DAY 68 of My Juice Feast

"There is more to life than increasing its speed." - Mahatma Ghandi

Finding my Mojo on Day 40

Leo Reynolds

There is another woman emerging within. This person isn’t good or bad, just different than before. She is who I am becoming. There is a bit less forgiveness in my existence. And I don’t mean I am not able to forgive, just that I won’t excuse the same old bullshit that happens.

I won’t accept things that are wrong as something right. I have the option to pick and choose my battles with the realization that not all battles are worth fighting for.

I feel I deserve more in life and for some reason I hadn’t really realized it before. I should never have thought the sky couldn’t be the limit. All is possible, I trust that now.

I refuse to settle for comfortable or easy just because that‘s how I have been living. Give me messy and complicated from now on.

I am ready to fight for what I believe in. I am ready to discard those ideas, habits, actions and people who can’t (or won’t) accept that fact. And that’s okay, if I for some reason offend you now, you can learn to love me or you can go away.

How in the world can I expect something different to happen in my life, a different result, while engaging in the same type of behavior?

It can’t happen. There can’t be growth. I want to strengthen my resolve, I want to soar to bigger and better opportunities and I want to reach my full potential.

Day 40 in 2008

I am going to do a video around Day 50-60. If you have any questions or comments about juice feasting, raw foods, The Daily Raw Café, life on planet Earth as we know it, etc., please feel free to write to thedailyraw@yahoo.com and I will address them on the video.

Day 20 of my Juice Feast

Life is good, today.

To be honest my personal world is kind of falling around me. We have to leave our home (we won't be homeless), I am unemployed, I have no clear direction in life...the list could go on, but why dwell?

It's really no big deal (honest) and I don't want to place more energy on the situations than I have to.

Really and truly.

I don't know if it's the euphoria of the juice feast or me creating all those raw food recipes that I'm loving so much or what, but I remain unfazed by it all.

I am loving life and smiling and laughing and being funny and sarcastic and having a great time.

I don't care about my crumbling life. I have a feeling in my gut that everything will work out just fine.

Life is very, very good. So there.

Check out what happened last juice feast on Day 20.

Day 13 of my Juice Feast

Today was a very good day.

I had a good run on the treadmill this morning, spent some time with the husband and our youngest daughter, prepared a few raw recipes and had juicy green juices flowing through my body.

This juice feast is kind of boring in comparison to the '07-08 one. I'm not thinking about the process so much, that could have something to do with it.

There is a fair amount of comfort present, and I'm going to "juice" it for all it's worth.

There are some major differences this time around.

First:
I'm not really keeping track of the juices I'm drinking, I'm just make them (in batches 1/2-one gallon) and consume them, like I would any meal.

Second:
Most days I drink 1/2 gallon to a gallon of green juices a day. I am also using a juicer instead of a
blender. Although, my husband still uses the blender.

Third:
I've up the ante on my produce. I juice 3 pounds of greens, 1 head of celery and 3-4 cucumbers of cucumber every, single day. There are various additions (radishes, carrot, apples, herbs, garlic, etc.) But my base is and will always be greens, celery and cucumbers.


Day 13 of Juice Feasting: 2007-2008

I blog on Day 9....

because I have things on my mind and I want to speak them.

because I have emotions I want to vent.

because I have words that need to be written.

because I think we all desire an audience whether it be a lover or the world.

I've started another Juice Feast. I am in a not so ideal place in my body. Unfortunately, I'm the heaviest I have ever been without the benefit of a pregnancy. I can live with that.

I know as long as I drink my green juices and do the supportive measures need for detox my physical body will become what it should.

This juice feast I'm going to try to focus on the aspects that caused me to gain the weight back (and more.) Why would I spend three months of my life (and my family's lives) getting healthy only to piss it away? That's insane.

There's no excuse.

There won't be lists of what I consumed, how much I weigh, etc, there might be pictures (they are always fun to see progress) and there will be words (I have lots to say). I have a tendency to censor myself, I will move away from that behavior.

I should say what I feel, right? I think we all should.

Let's Talk About Inspiring Sex

If you get a chance check out a colleague of mine named Doug Brown and his wife, Annie on the Today Show discussing their book, "Just Do It: How One Couple Turned Off the TV and Turned On Their Sex Lives for 101 Days (No Excuses!)."

There is also an article in The New York Times on it.

