Day Six 7:45 am

Weight: 179.5 (pre-flush)

Woke up more groggy than I have before, but that might be because I slept in. Thank the Gods for Saturdays. Otherwise I'm doing ok. Had a hasty elimination before my SWF. My eliminations are getting darker and darker it seems. I guess that means older and older and junk is finally vacating. I feel like a shit landlord, handing out eviction notices every morning.

I went to the movies last night. What a test that was. I never knew how much I loved Popcorn and hated candy. I was so aware of everyone around me chewing and crunching. In a way, I felt liberated from the machine of Hollywood, because I wasn't buying their drugs of choice. Ok, ok, I bought a ticket. Jeez! What do you want me to be, a hermit?

I dreamt that I was insalling an antique vanity mirror in my bedroom. It was large and square, with a heavy wooden-board frame. It also had two vertical cracks running down it. I then remember running outside to a city street to urinate (I think because I really had to) and seeing a bus pull up to a bus stop and let off a rather large amount of women of mostly hispanic dissent. Some may have been asian, but I got the sense that they were all returning from a long day of labor. For some reason, I wanted to take a piss in this alley, but one woman used it on her way home, so I felt guilty and decided against it. According to Dream Moods:

To see your own reflection in the mirror, suggests that you are pondering thoughts about your inner self. The reflection in the mirror is how you perceive yourself or how you want others to see you. You may be contemplating on strengthening and changing aspects of your character. If the mirror is cracked or broken, then it represents a poor or distorted self-image. Alternatively, it suggests that you have put an end to your old habits and ways.

and

To dream that you are at the bus station, suggests that you have reached some new level or stage in your emotional or physical life.

and

To see a woman in your dream, represents nurturance, passivity, caring nature, and love. It refers to your own female aspects or may also represent your mother.

That all sounds pretty dead on.

This is my first and possibly only full weekend on the cleanse. Wish me luck!

Day Five 6:00 am

Weight: 179.5 (pre-flush)

Slept well. Woke up easily. Things just feel routine now. My body has adjusted to the initial shock and now seems to be running on empty just fine. My tongue is still a little white so I know there are still toxins in me that need to go.

The halfway point is here though, and success is not far. I encourage anyone trying this to keep your focus on each day as you live it. You will make yourself nuts thinking of Day 11.

A word of caution also for those of you who would want to break this fast with a feast or a dinner out at a restaurant. My sister, 22, who did the cleanse last week and was my inspiration for this, ended her 10-day cleanse in the middle of her final exams. Her stress level caused her to make poor eating choices (i.e. eating out, eating too much meat right away) and now she is not feeling so great. By doing this cleanse, we are choosing to fundamentally change our eating. We must ease our bodies slowly back into the world of solid food, and in that world, restaurant food and many meats are the most solid. Packed with fillers and hormones, preservatives, and "flavor chemicals" much of the food supply is enhanced to keep us buying. Please be careful and make smart choices as you listen to your body's level of readiness when you come off of this cleanse.

Day Four 9:00 pm

Ok. Hungriest day yet. I ran out of syrup at work so I had to mix half servings of lemonade in order to get the ratio right. That was not fun. I got a big ol' jug of it now so we should be ok. I can't tell you how amazing it feels to get this far. The discipline I am teaching myself...I can't even compute. I ran this morning and lifted after work. Feeling good about the working out. I know without protein, my muscles aren't gonna heal, but I feel I just need to keep it at so I don't completely wuss out on myself during this. I am getting nice and cut which is also a good feeling.

Did I mention how much money I'v saving? They should rename this the bad economy cleanse...or the "when-a-barrel-of-crude-is-$55" cleanse. Tomorrow is another day. Onward and upward.

Day Four 8:00 am

Since I was up and flushing quite early, I thought it would be good morning to try a workout. I did 3.5 on the treadmill and felt ok so I went ahead and did some abs. Felt really drained afterwards, but drank a lemonade and that helped. I did have a lemonade before I went to the gym. This feels like it could be the hardest day yet. We shall see. I don't want to activate anything before it happens. My weight is relatively unchanged today from yesterday. Not too worried about it. I still feel like a rail.

