Avoiding the Phyiscal Cliff.

I had promised I would not do a winter fast, but the holiday season has not been kind to me. I have swerved off my path and I suspect some of you have as well. Now, each of us swerve in different ways. A swerve for me is snacking on junk food and eating constantly, on the surface it may even sound healthy, lots of dried fruit, granola, dark chocolate and of course nuts, but for me, that is just my body sneaking in sweets. I am hip to what is going on, I am looking at a full scale assault by the sweet tooth in my brain to takeover; and we will have none of that. Basically the brain has been busted.

So, I am actually looking at a 5 day fast starting January 2. Something short to demonstrate who is in charge here.

However, I am going to attempt to embark on a bigger program this year. I want to try to put together, what I believe is the best diet a human can have and then follow it. I have read a bunch of books on health and diet this year. I am pretty sure, based on all the health books I have read, what is the best diet a human can have, but I am not sure any of us in the western world can do it; but I am willing to give it a shot. It is not torture, just different.  I want to see how my body and mind react. If you would like to join me, I will have it posted here and we can journey on this together. I plan to put together a vegetarian version and a omnivore's version. Base on what I have read, vegetarian is probably the healthiest but you can eat flesh and do pretty well, as long as you choose your flesh wisely (please don't forward to Hannibal Lecter).

But for now let's do a fast. I thought to just juice green veggies and Master cleanse (I choose without the maple syrup but that is optional).

1. So everyday, try to do three glasses of green veggie juice; any combination of the following: Celery, spinach, cucumber, kale, collard greens, green pepper, wheat grass... Anything green is cool. Add some ginger for flavoring. I am avoiding carrots on this fast, not that they are bad, they are just so sweet and my sweet tooth brain will say, "hey, let's do a few glasses of that a day". (Brain has been busted again)
2. When you are not drinking the green veggie juice then drink either, Master cleanse, water or herbal tea.
3. Notice the absence of caffeine, if the headaches get bad, have some green tea but try to get the caffeine out of your body. Also notice the absence of fruit, this is just for this fast, I usually have fruit in my juice fast.
4.  If you need support, you can comment on this blog or you can hook up with me on facebook or just email me (the old fashioned way?) kknight521@aol.com. I think I am Kevin Knight on facebook, look in Norwalk, CT. I am the guy standing in front of a mountain. 

Master Cleanse Recipe: For every 16 ounces of water, about 3/4 of a lemon, 1/5 teaspoon of cayenne and 2-4 tablespoons of maple syrup (I am not a big fan of the maple syrup but if you need it, try to just put in enough so that you drink a lot, also it should be real maple syrup, preferably grade B, and not the stuff from Aunt Jemima, she is nobody's real aunt). Play with the cayenne and lemon for taste.

Good luck and lots of love in the New Year
Kevin

Fast Day 6: Not hungry, just craving some flavor; aren't we all? Ending my fast today, restless night last night; even without food the mind continues to work. Giving it over and letting go are constant challenges. A fast tends to move me a little beyond the physical, more sensitive to the human condition, see the struggle differently, not Mitt and Barack, Israel and Palestine, capitalists and socialist, corporate rights and people's rights, right to life and choice, Christian and Islam, FOX and MSNBC, even life and death... but it is love and lack of love.
What did I learn from this fast? That temperature and humidity have a greater effect on me than eating or not eating. And without food the human heart expands, I don't know how or why.

Waking this morning to killings in a movie theater put things into perspective.

It spoke to my feeling of helplessness but I know we can help, we must be agents of change. We can simply question ourselves, dig deep inside and ask have we done everything today from a loving heart. If we haven't then we promise to do better tomorrow, no guilt, just greater resolve for tomorrow, and then tomorrow we do the same.

If you are fasting tell me what insights you have gained from the fast.

Thanks for the support and peace and love.

Day 5: Tough day yesterday. I actually felt fine except for the dumb run and then taking a karate class in the evening. I like to experiment and I realized in the heat and humidity that was too much. Today is a chill day.

I have found my morning meditations have been better, more quiet, more stillness within. I guess no food to muck up the works and definitely not thinking about my next meal. Last night I had dreams of cherries, I think it was my trip to Whole Foods last night, hanging out in the produce section, there are cherries everywhere. 


I felt lightheaded this morning but after a little mild master cleanse, it is gone. Back to heavy-headed?


Today I am going to take it easy. I will probably end this fast tomorrow and allow for a gradual reentry. I usually reenter with a green salad, olive oil and lemon, probably a little humus on the side... and may be a cherry or two :) Then slowly bring foods back into my life, but keeping out the bad stuff. My tactic is to eat most of the stuff that I was juicing (kale, collards, spinach, peppers, cucumbers, beets, carrots...), avoid overeating and avoid overdoing the fruit; too much can be bad for the intestinal track like a Dulcolax cocktail. I want to keep greens the center of my diet, everything we read says that is good (except the Carnivore Times).

Today, I am going to relish the quiet within, even at work, I would like to build on that concept.

Yesterday, I introduced some beets into my juicing, that red gets into everything. I will try some of my collard greens from the garden and of course the usual suspects: celery, cucumber, spinach, bell pepper, carrot and  kale.