I haven't gotten my copy yet, but I am anxious to read it and not because I was mentioned (not by name) a few times; but when you get it, look for the passage about the colleague who was inspired by the Browns' sexapades then ended up pregnant because of it.

Pose of the Day

photo by acrojulie

#3 Garurasana - Eagle Pose

Benefits:
Improves the flexibility of the 12 major joints of the body — ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, elbow, and wrists

Flushes out kidneys

Brings blood to the reproductive organs

Improves sexual vitality and control

Helps prostate problems

Firms legs, arms, and abdomen

Helps tennis elbow

Relieves tension in neck and shoulders

Improves the function of the central nervous system, and the lymphatic system

Improves balance and grace of the body

This pose is a challenge for me. My shoulders are a bit tight and I can't seem to work around my biceps to have my palms touch. So I grab my fingers together and do the best I can.

Balance also comes in to play. I would have to say that at least 89% of the time I fall out of this posture due to my climpsy nature. Oh well such is life, I fall out of that too at times.

The Last Two Weeks in Pictures

Life has been filled with fishing, field days, last days of school, continuation, camping, gardening, school plays, basketball, Jordan's job, baseball, auditions, writing, sleeping, yoga, saying good-bye to Kevin for the summer,

Updated workout schedule

photo by Fiona Ayerst

The Corepower Yoga near my home changed the Hot Yoga schedule on me so now I won't be able to practice it in the early morning.

I will try to practice it at another location in the evenings.

My plan is to alternate the Corepower Yoga (Vinyasa yoga in a heated room) and running (weight training) in the mornings and then the Hot Yoga (Bikram) in the evenings.

I enjoy Vinyasa but I love Bikram. I love the way you know what pose you will be doing.

Vinyasa (flow) yoga's poses are dependent on what the instructor feels like doing for that particular session. It totally keeps your body guessing what's next. Which is all good.

I look forward to practicing both types of yoga for the summer.

photo by Richard

I did 1 hour of circuit training this morning, running on the treadmill and 3 sets of 15 upper body workout.

My gym membership is up next month and I'll wait til the fall to renew.

Weight training will take a break for a minute. This summer, I will concentrate on yoga and running.

Playing in the Epperson Garden

Mint

On Mother's Day, my hubbie, a few of the kids and I spent the day out in the backyard creating our garden.

We planted alot and still have a small area left to work with. I'm developing a major green thumb, I'm digging gardening, it makes me feel a bit more grounded.

Kale
I think today I'm going to pull weeds, just so that I have an excuse (like I need one) to play in the dirt.

We planted seeds and also started plants.

The started plants were:

Purple Kale

Swiss Chard

Tomatoes

Basil

Red leaf lettuce

After 7 days, I'm pleased to report that we already have spinach, arugula, kale and lettuce popping up. And the wheatgrass (planted a week before Mother's Day) is sprouting like crazy. Yeah!

I planted a couple of types of parsley in flower pots this morning. I'm on a parsley salad kick, it's pretty inexpensive in the stores but I wanted to see how they do in our garden.

There are a few other herbs I want to plant in pots but I haven't decided what yet.

Hubbie in the "love" shack. The only thing that sprouted here was the hickey on my neck. LOL!

We have mint from last year springing up (photo above) and we planted chocolate and pineapple mint in another location. I can't wait for that. Our compost is empty. My hubbie took it all and put in the soil before we started planting.

Pose of the Day

2. Ardha Chandrasana with Pada Hastasana

Half moon pose with hands to feet pose

photo by Tara's Bikram Experience

Benefits

Works into the whole skeletal and circulatory systems

Opens shoulder joints

Reduces or eliminates pain in the lower back

Good for abdominal obesity

Improves and strengthens every muscle in the central part of the body Increase the flexibility of the spine

Increases flexibility and strength of rectus abdominis, gluteus maximus, oblique, deltoid and trapezius muscles

photo by dietnesstea

Alleviates anxiety and reduces mental stress

Stimulates pituitary gland

Exercises colon, pancreas, kidneys, muscular, skeletal, respiratory and glandular systems

Firms and trims waistline, hips, abdomen, buttocks and thighs

Terilynn says:
photo by Bikram Yoga-Takoma Park
This pose is in three parts. It gives a very nice side and back stretch. This is the first "back bend" in the series and the first chance to open the heart area a bit.

I particularly enjoy the forward bend (the third part of the pose) because I am flexible and it warms me up for what's to come.

When you bend forward, you place your hands (palm side up) under your feet at your heels and stretch forward, pulling your heels as your forehead touches your shins. Nice stretch.

