Day 6…revelations

I can hardly believe I’ve made it 6 days subsisting on rice and moong dal.  Probably the worst part of this cleanse was that I had to tell a couple of friends about this to explain why I couldn’t go to lunch this week.  Ostensibly, I know why I’m doing it but it’s hard to put into words.  And do I really know why I’m doing it?  I suppose I do although it’s a little complicated.  Part of my personality has always been about challenging myself and this certainly fits the bill.  On the first day, making it to seven seemed not only difficult and inconvenient, but unlikely.  Now I almost think I could go more although I wouldn’t lest Jim decide to divorce me!1  The most difficult part has been accepting this on a nutritional level.  Most of you know I am a vegetarian and eat very healthy (lots of veggies, whole grains, etc) and thinking about eating white rice and a bean that doesn’t have much fiber or protein for seven whole days seems a little crazy to me.  Sometimes in my power yoga class I was thinking about the poor muscles that I’ve worked so hard to build up being destroyed by the lack of protein for this period of time.  However, sometimes in life being torn down only allows you to build back stronger.

This process actually promotes that idea on a couple of levels.  First, it really gives you a chance to notice eating and drinking habits in a new way.  Do you reach for coffee, tea or alcohol when you’re thirsty, bored, angry, happy or distressed?  Noticing the time you crave these things (good or bad) really gives some insight into the emotion related to one’s habits.  So many times I think we don’t even realize what we’re putting in our bodies because we’re all too busy hurrying through life without really thinking about what we do or why we do it.  For example, the other day when I was making my lemon water (part of the cleanse) I had a realization.  For years we’ve bought sugar free crystal light lemonade and make a batch weekly to keep in the refrigerator.  We dilute it quite a bit but still we’re drinking artificial flavor, color and sweetener everyday without even thinking about it.  What would be so difficult about squeezing a couple of fresh lemons in the morning every couple of days instead?  Nothing really.  It’s just that in so many areas of life convenience has taken over.  The same with food preparation.  Personally I cook about six times a week but many people go weeks without cooking.  Sure, I prefer a “gourmet” style and often take more than an hour preparing a meal (I actually miss that).  But you don’t need to.  A simple dish like kitchari takes me about FIVE minutes in prep time.  The rest of the time it just sits on the stove and does it’s thing.  It could easily be made into a complete and more nutritionally balanced meal by doing brown rice, lentils and some vegetables in roughly the same prep time.  I’ve also noticed how many of our rituals are built around food.  Nearly every Saturday Jim and I go out for a late lunch out as a treat.  Since we also have many other non-food related things we do together this really isn’t a problem but in some families the only thing they do together is eat (if even that).  Is a family outing dinner at McDonald’s every night?  What if they changed focus from food to games, family hikes, geocaching, etc?  You get the idea.  The cleanse has made me think about my habits whether they’re good, bad or ok in moderation.

Mentally I notice a little more clarity.  Ever have the “brain fog”?  As I’ve gotten older I’ve been experiencing that more and more.  This week there is noticeably less of it.  Maybe it’s being off of some of the top food allergens like wheat, eggs, dairy, soy etc.  Maybe it’s the lack of even the smallest amount of preservatives, artificial sweetener and coloring.  Maybe it’s the process of asana, discipline and willpower.  Whatever the reason, it is a nice change and something from which lots of people would enjoy multiple benefits.  Emotionally I’ve noticed a difference too.  I’m not going to lie…there are times I’ve been a little grumpier than usual because of the restriction on what I eat.  Overall though I’ve felt pretty good.  It’s amazing what a little clarity brings to everyday experiences and mood.

Maybe the best part?  I thought this was nearly impossible and now I know it’s not.  It’s just another thing to prove that you’re stronger than you think you are.  Sometimes we all just need a little reminder.

1. In all seriousness, he has been extremely supportive, as always. [↩]