Day Four 5:00 am

I was awakened at 4:30 by the unending cacophany eminating from my insides. It's like I never truly digested anything before. Everything is pumping and churning like someone just wound the clock after it slept in the town square for...oh...25 years! I eliminated something even before my SWF, which I just took. I will not weigh myself until after I finish flushing, but did I mention that I feel thin and fabulous? I can only imagine how much quicker I'll be at triathlon with this weight finally gone.

I do need some advice. I had this tiny heat rash on the underside of my right arm which started pre-MC. It has not spread a bit and it itches like crazy. Could this be from the MC? I am going to start dry-brushing this morning to get my lymphatic fluids moving to help flush out system toxins that aren't necessarily residing in my guts. Please post a comment if you have anything "rash" to say. I am also sneezing like crazy. It is pollen season, but shouldn't my allergies improve with this? Please advise.

I dreamt I got a female friend of mine pregnant without intercourse.

Day Three 10:40 pm

Doin' ok. I still want to sink my teeth into a head of lettuce, but that's not out of hunger. I think. The lemonade quelches any hunger pains on the spot. I started taking some psyllium husk at night mixed with a spot of lax tea. This is feeling more and more normal with every day. Went to an Anoushka Shankar concert tonight (Ravi's daughter) and kept thinking about Indian food. Go figure. Again, it's not out of hunger...it's just this weird attraction to wholesome things...flavorful things too...I'm gonna dream about chana masala tonight. I can feel it.

Day Three 7:00 am

Weight: 181.5 (post-flush). Not that I'm counting.

Day Three 6:04 am

That was a quick flush. Whoa.

Day Three 6:00 am

Weight: 182.5 (pre-flush)

Delirium.

Dreamt about ordering food from one of those salad bar take out places. When they added chicken to my bed of greens by accident, I made them remake the salad. I don't know if I was breaking my fast in the dream or just living a normal day post fast, but either way, having the chicken didn't seem like a wise choice. From the guild I felt in the dream, I suppose I was cheating the cleanse. Dreams as escapist fantasy...what a concept!

In a past life, I must have been a P.O.W. who was forced to drink his own urine to survive. I say this because I am able to do this salt water flush without puking my guts out. I just picture it cascading through every cell of my being and rushing to my nether regions. Apparently this 2 tsp of salt to a quart is the exact salinity of the water in your body, so your cells don't know the difference and allow it in to flush out the toxins. Something about that is comforting. The SWF is definitely the most unenjoyable part of this whole adventure. Although I must say that today's was a smidge less horrid than yesterday. Perhaps it is because I knew what to expect.

Do dee do dee do....waiting for my elimination round. SWF at 5:55 am....first elimination at ? Anyone wanna place bets on me?

Day Two 8:40 pm

I just got back from the gym and another euphoric workout. I was able to do a nice cardio and weight routine and felt pretty good the whole time. Instead of jittery energy from an ultra-caffeinated workout drink, I have a nice natural high. Its as though my vibration has gone up a notch.

At work today I felt focuses and driven throughout the day. Never hit that 3:00 slump, just kept going and going. I was so productive and my brain's problem solving and creativity modes went into overdrive. I hope they stay there. See you in the morning.

I'm not craving food for hunger really, but I would like to state for the record that I have never wanted to eat raw vegetables so much. I could chow down on a big honkin' bowl of leaf spinach right now like it was my job.

Day Two 6:00 am

Weight: 183.5

Well, I slept like a freakin' baby. Fell asleep at 9:30 and rose with alarm at 5:30. I just did my salt water flush (SWF) and I feel like I am going to be sick. I haven't eliminated since yesterday morning so I am hoping the SWF will help. Not hungry upon arising, but that could change by breakfast time. Wait. I won't even activate that thought! Have I told you that I feel light as a feather though and this is only Day Two. Wow.