My biggest challenge with this poses is keeping my palms "glued" together, but I'm sure with time they will happen.

info by Quick Fit Yoga

Bend it like Bikram

Camel pose photo by Leo Castillo

I've got three days of Hot Yoga (Bikram) under my belt and it's almost like I never stopped practicing. Sort of...

My first class (on Saturday) I did forget a few poses and I forgot what my body was capable of doing within those poses. But by the time I did Sunday's class and this morning's, I was in the flow and I was at where I left off 9 months ago.

I noticed the practice seemed lighter and a bit less constricted than previous experiences. Then it dawned on my that I'm practicing in a new and lighter body. Duh, that makes all the difference in the world.

I can't wait to see where the practice takes me. I have a feeling that I will be doing this for awhile. I love the practice so much, I'm very happy it's back in my life.

I thought on my yoga days (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday), I would talk about well...yoga. Each session I'll discuss a different poses, it's benefits and my experience with it.

On Monday, Wednesday and Friday I continue to 'learn how to run' and weight training, although, I'm changing up the weight training a bit, but I'll discuss that tomorrow.

I also want to talk about the garden. We bought seeds and plants last weekend and I planted some wheatgrass. No more spending $2.50 for a shot. I'm drinking my own brew, yeah! More on the garden, later.

With the poses, I'm going to start at the beginning of the series until I cover all 26 poses, including two breathing exercises and then I'll choose a random pose in the series and discuss why I'm feeling that Pose for the Day.

Pose of the Day
1. Pranayama ( prāṇāyāma)"Standing deep breathing"

Benefits
Good for lungs and respiratory system
Helps with mental relaxation
Helps high blood pressure
Relieves irritability
Good for detoxification
Exercises nervous, respiratory and circulatory systems

photo and info by Quick Fit Yoga

Terilynn's thoughts:

This is a great breathing exercise to kick start the practice it creates heat in the belly (just in case the 95-100 degrees room wasn't enough).

You breathe in through your nose and let the breath hit the back of your throat until your inner Darth Vader invades. And the louder the better, you should hear the 'Darth Vader' sound in your throat as you inhale. It's pretty cool.

When you exhale the breath, you open your mouth and let the breath escape. I think it's called the "breath of fire." I have a image of me being Puff the Magic Dragon and spewing out fire. It's fun.

You do two sets of 10 breaths during a 90 minute class.

Free Unlimited Yoga!

photo by teapartystudio

Yeah!

Just when you thought I was doing too much physical activities (if that's such a thing) I have the opportunity to take free unlimited Hot Yoga. Score!
You are reading the posting of CorePower Yoga's newest stocker! How are ya'll doing? Nice to meet you.

All that is required of me is, twice a week I windexed the glass and mirrors, clean yoga mats, wipe counters, re-stock items that need re-stocking and take out the trash. For that commitment on my part I will receive unlimited yoga at any CorePower Yoga studio.

Heaven, heaven, heaven.

I have been practicing Hot Yoga (Bikram) off and on for about 2 years.
Mostly off because of funds, but it was something that indulged in every single day when I had the chance. I absolutely L-O-V-E it.

It has been the only workout (for me) where I did the same poses over and over and over again and I never got bored or burned out. With each session something different happened to challenge me and I always learned something new.

A bit of history about the practice.
photo by TegMaru

Bikram Choudhury in Toe Stand (Padangustasana )
Hot Yoga, or traditionally known as Bikram Yoga, is a style of yoga developed by Bikram Choudhury. It is practiced in a room heated to 100°F -105°F.

Classes are approximately 90 minutes and are guided by specific dialogue including 26 poses. This is a beginning yoga class where people of all levels, ages and body types practice together.

Lesson over.

You just don't know how happy this makes me. I am over the moon happy! Getting this opportunity to further my practice is so important to me. I will be the best stocker CorePower Yoga has ever seen! Okay, I'm being a bit dramatic but hey, who cares, I've got free yoga!

Here is my new workout schedule to add Hot Yoga into the mix.

Monday: Running, Weight training
Tuesday: Hot Yoga
Wednesday: Running, Weight training
Thursday: Hot Yoga
Friday: Running, Weight training
Saturday & Sunday: Hot Yoga.