Peace, Love and Greens

Day 4 Summer Fast: I feel okay, but definitely starting to feel the effects of the fast. Less patience, not that I had a whole lot, sensitive to odors, peaks and valleys in energy, look forward to sleeping and less focused. I have always found day 3 the hardest day of a fast. Hopefully better days to come

I ran this morning after a glass of fresh squeezed carrot, cucumber and yellow bell pepper juice. I also had two glasses of water. The run was pretty bad. I went out too late (8:00 AM), the temperature was already 82 with high humidity. You might know I run barefoot and usually I feel inspired in my bare feet, but today I kept thinking about running being a bad idea if you haven't eaten in four days and the only nourishment has been veggie juices and master cleanse. I imagined collapsing on the side of the road (road kill, is it road kill if you kill yourself or do you have to be hit), not pleasant thoughts. I slowed down and cut my run short. I actually feel great now that I am inside, drinking some master cleanse and my thoughts were just my imagination running wild and not a prophesy.


Have an extraordinary day. Peace and Love

Day 3 of Summer Fast: Yesterday went pretty well. I juiced veggies three times and had a watermelon and cucumber juice for dessert; and about 2 liters of master cleanse, a cup of herbal tea and plain water. I ran yesterday and felt pretty good. I had a strange anxious feeling inside yesterday, I'll see what happens today. No headaches. Being around food cooking is quite unsettling, the mind starts into a cycle of questions, like why are we doing this, let's just quit now, hey two days is plenty... Terri decided she wanted to be Emeril yesterday but that is what the world offered.

This morning I juiced carrot, celery and cucumber (and drank it), followed by a glass of water and went out for a run. I ran slowly on purpose. I did get tired at the end of the run but I still feel great. I got a little dehydrated at the end of the run. I have a busy day which hopefully will keep my brain busy. The brain our greatest gift and our worst enemy.

Have a beautiful day, filled with lots of love. The beauty of our planet is we get a second chance everyday to be more loving  than yesterday.

Good Morning Day 2 of Summer Fast. Day 1 went well, I juiced vegetables: Celery, cucumber, kale, spinach and carrot and twice I threw in half an apple. All three times I threw in a bit of ginger.

I had three 3/4 liter glasses of master cleanse and tons of plain water. I have been beating a trail to the bathroom, lots of liquid  --- I guess that's good.

The problem is I had a bunch of people over and they brought food, really tasty looking stuff but I resisted, lots of chocolate, cute looking pastries, a mean looking dip and tons of fruit and nuts (that's what people bring to a vegetarian's home). It was all good, I was able to take in the love and not the food.

How are you doing out there?

Peace and Love.

Just has a light Indian meal, my last solid meal until next Saturday.

I plan to start my day with lots of water and a light run. Then I will have some master cleanse. I probably will have a spinach/carrot juice around 11:00.

That's the plan.

Peace and love and be gentle to yourself.
Kevin

Setting up Fast Summer 2012

It has been some time since I suggested a community juice fast (kind of like a group hug). I am going to do one starting July 15 and ending July 21 (feel free just to join for just a few days). This is purely a cleanse and prepare for a richer more comprehensive program I am putting together for the fall. (In the fall, I am looking at a year-long eating program that I believe will create great health.)

So there are a number of ways you can do this fast, I think of it as varying levels of self-love and whatever fits your lifestyle… However the fast should include the master cleanser (see below). The idea is to drink as much water and master cleanser as possible. These are some ideas for you:

·         Vegetable Juice: Juice vegetable juices 1 – 3 times a day, drinks these as your meals. Vegetable juices could be carrot, spinach, kale, collards, cucumbers or any combinations of fresh squeezed vegetable juices. You can juice them yourselves or go to a store like Jamba Juice and let them juice it for you. Of course throughout the day drink the master cleanser. Try to stay organic.

·         Since it is summer, I do a fruit juice like  watermelon… but if I do that I only do it once a day.

·         Master Cleanse: You could do a master cleanse fast only, this is tough but manageable. Just do master cleanse beverage all day long

·         Adding a salad: This is a plain salad, lettuce and cucumber with lemon juice and EVO. You could have this twice a day if needed.

·         You can do any combination of the above. You can also add herbal tea, of course no caffeine or sugar or honey.

Remember the first day or two you might get a headache, try to tough it out, they say it is healing and it is your body ridding itself of toxins. Oh, needless to say, if you are pregnant or managing an ailment or life with serious drugs, legal or illegal, you should not do this.

Master Cleanser recipe is about:

·         For 16 ounces of water:

o   one lemon,

o    1/5 teaspoon of cayenne,

o   grade B maple syrup to taste (2 – 4  tablespoons) I try not to overdo the syrup because we want to reduce our dependence on sweets but if it taste good we drink more and drinking a lot of this beverage is what we want to achieve - the last fast I excluded this completely but is was very hard core and as the kids say “nasty”)

This is what I am going to do:

·         Good Morning cleanse: 2 eight ounce glasses or more of Master cleanse (Water, lemon and cayenne).