Day Two 2:25 pm

So far so...good. Every time I feel myself getting hungry I make a lemonade and then I am fine. Not craving anything in particular, but some classical song on the radio was named something "Diavolo" and immediately I wanted a big bowl of Shrimp Fra Diavolo pasta. That craving has subsided. My energy is up though and that's always a good thing. I am finding myself very productive at work today. My co-workers still think I'm crazy...as I laugh internally at their obvious addiction to food. HA HA HA! Silly humans! Just a lotta peein' since the morning's elimination round (get it...elimination round!!!!).

Day One 8:34 pm

Ok, I survived the gym. I did 3.25 miles on the treadmill at about 6.5 mph. That is my warm up speed normally, so I am happy I was able to do that. Running actually felt kind of euphoric and my "runner's high" appeared much sooner than normal. I then did light lifting for my legs. Easy breezy. I was hungry after the workout, but as soon as I had my last lemonade and some lax tea along with psyllium pills, I am fit as a fiddle and ready for bed. I hope I can sleep well. Some say they have trouble falling asleep on this.

Day One 6:15 pm

Boundless energy! I'm going the gym for a moderate workout. Treadmill jog and light weights on upper body. Got a little nauseous but that subsided just like the minor headache. I'm adjusting wonderfully. Most of this I feel is mental preparation. I'll check in later.

Day One 1:00 pm

I've avoided sitting with my coworkers for lunch. The smells are really enticing, but I'm not hungry at all. I just mixed my fourth lemonade for the day and I am getting used to it. I crave substance and taste, but not sustenance. I guess that's a good thing. I have only urinated since my morning elimination. I am getting the sense that my system might not be in that bad of shape after all. We'll see what happens by day 4. My energy is up and I'm anxious to see if I have that 3:30 crash like I always do. OK, back to work.

Day One 7:00 am

Weight: 186

My day of apples was actually bearable and I think I could do that in the future for a few days as a mini-cleanse. Hopefully that will be all I'll need after this debaucle. I slept in and didn't work out this morning which is common for a Monday. The true test will be later on. I have to eliminate...be right back. Ok, that was good. My first lemonade is a double that is sitting next to my laptop right now. It's actually quite good, even with the cayenne. I will get these two out of the way before I leave the house and then mix one for the road to work.

The Master Cleanse

Weight: 187

This is my online journal for my master cleanse experience. I start tomorrow on a 10 day program to improve my health and well being. I will be drinking water with organic lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper. I will have 6-8 14 oz. "lemonades" every day with plenty of purified water in between to keep me hydrated. There will be no other consumption of food other than this. Along the way there will times when I need to express my feelings and my current attitude. I will use this blog as that outlet. There will be fairly gross descriptions of what I will go through physcially, as well as psychologically and spiritually. This is first and foremost a health-related decision, but a spiritual-related one as well. Fasting is a tradition in many of the world's religions that has been practiced for thousands of years. Any practice that has such a wide reach and historical staying power, must have something to it. Atleast, that is my opinion.

As for me, I am a 25 year old, living in Virginia Beach, VA. I have a 9–5 job. I have been competing in short distance multi-sport events for the last three years. I will be working out lightly this week in order to maintain my strength and endurance. I was an obese adolescent and lost the bulk of my weight in college and since. I do feel that I could lose a bit more in order to better reshape my form. But as mentioned above, weight loss is not the only reason I am doing this.

I will also be using this for a dream journal, because I think that our dreams tell us a lot about what is going on on our spiritual levels. I meditate daily every morning for atleast 15 minutes. I will be recording any significent experiences from my meditation practices too. I will probably meditate in the evenings as well.

Today being the day before I start, I ate only organic apples and drank water. I will drink some herbal lax tea before bed, just to jumpstart things a bit. Right now I do have a slight headache towards the back right of my skull. It is less painful and annoying than a regular headache would be though. I have a slight sense of euphoria and a high vibration as I embark on this adventure. I find myself needing to keep very busy, otherwise I start craving tastes. Says a lot about why I eat to begin with huh?