On the Menu

8:30A ---1 quart green smoothie (w/hemp powder, bee pollen and Maca)

Noon ---Collard Wraps with sunflower pate, vegetables, sprouts and olives

2:45P-----Nuts, coconut banana and pear mix

4 P-----Salad with leftover collard wraps, vegetables and sprouts

6 P-------1 quart green smoothie

Moving Forward

My husband and I are back on track so life around the Epperson household is peaceful and pleasant. So I'm slowly dipping back into blogging.

I did want to share what I have been doing for the last few weeks. I briefly discussed the running in the earlier post and I have continued to weight train. I still get up at 5:30 to be at the gym when it opens. Nothing has changed there.

My 100% raw eating? Not so much. I love kimchi and I love my kimchi with rice. I don't go crazy but I do enjoy it. Also, I love soup. Broth soup in particular. So if the husband makes one of his delicious soups I do indulge. And along the way there has been a few glasses of vino. It's hard (not impossible) to eat raw when you have a family eating cooked. So I set a few guidelines for myself to make sure it doesn't get out of control.

1. Drink 2 quarts of green smoothies and one meal. Whether that meal is cooked or raw, it doesn't matter. Most of the time, it's a huge salad for lunch and I save my second smoothie for dinner. I just don't go over board.

2. Don't eat after 7 p.m.

3. Exercise at least 6 days per week. (Sometimes I find myself working out twice per day)

4. Drink at least 4 quarts of water per day.

5. If I am hungry before 7 p.m. eat a piece of fruit or nuts.

6. If I am hungry after 7 p.m. drink more water or drink some tea.

Do I follow this all the time? Hecky no! It's just a guideline, but pretty simple for me to take on.

I wanted to share my Plyometrics training. Using a series of jumps, hops, bounds and the likes, it is high-intensity, explosive muscular contractions that invoke the stretch reflex.

Plyometrics helps build speed, strength and power.

I just started a few days ago and it's super fun to do with the kids (What kid doesn't like jumping?).

Here is the Epperson Family Plyometrics Center. Now taking reservations. (I am so kidding)

Squat and Tuck Jumps done here.

Jump to Box and Lateral Jump to Box

This stick is used for the Zigzag Hops.

Box Drills (jump into each square)

I do Bounding in the entire yard. Towards the back, I bound over the dogs' poop which gives the exercise a whole new challenge.

My goodness with the weight training, the running, the Plyometrics (and yoga thrown in for good measure), you would think I'm training to become an athlete.

Oh, by the way. Thank you Stephanie for passing along information about The Raw Olympics in November. It's something we all should think about. ; )

Run Baby Run

photo by Thomas Hawk

As a child I hated to run in school. More importantly, I hated to lose. Especially to the cute, popular pig-tailed, Debbie. A girl who had the ability to run around the elementary track with ease and grace and always first.

I would watch as her two braids play chase each other behind her back and the rubber-banded ends lightly touched at her waist. Okay, I might have been obsessed with her hair, also. It was just so long.

photo by Sugar T

There was one time when I actually came in first and just when I was about to share the glory with the coach when she mentioned she was feeling sick and that's why I won.

B*****.

Okay, I'm over it.

I want to run again. I want the carefree abandonment I received before Debbie, before mom's smoking made life polluted and stinky, before having kids, yada, yada, ya.

About a month before I started my juice feast, I decided to give running a try on the treadmill. I would walk for 5 minutes, run for 1 minute. I would increase the running time every week, depending on my energy level.

I continued to do this through the feast, which worked to my advantage because I had wicked crazy energy.

When I completed the juice feast I was able to run 30 minutes straight on the treadmill without stopping. Yeah me! I'm a runner!

Not quite.

With the weather warming up a bit, I wanted to test the legs outside. I can run on the treadmill so the park should be a breeze, right? Wrong! So very wrong.

I'm pretty much starting over. I'm learning how to become a runner. Why? Just cause.

I'm at the point of my life where I have the energy, stamina, drive, passion and confidence to make anything possible. photo by mrhayata I want to help that kid (the one I was) realized that running is something we can do again for the sheer enjoyment.

But I tell you what. It's hard. I walked 3 minutes, ran for 1 minute and the wind, cold and hard surface, kicked my butt.

During the 3 minute walk of recovery, I felt winded, frozen and jolted.

During the 1 minute walk, I felt energized, focused and free. I had a ball!

I had to push myself to run those last 10 seconds the first few times but after that it was "Kool and the Gang."

For the first time in a very long time I didn't think of anything but my feet touching the ground.

I can't wait until Thursday when I do it all over again. photo by pinksherbet