·         Mid Morning Cocktail: Vegetable juice (Carrot and Kale or Carrot and Cucumber or Carrot and spinach or some combination of the all of the above). Add a little ginger for taste

·         More master cleanse (really drinking this all day)

·         Midday Special: water, cinnamon, ginger and lemon, juice an apple or two with it to add some flava, play with the amounts to get a taste I like.

·         More master cleanser

·         Evening Cocktail: Similar to Mid-morning.

Summer Fast 2012

It has been some time since I suggested a community juice fast (kind of like a group hug). I am going to do one starting July 15 and ending July 21. This is purely a cleanse and prepare for a richer more comprehensive program I am putting together for the fall. (In the fall, I am looking at a year-long eating program that I believe will create great health.)

But for now I just want to do a little cleansing fast. Summer is a great time to do a fast, the weather is warm, the fruits and vegetables are plenty so you can juice to your hearts content. I am recommending juicing carrots, spinach, kale, cucumber and any other vegetable, particularly the green ones. These should be you base foods for you juice, feel free to throw in an apple and ginger for flavor. But I think it is important to let a fast suit your way of life, so make it your own.

I plan on working out, a morning run and then a karate class in the evening or some yoga. If that proves to be too much I will add a green salad to the mix for lunch with lettuce and cucumbers and a lemon and oil (olive) dressing. Or even cut back on the working out.

So there are a number of ways you can do this fast, I think of it as varying levels of self-love and whatever fits your lifestyle… However the fast should include the master cleanser (see below). The idea is to drink as much water and master cleanser as possible. These are some ideas for you:

·         Vegetable Juice: Juice vegetable juices 1 – 3 times a day, drinks these as your meals. Vegetable juices could be carrot, spinach, kale, collards, cucumbers or any combinations of fresh squeezed vegetable juices. You can juice them yourselves or go to a store like Jamba Juice and let them juice it for you. Of course throughout the day drink the master cleanser. Try to stay organic.

·         Since it is summer, I do a fruit juice like  watermelon… but if I do that I only do it once a day.

·         Master Cleanse: You could do a master cleanse fast only, this is tough but manageable. Just do master cleanse beverage all day long

·         Adding a salad: This is a plain salad, lettuce and cucumber with lemon juice and EVO. You could have this twice a day if needed.

·         You can do any combination of the above. You can also add herbal tea, of course no caffeine or sugar or honey.

Remember the first day or two you might get a headache, try to tough it out, they say it is healing and it is your body ridding itself of toxins. Those of you who are particularly toxic you may have a headache for a little longer, you know who you are.  My experience, as a toxic individual, says it goes away after a few days and then you start to feel great. If you do plan on working out, see how you feel and then modify, don’t be intense. I try to read spiritual things and not negative things, spiritual has a wide girth and means different things to different people; I want to put myself in a healthier space, all aspects of my being. Maybe treat yourself to gentle yoga, a massage or a healthy walk in the woods or at the beach or in the city, whatever you find solace (I don’t think the gentleman’s club is the idea).

Oh, needless to say, if you are pregnant or managing an ailment or life with serious drugs, legal or illegal, you should not do this.  The bottom line for me is keeping it loving to yourself and to others and share the idea with other people. We need to create peace, peace in Iraq, peace in Afghanistan, peace in Pakistan, peace in Haiti, peace in Mexico, peace in Iran, peace in New York, peace in LA, peace in Atlanta, peace in Paris, peace in Chicago, peace in London, peace in Prague, peace in the West Bank, peace in Jerusalem, peace in Malawi, peace in Johannesburg,  peace in Somalia, peace in Sudan, peace in Cairo, peace in Lagos, peace in Beijing, peace in Delhi,  peace in Moscow, peace in Santiago, peace in Madrid, peace in Norwalk, you get the picture…. peace in our hearts… If we envision peace our leaders will deliver on our vision.

Master Cleanser recipe is about one lemon, 1/5 teaspoon of cayenne, grade B maple syrup to taste (2 - 4 tablespoons, I try not to overdo the syrup because we want to reduce our dependence on sweets but if it taste good we drink more and drinking a lot of this beverage is what we want to achieve - the last fast I excluded this completely but is was very hard core and as the kids say “nasty”) per 16 ounces of water.

Try to stay organic; probably requires a trip to Whole Foods, the most expensive store in the world. I usually make a big batch of Master Cleanser in the morning and drink it all day. I have found sometimes the cayenne can be overwhelming so you might want to do an amount you can tolerate.  You can also do this as a hot drink.

The idea of this is to do it as a community, so feel free to share your comments, suggestions and experiences.

This is what I am going to do:

·         Good Morning cleanse: 2 eight ounce glasses or more of Master cleanse (Water, lemon and cayenne).

·         Mid Morning Cocktail: Vegetable juice (Carrot and Kale or Carrot and Cucumber or Carrot and spinach or some combination of the all of the above). Add a little ginger for taste

·         More master cleanse (really drinking this all day)

·         Midday Special: water, cinnamon, ginger and lemon, juice an apple or two with it to add some flava, play with the amounts to get a taste I like.

·         More master cleanser

·         Evening Cocktail: Similar to Mid-morning.

ARE YOU IN?