I’ve spent the past few days sort of passively reflecting on this experience, gathering the insights I’ve gained and preparing to set my intentions as I re-enter the world of variable consumption. I remember coming off of my last cleanse and feeling like I had really been through an Odyssey. Like Homer’s hero, I had battled my modern mind’s equivalent of the Cyclops and the Sirens. I swear to you, my ten days felt just like the ten years Odysseus traveled.

But this time . . . not so much. So now, the question becomes not ‘What will I do with all this newfound knowledge?’, but instead ‘Why didn’t I have an earth-shaking voyage?’ Here are my three theories:

Animal Poison – I wasn’t a veg*n the last time I did this, and I was carrying a load (a lifetime!) of contamination. Really, I could spend the rest of the night writing about the toxins hidden in meat and dairy, both the ‘man-made’ (antibiotics, etc) and the ‘natural’ (cholesterol, etc), and the myriad health risks that come with consuming them. I suppose that now is not the place. Suffice to say: 1) read The China Study, and 2) I suspect I simply had less to let go of.

Chemical Poison – For a long time I ate organic ‘when I could afford it’ . . . which wasn’t very often. After my last cleanse I tried to eat as organic as possible, without worry towards the cost. Over the course of the year I’ve evolved my habits and loosened my [perceived] purse strings (it’s really, really not much more expensive), and incorporated more organic standards. Then during my raw month, and ever since, I’ve eaten almost exclusively organic. And now a year later, I think I just have less chemicals to expel. Organic matters!

Emotional Poison – Cleansing is more than just a physical healing; it’s also a deeply personal experience. Your body is discharging its built-up waste, while simultaneously, your mind is surrendering its pent-up negativity. Cleansing repairs the whole package. And last time I cleansed, I was immersed in one of my toughest times.  A quarter-life crisis, if you will.  Since then I’ve put in a lot of work, a lot of intentional growth. And though I’m nowhere near the end, my direction is much more clear. Perhaps regaining my strength and stability made for a more mellow journey.

Do I sound like I’m saying this was easy breezy?  Because I certainly don’t mean to imply that it was. I’ve had my rough spots for sure, my splitting headaches and fuzzy teeth and tearful outbursts. But compared to the last go-around? Well there’s just no comparison, really. Still, it’s a valuable experience. There’s always something to learn.

Last time my body had been through hell and was screaming out for change. So I set six ambitious intentions for myself: 1) Drastically cut down salt.  2) Eat organic as often as possible.  3) Eat less meat (ha!)  4) Eat less dairy (!)  5) Sugar for special occasions only.  6) Reduce coffee and alcohol intake.

And this time around, instead of screaming, I feel like my body is singing. Singing ‘thank you’ for those life choices I made. The past year has brought so much positive change, and what I have learned from this cleanse is that I’m on the right path.

So my new intention is simply this:

Keep on being good to myself.  It’s working.

Lot’s of love to everyone out there, especially my fellow cleansers.  We did it!

Today was very much like yesterday – almost identical in fact. I felt great all day, a little cranky in the afternoon, and worked worked worked late into the night. I just can’t believe that tomorrow is my last day!

I feel like I could continue this cleanse indefinitely. I really don’t feel hungry, and my energy is good enough – not great, but okay. I didn’t get it last time, but now I feel like I understand how people can fast for forty days. I see that it’s possible.

But me? No way! I miss food too much. I find myself extremely jealous when my husband eats dinner (partial cause of the cranky, I’ll bet), and I’m excited at the prospect of produce season and farmers markets coming up. Mostly, I believe that the main reason this cleanse has been so easy for me this time around, is simply that I don’t need it as much. So why continue with something unnecessary? More on that in tomorrow night’s final wrap-up . . .

Bed time! I’ve been sleeping like a baby these days, and loving every snuggly minute of it!

Another short one, ’cause there’s just not too much to say. Today I felt great, barely aware that I haven’t eaten in 8 days. I actually got a ton of stuff accomplished, which was awesome,  and I didn’t fatigue as long as I kept up with my drinks. A few times I let too much time lapse, and my blood sugar would crash. This wasn’t a big deal except for my poor husband, who had to then bear the brunt of my cranky.

I got my salt yesterday, and was back on track with my SWF this morning. I can’t believe how much is still coming out . . .

I got some limes today to use in place of lemons. A nice change. I’ve been drinking a lot of peppermint tea, which I did last cleanse as well. I like to make my lemonade drink with half the maple syrup, reserving half the sweet stuff to add to my tea. That way I keep all my proportions correct (2 pt lemon:2 pt maple:dash cayenne) but I still get my yummy tea!

Muahaha!

Wow, today.

The day started off strange, because I was out of salt.  We tried to get to the market in time last night, but didn’t quite make it.  So although I drank my senna tea late last night, I didn’t do a SWF this morning. So, no BM at all today.   =(

Later this morning, I had some BIG emotions come up.  I mean BIG!  I mean, it’s okay – that’s part of this process.  But man . . . I haven’t cried that hard in quite some time.  It kind of laid me out, kept us in bed for a long time this morning, trying to sort through it all.  And we did (I love my husband!!!).  Lot’s of progress today, and lots to look forward to!

The rest of the day was bike rides and long phone calls with family, massive spring cleaning and puttering with my plants, enjoying married life and straight up relaxing.  I feel sort of new after this morning, sort of raw and fresh and maybe even a little dazed.  Also appreciative.  That’s what this is all about, you know?

Ahh, I love starting off the new week with a perfectly clean house. 

This is going to be short because I am bloody exhausted! Today was another gorgeous sunny spring day, and we spent almost the entire time outside.  We slept in late and lazed around in the morning (this is of course code for ‘multiple trips to the bathroom’ – thank you SWF!), then hit the streets for a lovely bike ride to the local hardware store.  Garden goodies in tow, we were back home and into the yard, where we spent the rest of the day.  It was really fun to be out in the sun and working in the garden, but it’s difficult to be active for a prolonged period.  I was fatigued so easily, and the sun really zapped my energy.

Today was the first day that I have wanted food.  I’m not even hungry really, but I just want those flavors in my mouth. *sigh*

Tonight we were both so beat that we’ve just been laying around like wilted vegetables, haha. It’s good to do sometimes!  I’ve got a bit of a headache, which can happen when I get too much sun.  Ah well, totally worth it for a spectacular Saturday with my husband. Today was a good day.   =)