - this is kinda fitting, isn't it? I just crossed over the halfway point in my 45-day juice fast today, and I'm posting my thoughts from my previous long fast at the halfway point as well. It's interesting to reflect on the fact that I feel about the same now as I did then. I haven't scheduled any doctor's appointments to check on my progress health-wise, but other than that, halfway is teetering towards the Point of No Return. Read on!



Juicevember 13th: after an anticlimactic doctor's appointment this morning, the challenge truly begins. Originally, one of my prime motivations to juice this month came from my desire to see the look on my doctor's face after my incredible transformation. She was encouraged, for sure, but didn't exactly bring out the t-shirt gun and smoke machine to celebrate.

My doctor did NOT do this to celebrate my improvement.

One good decision, one meal, one day, one pound at a time. Even if I don't lose physical weight, I'm still counting emotional and spiritual weight lost. Transformation doesn't come with a weight limit. ‪#‎juiceon

Juicevember 14th: two weeks in. Kinda like being 12 miles into a marathon. I've come pretty far, but I have a long, long way to go. Today I felt every second of the rest of the time I have left, and I know for sure that there's absolutely no way I can finish this thing in my own strength. Which, I know, is right were God wants me to be. Even so, I know the accuser has some strategically placed trials ahead. Knowing that, I pray for vigilance and the ability to resist him, that he might flee.

Come this far, but still very far to go. Sinking and exhiliarating, all at the same time.

It's not about losing a pile of weight quickly, or getting much healthier than I was at the beginning of the month. It's about learning to view food in a completely different way. Learning the value of being able to eat as much as I can and choosing to eat only as much as my body needs. Just two more weeks to drill those lessons into my brain. If it takes three weeks to form a habit, then I'm well on my way.

Juicevember 15th: halfway home. Will the breeze be at my back or in my face for this second leg? I'm hoping today will NOT be an indicator of things to come.

Got a call from my doctor this morning, and I'm guessing that it's rarely good news when your doctor calls you first thing Saturday morning. She had good news and not so good news. First, the results of my liver panel came back all within normal range, which is already an improvement from my initial screening about a month ago. That's the good news. 

The not so good news was that my levels of creatinine were still elevated, and that she wanted to make sure I kept my appointment with the nephrologist in early December. Actually, if possible, she wanted me to get on their cancellation list, so that they might see me even sooner.

Looks like years of abuse have not left my internal organs entirely unscathed, as I may well have lost a significant portion of my kidney function. I'll know more after that appointment, but prayers and words of advice from people who have experienced similar problems are greatly appreciated.

No, my daughters did not have to tell me there was "no swiping" the taco meat.

Second - there were a LOT of leftovers from my daughter's Dora birthday party. I mean, what seemed like ten pounds of taco meat, quesadillas, etc. Stuff that I would have gobbled by the large spoonful at pretty much any other point in my life. Saying no to all of that delicious food made me feel extremely weak, and made me wonder if I can in fact make it through this entire month. However, I know that God uses the weak things of the world to shame the strong, and that my "strength" was never particularly strong anywhere outside my own head.

Did I mention there was taco meat?

Even though it doesn't feel like it now, I know this represents another victory, and another step towards subduing this addiction permanently. I cherish all of the support I've gotten so far, and look now towards finishing strong! ‪#‎juiceon

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So, yeah. It was kinda scary to get a call from the doctor first thing Saturday morning. But the story ends well, as my kidneys have continued to heal themselves as I have transitioned into a whole food, plant-based diet. My next checkup is probably due, but the last one produced some pretty good results.

Tomorrow's post details the first couple of hiccups in my steady weight loss, and my ham-handed attempt to try to get myself going again. I hope you look forward to reading, because I look forward to posting. Thanks so much for coming by!